**The tiny murky room is now filled with 2 people, One is Pranjal and the other is an unknown figure with a rather small framework.**
"Who are you kid?"
"I thought this place was empty tch. Quickly give me all your money."
The frail looking kid then suddenly pulls out a dagger and points it toward Pranjal.
Hmm, This kid is rather skinny. He looks pretty weak for someone with the will to harm others... If I perform an downward kick, I can overpower him in an instant. In an instant I bent down one my left knee while swinging my right leg. This causes the kid to fall down and hit his head with the table, losing conscious instantly. I pick up the dagger and throw it away, then pick up the kid and put him onto my bed. The kid reminds me of my younger self. After losing my parents and having my home taken over by my relatives, I had no place to return to. In the end, I also turned to thievery and robbery to make the ends meet. Luckily my agility is still pretty decent.
*Splash*
"Wake up kid, I need to go for my job. So, What's your deal?"
"Tch...My sister and I are orphans. Due to my sister being the only breadwinner, she has overworked herself to the bone. She has been ill for a week now. We have ran out of money for medicine. I asked around for jobs but nobody hired me. Then, when I was going back home, someone told me he would give me money if I robbed your house. Hence, I had no other choice..."
Huh? Why would someone wish to rob my house? What would they gain?
[ When we fused together, An unbelievable amount of magic was released. Someone must have detected it and thought some powerful mage was here. Hence they sent someone to check it out. We must leave this place fast. Otherwise others might come for your life.]
Huh? You can communicate out of the fracture??
[ As we have fused now, I have been able to access all your memories and thoughts. I used some of my internal magic to send you these thoughts.]
Don't you fucking dare read my memories.
[ Watch your tone boy. If I reject your body, You will die this instance and without any time looping.]
I don't fucking care. Do it. If you kill me , kiss your chances of retrieving your memories back. You don't know when is the next time you will find a new user. But you have no fucking right to read my memories.
[Why? You don't want people to find out you have been depressed since you were 8? Or do you wanna hide the fact that you have an intensive self - loathing for yourself because your parents died and you didn't? Or do you wanna hide the fact that you aren't able to get over you parents death because you have never given yourself a chance to grieve? Someone who can't even deal with his memories or face his emotions isn't worthy of lecturing me.]
** An heavy silence fell upon the murky corners of the room**
[...]
.....
The kid was the first one to break the silence by asking Pranjal "What are you staring at?"
Pranjal was taken aback for a view seconds by the unexpected question, and replies with "Nothing.... So, how much money do you need for your sister's medication?"
The kid was surprised by the sudden unexpected kindness and generosity of the stranger he was planning to rob. He thought for a view moments and said, " With 150 echoes I can buy my sister's medicine for 1 month."
The secret savings has a fund of around 280 echoes. If I sell some of my stuff I can make it around 320 Echoes. So in total I would have to recover 110 echoes. If I cut my rations up a bit, I could save that much in a few months. Hmm..
After thinking a little Pranjal replies the kid with "Turn around and close your eyes kid."
The kid turns around and covers his eyes with the scarf that was around his neck.
Pranjal picks up his parents picture frame and opens the back of it. Inside the picture frame's back, there was few chips. Pranjal take some of those chips and puts the rest in his pockets and walks over to the kid.
"Take these, They should cover your sister's medicine." Said Pranjal.
The kid breaks into tears. While covered in tears and snot, he says "Hic... Thank you very much big brother...Thank you very much"
Pranjal pats the head of the kid and suddenly Pranjal's stomach growled very loudly. Pranjal looks away to hide his embarrassment.
After hearing the sound, the Kid holds back his chuckle and says "You should come to my home. I have some warm food that my sister made despite her weakness..."
Pranjal hesitated a little because he didn't want to trouble his sickly sister, After all he was just a stranger for them. But due to the hunger he was feeling, he let himself be swayed by the warm invite of the kid.
" Sure kid..."
I let myself be swayed my emotion and hunger...
The kid wipes his face and gets ready for departure. Pranjal knew that he had to leave his home for some time now as someone was in search of him. He picked up the essentials he had including the rest of the chips and the picture of his mother and father from the picture frame. He put it all in a bag and wore the bag on his shoulders. Pranjal wore the black hoodie he had previously worn, then wore his shoes and armed himself with the dagger he had thrown away. Now both of them set off towards the Kid's home.
On the way to his home, he tells that his name was Joshy and his sister's name was Shreya. He and his sister have been living alone since their parents died 5 years ago. His sister just turned 18 and he was just 12 years old. This reminded me of how my parent's also passed away due to a disease...
[ Why are you so kind to others? You clearly could have handed the kid to the authorities while he was unconscious and save yourself from giving away the measly funds you had.]
Clearly Bothered by the Brazenness of the Chronomortis, Pranjal replied that., I saw a reflection of myself in the kid. And the reason why I am kind to others is simple. In the harsh world I grew up in, I couldn't seem to be kind to myself no matter how much I try. So to compensate that I show the kindness to others that I want to show myself or wanted to receive.
After the Chronomortis heard the reply he went back to his silence. Pranjal tried to brush off his intensive bitterness he held towards his own artifact, but only seemed to be successful in suppressing it for some time. In the meantime he remembered that he hadn't told Joshy his name.
"By the way Joshy, My name is Pranjal."
"Thank you for telling me your name. I thought you were angry with me." Replied Joshy.
Pranjal smiled in a very friendly way and replied "No I don't hold any malice towards you. But I want the name of the contractor and if you can do it, describe me his looks."
Joshy tried to recall his memories the best he could have after a bit of recollecting he said, " The contractor didn't tell me his name, but he had brown pupils, brown hair, few scars on his hand that seemed to form an 'X' and he was around 5'9 feet tall."
Pranjal was surprised by the observant nature of the kid and smartness he exhibited. In a slight smile he told Joshy "Good job Joshy."
After some time of walking in the slums, both Joshy and Pranjal arrived at a house that was a little rundown but in a good enough condition to live in. Both of them went inside the house and showed a delighted expression from the warmth it held.
**Stay tuned for the next chapter. "