The sky had brightened, and cold air seeped into his lungs. Luca exhaled slowly, watching the mist of his breath fade into the morning dim light.
He was still here, still in this strange, unfamiliar place.
His leg throbbed with pain, and the dull ache in his head reminded him of his injuries.
What a brilliant start to life in a new world.
Why couldn't the gods have just sent him into a dying body and let him quietly rot?
Sleep had eluded him until well past midnight. He'd spent hours trapped in his thoughts, chasing explanations. The most convincing idea, though still surreal, was that this was a parallel world. Either that, or it was the far future, based on the year Evelyn had mentioned the day before.
Either way, he needed answers.
Luca sat with his back propped against the cold stone wall, observing the girl who slept beside him. Evelyn's breathing was soft and steady, her face relaxed. Somehow, her features resembled his own, an odd familiarity in the curve of her nose, the arch of her brows.
He still couldn't believe it. Was she real?
He reached out and gently brushed his fingers against her cheek. Her skin was warm and soft, slightly smudged with dirt but undeniably alive.
So, she wasn't a ghost.
Her face, underneath the grime, was striking. Beautiful, even. Her thin frame and messy hair spoke of malnutrition and hardship.
"Lu, what are you doing?"
Evelyn stirred and slowly sat up, a curious light in her eyes as she found him gently touching her cheek.
"Actually… you're really pretty, Sister."
He tried to sound casual.
She grinned, lifting her chin with a proud expression.
"I know"
She said, clearly pleased, leaning in and allowing him to touch her cheeks more. But Luca just withdrew his hand.
"Sister... are we going today?"
"Mmm," she murmured, stretching. "We need to prepare first. I'll gather our things, and then I'll take you to a better place."
"I will help."
"No, you're still injured."
"But—"
"Lu… Listen to your sister, okay?" she said softly, but her tone filled with concern.
"… Understood."
She smiled and began packing their few belongings. Before they left, she brought Luca to a nearby river. The water was startlingly clear. She helped him wash his face and brush his teeth with a wooden toothbrush, while she cleaned herself up as well.
"Why did you only brush your teeth?" he asked, watching her skip washing her face.
"In the slums, you have to live carefully," she replied. "It's safer for girls to look... less appealing."
She said it plainly, but the weight behind her words was heavy.
So they were in the slums. That much was certain, and it only confirmed how dire their situation truly was. It wouldn't be easy to improve their lot, but Luca wasn't one to give in.
Afterwards, she began to prepare. They didn't have much. Just a worn blanket, a pouch that looked handmade, a few pieces of tattered cloth, and basic items like a wooden toothbrush or even a cup to drink. Even so, she carried it all with practiced ease.
When they walked toward another bridge, Luca limped awkwardly, unable to put much pressure on his leg. Evelyn supported him without complaint, adjusting her grip on their belongings.
Next to her, Luca noticed. Evelyn was just a bit taller, about five centimeters. At this moment, he can't shake the feeling of being shorter. Because, in his past life, he was taller than he is now.
As they walked, Luca's weakened steps faltered. His foot caught the edge of a loose rock hidden in the dirt, and his injured leg gave way beneath him. The sudden shift in weight threw them both off balance.
"Ahh!"
Evelyn let out a startled cry as they tumbled to the ground together.
"Kghh!"
The moment he hit the ground, Pain shot through his leg. The instant he hit the ground, sharp, merciless, like lightning tearing through torn flesh.
He felt utterly useless. The pain was bearable, but dragging her down with him was unforgivable.
"Sister, I am sorry… "
His voice was strained, shame weighing in his chest.
But Evelyn never flinched. She rose first, brushing the dust from her arms with quiet strength. Then, without hesitation, she knelt beside him and lifted his arm over her shoulder.
No complaints. No hesitation.
Even now, after everything… she still wanted to carry him.
"Mm... It's okay"
She said softly, as if the fall had meant nothing at all.
With quiet determination, she reached out and helped Luca to stand up. She wrapped one of his arms over her shoulder and supported him without hesitation.
Even though he slowed her down. She stayed patient.
She truly cared about him.
Guilt consumes him from inside again. He wasn't her brother. Worse, he might even be the reason her real brother had died. He had tried to explain the truth, but she had refused to listen.
Even so, Luca made a silent vow: from now on, he would be the brother she needed. And if one day she wanted her brother's life back, he would gladly give it to her.
But for now, he needed to recover. Judging by the pain and severity of his wounds, it could take at least three months to heal fully. He should find a sturdy stick or something later to help him walk properly.
As they moved deeper into the slums, he paid attention to his surroundings. The place was in ruins. Many of the houses had collapsed, likely from the earthquake the previous day. If his guess was correct, the quake had happened the moment he arrived here. And perhaps connected to his transmigration.
The people they passed told a grim story: Hollow-eyed beggars crouched in the streets, streetwalkers loitered in shadowed alleys, and rough-looking men let their gazes linger too long. Children curled up on the cold ground, small and silent amid the filth.
It was far worse than he'd imagined, this was a true slum.
Luca took in the rundown buildings around him. The structures around them varied wildly. Most homes were thrown together with salvaged wood, some barely standing. A few were made of stone, sturdier but still battered. And then, in the distance, he saw something that made him stop.
The colossal wall, vast and imposing, stretched as far as the eye could see. Its stone surface remained unnervingly perfect—no cracks, no signs of stress or wear, not even a chip, despite the tremors that had rattled the earth just days before. It was as though the quake had passed around it, repelled by something ancient and unyielding.
Evelyn followed his gaze and smiled faintly.
"They say that walls are from ancient times," she said.
"... Ancient times?"
"Yup. This empire was founded around... six thousand five hundred years ago. It's been destroyed and rebuilt many times since."
"What about within the walls?"
She shrugged. "I'm not sure about the details. We're not allowed in the city… but I can show you from closer next time."
Luca stared at the distant skyline, frowning.
He tried to make sense of the timeline. If this world truly stood on 6,500 years of empire, then 2023 wasn't just distant.
It didn't exist here.
Was this some kind of parallel world?
Luca wondered.
But it's also strange, why was the language here exactly the same as his?
Everyone spoke English. That couldn't be a coincidence. Another mystery to dig into later.
Eventually, they arrived at another bridge. It was much larger than the last one. Around twelve to fourteen meters long, and ten meters wide. There was space underneath, and a few people had already taken shelter there.
Most of them were homeless, and something about the atmosphere unsettled Luca. After a moment of looking around, he sensed it. There would be no warmth here, no true comfort. Just people gathered like shadows, clinging to silence and scraps of hope.
"Sister… Is this place safe?"
"It's okay, Lu. I have a friend here. There—see?"
A girl stood beneath the bridge. She looked almost like Evelyn's characteristic features, same messy hair and dirt-smeared skin. She has black hair and soft brown eyes.
"Evy! Over here!" The girl called.
"Hi, Rin!" Evelyn called back with a wave.
"Is this your brother?" Rin asked, eyeing Luca with a playful smile. "He's handsome. What's his name?"
"Right? His name's Luca," Evelyn answered proudly, like she'd earned the compliment herself.
"I'm Rin. It's nice to meet you."
"Luca. It's… nice to meet you as well."
"You both can stay beside me," Rin offered. "I'm here alone."
"Thank you, Rin. I really appreciate it," Evelyn replied.
"Don't worry about it. Just let me know if you need anything."
They settled down beside Rin's spot, and Evelyn helped Luca sit and rest. He leaned against the stone support, catching his breath.
Then Evelyn turned to go somewhere else.
"To the usual place?" Rin asked.
"Mhm. Want to come with me?" Evelyn replied.
"Okay. Let's go together."
"Luca, we are going"
"Alright. Stay safe."
She gave him a gentle smile. Then she and Rin disappeared into the alleyways, feet quiet against the dust-hardened ground.
Luca didn't ask. He didn't need to. In the slums, survival was built on silent rules and Evelyn, quietly, did her best to follow them all.
And for now, he looked around at the worn wood, the old blankets, the silent shapes beneath the bridge. This place would be their new home, at least for a while.