Joe turned his gaze to Bob a few seconds later when he remembered that his friend had not been in the cell when he returned from the Battleground. He knew it was not his place to pry, but he was genuinely curious about his whereabouts. It could be that Bob had gotten into trouble and did not want anyone to know, which was why Joe felt uneasy. With his new position, he would make sure not a single inmate laid a hand on his buddy.

  “So where were you? I didn’t see you when I came back from the battle royal.”

  “Oh that,” Bob said, his voice lowering as a sad expression crossed his face. “I was chatting with my sister. She came to visit me.”

  Joe did not expect that answer, but it made sense that Bob would have family who cared about him. He envied that. He had no relatives in this world, and even if he had been jailed back on Earth, he knew he would have been alone there as well. His uncle would not have cared if he was arrested. The scumbag would have been pleased to have Joe out of his sight.

  “Must be nice to have someone from the outside who still cares about you,” Joe said.

  “Yeah it is, but I messed it all up by getting arrested.”

  “What did you do?” Joe had wanted to ask that during their first conversation, but he never had the chance. Now he finally did, and he would not let it slip.

  Thirtreen Years Ago

  In the Backstreets of Suveny

  A ten year old Bob sat beside his sister, who was only seven. They were in a dark alley, wearing ragged clothes and covered by a large plastic bag that shielded them from the cold, windy rain. The siblings huddled together to keep warm. Bob stared at the gloomy sky with a determined expression.

  “Don’t worry Sasha, one day I’ll definitely get us out of this place, I promise.”

  “I know you can do anything big brother. As long as we’re together we’ll be okay,” Sasha said in her cute voice as she looked up at him with a wide grin.

  Bob gave her a faint smile.

  To earn money, the siblings begged in the town square from morning until evening. Some days were better than others, but they managed to avoid going to bed completely hungry.

  A few days later, when Bob visited the marketplace to buy bread for dinner, he noticed the pouch of an elderly man hanging loosely from his waist. He opened his mouth to warn him, but an idea quickly formed in his mind, stopping the words before they left his mouth. A slow smile spread across his face as he approached the old man, who was hunched over and walking with a wooden cane.

  Bob bumped into him, nearly knocking him over.

  “Sorry sir, I didn’t see you,” he said, his eyes filled with remorse.

  “It’s okay, we all make mistakes. You seem like a respectful young man,” the old man replied warmly, ruffling his hair before turning and walking away.

  As Bob watched him leave, he grinned and looked at the pouch now in his own hand. He did not need to check its contents to know it held enough gold to last them a month. Its weight alone confirmed that their troubles would disappear for weeks. A pang of guilt stirred in his chest, but he quickly suppressed it.

  ‘That guy is obviously rich. Otherwise he wouldn’t be so careless with his coins. He doesn’t need them as much as we do. I bet he won’t even notice they’re gone.’

  With the extra coins, Bob bought more than just bread. He purchased ingredients to make sandwiches and grabbed several bottles of juice. Smiling, he entered a clothing store and bought new outfits for both himself and Sasha. As it turned out, stealing a thousand gold coins from an old man could change your life. He still could not believe someone would walk around with so much money. The man had to be one of Suveny’s elites. Bob briefly wondered why he had no guards, then shrugged and continued his shopping spree.

  “Guess who’s back?” he called out with a wide smile when he returned to the alley.

  Sasha’s face lit up and she rushed into his arms. “Brother! I missed you.”

  “Yeah, sorry for taking so long.” He had spent more than six hours in the marketplace. He had never had the luxury of choosing where to shop, so the experience overwhelmed him. He wandered through every store, even ones he had no intention of buying from. Simply being able to look around with money in his pocket felt incredible.

  Sasha pulled away and looked him over. Confusion spread across her face when she noticed he was not carrying anything, not even the bread. “I don’t understand. Where’s the food brother? Did they run out of bread?”

  Bob shook his head. “Nope. I brought all the bread we’ll ever need.” His voice was filled with excitement. “And guess what? We won’t have to stay here anymore. I can take us somewhere better.”

  Sasha still looked confused.

  Bob grabbed her hand. “Come, I’ll show you.”

  They entered one of the largest inns in Suveny and approached the receptionist.

  “Hello, I made a reservation for room 15. Can you give us the keys?” he asked politely.

  The blonde woman behind the counter looked around, then stood and glanced down at the two children holding hands. A bright smile appeared on her face when she recognized Bob.

  “I see you’ve returned, Mr Heart. It’s good to see you again,” she said with a respectful bow.

  “Yeah, I brought my sister like I promised. If you just give me the keys, we’ll get out of your hair.”

  This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

  “Of course.” She handed him the key. “You have a very cute sister, Mr Heart. Please enjoy your stay.”

  “Thank you.” He took the key. “Let’s go, Sasha.”

  Normally, no one under sixteen could book a room, since many rich children used inns to run away from home. Bob had paid extra to bend the rules. That was why the receptionist treated him like an adult. He had no regrets. He would break any rule if it meant giving his sister a roof over her head.

  They walked down a narrow hallway lined with numbered doors. Bob found room fifteen and stood on his toes to unlock it.

  “This is our home now, Sasha.”

  They stepped into a spacious, tidy room. A large bed stood against the wall beside a drawer and wardrobe. A cupboard, a small mana cooker, and a sink filled the other side. Bright colors decorated the walls, along with a few paintings. Mana stones embedded in the ceiling cast a warm glow. A medium sized window overlooked Suveny from above. There was even a small bathroom.

  “Wow. We’re staying here now?” Sasha asked, her eyes shining.

  “That’s right. We won’t have to sleep outside anymore.”

  She sprinted to the bed and threw herself onto it, rolling across the soft blanket and burying her face in a pillow as she squealed with joy. Bob smiled and walked toward the sink.

  “Why don’t you check the wardrobe? I think you’ll like it,” he said as he washed his hands.

  Sasha opened it and gasped. Brand new clothes of every color filled the space, along with an entire section of shoes. She turned to him, her mouth hanging open. “You bought all this for us? But where did you get the money?”

  Bob paused before answering. “I got a job from an old man in the marketplace. He pays me for every hour I work. That’s why I took so long.” He smiled. “I told you I’d get us out of that alley.”

  “I knew you could do it. You’re the best big brother ever.”

  A few minutes later, they sat at a small table eating sandwiches.

  “Wow! You brought so much food!”

  “Yeah. Eat as much as you want.”

  Normally they rationed every meal, often just a plain loaf of bread. Today they ate stuffed sandwiches without holding back. Sasha beamed as she devoured her food and drank sweet juice.

  “It’s so good brother!”

  Bob smiled. “Enjoy it.”

  After dinner, they shared a warm bath, washing away years of dirt. They added bubble potion and laughed as they played in the water. Later, dressed in new pajamas, they sat on the bed while rain tapped against the window.

  “You see? It’s raining, but in here we don’t have to worry about the cold.”

  Sasha smiled softly. “I want to live here forever brother.”

  Bob looked at her, thoughtful, then nodded with quiet determination. “We will. I’ll make sure of it.”

  For the first time in their lives, the siblings slept in a warm bed, free from fear and hunger.

  Bob woke up early, feeling refreshed after a peaceful night of comfortable sleep. Compared to the alley, it felt like he was living in a completely different world. He got up, took a long bath, and put on a new shirt, jacket, and pants. He replaced his worn sandals with a fresh pair of sneakers. After devouring a sandwich and filling his stomach, he prepared to leave, but Sasha stirred from her sleep.

  “Brother? Where are you going?” she asked softly as she sat upright and rubbed her eyes.

  “To work,” Bob replied as he opened the door.

  “It’s so early. Do you have to leave so soon?”

  “Yes. If we want to live in this place forever, I have to work very hard.”

  “Does brother like his job? I don’t mind not staying here if it makes you sad.”

  “I love it,” Bob said with a smile. “A maid named Dorothy will come to clean the room and take care of you while I’m gone. Be a good girl and don’t cause trouble for her. She’ll even take you out to buy some dolls.”

  “Really?” Sasha asked, her eyes lighting up.

  “Yes, so be nice to her. I’ll see you later, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  He grinned and closed the door behind him.

  Bob knew his job was far from ideal, and he did not feel proud of it, but he had no choice if it meant keeping his sister safe and happy. It had given them a chance to escape their miserable existence, and he would do everything in his power to make sure they never returned to that life. So he spent hours targeting and pickpocketing the townsfolk of Suveny. His main targets were the elderly and drunks since they were easier to trick, and he was confident he could outrun them if things went wrong. He preferred those who appeared reasonably wealthy, but on difficult days he was not picky.

  A month later, Bob had earned enough to support them for another month. The coins from his first victim were mostly gone, and he replaced them with thirty days of careful theft. After so much practice, he had become a natural and even unlocked a [Thief] Specialty, which made his job easier. He gained skills such as [Silent Steps], [Snatch], [Silver Tongue], and [Smooth Hands], which made it difficult for people to notice when he touched or took their belongings. The Specialty’s true potential would only unlock after he Awakened and gained access to mana, but for now it was enough.

  The only problem was that the townsfolk had grown more cautious with their money, almost as if they knew a thief was watching them. Some days Bob returned home empty handed. He understood that if he did not earn more before the end of the month, they would be in trouble. Pickpocketing had limits, and lately it was not enough.

  On the tenth day of the new month, Bob sensed it would be another bad day. He had gone the entire day without finding a safe target. Just as he was about to give up and head back, he spotted an elderly woman with an open purse and a pouch sticking out. Even from a distance, he could tell it held a large amount of coins, and he smiled.

  He approached her, but before he could make his move, a hooded figure rushed in and snatched the pouch. The man slipped it into his pocket and kept his head down, trying to blend into the crowd.

  “Hey, stop!” Bob shouted.

  The man glanced over his shoulder and bolted when he saw Bob reaching for him. He weaved swiftly through the crowd. Bob chased after him without hesitation. The man was agile, but Bob managed to close the distance. When the thief darted into an alley, Bob cut him off, grabbed his clothes, and slammed him against the wall.

  “I saw what you did.”

  “I didn’t do anything.”

  “Stop lying. Give me the pouch.”

  “What? Why?”

  “I’m going to return it to that poor old lady.”

  “Lies. If that were true, you would’ve shouted that I was a thief and let the townsfolk catch me. You just want the coins.”

  “Yeah? So what? She was my target, and you stole her from me. Those coins are mine. Hand them over.”

  Bob yanked the pouch from the man’s pocket, and they wrestled over it.

  “No, it’s mine!”

  “Give it!”

  “No!”

  After a brief struggle, the man’s hood fell back, revealing the face of a young boy.

  “I can’t give you this money. I need it for my dad’s medicine,” the boy said, his eyes glistening.

  Bob froze. He had assumed the thief was an adult. “You’re just a kid.”

  “Look who’s talking. You’re younger than me,” the boy shot back, clutching the pouch to his chest.

  Bob staggered slightly. “How old are you?”

  “Twelve. You?”

  “I’m ten. Why are you stealing at your age?”

  “I told you. My father is seriously ill. Why are you lecturing me? You’re younger than me, and you’re a thief too. Why?”

  “I need the coins to take care of my little sister.”

  The boy studied him. “I see. Well, good luck with that. I’m still not giving these coins.”

  “At least split them with me. You owe me for not exposing you.”

  The boy hesitated, then sighed. “Fine. I’m only doing this for your sister. I know what it’s like to carry your family on your shoulders.” He handed Bob half the money.

  Bob looked at the three hundred coins in his hand. “This was a good haul. I can’t believe someone is walking around with this much money.”

  “I know. It’s been hard to find a good score lately.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  The boy paused. “Why don’t we work together? If we team up, we can take on tougher jobs and earn more. Working alone is getting too dangerous and not worth it. What do you say?”

  Bob could not deny the truth in his words. He had seen how much harder it had become. “Sure. Let’s do it.”

  The boy extended his hand. “I’m Derrick.”

  Bob shook it firmly. “I’m Bob.”

  “Nice to meet you, Bob. From today onward, we’re partners.”

  On that day, Bob made his very first friend in the world.