Good Things Are for Sharing - Empty Stomachs and Homeless Nights
Couldn't eat, starving to death. That was one of the hardest parts of living on the streets.
Days without food, eyes spinning, fighting stray cats over trash bags—that feeling was utter shit.
But that was just physical hardship. What really broke your spirit was something else.
I felt it deep in my bones every winter.
That loneliness of having no home.
Midwinter.
Do you know the sorrow of snow pouring down with no roof to shield you?
Your body shaking uncontrollably, up against a wall that blocks not a whisper of wind?
Above all, the terror of finding your friend—who'd been chatting about dreams right up until bedtime—frozen dead.
Who the hell would welcome that?
So I figured I'd ditch a bit of my pride.
If she really was a poacher, I'd claim the place outright. Even if not, I could crash there a day or two.
"This place is way more remote than I thought."
"Can't help it. Spirits don't come to crowded spots."
From the looks of it, this Nia girl was dead serious about spirits.
'Spirit department, so makes sense.'
Contracted spirits were basically a spirit mage's own power, after all.
"S-Sorry, it stings where you're hurt and all, but..."
"What?"
"You really never contracted a single spirit?"
Krrk!
Nia whipped around with a frustrated grunt, eyes blazing with anger.
"I'm already pissed just being tied up like this—wanna keep poking?"
I couldn't even imagine it. A spirit mage who couldn't contract spirits?
Then she wasn't a spirit mage to begin with, right?
But it made sense enough. Hell, I could barely use magic myself—a mage who sucked at magic.
Spirit mages who couldn't handle spirits. Mages who couldn't handle magic.
Stories like that were a dime a dozen.
"I'll shut up, so just guide me right."
"You really planning to crash at my place?"
"Just tonight? If you were a real poacher, I might've just taken it outright."
"That's why I'm saying I'm not!"
Nia stomped in frustration. But no choice—she was the one chained up.
"We'll figure that out later."
"Haa. Fine. But if you're innocent, you're dead meat."
"I'll apologize then. If it's my mistake for sure."
We pushed deeper in, Nia grinding her teeth like 'watch me.'
"Here."
And that's where we ended up.
"For real?"
It was some rickety shack.
Or... was it even worthy of the name?
A few branches for supports, leaves slapped on top haphazardly.
What the hell were they thinking if a breeze hit?
"Now I see."
"Huh?"
"You're a total newbie, huh."
"W-What? Judging my house like that."
No matter how you sliced it, she screamed rookie. Did she even know what happened in setups like this?
"Rain leaks through, wind blows it away, gets damp and bugs eat it up."
"...!"
"Perfect setup for keeling over dead."
Was planning to mooch, but this was a problem.
"Can't even sleep right like this. You actually getting proper shut-eye?"
"...S-Shut up! Don't lecture me!"
"As a street rat senior, I'm telling ya."
"Who's a street rat?!"
Watching her like this raised a fundamental question.
"Nia."
"What? Don't get all buddy-buddy with my name—"
"You eating regular?"
"...."
Nia didn't answer. Pride keeping her quiet, probably. But bodies don't lie.
Grrrooowl—
Her stomach clock blared loud.
"Figured you weren't eating right."
Obvious as hell.
Fish hard to catch, no skills for wild game. Probably scraping by on tree fruits.
I wanted protein too, but night was late. Forest nights were brutal for wandering.
"At least there's a chair. Sit."
"And do what?"
"I'll grab some fruit. Wait."
Her crime wasn't confirmed yet, so I'd treat her decent till then.
"Lemme see."
Scanning for edibles, my eyes locked on one spot.
"Found it."
A tree heavy with ripe red fruits. Edible TBD, but pick first.
"Those fruits are ripe?"
"Huh?"
"Haven't ripened in ages."
Some weird-ass tree. Reached out anyway.
Just out of reach. A bit more—
Shwick!
"Huh?"
Something grabbed my wrist.
Looked down quick—a root shot up from the ground, clamping my wrist.
No sign of letting go; tightening instead.
'It's alive?'
A living tree?
No time to think.
"Ngh!"
Crack-crunch!
Ground split everywhere, roots rising. Less roots, more slimy tentacles.
They writhed toward me.
Now I saw: those red fruits were bait. All a trap.
Yeah, plants like that existed. Luring with fruit, creepy bastards.
"Fuckin' annoying."
Snagged by weak-ass trash? Mood soured hard.
"Hey, Nia!"
"A... ahh... uuuu...."
What the hell with her?
"...."
"D-Don't wanna die...."
Nia dropped to her knees, trembling.
Over this puny thing?
'Ah, scaredy-cat type.'
No helping it.
"Was needing firewood anyway. You burn good?"
Had to step up. Needed wood anyway—perfect.
Staring blankly for a while, she realized the situation was pretty damn dangerous.
Ancient withered tree trunk. Vines crawling its grain, fruits dangling precariously.
Looked normal, but inside pulsed something vile.
'Had it right next to me and didn't notice.'
This place, Arachne's Forest, had one legend. True to name, it was once home to the giant venomous spider Arachne.
Strong enough to snatch villagers, till a hero slew it. In death throes, it spewed massive poison.
Trees poisoned became spirits—evil tree spirits ruling the forest, per legend.
Recalling that, Nia realized she'd collapsed.
'Can't win. Gotta run.'
Every cell screamed it.
Live. If you wanna live, get out now.
That spirit—the forest's master from legend. Flee to survive.
'What about that kid?'
Wanted to warn, but too late. Tentacles closing to bind, soon sucking his fluids dry.
Still.
"Hang on! I'll grab the professors quick!"
Least she could do. First impression sucked, but Nia wasn't cruel enough to let someone die.
The chains vanished like 'got it.'
"Th-Then...!"
Grabbed shaking legs, forced herself up.
Nia just bolted forward.
Crunch—
"Eek...!"
If not for the brutal rupture behind, she would've.
Shattering, smashing—something tossed, pulverized to dust.
Nia's face went sheet-white.
'D-Dead?'
Heard rumors like that.
Corrupted tree spirits smashed food for pleasure before slurping the mush.
If true, that kid was...
"U, uu...!"
More bursts; Nia dragged her feet desperately.
Had to go. Fetch profs, recover the body at least.
But legs wouldn't move.
Nausea surged again.
How was anyone enduring this? Academy freshman or second-year spirit student.
"Urk—bleeech!"
Never seen someone die for real.
Sound alone turned her guts.
Imagination filling the gruesome picture.
Yet stubbornly crawling Nia noticed:
Sounds stopped.
'He's gone.'
Heavy silence fell.
In that cruel quiet, Nia slowly looked back.
More bile rose, but she swallowed hard.
Didn't want to see, but head turned anyway.
A gruesome scene.
No memory in her life matched this devastation.
The tree that'd lashed roots everywhere moments ago—now splintered to bits.
Trunk bisected, branches scattered, red fruit juice splattered like blood.
The forest's ruler, legend's spirit.
One profs needed full prep to handle safely.
"...."
Nia's gaze drifted to the center.
A boy stood amid wreckage.
One hand gauntlet. Other crushing the spirit core barehanded.
"How'd you...?"
"Spirits die if you beat 'em enough. Duh."
Otherwise fine. Not even winded. Just dusting hands like minor hassle.
"Senior."
"M-Me...?"
"You were gonna bail, right?"
Boy approached, slicking back juice-matted hair like blood.
Faint smile still on lips.
"N-No. Wasn't running."
"...."
"Spare me... please...."
If she'd known he was this strong, she'd have bowed first thing.
Regret swelling, Nia squeezed eyes shut, awaiting judgment.
Judgment was:
"Thanks, senior."
"Huh?"
"Guess you're no poacher."
A handshake of genuine thanks.
Smile bloomed on the boy's face.
"Anton Salieri, senior."
"Y-You won't kill me?"
"Kill someone? I'd get expelled. Even at the academy."
Stating the obvious, Anton turned to the spirit husk.
Core gone, just shell.
Anton forged an axe, chopped the wood.
That wood would warm them tonight.
"Burns nice and toasty."
Watching Anton grin while torching the spirit corpse, Nia thought:
'The legend's over.'
Today's legend ended.
'So anticlimactically.'
This emptily.
"What kinda guy are you?"