The afternoon sun bled crimson over Crimson Reach, casting long shadows across the bustling streets.
A heavy carriage rumbled along one of the narrower merchant lanes, its wheels creaking under the weight of crates filled with spices, dried meats, and cheap enchanted trinkets. The driver, a weathered man with a thick beard, kept his eyes forward, but his shoulders were tense. He could feel it — eyes on him. Not the usual curious glances of passersby. Something sharper. Predatory.
High above, on the rooftops and in the deep shadows between buildings, five small figures moved like ghosts.
A young boy named Taikhan, crouched on the edge of a tiled roof, short black hair tousled by the wind, faint red eyes gleaming with excitement. At only twelve years old, he already had a muscular build that spoke of years spent climbing, running, and fighting for every scrap. His frame was compact but powerful — shoulders broader than most boys his age, arms corded with lean muscle.
He grinned, showing a gap in his front teeth.
"Alright, boys," he whispered loudly, voice full of cocky energy. "It's time. High risk, high reward. Let's make this one count!"
The other four kids — all around the same age, dressed in patched-up clothes and makeshift hoods — dropped from the rooftops like a pack of feral cats. They swarmed the carriage in seconds.
Two of them tackled the driver, small fists and elbows flying as they overwhelmed the startled man with sheer numbers and speed. The other three ripped open crates, grabbing anything they could carry — bundles of dried spices, small pouches of low-grade mana crystals, a few silver coins scattered among the goods. Nothing truly valuable, but enough to feed a street gang for a week.
"Grab the crystals!" one boy shouted.
"Move faster!" another hissed.
TaiKhan jumped down last, landing lightly on the carriage roof. He barked orders with the confidence of a miniature general.
"Don't leave a single thing behind! We take it all!"
One of the younger kids hesitated, clutching a half-filled sack. "TaiKhan, the guards will be around the corner any second! We gotta go!"
TaiKhan shot him a glare, faint red eyes flashing. "High risk, high reward! You think we eat tonight if we run with scraps? Keep loading!"
The boy who had spoken earlier — a skinny kid with messy brown hair — finally snapped.
"TaiKhan! We're going! You can stay and get caught if you want!"
The others grabbed what they could and scattered like rats, disappearing into alleys and over rooftops.
TaiKhan cursed under his breath but kept stuffing his own bag. He looked up just in time to see two patrol guards rounding the corner, weapons drawn.
"Oh no—"
The guards spotted him immediately.
"Stop, thief!"
TaiKhan grinned despite the situation. He swung the heavy bag onto his back and leaped off the carriage.
"Retreat!" he shouted to his already-vanished team. "My boys are the best at getting things done. Time for me to bounce too!"
He launched himself forward, the ground cracking slightly beneath his feet from the force. He sailed through the air, landing on a rooftop and sprinting across the tiles with astonishing speed for a child.
No one can catch me, he thought, laughing inside. I'm special. Unlike them.
He leaped higher, soaring over the crowded streets, the vast city of Crimson Reach sprawling beneath him like a living sea of red rooftops and glowing mana-lamps.
Then arrows whistled past — nets attached, fired by rooftop guards.
TaiKhan twisted mid-air, dodging one net by a hair. He dropped back down to street level, landing in a roll and sprinting through the crowd. People shouted and pointed as he blurred past.
"He's here! The little red-eyed brat again!"
TaiKhan laughed breathlessly. "Catch me if you can!"
He slipped into an abandoned carriage on a side street, pulling the door shut and holding his breath. Shouts and running footsteps echoed outside as the guards searched.
After a tense minute, he peeked out, then jumped down, bag still slung over his shoulder.
"Secured tonight's meal," he muttered with a satisfied grin.
He began walking casually, trying to blend in, until he noticed an unfamiliar figure ahead.
A tall man with flowing crimson hair walked through the path, his presence somehow making the crowded street feel quieter. He looked rich — expensive clothes, calm demeanor, golden eyes scanning the surroundings with mild interest.
TaiKhan licked his lips.
This one definitely has gold on him. If I speed right past, I can snatch a pouch before he even reacts.
He made up his mind.
Bending low, he launched forward in a burst of speed, arm stretching out toward the man's side pocket.
Mid-motion, the man's golden eyes — which had been looking straight ahead — suddenly turned downward and locked onto TaiKhan.
Time seemed to slow.
Indura looked down at the small boy trying to reach into his pocket, a faint, curious expression on his face. A thief? And so young…
TaiKhan's eyes widened in pure shock. He can see me?!
Indura stepped aside with effortless grace.
The boy shot past him in a blur, disappearing into the crowded street without stealing anything.
Indura watched him go, tilting his head slightly.
"How strange," he murmured to himself. "The children here are all like that?"
Just then, Shadow appeared beside him, silent as ever.
"Registration is complete," Shadow said respectfully. "We can prepare for tomorrow."
Indura smiled, clapping Shadow on the shoulder. "Thanks for handling that. I appreciate it."
Shadow nodded, then asked, "Why the sudden interest in competing? Your strength would be… overwhelming for most opponents."
Indura laughed lightly, the sound warm and relaxed.
"I just want to feel the weight of this world. The weight that the warriors here carry every day. Maybe I'll learn something from it."
Shadow allowed himself a small smile. "I understand."
Indura paused, then asked, "Did you just see a small boy run past here? Black hair, faint red eyes?"
Shadow shook his head. "I did not."
Indura shrugged it off with a casual wave. "Doesn't matter anyway."
The two continued walking toward the guild district, the bustling energy of Crimson Reach swirling around them.
Unseen in the crowd, TaiKhan watched them from a distance, heart still racing from the golden-eyed man's impossible reaction.
Who the hell was that?
A while later, in the eastern outskirts of Crimson Reach.
TaiKhan dropped from the rooftop like a shadow, landing lightly in the narrow alley behind a half-collapsed warehouse.
The safehouse was their kingdom — a forgotten corner of the city that no one else wanted. The building was old, its walls cracked and patched with scavenged wood and rusted metal sheets. Inside, the air smelled of dust, old sweat, and whatever food they had managed to steal that day. A few mismatched beds made from straw mats and torn blankets lined one wall. Small, wobbly chairs circled a broken wooden table that tilted dangerously to one side. In the corner, a messy pile of scraps — bent knives, cracked mana crystals, torn clothes, and random trinkets — served as their collective "treasure hoard."
The moment TaiKhan pushed open the creaky door, loud cheers erupted.
"TaiKhan's back!"
"Finally! We thought the guards finally caught your loud ass!"
Four boys were already sprawled around the broken table, laughing and shoving each other — dirty, energetic, and full of that wild street energy that came from surviving on their own.
TaiKhan grinned wide, dropping the heavy sack onto the table with a loud thud.
"Feast time, you lazy bastards! Tonight we eat like kings who just won a war!"
The boys swarmed the bag like hungry wolves. Dried meats, bundles of spices, a few small mana crystals, and even a couple of slightly bruised fruits spilled out. They tore into the food with exaggerated warrior energy — one boy dramatically ripped a piece of meat with his teeth while shouting, "For the glory of the Shadow Rats!"
Another raised a half-eaten fruit like a trophy. "To our fearless leader, who once again risked his neck for our bellies!"
Laughter filled the small room, loud and unfiltered.
TaiKhan dropped onto one of the wobbly chairs, tearing off a chunk of dried meat and chewing with satisfaction.
One of the boys — a skinny kid with messy brown hair named Renn — pointed at another with a grin. "Hey, look at Miko over there. Still dreaming about marrying Lady Phoenix. You really think she'd look at your scrawny face?"
Miko, a boy with a surprisingly strong build for his age, puffed out his chest. "Shut up! Lady Phoenix is the hottest woman in the south. One day I'll become a Destroyer and she'll notice me. You'll see!"
The others howled with laughter.
"Dream on, Miko! She'd turn you into ash before you even said hello!"
"Yeah, she'd probably say 'nice try, kid' and then set your eyebrows on fire!"
TaiKhan laughed along, but his mind wandered back to the golden-eyed man. He took another bite, then spoke up between chews.
"Hey… something weird happened today. I tried to snatch from this tall guy with red hair. He saw me. Like, actually saw me mid-sprint. His eyes were golden. He moved like it was nothing. Stepped aside like I was standing still."
The boys quieted a little, curious.
Renn raised an eyebrow. "Red hair? Golden eyes? Sounds like one of those crazy strong ones. You sure he wasn't a Knight or something?"
TaiKhan shrugged, but his faint red eyes were thoughtful. "Felt stronger than that. Way stronger. Like the air got heavier when he looked at me. I've never been spotted like that before."
Miko grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "Maybe he just has good eyes. Or maybe you're finally slowing down, old man."
The group burst into laughter again, throwing scraps of food at Miko.
TaiKhan waved them off with a smirk. "Laugh all you want. But there are some real monsters in this city. I think I just ran into one of them."
The conversation drifted back to easier topics as they continued feasting, the small room filled with loud jokes, shoving, and the simple joy of full bellies.
A while later, as the food dwindled, one of the boys brought up the Grand Bout.
"Tomorrow's the big day," Renn said, mouth full. "The Grand Bout. They say it's a death wish for the weak. Even Slayers get crushed there."
Miko nodded eagerly. "Yeah, I heard Destroyers sometimes show up just to watch. One wrong move and you're paste."
TaiKhan was quiet for a moment, chewing slowly. Then he said, almost casually:
"I'm entering."
The room went dead silent for a second before exploding with laughter.
"You?! TaiKhan, you're strong for a kid, but come on!"
"Yeah, you'll get stepped on by the first real Slayer!"
TaiKhan didn't laugh. He looked at them seriously.
"I'm not joking. I want to enter."
The laughter died down as they realized he meant it.
Renn leaned forward, worry in his eyes. "TaiKhan… the people fighting in the Grand Bout aren't like us. They're monsters. Even if you're fast and strong, they're on a whole other level. You could die out there."
Miko scratched his head. "Yeah, man. We steal to survive. The Bout is for people who want to die famous."
TaiKhan stared at the broken table for a moment, then looked up with a determined glint in his faint red eyes.
"I know it's dangerous. But I'm tired of just surviving. I want to see how far I can go. If I can stand on that stage… maybe I can become something more than just another street kid."
The boys exchanged uneasy glances, the playful atmosphere shifting into something more serious.
TaiKhan leaned forward on the wobbly chair, eyes bright with that reckless fire only a twelve-year-old street king could have.
"Listen," he said, voice full of excitement. "Even if I don't win the whole thing, think about it. If I make it to the higher stages, people will notice me. The big guilds, the nobles, maybe even Lady Phoenix herself. Recognition means jobs. Real jobs. Not just snatching pouches and running from guards."
He gestured wildly with a half-eaten piece of dried meat.
"Gold, too. Enough gold to stop living like rats. We could get a real place — not this broken-down shack. Proper beds. Food that doesn't taste like old boots. New clothes that don't fall apart when we run. I could take care of all of you. No more empty stomachs. No more hiding from patrols every night."
The room went quiet for a beat, the boys chewing more slowly as they pictured it.
Renn was the first to speak, grinning but with a hint of worry in his eyes.
"You're actually serious, huh? Fine. If you're dumb enough to jump into the lion's den, then go for it. But you'd better not die in the first round. I don't want to have to tell people my leader got flattened by some random Slayer."
Miko laughed, punching TaiKhan's shoulder lightly. "Yeah! And if you make it far, you'd better shout out the Shadow Rats when you win! 'This one's for my boys who steal better than anyone!'"
The group burst into laughter again.
One of the smaller boys, a quiet kid named Lir, spoke up with a shy grin. "Just… look out for the monsters, okay? I heard some Destroyers sometimes enter just for fun. If you see someone with glowing eyes or weird armor, run. Or at least don't punch them first."
TaiKhan waved him off, but he was smiling. "I know, I know. I'm fast. I'm smart. I'll dodge the big ones and wear them down. Trust me."
Renn leaned back, crossing his arms with a dramatic sigh. "We're really letting our leader do this. Fine. But we're finding the best spot to watch. And you better win at least a few matches, TaiKhan. If you get knocked out in the first round, we're never letting you live it down."
Miko grinned wickedly. "Yeah! We'll make signs. 'TaiKhan – Fastest Loser in the South!'"
The safehouse erupted in laughter again. Someone threw a piece of bread at Miko, who dodged it dramatically and countered by flicking a spice packet that exploded in a small cloud of red dust, making everyone cough and laugh harder.
TaiKhan wiped tears of laughter from his eyes, faint red eyes sparkling.
"You idiots. When I come back with a bag of gold and a reputation, you'll all be begging to carry my bags."
Lir smiled softly. "Just come back, okay? We need our loud leader."
The boys settled into comfortable chaos again — shoving, joking, planning ridiculous victory celebrations that involved stealing an entire feast from the noble district.
Outside, the red sky of Crimson Reach slowly deepened toward evening.
Inside the broken safehouse, five street kids laughed like they owned the world.
And their leader, TaiKhan, sat among them with a determined glint in his eyes.
Tomorrow, the Grand Bout would begin.
And a small boy with faint red eyes was going to step onto the biggest stage the South had ever seen.
Whether he was ready or not.