Naïve Saintess I

As I walked deeper into the slums, disappointment settled in. The people here weren't just down on their luck—they looked utterly defeated. Heads hung low, shoulders slouched, and every movement screamed caution. It wasn't the kind of careful you'd expect from someone minding their step; it was fear, plain and simple.

These people weren't glaring or plotting. No, their eyes darted around, full of worry. They weren't scared of me personally—they were scared of what might happen if they so much as brushed against someone like me. Messing with a noble in this city was the fastest way to ruin their already miserable lives, and they all seemed to know it.

"This place feels like a whole other world compared to the commercial district," Alicia said, her voice tinged with disbelief. She glanced at me, her expression questioning. "How can you call these people sinister? They just look like they're barely hanging on."