"I'll follow you."
Klaudia raised her head slightly, her emerald eyes shined brilliantly like the stars that painted tonight's dark sky.
Without hesitation she tugged my shirt in attempt to drag me somewhere.
"I'll be at the dining table if you need me."
Old man Aldo added.
I gave up and decided to follow Klaudia's lead to wherever she has in mind. Though my heart still thumped at the thought of the consequences that may fall on us.
She had led me to a long corridor, at the end of it we turned to the left and before us is a set of stairs that led up, possibly to the second floor, maybe even the rooftop?
Climbing the stairs however, proved to be a challenge for her childlike body. Out of pity, I lowered my body, low enough to be on her eye level—offering to carry her up the staircase by spreading my arms wide open.
"You have gentle but tired eyes mister."
"What do you mean by that?"
She didn't give an immediate answer. Instead, she walked right into my arms and clung onto me tightly. Now with Klaudia in a shoulder hold, I slowly advanced up the stairs with caution.
"I don't know..."
Her reply was late, almost as if she was gathering her thoughts about the question. But for a child to not have a solid answer for my question was no doubt, not a surprise.
"It's fine... I'm sure I'll be fine after I go to this place you're taking me, Klaudia."
After a few steps up, we arrived at the second floor.
"This is where me and my siblings sleep."
"Do you all sleep together in one room?"
"No, Klaudia gets her own room."
"Your brothers?"
"They too."
The second floor had a long corridor decorated with a few paintings hanging on its fading, sage green painted walls. There were four sets of doors. Upon seeing this, I felt the need to ask Klaudia.
"Do you have another brother? Or sister?"
"Yesh."
"Where are they now?"
Before answering, her demeanour became gloomy.
"They went misshing."
"Did they used to sleep up here too?"
"Yesh... I mish brother Faro."
"I'm sure brother Faro is safe and sound."
"Really?"
"Why of course. You shouldn't think that he'll be missing forever. Instead, you should think that he'll come back. That way he'll be home much faster."
Her face brightened once more.
"You're smart brother Jean."
It was a lie, a comforting lie. I'd be lying again if I said I don't feel bad but it's the only thing I can say at the moment.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Climb up again brother Jean."
And climbed up I did.
At the top of the staircase was a white, degraded door with a few cracks emitting light from whatever's behind the door. Cautiously, as to not drop Klaudia, I twisted the rusted door knob and pushed the door open.
*CREAAAK*
Behind the door was something I didn't quite expect.
"Can you put me down brother Jean?"
I lowered myself, letting Klaudia climb free from my shoulder hold while my gaze was still stuck at what lies before me.
"Klaudia?"
One voice called out.
While another sounded confused.
"Huh?"
"Brothersh!"
Klaudia yelled out, sprinting towards her two brothers sitting by the ledge on their chairs, their backs facing the door.
She jumped onto Kiran's hunched back, hugging him tightly and lovingly rubbing her pudgy face on him.
"Where's gramps?"
Kiran asked while giving a soft, genuine smile.
"This kid... Who knew he could make that kind of expression."
"He's downshtairsh."
"Wha— did you climb the stairs yourself?? I told you not to do that, it's dangerous."
"No, no, brother Jean helped me."
Instinctively, he turned his back slightly, just enough to see me standing by the door. His eyes widened and as quickly as he locked eyes on me, he averted his attention towards Klaudia instead.
Evans, who just so happened to see Kiran's futile attempt to ignore his victim behind the both of them, called out to him in an irritating, teasing tone.
"Someone's ashamed"—his volume becoming louder— "am I right mister!?"
Kiran snaps and pinches Evans' lips in an attempt to mute him. Evans' muffled screams escaping only caused Klaudia to giggle.
Seeing the surprisingly bright night view of the town along with the trio eased the tightness in my chest. Klaudia was right.
At the sight of the three of them, it reminded me that spending time with a sibling—even if they're not related by blood, was something I never got to experience growing up. Nonetheless, I was quite grateful that I didn't grow up with a brother or sister, it would've been a nuisance but, maybe—just maybe—I was wrong.
I couldn't help but smile.
While walking over to the three, I clapped my hands.
*clap, clap, clap*
In a congratulatory tone, I spoke out.
"The thief was smart, but no more than a peasant. How unfortunate."
Klaudia's little giggles turned into loud uncontrollable laughs. It was no doubt that she was having the time of her life with all these teases.
A small, muffled laugh escapes Evans' still pinched lips.
We are the crowd, laughing at the jester, Kiran.
"What a nuisance."
Kiran blurted out softly, so soft that I don't think Evans even heard it before giving a long sigh of utter defeat, pulling away his hand and restoring Evans' right to speak again.
Afterwards, Evans swiftly adjusted his glasses and offered his seat to me—prompting me to accept and sit down. Then, he got up, tipping his imaginary hat at me before walking over to a stack of dusty old chairs, carrying two chairs stacked on top of each other back.
The chairs were placed to my right instead of the left, a wide space between me and Kiran.
"Could you please scoot over a bit?"
"Ah, I see what you're doing."
I agreed, scooting over only a bit but just enough for me to stretch and spread my arms out.
"You'll sit here princess."
"Alrighty brother Evans."
Kiran was silent, his gaze was focused on the wonderful view before us. The town itself was brightly lit with lamps, emitting a warm hue that may, hopefully instill a sense of comfort to the people sleeping on the streets.
I couldn't blame him as I was also starstruck by the view, admiring the beautiful architecture of this other world.
Klaudia and Evans conversed but it was more like background noise to me. Maybe it was the same for Kiran at this moment?
Jean knew this town like the back of his hand. But even so, a man can't truly have all of the knowledge on a certain subject—he didn't know who lit up the lamps. His storyline simply never said he had to stay long enough to meet the lamp lighter. It was a limitation set on him.
I couldn't help but wonder who the lamp lighter is.
I figured that other than Jean, these kids must also know just as much about this town.
"Who lights up these lamps?"
"A human. "
"Oh my, finally talking now are we?"
To my surprise, the one who gave me the reply was Kiran himself. Though the reply was… not that much of a help.
"Why so nosy about it?"
"Everybody has a nose no?"
"I want to strangle you."
With his back leaning on the chair, he pinched the bridge of his nose, almost as if there was something restraining him from telling me the answer. Eventually, he gave a reply.
"It's gramps."
"Ah…"
I couldn't give an immediate reply. There was a momentary silence between me and Kiran.
With Aldo being a lamp lighter—assuming he's the only lamp lighter, then that would explain why he was coincidentally where me and Kiran were. Realization soon set in, the old man must be really tired, hence why Kiran was trying to get money from me. It was a speculation of mine, but maybe it has the slightest truth sprinkled on it.
Kiran was first to break the silence.
"Sorry. Again."
Unlike before, his apology was honest, it wasn't long but carries weight. That alone was enough for me to accept it.
"It's fine. I understand…"
Even though I was struggling no more than him, I couldn't help but feel obliged to lend a hand.
"Kiran."
He turned his head to my direction, his eyes reflected the bright warm hue of the town's light.
"Hm?"
"Get a job."