[attr="class","nodenscharright2"]
[break]The little silver-haired girl gasped as she fell down from the collision. [break]

[break] “I’m sorry, little one. Are you lost?” [break]

[break]A big hand reached out to her, which was something she was a treatment the girl did not experience quite often. From the dirty ground, her big bulbous eyes regarded the man with such innocence and fear that he feared he might have done her a greater offence with his forwardness than failing to see her. The man retracted his hand, but bent down on one knee. Fear trembled in her beady eyes, and he could see why. [break]

[break] “It’s alright. I may be a noble, but I’m also a scholar. I won’t hurt you.” [break]

[break]He smiled, hoping to ease the tension between them. Her clothes were tattered, the white texture smeared by events that the man could very well see in the bruises in her body. Yet, her eyes held a brilliance that he simply could not ignore. [break]

[break] “What’s your name child?” He asked in the softest voice he could manage, and even sat down, never mind that the ground would dirty his robes. “I’m sure it’s a lovely one too.” [break]

[break]People passed them by, casting wayward glances at the pair, though they quickly lost interest after discovering the professor was up to his quirky antics once more.

[break] “I-It’s…” Her voice cracked dry, but she forced an answer. “Cassie.” [break]

[break] “Cassie, huh?” If the man’s daughter had survived, she’d be almost the same age as her. He extended another hand once more, in hopes that enough ice had been broken for them to get acquainted. “Where are your parents, Cass? Where do you live?” [break]

[break]Cassie stood up, her feet threatening to buckle under a tremor, but managed to get herself steady. The man’s eyes widened as she grabbed his hand for a handshake with both hands, mustering as much as force as she could, pulling him up. [break]

[break] “Please help me.” She pleaded, not meeting his eyes. “My sister. She’s…”[break]

[break]There was shot of pain in his chest. No child should ever suffer like that. The world was a cruel place, but magic provided an opportunity to change that and rise above the flood. As a professor of magic, he could not let such a misbegotten situation pass by. [break]

[break] “Tell me where she is. Lead the way, Cassie.” [break]

[break]He stood up and chased after the girl’s tiny figure. For a street urchin, she seemed to run quite well. In fact, the man struggled to keep up with her, but he simply excused her strength for hope. They maneuvered around the crowds in Altair, ignoring the few who greeted the professor, who knew of his status. [break]

[break]Cassie took a sharp turn into an alley, and he stopped where the child so boldly had entered. His instincts told him that alleys were places where dead bodies usually turned up after a few months, but she was a street urchin. If a child could survive in such poverty, then he could certainly muster enough courage to plunge through the murkiest of waters. [break]

[break]The professor walked into the alley slowly, feeling the light fade away from behind him as if he had entered the darkest place on earth. The bustling sounds of the busy street seemed muffled by the fog of silence in this narrow street. [break]

[break] “Cassie?” [break]

[break]There was no answer. This, however, did not mean that he was alone. He could hear scuffling and dripping. The professor hastened his pace to a jog, fear of something happening to Cassie overturning any unease he felt. Focus on what you can do, he said to himself. [break]

[break] “Over here, Professor.” [break]

[break]Cassie’s voice gave him strength. The alley was turning out to be more of a maze as he went deeper and deeper. The smell of trash and stink intensified, but he endured.

[break] “Professor…” The man in robes looked sideways but couldn’t see any sign of Cassie. “Help… me.” Her voice was getting weaker, softer. He needed to find her soon. [break]

[break]He gasped for air as a sudden jolt of pain coursed through his body. Blood splattered from his mouth, clogging his air canals. A drain pipe with a broken point had lodged itself exactly on his throat. The robed man dropped dead, eyes open but lifeless. [break]

[break] “Hmm. That was easier than I thought.” Cassie appeared from the shadows, her face impassive with a slight annoyed undertone. “But nevertheless, good job Blue.” [break]

[break]Another Cassie appeared from a dumpster. They were mirror images of each other except for the next second, when the second Cassie melted into a pile of blue goo which reformed into a small slime. It bounced from side to side. [break]

[break] “Yes, yes, yes. Stop begging, Blue.” She waved at the blob, turning around. Their business was over, now so there was no reason to dilly-dally. “Eat to your heart’s content. Now that we’ve succeeded, no one can threaten our position as Leader. However, do make sure to leave no leftovers. It would be such waste.” [break]

[break]The blue slime circled once in joy and jumped at the carcass of the Professor. Today, it would feast! [break]

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• Cassie joined the Grimm Troupe in her twenties, and has risen up in ranks by completing various missions which eventually led to her promotion as Leader in the Altair area, which is also her hometown.
• She hates being referred to as a child. However, Cassie knows it's an advantage when people underestimate you just because of appearances. She capitalizes on her demeanor to get what she wants.
• Possibly due to her child-like figure, but Cassie loves sweets, particularly ice cream. In a foul mood, it's best to give her vanilla ice cream. Needless to say, Cassie is a foodie, and if you live long enough, good food is very hard to come by.
• Cassie is afraid of dying, and will do anything to survive. Her mother died a dog's death and will not go down like her.
• She does not bare her full name, and has long discarted the last part to forget her ties with her family.