It was a chilly winter morning.

The sun glared bright upon a huge bustling city as light reflected off the snow layers.

The streets were crowded with people.

Human, beasts, demons, demis—all sorts of people were the inhabitants of this place.

It was a place of law and order, conflict was treated harshly.

Merchants were hawking their goods, horse carriages are a common sight.

In the skies, there were occasional flying artifacts or swords operating.

The businesses were operating as per usual that day, everyone was busy with their daily lives.

The street itself is the home to many people, houses can be found in many of the side streets and alleys.

--

One of the alleyways on this busy street was dark and decrepit.

Its width was not even wide enough for a carriage to fit through, the path was littered with trash.

This place does not look like a place where even a rat can live, not to mention any human.

A tiny little girl covered in mud and grime was crouched in a dark space by the side in this narrow alley, shivering in the cold.

Her clothes were tattered and torn.

Her hair was messy and unkempt.

Her arms and legs were bare-bones with scant meat.

Her eyes were clouded, dulled by the hopelessness of living.

Eyes that she wished had never open again.

She was sitting here waiting.

And waiting.

And waiting.

She used to be waiting for something or someone, but she no longer knew nor remember.

Thus, she just kept waiting.

For that one day.

One day.

To be found?

Or for it to end?

That question remains unanswered in her mind.

She could only do that one thing.

Wait.

--

Footsteps could be heard from a distance.

Thack. Thack.

That was weird, the girl thought.

People normally avoid this place, or there was no reason to come here.

There was nothing to be found, nobody around.

Thack. Thack.Thack. Thack.Thack. Thack.

The footsteps got louder and louder.

Thack.

Step.

Thack.

Another step.

The girl slowly counted each step in her mind.

Thack. Thack.Thack. Thack.Thack. Thack.

Twenty-seven...twenty-eight...twen-...

The girl stopped counting.

She could not count any more.

The sound stopped.

The girl waited.

And waited.

Why are there no more footsteps? she thought.

She slowly opened her weary eyes.

She noticed it was darker than normal.

The alley was normally pretty dark.

Was the sun already setting?

She decided to look upwards towards the sky.

The sky was still bright blue.

How weird there is something blocking the light.

Or is it somebody?

Will he¹In Chinese, both he/she is pronounced the same, just written slightly differently. take me away?

Or kill me?

Or ignore me?

Does that even matter?

The girl laughed to herself in her mind.

There was nobody to take, nothing to kill.

She was just that.

Void.

Emptiness.

"Hey."

A voice sounded out.

That is weird, who is he talking to.

"Hey, you."

The girl looked at the source of the voice, and then to her left and right.

There was nobody else.

"I mean you."

Me? She thought to herself.

The girl may not remember what she had been waiting for all this while.

However, she could tell she was not waiting for him.

Her mouth slowly opened.

-

No words came out.

Perhaps it was due to starvation.

Or maybe thirst.

Or maybe she had long forgotten how to speak.

"You cannot even reply to my words, huh."

The girl looked at the enormous figure that overshadowed her.

His face was dark, masked by the surrounding dimness.

Yet, the girl could tell he was troubled.

Both by his veiled face and tone.

"Hey, do you want to follow me?"

The girl was lost.

Follow?

Who?

Me?

I follow you?

The large figure shook his head.

"I am on a journey, one that lacks a destination. Do you want to come along? "

A journey?

As if reading words based on her expression.

He smiled and continued, " Yes, a journey. I happen to lack a companion. I am not sure what awaits me at the end, and you too if you choose to follow."

"So are you coming?"

A hand stretched out.

The girl looked at the hand.

She reached out to it.