I began shaking in fear, deathly afraid of the punishment waiting for me if I were to be caught by this... Primarian Arc, these thoughts clouded my mind like vicious lightnings strikes of paranoia.

"Hey mister... I’m losted. I don't see where my parents are..." Said the voice behind me, gently tugging on my white t-shirt.

When I turned around I was surprised to see it wasn't a creepy dog-human or a Xi-fu lemur-frog thing, in fact, what touched my hand was simply just a small boy in striped pajamas. It almost seemed like people that I thought were to be normal are a minority in this odd city of New Dwarden, so seeing a small boy without a machine arm or leg, a dog nose or any other animal appendage for-that-matter was refreshing to say-the-least.

It was then where the child pulled back his hooded cloak and yelped a small, please. He was a tiny blonde headed kid with a small round face. His eyes were deep blue, but his nose was red as a tomato, likely due to how much crying he had done. Nevertheless, he truly appeared as though he was lost.

I could only stare at the small boy, as his eyes stared hopefully towards into mine. I needed to try my best to blend in, yet I did not want to run the risk of exposing myself as an outsider, that is assuming the baby and the fox I was carrying weren't indicators enough. If I don't say anything, I run the risk of being at the mercy of the strange boy's imagination, but if I weren't to remain silent, I run the risk of stepping out of line. Is helping people something even accepted here? I was far too much of outsider to speak of anything pertaining to the customs of New Dwarden so keeping a conversation with anyone -even a child- could be really difficult.

With the exception of some yellow strips, I noticed the boy wore a nearly identical pajama to mine and the rest of the children at Nessiah's home. Perhaps this pajama was a standard in this city. The boy also wore a short cloak that was similar to that of a ripped potato sack. Was he poor? It was far too early for me to know, I had just gotten into this city of New Dwarden.

As my thoughts shuffled through my mind I noticed the boy creeping closer towards my chest with his head bowed. Before I can even think to step backward he lunged towards me and planted his forearms across my chest.

"What…!?" I said in confusion while trying to pry the child's tiny grasp from around my waist.

"Hey! Kid, don't cry!" I whispered in a panic.

With a huge lump in his throat, the boy's lip began to quivers in preparation for a massive downpour of tears. I couldn't risk this child and the baby I have both crying and attracting the enormous amount of attention alongside it. It was a checkmate.

"Alright! Alright!" I whispered in the hopes that the boy would stop crying.

“Did you steal my money or something.” I said under my breath while checking my deep pockets.

The boy smiled widely and bounced his arms off my chest with joy. I felt as though I had no choice but to help him find his parents now. Risk or not, crying would end everything.

"Hey, kid... I um don't know where your parents are, in fact, I’m new to this part of town so I uh... wouldn't be able to help you." I said evasively.

Upon hearing me, he appeared to calm himself, his sniffling somewhat winding down. I don’t normally fall for a display of crocodile tears or even real tears, but I could sympathize with this little boy as his problems reflect my own.

"Hey uh... don't worry everything is going to be alright...?" I reluctantly said with a long-winded sigh.

If Granas taught me anything so far, it’d be that New Dwarden is not what it appears to be, it was only natural for me to take extra precautions and examine the seemingly helpless boy in front of me. Perhaps I was trying to comfort myself with the mindset that he wasn't a threat, or perhaps I needed an edge to move first should something unexpected occur.

"Wreally...?" the boy said, his hopeful smile wider than before.

"Yeah. Really." I replied defeated.

“I have to know one thing though little kid.” I asked while crouched in front of him.

“*sniffle, Whut?” Replied the boy.

“Why me? Out of everyone, why me, I know there are bigger stronger people to help you.” I asked suspiciously.

The boy only shrugged at me, his eyes still glistening with tears. I nodded my head in disapproval and ultimately decided to travel alongside the little boy, this little boy likely knew more about the city then I do, perhaps he can help me establish the immediate area at the least.

"Maybe we can start with your name and the last place you saw your parents." I said while combing through the crowd.

"My n-name is Leo,a-and I got away from my Ma n’ Pa in the big P-parade...Parade Playza." Said Leo while smiling and sniffling.

"Parade Plaza?" I questioned.

He nodded his head in approval. The boy in front of me was not too different than me a handful of hours before, honestly, I wish I found some help when I first woke-up, luckily help found me, just as I found Leo.

"Yeah! That’s da one. My Pa said it's where everything that is anything is?" Leo responded proudly.

"So 'big things' like something called Mad Madachi right?" I eagerly questioned.

"I think so. I go with my parents every year." Grant shrugged his shoulders in innocence.

This was it! Just like little Leo, the opportunity had found me! This was my path, this is the first I heard about the Mad Madachi after searching for what seems to have felt like hours!

"Ahem, cough*. I suppose we should start looking then." I tried composing my self.

"Hey Leo, how old are you kiddo?” I asked.

“7.” He said while counting his fingers.

“Do you happen to know your way around these parts?" I said.

"A little." Said Leo with a big smile.

"Oh, I know the Parade Plaza is that way!" Leo continued.

Using some old boxes alongside a vendor booth, Leo climbed to a little vantage point and pointed his hand over the thick crowd.

"Hey kid! Get off my produce! Ya little scamper rat." Yelled a vendor.

I quickly gestured the kid to remove himself from over the produce. Luckily he understood and got off the boxes.

"Words work too!" I said to Leo as I grabbed his hand and pulled him off the produce.

"I know it's that way because of the big Ignorpa statue!" shouted Leo.

The statue was something out of a fantasy storybook, it was enormous and almost towered alongside the Cherubim! Only this Ignorpa wasn’t like cannoli, it had armor all over and appeared more Crocodilian. There also appears to be an equally impressive armored soldier riding the Ignorpa, although I could not make out the details as I was too far. Never-the-less, that was the largest statue I had ever laid my eyes on. Was it a Xi-Fu creation as well? Perhaps not, as they are chemist….right?

"And from there?" I asked.

"Uh..." Leo shrugged.

"Well let's get lost together then." I said, my smile as hopeful as his.