Girl

Leus walked deeper into the Market Square, and while he was walking he heard some noise

He turned around to see what was the noise about and saw a man and a girl

The man was shouting at the girl

"I already told you, You can't stand here! You have to leave"

The girl sounded frustrated and upset

"But they don't allow me to stay anywhere else as well!"

"Not my mess, not my stress. Go away."

"But -"

"I told you I don't care! Now move"

The girl started crying and walked away, Dragging a wooden cart behind her

The situation caught Leus' interest

'What does that girl want?'

The girl's hair and eyes were brown and the cart behind her had all sorts of random things, Candles, Old toys, Small rustic wooden designs shaped in different letters, and some used clothes

Leus approached the crying girl and looked at her cart, She immediately stopped crying and fixed her expression

"Is there anything you want?

I have nice toys that you can give to your younger siblings and candles for you to use in the night, Also there are wooden letters that you can gift or hang around your neck.

All for just 1 bronze coin each! And if you'll buy multiple items I'll give you a discount!"

Her voice was quavering and her eyes were red

'She's so pitiful'

"May I ask why are you doing this?"

The girl looked at Leus and her eyes welled up, Then she said in a shaky voice

"There's nothing you like?"

Then she started crying again

'Oh that's really troublesome'

Leus felt bad for her, She didn't seem older than 17 or 18, And according to his beliefs she was just a young girl

'I think I have a couple of bronze coins, But maybe I can help her?'

Leus used Bubble and Created a water bubble that floated in the air

"How about you wash your face and calm down?"

The girl just looked at Leus mystified, He looked younger than her yet he was able to use such magic, She was bewildered

"You .... You know how to do magic?"

'At least she stopped crying'

"Yes, But don't worry about that, Just wash your face"

The girl was stunned, She didn't move forward, So Leus brought the Bubble closer to her face

She moved her hands forward and touched the bubble

"Beautiful"

She grabbed the water in her hands and started washing her face

"The water is so clear .. I've never seen such clear water"

When she said that, Leus inspected her cloth

'She seems clean and beautiful ... But now that I concentrate, there are a couple of small cuts and stains, Could she be from the slums?'

Leus waited until she was done then he asked her

"Why are you crying?"

She looked at the floor and said

"No one allows me to stand and sell my things in the market, No matter where I go, someone comes out and asks me to leave or push me and take my place"

"Ah .. Well, Why are you selling this stuff anyway?"

The girl was reluctant for a second but then she spoke

"A few days ago, My father became sick, so he can't work for now.

That's why I'm trying to sell these things, so we can get money to be able to live until my father gets better"

Leus nodded

"I see ... Where do you live?"

The girl looked at the floor and didn't reply

"Don't worry about it, There's no need to feel embarrassed about something like that"

Leus said that in a light tone and continued

"Why don't you take me to your father? Maybe I can help."

The girl looked at Leus and said

"But I didn't sell anything today ... I can't go home empty-handed"

Leus looked at the cart but there really was nothing of value in it

He picked 3 wooden letters, V, A, and M

"I'll take these"

The girl smiled widely

"Thank you very much! That'd be 2 bronze coins"

"Only two? Not three?"

"Yes, Discount for buying more than one!"

Leus faintly smiled and put the letters in the pouch Arno gave him

Then he took out 2 bronze coins and handed them to the girl, But she didn't extend her hand to take the coins

Leus was confused and looked at her face, The girl was staring at the pouch in awe

Leus tilted his head

"What's wrong?"

"Your pouch! So cool, I never saw how they work"

"Oh, that? I thought it was a common item"

"Ah ... Really? I don't know, I didn't see anyone using it before.

I rarely come out of where I live and no one has them there"

Leus nodded in understanding

"Now that you got some coins, Why don't you take me to see your father?"

The girl nodded and asked

"Do you really think you can help?"

"Probably"

'Unless he's dying'

Leus didn't say that loudly and just walked with the girl, She started dragging her cart and slowly moved forward

' ... That doesn't look good'

Leus didn't like walking beside the girl while she was the one dragging the cart, So he offered to help her 

"May I?"

"You don't have to"

but Leus insisted

"It'll be faster that way"

So the girl moved a little forward and Leus followed her dragging the cart

They exited the market square and kept moving forward while occasionally changing directions

'That's complicated .... How will I go home? I'll probably be lost'

'Actually ... I think I'm already lost'

"How far is it?"

"It's a bit far, The way is long, and I have to enter from a specific alleyway"

"Specific one? Why?"

" ... That's ... That's just how it is"

"And you keep dragging this cart going and coming every day?"

"Yes, I get up very early so I can reach the market square in the morning, And I leave a little early so I can reach home somewhat before midnight"

'That's a lot of suffering for no gain, Does anyone even buy anything from her?'

Eventually, they entered an alleyway that Leus was able to recognize

'It's not the same one, but it's one of those alleyways that Dad said lead into the Slums'