White Queen Ascending

After nightfall, In the Kuehn's town slum area, a good-looking but dressed in scruffy way middle aged man entered his shabby house.

When he entered inside, the first thing he saw was a little girl with white hair slumped lazily into his long chair.

"Hey. Sit properly." He said grumpily.

When he saw that she indeed did as he said, he took out the things he just bought from the sack he's holding.

He placed several bottles of medicine on the ground and lifted the little girl's feet. He knitted his brows when he saw the condition of her legs. He had seen that although she walks quite normally, it was still a little awkward. He thought that it was a very minor injury, but didn't think that her legs are all swelled up, and the broken bones were seemingly attached back casually.

Although he is curious about what happened to the girl, he didn't ask anything. He just wondered how a little girl like her could tolerate such great pain, was she already used to it? Feeling a bit of pity towards her, but also praised how strong the child is.

He applied medicine into her legs carefully and massaged the bones to fix them properly. After that, he wrapped it with a bandage in a very practiced manner.

When he finished doing those, he raised his head and saw the curious eyes of the girl.

"You can call me Torin. How should I address you?" He introduced himself.

The girl's eyes showed that she's hesitant whether to tell him or not, but she still answered, "Luciana"

"Do you still have a family?" He asked again.

"No" Was her only reply.

"Good. Luciana, you can stay here in my house if you could be an obedient child. I want you to dye your hair tomorrow with this." He tossed another bottle to the girl.

She caught it easily and despite her reluctance, she still nodded her small face.

"Come here let's eat." He ordered then sat on one of the chairs.

"I also have no family, so you can feel at home here." He paused and looked at the girl who's busy devouring the food he just gave her then added, "You recuperate properly, then I'll decide whether to teach you after that."

He sighed at the sight of this unresponsive girl. "I don't know where you are from or what you've been through, but from today onwards, you should call me Uncle Torin. Since I decided to take you in, I'll treat you like family so I hope you would do the same."

Luciana stopped eating for a while, then said half-heartedly, "I will"

Torin nodded in satisfaction after finally receiving an answer. "You'll sleep on the bed, I'll sleep there on the long chair. I also bought some clothes for you to change into."

The girl just looked at him for a while, not used to this kind of generosity. She gave him her thanks inside, then returned to munching the food.

Torin shaked his head inwardly towards the girl. 'i wonder who could talk to her for so long if she's that silent? Sigh'

~~

The next morning, a small girl was seen walking out of the bathroom of a small house. She gave a look towards the middle-aged man sitting beside the table. He is wearing a brown shirt and black pants whose colors are a bit faded, he's also wearing the same coat he used yesterday.

The man returned the gaze. He looked at the young girl whose hair is now black, the same color as his. She's wearing the simple white dress he bought yesterday paired with cheap black shoes.

"It's beautiful" he commented about her hair, thinking that she wanted to hear a compliment, but her face didn't even change and it still has the same neutral look.

Now with their hair colors the same, add it with their pretty faces that both look stoic, they could already pass as a father and daughter pair.

Torin looked at her visible arms, where bruises could be seen. He frowned slightly. He removed his coat and passed it to her. "Wear this, it's cold." He said.

Luciana, the obedient child, took it and worn the coat immediately.

"Where are we going?" She asked.

'A child is still a child, curious about everything.' Torin smiled inside when he heard the girl talk.

"Do you think I only live off by robbing purses of young girls? We're going to get a job." He said, keeping the girl guessing.

Luciana's curiosity heightened, but she no longer opened her mouth to ask. She'll know when they get there, is what she thought.

After a few minutes of walk, Torin brought her to a secluded tavern. The tavern looks old and a bit gloomy. Although it is supposed to be a lively place, you cannot see people entering. It is made out of wood mainly, the windows are closed and the door looks unwelcoming.

Torin walked near the door and knocked four times.

'one fast and soft, two slow and loud, and the last, slow and soft' Luciana noted in her mind.

The door of the tavern opened, and the strong smell of alcohol welcomed them. The man inside looked at the both of them, recognizing Torin. He gestured with his hands hinting them to come in.

The inside is also gloomy like the outside. There is a counter at the back. There are also five separate round wooden tables, with four small stools surrounding each. If not for the scent of the alcohol, the bartender who opened the door, and the only man drinking on the left table, you'd think it is already abandoned.

The man drinking a jug of rough alcohol saw Torin. He has large black eyes, with heavy bags under them, a turned up nose, brown lips and a square styled beard. He gulped once again from the jug and said, "come here" then pointed at the chairs near him.

Torin sat on a stool beside the man and Luciana followed and sat beside Torin.

"Drinks?" The man who opened the door asked.

"No. I'll leave soon" Torin said to him, then looked at the other man. "News?"

"A few days ago, the fight house on the small village behind Hada's Forest was destroyed. The rebel group should be the one behind it. Now, they're asking if someone knew anyone who have seen a survivor. Specifically, a white haired child, gender and age unknown. Reward 50 pieces of silver.(1)" he said fastly on a monotone.

Luciana got interested on that news. Wondering why someone is looking for her. Her face though, didn't even show any hint of it.

Torin didn't look at her, and just asked again, "What else?"

"A daughter of a common family was r.a.p.ed and killed by an aristocrat. Her family went here yesterday offering their entire wealth worth around 15 silvers to anyone who can give them justice. Aside from those, there's nothing else we can offer. Higher paid jobs are becoming more rare these days." The man said.

Torin sighed then remained silent, thinking.

"What are the details of the second one?" He said after a while.

"Jamal Abe. Barely qualifying as a noble. 37 years old. Has not awakened any magic. Over all, a good for nothing man carrying a surname and loves to flaunt his status to those lower than him." He answered with a mocking tone.

"Good. I'll take that." Then Torin stood up and Luciana followed suit.

"Same terms, 10 percent commission for us." The man reminded as the pair left the tavern.

~~~~

(1) 1 gold=100 silver= 1000 copper