Kai finished sweeping the yard, the broom's bristles now clumped with damp earth and leaf fragments, leaving the grass pristine and glistening under the mid-morning sun. He gathered every last scrap, crisp leaves veined with autumn's fade, splintered twigs that crunched underfoot, and stray bits of debris that carried the faint, musty odor of decay, piling them into a tall wooden bucket, its weathered sides rough against his palms.

Hoisting it by the frayed rope handle, the weight tugging at his shoulders with a familiar strain, he trudged to the yard's rear. There, nestled between the fence's splintered posts and the house's shadowed wall, yawned a shallow pit, its edges softened by layers of compost, exhaling a rich, loamy scent mingled with the sharp tang of rotting vegetation. He upended the bucket, watching the refuse tumble in with a soft rustle and thud, then sighed, the exhale carrying a quiet satisfaction. "Right, all done," he muttered, voice low against the distant hum of the marketplace.

He hurried back around the house, pulse quickening with the knowledge that Miss Mandy could depart at any moment. The town's tavern never truly shuttered its doors, a ceaseless hub where she handled the day shift, her savory aromas drawing midday crowds, while another cook, a burly man with flour-dusted hands, took over under the lantern light of night.

As he rounded the corner, he spotted her stepping out, the door creaking shut behind her. Fresh from a bath, her skin carried a subtle floral hint on the breeze, though she still wore the flowing green dress, now smoothed and vibrant. Her hair, neatly combed, cascaded down her back in silver-streaked waves, catching the light like polished silk. A brown leather handbag dangled from her shoulder, its strap creased from years of use.

At the sight of her, a flutter stirred in Kai's chest, a tangle of nerves twisting his stomach into knots, mingled with a spark of excitement that flushed his cheeks. Yet her expression remained grave, brows furrowed in quiet preoccupation, lips pressed into a thin line. She approached, and Kai straightened, blurting out, "I'm done, Miss."

"Right, of course," she replied, her tone even, though a flicker of warmth softened her eyes. She dipped a hand into her handbag, the leather whispering as she withdrew five copper coins, their cool, metallic edges glinting in the sunlight. Pressing them into his palm, she added, "Thanks again. You're working pretty hard."

Kai's fingers closed around the coins, their faint clink a small triumph that eased the knot in his gut. He smiled, genuine and shy, crimson eyes brightening. "It's nothing."

"Right, if you'll excuse me, I'll be heading to work," Miss Mandy said, her voice carrying a gentle finality as she adjusted the strap of her handbag, the leather creaking softly under her grip.

Kai nodded quickly. "Of course." He stepped aside, the grass crunching faintly beneath his boots, creating a clear path for her through the yard.

He watched as she paused at the entrance, though no actual gate marked the boundary, just the low wooden fence framing the open gap. She halted, her posture stiffening, then turned back to him, her expression shadowed by unspoken weight. Kai's fingers fumbled as he hastily tucked the five copper coins into his pocket, their cool, ridged surfaces clinking together with a muffled jingle that echoed his rising unease.

"Kai," she called, her tone measured, laced with reluctance.

"Yes, ma'am?" He hurried over, heart pounding in his chest like a trapped bird, the short sprint stirring up the yard's fresh-swept scent of cut grass and damp earth.

She sighed as he reached her, the exhale heavy and warm, carrying a hint of mint from her morning tea. "I feel I have to tell you this, but... I have some bad news."

Kai's eyes widened, a chill prickling his skin despite the sun's warmth, his breath catching in his throat. "What is it?"

Miss Mandy met his gaze steadily, her own eyes softening with regret. "I'll be moving out tomorrow."

He gasped, the sound sharp and involuntary, like a punch to the gut. "What? But why?"

"This isn't sudden," she replied, her words calm but tinged with sorrow, the faint lines around her mouth deepening. "I've always wanted to move out. I've told you this once."

"I know," Kai stammered, his voice cracking, a knot of panic twisting in his stomach, sour and tight. "But I didn't think you were moving now."

"I've saved enough money," she explained, her fingers tightening on her handbag's strap. "I bought a farm there last week."

"What? You already bought it?" His voice rose, disbelief flooding him like cold water, numbing his limbs.

"Yes." A small smile curved her lips, a rare, fleeting warmth that lit her face like a brief sunbeam through clouds, crinkling the corners of her eyes. "The owner made it cheap for me. I've known them for some time, so..."

But concern furrowed her brow as she noticed Kai's eyes brimming, tears welling up hot and insistent, blurring his vision. "But... but if you leave right now, if you go, then who's... who's going to help me?"

"Oh, child," Miss Mandy murmured, her voice breaking softly. For the first time, she reached out, her hand, callused from years of tavern work, yet gentle, cupping his cheek, the touch warm and maternal, grounding him even as a tear spilled over, tracing a salty path down his skin, its sting mirroring the ache in his chest. "I'm sorry I have to leave, but I can't stay here. My grandchildren need me in Lyria. Listen... I'm sure you'll find someone else."

Kai shook his head vigorously, crimson eyes wide and glistening, tears carving hot, salty trails down his cheeks as his voice cracked, raw and fractured. "No, I won't, you know that."

She withdrew her hand from his cheek, the warmth lingering like a ghost on his skin, as he swiped at his face with trembling fingers, smearing the dampness. "You know everybody just hates me," he choked out, the words tumbling forth in a rush, laced with desperation. "You're the only one who's ever truly helped me, and now you're leaving me... just like... just like Grandmother."

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Mandy's heart twisted with pity as she gazed at him, his slender frame trembling under the weight of abandonment, but resolve hardened her resolve she couldn't stay.

She had a daughter in Lyria and grandkids of her own, their needs calling her homeward. She'd labored at the tavern, the sizzle of pans and clamor of patrons a daily grind, sending coins across the miles from time to time. Now, with the farm secured, she could finally relocate.

This boy before her, with his tousled hair and haunted gaze, was just another street urchin in town. She'd aided him for months, slipping him scraps of food that carried the tavern's savory warmth, offering chores that gave him purpose, but he wasn't kin. Still, a reluctant attachment had taken root, a quiet fondness blooming in the routine of their mornings.

"That's not true," she said softly, her voice steady despite the ache echoing in her chest, the faint floral scent of her bathwater still clinging to the air between them. "No one hates you. They just... don't understand you. That's all."

"Understand?" Kai echoed, his tone sharpening with bitterness, a fresh wave of tears blurring his vision as he paced a tight circle on the grass, boots scuffing the earth with a gritty rasp. "That's why they hate me. They hate me because they don't understand me. They all think I'm crazy, that I'm unstable, that my emotions are all over the place. But they're not."

Miss Mandy caught the raw anguish threading his words, a tremor that vibrated through the air like a plucked string, and she knew the truth of it all too well. Kai *was* unstable, his moods shifting like storm clouds, euphoric one moment, plummeting into despair the next, unpredictable as a sudden gust. Yet, from her years tending to the tavern's ragged patrons, those battered by life's tempests and wrestling inner demons, she'd honed a deep well of patience. She adapted seamlessly to his swings, meeting volatility with calm, like a steady anchor in turbulent seas.

"Listen, Kai, stop crying, alright?" she said as she wiped a tear from him.

Kai sniffed, wiping the snot from his nose.

And she said, "here." She reached into her bag, fishing out a silver coin, and handed it to Kai.

Kai looked at it, his crimson eyes reflecting the silver coin's gleam like captured starlight, and he said, "What? Why are you giving me another coin?"

She then said, "This is... think of it as a parting gift. I can't really help you. But I want you to know, not everyone hates you. People don't hate you, all right? They just don't understand you. But, in this world, not everyone is bad. You will eventually meet someone who will care for you. Someone who will help you. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but you'll definitely meet them."

Kai took the silver and looked at it in his hand, the metal cool and smooth against his warm fingers. And as he looked at it, he remembered when he was carrying a golden coin that he had been given by Tyler. And he muttered, "Like Mr. Angel."

The old woman said, "Like who?"

Kai looked at her and said, "No, it's fine." A smile suddenly returned to his face, bright and unbidden, and he wiped off the tears, the salty wetness lingering on his skin. Just like that, he wasn't sad anymore.

The old woman knew this. She was used to this. It was almost as if he was childish. Sometimes he was happy with the little things. Sometimes despair gnawed at him, no matter what was said. A faint, earthy scent of swept dirt and blooming herbs hung in the yard's still air, grounding the moment.

Mrs. Mandy smiled as she looked at Kai and said, "That's more like it. Don't be sad, all right? Now let's go."

Kai said, "Yeah," his voice lighter as he followed her out of the yard.

As they walked, Kai trailing behind her on the uneven cobblestone road, its stones clicking faintly under their footsteps amid the distant hum of passing vendors and chatter, she glanced back and said, "Right, I'm thinking this is where we split up. Or do you want to go to the tavern with me?"

Kai looked at her and said, "No, I'm not planning to eat right now. I want to save some of this money."

Mrs. Mandy looked at Kai and said, "Well, don't go starving yourself. Take care of yourself, alright?" She gave a slight wave of her hand, the air carrying a faint whiff of tavern smoke from down the street.

Kai lifted his palm without waving it, a quiet gesture of acknowledgment, and said, "I will. Thank you, Mrs. Mandy." He then bowed his head, the warmth of the sun on his neck contrasting the ache in his chest, and added, "I'm very thankful for everything that you've done for me."

Mrs. Mandy then said, "Oh, don't worry about it. Well, I'm off. I guess I'll see you when fate decides it. Farewell."

Kai straightened up and said, "Farewell." She headed toward the tavern, her figure receding amid the flow of people, leaving Kai standing there alone.

He watched the people passing by on the cobblestone road, their footsteps a steady rhythm that echoed his drifting thoughts. Slipping the silver coin into his pocket, its cool weight pressing against the fabric, he sighed deeply, the breath escaping like a whisper of resignation. I'll never be able to see her again, he thought, a hollow pang tightening in his gut.

He put his hands on his waist, the faint bustle of the street, clattering carts and murmured voice, fading into the background as he pondered his next move. *What am I going to do now? I tried begging for food and some money, but every time I do that, I go days without eating.*

*It's not always that people in this town will even spare a single copper coin,* Kai thought, a heavy sigh escaping his lips, carrying the faint bitterness of resignation as he trudged toward the marketplace, the sun's heat pressing down like an unyielding weight on his shoulders. *They won't even let me work for them.* The vendors' stalls loomed ahead, a chaotic sprawl of colorful awnings flapping in the breeze, infused with the mingled scents of ripe fruit, sizzling meats, and the earthy undertone of trampled dirt.

He headed straight for the cheapest fare he could find, weaving through the thinning crowd where elbows jostled and voices haggled in sharp bursts. At Miranda's stand, piled high with bruised apples gleaming waxy red under the light, her stern face, etched with perpetual suspicion, brows furrowed like storm clouds, met his approach without softening.

She viewed him no differently than the rest of the town, her gaze cold and appraising, lacking the quiet warmth Miss Mandy had always offered. As he handed over a couple of coppers, the coins clinking dully in her callused palm, he selected a few apples, their skins cool and slightly sticky against his fingers, the faint, tart aroma promising a meager but familiar sustenance.

Meanwhile, Mani navigated the town's winding paths, her boots scuffing against the cobblestones still slick from morning dew, until she reached the marketplace's bustling heart. She scanned every face in the shifting throng, merchants barking prices, children darting like minnows, buyers clutching baskets laden with goods, her pulse quickening with an inexplicable certainty. For the first time, a strange intuition stirred within her, a tingling awareness that prickled her skin like static before a storm.

*Kai is near,* she realized, the thought blooming unbidden, tied to some newfound skill awakened in her since that fateful morning. She knew their link ran deep, but where once it had only whispered of impending death like a cold shadow, now it pulsed with vitality a warm, insistent hum signaling his life force, drawing her closer when proximity allowed.

Her heart thudded against her ribs, a rapid drumbeat echoing the market's lively chaos, the sizzle of oil in pans, the sweet-sharp tang of overripe produce wafting on the air. Near the vendors' row, amid stacks of crates and hanging herbs that brushed her shoulders with their dry, herbal whisper, she paused, eyes darting urgently. *He has to be around here somewhere I can feel it.*

The soul eater within her stirred then, a sudden gasp reverberating through her core like a ripple in dark water, laced with surprise. *There,* it hissed, its voice slithering through her mind, eager. *I can see him.*

Mani couldn't pinpoint how, but the entity's excitement flooded her, a sly, predatory thrill that curled like a grin in the depths of her being, sending a shiver down her spine despite the midday warmth.

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