Kindness Behind the Cold

Darian's words lingered in the air, heavy with something unspoken.

Ivaim almost let it drop, but something in Darian's tone made him pause.

Instead of pushing back, Ivaim simply tilted his head.

"Maybe not. But I know what kindness looks like, even when it comes from unexpected places."

Darian didn't reply.

His gaze flicked to the retreating figures of the homeless, their burdens lightened, if only for a while.

Before Ivaim could say anything more, a sudden commotion erupted down the street.

A desperate shout pierced the quiet evening.

"Thief! Someone stop him!"

A young boy darted through the crowd, clutching a small sack tightly to his chest.

His face was pale with fear as he weaved between the stalls, knocking over crates and scattering fruits across the cobblestone street.

The few merchants who tried to grab him missed by inches, their curses filling the air.