It has been three weeks, I'm fifteen now, to be honest not my best birthday ever but, it was something I guess.... I've been allowed into the 1.300 meter mark deep into Abyss, I've found quite a lot more relics in the line between the Forest of Temptation and the First Layer, but, my work has been quite a lot more difficult, not because of the depth, not because of the pressure... The lost of my mom has affected both me and my father quite a lot, many Cave Raiders came to the funeral, my friends, my father's old partners, even some Red Whistles. The Country payed us with more coins to help with the rebuilding of the house, but it was still not very much

I was heading towards Laffi's shop, I had to buy some paint and brushes to paint the house with my father, I offered the idea to distract him and myself from, well, everything happening around us at the moment, I step inside and look around, I found Laffi talking to that girl, Riko.

-Good Morning Laffi- I say with courtesy

-Ah, Yoru, good morning- She smiled at me

I walk towards the counter, I spot two other kids besides Riko, a little kid with white hair, I think his name was Kiyui, but the other one I had never seen him before, he had dark skin like my mom's, he had two red marks under his eyes and another pair of marks above his eyes, these were white and looks like replacement for his eyebrows, his hair was seemingly smooth and he had, a what was it now? A tiara, that was its name was

-I uh, I need some paint brushes and paint, any color you have is fine

-Even pink?- She asked jokingly

-I love pink for your information- I smile weakly, she laughed slightly and nodded

-Let me see what I have around- She says, I nod and wait for her, Riko rushed towards me with eagerness

-Hi YoYo! Hey, how was your trip down to the Forest of Temptation?! Was it fun, dangerous, nerve wracking?!- She asked, shooting questions like arrows

-Hey hey, tone it down will ya, it was... Interesting, I guess

-Only that? Come on, give me some details! Have you seen a Corpse Weeper yet?!

-No, nor do I plan to...

-Ugh, boring... Anyways, Reg, come here!- She called, the kid hurried over and stood besides her, looking up at me, he was just as tall as Riko... His arms were metallic, almost robot looking, maybe he was in an accident?

-Reg, this is Yoru, he's the youngest Blue Whistle in Orth, isn't he awesome?!- She asked, I scratch the back of my head, Reg stared at me from up to bottom, extending his hand towards me

-Pleasure to meet you- He says in a monotone voice, I shake his hand, good God he has a strong grip...

-Yeah yeah, pleasure to meet ya too Reg...- I say disinterested, but trying my best to not sound rude, he nods and looked at me again

-You don't seem so special to me, no offense- He says, just like me, trying to not sound rude, Riko scolds him

-It's fine Riko, most people say that anyways...

-Yeah?! Well that won't be my case, because I'll break your récord, you'll see!

-You wished- I answer and slam my palm on her head, like Jiruo does with his students for when they disobey orders or just misbehave. To stop the commotion, Laffi walked back to the counter holding holding two small cans of green paint and three brushes. I took out ten coins and put them on the counter as I grab my things and stuff them inside a bag, in the bag were also a small bit of food, eggs, fish and some water. I thank her and head towards the exit

-Yoru, wait- Laffi says, I stop and turn on my heel

-I heard Miss Teras passed away, I just wanted to give you my condolences and some more stuff to help you- I looked down and took a deep sigh, but I glanced back at her and shook my head.

-No thanks Laffi, thanks for the offer tough- I walk away, waving at Riko, Reg and Kiyui. I walk towards my home, the sky is insanely pretty today, almost no clouds and the Sun is warming up they air around Orth, as I kept walking I heard cheering and laughter, I looked to see a baptism taking pace, people throwing Eternal Fortunes, I looked away and sighed, it almost made me want to go and congratulate them, but not this time, I don't want to celebrate anything... Anything at all.

Almost five minutes before I reach my house, I pass by an alleyway and heard coins in a pot being shaken, I notice a figure with a cloak above his head, said cloak was filled with holes and extremely dirty, I could only see the feet of the guy, well, I suppose it's a guy anyways, he seemed to be begging for money, I could see bruises and cuts along his forearms, I frowned and took out a coin, dropping it inside, the kid didn't look up but gave me a thumbs up and a vow, that's a good "Thank you" for me. It was depressing to know that there are still people who are in worse conditions than me, it's actually mind blowing considering that Orth is a rather wealthy country

Anyhow, I resumed my walk back towards my home, I reached the front door and opened it with my key

-Dad, I'm back!

-In the Kitchen...- I heard his voice, I stepped over to the kitchen and looked at him, again making soup, seems he only remembers how to make soup

-How was your day, son?- He asked without making eye contact, his hand slowly stirring the mix of vegetables and his baggy eyes looking at the fire

-It was better, I brought all you told me to buy

-Good, thanks son, we'll start to paint the house after we eat...

I looked at him and sighed, I went over to my room and gently lay everything on my bed. I took everything out of the bag, putting the paint and brushes aside, I take the food and take it back to the kitchen obviously. I serve up the food to both myself and my father. We kept eating without saying a word.

-... I'm sorry for putting so much pressure on your shoulders, Yoru

-It's nothing I can't handle pops

-But it isn't right, you should be out having fun and taking out girls on dates, Like I was when I was your age... I'm the worst father you could've asked for- I grit my teeth

-Just eat- I says sternly, I expected a scold, but nothing came as he went back to eating...

Momma, we need you...

* * *

One month has passed, it was Monday and I was at the one thousand two hundred meter mark. Things haven't been so bad today, found some pretty expensive relics around here, I raise my pickaxe and slam it on a wall, over and over until I step back and give it a strong kick to tear it down, stepping inside the cave I took some jewls and relics and toss them inside my bag. I turn around on my heel whistling to step outside, but as my eyes focus on the entrance I just made, I have to hold down a scream as I froze, there's a giant Nakikabane outside, staring right into my soul with his front eye, maybe it was hungry, but it was so quiet, I didn't even hear it! I step back slowly and grabbed my whistle, but I then thought it might startle it and end up with it attacking me, even though, I think that's what's on its ind already.

https://youtu.be/OmZg0mcsKug

I step back deeper into the cave without taking my eyes off the giant bird like creature, I don't have anything to defend myself with except my two pickaxes, and I doubt that would do anything, and my partners are way above me, they wouldn't get here in time, my other choice is to run and hope there's and exit deep into this cave... Welp, second it is

I turn around and quickly run towards the inside of the cave, I heard the Corpse Weeper struggle to get in as it screeched, the entrance was very tight anyways, I began to scream and blow my whistle

-Help! Anybody! Ayúndeme!- I yell, the panic that overflowed my body didn't let me think correctly and won't let me remember the fact that I'm inside a cave, no one would hear me... You're a genius Yoru, a total genius

The Nakikabane managed to push through and flew towards me at insane pace, I kept running and looked in front of me, my eyes widened when I came to know it was a dead end, I take out my pickaxe and tried to open the wall,but it was no use, too thick, I once more lay my eyes on the Nakikabane who had landed and made its way towards me slowly, already imitating my cries for help. I slide down the wall until I'm sitting, my breaths are shaky and I grasp my chest as I fear for my life, who knew? Your life does pass in front of your eyes when you're gonna die... But in the corner of my eye, I saw a bright flash, I looked at it. It was, a hammer? Yes, it was indeed a hammer, it was large and seemed heavy, measuring around one meter twenty, but it was completely made out of something that seemed like crystal, the handle was wrapped in grey cloth and the head of it seemed filled with black dust which slowly flowed out from a hole on the top. I look at it for milliseconds before grabbing it

The large bird swarmed me and began to scratch my forearms with its claws, with one of said claws he took a grip of my side, carving them deep into my ribs and making crimson blood ooze out as he took out a good chunk of my side, the reaction shouldn't be a surprise for you as I scream my lungs out, I glared at the Nakikabane and take a good grasp of the hammer's handle, I'm not going to die today, I am not!

I slammed the hammer into the Weeper... A bright light surrounded both me and the Nakikabane, I feel as I'm launched and go through the wall that once trapped me, and explosion, how? My thoughts are interrupted by the feelling of my body hitting the ground, I hear a few bones cracking, this has gone great hasn't it?

I look around in desperation, the pain hasn't made act of presence yet because of the adrenaline, my eyes slowly get used to the light and I blink, where once stood a wall to a cave now was replaced by a huge, bloody hole with the insides of the Nakikabane laying around and making for a gruesome scene, I look at the hammer that somehow stayed in my hand, the dust inside had disappeared, maybe, maybe it wasn't dust, maybe it was... Everlasting Gunpowder?! It's impossible, that's an S rank relic only found in the Fourth Layer

I could ask infinite questions right now, but the pain was beginning to affect me, my vision got blurry and my hands got shaky, I grabbed my whistle and began to blow with whatever air I had left on my lungs, a team of delvers quickly reached down towards me and stared at the scene.

-What happened here?!

-C~Corpse.... Weeper

-There's no way a Weeper could have done this!

I didn't have the strength to answer him, my eyes began to close as black spots invade my sight, I felt how everything sound in echo on my head, the team begging for me to keep my eyes open, but I just couldn't , I just let myself go...

~Two Months Later~

So, injuries weren't as bad as I initially thought they would be, of course I had to get through surgery to stop the bleeding on my ribs and put a casket around my arm, bad stuff. I was told to lay down for a month before resuming my work at Abyss and do little to no exercise... Like hell no, I gotta keep this sexy bod. Anyways, I was walking along the Resurrection Festival, celebrating the return of Lyza the Annihilators White Whistle... Seems pretty stupid for me to celebrate the return of someone's Whistle, but not the actual person, who's more likely died in the depths of Abyss, the so called soul of someone doesn't exist, why would someone's spirit wanna come back?

-Ewww, it's the dirty mute kid!

I look up in front of me, a bunch of kids a few years younger than me where throwing stones at yet another kid... The kid was wearing a sack of potatoes as a shirt and green pants that were all but nice looking, his hair was white as snow, like Jiruo's. His eyes were purple, a really deep purple, he wasn't really that tall but he did look almost my age, but the most interesting thing about his appearance probably would be his skin, he seems to suffer from Vitiligo, deep brown spots were all mixed along his mostly cream tones skin, one of those spots made a shape of an S on the middle of his face, one side was white and the other was brown, also he was skinny as old fuck, dangerously skinny.

How can people be so immature, attacking a kid like that just for, I dunno, no reason at all? My face got a deep frown as I walked towards them, they had Red Whistles around their necks.

-Hey, what's wrong with you?!

They looked at me and laughed

-What? Is he your boyfriend?

-No he isn't and if he was would you have a problem? Does that give you the fucking right to throw stones at him?!

-Yes it does, and what are you gonna do about it?- They ask turning to face me and point their stones at me, I grinned, I know something to do about it.

-I'll tell the director of the orphanage what you've been doing, and they'll hang you naked

Their faces turned to one of complete and utter horror, they didn't even answer me before running away screaming bloody murder, I chuckle before stepping closer to the kid, I knelt down to check on him

-Hey, are you alright?

He only looked at me and nodded, they're right, he was mute. I just checked on him quickly and noticed he had a very nasty cut on his arm, it was bleeding heavily.

-This'll need some stitches... I know how to do it, you need to come with me

His eyes widened and he shook his head in fear, dragging himself away as quickly as he could, I guess he doesn't trust in strangers, well, it's almost common sense in his situation, but I can't just leave him like this.

-Hey hey, I know you don't trust in me but I need to clean that wound, it may get infected, you what's it like when a wound gets infected?

He shook his head.

-Well, you don't want to know, let me help

He shook his head once more and covered his face

-Umm... Look at this- I showed him my Blue Whistle, he looked at it for a few seconds before looking back at me.

-I'm a Delver, I have basic medical training, I can help you, just trust in me for just a sec, got it?- I gave out my best fake smile. The kid stared at me for a few seconds as he pulled his arms away from his head, I reach my hand out to him and he shakily took a grasp of it, I helped him up to his feet and smiled at him

-See? I'm not gonna hurt ya, now come on- I say as I helped him walk across the streets of Orth and back to my house, after all me and Pops managed to paint the entire house in a few days. I pull the kid inside the house towards the kitchen and sat him down in the table.

-Stay here, don't touch anything okay?- He merely nodded. I walk towards the other bathroom and grabbed an old first aid kit we have,I grabbed a bottle of alcohol, towels, two needles and some stitches to help it suture up the wound. I walked back to him, he only saw the needles and tried to run away again, but his current physical state didn't let him and he fell to the floor having only taken like seven steps

-Hey! This isn't made to harm you!

He made handsigns shakily, trying to cummunicate.

"You lie" That's all I could make out of the signs, now I regret not paying attention at the classes back at Belchero about sign language...

-I'm not lying, I swear, this'll help you

"How Believe?"

-Look at this- I pulled my shirt up a small bit to show a small scar on my stomach, caused by a Hammerbeak when I was just a Red Whistle, he stared at it for a few seconds.

-An animal in Abyss did it, they used these to close it, yes yes it did hurt a small bit, but I'm still here aren't I?

He nodded still unsure, he pointed at the arm that was wrapped in a casket, I looked at it and gave him a thumbs up.

-It's fine, I can do it with one hand, I'm a pro at it... Most of the time- I laugh to brighten up the mood around, the aura changed and he seemed more sure about the whole thing, he smiled weakly and nodded

-Well, I need to clean this up so, stay still... It will hurt one helluva lot

* * *

The next day... I'm not gonna lie to you, closing that wound has to be one of the most difficult tasks I've completed in my life, he wouldn't stay still and he even hit me at one point haha, but in the end I managed to sew the whole thing and disinfected it, my father worked at a local bar so he had to stay in the night shift and wouldn't come back until noon, so I let the kid sleep in my room and I stayed in the sofa. The sun passed right through the window and into my face, I grunt a little and cover my eyes as I stood up, I stretch up and yawn, my eyes focus on the hallway to my room, the kid looked at me with half his figure hidden behind the door frame

-Morning- I smiled at him, he merely waved shyly

-You feel better?- I walked over to the kitchen and he nodded

-Perfect, want something for breakfast?- I asked, he seemed surprised by the question

-I don't have much right now, but I can make you some sandwiches, I'm a God making them- I laughed, apparently he liked my joke since he smiled as well, his smile was rather, charming... Eh?!

-Give me a minute- I say and rushed to the kitchen with a slight blush, the fuck was that? I walk over to our small fridge and take some bread, chicken breasts and butter. It isn't a dish for the Gods but, it'll do, I place it in a small plate and put it on the table, the kid walked over and sat down, his eyes almost glowed.

-Never ate a sandwich before?- He shook his head, his stomach roared and he rubbed it slightly

-Well, hope you enjoy the first one

I didn't have the chance to finish the sentence before he began to devour the poor sandwich, I got taken back by the speed

-H~Hey, slow down!- I say, he ignored me and kept eating and eating until the sandwich was no more, in the end I had to make four more to satiate his hunger, poor kid, I wonder when was the last time he had a decent meal...

-Are you full man?- I ask with slight worry, I didn't have any more bread, thank God he nodded and gave his stomach a few pats, I sighed in relief

-Thank Abyss, anyways, I'm glad you enjoyed it... We never told each other our names, did we?- He shook his head

-Geez, sorry for that, anyways my name is Yoru Monogata, glad to meet you- I smile and ruffle his head, now I gotta find a way to get his name... I snap my fingers and rush towards my room, taking a pencil and a piece of paper, heading back I set them on the table.

-Can you write?- I ask, he nodded, I gave him the pencil and the paper, he began to write roughly and slowly, he may know how to write but he wasn't the best at it...

"Raisu Kyandī" カラメルライス

... His name literally means Rice Candy, I try my best to hold in my laughter... Now that I think about it, it fits him, the color of his skin makes it look like Rice Candy... Subarashi

-Ah, Raisu, Nice name- I say and pat his back, he looked up at me and smiled...