Chapter 2: Youth (Part 1)

From my youth I already had a raging desire and vitality.

I had inherited the name and wealth of one... No the greatest Noble bloodline of mankind. Upon adolescence I trained under a butler and occasionally learned the arts of war from his very often babble that was entertaining at first, but then irritating as time went by. When I was eight, I was set to be the heir of their kingdom, I was proficiently taught economics, etiquette, war strategies and bla bla bla...

I hated it all of it. I was spoiled rotten by my father and pampered by maid's and had a care-free elder brother, He was supposedly the one fit for the throne until I was born. He didn't get angry at words, he was the type to talk it out, he didn't argue with father because I was the 'prodigy' and he wholeheartedly accepted it. But what made me absolutely hate my big brother the most amongst all of his qualities. Was his freedom, he broke from the royal shackles when I was born, at first I hated him 'How could he have such a laid back life' I thought, he doesn't come to the palace that often, only when father need's him, sometimes he brings me souvenirs from his adventures, I gave it all to my little sister who was born a little over a year after me, why? because I hated it, I hate that he can do whatever he pleases, go where ever he wants and come's home whenever he want's, I wished he never came back.

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A month passes by and I was craving sweet's, So I strolled the palace, hoping I bumped into a maid and plead for satiation. The palace itself was large and open, the main hall split off three ways from the middle excluding the large gate for the entrances. Shining marble tiles lined the floor and the walls were also pearly white and occasionally decorated with portraits of famous heroes or figure's. Pillars also stood from all corners of the room each having a banner dropped down and a unique pattern on each of them, apparently those represent the four parties that form the Dardihaldt legion, which from further inspection, you can kind of see the emblem of Dardihaldt etched into the tiles covering the room.

"huh?..." After heading tumbling into the maid's hall's, I noticed there weren't any on duty clearly, it was eerily quite, by now one or two would be sweeping or taking off cobwebs, but it was empty.

Hmm. I wondered where they all went. I pressed my ear onto a large wooden door which lead into their chamber's and at first there was silence but immediately before I opened the door I heard someone squeal, "ah ... I see." I forcefully split my ear from the door and exhaled. They were probably all taking a bath and being the pervert I am I drooled at the spot but I had to discipline myself to be a respectable older brother for my little sister and it was not my business to pry in such. I headed back and decided to directly ask mother instead. My parent's room were hidden through a series of doors, probably because assassin's would come and take their life if they didn't prioritize safety so they took no chances. Though for business partners and/or family we had personal access to their room, you'd of course need to knock first. Heading into a white hall that didn't have any windows, I walked softly, I didn't know what to do but listen to my own steps, before I knew it I approached a white door with gold strips edging it. I knocked once then twice, so came third.

"Mother, are you there?" No reply.

Mother would've said something by now but yet I felt ignored.

"Father?" I added.

Still no one came to confirm me, I felt something suspicious had happened and it's just probably a tinge or a gut feeling but something or someone did something to my mother. It was a horrible sense, I felt puking with fear, Mother always took care of father, was in good health, got ton's of sleep, full of vigor and took care of us all with love but spoils my little sister often, so why isn't she responding? I had to take action. If it had to be anyone in this household that cared more for my mother that was me and it was my responsibility to pay the favor back. Atleast that's what I thought. My grip tightened on the handle, a bead of sweat descended my neck. I hesitated for a moment before turning the handle.

"Mother, Father. I'm coming in." Without waiting for a reply, I opened the door slowly.

The room was obviously a king's room it had a wide bed, luxurious trinkets here and there, the floor was covered in a furry carpet and was easy on the feet, At the side was a shelf containing badges, trophies, golden vases and pots, shiny diamond necklaces, they had a personal bathroom and bath, aswell a full set of knight armor was displayed upon entrance. It was truly lavish living, though what I saw through the corner of my eye, my heart dropped, through the curtain of their bedroom was my mother, limply fallen over the side of the bed. I brushed through the set of knight armor causing the helmet to tumble and fall to the ground, I swiped away the curtain and held the body of my mother in my arm's, I grasped her cold hand's and gripped it tightly, I sobbed lightly as i couldn't contain my overflowing emotions, soon questions filled my mind. What's happening to her? or no, who did this to her? and most importantly why? why would anyone do this to mother? I don't want her to leave us yet... Soon question's left and grief came next.

"She's gone." A dark tone of voice yet filled with sorrow touched my ear's.

Through the tears that dripped down my face, I rubbed my eyes before looking at the dark figure near the window, leaning against the wall it also glared back at me. A man with dark red hair although a bit messy but it didn't bother him, the wind flew in my advantage and blew the curtain, the moonlight shined down his face although just for a moment, it was enough, I knew who it was, that face. How could I ever forget? the person that I hated the most, the complete opposite of me. Yet he was here in this time and place, just for a brief moment we both felt to grief, but emotion's filled my mind, grief? no, fear? absolutely not, I needed answers. Fast. if this man was here then he had to have it, bloodlust and rage occupied me. I was taught violence was bad and to only use it when the time came when I'd protect my family. But this is that time, all that intense training will pay off now, this is where I protect my family, I'll protect mother and my little sister, I wont die in vain.

"You... Did you do this to mother?" I clenched my teeth and grit it.

"Who knows? Maybe? or maybe not? What will you do about it?" he crossed his arms and stared at me.

"I... I'll kill you!" I chided at him before standing up like bearing fangs, two of my cow licks stood up.

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"You're brave. I applaud your passion for protecting our mother." He slowly clapped before looking down at me.

"Fuck you!" I sprinted towards him. I felt overflowing adrenaline through my body and it gathered in my right hand.

I barraged him with a series of fist attacks before shifting to kick-based attacks, but he simply blocked it all or swiped it away, his strength was unbelievable, even a trained adult would be a beaten pulp by now, I bit my tongue and aimed for his head with a right kick, knowing he would block it with his right I switched positions and striked at his feet with a low left kick, I crouched down and kicked at his feet, he fell to his knee's and I shoved his left hand behind him, pinned his back against the floor with my knee and added pressure, pulling on his arm and pushing onto his torso I had restrained him.

"Talk." I ordered pulling his arm more.

"I-... Impressive, you managed to subdue me in a few strikes." He snickered at me.

"So what?, I'm stronger than you elder brother." I pushed into his back more.

"Are you sure?, I haven't even fought back yet." He looked back at me before adding.

"You poor little thing. Look at you." He stared back at me with a grin.

"I-I'll pull your arm off!"

"Hmm... It seem's like my arm will get plucked off at this rate." He sighed having a poker face.

"I'll reall- dwo...it..." My face was being squeezed tightly, it was his left arm, the one that I had been pulling had squeezed my face.

"Kuh... You are still so weak, but dont worry I wont kill you or your sister." He patted his suit before standing up and lifted me just by my face.

"D-dwont... ywo dware...twouch...her-..." Looking down at him, my consciousness slowly faded into white.

I slipped into unconsciousness probably because of the grip he had on my face to the point it constricted blood flow and I passed out. I failed. I failed protecting mother and my little sister, so why am I here? Memories of my mother pampering us filled my mind, if this moment could last forever I would stay here until the end of time. But yet I felt a warm sensation, mother opened her arms and hugged me. It seemed my time wasn't up, she scolded me for thinking it was my duty to protect her, she rubbed my head and I hugged her tightly. It was the best feeling in the world, I wish this could last an eternity. She waved us goodbye, I took my little sister's hand and we ran away, looking back she had tears in her eyes. She told me everything. I knew the answer.

I opened my eyes and I saw a great tree in front of me. Its leaf fell onto me and I blew it away. I inhaled a breath of fresh air and I looked to my side and I saw a sleeping tom. It was my older brother, sitting with his arms crossed and he dozed off under the tree. I had a blanket covered over me. He opened his eye's slowly fluttered open and he saw me smiling at him.

"Oh!, y-you're awake now?" he jumped, acting all worried. But then he sat straight and looked gloomy all of a sudden.

"Im sor-"

"I know. Mother told me." I cut him off.

"oh... Mother told you huh?" He scratched his chin looking away.

"Yes. Mother told me that in her last moments, you barged in, caused a ruckus before making it to the room and passed in your hands. She had the plague didn't she? and yet you still stayed by her side, knowing full well it might spread to you, you wanted to be with her until she passed away." I remarked.

"R-right... But still. Im sorry. You know for squeezing your face and fighting you. I guess I just felt angry and empty at the same time. I wanted to vent it somewhere. And that ended up being you." He apologized again and again

"Yeah, yeah. Big brother. Can I ask for a selfish favor?" I asked before sitting up.

"Oh...sure, anything you want." He listened close.

"Can I... Join you on your adventures?" My eyes sparkled.

"uhm...Sure. But aren't you running away if thats the case though?"

"I know. Im just so tired of all this pushing. I envy you big brother. You get to be free all the time. So please take me with you!." I glared at him with puppy-dog eyes.

"uuu... Father might get angry, you know. That old guy can get pretty grumpy with disobedient children. Trust me, coming from experience." He held up his right hand.

"Father doesn't have to know. I've lived almost my entire life stuck in that place. I want to be free and make my own choices." I gazed downwards before taking off my blanket and standing up.

"Oh..."

"I'd kill that old man with my own two hands if he does something to my little sister though." I clenched my fist, gaze towards the kingdom. Apparently we were on the outskirts. But my eye's shifted to the ground before gritting my teeth.

"B-but...I... I'm still so weak... I can't protect anyone... tsk... I might just be deadweight in the end."

I felt a sharp pain on my head. pang!.

"Ow!" I clutched my head

"Idiot. Why do you think like that?, You have great strength already. We just have to draw it out even more." He lectured me.

"Wha... Wait are you serious?" Still clutching my head.

"Leave it to me bro." He pointed to himself before striking a pose and winking.

Before I knew it, tears were already gliding down my cheeks. Though this time it wasn't for grief nor sadness. It was tears of joy. He patted me before burying my face in his chest. I continued to sob in his chest.

"Father. You've made your children hate you." He rubbed the back of my head as I continued to cry.

Eventually, I pulled away having an occasional hic. I rubbed my eyes before staring into the warm sun and embracing this new chapter of my life. We packed up and made our way to the kingdom once dusk fell. We had to sneak into the Ferrot's armory for our supplies and armor, it was one of the parties drawn on the banners, they supplied most of the weapons used by the legion. I picked up a sharp steel dagger and a rather expensive hooded robe, it had black intricate patterns woven into it and had a slight greenish tone but it was otherwise white. My brother grabbed himself a sword, it was enough for him since he didn't run into bandits or muggers that often. We left the armory and soon headed out in the early morning. I looked up at the sky which was still dark but the horizon glowed just right for clouds to appear. It's been a while since I had this feeling, this feeling of accomplishment, for the first time I felt like I actually did something for me, just for once.

"Hey let's go, why are you in a daze for?" He turned around and called me. He was carrying quite the heavy luggage. Snapping out of it I replied.

"Right." I sighed before I began to walk on the stone path. I wanted to leave everything in the past and move on.

Except for my little sister. I wrote to her when we'd visit a new town, when I found free time I reminded her where I was, what I'm doing, and what I'll do next. I didn't plan on leaving her or forgetting her at all. Since it was by letter it'd probably take around 3-4 months to arrive to the palace. By now I'm already 13, my big brother 25 and my little sister is probably 12 now. 5 years had passed since I left that place, and I wouldn't want it any other way, I'd probably grow weak and frail in there if I stayed any longer. Speaking of strength, I was pretty confident in my skill, I'd learned alot with both aikido and judo, I felt like I could actually protect someone, My body also went more into the lean side, I didn't have rippling abs yet but muscles were showing, as I was poking my belly my brother teased me and said 'Think you can find a girl now?' I hadn't really thought about it though, after all I didn't know what love was, let alone experience it, the only 'love' I knew wasn't really romantic love but my mothers maternal love for us, I knew that all too well.

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It was just until I turned 14. I was lost on a scavenging mission in a thick forest , my brother ran into a trap and I didn't even notice that until I heard a twig crack, I looked behind me and before I knew it, my light had passed out, before I entirely lost consciousness though I saw a girl with purple hair holding a bow and arrow with a pretty noticeable quill on her back run towards me, I couldn't form a face in my head no matter how I looked at her and just like that I passed out.

My head hurts. Yet I feel comfortable. I feel ringing pain. But I feel numbness in this warmth. What's happening? ...

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