Day broke.
The city moved as it always did.
Andrei rose from bed without urgency, dressed, and made his way downstairs.
"Good morning, Sir Andrei."
Gustav stood near the entrance, posture straight as always.
"Morning, Gustav."
"Your breakfast has been prepared. Master Zarek and Sir Darius have already left for work."
"And my mother?"
"In the garden. With young master Rei."
Andrei nodded and stepped into the dining hall.
"Lil Andri!"
Before he could react—
He was pulled into a tight embrace.
"Hello… Elara," he muttered, his voice slightly muffled.
"You don't even sound like you missed your beautiful big sister."
She pulled back just enough to pout.
"I'm hurt."
"I see you every day," Andrei replied flatly, taking his seat. "There's nothing to miss."
"Hmph. Fine."
She sat beside him anyway.
"Open your mouth."
"No."
She lifted the spoon regardless.
"Shh."
A pause.
He let her.
Moments later—
"It makes me tingle all over," she said lightly, setting the plate aside.
Andrei stood immediately.
"Don't make it weird, Elara."
"I'm heading out today. Registration at the Specialist Board."
She wrapped her arms around him from behind.
Stopping him.
"Come on… it's dangerous out there."
Her voice softened.
"We could just stay here."
Her fingers traced slowly across his chest.
"Mom."
A small voice cut in.
"Big sis Elara is being weird again."
Silence.
"And I can see that."
Their mother's voice followed—calm, controlled.
Elara froze.
"M-mom, we were just—"
"Andrei," their mother said, smiling faintly, "I told you not to encourage her."
"I… didn't," he replied.
Then quickly—
"I have somewhere to be."
He slipped out before the situation could escalate.
The City
The streets were alive.
But uneven.
Those with strong hue walked confidently—color vivid in their hair, their eyes.
Others—
Faded.
Muted.
Laborers. Workers.
People with little to give.
Andrei noticed.
He always did.
Eventually, he stopped before a large structure.
The Specialist Board — First Branch
He stepped inside.
Noise filled the hall—laughter, conversation, movement.
Specialists everywhere.
Relaxed.
Unbothered.
"The hue here is dense…"
He muttered it more as observation than concern.
At the front desk—
"Hello, sir. How may I assist you?"
"I'm here to register."
He placed his gold emblem on the counter.
"Please take a seat."
Instead—
He wandered.
A bulletin board caught his attention.
Requests pinned across it.
Dozens.
"…They really take anything."
Lost items. Escort jobs. Minor disputes.
Even trivial tasks.
"And people actually pay for this…"
He glanced around.
Most specialists ignored it.
"Sir Andrei?"
He returned to the desk.
"Registration complete. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
A pause.
"I'd like to take these."
He placed several request slips forward.
"They'll require client confirmation before payment."
"Understood."
"Black-region missions are processed faster. Military confirmation."
"I see."
She handed him copies.
Work
The day passed quickly.
Task after task.
Nothing difficult.
Just—
Time-consuming.
"…Last one."
He looked at the slip.
Lost kitten.
"…Seriously?"
An hour later—
He found himself in an alley.
Dim.
Narrow.
Wrong.
"This place…"
He slowed.
Voices echoed ahead.
Laughter.
Cruel.
He stepped closer.
Stopped.
A group of boys surrounded a girl.
Her color—
Faded.
Weak.
"You should just die."
A strike.
"You'll never be like us."
Another.
"Please… stop…"
Andrei didn't move.
"I should help…"
His body stayed still.
"…Why can't I move?"
"Someone… help me…"
The words hit.
Harder than anything else.
Still—
Nothing.
Then—
A blur.
One of the boys dropped.
Another voice—
"Run!"
The girl was pulled away.
Gone.
Andrei stepped forward—
Too late.
He blocked the others.
Just long enough.
But the moment—
Had already passed.
Return
The walk home felt longer.
"If I had moved sooner…"
The thought repeated.
Again.
Again.
"Andrei."
He looked up.
"Lyra."
She studied him briefly.
"You seem off."
"I'm fine."
A small laugh.
"Just tired."
A pause.
"Tomorrow," she said, "we're heading to the Black Region."
He blinked.
"That's… sudden."
"You'll be fine."
Simple.
Certain.
"Meet us at the defense line."
She turned and left.
Andrei watched her go.
"…She's amazing."
Then—
Quieter.
"…I couldn't even move."