It was short and silver, shining softly under the sunlight like threads of moonlight. As if sensing his gaze, the girl lifted her head. Their eyes met.
She had large, clear eyes, their amethyst color so vivid that they seemed unreal. Even from a short distance, Ray could see his own reflection within them, framed by naturally long eyelashes.
He had always been told that his own eyes were pretty, and perhaps because of that, seeing someone with equally striking eyes made him feel an immediate sense of closeness.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the world around them seeming to pause.
That fragile moment was shattered when several older youths approached, their attention clearly drawn by the girl's silver hair. They formed a loose circle around her, blocking the street.
"Hey, little girl," one of them said, his tone falsely gentle. "Where are your parents?"
The girl lowered her head again, avoiding their gazes, and said nothing.
The youths exchanged looks, greed flashing in their eyes. "Silver hair and purple eyes," another whispered. "Those black market people would pay a lot for someone like her."
One of them crouched down and smiled. "Are you hungry? Big brother can take you somewhere nice to eat."
The girl shook her head, more violently this time, her body shrinking inward.
The smile vanished. With a quick motion, the youth grabbed her arm and hoisted her up, while his companions moved to block the view of passersby. The girl screamed in fear as she was slung over his shoulder.
"Stop!"
A clear, furious voice rang out.
The youths turned, startled, only to see a small boy charging toward them, his frame barely reaching their waists, dirt-stained shoes slapping against the ground. Their surprise quickly turned to irritation.
"Brat, get lost!" One of them kicked him hard.
Ray was sent tumbling across the street, rolling in the dust before stopping several meters away. Dirt clung to his clothes, but he scrambled to his feet almost immediately, his eyes blazing.
"You're villains!" he shouted as he rushed forward again, planting himself in their path. "Let her go!"
The leader sneered, flicking his wrist. A dagger slid into his hand, its blade catching the sunlight. He pointed it at Ray threateningly. "If you don't want to die, scram."
Ray's heart pounded, but he refused to step back. "I'm a Soul Master," he declared stubbornly. "I'm not afraid of you. Release her!"
As he spoke, he raised his hand. A soft blue glow appeared, and a strand of Silverfalls Vine swayed gently in his palm, faint energy rippling outward. It wasn't strong. He had no soul ring, no combat ability to speak of. But it was soul power.
The youths froze.
Children with soul power were registered, protected, and watched by the federation and the Spirit Tower alike. Hurting one in public, with witnesses already gathering, would bring trouble far greater than they wanted.
"Damn it," the leader spat. Reluctantly, he dropped the girl to the ground and gestured for his companions to retreat. Within moments, they disappeared into the crowd.
The girl stumbled and fell, landing on the ground. Ray rushed to her side and crouched down, his voice gentle now. "It's okay. Don't be scared. I'm a man. I'll protect you."
She looked up at him. Up close, her eyes were even more beautiful, mist slowly gathering within them.
"Don't cry," Ray said hurriedly. "They're gone now. My name is Ray. What's yours?"
The girl stared at him for a long moment before softly answering, "Vivienne."
"Vivienne?" Ray repeated the name softly, as if tasting it. A smile crept onto his face as he reached out and carefully helped her to her feet. "That's a really nice name. And your voice… it sounds very gentle."
Vivienne lowered her head again, her silver hair falling forward to hide most of her face. She didn't answer, nor did she pull her hand away from his.
Ray wasn't discouraged. Holding her hand, he asked patiently, "Do you know where your mom and dad are? Or where is your home?"
Vivienne only shook her head, the movement small and hesitant.
Before he could think of another question, a soft but unmistakable sound broke the quiet between them.
Ray instinctively looked down at his own stomach, then quickly realized it wasn't him. Even beneath the dirt on her face, a faint blush spread across Vivienne's cheeks.
"You're hungry?" Ray asked, his eyes lighting up as if he had discovered something important. "Then come with me. If you can't find your parents right now, you can go to my house first. My mom cooks really well!"
Without waiting for her answer, he gently tugged her hand and started walking toward home.
Vivienne lifted her head slightly as she followed him. From her angle, she could see only the side of his face.
His cheeks were still flushed from the earlier scuffle, his expression bright and earnest. His large black eyes were clear and lively, framed by long lashes that gave him a gentle look despite his stubborn courage.
She found herself staring without realizing it, her steps unconsciously matching his.
"I'm home, Mom!" Ray shouted before he even reached the door.
"Lower your voice," Selina scolded as she opened it. "Don't disturb the neighbors." Her words stopped midway when she took in her son's dusty clothes and messy hair. Her gaze then shifted to the small girl holding his hand. "What happened? Why are you so dirty?"
Ray eagerly launched into his story, recounting everything from the street incident with animated gestures.
As he spoke, Selina's expression grew increasingly tense. The moment he finished, she pulled him inside, her grip firm, and Vivienne followed along quietly.
"Do you know how dangerous that was?" Selina said, her breathing uneven as worry surfaced plainly on her face. "Those street youths—"
"But Dad said boys should be brave," Ray interrupted stubbornly, lifting his chin. "We shouldn't let villains do bad things."
Selina stared into his eyes and fell silent. She saw fear there, yes, but also sincerity and resolve. In the end, she sighed, unable to scold him further. She could only worry because he had done the right thing.
Ray took the chance to hug her leg and grin. "Mom, don't be mad. Vivienne and I are hungry. Can you cook something?"
Selina shook her head helplessly before crouching down to Vivienne's level. "Your name is Vivienne, right? Do you know where your parents are?"
Vivienne shook her head again.
"Well then," Selina said gently, "let's clean you up first. You're both filthy."
She led the two children into the bathroom and washed them together. When Ray curiously asked why he and Vivienne looked different, Selina only laughed, and Vivienne shyly hid behind her.
Once cleaned and dressed, Ray sat at the table with his chin propped in his hands, staring openly. "Vivienne, you're really pretty."
Vivienne wore his clothes, which were far too large for her, yet she looked even more delicate because of it. Her skin was fair and smooth, like polished jade, and after bathing, she carried a faint, fresh fragrance. She truly looked like a porcelain doll.
Vivienne looked back at him quietly, saying nothing.