Underneath a roof made of rubbish a young child wailed, yet his cries were drowned out by heavy, sulfur-colored raindrops pelting the cement. No passersby heard his cries. Even if they heard, they would still ignore the child due to his unkempt appearance.

“Shhhh. Don't worry, Tenny.” Another boy yelled over the roar of the rain. “We'll be okay.”

“B- but. It's loud, Luc.” The boy named Tenny replied through his tears.

Wrapping his arms around his little brother, Luc said, “Don't worry. I'm here.”

Downpours were a common occurrence in the area. That being said, sleepless nights came as no surprise for the two boys. However, the rain abated before sunrise and the pitter-patter of leftover water droplets lulled the younger of the two to sleep. Luc, on the other hand, gazed at his little brother held in his embrace. If ever there was a gaze to display brotherly love, it was this. No matter what, even if he had to sell his very soul, he would protect and provide for Tenny.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

At the end of the alley, a movement caught Luc's attention. A chubby man wearing black and white nylon attire stared back with unfeeling eyes. To that man, Luc and Tenny probably looked like no more than dust in the wind.

Before long, the man went on his way as though the two boys never existed in the first place. Perhaps some children would hold a grudge or spurn the world or some god for treating them unjustly, but not Luc. The only thing in the world that mattered was his brother. The only reason he had done everything in his power to survive was because he could not leave his little brother alone.

Carefully, he lay his brother down on the single dirty pillow they owned and pulled the similarly filthy blanket over him. Once he was sure his brother would not wake, Luc stood and strode toward the street. From there, he turned left and embarked upon his short journey toward Duke Ferall's palace.