prologue.

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The woman couldn't take it any longer. It was awful and heartbreaking to watch. Her own flesh and blood bullied horrendously for her armband. After awhile, it hadn't affected her anymore, she learned to have thick skin. But that wasn't the case for her younger, more sensitive younger sister.

It had happened to be the girl's fourteenth birthday. It should have been a happy occasion. But the constant death glares from the Marleyans around them made it difficult to celebrate properly. For her day, all she had requested was a painting canvas, something that should have been easily accessible.

Passing through the bustling town was always a frightening experience. Everywhere they looked, hatred brewed in people's eyes. "The audacity," they would mutter.

Even still, the girls tried their hardest to mind their business and go about their day pleasantly. Upon entering the craft shop, however, the comfortable air of the place quickly froze.

With an inaudible sigh, the older of the two led the way to the painting supplies section. It wasn't long before their search was impolitely interrupted.

"Excuse me," the shopkeeper snapped, "just what do you think you are doing in my store?"

Keeping composure and a respectful attitude, the young woman smiled kindly. "Pardon us, sir. It's my sister's birthday today. We were just hoping to get her a proper canvas, if that's alright."

"It most certainly is not," he retorted snidely. "Go back to where you came from and don't come back."

"Please, sir, we mean no trouble—"

"Get out," the old man grumbled. "I'm not messing around, I'll get the police involved."

With a tight lip and straighter posture, she said, "I'll pay double. Please."

"You have no business being in a fine establishment such as this. Now you ought to leave, I'm not asking," he spat. "You little rats roaming our streets is already bad enough. Damn you, shameless Eldians. You shouldn't even be here. In fact, probably better off dead."

Shakily, the woman was about to flee when she witnessed a paintbrush fly through the air and land directly onto the man's nose.

Gasping in horror, she looked to her younger sister whose face had reddened with tears flowing from her eyes like a river.  "How.. dare you! I.. I am just as much of a person as you!"

The scowl on the man's face was comparable to a troll's. "You're going to pay for that. Let's see how much of a person you are when you're whipped like an animal."

Fear strung across the woman's heart as she looked between the glowering of her sister and the shopkeeper. Her head spun. Her shy little sister, never standing up for herself had picked the wrong time and place to finally do so.

"No.." she whispered, terrified as the man stormed to the front of the store and yelled down the street. Standing tall (for someone who was 5'2), she glanced down at her sister who stood trembling, a sob threatening to escape her mouth at any given moment.

"Look at me," she gently spoke. "I won't let anything happen to you.. but you have to trust me, alright? And go with what I say."

Her sister's tear-filled, ocean blue eyes reflected her bright emerald ones. "What are you talking about?"

The bell to the shop jingled as the heavy footsteps of an officer approached, the plump, angry old man following right behind. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked, his stoic facial expression signaling he more than likely would not be merciful to the young girl. The woman knew of too many Eldian children that had mysteriously disappeared.

And for those reasons, she stepped forward and folded her hands in front of her apologetically. "I am sorry, officer. Today is my sister's birthday and she asked for a canvas. I brought her here. This man rightfully so refused our services and spoke.. truthful words, that offended me. So I took it upon myself to pitch a paintbrush at him. Again, I apologize."

The elderly man didn't bother to deny her lies, whatever his reasons were. Or he had just forgotten.

The sister gaped up at the only friend she'd ever had, realizing what she had done for her. She cried some more.

The officer exchanged glances at all three of them, deciding the older girl's fate. Choices like that, however, were never made with ease. He was one of the few Marleyans that ever took pity on the Eldians that never got to be Honorary Marleyans, or ever shown any kind of humanity. "You'll have to come down to the station with me."

The young girl gasped so loudly that she nearly choked on air. "No, please, don't take her away!" she begged.

The elder sister squeezed the other's hand. "May I talk to her for a moment?"

The man approved and stepped away to talk to the ancient storekeeper.

"Why did you do that?" the teenager wept.

"Because I love you," the young lady whispered tenderly. "I will be honest to you.. I don't know what will happen to me. If they execute me for harming a Marleyan, it will be done privately. If not, then I'm certain you will hear from me soon."

"But.. but they can't!" the girl exclaimed. "I don't.. I don't have anyone else!"

"Shh.. listen to me, dear.. you were brave today. And I'm so proud of you for that," she smiled at the bittersweet moment. "Keep standing up for yourself. Keep being tough.. but remember not to be violent in those pursuits. I may not be there next time to stop these people."

"Where will I go?" she whimpered. "How will I eat?"

"I'm sure Mrs. Roland would take care of you. At least until you are of age."

"I don't wanna lose you.."

"And I don't want to lose you either, little duck.. so survive. For me. And I promise that we will meet again. I will fight until my last breath for you. I'll live, so we can see each other again."

"Why.. why do we live in this world..?"

A long pause endured. The young woman didn't know. She could make no logic of being punished for something that their ancestors had done thousands of years before.

"I don't know.. but until we figure it out.. all we can do is keep trying to move forward. Maybe even someday we'll know freedom.."

"Alright, you two. Time to break it up. Kid, I'll get you home first," he nodded to the young girl. "As for you, lady, well.. you have a rough night ahead."

this probably won't remain a thing for long lol but until i decide to delete, here y'all go 😂

also pls ignore how rushed this is i'll probably edit it later

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