It was already afternoon. The sky was still cloudy and the light had begun to fade, casting long shadows over the crumbling stone path. A gentle breeze brushed through Luca's hair, whispering through the beams and empty alleys.
Yet Evelyn still hadn't returned. He sat in silence, his gaze flicking toward the distance with growing unease.
It had only been a single day since he arrived in this strange world, but every minute felt foreign and unfamiliar. He wasn't used to this second life, nor to the pain in his leg that left him feeling useless.
If only he had a stick…
He thought.
Something to lean on. Then he wouldn't be such a burden.
But of course, he'd need Evelyn's help for even that.
What a contradiction.
Just then, a voice called out, gentle and familiar.
"Lu, I'm back," Evelyn said softly
"... Welcome back," He said.
"How's your health?"
"I'm fine. Where's Rin?"
"She's still nearby, probably on her way."
"Understood"
"Mm… I brought you bread."
Evelyn said softly, as she held out a piece of bread, half of one, to be exact. It had already been eaten. That much was clear. Yet she held it out with quiet pride, like shame had no place in love.
Luca stared at it, heart sinking.
Where did she get this? It's… already been eaten.
"... You eat that, sister. I'm not hungry," he said quietly.
"No. This is for you," she replied, her voice firm.
"This time, I won't eat it." His tone mirrored her determination.
"..."
"..."
"... How about we split it?" She suggested.
"... Alright."
She tore the bread in two and handed him one half. Luca took it gently and nibbled at the edge. He glanced at Evelyn and saw her eating faster than he expected.
He was starving. But the way she devoured her half, like she hadn't eaten all day, made something twist in his stomach. It wasn't just guilt, it was a helpless kind of grief. Still, he forced himself to eat.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed several homeless people watching them, eyes hollow with longing. Luca looked back at them, his gaze sharp and they looked away in silence.
Afterwards, Evelyn fetched a small wooden cup and dipped it into the river nearby. She drank quickly, then returned to Luca and held the cup out to him.
"Here."
"... Is it safe?"
"Um… People usually drink from the river…"
"Makes sense."
He didn't know much about the hygiene of this world, but if this was how they lived, then he had little choice. Still, a pit formed in his stomach, not from fear, but from sadness.
"Sister… where did you get this bread?" he asked softly.
"I… begged," she admitted, her voice small. "Near the city gate."
Those words struck him harder than he expected. A dull ache rose in his chest. Hours of humiliation for a scrap of bread. This world didn't just starve its people, it stripped them of dignity, one crumb at a time.
His hands clenched into fists.
"Is it… always like this?"
"Mm… You know, it can't be helped. Our kingdom is going through a great famine. The land's not good for farming. Most crops fail. Only a few cities can produce enough to sustain themselves."
"I see…"
"Mm…"
"Do we have any money?"
"Yes," she said proudly.
"I saved some for emergencies. Mom also gave a little money to me before she passed away."
Her tone softened at the mention of their mother.
Luca stayed quiet. The word "Mom" still didn't feel real to him.
"Can I see it?"
"Sure, here."
She opened a small pouch and showed him a handful of copper coins.
"We have around fifteen copper, I think.... And a hundred copper equals one silver. These are Ember coins. They're the standard currency in the Emberhold Empire."
Luca took a closer look and counted them. "Actually… It's twenty-three copper, not fifteen."
"You can count money, Lu?"
"Yes…"
"Wow, you could be a merchant someday"
She looked at him with wide, sparkling eyes.
"… I could teach you, if you'd like."
"Really?"
"Mm. Sit beside me, sister."
Evelyn plopped down next to him, her full attention on his every word. Though he couldn't do much in his current condition, at least he could teach her something. She knew how to count from one to ten, but beyond that, she was unsure. Patiently, he taught her the numbers.
"Eleven, twelve, thirteen…"
As they counted together, a question weighed on his mind.
"Sister… What about our parents?"
"In the past, we lived in a house in the Red district. Mom worked there and earned a lot of money. But one day, she got sick. The owner of that place abandoned us, and we moved to the slums. Her health kept getting worse… and she passed away five years ago."
"I see… and our dad?"
"I don't know. She never talked about him."
From what Evelyn shared, Luca could guess the truth. A mother who sold comfort to survive, and paid for it with her life. The truth didn't shock Luca, it just hollowed him. He could see now what Evelyn never dared name.
"I understand. I don't want to trouble you, but can you help me with something, sister?"
"You don't have to explain, Lu. I'm your sister. What do you need?" Evelyn said with a warm smile.
"I need a stick… something that I can use to walk."
"Okay. Stay here—I'll be back."
She waved and dashed off, leaving Luca with a small smile. That's when Rin returned.
"Hi, Luca!"
"Hello…"
"I forgot to ask earlier, are you hurt?"
"... Yes. I injured my leg."
"I see... Get well soon."
"Thank you."
A short silence followed. Luca wasn't much of a talker, and the moment grew slightly awkward. But curiosity pushed him forward.
"Is it… Difficult out there?" he asked.
"You mean begging?"
"Yes,"
"It's hard," she admitted.
"Things in the city are getting worse. And after yesterday's earthquake, people stopped caring about beggars. They're too busy dealing with their own problems. The inner parts of the city are still safe, though."
"Is the situation this bad in every city?"
"I heard some cities are like this… but others are rich. I heard of one that's like heaven compared to here."
"I get it now. Thank you for your explanation."
"No problem. So tell me," she whispered, leaning in with a grin. "Is your type... older girls?"
Luca blinked, caught completely off guard.
Where did that come from?
He had no idea how to handle a girl, especially one this bold. He grasped at the first excuse he could think of.
"Ah—my head hurts!"
"Huh? Are you okay?"
Her expression shifted instantly, mischief replaced by concern. She stepped closer and gently placed a hand on his shoulder, tilting her head slightly as she studied his face.
Luca is unsure what to say. Evelyn's voice cut through the moment like ice. Controlled. But every syllable carried a warning.
"Rin, stop bullying my brother…"
"Eh… I'm not bullying him, I'm just asking a simple question," her voice faltering as she slowly stepped back from him.
For a moment, Rin looked like a cat caught mid-pounce, ears twitching, playful grin replaced by sheepish guilt.
"Is it true, Luca?" Evelyn turned to him, arms crossed.
"Yes…" Luca muttered, unsure if that was the right answer.
"Hm… alright. I'll believe you—for now."
"Huh. What an overprotective sister," Rin chuckled.
Evelyn ignored her and returned to Luca's side with a sturdy-looking stick. He tested it, leaning on it carefully. It wasn't perfect, his leg still ached, and walking was hard.
But it was manageable.
At the very least, he wouldn't be a complete burden anymore.