He walked towards the village, but he couldn’t. He stopped and thought to himself, “I really didn’t want to remember this... Not again...”
The entrance to which he and Ban always came inside the village after playing for hours.
“There are mostly good memories... why is it that one that always haunts me.”
The village's ambiance was bright and cheerful. It even had children playing. But that wasn’t enough for Dit’s memories from coming back.
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There was fire everywhere. The village they had known for their whole life, the village where they had spent so many years living, all those happy memories.
“Bandits...”, screamed someone. Both Dit and Ban looked towards it, before seeing that person getting killed by a sword attack.
The only thought that came to Dit’s mind was to run, but he couldn’t. He froze and would’ve stayed frozen if Ban didn’t take his hand and been forced to run.
“Kill everyone who resists and take in anyone who seems useful!”, screamed one of the men on a horse, he seemed to carry a giant sword on his back.
How did this even happen? Thought Dit to himself. They both were playing outside as usual, but the smoke, the fire.
Dit was confused and scared, and the sight of their orphanage burning didn’t help.
“Aunt... Carer...”, said Dit while falling to the ground.
“We don’t h-have time Dit...”, said Ban trying to pick him up.
“Hmph. What Knights?”, said the man on the horse as he took out his sword and jumped down from the horse.
“Kneel down, and maybe you’ll live.”, he continued.
“W-Who do you think you are?”, asked one of the villagers.
“No...”, said some of the other villagers. “Keep quiet!”
“Knave. Remember the name.”, Knave replied.
“I’ll let you run away due to your... bravery.”, he added while taking his face closer to him.
“RUN!”, he screamed near his ear.
The villager ran away as fast as he could.
Knave took his sword and threw it at the running villager. It killed him in one stroke, and he then recalled it back. The giant sword flew back at his hand.
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Dit and Ban were both watching this from a distance while hiding in a bush.
“How... How could he do that?”, asked Ban.
Dit was too shocked to speak.
“Kids?”
Both looked behind in shock.
“Shh... it’s me.”, whispered the carer.
“We need to get out of here... I was worried sick. The other children are already out, I don’t know where... some of them are...”, she added.
“Did you...”
She stopped as soon as she saw the worried look on both their faces.
The carer sighed and whispered “I should help you guys get out of here first. Come. Follow me quietly.”
All of them quietly went past the bandits when they were rounding up the villagers, but their luck ran out. They were near some bushes which were near the village entrance when they heard, “There’s someone there...!”
The carer didn’t wait for a moment, as soon as she heard them utter those words, she pushed the children into some bushes and gestured to them to keep quiet.
One of the bandits came near her and dragged her away.
Dit and Ban saw that, and they felt helpless and decided to run away before anyone else could notice them.
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Dit was now near the place from where they had escaped all those years ago.
“I wonder what happened to the carer...”, he thought to himself.
“I mean I know...”
Before he could finish his thoughts, he was interrupted by the barks of a dog running towards him wagging his tail.
Dit smiled before dropping down and spoke, “There you are!”
Eric ran behind the dog with Orph following closely.
“So that’s where you went.”, said Eric.
Eric was quite shocked to see it acting so friendly to someone.
“Is it your dog...?”, he asked Dit.
Dit nodded his head, saying no while still petting the dog.
“Could’ve fooled me.”, said Orph.
Dit awkwardly laughed and spoke, “Animals tend to like me... for some reason.” while getting licked by the dog.
“I’m sure they do.”, replied Orph, while crossing his hands.
“He’s usually not that friendly...”, said Eric who was still somewhat in shock.
Dit got up while still smiling.
“I see.”, said Dit.
“I should get going now.”, he added while looking down at the dog and still smiling. He then looked at both Eric and Orph and nodded his head before going out of the village.
“That was weird.”, said Orph while keeping his hands crossed. Eric shrugged.
Orph sighed and spoke, “Let’s go, or else we’ll leave you behind.”
The dog barked and started to follow them.
Orph laughed and spoke, “I’m surprised you didn’t follow that man.”
On his way back to the camp, Dit took out the flower he had kept in his pocket and remembered.
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Ban and Dit ran as far away as they could, Dit fell and couldn’t run any further. Ban picked him up and hid in the forest. She looked around to make sure that they weren’t being followed. Thankfully they weren’t and Orph let out a sigh of relief.
“I’m scared...”, said Dit, while sitting down and crying.
Ban dropped down and hugged him, “It’s going to be alright, I’m here.”, she replied.
“I will protect you.”, she continued.
Dit looked into her eyes; they looked like nothing he had ever seen before.
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A look that he remembered again.
“Is that where you lost it, sister?”, he thought to himself.