WARNING: Some events in this chapter might be disturbing to some.

(Julius POV)

"Haaa, he's finally gone."

After he was gone I could relax. When he released his aura, I felt like prey being watched by a predator. I had no choice but to answer his questions honestly.

This helplessness, this fear, I had felt this once before. The memories of the terrorist attack kept replaying in my mind, reminding me of my weakness.

'If I escape custody, I will never be weak again. I will train like no tomorrow and become strong. I want to be in control of my own life. With magic, I'll overcome anything that fate throws at me.'

I vowed to myself. Nothing will stop me and I won't be a puppet dancing to anyone's strings.

*BANG BANG*

A loud sound startled me and snapped me back to reality. The bandit named Alfred knocked on the metal bars.

"Hey, what's his name... yes, Julius?"

I nodded my head.

"Ok, the leader asked me to be your guardian. Here is your food for today."

He spoke to me in a bored tone, clearly not showing interest or disgust. He was just my watcher to make sure I do not die or try to escape.

He gave me a sandwich and a red pear with a canteen of water. I bit into the sandwich. The meat was bland and overcooked which gave it a dry taste. The bun was slightly charred and wasn't buttered. The pear was too sweet and also had a rotten section which I cut out.

I received this meal every day I was with the bandits. Though it was barely edible, I did not complain because I did not want to eat whatever the other prisoners were eating. Looking at it almost made me vomit.

Alfred was leaning against the wall also eating his lunch. It seems he will be sticking by me until I will be sold off to Vision, the organization I overheard Carl talking about.

"Will I get privacy when I have to go to the bathroom?"

I wanted to know to what limits he would follow me. It might be entertaining.

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"I won't watch while you are doing your business, but I will be nearby to ensure you do not try anything funny."

He spoke completely seriously, giving me an honest answer.

'Tch, he has no sense of humor.'

***

It was a couple of hours later and I was getting bored. Being in a cell without anything to do is extremely boring and I was getting worried about my mother.

In the background, I could hear vague sounds of people partying. It seems the bandits were celebrating.

But, Alfred had not moved at all, dutifully doing his task without making a sound. It was almost like he was a robot.

"Hey, do you have any entertainment here?"

"You do know the door is unlocked. You may leave this building and explore the surrounding areas. Also, you have to be back here by 11. And, I will drag you back if you do anything stupid."

'What are you, my parents? Fuck off.'

During my hours of sitting around, he must have unlocked my door at some point. I didn't realize it until he told me.

I got up, left my cell, and went outside. Alfred was keeping a certain distance behind me, watching my every move.

I was getting quite comfortable around Alfred for some reason. Even though hated him, I could still talk to him without feeling intense hatred. It is probably because he reminds me of a soldier instead of a bandit.

Outside, the sky was getting darker. It was currently May (I am not creating new months), so it was coming close to Winter.

I saw the bandits around a fire that was burning in a barrel, singing and drinking alcohol. Seeing them so happy was angering me.

'How can they be so happy?! They just kidnapped and murdered an entire town.'

I really wanted to kill them, but under the watchful gaze of Alfred, I had to rein myself in. I decided to go in a different direction.

I circled around the perimeter of the distract. Vines were falling from the roofs of the building, and moss growing on the floors. The areas around the warehouses were free from plants.

I soon heard sounds coming from inside a warehouse.

'Hmm, aren't all the bandits partying? Who is inside a warehouse now?'

I walked inside the warehouse. The interior of the warehouse was cleaner than the other warehouses.

However, inside I saw something I wanted to forget. No, it can't be true!

I saw the bandit leader, Carl forcing himself on my mother. She was desperately trying to run away, but couldn't do anything.

I saw red. Nothing else. I was completely speechless.

HATRED

'Fuck the consequences, he will die. I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU CARL RAMIREZ!'

I channeled all the mana I could. I knew I had no training and it was extremely inefficient, but I still wanted to kill him immediately.

However, before I could take a step, I felt someone grab my shoulder. Alfred was holding me, not letting me take a single step.

Then, he started dragging me back towards my prison cell.

"LET GO OF ME!"

No matter how many times I begged, he wouldn't let me go and threw me into my cell. He then locked the door and left me there.

I kept slamming on the metal bars, I was in a frenzy. I spent hours doing it but to no avail. I hadn't cried this much since my first birthday.

Eventually, I collapsed on the floor, exhausted. I wanted to keep yelling, keep crying. But my rational side took over.

I knew I couldn't do anything. I knew I was too weak. This reinforced my belief that to survive, you had to be strong. I swore in my heart, I would kill the man named Carl Ramirez.