Humans were creatures full of complexity.
Behind the glamour of the present, there was often a less-than-beautiful past. Stories and experiences, together with a little luck and effort, made famous people who they were today.
Gild Tesoro was one such man. In River's eyes, once his glittering exterior was stripped away, he was actually a tragic figure.
Even now, traces of his past tragedies could still be seen in him.
Tesoro had been born into a poor family. His father was a gambler who died of illness. From childhood, he had dreamed of performing onstage and becoming a star singer.
At sixteen, he suffered a crushing loss at a casino, and all his friends abandoned him and fled. Tesoro was beaten and only escaped by fighting for his life. Then, one day, he met Stella at a human auction house.
To Tesoro, she was a woman with a beautiful singing voice, someone he could easily talk to. He fell in love with her.
Young love was always innocent and sweet, and it filled Tesoro with determination. He decided to give everything he had to win her freedom.
When he was nineteen, just as he was about to save enough money to buy Stella, the Celestial Dragons appeared and bought her instead. His anger accomplished nothing; it only got him captured.
"Don't be angry, and don't be sad, Tesoro."
"Because of you, I've been happy. The Celestial Dragons are all rich, and their status is so high that they can easily buy anything."
"Including me!"
Even now, Tesoro could clearly picture that girl being dragged away, tears shining in her eyes.
Tears trembled between her long lashes. Her expression looked like a smile, yet it filled him with anguish.
In the end, Tesoro was taken away and made a slave of