Thud-

Cardien’s body collapsed onto the cold ground.

“Ca, Cardien!”

Startled, I quickly reached out my hand, but it couldn’t touch Cardien.

That was natural.

This wasn’t reality but Cardien’s dream.

“Huk…… Huk……”

Unable to lift his fallen body, Cardien barely managed to breathe.

That sight seemed so precarious to me.

It looked like he might really die at this rate.

‘Even though I know that’s not true.’

This was probably Cardien’s past.

So Cardien doesn’t die here.

But…..

‘Why do I feel so anxious?’

Cardien, at this time, was around the same age as Vincent.

To my eyes, Vincent is such a small, precious, and fragile being.

Like glass artwork, I naturally become careful with my touch, fearing he might get hurt or break at any moment.

The same applies to Cardien at this time.

Being infinitely fragile and weak, I feared he might die just like this.

‘What should I do?’

But there’s nothing I can do in this world.

All I can do is pace anxiously.

‘Isn’t there anyone who can help?’

The place where Cardien collapsed was deep inside an alley.

Moreover, at this time, Cardien was staying in District 4, the slums.

Not only were there few people around, but even if someone found Cardien, it was uncertain whether they would help.

But…..

“……Help, please!”

I shouted and ran out of the alley.

I knew my voice wouldn’t reach the people here.

I also knew this action was meaningless.

Nevertheless.

‘I can’t just stand by and watch!’

And I had my reasons.

‘The first time I entered Cardien’s dream.’

When Cardien was bound on an altar, undergoing some unknown ritual by those who might be Egrid’s followers, wearing robes engraved with ancient temple patterns.

‘Cardien definitely saw me then.’

Not only that, but to me, who was crying and apologizing, Cardien replied.

‘Don’t cry. I….’

-he had answered.

‘He had answered.’

That means the young Cardien in the dream saw me and heard my voice.

Like then, maybe someone could hear my voice again.

So.

“Hey! Is anyone there? Please help!”

I ran through the freezing streets, desperately shouting.

However, until I left the alley, not only did no one hear my voice, but I couldn’t even see a shadow of a person.

‘The sun has set, so everyone has gone inside.’

Because the slums at night are dangerous.

“Damn it……”

Finally, a curse escaped my lips.

There’s a child collapsed over there. Why isn’t anyone helping?

Is this really the reality Cardien experienced?

‘It’s too horrible.’

This place is a living hell.

That’s when it happened.

“Huh?”

I quickly turned my head at the sudden voice.

A small silhouette jumped out from the darkness.

“I thought I heard a voice from here?”

It was strange.

Even though it came out of the darkness, the silhouette was still dark.

I could barely identify that it was a young girl wearing a winter dress with long curly hair.

‘Why is such a young child here?’

While I was wondering, the girl approached me and looked around.

“I definitely heard someone asking for help. Did I hear wrong?”

No, is that important right now?

What’s important is that this child heard my voice.

“This way! Over here!”

“Hmm?”

When I moved and urgently called out, the girl tilted her head and followed me.

‘She doesn’t seem to see me.’

She seems to be following only by relying on my voice.

I kept repeating “Come this way,” “Help me.”

The girl, though tilting her head in confusion, followed me obediently like a squirrel chasing an acorn.

And finally, we reached the alley where Cardien had collapsed.

“This is…… Huh?”

The girl, who had been looking around, discovered the collapsed Cardien and ran over.

“Eek, hey! Are you okay?”

The girl sat down on the ground and examined Cardien’s condition.

Cardien looked up at the girl with hazy eyes.

“Go……”

Cardien moved his lips.

But the girl wasn’t listening to Cardien’s words.

“What do I do, what do I do. Can you hear me? Are you in a lot of pain?”

“……”

Cardien seemed to lack the energy to respond and closed his eyes again.

The girl stamped her feet anxiously and then tried to help Cardien stand up.

Fortunately, the girl was slightly taller and bigger, so lifting him up didn’t seem too difficult.

But…..

Thud.

After just a few steps, the girl and Cardien fell forward.

I became anxious that the girl might give up on Cardien.

But the girl tried again to help Cardien stand up.

Each time, Cardien would collapse to the side.

“What should I do?”

The girl looked down at Cardien with a serious face.

I also fell into contemplation.

And suddenly murmured.

“Maybe it would be better to carry him on your back……”

At that moment, the girl’s eyes lit up as if a good idea had occurred to her.

“Ah!”

Then she bent down in front of the fallen Cardien.

Cardien, barely conscious, made an expression that silently questioned her actions.

“Hey, get on my back.”

“……”

But Cardien just silently stared at the girl’s back.

I was the one getting frustrated.

So stubborn even as a child!

“Why? Don’t you trust me? It’s okay. I’m strong. I beat my Dad in arm wrestling just recently!”

“……”

“Don’t worry. Even if you’re heavy, I won’t abandon you.”

Perhaps those words had an effect.

After staring at the girl’s back for a while, Cardien stirred and barely managed to lift his body.

Eventually, he collapsed onto the girl’s back.

“Ugh……”

Even though Cardien was thin and small, he was still heavy for a girl of the same age to carry.

The child wobbled momentarily but soon planted her feet firmly to regain balance and stood up.

“You’re…… very light.”

“……”

The girl began to leave the alley.

I stared blankly at the small retreating figure and then quickly followed.

Throughout the journey out of the alley, the girl chattered like a baby bird.

“What’s your name? I’m ……”

“……”

“Your family? Where are your family members?”

“……”

“Why are you hurt like that? Did someone hit you?”

“……”

“Don’t worry. Once we find my Dad, the adults will help! Actually, I came here with my Dad.”

Cardien didn’t answer a single word, but the girl didn’t mind.

Finally, after exiting the long alley, the child stopped for a moment, looked around, and then spoke.

“……Huh?”

‘What, what is it? What’s wrong?’

I became anxious and hovered around the girl.

The girl, tilting her head, murmured blankly.

“Where am I?”

“……”

“……”

Like Cardien, I too was at a loss for words.

“Oh, is this not the right way?”

The girl, who had quickly entered another path, murmured in confusion.

She wandered through every alley with Cardien on her back, resembling someone lost in a maze.

Each time, she would repeat “Is this not the right way?” and often retrace her steps.

To make matters worse.

“Ah, cold!”

When a snowflake landed on the bridge of her nose, the girl was startled and looked up.

Her face turned bright red as she exclaimed in amazement.

“Wow, it’s snowing.”

Indeed, it had started to snow.

“Look, it’s the first snow.”

At the girl’s words, Cardien stirred and lifted his head.

Snowflakes were etched above his deep purple eyes.

Unlike the children enjoying the snow, I became more anxious.

‘The temperature will drop even more.’

This won’t do.

I abruptly moved away from the children.

‘Since it’s the slums, there should be some empty houses.’

After searching through the alleys, I found a small, abandoned hut.

‘Good, they should be able to last until morning here.’

After memorizing the geography and location, I ran back to where the children were.

I worried they might have moved, but the child remained in the same place, looking tired.

But…..