5

Dai couldn't believe his eyes as he entered the bustling city of Brux City. The sheer size of the towering buildings and the bustling streets overwhelmed him. He felt like a tiny ant in the midst of a giant anthill. The bustling crowds of people rushing about their business almost knocked him off his feet, and he had to be careful not to bump into anyone.

As he made his way through the crowded streets, an array of new sensations bombarded him. The pungent aroma of exotic spices mixed with the smells of street food filled the air, making his stomach growl with hunger. He heard the cacophony of sounds that emanated from the city, from the clanging of metalworks to the sounds of street musicians playing their instruments. Dai's eyes darted around, taking in all the sights of the city: the vivid colors of storefronts, the intricate designs of buildings, and the people dressed in all manner of clothing.

He felt exhilarated and a little intimidated all at once. It was a far cry from the quiet village he had grown up in. Dai walked through the city, mesmerized by the energy and vibrancy around him. The constant flow of people and the rhythm of the city were infectious, and he found himself energized by it.

As he walked, Dai's ears caught the sound of a melodious tune floating through the air. He followed the sound until he came across a small group of people gathered around a street performer. She was a young woman, dressed in a simple but colorful outfit, playing a lute and singing with her eyes closed. He noticed the crowd was varied in their ages, some swaying gently to the music with their eyes closed, while others just watched with contented smiles.

Dai's ears perked up as he caught the alluring melody of the street performer's lute. Intrigued, he made his way through the crowd to see the young woman in action. Her fingers danced along the strings of the instrument, producing a sound that was a fusion of folk and classical styles. As she began to sing, Dai found himself captivated by her voice. It was ethereal, with a power that seemed to transport him to another world. Dai stood there, completely transfixed, as the music washed over him, a pure and unfiltered expression of the artist's soul. With his eyes closed, Dai felt the music resonate in his chest, each note a physical sensation that he could feel throughout his body. It was a moment of pure magic that he cherished every second of.

The final note of the performer's lute echoed through the streets, and the crowd erupted into a thunderous applause. Dai pushed his way through the throngs of people until he was face-to-face with the young woman. Her eyes sparkled with joy and gratitude, and Dai felt a warmth spread through his chest. He complimented her performance, marveling at the way her fingers danced over the strings, coaxing out a beautiful melody. As he reached into his pocket for a few coins, he noticed a glint of movement out of the corner of his eye.

Before he could react, a small hand darted out from the crowd and snatched his wallet from his back pocket. Dai spun around, his heart racing with confusion and anger. He saw a young boy darting away, his feet pounding the pavement as he weaved through the crowds. Dai knew he couldn't let the thief get away. With a burst of adrenaline, he sprinted after the boy, dodging people and obstacles as he chased him down. The sound of the performer's lute faded into the distance, replaced by the pounding of Dai's feet and the boy's laughter.

The thief darted around corners and down alleyways, leading Dai deeper into the maze-like streets of Brux City. Sweat beaded on Dai's forehead as he tried to keep the thief in sight, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He could feel the panic rising inside him as he realized that he couldn't let the thief get away with his wallet. It contained all of his savings, which he couldn't afford to lose it.

Dai's heart pounded in his chest as he watched the thief disappear into the narrow alleyway. He knew he had to catch him, but his sense of dread only grew stronger as he approached the dark alleyway. As he entered, his eyes scanned the area, looking for any sign of the thief. Suddenly, he saw movement out of the corner of his eye, and he turned to face a group of thieves. Dai's stomach dropped as he saw the knives in their hands.

"What am I going to do?" Dai thought frantically, his mind racing as he assessed his situation. He knew he was in trouble, but he refused to give up. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts, and braced himself for the fight of his life. He tightened his fists, ready to fight with everything he had. The young thieves seemed to close in on him, and Dai took a step back, assessing the situation. He was outnumbered and outmatched.

He looked for a way out, but the narrow alleyway offered no escape. The thieves circled him like vultures, closing in with their weapons at the ready. Dai's heart pounded in his chest, and he could feel his palms growing sweaty.

The thieves laughed, their voices mocking, and in a split second decision, Dai decided to try to negotiate with the thieves. "Look, you already have my wallet. You don't need to hurt me," he said, holding up his hands in surrender.

The thieves laughed, clearly amused by Dai's plea. "Oh, we don't just want your wallet. We want everything you have," one of them said menacingly, brandishing his knife.

Dai's heart sank as he realized the severity of the situation. He was outnumbered and outmatched, with no way to defend himself against the armed thieves. He took a deep breath, trying to keep his fear at bay.

He looked at the thieves and tried to think of a way to outsmart them. If he didn't come up with a plan quickly, he would be in serious trouble. He tried to read their expressions, looking for any sign of weakness.

As the thieves circled him, Dai noticed a glint of metal on the ground nearby. He focused his gaze on it, trying to distract the thieves. "Hey, what's that?" he asked, pointing to the object on the ground.

The thieves turned their attention to the object, and Dai took the opportunity to make his move. He lunged forward, grabbing one of the thieves' arms and twisting it behind his back. The thief howled in pain, dropping his knife to the ground.

Dai's heart raced as he grappled with the thief, trying to keep him restrained. The other thieves rushed forward, but just as the thieves closed in on him, Dai saw movement out of the corner of his eye. A figure emerged from a nearby rooftop. It was a young boy, around the same age as Dai, with black hair and a fierce look in her eyes.

Dai's eyes widened in shock as he watched the boy leap from a nearby rooftop and land on one of the thieves with a deafening thud. He gasped in amazement as the thief crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain. The remaining thieves turned to face the mysterious boy, their faces twisted in anger and confusion. The boy smiled as he picked up the knocked out thief's knife, his smile growing even wider as he turned his gaze towards the other thieves. Dai watched in awe as the boy expertly maneuvered her way around the group of thieves, his movements fluid and graceful. "You take the one in the front, leave the others to me," the boy said, his voice calm and collected.

Dai hesitated for a moment, his heart racing with fear as he faced the menacing thief in front of him. He wondered if he had what it took to fight back, but the boy's fierce display of strength and confidence gave him the courage he needed to stand up for himself. "I can do this," he thought, his hands trembling with adrenaline. He took a deep breath and slowly approached the thief, his fists tightly clenched. As he got closer, he could see the thief's eyes narrow in anticipation of the impending attack. Dai knew he had to act fast. With a surge of determination, he lunged forward, his fist aimed at the thief's face.

As Dai fought, he couldn't help but watch the boy out of the corner of his eye. He fought with a fierce joy, a wide grin on her face as he easily disposed of the thieves one by one. Dai couldn't help but feel a surge of discomfort looking at him. The way he was able to take a life so easily reminded him of the mysterious man that saved his life at the orphanage.

The thief in front of Dai looked nervous as he saw the determination on Dai's face. Dai feinted to the left, causing the thief to momentarily lower his guard. At that moment, Dai landed a powerful punch to the thief's gut, causing him to double over in pain.

The boy continued to fight with skill and joy, his moves still fluid and confident. As Dai landed one last punch on the thief, he caught a glimpse of the boy dispatching the last of the thieves with a swift move.

Dai and the boy caught their breath, the rush of the fight still lingering. As they stood amidst the defeated thieves, the boy turned to Dai with a curious expression. "You're not going to kill him?" she asked, nodding towards the unconscious thief lying on the ground.

Dai's heart rate began to slow as he considered her question. He shook his head firmly, his fists unclenching as he relaxed. The thought of killing someone, even a thief, made him feel sick to his stomach.

The boy arched an eyebrow. "He'll call the police on us, you know," he pointed out.

Dai paused, considering his words. It was a risk, but he didn't think the thief would report them. "No, he won't. He's a thief. Going to the police puts him at more risk than me," he reasoned.

As the chaos of the ambush settled, the boy's eyes scanned the lifeless bodies of the thieves, searching for anything of value. His fingers deftly sifted through pockets and bags, his movements methodical and efficient. In no time at all, he had found what she was looking for: two wallets.

Without hesitation, he flung one of the wallets to Dai. "Catch," he said happily, his voice betraying none of the adrenaline that still pumped through her veins.

Dai's hands shot up, surprised to find the wallet suddenly hurtling towards him. As he caught it, his heart racing, he quickly checked its contents. A wave of relief washed over him as he saw that everything was still there, undisturbed.

Dai looked up to thank the boy for saving his life, but to his dismay, the boy was already walking away from the scene. "Wait, thank you!" Dai called out, but it seemed he was too late. Nevertheless, Dai still felt a strong desire to thank the boy. He took a few steps in the direction the boy had gone, hoping to catch up to him, but it was no use. The boy had already melted into the darkness, leaving nothing behind but the sound of his footsteps echoing in the alleyway. Dai couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment, wishing he could have expressed his gratitude to the mysterious stranger. As he pocketed his wallet and watched the boy fade into the darkness, Dai's thoughts raced. "Who was that boy? And how did he get so strong at such a young age?”

Dai let out a sigh and turned back towards the main street. Despite the missed opportunity to thank the boy, Dai couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for him. He marveled at the boy's quick thinking and bravery, even as he struggled with the aftermath of the violence that had occurred. Dai wondered what kind of life the boy must have had, and what had led him to develop such skills.

Dai walked down the empty street lost in thought, his mind consumed by the memories of his mother. He stopped and absentmindedly checked the contents of his wallet for the third time, making sure everything was still there. As he looked through the cards and cash, his fingers brushed against something that wasn't there before. It was a small piece of paper, crumpled and folded multiple times, with an address scribbled on it in messy handwriting. Dai furrowed his brows and studied the paper, trying to remember if it was there before. Then it dawned on him. "Did that boy put it in here?" he thought, his curiosity piqued.

Without a second thought, Dai decided to follow the address on the paper. He headed towards the main street, his feet carrying him through the bustling crowds. He stopped a few passersby and asked for directions, his voice trembling with nervousness. The street vendors, shopkeepers, and pedestrians gave him curious looks, but no one seemed to know anything about the address.