The Rise of the White Lotus

"Child, why do you keep following me? Go home." On her way to find herself something to eat, Tora stopped and turned. Gazing down, she looked at the puzzled and innocent little girl. It has been two days when Tora set her foot in the northern town. After her unprecedented experience that night, she somehow gained a tail whom she didn't know.

At first, Tora shooed this little girl away and did her duties the next day. However, for two consecutive nights now, this little girl would just show up like a mushroom. Just like right now, she appeared out of nowhere and was following her to wherever she goes. 

Churu pursed her lips in a thin line as she wordlessly looked at her. She fiddled her forefingers around each other as she cast her a pitiful look. Tora could only arch her brow before a frustrated sigh escaped her mouth.

Squatting down, her elbow rested over her left knee while her other knee on the ground, Tora sighed once again. "Your mother must be worried about you. I'll take you back to your manor." 

"I don't have a mother," said Churu. Her response made Tora's brows furrowed. 

'She's an orphan?' Tora thought inwardly. Yet, she didn't assume her initial thought and asked. "Then, your fathe—"

"I flee from our home." Just before Tora could finish her sentence, Churu shook her head sideways as she interrupted her. "I was just eager about how to travel here, I wandered too far."

"From what town you came from? How come you were able to reach the north?" Tora knitted her brows. For all she knew, the nearest town in the northern town would take several days to reach. Hence, if this little girl came from there, then it would take her days to reach this certain town.

With her young age, it would be impossible for her to survive with no food and drink to give her a source of strength to travel. Not to mention, it would be impossible for her to hunt for food as she was vulnerable. Thus, how come she survived?

"From the capital. I wanted free transportation and sneaked in inside someone else's carriage. Then, I fell asleep and before I know it, they were already far from the capital's border." Churu explained. 

It was true, though. She fled from the heavenly realm because of her curiosity if she could descend from heaven. However, she woke up in this child's body that was sleeping inside a carriage filled with goods.

Gaining the memories of this slave child that died to the trauma from her little head, it was nearly the same as her situation. The only difference was that her host fled because of the abuse while Churu because of her curiosity and eagerness to meet Tora.

Fortunately, the merchant was a kind-hearted man and let her tag along with their journey to the north. Perfect timing as her heart that was bound to Tora's soul, hence, knew she would journey to the north. Therefore, Churu just headed to this town and wait for Tora to arrive.

The reason she knew Tora was on her way to the restaurant and decided to reunite with her in this town.

"It must have been tough for you," Upon hearing her sensible explanation, Tora sighed as she raised her arm and lightly patted her head. She didn't press on the matter anymore as she got the gist of it.

This kind of situation was common in the capital and any other town in this kingdom: especially for slaves that received abuse from their masters to the point that they would just die without knowing it. 

Although the kingdom was prosperous, only those who have power and influence enjoyed most of it. Slaves like Churu, they were born and raised and die serving a certain master. Regardless of how tyrant or abusive he/she was, they must abide. 

It was a sad fact. But, it has been like that. Those in the top just gets more powerful while people living under has no qualms on their fate. Tora couldn't just change it on a whim, no matter how she wanted to.

Churu, using her little rough hand, she reached out to the hem of her clothes and clipped her forefinger and thumb in it. Staring straight to Tora's emphatic pair of eyes, she just pursed her lips and said nothing.

"Will you join me for a meal?" Tora smiled, inviting her since Churu would always tag along with her even during her dinner. Still, Churu ate nothing, and she didn't offer her, anyway. But now that she knew a bit of this child's life, it would be heartless of her to give her nonchalance.

Slaves were deprived of love and affection ever since they were born. And now that Tora paid more attention to her, her little hands were rough — signs that she had been working menial chores. Her small body was a little thinner than her age. 

Although she was adorable and cheerful all the time, Tora's heart ached to know that they forced this little girl to run away because of obvious reasons. To her, Churu must be enjoying her every moment being a free human being, without those chains that bound her to her master.

"Hmm!" Churu's face brightened up as she profusely nodded her head. Her reaction made Tora smiled as her eyes softened.

"Alright, let's go." Nodding in acknowledgment, Tora slowly stood before she turned. Glancing on her side, Churu clung on the hem of her clothes before she returned her gaze ahead. With that, the two headed to Tora's current favorite restaurant for a feast.

On their way to the restaurant, both Tora and Churu stopped in their tracks upon seeing a figure standing in front of a whorehouse. There, Aki stood smiling, fanning himself while some beautiful ladies fawned around him.

"Men, they were, all the same, don't you think?" Seeing that Aki seemed to enjoy the attention he garnered from the ladies, her under-eye twitched in disgust. Churu didn't verbalize her thoughts, but she had the urge to cut the man's hair to humiliate him.

'He dared fool around in front of Tora!' Churu internally thought before following Tora after she glared daggers at Aki's figure.