Chapter 1- I shall tell you a story

"Brother! Tell us a story!" Cute and excited voices of children rang in unison.

That was the first thing I heard when I just woke up in bed. Wait a minute… Children...? I live alone, don't I? I think I just dreamt of something… this feels surreal…

As I was about to ponder over it. A cute boy suddenly sat on my stomach.

"Oomph!" Caught off guard, I glared at the boy grudgingly as I sit up and place him gently on my lap. "What was that for?"

He looks very unique and cute at the same time. He has this Inky black hair and dark purple jewel-like eyes inside of each one has an eight pointed star as its pupil...?

"You are drifting off again, Brother! Do you not want us anymore?!" He pouted cutely and aggrievedly.

I was and am lost for words… do I know this cute yet weird kid? He seems familiar but not at the same time—another cute boy suddenly tugs at my shirt.

"Brother… is that true? You don't want us anymore?" He says aggrievedly, he has snow-white hair and golden jewel-like eyes inside of each eye seems like a helms symbol as its pupil…? The corner of his eyes seemed a bit moist as if he is about to cry.

"Uhh, no, no, of course not! Brother is just… uhhh… thinking about something…" Yup, I've done it and called myself their brother which I'm obviously not… I'm an orphan! And I don't have that relationships where I can call someone "brother" like a family!

At that, the white haired boy stared at me dead in the eye. Then the helms symbol inside his golden eyes suddenly had an fleeting ethereal glow… or is it just me? After that he suddenly says with certainty.

"You're lying; Brother is lying… Waaa!" He cried out loud. 'Seriously…?'

How did he know? I just felt uncomfortable around them since I'm used living alone… It's not like I don't want them entirely… Oh, dear… how to fix this? I'm not even their real brother...? And the black haired boy is staring daggers at me. If looks can kill, I would already be dead.

As I was thinking that, a fleeting ominous glow shone from the symbol in his eye as he stared at me dead in the eyes. Then it was all black.

***

"Uwahhhhhh!" I screamed hysterically as I get up from the cold hard floor with a ragged and torn blanket covering me.

'What was that…? A dream?' I wondered as I clench my chest, panting raggedly, and covered in sweat.

I vaguely remember meeting some cute kids and the symbol inside their eyes glowed… one told I was lying… and the other… did I black out? I don't remember anything…

"Huuu…" I breathed heavily to calm myself down. "It's just as dream…" I wiped my forehead covered in sweat with my forearms. "I can't believe I was scared by those kids in my dream." I said self-depreciatingly followed by a light laughter.

"Well then, I guess time to work?" I said to myself as I change my ragged clothes covered in sweat. Wash myself, maybe? But it is a luxury in the world I live in, clean water is used for drinking and to bathe I have to walk quite far to the nearest river that is accessible for us. And I can't have that it's not like I'll be doing 'that' work today anyways… Soo~, it's fine for today~.

Just as I was having an inner monologue I already changed and finished warming up my body or in other words exercising and stretching. You got to be efficient if you don't want to starve. That is a saying I quite like. Who said it? Me of course.

With that I stepped outside my house and was greeted by a depressing air. Yup, depressing. The people walking down the streets looks gloomy like they lost all hope, some are sitting on the alleyways near the 'bright streets' waiting for someone to give them money or food. The smell is also quite something but… Meh, you'll get used to it when you live here long enough.

As you guessed I live in the outer region of what they call slums or some shady guys who goes in here calls the 'lawless zone'. Rules are of no matter in the slums as they say among themselves. Which is partly true. How did I have an house, though lacking, for myself you ask? I inherited it of course. But that's a story for another day.

With that, I walked over then knocks on the door of my neighbor.

KNOCK! One time…

KNOCK! KNOCK! two times…

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK! three times… still no answer huh?

I smiled mischievously then shouted loudly, breaking the peace of the area. "Mrs. Lee! I've come to visit you!"

With my shout the door of the house flung open outwards, of course I dodged it elegantly with minimum movements like a pro…

I used to be a victim of that door… As I was reminiscing an old lady carrying a cane greeted me with a scowl she has an gray hair, wrinkled skin, but has a straight back, her facial figure suggest that she was quite beautiful during her prime.

"You, brat! You're becoming more and more unruly?! Should I shove some shits in your mouth to stop it from yapping so loudly in the morning?!" Rough language greeted me.

"I'd appreciate it if don't, Mrs. Lee." I said with a bright smile. You can't hit a smiling face after all.

She swung the cane she's holding downwards hitting my head directly.

BAM! She proved me wrong yet again.

"You think I was born yesterday to let you get away with only a smile, brat?" She said with a smirk.

I rubbed my head then looked aggrievedly at her. "Guess you're still lively, you old hag. You can pretty much be a palace guard with that cane of yours." I said playfully.

"Hmph, dare to call me an old hag? Want another taste of my cane, brat?" She said with a smug grin as she taps her cane just like a teacher tapping the ruler threatingly on her other hand.

"No, thank you." I said smiling, already recovered from that previous 'greeting'.

"Since I already visited you. I'm heading to work." I said after a brief pause.

Hearing that, one of her eye brow rose as she looks at me with doubt written all over her face. "What's this, leaving already? And which one of your 'works' are you doing today?"

"You're doubting me too much… I don't… do shady works… I'll be doing part-time today cleaning a bar… the one I usually tell stories to. Mr. Myers hired me part-time there, as a janitor."

"Myers? He hired you?"

"Yes. Since the bar has a strong smell of alcohol, I don't need to bath today."

"Tsk, even so, can't you wash up for formalities?"

"I did so yesterday. Besides, I don't smell." I answered shamelessly.

"Haaa, brat. Go." She said with her brows furrowed and a somewhat annoyed tone.

"Yup, going. Take care of yourself, Mrs. Lee." I hurriedly said hearing annoyance in her tone.

I ran off to the nearby alley. The scene I passed by were nothing sort of lively. A gloomy, shady, depressing area filled with filth and grime. Some places have beggars in their usual places trying to earn in their own way to put extra food inside their stomach.

Some may ask why are they here instead of out there in the 'bright streets' to try and beg? You think they didn't try? If they step out of the slums and into the 'bright streets' they will lose their benefits of rations that comes thrice per week.

"People of the slums are to be rejected by the society but when you stepped into the light, society will accept you and you must adhere to its rules." Some ruler of this country declared quite a long time ago. And it has yet to be changed.

In other words, once you stepped out of here its' either you'll starve to death or you find a job that'll accept you and feed yourself. And the most important part, live within the rules.

Nevertheless, there is one more way to get out of here and live a luxurious life in our standards. That is to have an authority over what you call "stories". But, again, that's a story for another time.

With that I stepped into the 'bright streets'. I have to cover my eyes every time I stepped outside because the lighting or what they call it…? the atmosphere…? is really different.

One dark and gloomy, the other bright and lively. Hence, they call it the 'bright street' because whoever stepped outside of the slums the first story they share is that, the outside street is very bright. I chuckled to myself. As I am reminiscing about those who told those stories as my sight regained its clarity.

Then I was greeted by a lively street. I used the alleyway that leads to the market area so it's very lively. Navigating my way through it I encountered a man trying to haggle or bargain the price of an hairpin.

"Tsk, tsk, 10 silvers? The shop over there sells it for 5 silvers. And you want to sell it to me for 10 silvers? 5, I can't go higher." The man argued as he tried to haggle the price.

"Really, sir? If that shop sells it for 5 silvers why didn't you buy there?" But the shop owner is unfazed. He responded sharply, of course with the business smile on.

"Grr, 6." The buyer relented.

"9." The shop owner says.

"7."

'Tsk, he's not used to haggling. He obviously didn't know the original price of the hairpin. The original price of that hairpin should be around 6 silvers.' I thought to myself.

"8."

"Ugh, fine, here." Says the man as he paid the shopkeeper the 8 copper coins then turns and walks away.

"Thank you for your patronage, please come again." Says the shopkeeper with an amiable smile.

'Yup, he got haggled back or should I say scammed... Now that's quite entertaining.' I chuckled to myself as I ran towards the bar. Where I'm supposed to work today.

The bar I worked is actually not that far where that haggling happened. The bar is named Pierre… Well, that's also Mr. Myers son's name. I come here every now and then, trying to earn some extra pennies. I'm now here for work though.

After a while I arrived at the front of the bar. Its nothing out of the ordinary just your normal bar it's also an inn in fact, with the big name of Pierre as its sign above its doors. I stepped inside the bar and was greeted by a heavy smell of alcohol and cigarettes. Some men are lying sprawled on the floor, scattered food and alcohol everywhere creating a mess. Some men are even drinking this early in the morning. Looking at this, although I'm quite used to it since I visit frequently I can't help but think.

'Are you guys for real…? Are alcohols an hangover drink now?!' Even though I thought like that I have a slight admiration growing in my heart…? Or not.

"All of you. Wake up, right now! And stop drinking!" My shout reverberated throughout the bar.

The ones who are awake stiffened, turned their heads towards the direction of the voice and glared at me.

'…wow, this experience… its' quite something…?'

After a while A huge guy stands up and walks towards me stopping just in front of me.

'I got to say his build is really like the city walls, tall, big, wide, imposing.'

"Thale…?" He said with uncertainty. Probably because he is drunk.

"Yup, its me." I smiled as I answer calmly.

"Thaaaale! Why did you suddenly leave last night?! You didn't finish your story!"

'Get yourself together… a big man shouldn't be this fussy? You'll easily ruin a persons' first impression of you at this rate!'

"Oh, I just… felt sleepy." I answered half-heartedly. 'Honestly I also don't know why.'

"You'll finish it today, right? Your story?"

"I'm here to work as a janitor. Mr. Myers hired me. So I'd appreciate it if you create less mess."

"Will do." He responds obediently.

"Where's Mr. Myers?" I asked.

"Thale." Just as I asked that a voice suddenly sounded behind me as a shadow blankets me. I looked back and saw an middle age man with a brown hair and eyes and a beard. Dressed in a loose shirt and pants. He has robust build still a bit smaller than the one who greeted me earlier. He's around 8 feet and the one who greeted me earlier should be around 8.5 feet. He grabbed a tobacco in his pocket puts it on his mouth then lights it up. He takes a breath in and released a puff of smoke before talking to me again.

"You're quite early." A grin creeped up to his face.

"Mhm, since it's the first day." I answered shamelessly.

"Tsk, so it won't be the same for other days?" Still grinning as he raises one of his eye brows.

"Sleep is important, Mr. Myers. Did you sleep well?"

With that we both laughed out loud.

"Cheeky brat. Saying things like that to your boss? And how can I have a goodnight sleep when you didn't even finish your story, brat?"

"Is my story last night that interesting? Gerald said the same thing." Gerald is the name of that hulking figure who greeted me.

"Bloody interesting. Now I know why you shouldn't read an interesting book before you sleep or in this case hear an interesting story."

"But what should I do Mr. Myers? I still have work to do." I said with a slight smirk.

"Trying to skip work on your first day? Not a chance. Clean this mess up first then tell your story… I'll give you a bonus." He said the last sentence a bit reluctantly.

"Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Myers!" I said with a bright smile.

Mr. Myers clicked his tongue then mutters. "Brat." Then sits in one of the tools in front of the front desk.

With that I speedily clean the bar. As I did so I became the very embodiment of effectively and efficiently. The bar was returned to its original appearance of being neat and tidy without drunkards lying on the newly cleaned floor. Where did I put them you ask? Although those guys were heavy I dragged them to a room in the second floor and left them there.

'Mr. Myers is surely going to charge them extra, hehe.' And now I'm dragging the last guy inside of that room. After dropping him off and wiping the sweat off my forehead with my forearm. I saw my reflection inside the mirror. Phoenix golden red eyes and a messy and wild platinum blonde hair that reminds you of a lion's mane that reaches down to my waist. I looked at my reflection briefly before I hastily ran downstairs to the bar.

I sat on a stool, crosses my legs, adorned with a mischievous smile on my face. I clapped my hands loudly to get their attention.

"Gather 'round, everyone! I shall tell you a story." I announced with vigor.