The year 1857 was a time of tension among many countries after the war had ended.
7 years have passed since the end of that 15-year bloody war. The world has finally started to recover from the destruction.
Even though the war had ended, there was a scent of unrest in the air. Many things start to change pretty fast. In the cold winter in a certain city Called Akuro,
The raining snow had covered the entire city in its grace and continued to fall.
The air was warm and filled with black smoke. The sound of hammers hitting iron could be heard almost everywhere. The smell of melted metal and loud noises filled the entire city.
It was an era of revolution after all! The revolution of steam and machinery is finally upon us!
The streets were filled with the sound of hurried footsteps. Men in fitted frock coats and top hats strode past, while women, their skirts billowing over layered petticoats, navigated the bustling roads beneath wide-brimmed bonnets.
The cathedral loomed over the city, its towering spires clawing at the misty afternoon sky. At its heart, a massive clock face glowed dimly,
its brass hands inching forward with mechanical precision. Every hour, the great bell within the tower groaned before unleashing a thunderous chime,
a sound so deep and resonant that it rolled through the streets like a distant storm. The people below, draped in their heavy coats and crinolines, barely flinched—its voice had governed their lives for as long as they could remember.
As the echoes faded into the labyrinth of gaslit alleys, time marched forward, indifferent to the souls beneath its watchful gaze.
It was still afternoon, yet the cold winds made it hard to be aware of the time.
There was a thin layer of snow on the footpaths, which made it a little uncomfortable to walk.
the townspeople seemed to be living normal lives. On the surface at least.
In that town, an 8-year-old boy was seen walking. As he walked, the snow on the road swallowed his naked feet.
The boy wore fragile clothing. Unfit for such a cold season. His clothes were dirty and torn, barely keeping him warm. He had large bangs that covered his eyes.
He was shaking like a little puppy but he was strongly resisting the cold. He had the body of a dried leaf.
It seemed like he was about to pass out at any moment. The people walking by judged him to be a beggar. Why wouldn't they?
Despite being such a nice city, the number of poor people was by no means short. And indeed, He was a beggar.
However, he wasn't alone. Alongside him walked a girl who looked a bit older than him and had similar facial features. His sister maybe?
She was holding his hand. She had the same kind of body and clothing as the boy.
They both looked like they hadn't eaten in days. She kept on looking at a piece of paper in her hand as she walked. It seemed like she was trying to navigate.
The boy raised his head and looked toward the girl beside him "A-Are...are we there yet?" he said his voice shivering from the cold.
"We are almost there, I know it's painful but please, hold on a little longer okay, shin?" she said softly, her words like a warm embrace in this cold snow.
As they walked Shin looked his sideways and looked on the other side of the road and noticed another boy who looked around the same age as him.
He wore a completely different kind of clothing than shin. The boy stood with his hands tucked into the pockets of his fur-lined velvet coat, the rich fabric tailored to fit his small frame with precise elegance.
Beneath it, a crisp white shirt peeked out from under a silk waistcoat embroidered with delicate patterns, and his well-fitted wool trousers barely grazed his knobby knees.
A soft cashmere cap sat crooked atop his tousled short black hair, shadowing the wide, curious eyes that darted across the bustling street.
He looked like he came from a rich family. His face shone with joy for some reason.
The rich boy was walking with his parents. His father was in his thirties and his mother was in her twenties. They stopped at a bakery shop.
The bakery stood snug between brick buildings, its fogged window glowing with warmth. The air smelled of fresh bread and sweet pastries. Inside, wooden shelves held golden loaves and sugared tarts, while a glass case displayed rich pies and cakes. Behind the counter, the flour-dusted baker worked near a crackling oven.
"PAPA! PAPA! Are you going to buy me that new creamed bread" asked the kid with excitement.
The father stood in a tailored frock coat, a silk cravat at his throat, and a gold watch chain glinting at his waist. Beneath his felt top hat, his eyes carried a quiet warmth. He said, "Of course, my dear. You've made me proud with your last exam—how could I say no?
"You may have anything you like tonight, but mind yourself; too much street food and you'll have a sore stomach by morning"
They brought a large piece of Sally Lunn Bread. During the Victorian era, there were different kinds of bread that different classes of people could afford. So the kind of bread you ate reflected your status".
Sally Lunn Bread was the kind that could only be afforded by the wealthy. Apparently, this new version of Sally Lunn bread had some sweet cream inside.
However, the boy brought a little bit extra. Seeing this the mother who was standing beside him asked in concern, her voice had the same warmth as the father
"Ricky, if you take that much you are going to end up wasting most of it. Remember last time you brought a whole lbs of Roasted chestnut and you couldn't even finish half. Don't you think you should take a little less?"
"UGH...but I want to share it with Tom (his pet dog). The last time was just a one-time mistake. Besides I worked so hard in the exams. Can't I get this much?"The boy crossed his arms, frustration in his furrowed brows and the stubborn tilt of his chin.
His mother gave up "Alright fine, but you will have to do even better next time, okay?" Her voice was gentle, her warm smile carrying both affection and expectation.
"YAPP! Got it" The boy beamed, his earlier frustration melting away as excitement lit up his face..
Shin watched it all from a distance, still holding his sister's hand. To him that looked like paradise. In his eyes, that kid's life is nothing but a blessing.
His lifeless cold eyes watched that family slowly disappear from his vision. That kid's life looked like a mirror to him.
A mirror that reflects his desires.
It Ached his heart. He wondered "Is this perhaps God Teasing me? or is this a punishment for a crime I committed unknowingly?." Regardless all he could do was envy them from a distance.
Then, as the sky deepened into dusk, the city seemed to change. The once lively streets grew quieter, and one by one, the shops hurriedly pulled down their shutters. Shin walked alongside his companion, watching as people quickened their pace, their eyes darting toward the darkening horizon.
It was unsettling. The air felt heavy with unspoken urgency. A woman clutched her child's hand, practically dragging her inside before slamming the door shut.
Shin frowned, a chill running down his spine. "What's with this eerie rush? He exhaled softly. Is a vampire about to wake up or something?"
"E-excuse me, sir why are people acting this way?" Shin's sister asked, her voice hesitant as she stopped a thin, weary-looking man who seemed desperate to get home.
The man scowled, barely sparing her a glance. "Huh? Brat, what are you talking about? You're just spouting nonsense." He turned to leave, but just as he stepped away, his voice dropped to a whisper.
"If you want to live… either leave the city or HIDE."
Shin caught a glimpse of the man's face—pale, tense, his eyes darting as if something unseen lurked nearby. Then, without another word, he hurried off, vanishing into the shadows of the emptying streets.
And then, silence.
The city, once bustling, was now eerily still. The streets, moments ago teeming with life, lay deserted. Even the animals had fallen quiet as if the night itself had swallowed every sound.