The city loomed over Light like a predator, its towering buildings casting jagged shadows across the cracked streets. It had been hours since he’d walked out of the orphanage gates, yet the weight of those iron bars still pressed on his chest. The echoes of jeering voices followed him no matter how far he went.

Weak. Cursed. Different.

They had always called him that. No matter how hard he tried to blend in, the other kids saw him as an outsider. A pariah. For years, he had tolerated it, telling himself it would get better.and he got better,his life changed,but that happiness didn't last long.Once again his life became the same as before.But the moment he turned seventeen, the truth hit him: nothing would change.and as always, Another problem came which broke Light. 

So I left, he thought bitterly, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets. The cold wind cut through the thin fabric, biting into his skin, but he refused to turn back. He wouldn’t crawl back to that place. Not now. Not ever.

His stomach growled loudly, pulling him from his thoughts. Hunger gnawed at him, a dull ache that had grown sharper with each step. He clutched the last of his coins—a pitiful handful that wouldn’t buy more than scraps. His eyes scanned the bustling streets, searching for something, anything to fill the void in his belly.

But no one paid him any attention. The vendors called out to customers, their stalls brimming with fresh produce, steaming bread, and sizzling meat skewers. To Light, it was a cruel display, a reminder of what he didn’t have. He hesitated before approaching a bread stand, the smell of warm loaves making his mouth water.

“Excuse me…” His voice cracked as he addressed the vendor, a stocky man with thick arms and an even thicker scowl. “Can I—do you have anything cheap? Or maybe I could work for it?”

The vendor didn’t even look at him. “No work. Pay or move along.”

“Please,” Light pressed, his tone bordering on desperation. “I can carry crates, clean up, whatever you need.”

Finally, the vendor glanced at him, his eyes raking over Light’s worn clothes and scuffed shoes. “Fine,” he muttered, jerking his thumb toward a pile of crates stacked against the wall. “Take those to the other end of the street. You’ll get one loaf.”

Light nodded quickly, ignoring the burn of humiliation rising in his chest. The crates were heavier than they looked, and his muscles screamed in protest as he lugged them across the street. When he finally set them down, he staggered back to the stand, breathless and sweating.

The vendor tossed him a single loaf—a small, stale piece of bread. It was barely enough to count as a meal.

“That’s it?” Light asked, his frustration boiling over.

The vendor sneered. “Take it or leave it, kid.”

Light clenched his fists but said nothing. He took the bread and turned away, walking to the corner of the street where he could eat in peace. Before he could take a bite, a voice cut through the noise of the crowd.

“Hey!”

He turned to see a girl about his age, standing a few feet away. Her clothes were good but scratched,She looked like an assasian, and there was a sharpness in her eyes that didn’t match her frail frame, and something about her struck him as… familiar. Like she didn’t belong here either.

“Is that all you got for carrying those crates?” she asked, nodding toward the bread in his hand.

“Yeah,” Light replied cautiously. “Why?”

The girl scoffed. “They ripped you off. That bread isn’t worth half the work you did.”

Light shrugged. “It’s all I’ve got.”

The girl stepped closer, her expression softening just a fraction. “You planning to eat it all yourself?”

Light hesitated. His stomach screamed at him to hold on to the bread, to devour it before anyone could take it away. But the girl’s thin frame and hollow eyes made him pause. Wordlessly, he tore the loaf in half and held out a piece to her.

“Here,” he said. “Take it.”

The girl blinked, surprised. “You’re giving me half?”

“Yeah,” Light said. “I’m not that hungry anyway.”

The girl said “No,I don't food right now”

She sat down beside him on the curb, “What’s your name?” she asked after a while.

“Light,” he replied. “You?”

“Riya.”

They sat in silence, the noise of the city fading into the background. For the first time all day, Light felt a strange sense of calm.

As Light finished his meager meal, Light noticed something lying in the gutter a few feet away. It was a small bird, its feathers ruffled and its body still.

“Wait here,” he said, getting up.

“What are you doing?” Riya called after him, but Light ignored her. He knelt beside the bird, gently scooping it up in his hands. It was alive, but barely.

“What’s wrong with it?” Riya asked, peering over his shoulder.

“I don’t know,” Light said. He dug into his pocket, pulling out the last few crumbs of bread. He held them up to the bird’s beak, and to his relief, it began to eat.

The bird chirped weakly, its small body trembling in his hands. Riya sighed, shaking her head. “You barely have enough for yourself, and now you’re feeding a bird?”

Light smiled faintly. “It needed it more than me.”

As the bird finished eating, it hopped onto Light’s shoulder, nuzzling against his neck. Riya raised an eyebrow. “Looks like you’ve got a new friend.”

Riya tilted her head curiously. “So, what will you name it?”

Light’s gaze shifted past Riya, catching sight of two shadowy figures standing at the edge of the alley. His brows furrowed slightly as he spoke, his voice low with caution. “Ah, Riya… who are these—”

Before he could finish, Riya interrupted, misunderstanding his words. “Aria. That’s a nice name,” she said with a small smile, nodding as if satisfied with her choice.

Light blinked, his train of thought momentarily derailed. “Aria?” He glanced at the bird, then back at Riya. “I mean... yeah, Aria. That works.”

But his tone quickly turned serious again as his eyes darted back to the two men. He lowered his voice. “But seriously, who are those two behind you?”

Riya stiffened, her smile fading as she turned her head

Before She could respond, a shout echoed.

“There she is!”

Riya stiffened, her eyes darting toward those Two men were running toward them, their faces twisted in anger.

“Oh no,” Riya muttered. “Not again.”

“What’s going on?” Light asked, standing up.

“They’ve been chasing me all day,” Riya said, backing away. “I don’t know why, but they won’t leave me alone.”

The men closed in, one of them pulling out a knife. “You’re not getting away this time, girl!”

Light stepped in front of Riya, his hands curling into fists.

“Stay out of this, kid,” the other man growled. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“It does now,” Light said, his voice steady despite the fear creeping up his spine.

The first man lunged at him, but before he could make contact, something strange happened. The air around Light seemed to shift, growing heavy and oppressive. The man froze mid-step, his body trembling as if under an invisible weight.

“What the hell?” the man gasped, his knife clattering to the ground.

Light didn’t understand what was happening, but he could feel it—the raw, unbridled energy coursing through him. It wasn’t something he had summoned consciously. It was instinctive, primal.

The second man hesitated, but before he could react, a sharp gust of wind slammed into him, knocking him off balance. Light turned to see the bird on his shoulder, its wings glowing faintly as it hovered in the air.

“Is that… the bird?” Riya whispered, her eyes wide.

The first man regained his footing and charged again, but this time, Light moved. He stepped forward, his hand shooting out to grab the man’s wrist. The pressure in the air intensified, and the man cried out, collapsing to his knees.

The second man didn’t stick around. He turned and ran, disappearing into the shadows.

The first man groaned, glaring up at Light. “You’ll regret this, kid. Both of you will.”

He stumbled to his feet and followed his partner, leaving Light and Riya alone in the street.

Light swayed on his feet, the energy from the fight draining out of him. Riya caught his arm, steadying him as he slumped against her.

“You okay?” she asked, concern flickering in her voice.

“I think so,” Light said, though he wasn’t sure if he believed it.

Before either of them could say more, a voice called out from the shadows.

“Not bad.”

They both turned to see a boy about their age leaning against the wall. He had dark hair, a smirk playing on his lips, and an air of confidence that put Light on edge.

“Who are you?” Riya demanded, her grip tightening on Light’s arm.

“Name’s Mark,” the boy said. “And I think I can help you two.”

Riya narrowed her eyes. “Why would you want to help us?”

“Because,” Mark said, pushing off the wall, “you look like you need it. And I need people who can handle themselves.”

Light glanced at Riya, then back at Mark. He didn’t trust him, not

Author's Note:

Hi, everyone! I'm new to writing and Fate Bound is my very first novel. This is a journey I’m incredibly excited to share with you, and I’d love to hear your thoughts as we go along. Your feedback, suggestions, and support mean the world to me and will help me improve with each chapter. If you’re enjoying the story, please consider subscribing and leaving a comment—I’d love to know what you think! Let’s build this world together. Thank you so much for being a part of this journey!