I was a fool

Jaeger's gaze sharpened. "Where did he go?"

"I—I don't know!" the bandit stammered, his shoulders shaking. "We were just following orders" His voice grew more desperate as Jaeger's eyes narrowed. "I swear! Please—please, I'm telling the truth!"

A thicker-built bandit beside him spat into the dirt, his lips curled into a sneer despite the trembling in his jaw. "Coward," he muttered.

Jaeger's gaze flicked toward the sneering bandit. "And you?"

The man stiffened, his sneer wavering. "Why would I tell you anything?" he hissed, trying to sound defiant, but the slight shake in his voice betrayed him. "He'll kill us if we talk. You think I'm scared of you?"

Jaeger took a slow step toward him. His shadow fell over the man's face, and the pressure of his Rhu deepened, like an invisible hand closing around the bandit's throat. The man's breath hitched, his face paling.

"You should be," Jaeger said coldly.

The man's eyes widened. His mouth opened as if to speak, but no sound came out. He dropped his gaze to the dirt, his body trembling as Jaeger's presence bore down on him like a physical weight.

"I—I don't know where he went…" the man choked out. "I swear! He told us to cause chaos that all"

Another bandit, younger than the others, whimpered from the back. His dirty blond hair stuck to his forehead, and his bound hands twitched behind him. "Please… We—we were just trying to survive. He promised us food, shelter—said we wouldn't get hurt if we followed orders." His eyes glistened with tears as his breath hitched. "We didn't know it would end like this…"

"Tch." Jaeger's eyes darkened. "You knew exactly what you were doing."

"Please!" the younger bandit cried, bowing his head to the dirt. "We—we had no choice!"

A sharp crack sounded as Jaeger's gauntlet tightened around the hilt of his sword. He turned toward the other prisoners, his expression hard.

"Survival is not an excuse for weakness," Jaeger said, his voice cold and sharp. "But betrayal… has consequences."

The prisoners stiffened, their heads lowering as the weight of his words sank in.

A guard stepped forward. "Sir, should we take them to the holding cells?"

Jaeger's gaze lingered on the trembling faces of the prisoners before he turned away. "Separate them. Find out who's loyal to their leader—and who's willing to talk." His eyes glinted darkly. "We'll see how long their silence lasts."

The prisoners' eyes widened in horror as the guards stepped toward them, pulling them to their feet. Some screamed, others cursed under their breath, while a few simply bowed their heads in resignation.

Jaeger watched it all unfold with a hard, calculating stare.

The city of Highvale was broken. But the reckoning had only begun.

Zed wandered through the city, his steps slow and aimless.

So this is Highvale…

They called it a state capital. A center of trade and power. A beacon of strength. I expected tall buildings, bustling streets, and the kind of wealth that reflects its status. But… this?

Zed's eyes narrowed as the harsh reality sank in. The city he'd imagined—alive with the chatter of merchants, the clinking of coins, and the colorful blur of busy streets—was nowhere to be seen. That image shattered the moment he stepped foot here.

He thought there would be pickpockets and petty thieves—something manageable, something normal. But this? This was suffering on a scale he had never seen, not even back on Earth.

The stench hit him first—a rancid mix of rotting food, sewage, and sweat. It clung to the air, thick and suffocating. The narrow streets were choked with mud and broken cobblestones. Trash piled in the corners, ignored by those too tired or too broken to care. Ragged figures sat slumped against crumbling walls, their hollow eyes flicking toward him for a moment before turning away.

A barefoot child stumbled past him, clutching a crust of bread like it was the last thing keeping him alive. His clothes were thin and torn, barely enough to protect him from the chill. His ribs pressed sharply against his skin. He didn't ask for help. He didn't even look at Zed. He just kept walking, as if he already knew no one would save him.

Zed's hands curled into fists. A sharp ache burned in his chest.

Nearby, a woman crouched by a dying fire, holding a bundle of cloth to her chest. Her hands trembled, and Zed's gaze sharpened when he heard the faint, shallow breathing coming from the bundle. A baby. Too thin. Too weak.

Zed's stomach twisted painfully. His throat tightened.

On Earth, poverty was a problem. Here… it's a sentence. A quiet death that no one even bothers to acknowledge.

And I… I was a fool.

How could I be so blind? How could I sit in comfort while these people—wasted away in the streets? I should have known better.

I feel the weight of their eyes on me—empty, resigned stares that carry no hope. They don't hate me. That would be easier. No, they've already accepted that I won't help them. That I'm no different from the others who sit in comfort while they waste away.

My jaw tightens. My breath quickens. A heat rises in my chest, sharp and unforgiving.

I've been blind. But now that I see it—I won't look away. Not anymore.

Zed clenched his fists. The weight of it all settled in his chest—a suffocating mix of guilt and anger. He had to change this city's future. No more turning a blind eye. No more excuses.

Before he could think any further, two familiar figures stepped into view.

The girl he had saved earlier stood before him. Her long, unkempt brown hair swayed gently in the breeze. Her hazel eyes, sharp and guarded, studied him carefully. Yet beneath that wary gaze lingered a quiet warmth—a fragile trust that hadn't yet shattered.

In her hands, she held a delicate flower with icy blue petals that shimmered under the dim light—the Glacier Blue, a rare bloom that only survived in Highvale's harsh climate. Tiny droplets of moisture clung to its edges, catching the faint light like frost.

She hesitated, then took a small step forward, extending the flower toward him.

"This… is for you," she said softly. "Thank you for saving me and my brother." Her voice wavered slightly, as if she were still processing the weight of what had happened.

Beside her, the small boy clung to her tattered cloak, his wide eyes filled with a mix of admiration and lingering fear. His thin hands gripped the fabric tightly, but his gaze never left Zed.

Zed took the flower, rolling its cool petals between his fingers. The chill seeped into his skin, grounding him.

"It's beautiful," he said, his lips curling into a rare, small smile. "What's your name?"

The girl straightened her posture. "I'm Lana, and this is my little brother, Rick."

Rick hesitated for a moment before giving Zed a timid nod. His small hands fidgeted nervously with the edge of his sister's cloak.

Lana's gaze held quiet curiosity. "And you?"

Zed twirled the flower between his fingers before answering, his voice steady and confident.

"Zed… Zed Ravenhert."

Both Lana and Rick's eyes widened in shock. Almost instinctively, they dropped to their knees, bowing their heads low.

"Forgive us, young lord!" Lana stammered. "We didn't know you were a noble… we shouldn't have spoken so casually."

Rick quickly followed, his small hands gripping the hem of his sister's ragged cloak. "We're really sorry!"

Zed's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched them. Then, unexpectedly, a light laugh escaped his lips—soft and genuine.

"Come on, stand up already. What's with the formalities?" His smile lingered as he shook his head. "You don't have to act like that."

Lana hesitated, lifting her head slowly. Confusion flickered in her eyes. "B-But… you're from the Ravenhert family."

"So what?" Zed smirked, crossing his arms. "I'm still human. And right now, I'm a really hungry one." He stretched, looking around the broken street. "Know any good places to eat?"

Rick's face instantly brightened. "If you don't mind, you can eat with us! We were just about to—"

Before he could finish, Lana placed a firm hand on his shoulder, stopping him. Her expression darkened, the light in her eyes dimming. She bit her lip, casting a cautious glance at Zed.

Zed caught the hesitation immediately. His eyes sharpened slightly, his smile fading. "What's wrong?"

Lana hesitated, her gaze flicking toward the ground. "Our food… it might not be to your liking, Lord Zed," she said carefully, her voice low.

Zed raised an eyebrow. Her tone was guarded, almost fearful. But he just grinned and waved off her concern. "I'm so hungry I could eat anything. Let's go."

She still seemed unsure, but as he was a noble, she had no choice but to obey. With a reluctant nod, she led him and Rick through the winding alleys of Highvale.