* * *


    The man raised his eyebrows, then yielded under the stubborn, unwavering gaze of El.


    "Alright, alright. You''re right. Just don''t regret it later," he conceded, a hint of exasperation in his voice.


    "Hummpphhh…" El replied.


    "Tch, you kid. Started getting comfortable with me, aren''t you?" remarked the man, the edge of his lips raised into a teasing smile.


    "I''m always comfortable with you, sir," El replied earnestly.


    "Anyway, I''m leaving."


    "Now???" El''s voice plainly betrayed his reluctance to part ways, as he no longer bothered to hide his disappointment. The man had already become an integral part of his life in just one day, and there was a sadness at the edge of his throat, hanging inside, knowing he would be away for days.


    On the other hand, seeing El''s eyes glistening under the candlelight, the man looked away, tightening his gaze to avoid being swayed by El''s vague yet clear hopes for him to stay.


    "Yes, don''t go out when it''s dark outside. And arrive home before the day reaches the evening, or I won''t guarantee you will be safe by then," he said, changing the topic. He then paused, a thoughtful frown creasing his brows. "Hmmmmhh, now that I think about it, we don''t have a clock or any wristwatch, do we?"


    "There''s one in the plaza," El said calmly, his expression returning to normal like a facade of masks, hiding his despondency.


    Recalling their earlier stroll through the night market, the vibrant stalls, and the enticing aromas still fresh in his mind, El resumed his string of words. "I''ll just check on that big clock then."


    The man reached into his pocket once again, retrieving another small bag. From within, he produced a golden coin, its surface gleaming in the dim light as he tried to press it into El''s palm.


    "Mister, I don''t think I need this," El protested, instinctively putting his palms forward, refusing to receive it. The many silver coins were already too much for him; adding more would leave him incredibly indebted.


    "Well, just use it to buy a small watch at the market. You''ll find the shop near the intersection where we went to the market that evening. I know for sure you remember the way, right?" the man insisted, pulling El''s hands forcefully and then firmly placing the coin in the latter''s hand.


    "Uh…"


    "Just take it, boy. Your safety now is in my hands…"


    "… alright… wait, what do you mean by my safety is in your hands?" El asked, curiosity mixed with perplexity.


    "Nothing. Anyway, I''m leaving. Don''t go out of your door when it is already night. To be more specific, make sure you are back home before it''s five o''clock in the evening, understood???" The man''s tone was serious, his sight locking onto El''s eyes with an intensity that brooked no argument.


    "Okay. Understood…" El replied briefly.


    With a final glance, the man turned away and opened the door. Just as he did so, a sudden breeze swept into the room, carrying with it an unfamiliar chill that sent a shiver down El''s spine. It was a coldness, unlike anything he had ever experienced, stirring memories of a strange sensation from a dream he had long forgotten.


    The breeze danced through the room, then retreated swiftly as if it had come only to deliver a message. Or maybe, it had come and gone just to bring something with it. El watched quietly as the shadows within the room stilled, their restless movement somehow ceasing with the wind''s departure.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    After closing the door, the man engaged in an unseen action outside, a faint sound reaching El''s ears – resembling the brushing of something against the door''s surface. And then, silence enveloped the room.


    El, feeling the weight of the moment settles around him, subsequently crawled back to his bed. He closed his eyes, allowing the worries of the day to fade into the background. This time, sleep claimed him swiftly, enveloping him in its embrace until the morning light of the next day broke the horizon.


    * * *


    As dawn broke in the gentle embrace of morning light, the sky above stretched wide and clear, painted in soft hues of blue. The air was filled with the cheerful chirping of birds as their songs took flight, their melodies weaving through the gentle rustle of leaves. People strolled along the pathways in the city, some briskly heading to work, while others, including a few elderly souls, took leisurely walks, savoring the crisp morning air as they engaged in light exercise.


    Subsequently, the scene gradually shifted, zooming into a quaint alleyway where a small, one-story wooden house stood. Its weathered exterior was adorned with patches of peeling paint and tattered shingles. Meanwhile, El was located in his room, sitting on the wooden chair where he was absorbed in his writing.


    The soft creak of the chair accompanied his focused movements, while scattered books lay on the table, their pages fluttering open. Sunlight filtered through a nearby window, casting gentle shadows that danced across the space, illuminating the cozy yet slightly messy room.


    Stopping his hand in the middle of his motion, El leaned back in his chair, letting out a weary sigh that escaped his lips. He tucked his pen behind his ear and gazed up at the ceiling, where a jagged claw mark marred the plaster – it was a silent trespasser that had taken up residence there without so much as an apology or a thought to pay its dues.


    "Sigh, it''s not like I''m paying the bill myself," he muttered under his breath, a hint of irony lacing his words.


    "I wonder if I''m starting to go crazy, or if I just miss that uncle."


    It had been a week since ''that man'' he now called uncle, had vanished into the night, leaving El to navigate the solitude of this house alone. Yet, fortune seemed to be smiling kindly upon him – if he were to say it – as his frugality had served him well this time; for how a poor kid like him managed home finances.


    The bag of ''silver riel'' gifted by the man that night still brimmed with coins, more than half untouched, with only a few silvers spent over the past seven days.


    In stark contrast to his days of hunger in the village, where every meal was a real struggle between life and death, the simple act of eating in moderation felt like a luxury and a bliss in itself. Even the cheapest bread in the city was a <i>''gracious revelation''</i> of how delicious it was – compared to the tree bark, grass, and sun-dried innards of trees that had once constituted his daily meal. The best fare from all of it in the village had been wheat stalks – often devoid of grain – which now seemed to be a distant memory to him.


    ''It tastes weird too,'' El thought, a wry smile tugging at his lips. He and one other last kid in the village always had a <i>dust-up''</i>


    over those stalks as they could keep them fuller for a whole day than the other foods. He never knew until he was here – living in the city – that those <i>''things''</i>


    were not even considered food at all.


    Though he indeed admitted, that he sometimes really wanted to eat until his stomach was about to burst, just like when he ate with that man. He reasoned that this was something only those who had been on the brink of death due to starvation would understand.


    With a deliberate motion, he removed the pen from behind his ear and closed the notebook filled with his thoughts. He tidied the table and then set about organizing the entire room; each action was a kind of small ritual to reclaim his space.


    And that was a cool way to defend himself from leaving his bed strewn around like that. Well, he readily acknowledged being a messy guy, as he never once bothered to tidy up anything upon waking up – since there was essentially nothing where he used to sleep before.


    "Alright, time to go!" he said after completing the <i>''rare tidying''</i> that took half an hour.


    Taking his gray jacket from the top rail of the chair, he rummaged through the pocket and extracted the wristwatch with the steel chain, then peered at it. El nodded to himself.


    ''Just at the right time. I have a good feeling today that the uncle at the bakery will give me another discount,'' he thought, with an expectant smile hanging on his lips.


    This time, though, he decided to venture outside, as he had resolved to visit the restaurant once more. For these past few days, his routine had revolved around reading, writing, and wandering the streets of Mirthwater City. He kept his explorations close to home, still being mindful of the man''s advice to return before the sun dipped below the horizon at five o''clock.


    <i>And today – was the day when everything truly began for him.</i>


    * * *