Ok let’s get this straight. I am the oldest sibling.

Mentally, emotionally, physically, I am the oldest.

No matter how many times Uke refutes otherwise, it is an undisputed fact that I am older than him. Also the most intelligent, kind, and let’s not forget tall-

“Ok. Ok, we get it, you are the oldest and smartest and prettiest and blah blah blah…” Uke stated in his monotone voice from the couch across me.

I furrowed my brow at him with genuine confusion mixed with slight fear. Did he hear me?

“No I did not~” He said, now with a singsong voice.

“Stop that!” I jumped in panic and pointed at him.

“Stop what?”

“Your creepy mind reading! It’s gross.”

Uke chuckled and side-eyed me with a smug smile. The bastard.

“Your thoughts are just too predictable sis… also whenever you mentally praise yourself, you close your eyes and make a weird smile with your finger to your eyebrow looking like some weirdo obsessed with the supernatural.”

He mumbled that last part.

“What did you say!”

“Nothing~”

The feeling of having my mental thoughts deduced, left me with an eerie tingle in my spine. Glancing back at my brother lazing casually on the couch, I will not be outdone.

I reached for the closest small object and got ready to pitch it towards that idiot with all my might.

His eyes were closed, letting out an obnoxious snore varying in volume. I did not know if he was pretending, but a sense of relief welled up inside me.

A smile crept onto my face, being clouded of the memories three years ago.

I strolled into the dining area where the little red-haired brother of mine, Rey, carved on top of the table surface with a sharp stick. He must have sensed my presence because he turned around swiftly, facing me with his own silly smile. I plopped myself down on the empty chair beside him, staring at the two idiots I called family.

I hummed the melody of our parents original lullaby softly. Shutting my eyes to the dreams of the past.

We came to this town with nothing. Left shivering off the carriage with our tattered coats and torn jeans, feet buried into the months of layered snow.

We had nowhere left to go. Our names carried the heavy stones of our past, forcing us to adapt into something completely different. With only the knowledge of our past thirteen years inside a bubble, we knew nothing for when it burst.

Our first year here was the most difficult. No one trusted a street urchin. We tried desperately, to find any sort of job that would give us a lick of silver, or even copper!

This town may be huge, but it was very poor. Every corner of the street was filled with hard-working men trying to earn ends-meet. The wealthy however, lined their pockets up off the back sweat of every peasant that didn’t follow in the steps of a greedy merchant.

It was rough. Weeks would go by without earning a speck of coin, having to split pieces of bread between the three of us. I couldn’t take it.

I begged for my brother to have us throw away our pride and grovel to the feet of these merciless merchant, casting aside our own forgotten status as nobles.

Uke never agreed though. Selfishly telling me to stay watching over Rey while he became a pack mule for the local merchants of the city, only earning meager pay even through the most horrid of weather conditions.

After weeks of doing nothing, the weight I forced onto Uke drowned me with so much guilt that I wrapped myself in the little blankets we kept and ran door to door, begging through the night for any kind of assistance they may spare. Knees drenching themselves from the melted snow that I cried on.

I was naive.

I was foolish, thinking any one of these fat hogs would even cast a glance in my direction. And because of this naivety I hurt the ones I truly loved.

Uke found me the next morning weeping outside of the noble realm gates with a heavy breathing Rey on his back.

It was my fault.

Uke collapsed in front of me, exhausted from searching through the snowy night. With one blanket around Rey, Uke was left with a tattered shirt filled with holes the size of a fist.

This broke me. I cried and wept, wrapping all the blankets I had over his body tightly.

I became so mentally discarded, fighting back the urge to run up to a merchant and rob them of all they had.

Even through his sickly gasping, Uke made me swear never to think about leaving them again.

“Just put faith in me, sister.”

He said smiling until he fell asleep in that alleyway.

I could never betray Uke. If the world had told me then to run away and never look back, I would tell the world to shut up and watch. Observe how we get through this cruel test set up for us.

That night, I slept the most comfortable I have ever been, with Rey snuggled up beside me and Uke humming the lullaby in his sleep.

The next day we went into Merchant Square with the funds Uke accumulated over the past few months.

Rey pulled me along by the finger through the open stalls, leading us to halt behind some sort of idiot pausing to an abrupt stop in front of us.

Seeming to be fumbling with something, her tense body juggled the item in her hands stiffly. To make matters worse, the wind blew aggressively from the side and next thing I knew I was blinded by the wavy light-red hair whisking across my face. My vision blurred and eyes fluttered as I kept walking, eventually bumping into the girl, knocking the large basket of loaves she was carrying across the floor.

Rey leaped down to the abundant amount of food, snatching one up to chew at it vigorously.

“Oh no! My apologies.” I hurriedly picked up a few near me while the girl towered over me. I swooped up the rest and laid them in the basket.

“Ser-seriously! I was just on my way to bring these back to the shop. What am I to do now…“

Her voice seemed harsh, but trailed off when her eyes stared at a sickly Rey chowing down on the loaves of bread.

“Though, things do happen…” her face began to recede into a frown while scanning up and down at our dirty clothes with the stench of garbage lingering below her.

“I’m sorry… truly… I may not be able to pay you back now… but.. bu—” I said sniffling, clenching the lower hem of my dress. I didn’t really have the means or confidence in securing enough money, the most embarrassing thing I did next made me regret this day.

I began to sob uncontrollably in front of the stranger. Weeping loudly where I sat, in the middle of the square.

Through my tears I saw her panicked movement and facial expressions that sealed preciously into my memory.

“It’s fine! Stop! Stop already!” She grasped both my shoulders, with a firm but not painful grip, drawing her face just inches away from mine. Unexpectedly, with her cold breath she blew at the tears falling down my cheek in a series of light puffs.

I wiped my eyes and stared at this weird girl in bewilderment and unexplained comfort.

Her eyes were like the ocean. Gleaming blue, staring just a slight movement of space away. Between my tears and her dark blue eyes, I could’ve sworn I saw a wave crash inside of them.

“All done?” She leaned back and questioned with a pinkish tone highlighted across her nose. “And yes you will pay us back, but in a different manner. Follow me!”

She took hold of my wrist and hauled me, along with Rey who was taking as much as he was able to get a hold of.

Being led like a thief on a leash through the stalls of Merchant Square, surely would be traumatizing for anyone. The girl kept a brisk pace, weaving us through the crowd without a sense of our surroundings. But, for some reason I never felt any true danger emanating from her intentions, whatever it may be.

Now getting a good look at the fiery red princess, she seemed to have been a commoner herself. With long crimson-burning hair, being just as disheveled as my own, she was unexpectedly…pretty.

She wore a dark dress with tights, along with an unmatching pair of brown worn-out boots. Her full-body apron was folded in half, strung just above her waist. It matched the darkest highlights of her hair as it trailed loosely through the wind. I felt a conscious embarrassment, staring at our joined hands. Her hand was just as rough as mine. Does she live a similar life?

We turned a corner and reached the very end of Thorn Road. A burning aroma lingered in the air, drastically different than that of cheap meat and perfumes being paraded all across the market. With each tired step, we approached a tiny building where the burning smell grew more and more apparent.

My kidnapper hung her head down in dismay, resting her free hand onto the door, looking hesitant to slide it open.

“She’s at it again.” Merry mumbled with a furious tone.

She slid the door open forcefully and yelled loudly with a bellowing voice that, in my imagination, could be heard from Parsia. “Just what in the absolute heavens possessed you to make something of this stench!” She tightened her grip on my wrist and turned to me with a flustered look. “W-wait in here while I get the owner. It’s far better than to wait in the freezing snow. Unless you prefer to become a human icicle that is.” She must’ve sensed my reluctance because she wouldn’t loosen her hold until I nodded my head.

“Excuse…us…” I secured Rey tightly in front of me, shuffling slowly into their hideout. However, instead of a dirty room and scary thugs, we found ourselves staring at something cozier than expected.

An abundance of sweets and bread were laid out in baskets around the tiny shop with many varieties in their respectable stand. The girl let go of her grip and called out towards the back of the shop.

“Miss Clarines! I’ve brought workers!” She said rather cheerfully. A contrast to her yelling earlier.

Workers!? Did this female red haired thug lead us to a slave trader!? I am not allowing Rey and myself to be reduced to chains and whips!

Just then, a similar looking, but considerably older lady walked out from around the corner covered in a white powder from head to toe with a cloth mask covering her face. She stood towering over the bodies of Rey and I. She had the same Red hair as the girl except just a little darker and shorter. Is this the leader!? Here to sell us to the markets? I shan’t allow it! I tugged Rey behind me and spread my arms out horizontally.

“No! I won’t let you! Do what you may with me, but don’t touch my brother!” I screamed at the top of my lungs with what I could muster, but even that seemed to waver and disperse thinly into the air.

The lady walked closer and closer, slowly bending over to level her face with mine.

“Just what are you saying dear?” A hushed voice said underneath the mask.

I hesitantly opened my right eye to see what kind of monster that would be willing to sell people, looked like.

“Oh my. It seems like you are trembling, child…that’s no good.” A few moments later, a feeling of warmth rested upon my head and shoulders.

I peeked even more. Rey rustled from behind me to make his way to the front.

“Rey! Get back behind me!”

“But why sis?” He questioned with a full mouth.

At this point I mentally prepared myself and opened both eyes wide open to see an unexpected scene. The lady who I presumed to be the ringleader, was instead that of a warm presence similar to that of a candle.

Who is this?

I looked down to Rey devouring a highly expensive piece of Fergolli bread, burnt around the edges to the point of almost flaking right off. Just what kind of scene is unfolding in front of me?

“Miss Clarines there is something of personal space that must be respected here.”

“Ah but this little one is just too cute~ And didn’t I say to call me mother already? Don’t be so distant my child.”

“That kind of etiquette is why we never earn money! To attract customers we must act proper!.”

“You are just too uptight Merry, you seem to match the personality of the bigger one over here.” Miss Clarines looked back and forth between Merry and I with a light chuckle.

“Mother!” Merry yelled, clearly flustered.

“Oh there we go~”

In the midst of all this I couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Water once again welled up in my eyes, grabbing at my stomach while laughing uncontrollably.

“Huh!? Are you crying again? Um um um..!” Merry walked up closer to me visibly panicking.

“That’s not it.” I looked at her straight and smiled while putting my hands behind my back. “I’m happy.”

After a few minutes of settling down, Miss Clarines offered new clothes and the washroom in the back to refresh ourselves. I could hear Merry and her begin to converse through the thin walls.

“Oh my oh my. Well, wasn’t that little fella cute.” Miss Clarines said.. “Dark crimson hair is unique around these parts. Say Merry…where do you believe those two are from?” Her tone evolved into that of seriousness which in contrast, made me anxious.

“Beats me.” Merry’s tone was a bit more somber. “But I believe they will tell us one day. I choose to believe in them.”

A hour passed until we eventually came out of the washroom with the same red apron Merry had donned, over our newly given clothes. Rey wore a white gown which was obviously oversized just by looking at the sleeves dragging on the floor when his arms were down. I was given a simple white dress that reached just below my knees with frills that would make me from an hour ago look like two different people.

I caught the glance of Merry who was fixing the stalls. As soon as our eyes met, she looked away and tried to walk but ended up bumping a basket on the ground. I let out a light laugh and proceeded my way over to her while Rey hopped on a stool beside the counter next to Miss Clarines.

“So, from what I’ve heard earlier was that you two are siblings?” Miss Clarines began with a serious, unwavering tone that echoed in the air with a sense of urgency. “And I know this is overdue, but what are your names?”

I picked up the last of the dropped goods and dropped it into an open handed Merry.

“The name is Key.” I stated confidently. “And the little one over there is indeed my little brother, Rey. Together we make Key and Rey of the Coy family!” I maybe perhaps should’ve left out that last part… I got too in the moment am I stupid? Even Uke would never mention our last name, and he doesn’t even remember why… Hopefully they do not know the weight of what our last name carries.

I looked up to see their reactions and to my fears, while Merry did not seem to pay it much mind, Miss Clarines focused on us even more intensely than before. She must know something! Not good.

“Well… we only just arrived here four months ago from the town of Klyne.” I managed to stutter out. “We have been living in a run down hut during our stay here, but plan to move across the ocean for when we gather enough silver…” My way of speaking was still very soft which was uncharacteristic. Whether I’m speaking with family or hearing the insults of threatening nobles, I’m usually more blunt and not afraid to express the unfairness they treat us with. But, for some reason I felt very conscious around these two which started to make me sweat profusely on the back of my neck.

The sound of footsteps could be heard approaching closer and closer at a fast pace. The sound wasn’t that of iron like the guards’ padded boots, but was instead an alternating sound between rubber and soft. Merry picked up a dough roller that rested on a cutting board while we anxiously stared at the door in eerie silence.

The door was slammed [once again] forcefully to the side as a disgruntled man crawled through the doorway. Heavy gasping filled the air, crawling on all fours towards us. With each movement he drew closer, pounding the floor with a clenched fist only to stop when he wearily tugged onto Merry’s apron.

“Let…them go!” He managed in between gasps.

Merry looked around visibly panicking from the ordeal.

“U-Uke?” I questioned, now walking cautiously towards the obvious idiot who was wearing only his right wrapped shoe next to his dirtied sole.

He swung his head around with a look of visible confusion.

“Huh?” Looking back and forth between the three of us until resting his eyes on an energetic Rey who was gleefully having a feast between the two baskets of bread varieties. “Huh?!”

I trudged Uke up to his feet with the unexpected help of Merry who carried the weight of his other shoulder. With the assessment of everything that occurred earlier up to now, Uke finally calmed down enough to wash himself in the backroom. He walked out with his slightly curled hair still wet but more presentable than when he came in looking like a stray dog. Once again donning the same apron like the three of us. Miss Clarine’s gaze was fixated on the freshly dressed Uke immensely, which to me had the feeling of subtle hostility..

“Hm..well! Seems like my intuition was misleading.” Miss Clarines said, rather joyful. “Anyways, you are welcomed. The general maintenance of the store along with the two of you working the front of the store, scouting around the area while also doing some shopping with my sweetheart of a daughter over there.” Miss Clarines beckoned Rey to give him a tight squeeze.”The young child can work as a mascot. All good?”

I became stunned, almost discombobulated from what the lady just proposed. I glanced back at Merry and caught her smiling proudly with her eyes closed like someone who just did the most charitable thing and wanted people to praise her. She turned her head back with a smile, so gleaming that it became framed and displayed brightly inside a glass pedestal inside my mind.

I couldn’t help but feel myself get dewy-eyed from the sincere kindness that was presented after such a long time. I felt my face grow warm and could imagine the shade of pink across my face. It’s too unexpected… I must retrieve back my composure.

“I-is it really okay? You won’t really sell us as slaves would you?” I asked the lady with a hoarse voice, trying my best to hold back sounds of gasping.

All the lady did was look down and smile while nodding slowly. I couldn’t control it anymore. I sobbed uncontrollably even more intense than the night before. I didn’t care, I’m too overjoyed.

My eyes will be beet red. I don’t care, I will take the first step. To the kind people who gave us a chance at living decently in this plagued, corrupted world.

Thank you…and so long.