Vivian scraped the last of her porridge from the bowl and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand."You always scowl like that when you're thinking?"
Arcose blinked. "What?"
"You look like you're about to kill someone," she said cheerfully. "But you were just eating porridge. Very dramatic."
He almost choked. "I wasn't—"
She leaned forward, resting her chin on her palms. "You're not used to people being nice to you, are you?"
He stiffened.
She didn't say it like a question. More like a quiet observation. Like she knew.
'One more word out of her and I swear—' he thought, jaw clenched, veins rising along his forehead.
Vivian wasn't just a bubbly girl with ink-colored hair. She was sharp. Observant. The kind of person who smiled as she poked at old wounds—not to hurt, but to understand.
"Hey Arcose—wanna play Kachi?" Vivian chirped, scraping the last bit of broth from her bowl. She jumped up, grinning. "It's been so boring, always beating Grandpa at it."
"Kachi?" Arcose echoed, half rising, unsure if it was a game or a threat.
"ONLY AFTER YOU FINISH YOUR CHORES, VIVI!" came Grandpa's thunderous voice from the forge, metal clanging in rhythm.
"Aww, really? Fine!" she groaned, stomping theatrically toward the sink. "I'll finish them quick!"
"I can help," Arcose said before he could stop himself.
The words tumbled out awkwardly. Something about standing there while they moved around him—it made him itch. Like he wasn't supposed to exist in a home this warm.
Vivian turned, eyes lighting up. "Seriously? That's awesome! We'll be done twice as fast!"
He shifted, awkward. "Yeah... about that. I don't actually know what Kachi is."
Her gasp was loud enough to startle birds from the roof.
"You don't what? You've never played Kachi?!"
"Not everyone grows up with games," came Grandpa's low, gravelly voice as he walked in, soot clinging to his beard like ash to the bones of a hearth. "Teach him while you do the dishes."
Vivian handed Arcose a rag. Their hands brushed—warmth, light, contact. Arcose jerked his hand back. Barely.
She didn't flinch.
The sink water steamed faintly, catching the morning light.
"So," Vivian said, scrubbing a chipped plate, "you never played Kachi with your friends?"
His hand froze.
Friends.Tarin's raspy laugh.Lilo's small hands tugging at his sleeve, calling him big brother with that innocent trust that had no place in the slums.Gone. Burned away in frost and filth.
He blinked hard. "No," he muttered. "Not really."
Vivian's shoulders tensed—just slightly. But she didn't ask again.
"Kachi's easy," she said instead. "Two rackets—called 'Ka'. One ball—'Chi'. Fast, loud, chaotic. You'll love it."
They finished quickly.
The backyard was a patch of dirt and stubborn grass, where morning light knifed through broken clouds like blades through paper.
Vivian held up two wooden paddles, worn smooth at the handles, and handed him one. The weight felt strange—like a toy, not a tool.
She tossed the ball high and swung.Thwack.
"Your turn!"
Arcose stepped forward, paddle raised.He missed. Completely.
Vivian giggled. "Told you—it's harder than it looks."
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah. No shit."
"Again!"
She tossed the ball again. This time, something shifted.
Fft.
His breath caught.
The world didn't stop—but it slowed. The ball traced an arc through the air, luminous and perfect. His pupils narrowed. His heartbeat didn't race... it paused.
Zzzpt—! He moved.
CRACK!
The ball shot across the yard like a bolt of lightning, slamming into the ground inches from Vivian's foot. Dust burst into the air like a spell had gone off.
Vivian stared. Eyes wide. Mouth open.
"What in the hells was that?!"
Arcose blinked. His breath returned. The haze lifted.
"I... don't know," he said, frowning.
She stepped closer, eyes squinting—not in fear, but curiosity."Your eyes... they looked weird. Just for a second. Like... like glass. Or ice with lightning inside."
He looked away. "It's nothing."
Vivian tilted her head. "Doesn't seem like nothing."
"Don't tell anyone," he said quickly. "Different things… they aren't liked. People got killed for being different."
She paused, then smiled. "Why would I? It's not like you turned into a dragon."
"You're not the only one who's different," she added softly, almost to herself.
He let out a breath. A shaky one. "Let's keep playing."
And they did.
Dust kicked up as they darted across the yard.Laughter mixed with the thump of wood, the whistle of air, the scuffle of boots on dirt.
For a moment, Arcose wasn't a starving thief, or a boy who'd buried too many names.
He was just… a boy.
But beneath his skin, something pulsed. Watching. Learning. Growing.
And as the sun rose higher, behind those strange, shimmering eyes—
The storm waited.