“Help who? With what? And why?” Dixy asks. Right, she can’t see. I feel a little embarrassed to have forgotten that.

“There is a kid Silvestri here. I think she needs food and water… And… Because it is the right thing to do?”

She at least doesn’t seem to have any external injuries.

“If you think it is the right thing to do, then why are you asking me about it” It stings a little. But I speak regardless.

“Well, once I help, I sort of feel like I would be responsible… Have to get her home or something… Get back to the towns…”

“And why is that a problem?” Goddamnit Dixy, read between the lines!

I take in a deep sigh. “It’s just… People have tried to confine me many times before… And it was super painful… I don’t want to risk it again.”

“Then why worry about it? Why not just go on your way?”

Well, it just seems harsh, but Dixy probably doesn’t have what one could call empathy in any true sense of the word. Why do I want to help her? I don’t think I can properly put it into words… Basic human compassion?

I think of all the people I have brought misfortune over the years. Atna, Caper and Toben… None of them would likely have died without my existence.

Ahorn, Visel and Ostir too, could have lived full lives. I am like a monster that sucks the life out of those I meet.

But I don’t want to be a monster. I want to be a good guy.

“I want to be a good guy” I state to Dixy.

“And helping her will make you a good guy?” she asks.

“It certainly is what a good guy would do” I reply and with the matter being settled, I put Dixy away in my incredibly worn backpack and pick up the girl. It’s harsh to say, but her appearance is not really appealing to human standards, what with that Mohawk-adjacent hairstyle. It brings one to the thoughts of hoodlums and troublemakers.

She is clad in a single, short, raggy robe, that looks like it barely holds together. Carrying her, I easily feel bone and not much muscle on her body. I don’t think you can have this kind of body while living healthily…

I don’t mind it and carry her back the way I came from. I passed a dungeon half a day ago or so, where I picked up some water and food, so I could supply her there. I was walking slovenly on the way here, so I reach the place in under an hour with a speedy run, I try to limit the shaking off for the girl.

I am really angsty that I am going the right way, since the fog enveloping everything makes it super hard to navigate, but I eventually find it, and while carrying the girl to the water source, I swiftly eliminate any threats using only kicks. The monsters close to the surface are a complete joke by now.

She is still out cold. I try to lightly pour some water in her mouth by way of cupped hands. I can hear her swallow it.

I then fetch one of the small, almost rat-like monsters of this level of the dungeon. I use my sword to cut it up and roast the meat with my new high-power heat magic. I also try to feed her it, but she weakly coughs and starts to wheeze lightly.

Panicking that I am causing the girl to choke, I lift her up and strike her back lightly while shaking her whole body. The piece quickly falls out, but the girl has not regained consciousness.

I think of what to do. Can I wait for her to wake up? Or will she die if I simply wait now? She is looking emaciated.

I finally decide put the meat in my own mouth. I chew it thoroughly, until it is a fine pasty. It takes some time, since it is rather tough and sinewy. I then take it out again.

I feel disgusted and pity the girl, but I think this is her best chance of survival.

I tear off a very small piece of the meat-and-saliva mush and put it in her mouth. She swallows. I sigh and get to feeding her the rest of it.

Time passes with me topping up her water and food every hour or so, until six feedings later, she is making some noise and slowly rising.

She rubs her eyes and looks really unfocused until she catches a glimpse of me. Her unassuming face immediately turns into one of fear.

“Aaaaah, I didn’t! I didn’t…..” A scream followed by a slowly disappearing voice, as she prostrates herself before starting to sob a little.

I myself am a little shocked at her reaction, but I find myself after a little while.

“Hey, hey” I start with the gentlest voice I can muster. “I am not going to hurt you, I am friendly. Just relax”

She looks up at me, eyes watery and visibly quivering. I am about to give her my name, when another idea comes to mind. I am already a wanted criminal, albeit for a crime I didn’t commit, but it would be smart to take a new one, I think. I could go with Brian, but that doesn’t line well up with the culture here. It already sounds incredibly exotic to my ears. So I hastily decide on a compromise.

“I am Yian. I am only here to help you.” I try to reassure her. She doesn’t budge though.

Kids like magic tricks, right? Is that also true in a world where magic is a thing? I take some raw meat pieces I prepared earlier and say “Watch this!”

I close my hand and weave the powerful heat spell with the correct counterbalance. The meat quickly starts to sizzle and brown on my palm. Her eyes trained on the sight is obviously trembling with desire to eat it.

After a few minutes I deem it cooked well enough. I extend my hand. “Careful, it’s hot” She looks confused.

“It’s for you to eat” I say. She nods and slowly, carefully, shakingly extends her hand. When it is but a few inches away, she snatches some of the pile hastily, knocking a good deal of them on the floor. It is a waste, I even get a little angry, but the way she clutches it and is scarfing it down somehow soothes me. Like looking at a cute pet.

But I can’t shake the feeling that this is going to be troublesome.