Kaito returned to the salon, his arms laden with take-out bags from the food stalls.
The delicious smells of grilled meat, warm bread, and savory soup wafted around him.
As he stepped inside, his eyes immediately went to the waiting area.
There, sitting quietly, was the young elf girl.
She was looking down at her lap, perfectly still, as if afraid to move.
Kaito took in her new look, and a sense of quiet satisfaction settled over him.
Her once white hair now flowed down her back in a smooth, silky black, matching his own.
Her eyes, which had been a startling blue, now held a deep, onyx black hue.
She was dressed in a simple, practical outfit, a soft, dark tunic over a pleated skirt that reached her knees, paired with white leggings and small, comfortable boots.
Small, dark gloves covered her hands.
The loose robe he had given her earlier was still pulled over her new clothes, covering her.
*Illustration
Kaito first walked up to the counter and paid the woman.
She took his money with a nod, still looking a little thoughtful.
Then, Kaito turned and approached the young elf girl.
He reached out his hand to her.
"Let's go," he said, his voice soft.
She looked up at him for a second, her black eyes meeting his, but she didn't say anything.
She simply took his hand, her small fingers wrapping around his, and together they walked out of the salon.
Inside, the woman who had helped the girl watched their figures disappear through the door.
A moment later, other people working in the salon came up to her.
"Are you sure we shouldn't do anything about that?" one asked, frowning slightly.
"That poor girl looked so sad and lonely," another added, shaking her head.
The woman sighed, a strange look on her face.
"Hmm, I don't know," she replied.
"I just had a feeling that it was okay to leave the girl with him."
"I don't know anything about the man, but I felt she was safe with him."
The others exchanged confused glances, then one of them sighed.
"If you say so."
With that, they all went back to their work, the soft sounds of the salon filling the air once more.
As Kaito walked towards the academy gates with the young elf girl, his mind was already racing.
He knew students were allowed to bring attendants or maids to stay in their dorms, but an elf?
That was an entirely different matter, and he wasn't sure if it was permitted.
When they got close to the main gate, he stopped.
He moved in front of the young elf, crouching down to her level.
He gently adjusted her hood, making sure it covered her pointed ears completely.
"We'll be going inside that gate," he said, looking directly into her eyes.
"If the guard asks, you are my younger sister. Is that clear?"
The elf girl, her head still low, nodded silently.
They continued walking towards the gate, not stopping until a guard stepped forward and blocked their path.
"Identification?" the guard asked, his voice firm.
Kaito pulled out his academy ID and showed his smart watch.
"I study in the academy and I live in that dorm," he said, pointing towards one of the buildings inside.
The guard examined the ID.
"Looks good," he said, then his eyes shifted to the small figure beside Kaito.
"But who is that?" he asked, looking at the kid who was still staring down at the ground.
Kaito answered immediately, activating his Aura skill to subtly influence the guard.
"She's my little sister," he stated, his voice calm and convincing.
"She'll be living with me for the moment while our parents are out working for weeks."
The guard looked closely at the girl, then back at Kaito.
"Is that true?" he asked the girl.
She just nodded, still clutching her hood to make sure her ears stayed hidden.
The guard seemed to consider it for a moment, then shrugged.
"Well, I guess it's fine as long as she doesn't wander off or cause problems inside."
Kaito smiled, relieved.
"Yes, of course! I promise you she's a good girl," he said, gently placing a hand on the top of the girl's hooded head.
With the guard's approval, Kaito and the girl walked through the academy gates and headed straight to his dorm.
The moment he closed the door behind them, he sank onto one of his chairs and let out a deep sigh of relief.
"What a day this is," he murmured, rubbing his temples.
He looked over at the girl.
She was still standing by the door, fidgeting, her small hands clutching at her new black hair, her eyes darting around the room anxiously.
Kaito walked towards the small kitchen area.
"Hey, come here," he called out, pointing to a chair at the table.
"Sit here."
The girl heard his order. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly, obediently, walked over.
The chair was a little too high for her to climb onto, and she struggled, trying to hoist herself up.
Kaito watched her for a moment, a small smile touching his lips.
He walked over and gently helped lift her onto the seat.
The girl looked up at him, surprised, not saying a word, just stunned by the smiling man who had helped her.
She then watched him prepare the table, pulling out the various take-out containers of food from his inventory.
Kaito grinned, a thought popping into his head.
This thing is so convenient. It can even keep food from getting cold!
As Kaito set the food out, the rich smells of rice, meat skewers, soups, and fresh bread filled the air.
The girl's stomach let out a distinct growl.
Kaito noticed it and smiled, pushing a plate of her own towards her.
The girl's eyes widened.
"I can eat too?" she finally spoke, her voice a tiny, hesitant whisper.
Kaito blinked, genuinely surprised.
"Oh, so you can talk, huh?" he said, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"Of course! Don't be shy, eat till you're full."
He paused, a thought occurring to him.
"You're not vegetarian or vegan, are you?"
The girl just tilted her head, confused by the words.
"Never mind," Kaito chuckled.
"Just eat, come on."
He then began putting food on her plate, a little bit of everything.
But when Kaito started eating his own meal, the girl still didn't touch her food.
Her dark eyes, wide and hesitant, were fixed on him.
"Hey, come on, eat," Kaito said softly, reaching out to gently put his hand on her hooded head.
"It's okay. Eat. I will not do anything to you. Just eat, and then rest, and get your strength back.
That's all you have to think about for now."
At his words, the girl's eyes filled with fresh tears, but she finally reached for her plate.
She began to eat, slowly at first, then with more urgency, as if she hadn't eaten in days, which she probably hadn't.
Kaito didn't say anything more.
He just smiled, quietly pushing more food closer to her, letting her eat everything until her plate was clean.
As the girl finally began to eat, a system notification popped into Kaito's view.
Side Quest: Saved the Captured Elf
Rewards:
Charisma +2
Coins +200
Kaito's eyes widened in surprise, then he let out a frustrated
"Tsk! Now you show up?" He sighed.
"Really, just Charisma? Haha, well, I guess at least I got a little money back."
After they finished eating, Kaito stood up.
"I have to go out somewhere for a second," he told the girl.
"I'll be back late. You can sleep in the bed, but don't go outside, okay?"
The girl looked surprised but nodded.
"Where are you going?" she asked, her voice still quiet.
Kaito smiled, but it wasn't a kind smile. It was a bit scary.
"I'm hunting a prey I tracked earlier," he replied.
As Kaito slipped out of the dorm window, disappearing into the night, the young elf girl lay on the bed, just as he'd told her.
The room was quiet, peaceful even, a stark contrast to the noise and terror she had known for so long.
Now, with just herself and the silent space, the dam finally broke.
Tears began to stream down her face, soft sobs shaking her small body.
She remembered everything: the cold chains, the harsh voices, the fear, the hunger, the constant threat of pain.
She remembered being bought and sold, traded like an object.
And then, the strange, slightly scary but gentle man who had just bought her.
It was all too much, and in the quiet safety of the room, she finally cried herself to sleep.