Morning Realization

Neo woke to the usual sounds of the slums—laughter, gambling, and lively chatter. Stretching out his stiff limbs, he glanced out the window, expecting to see Althea at her usual spot, surrounded by people waiting for their morning meal.

But the cooking area was empty.

Rubbing his eyes, Neo frowned. "That's strange. She's usually here by now."

As he wandered down to the streets, a sense of unease began to creep in. The usual hum of morning activity was there, but it felt... off. A few slum dwellers stood near the cooking area, muttering among themselves.

"Where's the Queen?" one of them grumbled, arms crossed. "She's never late."

"Maybe she's sick," another suggested, concern flickering in his voice.

Neo approached cautiously, listening in. "A day without her food? This is going to get messy," he thought.

Hunger and Realization

By mid-morning, Neo's stomach began to ache with hunger. He hadn't eaten since the evening before, assuming Althea's food would be ready like always.

Looking around, he noticed a small stall selling bread. The scent of fresh loaves made his stomach growl louder, and he approached the vendor eagerly.

"How much for one loaf?" Neo asked, his voice casual.

"Three silver," the vendor replied, barely looking at him.

Neo froze. His hand instinctively reached into his bag, but he already knew what he'd find—just a few copper coins, barely enough for water.

"Three silver?" Neo repeated in disbelief. "That's... a lot."

The vendor shot him a sharp look. "You buying or not?"

Neo shook his head and stepped away, frustration bubbling inside him. "I don't even have enough for a single loaf," he muttered. "How does anyone here afford to eat?"

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

As he wandered back toward the center of the slums, the weight of his realization deepened. Althea fed dozens of people every day—meals far more substantial than a single loaf of bread. "How much does that cost her? And where does she even get the money?"

A Ripple of Discontent

By mid-morning, the absence of Althea's presence had started to affect the slums. Groups of people who normally gathered cheerfully were now restless, their conversations sharper and their tempers shorter.

Neo sat near a group of gamblers who usually spent their mornings laughing over dice. Today, the mood was tense.

"Guess we're skipping breakfast," one of them muttered, throwing the dice half-heartedly.

"Skipping?" another snapped. "You mean starving. This is what happens when you rely on someone else."

"Oh, shut it," the first one shot back. "She's done more for us than anyone. One day off won't kill you."

"Won't it?" a third voice cut in bitterly. "Not everyone here has a stash of food tucked away like you."

Neo watched silently, his curiosity growing. "One day without her, and the cracks are already showing. How much do they rely on her?"

The Argument

As Neo wandered further into the slums, he came across another heated discussion—a young man arguing with an older woman.

"She'll come back," the woman said firmly, her hands on her hips. "You just have to be patient."

"Patient?" the man snapped. "How can you be patient when you've got nothing to eat? People like you don't understand what it's like to have nothing."

The woman's face darkened. "And you think yelling about it will help? Maybe if you spent less time complaining and more time working, you'd have something saved up."

The man clenched his fists but said nothing, storming off in frustration. The woman shook her head, muttering under her breath.

Neo approached her cautiously. "Does this kind of thing happen often?"

The woman glanced at him, her expression softening. "No. She's always here. Every day, without fail. People have grown used to it. Too used to it."

Neo nodded, his brow furrowed. "It's not just kindness. It's dependence. If she's not here, this place starts to fall apart."

A Glimmer of Hope

Just as Neo was preparing to return to the inn, a familiar figure appeared in the distance, carrying a large sack over her shoulder. The slum dwellers noticed her almost instantly, rushing to greet her with relieved cries.

Althea smiled warmly, her presence immediately lifting the heavy atmosphere. "Sorry I'm late," she said, her voice gentle but tired. "I had to deal with something unexpected."

Neo stayed back, watching her work. Unlike her usual composed self, she looked slightly disheveled. There was a faint tear in her sleeve, and her hands bore fresh scratches. Despite this, her radiant smile never faltered.

"What happened to her?" Neo muttered under his breath, his curiosity deepening.

Neo's Observation

As Althea set up her cooking station, Neo noticed how the tension in the slums seemed to dissolve. The people, who had been arguing and restless all day, now gathered peacefully, laughing and chatting as though nothing had happened.

Neo couldn't help but admire her. "She doesn't just feed them; she gives them hope. But what's the cost?"

Pulling out his journal, he began to write.

"Lesson 18: Dependence is a double-edged sword. When people rely too much on one person, their strength fades. But sometimes, that reliance is what keeps them alive."

He closed the journal, glancing back at Althea. "She's holding up so much on her own. How long can she keep this up?"

Althea's Late Return

As the first bowl of food was handed out, Neo approached Althea cautiously. "You're late today," he said, his tone light but curious.

Althea glanced at him, her tired eyes betraying her smile. "I had to handle something in the city."

Neo raised an eyebrow. "In the city?"

She hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes. Supplies don't come out of nowhere, you know."

Neo decided not to press further, but her vague response only fueled his curiosity. "Supplies from the rich side? Or something else entirely?"

The Night's Reflection

Back at the inn, Neo opened his journal once more and added a final note for the day.

"Lesson 20: A single spark can light up the darkest places. But if the spark burns out… who will reignite the flame?"

He closed the journal and lay back on the bed, his hunger finally satisfied. But as he stared at the ceiling, he couldn't shake the feeling that Kurogane—and Althea—held secrets he wasn't yet ready to uncover.