New Reality

In a vibrant city where sunbeams dance upon majestic castle towers, painting them in a myriad of enchanting hues, lush green shrubs cascading from every wall, and bustling enterprises flourishing beneath these towering wonders.

In this city, there is a young child, around 5-7 years old, who wanders the streets. Covered in mud, with green hair and dirty brown skin that hasn't seen a bath in what seems like months or even years, he searches for something to eat. Despite the diversity of hair and eye colors among the people, they hesitate to approach or help him.

His hair, reaching down to his back, signified that it hadn't been cut in a long time. As he walked past, he noticed some children sitting on an iron bench, happily enjoying ice cream with their parents. The bench was located close to the street, and next to it was a wooden crate measuring 121.92 cm in length, 121.92 cm in width, and 203.2 cm in height.

The crates were mostly left by shop owners for the community to dispose of their trash, but unlike the other kids in the city, he didn't have a place to call home or a family to care for him.

He endures a heartbreaking reality where some people cruelly laugh in secret at his predicament, while others may empathize with his condition but fail to alleviate his burdens. Instead, he is subjected to violent expulsion from certain areas and given only spoiled scraps of food, leaving him in a state of despair.

Tears began to trickle down his grey eyes, resembling the vibrant hue of steelpans, triggered by his hunger.

His clothes were far from what a modern citizen would typically wear. His green shirt had been torn from the bottom, giving it the appearance of a ragged and sleeveless top. Similarly, his blue pants were dirty and only partially intact, resembling a pair of torn-off shorts.

The boy kept walking, passing by the various businesses located close to each other. He couldn't help but imagine what would happen if a fire broke out in one of them, as it could easily spread to the others. However, his main goal was to reach the vendors in the heart of the city. These roadside vendors attracted tourists from different countries and provided everyone with a source of fresh produce.

The boy wanted to meet some tourists near the vendors in order to find something to eat. While walking, he accidentally bumped into a man and woman who were strolling together near the stores, they relaxed and affectionate atmosphere suggested that they might be on a date.

The boy timidly apologized, but it seemed like nobody heard him. The man grew increasingly rude towards the boy, resembling a boss yelling at their employee for making a mistake.

The man was upset that someone who looked unpleasant touched him and his partner. Fueled by his anger, he forcefully pushed the boy into the dimly lit alley next to the store where they were standing.

The boy landed on the ground, hitting his butt first before collapsing onto his right arm, bruising it in the process. Thoughts of running away, calling for help, and fighting back flooded his mind. He knew that staying put would only put him at risk of getting hurt again.

The boy felt a deep sense of fear about what the man might do if he stayed near him, but he was also physically drained from the fall and found it difficult to get up quickly due to his weakened body.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" the boy pleaded repeatedly, desperately attempting to deter the man who wouldn't give him space to stand up.

Deep down, the man felt remorse but found it difficult to show forgiveness in front of his partner, as if he wanted to demonstrate his strength and commitment to protecting her from any harm. He tried to step on the boy to prevent him from getting up, but his partner intervened and pulled him away from the situation, understanding that too many onlookers were witnessing the tense encounter, resembling the build-up to a fight.

The boy realized that the man was gone, but no one came to check on him. He stopped trying to get up and simply lay on the cold ground, feeling exhausted. Going to the vendors area was no longer an option for him; all he wanted to do was sleep, as if it was his body's natural response to the energy he had lost.

As the boy found himself curled up on the cold ground in the dimly lit alley, a peculiar sound cut through his slumber - the unmistakable crunch of someone enjoying a bag of chips. He stirred and timidly opened his eyes, only to come face to face with a lady perched on an unassuming crate.

Her striking appearance caught his attention, with her hair deep shade of blue, piercing red eyes, and mysterious bangs that concealed her right eye as if hiding a secret.

Confusion washed over him, for he couldn't recall seeing that crate before he had dozed off. Regardless of the strange circumstances, he mustered up the courage to reach out his hand towards the lady, silently pleading for a taste of the apple she was savoring.

The lady extended her hand towards the boy, her outfit showcasing a striking combination of red and black. She wore an off-shoulder top, along with a stylish workout jacket. However, instead of a zipper, the jacket had a unique touch - a black string necklace with a captivating gold plate hanging gracefully between her chest.

She swiftly brushed the boy's hand away, like shooing away an annoying insect Adjusting her duty belt with two leather bags on each side and a knife holder in the back, the lady composed herself. Stepping down from the crate, she confidently positioned herself in front of the boy, wearing her striking red and black heeled boots.

"Why are you always begging?" She asked, a hint of frustration in her voice. "I've noticed you for some time now, constantly going to that vendor to beg. Is it really worth it to be nice to people who couldn't care less about you?"

The boy was left in a state of utter shock, rendered speechless by the weight of his emotions. Although he longed to express himself, exhaustion had consumed him entirely. His heart ached as he confronted the truth in her words, acknowledging that she was not entirely mistaken. Dark thoughts of death began to swirl within his mind, amplifying his anguish.

"Ugh, fine. Don't get the wrong idea, but you seriously look pathetic," the lady reluctantly muttered to the boy, secretly feeling a twinge of sympathy. (I wonder if there's a restaurant nearby...) Trying not to let her concern show, she discreetly took the boy's hand and discreetly passed him an apple.

Despite his weakened state, the boy mustered up a little energy when he caught a whiff of the enticing apple, prompting him to summon the strength to move his body and take a bite.

He continued to enjoy the taste of the apple as if he were a hungry pig, but when he finished, he reluctantly rose from the ground. The apple provided him with some energy to keep going, but it failed to satisfy his hunger entirely. A wave of discomfort passed over him, and he wondered if his empty stomach was causing him to feel sick. The boy felt a deep sense of sadness and began to ponder whether there was any more food available to him.

The lady noticed that the boy was staring at her intently. She turned around and let out an exasperated sigh, feeling a mix of annoyance and concern. Thoughts began swirling in her mind, reluctantly admitting to herself, "I guess I have no choice but to help him. I can't just leave him here like this."

In a concerned tone, she told him, "Hey, get up you dummy. I'll fetch something for you, so quit looking like a complete idiot." 

Part2

The boy did what he was told and walked beside the woman. He wanted to hold her hand, like a child with their parent, but he tried to hide his feelings. Deep down, he was happy that she was taking him out to eat. As they walked, he started to wonder to himself: "Why is she helping me? What if she wants to hurt me? Can I trust her?"

The lady gripped the boy's hand, feeling the biting coldness as if she held an ice cube. With determined steps, she led him towards an unknown destination, a small pang of worry creeping into her thoughts. What if people misunderstood her actions, mistaking her for some kidnapper dragging a homeless child away? Annoyance welled up within her as she muttered to herself. "Ugh, I better not get caught by the S.S.U. I'm such an idiot for doing this. And with the military and soldiers all under one organization, it's even worse." Glancing at the boy, she added, her words sharp and tinged with a hint of concern, "If trouble finds us because of the S.S.U, I won't hesitate to leave you behind. Now, let's go."

He didn't know what to say, but the thought echoed in his mind: "Please don't leave me." Gripping the lady's hand tightly, a wave of sadness washed over him, realizing she was his only hope for a meal today. With each barefoot step on the rough concrete road, he struggled to keep up, hoping desperately that she wouldn't abandon him.

"I can't believe someone would abandon their child at such a young age. Ugh, some people really shouldn't be parents," the lady muttered under her breath, her voice filled with frustration. As she pondered the situation, she couldn't help but wonder why the boy had been abandoned in the first place. There was no tag symbol in his eyes, so he wasn't a tagged individual. It only made her more irritated, as if she wanted to give those parents a good smack. Spotting a tavern up ahead, she quickened her pace, tugging the boy along with her.

When they arrived, the boy remembered seeing the plywood house from the outside many times but had never stepped foot inside. His curiosity grew as he wondered what the inside looked like, and he eagerly longed to explore it. As his mind wandered, he also pondered what he was allowed to order.

The lady reluctantly told him, "Fine, just stick close to me. Don't even think about wandering off. And don't get any ideas—I can't guarantee your safety if anything happens in there." With a sigh, she turned the doorknob to the plywood house, revealing nothing but an empty room with a mysterious hole in the floor. Strange noises were emanating from the depths below, almost like there was some sort of party happening down there.

As the lady gracefully descended, the boy cautiously followed in her footsteps. While he descended, his gaze caught sight of a bustling tavern, adorned with flickering candles that bathed the room in a warm and inviting glow. Several patrons were seated at the bar, their eyes briefly fixated on the pair descending from above. But the lady, undeterred by their stares, responded with an icy glare that silenced their curious gazes. Upon finally reaching the ground, the boy recognized the faces of those in the tavern, their mocking laughter and taunting words echoing in his memory.

He clung onto the lady's pants and stayed close to her, much like a young child clinging to their mother's feet. The lady sensed that something was amiss and felt a surge of maternal instinct, although she couldn't quite understand what was happening.

She reluctantly intertwined her fingers with the boy's and led him to a nearby table, positioning herself next to him. With a subtle gesture of her hand, she caught the attention of the waitress, who was busy attending to other customers. After a brief wait, the waitress finally approached their table, and the lady hesitantly asked, "Could you possibly prepare a light meal for him?" Nodding in acknowledgement, the waitress hurriedly relayed the order to the man at the counter, instructing him to prepare a serving of bread with tomato salad for the lady and the boy.

The woman began speaking to the boy, asking, "Do you have a name, child?" However, he remained silent. As she observed him, thoughts of her own childhood flooded her mind, realizing that it had been 11 years since she was his age. This reflection brought her a sense of satisfaction, knowing she had made it this far. Impatiently, she began tapping her finger on the table, as if she were in a hurry.

The boy sat in silence, his gaze fixed on the table, lost in his thoughts as he waited for his food. A sense of discomfort overwhelmed him amidst the bustling crowd in the tavern. Doubts crept into his mind - maybe he shouldn't have come. Unlike everyone else, he felt different, an outsider. Being homeless meant he had no family or friends to rely on, no one to call his own. For so long, he had lived without a place to call home, but amidst his loneliness, he found solace in the one person who showed him even a semblance of kindness.

"Hey. Are you okay? You've been staring at the table for quite some time," the lady said to the boy, her voice laced with concern. Inwardly, she couldn't help but wonder about that troublesome Steen. If only he hadn't meddled, they wouldn't be stuck in this predicament. Now, she found herself playing the role of a guardian angel, fixing his mistakes. What a true fool he was. The thought alone was enough to irritate her.

The waitress approached the lady and placed the boy's food in front of her with a smile. She then attempted to offer the lady a drink, but the lady shook her head, declining the offer. The waitress then left, sliding a plate of bread and tomato salad to the boy.

The boy eagerly dug into the bread and tomato salad, savoring each bite as if he were dining at an all-you-can-eat restaurant. The flavors exploded in his mouth, bringing him immense joy. It had been a while since he had enjoyed a freshly cooked meal, so all his attention was focused on savoring every mouthful.

"Ah, it's good to see you enjoying yourself, but could you maybe take it slower while eating?" She let out a small sigh before continuing, "Well, I've got some things to finish up, so this may be goodbye for now." Then, she started pondering to herself, "I can't involve him in this, so I'll just have to leave him behind. The S.S.U will take care of him." Feeling a sense of satisfaction, she suddenly got up from the table, attracting the attention of everyone in the tavern. She turned around, facing the people behind her as though she were starring in a movie scene.

The lady shouted to people of the tavern "Ahem, listen up, you clueless fools at this sorry excuse for a tavern. The name's Jenni Hayes, from the almighty Hayes crew. Better burn that into your minuscule brains. I've come here to retrieve something your sorry lot stole from one of my crew members, so don't even think about playing dumb. And just so we're clear, I already know you're the infamous bandits Kulov. Don't push your luck with me, got it?"

The moment she mentioned their group name, everyone except the boy turned hostile, and the waitress swiftly brandished a concealed knife from her boots, lunging towards Jenni. But as the blade drew closer, a mysterious force paralyzed her, rendering Jenni immobile as if an invisible hand held her in place.

In a chilling scene, the entire tavern was frozen in immobility, except for the boy and Jenni. Jenni's voice dripped with merciless contempt as she addressed the paralyzed crowd, clutching a handcrafted hachimaki headband, its pure white fabric emerging from her duty belt. "Had you idiots not interrupted me, you might have had the chance to see another day," she whispered, her words laced with seething anger.

She tied the headband onto her forehead, pushing her hair bangs to the side so everyone could clearly see her right eye, which had a white skull as its pupil.

Part 3

The boy was paralyzed with terror as he struggled to comprehend the horrifying events unfolding before his eyes. He felt an overwhelming sense of fear and helplessness, unsure of how to protect himself. Seeking refuge under the table, his heart pounded in his chest as his eyes widened with fear. Shocked and horrified, he caught sight of eerie shadow figures of a lady on the ground, clutching the shadowy forms of the people in the tavern. Panic surged through his mind as desperate thoughts consumed him: "Please, don't let me die. I just wanted to satisfy my hunger, that's all." As tears streamed down his face, he caught the attention of Jenni, his cries echoing the terrifying reality that surrounded them.

"Why are you crying? Are you scared?" She said to the boy, her voice slightly softer than usual. Feeling a mix of confusion and concern, she couldn't help but think to herself, "Ugh, why is he crying? It's so annoying. But... maybe I should go over there and see if he's okay."

Tears streamed down the boy's face as he stood near the woman, terrified that she might harm him. Suddenly, someone who had been hiding behind the counter emerged, ready to provide backup in case the S.S.U attacked and when there weren't enough people to defend themselves. The man hurled an axe towards Jenni.

Jenni found herself shocked by the man's presence, but her quick thinking allowed her to immobilize him using shadow figures. Unfortunately, she didn't have enough time to prevent the axe from nearing her face. However, in that critical moment, a male-like figure materialized before her, taking the blow from the butt end of the axe.

Jenni was both shocked and upset when she discovered that someone had taken something important to her, but what really bothered her was the realization that the person who had come to her rescue was the boy she least expected. Overwhelmed by anger, Jenni impulsively used her power of shadow manipulation, causing the shadow figures to twist the heads of the tavern people.

The boy peacefully slumbered, his dreams whisking him away to cherished memories of his childhood, when he resided in a grand house adorned with the loving presence of his parents and newborn sister. They had been an extraordinarily joyful family, until tragedy struck - a devastating fire, ignited by a monstrous force, consumed everything they held dear.

He was startled awake by a sudden splash of water on his face. Confused and disoriented, he found himself in the midst of a dense forest, far away from the kingdom. Bewildered, he pondered, "How did I end up here?"

"Oh, you're finally awake," a fair-skinned man in his thirties said to the boy, a hint of bashfulness evident in his voice. He sat beside a tree, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and brown pants, as if he were concealing something beneath his clothes.

The man called out, saying "Hey, Jenni!" She snapped at him, saying, "What, Steen!" Within moments of her response, both the man and the boy heard the sound of rustling bushes, as something swiftly approached them.

The boy was frightened, yet the man appeared indifferent to his fear. Suddenly, Jenni emerged from the bushes, the source of the rustling sounds. She approached the boy, examining his forehead where the axe had struck him. Luckily, all he had was a small bump that would likely fade within a week or less.

Jenni let out a sigh, gently placing her hands on both shoulders of the boy. She then started shaking him lightly while voicing her concern, "Do you even realize how worried I was? Next time, please think before doing something so dangerous! I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you, you know? Ugh, you can be such a dummy!"

As he responded to her burst of anger with a simple "I'm sorry," the boy couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. It was a bittersweet moment for him, finally experiencing someone who cared enough to be concerned about him. Overwhelmed, tears welled up in his eyes, as he found solace in the release of his emotions.

"Anyway, I'll ask you once more: What's your name?" Jenni said, locking eyes with the boy. As tears streamed down his face, he managed a smile before looking up at her and answering, "My name is Hugo."

Jenni extended her hand to Hugo and greeted him warmly, saying, "As the leader of the Hayes crew, I, Jenni Hayes, officially welcome you onboard. Welcome, Hugo."