The child gave a timid nod, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Yes, that's me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Relief washed through Ryuzen. He had half-feared she might have already vanished deeper into the labyrinth of the city, swallowed by its endless crowd. But here she was, fragile yet alive.
She was strong, yes. But loneliness kills oneself From inside and out. He himself was the living proof of that.
He reached out, slowly so as not to frighten her, and gently placed his hand on her head. Her hair was cool beneath his palm, soft and unkempt. She flinched at first, then leaned ever so slightly into the touch, like a flower bending toward warmth.
"You've grown braver since that day," Ryuzen said softly. "But why are you here, all alone?"
The girl's lips trembled. She lowered her gaze to the ground, her fingers curling tightly into the fabric of her worn dress. For a long moment she could not speak, but then the words slipped out, fragile and trembling.
