Chương 74: Chapter 72: A Worthless Life

The slums were steeped in slick mud, a foul stench, and darkened clouds. The people here wore ragged, filthy clothes, their skin coated in grime and sorrow. On one side of the street, a young girl sat upon a frayed cloth, her golden hair spilling to the ground. Her golden eyes were hollow and detached. Idly rolling a small stone between her fingers, she flicked it across the dark alley.

"What a worthless life," she muttered, watching it tumble into the sewers. Two small arms wrapped around her from behind, followed by a gentle voice, "Worthless? You? Don't say that, Jain." Jain turned her head, meeting the warm gaze of a girl with brown hair and black eyes.

"Eis, you're back?" Her neutral expression melted as she leaned into her sister's embrace. Eis shifted and sat on the cloth beside her, letting Jain rest her head on her lap. Jain looked up at her with a conflicted expression.

"You shouldn't call yourself worthless, Jain," Eis said, brushing a stray golden lock from Jain's face.

"You know, the elders prayed for you when you were born. They said you would make it out of here someday."

"But sister, I can't even use Aether like the others," Jain replied, averting her gaze.

"You're a genius with Aether. You're the one who will get out of here." I'm not a genius... Eis thought, hiding a worried grimace that Jain failed to notice. I'm just overflowing with it. Eis lifted one hand, extending her index finger, and flicked Jain lightly on the forehead.

"You will learn how to use it someday... I'm sure you will."

"That hurts!" Jain pressed a hand to her brow where the attack had landed, knitting her eyebrows in a scowl.

"I'll—I'll get back at you someday!" Eis let out a playful laugh.

"Dream on, little girl. You never will," she teased, waving her hands mockingly. Jain stared at her, clicking her tongue in irritation.

"Meanie..."

"Jain," Eis reached into her pocket, pulling out two silver coins, and handed them over.

"I forgot to give you this. Here's yesterday's pay; make sure not to lose them, okay? They're very important." Jain took them, carefully tucking them away before nodding.

"Mmm-hmm... I know you worked hard for these, sister. I won't lose a single one. Look how shiny they are."

"Well, not shinier than your eyes." Eis smiled brightly and stood up.

"I'm heading back now; my break should be over in a minute."

"Okay! Come home safe!" Jain waved a hand to her sister. Eis closed her eyes, smiling softly at the innocent farewell. This girl... that cloth isn't a house, dummy. After turning left and slipping out of her sister's line of sight, she immediately sagged against a damp brick wall, hacking into her hands. Once the coughing fit subsided and she regained a fraction of her strength, she pressed on, clutching her stomach tightly. The overload is getting worse.

Eis focused her hands on a single point, channeling a spell to levitate a heavy sack to the other side of the yard. Once she set it down, she moved another, then another. She was surrounded by brawny laborers hoisting massive loads on their backs. While taking a brief rest, a man approached her from behind, extending a rusted iron bucket.

"Eis, could you fill this up with some water, please?"

"Sure, Hasirem." Eis glanced back and cast a simple incantation. Fresh water materialized in the air, cascading down to fill the pail.

"There you go. Though you might need to find a cleaner bucket if you're actually going to drink that." Hasirem let out a booming laugh, flashing a wide grin.

"You jest. Where can we find something clean in a place like this?"

"What are you two talking about?" Another muscular man approached, a worn coin pouch tied to his waist.

"Well, our little mage here is dreaming of finding something clean in the slums," Hasirem replied, wiping his mouth after a long gulp of water.

"Is that it for today, Jack?"

"Yes, today's work is finished. You can head out." Jack nodded. Reaching for his pouch, he pulled out four silver coins.

"Here's your share, Hasirem," he said, handing two over.

"And here's yours, Eis." Eis accepted the coins, clutching them tightly, and offered Jack a calm nod of gratitude. Chatting amiably, Jack and Hasirem headed off in another direction, leaving her alone. She stared down at the silver resting in her palm and smiled. Great. If I work for five more days, I might be able to get enough for the treatment. She coughed weakly into her fist, her gaze drifting toward a distant street where the spire of a church loomed.

I should drop by the church, then hurry back to tease Jain. She walked down the alleyway with a quiet chuckle and a satisfied smile.

Jain wandered around their little corner of the slums, thoroughly bored. Spotting a group of children playing in the dirt nearby, she took a hesitant step toward them. However, remembering her sister's warnings about trusting the locals, she forced herself to stay put. Returning to their makeshift 'home,' she noticed a shift in the atmosphere. The slum dwellers were all peering down the street, murmuring in hushed, curious tones as they tracked someone's approach. What's with all the fuss?

She turned her head and spotted a young man draped in expensive fabrics strolling casually down the muddy road. The noble was discussing the wretched state of the city with a subordinate. But as he passed by Jain, he halted, his gaze locking onto her striking features and radiant hair.

"Huh? This girl... why does she have those colors? Not a bad face, either..." he muttered, taking a step toward her.

"Hey kid, do you want to work as one of my servants?" Jain stared at him, paralyzed by a potent mix of confusion and fear, and began backing away slowly.

"What's wrong?" The man asked, a sly smile curving his lips. He tossed a gleaming coin onto the ground before her.

"If you work for me, you'll get these every month." The coin mirrored the exact hue of the young girl's eyes, shining with an alluring brilliance beneath the dismal clouds. A few bystanders crept closer to inspect the sudden fortune, but the noble's armored knights quickly scattered them with threatening glares. W-what...? Jain remained rooted to the spot, stunned. No... I need to ask sis first. I-I need to ask her. She knows better. But... if we can get gold like this...

just like sister said, we might be able to... As she stared at the alluring metal, her trembling hands instinctively reached toward the cold coin. But then, her arm was snatched. Jain snapped her head to the side, eyes wide, and found Eis gripping her wrist, pulling her hand away.

"She's not going," Eis declared, glaring at the noble.

"What?" The young noble tilted his head, his amusement fading.

"Who are you?" Eis stepped in front of Jain, shielding her.

"I'm her sister, and I said: she's not going with you." The man stared at the defiant teenager, then at the golden-haired girl hiding behind her. His polished, polite smile curdled into a sneer of irritation as he gestured lazily to his guards.

"I'm not giving you an option, little gir—" To his bewilderment, as the armed men advanced, Eis extended a hand forward, the air warping gracefully in front of her palm.

"Tier 4 Magic: The Eagle's Wings." Brilliant magic circles materialized mere inches from the soldiers' faces, churning with raw Aether... perhaps too much Aether.

"T-Tier 4 Magic?!" The court mage standing behind the noble stumbled backward, sweat beading on his forehead.

"How—how is a Tier 4 mage in the slums?!"

"She's worth more than that." Eis sneered down at the gold coin in the mud, then locked eyes with the noble.

"So leave us alone."... The chaos eventually dispersed, leaving only Eis and Jain in the desolate alley. Jain stared at her sister through a veil of unshed tears, while Eis turned to face her with a reassuring smile.

"You're alright, right?" Eis asked, wrapping her slender arms around Jain and resting her chin softly over her shoulder. Jain nodded, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Y-yes."

"Don't ever talk to people like that, okay? You have to value yourself more." She gently stroked the back of Jain's head as the younger girl nodded silently in her embrace. Parting from the hug, they both sank back down onto their cloth. This girl... she's way too naïve, Eis thought, looking at Jain's downcast face. Her expression shifted, and she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"I should've come straight home instead of visiting the church."

"Eis, did you go to the church again today?" Jain asked, looking up.

"Why do you go there anyway? We don't get anything from there; it's just a waste of time."

"Well, I have a friend I talk to from time to time." She patted Jain's head.

"Besides, Mom, Dad, and even old man Haul always told me that visiting a church once in a while is a good thing." She wagged a finger playfully.

"You'll understand someday."

"Hey sis," Eis looked at Jain in confusion, noting the sudden shadow darkening her face.

"What did Mom and Dad look like?" Eis's eyes widened. She stared at Jain's expression. Those were memories she actively buried, invoking a sorrow she refused to display in front of her younger sister. Forcing the shock from her eyes, she answered softly, "They were beautiful." Jain stared down at her dirty hands.

"Did they leave me because I was worthless like this? Unable to use Aether, just sitting here getting into trouble, while you work all day?" Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Eis lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Jain's head as tears breached her own eyes. Feeling the rapid pounding of Eis's heart, Jain could only bury her face deeper into her sister's embrace.

"Listen to me: you might not remember this, but no one left you; in fact, people were drawn to you." Her grip tightened fiercely.

"And even if they did leave, I'm still here, aren't I? We have each other."

"Mhh-hmm."

Four days later, Jain stood leaning against a damp wall, watching the muddy streets. It was nearing the time Eis usually returned, and she was waiting eagerly. Then, a group of small figures emerged from the shadows—it was the same children she had seen playing earlier. Two of them were supporting a boy in the middle, who was doubled over in agony. They hobbled closer before stopping a few paces away.

"Please... he hasn't eaten in three days," said the girl on the left, who looked to be around Jain's age.

"If you have anything—just anything..." The boy in the middle groaned, his brow slick with sweat.

"Damn... my belly hurts so much!"

"Can you give us something, please?" the other boy pleaded, drawing Jain's gaze.

"We have nowhere to go. Anything is fine." Jain looked at the ailing boy's desperate state, her eyes wide with empathy, then shifted her gaze to his friends' conflicted faces.

"Umm... we... we don't have anything to eat. We finished it all yesterday." She cast a helpless glance around their little alcove.

"I'm sorry, there's nothing—" The boy groaned again, a miserable, hollow sound.

"It's okay. His condition is critical; we don't have time to waste," the girl said, turning away.

"We'll go beg somewhere else—""Wait!" Jain's voice brought the three children to a halt.

"If his condition is critical, then... then..." She reached for a pouch hidden beneath a dirty grey rag, her face etched with uncertainty.

"Please, take this and buy some food." The three children looked back to see Jain holding a handful of silver coins, their eyes blowing wide in disbelief.

"Here's your pay for today, Eis," Jack said, handing over the usual two silver coins.

"Yeah, thank you—" She was cut off by a wet, rattling cough, followed by another. Pressing a hand over her mouth, she pulled it away to find a smear of blood on her palm. Jack placed a massive, calloused hand gently against her small back, his face filled with concern.

"Are you alright? It's getting worse, isn't it?" Letting out one final cough, Eis nodded.

"Yes, it kind of is. But I'll be able to afford the treatment in about three days, so it'll be fine."

"I'm sorry, Eis, this is all I can give you." Jack looked down in shame.

"I have a family to support, too."

"Don't worry about it." Eis stood up and turned toward the sprawling slums.

"I'll be going now. Jain must be waiting." She traversed the familiar route back to what Jain called home. She walked past beggars groveling in the muck, past corpses left to rot, and past children kicking balls fashioned from bundled rags. Then, a voice caught her ear.

"Hey, you were right! She really did have money!" a boy cheered from a shadowed corner. Eis paused, lingering out of sight as she eavesdropped on the two boys and the girl. The other boy let out an amused laugh.

"I saw her counting it a few days ago. We hit the jackpot. By the way, your acting was top-notch!" The girl beside him giggled along.

"We had to do it, right? Otherwise, how were we supposed to get back to gambling?" Where did those kids get money? I don't remember seeing them working anywhere. Eis shook her head with an exhausted smile before continuing on her way. Well, it doesn't concern me. They must have pickpocketed someone. Minutes later, she navigated the final turn into their alley, finding Jain waiting with a bright smile.

"Eis! You're back!" Jain sprinted forward, throwing her arms around her sister. Taken aback for a split second, Eis stared at her before a warm smile graced her lips, and she returned the hug. When they separated, Eis handed Jain the day's earnings.

"Can you give me the pouch for a minute? I need to do some math," Eis requested. Jain nodded eagerly, walking over to their cloth. Reaching into a hidden crevice, she retrieved the pouch of silver and dashed back, placing it in Eis's hands. Eis unlaced the string, intending to add the new coins to their hoard. Let's see... we need to save some for rations, and I at least need to buy Jain another dress from the market... As she mentally counted the number of coins, her thoughts ground to a sudden halt.

After taking those out, if my math is correct, I really might be able to afford the—huh? Wait... Staring into the open pouch, her expression drained of color. Her stomach plummeted, eclipsed by a terror no fifteen-year-old should ever have to shoulder—the fear named death.

"Where... are the other coins?" she muttered, the words barely escaping her lips. Sensing the drastic shift in her sister's demeanor, Jain fidgeted nervously.

"Actually, some kids came by, a-and their friend was in critical condition, so I gave them some coins to buy food." As the pieces clicked into place, Eis's head snapped up. She stared at Jain, her dark eyes wide and burning with rage.

"Why—what are you saying? Why did you do that? I told you never to give our money to anyone."

"But sister... we can survive for a few days without that money, but they couldn't." Trembling under a fierce glare she had never seen before, Jain shrank back.

"I-I am so sorry for giving it away without asking! I'm really sorry." Hearing the naive excuse, Eis marched toward Jain, her hands balling into trembling fists. Was that her justification for throwing away the very lifeline she had bled for? Her knuckles turned white as she glared down at Jain's terrified, confused face. But then, the tension in her fingers broke. Her hands fell open.

"Listen, Eis. If there ever comes a time when your father and I aren't around, as the eldest, you have to protect your sibling, okay?" No—no, no. Never. I can't let her become like those scum. Eis suddenly pulled Jain into a crushing hug. Jain stiffened, bewildered by the sudden shift. I have to protect this innocence.

"It's okay, Jain. Keep doing this. When you have enough to share, you should always share it, okay?" Eis tightened her grip, a bitter, broken smile crossing her lips.

"Just remember this: there will always be at least one genuine smile hidden among all the masks." Confused, Jain stared over her sister's shoulder.

"What does that mean?"

"You'll understand when the time comes." Jain tried to pull back, but Eis only held on tighter, desperate to hide the silent tears cascading down her cheeks. It's okay. If... if I just work a few more shifts, I might still be able to collect enough coins in time.

A few days later, Late into the night, Jain slept huddled beneath a ragged white cloth to stave off the chill, while Eis lay directly on the hard floor. A sudden hacking sound jolted Jain from her slumber. She sat up, looking down to see Eis coughing uncontrollably, her body seizing even in her sleep. Sister's been acting weird lately. Is it because she's working overtime every day? Jain watched her with a worried heart.

She carefully removed her white cloth and draped it over Eis's shivering form before drifting back to sleep. I wish I could help her somehow. Why am I so useless? Maybe I should've just accepted that noble's—No! Sis said it was a bad idea, so no! When morning finally broke, Jain was exhausted. She hadn't truly slept; Eis had been coughing the entire night. Jain had woken repeatedly to check on her, yet there was nothing she could do.

By sunrise, Eis's condition had drastically deteriorated—she was coughing up alarming amounts of blood. Jain cradled her sister in her lap, tears streaming down her face, while Eis looked up with weary, lifeless eyes.

"Eis... will you be okay?" Jain choked out, terrified.

"What's happening? I don't understand." Eis looked at her, forcing a faint, tragic smile as she weakly reached up to tap Jain's cheek.

"It's a disease... happens when someone has too much Aether stored in their body." She let out a dry laugh that betrayed her words.

"Of course I won't be okay, you moron."

"Th-then let's go to that doctor quickly!" Jain tried to stand, but her frail frame couldn't even lift her sister's weight.

"Come on, get up! Hurry!"

"It won't work. You know that doctor would rather watch people die than treat them on credit," Eis whispered, her gaze drifting toward the crevice where they had hidden their coin pouch.

"And we don't have enough money for the treatment."

"What?" Jain froze, thoroughly puzzled.

"How—how do you know that—" Jain's breath hitched as she recalled how Eis used to count their savings.

"Don't tell me... you... did we—I..." Eis laughed softly, blood staining her teeth.

"Did you finally figure it out? Looks like some gears are still turning inside that head of yours." Eis smiled, but Jain could only stare in paralyzed horror. A chaotic storm of thoughts ravaged her mind. What exactly had happened to those coins? What would have happened if she hadn't given them away? She lost all feeling in her hands as the weight of reality set in. Eis coughed again, a fresh surge of blood spilling from her lips. Jain snapped out of her stupor, clutching Eis desperately.

"Just remember what I told you to do," Eis murmured, her thumb weakly brushing Jain's cheek one last time.

"And continue being an idiot, okay?" Her hand fell limp, striking the dirt with a dull thud.

"Eis! Eis! Talk to me, Eis!" Jain screamed, shaking her lifeless body as tears rained onto the mud, but only the silence remained.

"Eis... please... don't leave me alone, Eis... please..." Her anguished cries echoed through the winding slums, yet no one approached—no one cared to. Jain wept endlessly, clutching the last remnant of her family, her golden eyes locked onto the unforgiving earth. An hour of unbroken sobbing passed. Finally, she stood up. Leaving the body behind, she began to walk. Where was she going? She didn't know. Why was she walking? She didn't know that, either. She drifted along the path Eis had taken every single day.

Her head hung limp on her shoulders, her once-radiant golden eyes now hollow and dead. She walked on and on, until, by chance, she halted before a towering structure of pristine white marble. Looking up, she saw a golden cross entwined with a blooming golden flower, suspended high above the grand entrance. It was undoubtedly a church, but that fact failed to register in the grieving girl's mind.

She simply kept walking, drifting into the grand altar, and coming to a stop before a magnificent statue carved from golden stone. She offered no prayer, yet the god answered regardless. Reality fractured. The cathedral dissolved, replaced by a boundless white dimension—a place one could only describe as a divine sanctuary. Jain continued walking along the ethereal path without care, until— <How did you get here, little one? > A voice resonated directly within Jain's mind, halting her advance.

She looked up to behold a breathtaking entity, a woman composed entirely of swirling, pure golden energy. After a moment of deadpan contemplation, Jain answered, "I don't know. I just walked wherever my head turned to." The God studied the unknown child's features closely.

"My sister shines brighter than anyone in the world, just like you. She has shining golden hair and golden eyes!" Could you be her... which means... I see… The God floated her astral form closer. <So, what is it that you want now that you are here? >"What do I want?" Jain looked at the divine being, then down at the pristine floor. She pondered the question for several seconds. What could she possibly desire when she had already lost her most precious?

When she finally looked back up at the God, her face was set in a determination that momentarily stunned the deity.

"Give me worth."

Noa sat before a mirror as the morning light filtered gently through the curtains. He was dressed in his usual attire, but his hair was a disaster—a wild, sleep-mussed mess that refused to submit to his hands.

"Goddammit, why is this so hard?" he muttered, scowling at his reflection. A sudden warmth pressed against his side. Vionette had just rolled out of bed, her silhouette soft and relaxed in a long-sleeved white nightdress.

"You finally awake?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder. Instead of answering, Vionette stepped forward and straddled his lap, meeting his face.

"You gonna help me out here?" Noa asked, his arms wrapping around her waist to provide a steady rest for her back.

"Yeah," she whispered, looping her arms around his neck with a soft, affectionate smile. They shared a slow, lingering kiss, the quiet morning air broken only by the steady rhythm of their breathing. When she finally leaned back against the support of his hands, she reached up and began finger-combing his hair, smoothing the stubborn strands with practiced ease.

"You know, you're a bit big to be sitting on someone's lap like a child," he teased.

"What possible reason do you have to not call me a child?" she challenged, her crimson eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Well, I can see two big reasons from here." Vionette lowered her gaze from his hair to his face, only to find his eyes glued to her chest. The loose v-neckline of her nightdress had shifted as she moved, revealing the elegant curve and shadow of her cleavage.

"Don't look at them like that, you idiot," she chided, though she made no effort to cover up or pull away; instead, she playfully grabbed a handful of his hair and gave it a tug.

"Do they really look that good to you?" Noa met her gaze with a mock-seriousness that would have been entirely convincing if not for the blatant heat in his eyes. He gave her a thumbs-up.

"They are, quite literally, the perfect size I prefer. 10/10."

"Enough of that," she murmured, leaning in slightly as her expression turned serious.

"I've been monitoring Jain for the past few days. There's no way we can get her into our side. She's far too pure for our plans."

"As expected, then," Noa replied, a dark edge bleeding into his smile.

"Looks like it's time for Plan B."

"Yes. We've found zero leads on the Fable Mark, and the probability of recruiting the Saint has dropped to zero." She finished styling his hair and lowered her hands, her smile twisting into a perfect mirror of his own—mischievous and predatory.

"Get ready, Noa darling. Today is going to be very entertaining." With every resource squandered on silence, and no gains left to claim, the final recourse was simple: destroy it all—if not for profit, then for entertainment.