The narrow alleys echoed with hurried footsteps.
A frail yet swift boy was running for his life. In his arms, a bag overflowing with freshly stolen groceries. Behind him, a breathless man shouted:
— Catch him! He stole from me!
Kayin, barely ten years old, darted between passersby. His heart pounded like a drum, yet his eyes gleamed with cold determination. He hadn't stolen out of pleasure. He had no choice.
He swerved sharply into an alley, climbed a wall with surprising agility, and threw the bag onto a rooftop. But before he could escape, the man caught up, flanked by two others.
— You little rat! Think you can steal from me and get away with it?
They lunged at him. Kayin dodged the first blows with remarkable quickness, even countering with his skinny fists, but he was too young, too weak. Within moments, he was pinned to the ground.
— Where are my things?! the man shouted.
Kayin clenched his teeth, refusing to answer. Every silence earned him another blow. His ribs burned, his face was bloodied, yet he endured.
— Leave it, one of the men finally muttered. This brat will die if you keep going.
Reluctantly, the man spat on the ground and motioned to leave.
— You're not worth it, filthy kid.
When the alley grew silent again, Kayin lay there for a long time, breathing raggedly. Then, with an icy resolve, he stood back up.
He climbed onto the roof, retrieved the bag of provisions, and before returning home, smeared himself with mud. The bruises vanished beneath the grime, masking the truth.
---
He walked until he reached a ruined village, scarred by time and by the massive crystals erupting from the earth. Some pulsed faintly, like dormant hearts.
Kayin entered a half-collapsed house. Inside were about a dozen ragged children, none older than six. A twelve-year-old girl, the eldest, was watching over them.
— I brought food, Kayin announced firmly.
The children rushed at him, laughing and crying, clinging to him as if he were their hero. Kayin forced a smile and distributed the provisions, but the girl did not smile.
Her eyes, wet with worry, fixed on his hidden injuries.
— Kayin… you got beaten up again, she whispered. Please, stop. I'm the oldest, I should be the one getting food.
He straightened, proud despite the pain.
— I'm ten years old, and I'm a man. You know I'm smarter than my age. If I get caught, I'll only take a beating. But you… a poor orphaned girl in these streets… if you run into the wrong people, we might never see you again.
She clenched her fists.
— You say that with such seriousness it scares me… But still, I'm the eldest, it's my—
— No. His voice cut through hers. It's my duty to get us out of this misery. Even if I have to leave one day to do it. But before that… I'll find a way to protect you all.
His words belonged to an adult, but his eyes remained those of a child.
---
The next day, Kayin returned to the city. A rumor stirred the crowd. Posters were being passed around:
"Wis Mori arrested for embezzlement and treason."
Kayin walked on. Further ahead, in an alley near the hospital, he saw some men throw something into a dumpster before leaving. Curious, he approached.
Among the trash, he found clothes. Not just any clothes: a black and gold outfit, adorned with a white-feathered cape, stained with blood. The same outfit Wis Mori had worn on the poster.
Kayin reached out… and felt a strange vibration run through his body. An inexplicable pull.
He left the city, found a stream, and carefully washed the outfit. Once dry, he slipped it on. The fabric, far too large at first, shrank instantly, molding perfectly to his small frame.
And then… an image burst into his mind.
A man appeared in his thoughts. His sharp features carried a gravity that demanded respect.
— By now, you must know who I am, the resonant voice said. But for clarity, I will say it. I am Wis Mori. If you're hearing this, then I am already dead.
Kayin's eyes widened.
— I used my final emotions, my very lifespan, to prepare this. What you wear is tied to my Resonance with the Etherium. These clothes will activate under two conditions: that the wearer feels nothing for me… or that he is the child of the only woman I ever truly loved.
The voice grew heavier.
— If you are not my child, then I beg you: find a woman named Kasi. Give these clothes to her son. If you are unsure, use the small needle hidden in the sleeve. If he is my son… then the clothes will react. And he will receive another message, meant only for him.
The vision faded, leaving behind a suffocating silence.
Kayin stood frozen, fists clenched.