When did it start?

No one remember or rather no one knew, but it all begun here.

thud!

A punch landed, and a man fell on his back.

Rin walked alongside the asphalt. Her long black hair was being concealed under the hooded cape she wore. Likewise, to Sheyn who was fallowing her behind.

The street was lively as ever street stall and its vendors selling goods and, in all honestly, some were steal goods were full of vigor, looking for possible customers. There was a shout here and there there and here.

Slum.

Just like what the name suggests, here fighting was just usual. It’s not an overstatement and it would be a joke if it wasn’t also. It’s a neighborhood with a very unsavory reputation. Living were different kind of people, from good to evil to angel to beast to consistency and inconsistency. Situated at the southernmost point of rafjahad region where didn’t have much geological advantage to living, its land had mostly become barren. But will really make you think though why these people still dare bear to live in this land when its life had faded away a long time ago. Well, the answer was too simple. But while it falls in the category that they don’t have much of a choice, it’s because the world was like this; the strong will be above the weak.

The two walked in tow with each other, slipping through the crowd of people mindfully. You could say to avoid any unnecessary trouble, since a little bump in the shoulder here may lead to a brawl. Still, neither of the two nor the mass of people in the surrounding did ever pay even little attention to the fight being waged nearby. And this just simply serves as a proof that fighting here was just usual.

Only then does Rin stop on her tracks looking at the sold goods of the stall. Sheyn took late notice (she was too busy gazing at the sold goods of the other stalls, fascinated) bumped into Rin on the back Rin, however didn’t really mind. She had gone through something more for a little bump in the back. Still, how many times was this already this day? A bit more and this girl certainly will be lying on her back now.

The girl, Rin, picked a couple of potatoes, and the vendor then notified her.

“That would be ten copper miss,” said the man, the grin on his face was wide.

“For a potato this size that seems overpriced.”

“Don’t you think so?” Rin brow knitted.

“Hey, hey! What’s that? You were in the slum, you know,” the vendor then, he snorted.

Rin didn’t take her gaze from the man. But while it’s true for a potato, those sizes were overpriced, Rin had to face it with face value since unwitting others were a logic here. She later on let out a sigh of resignation. Giving up knowing she couldn’t do much of anything.

“Kuku! Look at them go!” it’s a spectacle to the man the splashing blood and flesh. You know Rin still exist didn’t you? Was likely to shove to the man. He was gazing at the fighting. Someone once again went down.

Rin slips her hand in her side pocket, slipping ten copper coins out to hand to the man. She looked at her palm then; there’s nothing there…

…They were broke.

Rin got the potatoes in a plastic bag. But when she turned on her heels, all likely to head home, she could not find Sheyn around. Left and right she searched, still couldn’t find the girl. Where did she go? Did she get abducted all the way to being sold as a slave?! Well, while it can’t be denied that hypothesis was just too exaggerated for Rin, it wasn’t impossible taking into account how clumsy that girl was.

“How about this, miss beautiful? I’m sure this will suit you better.” the girl did not get abducted though or whatsoever, she was just in the neighboring stall gazing at the sold accessories.

To fail to see Sheyn, Rin was probably just too tired. She rubbed her forehead. Also, got tons of things running through her mind. Still, did she not know she was just being flattened for a sale? question Rin. Sheyn was blushing now and then at the man’s words.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Sigh. She sighed for the second time. “Sheyn.” she called for her.

“Y-yes!” startled. She immediately went back to Rin's sides.

“How about you, another beautiful?” this time it was Rin being called beautiful. “Pretty sure this will suit you.” Rin did not bother herself, just letting the words pass through her ears straight to the other. Still nonetheless, at least don’t be like a defected cassette that just kept repeating stuff! If got a lot of time or doesn't have anything to take care of, Rin would like to shove those following to the vendor. He just keeps repeating things to anyone he sees as possible Customers “beautiful” and “Suits” will make Rin laugh.

The man was still calling to them, though, even though they were already far enough.

“We’re broke.” muttered Rin. Sheyn nods. “We gotta find a job.”

“Yes!” agreed Sheyn, full of spirit, balding her hands into a fist. “So we can have something other than potatoes.”

“Stop being picky. You should be even grateful to be able to have some.” admonished Rin.

“I know, but don’t you have enough as well? Even your majesty does, although she’s not letting it show.”

“That is why we’re going to look for a job starting tomorrow, right?”

“That said, we gotta start early.” the two come to an understanding.

“Oh! But I got something in mind that will earn us a penny in no time at all.” What could it be? It’s just sound too good to be true. Rin owns the dialogue above.

Sound too good to be true or not, Sheyn bite it however “r-really?!” she inquired.

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“How about you sold that overrated breast of yours? That's just a nuisance, right?”

“H-how mean!” while she really was hurt, her two gigantic breasts jiggle up and down. “Why do you always see these breasts of mine like some sort of eyesore?!” Sheyn hugs those tightly. Meanwhile, it’s a punch for Rin. “Urk!”

“Rin-Rin…”

A vein of fury pulse cracked at Rin's temple. “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that way?”

“right back at you!” Just like that, the two then finally arrived at the edge of the slum where this run-down shack was located.

Opening the door of the shack without putting in much strength since it looked like it would crumble to pieces if much force applied Rin and Sheyn stepped in then. The two were still bickering, however.

“Welcome back you two.” greetings by a calm and gentle voice of a girl who was, however, obscured by a bamboo screen dividing the room into two. She greeted the two, genuinely happy on their return.

The two walk near to the bamboo screen and eventually knee one knee to the floor, head bows, solemnly.

“Yes. Your majesty.” Rin and Sheyn both said this at the same time, returning the greetings.

“So what is it?” she asks, but it doesn’t mean that she was in haste to know. While not that, she just feels the need to ask also and because it’s the common thing to do.

“There isn’t any problem at all, your majesty,” answered Sheyn.

“It is as Sheyn said, your majesty.” affirms Rin.

“I see. Anyway let me say this to you two that whatever may happen please think of your safety first.”

“That is just silly things to say. Your majesty, nothing comes first than your own safety.” retort Rin objecting. It’s not just Rin actually, including Sheyn. For them, nothing was more important than this girl’s life, apparently obscured by the bamboo screen.

“I know you two will say that, but please, I’m begging you. If something were to happen to you two, I would not know what to do. You were the only family I have.”

“Your majesty…”

“Such kind words.” Rin might not have the corner of her eyes wet like that of Sheyn she was delighted and grateful, also just like Sheyn. It’s not that because, however, she was that type of girl that didn’t often show what she really feels deep inside, Rin doesn’t.

“Of course, that also includes the sky.”

“Speaking of sky he’s return is getting late than usual.” he does.

Rin began to peel the potatoes. Her skill was showing up with how swiftly she peels the potatoes, one after another, and slicing it in no time, perfectly dice. What was she going to cook? What do you think? The answer was potato curry, but since they were broke, there’s not much as ingredients. It’s just going to be blunt thereafter. Surprise this when then where Rin's skills at cooking gonna showed up. Literally you will start hearing Voola! The pot was already prepared, and the woods were lit.

Just then, the wooden door of the shack slid open and someone then stepped inside. It was sky. His metallic silver boots sounded aloud on the wooden floor in a clang! And thud! Sky was a boy of the same age as Rin, 170cm tall, 5 feet and 7 inches. Under the garment, his back was wide, showing off his muscles. His hair was a color of pale blonde.

“Welcome back, sky,” greeted by the girl behind the bamboo screen.

“Yes, your majesty,” responds sky trotting off in the corner of the room to lay rest his sword that been hanging in his waist all day long now packed in its scabbard. He then walks his way to the other side of the room, fetching water for his parched throat. Gulp.

Rin through the corner of her eyes observer's sky, something off. She thought, Rin did with hands impressively, didn’t stop from what its doing, the curry was almost done. She immediately took notice that there was something off because when sky come home he always gives his greetings first than anything else to the girl behind the bamboo screen, kneeling one knee down on the floor. However, this time sky did not and rather went crossing the room corner to corner.

“How’s your walk sky?” unlike Rin, who had noticed that something was off, the girl behind the bamboo screen did not. She did not notice it. You could blame the bamboo screen obscuring her. It’s up to you, though.

Sky put down the glass, done watering his parched throat after the long day. “um…” he began stammering as if words got stuck in his throat and don’t want to come out. Or just the person himself didn’t know what to say or where to begin. “I don’t want and hate to break this to you, your majesty… but I could no longer reach our men inside.” sky's face distorted.

There’s a deep Silence. this time Rin hands literally stops. It only meant one thing after all.

"..."

“I-Is that so sky…” said the girl behind the bamboo screen, clear as the day her shock. Could not parse. It wasn’t just the girl behind the bamboo screen, actually even Sheyn on the other hand too. Just earlier her face had a joyful smile written all over it, but now, there was nothing as remaining of that joy. Like the past of pride which now got completely buried.

“I am very sorry, your majesty…” sky asks for forgiveness even though it’s no one's fault. Clenching his hands into a fist, balding it tightly, the guy also grit his teeth. He was really blaming himself. Even looking at it in the bigger picture, there’s really no one to blame.