Lightrest City
Lightrest City, bustling with life, maintained order through its guards. Among them, Robert, the Chief Guard, held a reputation for strictness and intimidation. That day, he decided to patrol the Outer Street— a neglected area where outsiders from surrounding villages resided, hoping for better opportunities. Its proximity to the slums created tension, with many locals harboring disdain for the slum dwellers.
Outer Street was a melting pot of ambition and poverty. Outsiders from surrounding villages often came here, lured by tales of opportunity, only to find themselves on the edge of the city's infamous slums. The uneasy proximity bred tension. The locals looked down on Both outsiders and the slum dwellers, treating them as pests rather than people. The air was thick with disdain, and confrontations were all too common.
As Robert strode down the street, his sharp eyes caught sight of a young boy shoving another—a frail child dressed in ragged clothes, clearly from the slums. A girl stood nearby, her gaze filled with concern.
A flicker of interest sparked in Robert's eyes.
"You dare commit a crime here?" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.
The children froze. Windows along the street slammed shut, but behind them, cautious eyes peeked through the cracks.
Gary and Ashes hesitated, their instincts screaming at them to run. But before they could move, an invisible force—faint yet oppressive—washed over them. A pressure.
Robert's presence alone made their knees weak.
"You dare attempt murder?" His words dripped with mockery as he grabbed Gary by the collar.
"S-Sir, it's not like that!" Gary stammered, his face paling.
Robert sneered. "Hands on the wall. Now."
The boy obeyed.
He scanned at Ash's Young body and shouted. "You too."
Beside Gary, Ashes trembled as she followed suit.
Meanwhile, the slum child—Dusk—began to inch away unnoticed.
Robert frisked Gary roughly, searching for weapons. When he moved to Ashes, his hands lingered—brushing her shoulder and sliding down her arm. His fingers then brushed her legs from below and moved towards her skirt, their intent unmistakable. It was about to move under her skirt.
Gary clenched his fists, helpless. Ashes bit her lip, fighting back a scream as tears streamed down her face.
Then, a voice rang out.
"We were just playing!"
All eyes snapped to Dusk, who stood defiant, dusting himself off. His voice was clear, unwavering.
"Guard, they weren't doing anything wrong. They're good people."
Robert's brow twitched in irritation.
Dusk pointed. "And the one who pushed me was that guy! Why are you touching that sister?"
Gary and Ashes gaped at him. Gratitude and terror flickered across Ashes' face.
Robert's patience snapped. His fist shot out, burying itself in Dusk's stomach.
The boy collapsed, air knocked from his lungs, his tiny body curling inward from the pain. His precious loaf of bread tumbled from his grasp, landing in the dirt—ruined.
Before he could recover, Robert seized him by the neck, hoisting him off the ground.
"You're under arrest for suspicion of robbery," he growled.
Dusk gasped, struggling, but Robert's grip was unrelenting. His vision blurred, the world fading into darkness.
---
At Guardhouse
A Guardhouse is a local office where Guards work and perform their duties.
Dusk regained his consciousness a little, Faint voices drifted through Dusk's ears. It is sound of Chief and another unknown guy.
"The heretic treasure… Lightfall Mountain… Trust me… We can do this without the church noticing…"
Dusk's fingers twitched.
A whisper escaped his lips before sleep claimed him again.
"Dawn… don't go out…"
---
At Dusk's Home
Dawn whimpered in her sleep, clutching a thin blanket as tears stained her small face. She curled into Ash's lap, seeking warmth.
Outside, Gary stood, arms crossed. "We need to leave this wretched place."
Ash shot him a sharp glare, silencing him.
It had taken her an hour of pleading to convince Dawn to open the door. Even then, the little girl refused to eat at first. Only after much coaxing did she nibble on the fresh bread Ash had brought. A small jar of jam sat untouched beside her.
Ash's gaze swept over the tiny, shabby house, its worn wooden walls barely holding together. A pang of guilt tightened in her chest.
She wanted to take Dawn home. Keep her safe.
But her father's contempt for slum dwellers—especially demi-humans like Dawn—made that impossible.
Back at the Guardhouse
A gentle nudge stirred Dusk awake.
A young guard crouched beside him, holding a small cream bun.
"Hey, kid. You alive?"
Dusk blinked, groggy. His stomach ached, but the moment the sweet scent hit his nose, hunger overpowered everything else. He snatched the bun and devoured it in seconds.
"Thank you," he mumbled.
The guard ruffled his hair. "Don't worry about it. You're free to go. The parents of those outsiders spoke with the Chief."
Dusk nodded weakly. "I… need to use the toilet…"
The guard pointed toward the back. Dusk shuffled through a narrow passage, past stacks of discarded junk, until he reached the rundown latrines.
As he turned to leave, muffled voices caught his ear.
Instinct stopped him mid-step. He edged closer, straining to hear.
Robert's familiar snarl sent a chill through him.
"Just because I took their bribe doesn't mean I'll let those outsiders off easy," he sneered. "That little girl… I'll find her again."
Dusk's blood ran cold.
A second man chuckled.
Dusk took an unsteady step back—accidentally knocking over a loose board.
Clatter.
"Who's there?" Robert barked.
Dusk held his breath. His pulse hammered in his ears.
A rat scurried across the floor.
Robert exhaled in amusement. "Hah. Just a damn rodent."
Laughing, he strode off with his companion.
Dusk stayed frozen until their footsteps faded. Then, slowly, he crept out, his mind racing.
He had to get out of here.
Dusk's Home
By the time he reached the small house, his entire body ached. Every step felt heavier than the last.
But when he saw the door slightly ajar, his breath caught.
He burst inside.
His panic melted the moment he saw Dawn—safe, curled in Ash's arms.
Relief flooded his chest. His legs nearly buckled.
Dawn's eyes widened.
"Brother!" she squealed, launching off Ash's lap like a tiny rocket. She wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his stomach.
Warmth. Comfort. Home.
"You're okay," Dusk whispered, crouching down to hold her close.
"I was worried!" Dawn Mumbled with tears in her eyes.
"I'm here now," he murmured, brushing her hair and rabbit ears gently.
For now, at least, she was safe.