Chapter 1:A Chance Meeting

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the bustling streets of the town. The air was thick with the sounds of a busy market, vendors shouting their wares, the rattle of carts, and the general hum of life. The town wasn't large enough to be called a city, but it was big enough to hold a certain energy. Narrow alleyways snaked between buildings, and a small bazaar sprawled in the center, its colorful stalls lined with produce, trinkets, and spices.

Min Joon sprinted through the crowded market, a loaf of bread clutched in his hands. His golden eyes flicked nervously behind him, where the baker was hot on his heels, shouting curses that mingled with the chaos around them.

"Stop, thief!" the baker called, his voice rough with anger.

Min Joon's heart raced as he ducked and weaved between people, his bare feet striking the uneven cobblestones. He jumped over a squashed apple, narrowly avoiding slipping on it, before crashing into a pile of wooden crates. The crates splintered with a loud crack, but Min Joon didn't stop to look back. Instead, he kept running, his chest heaving with excitement. The smell of fresh bread filled his senses, and for a moment, it drowned out everything else.

His grin stretched wider, and he pushed himself harder, his body used to the chaos of being a so-called "Golden Bandit" in this town. He'd stolen bread more times than he could count, and he knew these streets better than anyone. He could already taste the warmth of the bread on his tongue, the satisfaction of a successful heist.

The baker's voice faded, and Min Joon slowed, believing he had finally lost his pursuer. But as he rounded a corner, his eyes caught sight of the baker still chasing him. Panic crept up his spine, and he turned down a narrow alleyway, his footfalls echoing off the stone walls.

Suddenly, a strong hand gripped his arm and yanked him into the shadows. Min Joon twisted in surprise, ready to fight, but before he could react, a hand clamped over his mouth. His wide eyes locked with those of another boy.

Jin Seok was pale, his black hair messy, and his golden eyes—striking and strange—met Min Joon's with a quiet intensity. The boy's face was unreadable, and yet there was a certain calmness to him, a contrast to Min Joon's frantic energy.

"Quiet," Jin Seok whispered, his grip firm but not forceful.

The sounds of the chase passed them by as they pressed into the narrow space, hidden from view. After a tense moment, Jin Seok released him, stepping back slightly. The street was silent again, save for the distant calls from the market.

Min Joon glared, clutching the stolen bread to his chest. "Who are you?"

The boy tilted his head, his gaze still steady. "Jin Seok."

"Thanks for saving me... but why'd you do it?"

Jin Seok didn't answer. Instead, he took the loaf from Min Joon's hands, breaking it in half and offering one piece back. "You were hungry."

Min Joon's eyes narrowed as he took the bread. "That's my bread."

Jin Seok didn't respond. His eyes, golden and unblinking, watched Min Joon intently. The silence stretched between them, and for a moment, Min Joon almost felt as though he had no words left.

Sighing, Min Joon sat down on the ground, his muscles tense from the adrenaline. He tore off a piece of the bread and bit into it, chewing quickly. "Fine. But next time, don't take my food."

Jin Seok sat beside him, eating his own piece without a word. The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the world. The market's clamor faded into the background as the two boys sat together, strangers bound by the same moment of hunger.

Min Joon glanced at Jin Seok, noticing how the boy seemed completely at ease despite the chaotic surroundings. He was still, almost too still, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon as if searching for something beyond the town.

"So... do you have a home?" Min Joon asked, his voice breaking the silence.

Jin Seok shook his head. "No."

Min Joon smirked. "Me neither. I guess that makes us the same, huh?"

Jin Seok's gaze shifted slightly, though he didn't answer. For a fleeting moment, there was a subtle shift in his eyes—something like curiosity—but it was gone before Min Joon could understand it.

They sat in the fading light, the stolen loaf of bread between them, neither speaking. Jin Seok's golden eyes remained fixed on the horizon, while Min Joon's were on him, studying the strange boy with a kind of fascination.

After a long silence, Min Joon spoke again, his voice more thoughtful now. "You know," he began, stretching his legs out in front of him, "one day, I'm gonna be rich. Filthy rich. So rich I can eat whatever I want, whenever I want. No more stale bread or rotten food. I'll eat meat, sweets... all the good stuff."

Jin Seok didn't respond. His face was blank, his eyes distant as they followed the last rays of sunlight.

Min Joon nudged him, a playful grin on his face. "What about you? What's your dream?"

Jin Seok was quiet for a long time. Min Joon waited, his curiosity growing as the seconds passed in the still air. Then, finally, the boy spoke, his voice soft but steady.

"I want to be the strongest person alive."

Min Joon blinked, surprised by the simplicity of the answer. He had expected something else—maybe a dream of wealth or adventure, like his own. But this... This was different. His eyes searched Jin Seok's face, trying to read him, to understand why such a dream mattered.

"The strongest?" Min Joon echoed, letting the words linger in the air between them. His grin had faded, replaced by a thoughtful expression as he examined the quiet determination in Jin Seok's eyes.

The silence stretched between them once again, thick and heavy, but not uncomfortable. The sounds of the market, the fading voices of the crowd, and the distant hum of the town seemed far away, like a different world. Min Joon sat back, arms wrapped around his knees, staring at Jin Seok. For the first time, he was more interested in the boy's unspoken thoughts than in his own dreams.

Finally, Min Joon stood up, brushing the crumbs off his clothes. He shoved the rest of the bread into his mouth, chewing as if to savor the last moment of the meal. With a wide grin, he turned to Jin Seok and offered his hand.

"I'm Min Joon," he said, his voice light and full of energy. "Nice to meet you. Let's be friends."

Jin Seok blinked, surprised by the sudden offer. For a brief moment, something flickered in his expression—maybe amusement, or something else—but it quickly disappeared. He took Min Joon's hand, his grip firm, and for the first time, Min Joon saw a slight glint of curiosity in the other boy's golden eyes.

"Once again I'm Jin Seok," he replied.

And just like that, a bond was formed—not with grand words or promises, but through a simple handshake, a shared moment of hunger, and the quiet understanding of two souls destined to walk different paths.

The sun sank lower behind them as they stood there, the light casting a final golden glow on their faces, sealing the beginning of their unlikely friendship.