Home Sweet Home

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" Yelled a pale young boy with long brown hair and golden eyes. "It's just one piece of bread! It's not like it would be able to feed any of you overweight pigs!"

Behind the boy there was a number of adults chasing him down, "Quiet! A dog from the slums should just starve, unless you have money you don't deserve to eat." Yelled one of the younger, yet fatter of the group.

"If I really am a dog then none of you will be able to catch up to me!" The boy teased as his speed began to increase slightly. [I swear I'll get this to her...] he thought to himself.

After running for what seemed like ages through the labyrinth like slums, the boy made his way over to a dugout beside a stone wall. By moving a mat with the appearance of stone he was able to enter the small, dimly lit room.

"W-who's there?" Cried out a hoarse voice from further inside.

Putting the half loaf of bread onto a jagged protrusion on the wall he whispered to the voice, "Don't worry, Madeline. It's just me."

Those words seem to calm her down as no further response was made.

"How are you feeling?" He asked her.

"I want to go outside with you again, I want to play in the sun." She whispered back.

Getting closer to a dirty bed of straw and sod he shook his head. "So it's still the same?"

He received no answer to his question as he stood back up to leave. In response a small hand grabbed his old, well-worn shirt.

"I'll be back, I'm just going to go get us some water, go back to sleep and conserve your energy, ok?"

The hand let go as he grabbed a nearby pail and moved the mat away once again.

———————

It was nearing sundown when he finally made his way to one of the many wells scattered about the slums. Others had already formed lines to get their own dirty water as beggars and other abandoned children formed around them.

[I wonder how long it's been since being exiled from the family, I wonder how many more are just as unfortunate as we were.] he thought to himself while standing in line. [The order for getting anything in the slums was usually based off of your strength, rather than intellect, so kids, well people like me have to wait near the very end of the line. Especially in a place where any wound could be fatal, even with the low restorative magic. Because of this little fighting took place. More often than not, those who had a place at the front of the line were the vile creatures who had killed their predecessors using surprise attacks, backstabbing, and other such means. If only I had the strength to take such measures, I'd be able to return to Madeline faster. Even if it meant becoming a vile creature.]

Finally getting to the front of the line, the tall, brown haired boy was able to get himself a shabby pail of water. It was then that he heard some interesting news.

"Hey did you hear, kid? The king's youngest son is apparently possessed. He, well, Dyssineus is opening the warrior and mage schools to everyone. Think it's a trap? After all our numbers have only been increasing." Said the "guard" of the water well.

Shaking his head he responded, "Even if it was a trap, people like you would never be able to make it in. Training schools are reserved for children after all, that's when your potential to learn is highest."

"You know that's not what I meant brat! I want my son to enroll, at least then he could have a chance to get out of this hell hole."

Taking his leave he waved his hand to the guard, "Good luck with that, Marshal."

———————

Returning home, it was already nightfall.

"Hey, Madeline." He whispered, "are you still awake?"

In the darkness the little girl rubbed her eyes. "I am now," She whispered back with crumbs still on her small mouth.

"Alright, here's some water," he said as he grabbed a chipped bowl and filled it with water.

Like an animal she drank every last drop of the off-colored water.

"Thank you, big brother." She said before collapsing back onto the straw.

Taking a sip of water for himself he responded, "There's no need to thank me, it's what big brothers are supposed to do."

In the darkness, unbeknownst to Madeline his face showed a pained smile.

"Madeline, we can go back to school, if you want."

"No!" She shouted as she jolted herself up. "I-I don't want to be separated from you again! Please, please. I can't live without you!"

"Calm down! You know you can't move like that! It could make your illness even worse." He said, laying her back down. "Besides it won't be like before. This could be our only chance to leave the slums, and I promise you this, we'll never be separated again, not like last time."

"Promise?" She whispered.

"Promise." He reassured her.

As she fell asleep once more he looked into the entrancing darkness, [It's not like I can live without you either.]