บท 9: Shadows and Schemes: Chapter 9 Midnight Discourse
The Blood Pupil glanced briefly, catching sight of the infant girl and the beggar boy, and spoke with a tone of utter scorn.
"Human, did she have anything to do with you?"
The beggar boy didn't respond. His cold gaze remained fixed on the infant's face.
However, after ten seconds, he suddenly hugged the baby tightly and started to run.
The Blood Pupil said nothing more, merely watching the boy with a cold, resolved stare.
The Blood Pupil stayed silent, just watching the little beggar with a cold stare.
After the beggar boy ran through three alleys, the chain from the handle pulled back, sliding the dagger into his arm that was wrapped in chains.
…
Now it was late at night. The city of Senag was dark and quiet like a "city of death." Everything was covered in snow – streets, buildings, signs, carriages – all white.
But under a bridge, there was a spot with old cloth around it. A soft orange light came out from this simple shelter, making a warm spot in the cold.
Inside, there was dry grass on the ground and a wool blanket he robbed of from a beggar who had died of starvation in the cold.
The tent was sealed with newspaper stuck with glue from a government office trash bin.
In a corner, a dim oil lamp with a bad smell burned. The boy got the oil after three beggars fought for it.
The baby girl lay on the grass, not looking well. The boy covered her with the blanket. He got a water jug, stepped out, and filled it half with river water.
But the boy stood by the river, not moving.
"Hey, kid, what's wrong?" the Blood Pupil's voice came in his head, but he didn't reply.
He just looked at the dirty water, the wood, the dead dog nearby, and the mud. Then, he looked at the snow coming down.
He dumped the water out. He cleaned the jug with snow from the ground, shook fresh snow into it from the bridge's handrail, and went back under the bridge.
He built a simple stove with bricks, took some dry grass and wood from the tent, and started boiling the snow.
The snow turned into water and steamed. The beggar boy coughed; he was thirsty. Losing a lot of blood made him desire the hot water.
But he waited, then carefully took the water off the stove.
This water… it was clean, not like the dirty river. It was precious, made with the little oil, wood, and grass he had. The steam seemed to call to him— "Come on, drink. We're so clean and smell good. You do want to drink us, right?"
Thirsty, he leaned down and blew on the water to cool it.
He brought the jug into the tent, got under the blankets, and held the baby girl. He dipped a clean straw into the water and gave it to her.
The warm water made the baby girl open her mouth. She was hungry and thirsty, weak from fever, and needed food.
"Goo… uh… waa…!"
The baby's sounds surprised him, but then he got an idea. He took out a piece of bread, looked at it, then at the baby. He waited, then chewed a piece, mixed it with his saliva, made a paste, and fed her.
A bit of bread paste, a sip of water. She was so hungry so ate eagerly. She finished the jug of water. She seemed full and satisfied, her head fell to the side, and then into sleep.
The beggar boy thought, then opened his clothes, put the baby against his chest, closed his clothing, and covered them both with the blanket. He sat against the bridge wall and turned off the lamp.
That night, everything was black…?
No!
One color stayed awake and sharpening. As the warm light went out, the color of blood woke up!
"Kid, we're free now, and we can finally have a proper chat."
The beggar extended his right hand from under the blanket. There, among the chains, the black dagger was faintly visible. And that blood-stained pupil shone with a dazzling light inside the small tent!
"Hupm, first, human child, I want to know something. I've gotten some of your character from observing, But before I introduce myself properly, I need you to answer my question."
"…"
"Is this little girl related to you? If not, why don't you just leave her instead of taking care of her? Depending on your answer, I'll decide whether to continue helping you or to look for another host to awaken."
The blood pupil widened larger, giving off an endless panic force. In its presence, any hint of guilt for evil could be completely devoured by this eye!
"Because she can be made use of. And for money."
The young beggar said coldly, without hesitation.
"How?"
"She can be sold. Girls can be sold for providing service. But boys wouldn't."
The blood pupil stared at the young beggar, followed by silence.
But before long, the blood pupil spoke first: "Hmm… you mean to the brothel?"
The young beggar nodded. Very straightforward.
"Hey… I see. Human child, I don't see any deception in your eyes. Very good, your answer pleased me. Well then, let's properly introduce ourselves. What's your name?"
The young beggar looked at the blood pupil but didn't respond.
The blood pupil puzzled, seemingly dissatisfied, "Hey, I am asking, what's your name?"
But there was silence again.
"Kid, it seems you aren't really cooperating, huh?"
"...No. I just don't have a name."
The beggar spoke coldly but sincerely.
"No name? Ha? Aren't you kidding me? What did your parents call you?"
"Idiot, brat, or asshole"
"And what do people around you call you?"
"Thief, beggar, fungus."
The meaningless conversation continued for a few rounds. After several rounds of conversation, the blood pupil stopped asking any questions with a weird mood, and the young beggar didn't respond anymore.
They stared at each other again, the red and black eyes latched in a gaze, while the baby girl in the young beggar's arms felt the warmth of being held tightly and began to breathe more steadily.
After a while…The attitude and tone of the sword seemed subtly changed.
"Alright, kid, let's get to know the basics. How old are you?"
"Ten."
"Good. Your father?"
"Dead."
"Oh? How did he die?"
"Robbery, killed by soldiers."
"Interesting, do you want to revenge for him?"
"No."
"Then why not? He's your father after all."
"Why should revenge for relation?"
"... Fine, then, How about your mother?"
"Dead."
"!? Also dead? So how did she die?"
"killed for her prostitution fee."
"Do you want revenge for her?"
"No."
"How old were you when your parents died?"
"Father at five, mother six."
"Who took care of you for the next four years?"
"Myself"
The conversation stopped again, and the beggar and the blood pupil resumed their stare. The blood pupil was even surprised to have found such an unlucky but ideal child for him to hold onto.
"Hey… I mean, could you just talk a bit more? I ask much but you just answer with the least words as you could, it's too brief."
Then, silence fell once again, the young beggar didn't even make a sound.
"Fine, I got the basics. You have no parents, not even a name, and you barely talk. Hmm… right, tell me, how did you come to possess me?"
The young beggar paused for a moment. He lowered his head to glance at the baby girl in his arms. She was sleeping soundly, but the fever seemed to linger. Seeing this, he gently dragged the blanket to wrap himself and the baby girl tighter.
"A couple handed you to me. Now they have dead."
"Oh?" The blood pupil suddenly became interested.
"And did that man say what I am called?"
"the demon sword, the Sword of the Devil Emperor"
"Ha, the Sword of the Demon Emperor? I'll take that name then."
The young beggar stared at the blood pupil, emotionless. The Blood Pupil snorted back,
"Wait, what!? Sounds like you don't believe that's my name, do you?"
"Don't believe."
"Ha, fine, neither do I. But at this stage, there's no need for me to tell you my entire history and name. You just need to follow my orders, and in time, I will grant you honor and wealth beyond your wildest dreams on this continent… actually, on any continent. By the way, what is this continent called?"
"The Continent of Sorrow."
...
Then, darkness and silence came again.
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