Chapter 1: New Reality

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In a vibrant city where sunbeams dance upon majestic castle towers, painting them in a myriad of enchanting hues, lush green shrubs cascading from every wall, and bustling enterprises flourishing beneath these towering wonders.

In this city, there is a young child, around 5-7 years old, who wanders the streets. Covered in mud, with green hair and dirty brown skin that hasn't seen a bath in what seems like months or even years, he searches for something to eat. Despite the diversity of hair and eye colors among the people, they hesitate to approach or help him.

His hair, reaching down to his back, signified that it hadn't been cut in a long time. As he walked past, he noticed some children sitting on an iron bench, happily enjoying ice cream with their parents. The bench was located close to the street, and next to it was a wooden crate measuring 121.92 cm in length, 121.92 cm in width, and 203.2 cm in height.

The crates were mostly left by shop owners for the community to dispose of their trash, but unlike the other kids in the city, he didn't have a place to call home or a family to care for him.

He endures a heartbreaking reality where some people cruelly laugh in secret at his predicament, while others may empathize with his condition but fail to alleviate his burdens. Instead, he is subjected to violent expulsion from certain areas and given only spoiled scraps of food, leaving him in a state of despair.

Tears began to trickle down his grey eyes, resembling the vibrant hue of steelpans, triggered by his hunger.

His clothes were far from what a modern citizen would typically wear. His green shirt had been torn from the bottom, giving it the appearance of a ragged and sleeveless top. Similarly, his blue pants were dirty and only partially intact, resembling a pair of torn-off shorts.

The boy kept walking, passing by the various businesses located close to each other. He couldn't help but imagine what would happen if a fire broke out in one of them, as it could easily spread to the others. However, his main goal was to reach the vendors in the heart of the city. These roadside vendors attracted tourists from different countries and provided everyone with a source of fresh produce.

The boy wanted to meet some tourists near the vendors in order to find something to eat. While walking, he accidentally bumped into a man and woman who were strolling together near the stores, they relaxed and affectionate atmosphere suggested that they might be on a date.

The boy timidly apologized, but it seemed like nobody heard him. The man grew increasingly rude towards the boy, resembling a boss yelling at their employee for making a mistake.

The man was upset that someone who looked unpleasant touched him and his partner. Fueled by his anger, he forcefully pushed the boy into the dimly lit alley next to the store where they were standing.

The boy landed on the ground, hitting his butt first before collapsing onto his right arm, bruising it in the process. Thoughts of running away, calling for help, and fighting back flooded his mind. He knew that staying put would only put him at risk of getting hurt again.

The boy felt a deep sense of fear about what the man might do if he stayed near him, but he was also physically drained from the fall and found it difficult to get up quickly due to his weakened body.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" the boy pleaded repeatedly, desperately attempting to deter the man who wouldn't give him space to stand up.

Deep down, the man felt remorse but found it difficult to show forgiveness in front of his partner, as if he wanted to demonstrate his strength and commitment to protecting her from any harm. He tried to step on the boy to prevent him from getting up, but his partner intervened and pulled him away from the situation, understanding that too many onlookers were witnessing the tense encounter, resembling the build-up to a fight.

The boy realized that the man was gone, but no one came to check on him. He stopped trying to get up and simply lay on the cold ground, feeling exhausted. Going to the vendors area was no longer an option for him; all he wanted to do was sleep, as if it was his body's natural response to the energy he had lost.

As the boy found himself curled up on the cold ground in the dimly lit alley, a peculiar sound cut through his slumber - the unmistakable crunch of someone enjoying a bag of chips. He stirred and timidly opened his eyes, only to come face to face with a lady perched on an unassuming crate.

Her striking appearance caught his attention, with her hair deep shade of blue, piercing red eyes, and mysterious bangs that concealed her right eye as if hiding a secret.

Confusion washed over him, for he couldn't recall seeing that crate before he had dozed off. Regardless of the strange circumstances, he mustered up the courage to reach out his hand towards the lady, silently pleading for a taste of the apple she was savoring.

The lady extended her hand towards the boy, her outfit showcasing a striking combination of red and black. She wore an off-shoulder top, along with a stylish workout jacket. However, instead of a zipper, the jacket had a unique touch - a black string necklace with a captivating gold plate hanging gracefully between her chest.

She swiftly brushed the boy's hand away, like shooing away an annoying insect Adjusting her duty belt with two leather bags on each side and a knife holder in the back, the lady composed herself. Stepping down from the crate, she confidently positioned herself in front of the boy, wearing her striking red and black heeled boots.

 Stepping down from the crate, she confidently positioned herself in front of the boy, wearing her striking red and black heeled boots

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"Why are you always begging?" She asked, a hint of frustration in her voice. "I've noticed you for some time now, constantly going to that vendor to beg. Is it really worth it to be nice to people who couldn't care less about you?"

The boy was left in a state of utter shock, rendered speechless by the weight of his emotions. Although he longed to express himself, exhaustion had consumed him entirely. His heart ached as he confronted the truth in her words, acknowledging that she was not entirely mistaken. Dark thoughts of death began to swirl within his mind, amplifying his anguish.

"Ugh, fine. Don't get the wrong idea, but you seriously look pathetic," the lady reluctantly muttered to the boy, secretly feeling a twinge of sympathy. (I wonder if there's a restaurant nearby...) Trying not to let her concern show, she discreetly took the boy's hand and discreetly passed him an apple.

Despite his weakened state, the boy mustered up a little energy when he caught a whiff of the enticing apple, prompting him to summon the strength to move his body and take a bite.

He continued to enjoy the taste of the apple as if he were a hungry pig, but when he finished, he reluctantly rose from the ground. The apple provided him with some energy to keep going, but it failed to satisfy his hunger entirely. A wave of discomfort passed over him, and he wondered if his empty stomach was causing him to feel sick. The boy felt a deep sense of sadness and began to ponder whether there was any more food available to him.

The lady noticed that the boy was staring at her intently. She turned around and let out an exasperated sigh, feeling a mix of annoyance and concern. Thoughts began swirling in her mind, reluctantly admitting to herself, "I guess I have no choice but to help him. I can't just leave him here like this."

In a concerned tone, she told him, "Hey, get up you dummy. I'll fetch something for you, so quit looking like a complete idiot." 

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