Mother's food is the only luxury that costs nothing but means everything.
Zane had met a Gutterborn while he was standing in the line for touching the slab. His name was Herring and he had awakened one Ember tier skill. The weakest tier of all.
Priest Coin, the man overseeing the ceremony, had offered Herring to work and help the Citadel even with his weakest tier and the young man had agreed.
Five knights had come and with them, Herring went away as well.
After that, Zane's turn had come and he wasn't able to see Herring since then.
Zane had revealed all this to some extent to Herring's mother last night and she had become less worried.
But today, she again met Zane and this time, she requested for one more thing.
She had a lunch box on her hand and Zane thought she brought it for him, but she replied:
"Please give it to my son Herring. He must be hungry."
It was for her son.
Zane didn't know whether he would be able to see Herring or not today as it seemed he had gone to some other part of the Citadel where those who had awakened weak tiers work or stay.
Nevertheless, Zane had a heart and it would not sit well with him if he refused a mother seeking help.
"Alright. I will give it to him."
He took the plastic lunch box from the woman and kept it on the plastic bag again.
I hope I don't get any more things.
The bag was almost full now. Any more weight, and the plastic would stretch and break.
"Thank you so much, child. And tell him to come and meet me. No need to work so hard."
Zane smiled. "I will pass the message to him. Don't worry."
The woman returned the smile and raised her hand.
She put it on Zane's cheek.
"You are such a nice boy. Take care of Herring for me. He talks too much but he is kind."
Zane wasn't able to say anything as the warmth of the woman's hands caressing his cheek, reminded him of his own mother.
His eyes almost gave up being dry.
He quickly shook his head and the woman removed her hand.
She was about to leave but then her eyes went to Milo.
"Who is this sweetheart?" She bent down, reaching out her hand to Milo.
Milo flinched but calmed down when she saw the hand moved towards her head.
Herring's mother patted Milo's head, smiling as if she was her daughter.
"My daughter was around the same age as you, honey."
Zane raised his brows.
His assumption turned out to be right.
But Herring had only told him about her mother. He had specifically said that he didn't have any siblings.
"If I may ask," Zane hesitated but asked anyway. "Where is she now?"
The woman's smile shrunk.
"She is no more."
The woman raised her head and looked at Zane's eyes.
"She died in the raid."
Zane closed his eyes.
He shouldn't have asked that.
Milo's grip tightened on his finger.
And he remembered the horror again.
"Anyway," The woman stood up. "I have to go to work. Take care, you two. Tell Herring I love him. Even if he isn't able to do well in his job."
Zane nodded.
"I will. Take care of yourself too."
The woman did a little bow and went to her hut.
Zane and Milo also turned around and Milo went more silent than ever.
She is getting tired and scared. I need to leave from here fast.
Zane stopped walking and turned to Milo.
"Let me carry you, Milo. You will get tired like this."
Zane spread his arms.
"It's fine. I can walk." Milo refused.
Zane sighed. "The big building is not near. I don't want your health to decline. Please."
"... Okay."
Milo agreed as she couldn't refuse Zane even if she wanted to.
Zane turned his back towards Milo and Milo wrapped her hands around his neck.
After being seated properly, Zane got up and started walking.
His eyes constantly watched the sun and it was a matter of only a few minutes when it would come out and the bell of the church would ring.
If he stayed in the slums, he and Milo would have to pray at the peripheral shrine and if he would be near the city then he and Milo would have to visit the church and pray there.
Zane would like to pray at neither of those places as the last time he went to the church, he almost died. He couldn't possibly go there with Milo in case another Veil lover makes his appearance.
The Peripheral shrine was rather a safe space but some priests from the church occasionally visited to check if all the residents of slums were praying or not.
Milo was inside the hut for one year so she didn't pray for all these days and if that priest got to know about this, they might punish Milo and Zane might become the enemy of the First Flame by killing a priest.
So it was better to reach the Citadel as soon as possible before the bells could ring.
He took long strides at a fast pace, he might be a scrawny man but his shoulders were big enough to carry the responsibility of his sister.
Not once did he make a groan or an uncomfortable face to show Milo that his back hurt. She would come down the moment she would see his discomfort.
Also, he made sure that Milo's hand didn't touch the pocket of his shirt on his left side as inside it, he had kept the folded photograph of their parents.
Milo would burst in tears if she saw their faces.
It was better for Zane to carry it alone.
In two minutes, he had left the Cinder Row and turned around for one last look.
He saw some men and women waving their hands along with some children and Zane did the same.
He waved them back and with a smile, he turned around.
The moment he turned his back, he stopped smiling.
He looked only ahead.
What awaited him ahead wasn't something that could be faced with a smile.
Something told him that his stay in the Citadel…
Would only be faced with blood.