One The Run (part 2)

"Wait."

I called out to him during the walk, and he stopped. He didn't even turn around to face me, because he knew what I was going to ask.

"Why didn't you answer his question?"

I asked the annoying tall guy, and he let out a long sigh.

"Because you were there."

That answer… successfully pissed me off.

"And…? Why would that be?"

"… Because I can't tell you."

I've finally had it. 

The back of my neck was so strained that it felt like it's going to explode.

I began walking towards him, and Rake noticed the angry footsteps. He turned around as well, and right when I was about to punch him in the face, a shout came from our side.

"Hey, you two!!"

The two of us quickly turned to my right, where a group of knights were standing and waiting. The front one who seemed to be their leader is a middle-aged man with blonde hair. His face looked quite stern, meaning he will be a pain in the ass to deal with.

We both immediately knew that we were in trouble, and that these knights are definitely going to ask us to open our hoods and masks.

So, we both started running.

"H-Hey!!! Catch them!!"

During the run, I was the one leading the way. Rake stayed behind me so that he could follow my running speed, but he was actually the one telling me where to go.

"Turn right.

Go left, left now.

Under the gap, go."

We both went under the gap on the wall, and Rake did something at the other side. He kicked the wall until it exploded to pieces, causing the gap to be closed by a bunch of pieces of the wall.

D-Did he just destroy a concrete wall with his foot!?

Why are we running and not just fighting those guys???

"Let's go."

Rake then continued running, and I followed behind him. This time, he is leading the way while also following my running speed.

Damn it… I'm being such a weight, right now…

Remind me to have knights training after this… I got so tired from just a simple chase.

There will be lots of chases in the future… I need that soldier stamina.

Rake led our escape to the deepest part of the slums. It was the empty areas of the city, with barely any houses. We are no longer running, but we are still hiding since it is possible that the chasers might find us here.

The sun has already gone past our heads, so it should be about 1 or 2 pm right now. It is incredibly hot, especially when you're wearing a black coat in the middle of the hot sunny day.

No, I think the worst factor was the fact that we were running just now. That completely made me sweat so heavily.

But turning to Rake… the guy wasn't even sweating at all.

"How are you not tired…?"

I asked while wiping the heavy amount of sweat from my forehead, while he himself was drinking. We both are already mask-off, and we are catching a break under a large tree. Not that many eyes around us, and the closest one is already far away, so this is a good spot to rest.

We've been running for quite a long time, about thirty to forty minutes if I had to guess. It was insanely long, so it makes sense if I'm sweating waterfalls right now.

But the tall guy ain't even dropping a single drip. I want to know how he did it.

"Training."

"Exactly what kind of training…?"

"The kind that you do over and over again for eleven years."

Geez… fine, don't answer me.

I was going to ask him about his training regime, since his hands do look quite muscular. At least with those kinds of muscles, I won't get tired from running.

"C-Can you not stare at my biceps…?"

I turned my annoyed gaze at him, and found him rather red from shame. I silently picked my mask up and stood.

"Enough of that. We need to find a proper resting spot."

"… Okay."

I put my mask back on, so that he wouldn't see any more of my face.

Gosh, fuckin--that was awkward as hell.

He caught me red handed staring at his muscles, and I saw his face turning red. What the hell was I thinking?

I began looking around, and found a certain child in the distance.

It seems… that she's crying.

A human girl… how interesting.

Come to think of it, I've never properly met a female human before. All humans I've met are just asshole knights who like to beat me up, plus Rake and his buddy Jack. 

Rake probably saw me staring at the girl, and he arrived right next to me. He noticed the meaning of my gaze, and he began walking forward.

"W-Wait--"

I tried stopping him, but he is already walking straight to the girl.

The girl is leaning her back on the wall, and there's an empty yellow basket right next to her. Not far from her position, there's a half eaten apple lying down on the road.

It looks to be fresh as well, it was a waste it got thrown away like that.

Rake noticed that and lifted it up. He then kneeled right in front of the girl and tried talking with her.

"Hello. Are you okay?"

Rake said while trying to sound nice, but his voice was too heavy to be considered soft, and the girl did not budge at all.

Dear lord, do I have to step in?

I arrived next to Rake, and I pushed him aside with my hips. Surprisingly it works, because he got pushed away to the side.

I bet he's wearing a really surprised face behind that skeleton mask, but I don't care.

"Hello, there. Is everything okay?"

This time, I'm the one asking. Using a really soft tone, my words were heard by the girl. And this time, she turned her eyes up slightly.

"Did something happen? Why are you crying?"

Next to me, Rake is already getting up. He really wants to complain, but he also knows that I am doing much better than him in terms of talking with little humans. So he simply left me alone for now.

"Did someone hurt you?"

I asked nicely again, and this time the girl nodded softly.

So she did get into trouble. How pitiful.

"What happened?"

"… Knights… took all my apples…"

I turned my gaze towards the basket that was laying on the ground flipped, right next to her. It seems like that basket was carrying apples previously, and from the looks of it, only the apple in Rake's hand that was left.

The half bitten apple that got thrown away.

"The knights… does one of them have this blonde hair and a stern face?"

I tried asking whether or not what my guess was correct, and the girl nodded softly again to my question.

… I see.

The ones messing with her were the same guys who were chasing us. They probably chased us all the way to the deeper part of the slums, all the way here where they met the girl.

We must've arrived too late. They were already causing problems here, and it was our fault for luring them in. Otherwise, there'd be no reason for knights like them to be checking out the slums this far deep.

It was our fault, and I felt slightly responsible.

I turned to Rake right next to me, and he simply nodded.

Not sure what that nod was, but I'll take it as he wants to help as well.

"What's your name?"

"… Luca."

"I see. Luca, did you buy the apples yourself?"

"No… we grew them."

"We? Was it your family?

The girl nodded again, and I began pondering. If the girl bought those apples, then we can help her by repurchasing those apples from the shop. But if she were the one growing it by herself… how do we help out?

"Then, that means you are selling apples?"

Suddenly, Rake spoke from his side. He seemed to have forgotten that I knocked him over for now, so we can continue moving on.

The girl nodded silently again, and I placed my hand above her head. I messed her hair slightly as she looked up to me, and I wish she could see me grin right now.

"Then, is it okay if we buy apples from you?"

The girl is quite confused, but at least she isn't that sad anymore. I stood up and gave her my hand, and she picked it up while also standing.

"Lead us to your--"

"Please show us where we can buy them. We'll buy lots!"

I suddenly cut over Rake's words because he is simply too stiff. His choice of words are making it too much of a command than a request, and his tone supports it completely.

The girl then nodded confusingly, but she led the way anyway. I turned a slight gaze at Rake, and I wish he could see me grin. I bet he is quite pissed down there as well.

We both followed the girl, and since it was quite close, we didn't get the chance to converse much.

The path that she leads us is away from any other houses. It leads to a hill, where steps of stairs can be seen as a means of access to go up the hill. 

In the middle of the hill, is a large building. It looks old, and there are apple trees surrounding it.

I can already see why Luca led us to this place.

Because this building seemed to be an old church.

Her family is an orphanage.