The port of Helgathor was full of activity. People were trading goods left and right, trying to bargain for lower prices. A majority of them wearing cheap clothing, they waited. The wide streets were filled with spectators, awaiting the arrival of the hero, Gillius, who ruthlessly sailed to the island of Diatie, rumored to contain even divine level magical beasts. Adventurers who dared sailed to the island never returned and those that did return, came back as corpses on a boat. The port, seeing the silhouette of a man rowing a boat shouted in glee.

“The hero of our small town has returned from his perilous journey!”

“As expected of the pride and hope of Hergathor!”

“I can’t believe that piece of shit laid his hands on his precious daughter, even though he treated him like his son! I knew it the moment I saw him! He had the eyes of a beast!”

“If the prince wasn’t there, who knows what would have happened to our little, hard-headed princess!”

Once Gillius arrived at the small port and dismounted his boat, he was rushed by the residents. He could only grimace at the obscenities being said about his son, Ares, meant to appease him. Instead of putting up with the crowd, he marched through the middle of the masses, only to be stopped by an official with dove-white garments, woven with golden threads. He slightly bowed towards Gillius and yelled loudly, praising Gillius and inciting the people.

“Here is a true man! One that had suspicions of this boy from the beginning, but gave him benevolence. A man that truly embodied the empire’s spirit! But! What did he gain in return? He was betrayed by that very boy, attempting to molest his daughter in her sleep! Even the prince himself could not defeat the savage after witnessing the spectacle! Gillius came and saved both his daughter and the prince from perishing against the demon! He punished him accordingly! Those that follow his example will be rewarded handsomely! In honor of his deeds, the empire has promoted Knight Commander Gillius to General and has called for a night of celebration! Sing praises unto him as he brings prestige and respect to your town of Helgathor!

At the mention of a celebration, the port rumbled and Gillius slipped through the crowd. He was not in the mood, for he left his son in the pits of hell. The crowd was confused, but the mention of a celebration quelled their thoughts.

Everyone selling closed shop, even those in the middle of a deal in the trade of slaves, especially demons. War was not imminent, but skirmishes plagued the border of the human empires.

Large amounts of meat were sent from the capital. The meat of low-level magical beasts were also throw into the mix. The adventurers who decided to stop by the town only to resupply themselves for their next journey stayed in their inns, waiting for the festivities to begin in the night and fill their stomachs with meat of demons, rumored to increase mana capacity.

Children scurried around people and bought smiles to their faces. Only Gillius felt differently.

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He was one of the most respected figures among the people and royalty. Despite being of common birth, he rose through the ranks, but did not leave his town behind. In fact, he chose to raise his children their and married his childhood friend, despite offers from low-class nobility. This along with his great character, made him someone loved by everybody.  

When he returned home from the long journey, most of his family had forgotten the boy that stayed with them. A sad, but true fact. Only his eldest daughter, the same age as Ares, remembered him. She did not think he was possible of doing such things, but quickly dismissed him from her thoughts.

‘You can’t judge a book by its cover’ Sirana thought, practicing her swordsmanship outside the manor given to them for her father’s service. She was unconscious during the whole incident, but did not doubt the Empire nor her father’s words.

Her father stared blankly at his new fireplace and sat in his overly decorative chair. The wind gently blew from behind him as he did not close the balcony doors. He carefully recalled the memories of that night, gripping the arms of chair. It crushed under his force.

The King and his son were making rounds across the empire, as they do every five years. Amused by the livened atmosphere and growth of Helgathor since his last visit, he decided to stay the night at a noble’s manor close to town. He had invited Gillius and his daughter who was with him at the time to stay the night.

As he went up to check up on Sirana, he saw the young prince atop his daughter’s sleeping body, with a bulge protruding from his pants. Anger filled Gillius’s eyes and out of nowhere, Ares had seemingly attacked the boy, but saved him from Gillius’s deadly strike. Thankfully, the prince did not seem to notice, preoccupied with the ragged boy as his daughter laid there motionless.

The guards heard the ruckus and heard the story from Gillius to whom they relayed to the king. To protect the prince’s reputation, this story was fabricated, and he was told to take Ares’s life. That day, Ares’s saved not only the prince’s life, but his entire family’s as well. If not for him, his entire family and possibly the whole town would have been executed for treason against the crown.

And now, he was left all alone to fend by himself on the most dangerous island on this side of the continent. He was sentenced to execution, but Gillius pleaded with the king to send Ares to Diatie to make him suffer a more horrible death for laying his hands on the prince. This way, Gillius thought, Ares would at least have a chance, no matter how small it was.

And worst of all, everyone around town, even his family badmouthed Ares as if he was a plague. To see the children who had grown so fond of him scorn the boy, made Gillius’s heart drop to depths of his soul. His wife was no exception. Only Gillius knew the truth. And that was something that would haunt him for the rest of his life.