She looks like an angel

Soren arose to the sunlight streaming in through the many cracks of the dilapidated shed he called home. He blinked a few times before carefully rolling to his side and looked at Risha. Her features were much softer in sleep, the lines that usually creased her brow replaced by the youthful appearance that matched those of her age. She looked simply beautiful.

Softly, he rolled off the lumpy roll of rags that they used as a bed. He shivered as his bare feet touched the cold ground. Quickly, he made his way outside the shed where a bent bucket full water that had frozen on the top lay. A strong stench of piss and decomposition of something that had been wholly unsavory even in life hit nostrils, from the moment he stepped outside reminding that he lived in the Gorgon slums, the poorest part of Avelon city.

Huge heaps of snow lay around, an indication of the arrival of winter.

Steeling himself, he broke the ice on top and plunged his entire head into the bucket; clearing his mind from any lingering sleep.

"Brrrrrrr!" he trembled from the cold water as he combed his finger through his thick wet hair dangling from his face to stop them from covering his eyes. he then moved inside to stand in front of the broken piece of mirror, rubbing his slightly bloodshot eyes as he examined his features.

Dull golden eyes stared back at him from his reflection on the mirror. he had a pale complexion and his cheeks were slightly sunken from years of malnutrition. Scars ran from his neck to the rest of his body. Some he could remember from the early days in the slums when he used to fight for whatever garbage food that had been removed from the city, but many of them had remained a mystery from the moment he had opened his eyes. He could only guess that something bad had happened to him and he was a bit glad that he couldn't remember it. The fact that they made him look hideous also helped make most of the slum people keep their distance from him.

"No they are more like scavengers than people." Soren snorted as he slipped a tattered shirt over his head.

"Soren, are you there?" Risha's soft whisper came from behind him. Brushing his thoughts aside, Soren turned around to look at her.

"Am here Risha."

She smiled when she heard his voice. She was not more than fifteen years old, about a year younger than Soren. She sat on the bed, her long black hair falling around a thin sharp-featured face. Her remarkably wide green, were sightless but active, sending their blind gaze wavering across the shed to the sound of his voice.

"Why are you up so early? You know the removal only happens in the evening." She said as she extended her arm to grope in the empty air in front of her. Holding her soft hand, Soren smiled as he kneeled before her. "Don't worry. Am just going to take a walk around the slums early and hop to find food or anything useful ."

"Are yo sure you are not just trying to ditch my lessons?" Risha pouted as she put her hands on her hips trying to look menacing. She failed miserably.

"Don't worry my lady, your lessons are the best thing that happened in my life. After all, yo are the one who taught me everything i know. Besides, am not sure I'll be able to survive once you unleash your anger on me." Soren smiled as he brushed a strand of hair from her face and planted a light kiss on her forehead.

"One day Risha, am going to become the greatest mage ever and have lots of riches. Then I'll bring the greatest healers to heal your eyes and ask you to marry me. We will escape to the mountains, buy a big farm and have lots of children, like twenty of them who look like you and me."

"Twenty children!"Risha exclaimed then started laughing as she gently pushed Soren aside. " You know this is like the hundredth time you've said that to me and every time, you continue raising the number of children. Okay, I'll try. But you my ugly husband, you have to awaken your soul power if you want to be a mage. And am not sure how you will do that if you continue to ditch my lessons."

"Am actually very handsome." Soren shouted as he stood up and left.

"Silly, I just want you the way you are." Risha whispered to herself as she held a ring, wound up on a thread around her neck. Soren had picked up the ring one day when he had been searching for food and immediately he had gone to her and proposed. At that time, she had taken it as a joke but now, it meant the world to her.

She never really knew about her real identity, only that Soren had found her unconscious five years ago as he was digging through the garbage removal, searching for left overs. When he found her breathing, he quickly carried her to his shed, where he tended to her needs till she could manage by herself. She had then been living with him ever since. The only thing she remembered were some lessons but nothing else. He named her Risha when she could'nt remember her name and she had in turn called him Soren. Her Soren.