Night Rain (Part 1)

The sound of rain pattered outside.

Vivian carefully placed a low stool in front of the stove and then bent down to scoop two handfuls of coarse rice from the nearby rice bag. There wasn't much grain left in the bag. Her brother had only managed to steal a piece of silver jewelry from the docks last month, and that's what they traded for this bag of coarse rice. Even though she had been meticulously rationing for the past half month, the dwindling amount of grain still filled her with a sense of panic.

There was no food left.

In a few more days, they would starve!

Vivian's eyes, red-rimmed, glanced at the small bed in the dilapidated house. On the bedding, which smelled of mold, lay a young man in a coma. Her brother still hadn't woken up. The kind pastor sister who had once been willing to help them seemed to have given up hope too, as Bishop Fael was unwilling to expend much effort to save a thief.

Vivian bravely wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and carefully climbed down from the low stool.

She was only eight years old this year. Due to malnutrition, she looked quite small. Tasks like starting a fire and cooking were still difficult for her. She held a few chopped pieces of firewood in her arms, breaking off some branches she had collected during the day and throwing them into the stove. Because of the continuous heavy rain outside for half the day, the firewood had become damp, making it slow to ignite and producing a pungent, choking smoke. Vivian ignored the stinging in her eyes and puffed her cheeks, blowing with all her might. Once the firewood inside caught fire, she gently rubbed her eyes.

"Brother!..."

"You have to wake up!... Vivian misses you so much!..."

"Don't leave me!..."

Crystal tears fell one by one. Vivian sat by the stove, sobbing softly. After a while, she wiped her cheeks with her small hands. Two white streaks appeared on her soot-blackened face. They still had some salt at home, but it was finished last week. She wanted to learn from her brother and steal some, but she was almost caught by the fat shop owner. The landlady had hit her on the back with a broom. Even now, her back was still bruised and purple, and it hurt with a burning pain at the slightest touch.

"Woof woof!"

A black and yellow old dog walked over. Although it was showing its age, it was still possible to tell that it had once been an excellent hunting dog. Vivian extended her small palm. The old dog quietly walked to her side, glanced at the stove, and let out a low whimper.

"Heath."

Vivian hugged the old dog. As if sensing its longing gaze, she let out a small sob, gently stroked its back, and murmured, "There's not much food left."

"It has to be saved for brother. Vivian is also hungry. You go find something to eat outside after the rain stops."

"I'm sorry!"

"Is Vivian useless?"

"I can't steal anything, I can't save brother, and I always cry..."

The old dog, with its cloudy eyes, seemed to understand her words. It quietly looked away, then licked her palm with its tongue before lying down at her feet and closing its eyes as if dozing.

Footsteps sounded outside, pausing at the door. Indistinct voices could be heard.

The old black and yellow dog, which had seemed lethargic, suddenly opened its eyes. In an instant, it became fierce like a hungry wolf, letting out a menacing growl and barking loudly towards the outside.

"Damn it!"

"I'll kill you, old dog, and stew you sooner or later!"

A man's exasperated voice came from outside, followed by the sound of footsteps gradually receding.

(Some content has been omitted due to content policy conflicts)

That woman, Sosia, would raise her for a few years, then teach her how to serve men. If she was beautiful enough, she would be given to some nobles in the city. Otherwise, she would only be sent to those low-class **.

But for her brother.

She was willing to do anything, because he was her only family.

A fight erupted outside.

Vivian instinctively shrank back into the covers. The old dog at the door also showed a fierce glint in its eyes.

It was Corun and Savi from the slums fighting over territory. Ever since her brother was seriously injured by a terrifying Wizard, many of the thieves in the slums had died. The original leaders had all met their end on the streets, and the remaining ones had fought many times to seize territory. No guards ever came to this place because it was a forgotten corner of Amber City.

They were fighting for the blocks where they operated, and also for the children in the slums.

Because every gang needed to train children to steal. Her brother had become a thief this way to support her.

Vivian's memories of her parents were vague!

She only knew that her mother had a husband, who was said to be an excellent master thief. Unfortunately, he accepted a mission and eventually died in the tower of some Wizard.

From that time on.

Wizards became the most terrifying existence in her young heart!

That man was her brother's biological father. Although she wasn't born yet, she had heard her brother mention him.

Later.

Her mother, with her young brother, went through a period of hardship. Due to poverty, she even worked as a waitress in a tavern. In fact, that was a part-time **. Vivian knew these things. She understood much more than girls her age. This life continued until her mother met a mysterious adventurer.

Soon.

She became pregnant again.

That adventurer did not marry her, but kept her like a **. That man was Vivian's biological father.

He was also said to be a powerful professional.

Heath was his pet. Later, he mysteriously disappeared.

Only this old dog remained by their side.

Her mother lost two men in a row and began to lose her sanity, even suffering from amnesia at one point. She eventually died of illness.

She was only three years old then.

Her brother was twelve.

Two young children, orphaned, soon found themselves on the streets. Her brother often got into fights to get meager scraps of food.

Later, her brother joined a gang and became a qualified thief.

At that time.

Their lives had gradually stabilized, and they had a place to stay within the chaotic slum.

A piercing scream echoed.

Vivian trembled, hiding herself in the young man's embrace. The old dog by the door suddenly stood up, its eyes glinting menacingly towards the alleyway in the distance.

Someone had died there!

It was normal for people to die in the slum; even the priests from the Temple of Dawn wouldn't concern themselves with the lives and deaths within the slum.

Nearby residents slammed their doors shut.

Some even picked up bolts and locked their doors tightly. Vivian also got up and struggled to brace a bolt.

Based on her years of experience living in the slum, if someone died, the problem would quickly escalate. The fighting would surely intensify, potentially affecting those nearby.

Fear.

The fear in her heart made the little girl hug the old dog tighter, bringing it to the foot of the bed.

"Heath."

She looked outside fearfully, seeing shadowy figures in the rain, fighting each other with weapons.

Blood flowed down the entire alleyway, only to be washed away by the rain.

A faint scent of blood could be detected!

Vivian bent down and stroked the old dog's head. Her small body trembled slightly from fear, and she whispered, "You'll protect me, right?"

"Woof!"

The old dog suddenly barked.

The little girl was startled, but she quickly realized Heath wasn't barking at the outside, but at the young man on the bed.

"Brother!?"

Vivian turned around in surprise, finding the young man on the bed had opened his eyes and his lips moved slightly.

The pressure and fear she had endured instantly erupted!

Her small figure lunged into his embrace, large, crystal tears rolling down her tender cheeks.