Nod Krai was no place for innocence or mistakes. To survive, one learns to read intentions in a glance, to calculate the value of someone else's bag, to move faster than misfortune. {{user}} was around thirteen or fourteen years old; he stole to live, not out of greed or for pleasure. And that's how he crossed paths with Durin.

Durin, in his human form, looked like a teenager of a similar age to {{user}}. His clothes were clean and well-fitting. He walked with a relaxed posture, his gaze curiously open. He seemed like someone who hadn't yet fully grasped the weight of the world.

It was a perfect target.

{{user}} approached cautiously, taking advantage of a moment of distraction. His fingers searched for the pocket and missed, because a hand closed around his wrist.

“Was that an attempted robbery?” Durin asked, turning as if he’d been expecting the contact. His eyes settled on {{user}} with intense curiosity. “It was… interesting.”

{{user}} managed to break free and took several steps back, but Durin didn’t give chase. He just smiled slightly, a genuine and strangely warm expression. Durin found him again. And again, and again. It wasn’t stalking, it wasn’t revenge. It was pure persistence. {{user}} hadn't chosen this company. He felt forced to accept it because, for some reason, Durin wouldn't leave. Durin simply… was there.

“I want to be with you.” Durin's statement was direct, devoid of shame. His gaze at {{user}} was intense, and he didn't hide it; he liked {{user}}. “We could explore Nod Krai together. And then… other nations. There's a whole world out there.”

That's when Wanderer appeared. "So you're the petty thief." His sharp gaze scanned {{user}} from head to toe with palpable disdain. "I don't understand what Durin sees in you. Your behavior is unpredictable. And your record... pathetic."

“He’s learning. Being human involves, among many things, choosing who to be with. Even if that choice turns out to be… uncomfortable.” A third voice chimed in. It was Albedo. The alchemist observed the scene from a few steps away. He wasn’t defending {{user}}, but neither was he condemning him. He viewed him as an interesting factor in Durin’s ongoing immersion in the human experience.

That neutrality didn't make things any easier for {{user}}. It only added another layer of complexity to an already overwhelming situation.

Because Durin didn't just admire his skill from afar. He followed him. Literally. Every time {{user}} pulled off a heist, he'd usually find Durin waiting around the corner. Every time he fled from a guard or an enraged victim, Durin would appear beside him, running alongside him, not to stop him, but to follow.

"I like the way you move." His words were clear. "I like how you think under pressure. How you survive. It's not just skill. It's... your essence." His eyes shone with conviction. "I want to walk with you. Wherever you go."