Lucian was wandering the streets in search of some more treasures, his eyes open wide and searching. He was chewing on a piece of bread he had saved for the special occasion (dinner).
It was getting dark, but he didn't want to return to the church yet.
The orphanage had him as the only orphan, the rest of the kids would get recruited by nobles and families looking for loyal servants or knights to train.
The church wasn't a bad place, but Lucian didn't feel comfortable there. Not with the priests making him feel unwanted and always reminding him that they were doing him a favor by letting him stay with them.
Lucian had enough money saved up to last him for a while, and with his frugal nature, it would last him longer. Maybe he should start looking for a friend or a companion to ease the loneliness in his heart. His parents would like that, wouldn't they?
'You have no time for distractions, Lucian. Focus on earning money. You can't trust anyone. People will betray you the first chance they get. Don't trust them.' the voice said, making the boy frown.
'But...it's lonely,' he argued back.
'Loneliness is the best cure for weakness. Embrace it.' the voice insisted.
'But...' the boy tried to argue again, 'Can I at least have a pet?' he asked, his golden eyes looking pleadingly at nothing in particular, as if the voice was right in front of him.
'Fine, if it will make you shut up and stop whining.' the voice agreed.
'It will!' Lucian said excitedly, running off to find a stray cat or dog to take home. 'I'll name it Celine, after my first friend.'
'Friend?' The voice scoffed, 'She is not a friend. She used you to earn money, that's all.'
'Lalala, I can't hear you," Lucian sang as he ran forward, looking for the perfect pet on his way to the church, 'You are just jealous of my friend!' he declared, 'You will never be my friend, I hate you!'
'...Shut Up!' the voice shouted, causing Lucian to wince, 'Don't talk back to me, ever! I'm trying to save your life and you are wasting time on useless things! Idiot child!'
Lucian's eyes watered at the voice's anger, and tears streamed down his cheeks, 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you,' he sobbed, 'Please don't be angry with me.'
The voice didn't respond and Lucian cried himself to sleep that night. Curled up in his cold bed, he missed his parents more than ever before.
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Early the next morning…
Without the voice to guide him, Lucian figured that he could do without it. It wasn't like it was actually helping him anyways. But he couldn't shake the feeling that he was forgetting something important.
His memories weren't as sharp as they used to be, images of his parents and the time they spent together were starting to fade.
Lucian rubbed his drowsy eyes, looking around the large room with eleven empty beds. Hearing a familiar voice, he moved toward the window.
A few knights stopped by the church to recruit some new members, but the priest sent them away. "We don't have any more children to offer. Sorry," the priest lied, not bothering to mention Lucian.
Yawning and stretching, Lucian left the church to start his day, but this day would not go as usual, he decided. 'Mission looking for a friend starts!' he cheered to himself, 'Pets too! I need to remember pets too!'
The voice always reminded him to take advantage of the situation and this was one of those moments. Freedom of choice and action! He would be a fool not to take this chance to have fun.
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Lucian walked the streets, spotting the leaving knights.
A knight was a human that could face a shackled without a struggle depending on their rank. Their special training allowed them to channel their inner power and use it to strengthen their bodies and weapons.
Their ranks were divided according to their abilities, from iron, bronze, silver, gold, emerald, sapphire, ruby, to diamond.
Lucian was so lost in thoughts of knights and heroes, that he didn't notice a group of three kids surrounding him. It was rare to see boys his age outside. Most were busy training to become knights, or learning a trade under the tutelage of their fathers.
"Hey, look, guys. It's the only orphan left. Do you know what that means? He has no one to miii~iiss him," one of them said, and the others burst into laughter.
Lucian laughed along with them, "Good joke!" he commented.
Compared to the mean things the voice kept saying to Lucian, these three boys were like saints. He should make friends with them. Maybe they would let him join their group. That would be great. A gang of his own to play with.
"Are you trying to be funny?" The biggest of the boys asked, grabbing Lucian's shirt and lifting him into the air.
"...No...I was trying to be friendly," Lucian replied, "Really, I'm a good listener, and you seemed like you needed someone to laugh at your jokes. I'm here for you, brother."
"...Are you making fun of me?" the boy asked, and Lucian shook his head rapidly. The boy tightened his grip on his shirt, raising him higher.
"I'm trying to offer you my friendship," Lucian explained, "You were right that nobody will miss me if I'm gone, so I'm trying my best to make friends. Please, don't let me die without making a single friend."
"..." The boy let go of him, dropping him on the ground. "You are weird."
"I'm Lucian."
"I didn't ask for your name! And who the hell would want to be friends with a weak orphan?"
"...A benevolent soul?" Lucian offered, then when the silence stretched too long, he added, "An angel?"
The boy snorted, "Follow me," he said, and the rest of the kids followed him toward the slums like a bunch of baby ducks, with Lucian following last.
They were looking for a new target to pick on, and soon, a poor boy caught their attention.
They were laughing and throwing rocks at him while Lucian was standing there, watching it all happen.
"Why aren't you joining us?" the boy who had grabbed him before asked.
"He looks like he will turn into a shackled if you continue," Lucian commented as he finished the last piece of his bread, "I'm here to make friends, not enemies."