Manasei woke before dawn, long before the sun's light touched the slums. Today was the day, make or break. The meeting with Zolf had been scheduled early, and he had intentionally chosen this time, ensuring no interruptions or excuses.

He lay still in the bunk bed he shared with Goneth, staring up at the dim wooden ceiling above him. For a moment, doubt clawed at him, but he quickly shook it off. Carefully, he climbed down from the top bunk without a sound, casting a glance at Goneth, who was still fast asleep.

Making his way to the small, cramped restroom, Manasei paused to look at himself in the mirror. His reflection greeted him with pale blue eyes that seemed brighter than usual, glimmering with a faint, unfamiliar hope.

Today is the day I make a life-altering decision.

Despite the weight of that thought, he felt oddly calm. It was as though this moment had been waiting for him all along, inevitable and unavoidable.

As he splashed water onto his face, he couldn't help but feel that this meeting with Zolf was more than just a simple step forward. It was his chance to leave this island, to sever the ties that had kept him anchored here for years.

Manasei had lived on borrowed time ever since he first stumbled onto this island half-dead. He had always known it in the back of his mind. The siblings, Goneth, Leneth, and Lily, had given him a sense of purpose, a fleeting reprieve from his burdens. But he also knew the truth:

I've been hiding here, shrinking from my problems. Using them as a refuge.

His face scrunched as he leaned against the sink, gripping its edges. The kids had saved his life, taken him in when no one else would. How could he even think of leaving them?

But deep down, Manasei understood. That wasn't the real reason he stayed. The truth was far uglier.

His past was a burden he could never shake. Its weight was like a mountain pressing down on him, a constant reminder of everything he'd lost, everything he'd failed to do. No amount of laughter or fleeting happiness with the siblings could erase it.

It haunted him every night, in the sleepless hours where guilt, shame, and powerlessness wrapped around his heart like a vice.

With one last look at his reflection, Manasei straightened.

This has to be done.

And with that, he stepped out into the cool predawn air, ready to face Zolf and the truth that awaited him.

Manasei wore his usual attire; a black compression shirt under a loose leather jacket, paired with baggy black pants and sturdy boots. Over it all, he draped a dark green cloak with a hood, casting faint shadows over his face. Strapped to his back was his metallic pipe.

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The meeting had been carefully arranged. Zolf had agreed to come to the slums, specifically to section 7, for the final transaction. It was quite a distance, but Manasei insisted. He wanted the elf to meet him on his own turf.

As Manasei dashed through the quiet early morning streets, his thoughts churned. His encounters with Zolf over the past few months replayed in his mind, one after another. At first glance, the orphanage had seemed perfect. The children were well-fed, happy, and safe. What more could he have asked for?

Yet something about it felt wrong.

Manasei couldn't put his finger on it, but his instincts were on high alert. There was a gnawing sense that something lurked beneath the serene exterior, a shadow he couldn't quite see but felt pressing against the edges of his consciousness.

'I hope I'm just overthinking this'

This unease was the reason he had insisted Zolf come to the slums. He needed the meeting to be on neutral ground, away from the city life. Deep down, Manasei wanted to believe that this would work out, almost desperately.

But he knew better than to let his hope blind him. Asking Zolf to the slums had been an act of caution, one he couldn't afford not to take.

Time flew by.

As he neared section 7, the familiar streets of the slums greeted him with their quiet desolation. His boots clattered softly against the uneven cobblestones as he adjusted his cloak.

Soon enough, I'll know for sure.

As Manasei entered section 7, the eerie stillness of the early morning greeted him. The streets were deserted, with not a soul in sight. The silence was thick, broken only by the occasional creak of a shutter or the distant rustling of the wind.

Manasei had chosen this specific location for the meeting, a dilapidated house on a nearly abandoned street. It was the perfect spot, away from prying eyes, ensuring their discussion would remain undisturbed.

Stepping into the building, the air was heavy with dust, and the faint scent of mildew lingered. The cracked walls and sagging beams bore witness to years of neglect. He spotted a broken chair and sat, his pipe resting against his back as he waited.

Minutes passed. The faint rays of the rising sun began to seep through the broken windows, casting long shadows across the floor.

Finally, a silhouette appeared at the threshold of the house, framed by the morning light.

The figure was an old elf. His appearance was striking, green, sparse hair atop a face that seemed to belong to a man in his fifties, though his long, pointed ears betrayed his true nature.

What caught Manasei's attention most were the elf's eyes. They were an unsettling shade of red, gleaming like polished amethysts.

The elf wore a black robe with intricate golden embroidery, and beneath it, a scar peeked out from his collarbone. His gait was measured as he stepped inside, his presence filling the room despite his wiry frame.

"Good morning, Sir Zolf," Manasei greeted, standing to grab a chair and setting it across from his own.

The old elf stepped further into the house, his crimson eyes scanning the dim, crumbling interior.

"I must say, young man," Zolf began, his voice carrying a trace of amusement, "this place feels rather ominous for a meeting meant to bring such joy."

Manasei chuckled, the sound dry and restrained. "You know my circumstances, sir."

Zolf sighed softly as he lowered himself onto the chair. "Indeed. So, how are the children?"

"They're good," Manasei replied after a moment, his tone measured. "But they could be doing much better."

He hesitated briefly, his gaze lowering. One of the many reasons he had pushed so hard to find an orphanage for the kids was his own inadequacy. Manasei knew he wasn't capable of teaching them what they needed to thrive. He didn't even know what it meant to be a child himself, much less a responsible adult. He believed they deserved more than the fleeting joys of survival in the slums.

"I see," Zolf said thoughtfully, his voice carrying a weight that made Manasei shift slightly in his chair. "To be honest with you, young man, I couldn't care less about your money."

Manasei's brow furrowed, but he stayed silent, waiting for the elf to elaborate.

"Don't misunderstand me," Zolf continued, raising a hand. "Getting funds to support the orphanage is always helpful. But that's not the reason I accepted your request."

Manasei's curiosity deepened. "The kids?" he ventured.

"Yes," Zolf replied, his voice suddenly firm and impassioned. "No matter who they are, I will always try to save as many as I can!"

The sudden rise in his tone took Manasei by surprise. He studied the elf closely, his cautious nature urging him to read between the lines.

"You probably find it strange, don't you?" Zolf added, his piercing gaze meeting Manasei's. "An elf like me, helping the dan'yor."

Manasei gave a small nod, his suspicions bubbling beneath the surface. "You have wealth, authority, and respect in this city, vast connections that few can claim. And yet, you still care for them. Yes, it's… puzzling."