The first light of dawn barely touched the sky when the forest surrounding the Balmount Kingdom stirred with the sounds of early morning. The cool air was filled with the earthy scent of dew-kissed leaves, and the stillness was occasionally broken by the chirping of birds greeting the new day. Nestled deep within the forest, a small cottage stood quietly, its humble structure blending with the natural surroundings.

Behind the cottage, a young boy with white hair and blue eyes was in the midst of his early morning exercise routine. Kibo, dressed in a simple green short, was on the ground, sweat dripping from his brow as he struggled to maintain his form while doing push-ups. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his arms trembled from the exertion.

Not far from him, seated on a wooden stump, was his grandfather, Subaru. The older man, with his white hair, emerald eyes, and a neatly trimmed white beard, watched Kibo with a stern yet attentive gaze. Subaru was dressed in a brown trouser and held a sturdy stick in his hand, which he occasionally tapped against the ground. The quiet thump served as a reminder to Kibo that stopping was not an option.

In Kibo’s mind, a whirlwind of thoughts swirled. Why does Grandpa always wake me up so early? The sun wasn’t even up when Subaru had shaken him awake, urging him to start his exercises. Every time Kibo felt his muscles scream for rest and tried to stop, the sting of the stick would bring him back to reality. The pain was sharp and unbearable, but it was nothing compared to the fear of disappointing his grandfather.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Subaru spoke up. “That’s enough for now, Kibo. Come inside, and let’s have breakfast.”

Kibo collapsed onto the ground, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. The cool earth felt soothing against his overheated skin, but there was no time to rest. He slowly picked himself up and followed Subaru into the cottage.

Inside the cottage, the morning light filtered through the small windows, casting a warm glow on the wooden furniture. The air was filled with the savory aroma of cooked meat. Kibo and his grandfather sat opposite each other at a simple wooden table. Before them was a modest breakfast—consisting of roasted meat, a piece of hard bread, and a small bowl of porridge.

Kibo, famished from the morning’s exertion, immediately began devouring his food. He chomped down the meat with gusto, his cheeks puffed out as he chewed. In his mind, all he could think of was how good the food tasted after such a grueling workout.

Subaru watched his grandson with a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “It seems my cooking isn’t that bad after all,” he remarked, his tone light.

Kibo paused mid-bite, then looked up at his grandfather with a wide grin. “Yes, Grandpa, your cooking is the best!” he replied, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.

Subaru chuckled softly, amused by Kibo’s innocent enthusiasm. He’s so adorable when he’s like this, Subaru thought to himself. The urge to ruffle Kibo’s hair or give him a tight hug was strong, but he quickly shook off the thought, reminding himself of the boy’s training.

After a moment, Subaru’s expression grew more serious. “Kibo, how is the book I gave you? Is it helping you understand the languages you need to know?”

Kibo, still chewing on his food, nodded eagerly. “Yes, Grandpa, the book is really helpful,” he said, his mouth full. In his mind, however, he added with a hint of sarcasm, Maybe a little too helpful. The book had been a comprehensive guide to the various languages of their world, and Subaru had broken it down in a way that was easy for Kibo to understand. It had been a challenging task, but Kibo had managed to make progress, even if it meant burning the midnight oil.

Subaru gave a satisfied nod, pleased with his grandson’s progress. “Good. Today, we’ll be going to the kingdom,” he announced.

Kibo’s eyes lit up with excitement, and a wide smile spread across his face. But before he could let his mind wander too far, Subaru added, “I see that look on your face, but don’t forget what I’ve taught you about changing your appearance.”

Kibo quickly sobered, nodding seriously. “Don’t worry, Grandpa, I won’t forget,” he assured, his tone earnest. He recalled in his mind the lessons his grandfather had drilled into him about controlling his mana. Changing his appearance without exhausting himself had been a difficult skill to master, but Kibo had finally managed to do it.

He remembered how, just the night before, after Subaru had put him to bed, he had lain awake, unable to sleep. His mind had raced as he tried to grasp the intricate details of the technique. Focus on your breathing, Subaru had instructed. Let the mana flow naturally through your body. Don’t force it; guide it. Kibo had practiced this over and over in his mind, visualizing the mana flowing like a gentle stream, gradually altering his hair and eye color. It had taken hours, but by the time exhaustion finally claimed him, Kibo had perfected the technique.

Subaru, noticing Kibo’s focused expression, smiled knowingly. “And remember everything else I’ve taught you, too,” he added.

Kibo nodded once more, a determined look in his eyes. “Okay, Grandpa,” he replied, his voice filled with resolve.

In the early hours of the morning, before the first light of dawn touched the streets, the Balmount Kingdom was still shrouded in darkness. In a secluded, shadowed alley, far from the bustling market squares and towering castle walls, a place forgotten by the kingdom’s elite, there existed a harsh reality where the abandoned and orphaned children, both beastmen and human, struggled to survive. The damp, narrow alley reeked of filth and decay, with broken cobblestones underfoot and dilapidated buildings pressing in from either side.

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At the far end of the alley, near a crumbling wall, a young beast boy with fox-like features—fur-covered ears and a bushy tail—was pressed against the cold stone, his thin body trembling with pain and exhaustion. He wore a dirty blindfold that covered his eyes, concealing them from the world, and his clothes were nothing more than rags—a torn, faded brown shirt and shorts that were once blue but had since been stained beyond recognition. He had no shoes, and his bare feet were caked in dirt.

Before him stood two men, looming figures in the dim light of the alley. The first was a slim man with greasy red hair and sharp, menacing black eyes. He wore a brown jacket over a blue shirt, with brown trousers and worn-out sandals on his feet. His expression was twisted with cruelty as he kicked the beast boy hard in the ribs, causing him to wince in pain.

“Hey, bastard! Pay up the money you owe us!” the red-haired man snarled, his voice dripping with malice. The second man, who was chubby with a round belly, had black hair and fair skin. He wore the simple clothes of a commoner—a dirty tunic and loose trousers, along with scuffed shoes that had seen better days. In his grip, he held a small girl with wide, terrified eyes. Her name was Lily, and she was the beast boy’s younger sister. Her short hair was being yanked painfully by the chubby man as she screamed, pleading for her brother to be spared.

“Please, let go of my brother!” Lily cried, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.

The chubby man, annoyed by her cries, tightened his grip on her hair and roughly dragged her closer. “Will you shut the hell up, you little brat?” he snapped, his voice full of irritation. Lily struggled, trying to break free, but she was too small, too weak.

The beast boy, Raphael, heard his sister’s screams, and despite the pain wracking his body, he knelt before the men, his hands clasped together in a desperate plea. “Please, give me more time,” Raphael begged, his voice hoarse and broken. “I’ll pay what I owe, just... please, don’t hurt her.”

From the shadows behind the two men, a third figure emerged—a broad, imposing man who appeared to be their leader. His face was stern, with deep-set eyes that glinted with a dangerous light. His skin was tanned and weathered, and he wore a dark, long coat over a simple, yet sturdy outfit, complete with leather boots that thudded heavily on the ground as he approached. His mere presence commanded fear and respect, and Raphael could feel the man’s cold gaze on him even through the blindfold.

The boss stopped in front of Raphael, his lips curling into a mocking smile. “Come on, Raphael,” he said, his tone deceptively calm. “It’s been a long time since you paid us anything. What’s a sick, blind brat like you gonna do to get the money?” He squatted down to Raphael’s level, his eyes scrutinizing the boy’s frail, malnourished form.

The chubby man, still holding Lily, grinned wickedly. “Boss, why don’t we just sell this one?” he suggested, pointing a fat finger at the trembling girl. “She’s cute enough—could fetch us at least half of what the brat owes.”

The slim man nodded in agreement, a cruel smirk on his face. “Yeah, she’s young enough to be worth something. Might as well get some use out of her.”

Lily’s eyes widened in terror as she heard their words, her small body shaking uncontrollably. She tried to pull away from the chubby man’s grasp, but he held her tight, laughing at her futile efforts.

Raphael’s heart sank at the thought of losing his sister. He bowed his head even lower, his voice cracking as he pleaded, “Please, don’t sell her. I’ll do anything, just don’t take her away from me.”

The chubby man, growing tired of Lily’s struggles, threw her to the ground roughly, causing her to cry out in pain. “Stop moving, you little pest!” he snarled, raising his foot to kick her.

But before he could land the blow, Raphael, driven by sheer desperation, grabbed the dagger from the boss’s belt. In one swift motion, he unsheathed the blade and plunged it into the chubby man’s leg, the sharp metal sinking deep into the flesh. The man screamed in agony, clutching at his wounded leg.

Raphael, panting heavily, pulled his sister close, shielding her with his own body as he braced for the retaliation. The slim man’s eyes blazed with fury as he saw his companion bleeding. “You little brat!” he shouted, raising his hand to strike the siblings.

But the boss raised his hand, stopping the slim man in his tracks. “Calm down,” the boss said, a dark chuckle rumbling from his throat. “Let’s not get too hasty.”

Raphael, still holding Lily protectively, watched as the chubby man, now pale with pain, managed to pull the dagger from his leg. Blood flowed freely from the wound, staining the alleyway. The boss glanced at the injured man with amusement. “How’s the leg?” he asked, his tone almost mocking.

“It fucking hurts!” the chubby man spat, glaring at Raphael with hatred burning in behind the blindfold.

The boss merely laughed, his gaze shifting back to Raphael. “Go treat yourself,” he said dismissively, waving the chubby man away. He then turned his attention to the trembling siblings, his expression darkening. “You’ve got guts, kid. I’ll give you that. But if you don’t want your sister sold off, you’d better find a way to be useful. And soon.”

Raphael’s grip on Lily tightened as the boss delivered a swift kick to his back. Pain shot through Raphael’s body, but he didn’t let go of his sister. He groaned in agony, but he remained steadfast, refusing to let them take her away.

The boss smirked, clearly entertained by the boy’s determination. “Come on, boys,” he said, turning to leave. The chubby man limped after him, cursing under his breath as he tried to stem the bleeding from his leg. The slim man followed, but not before spitting on Raphael’s hair. “You’re gonna get what’s coming to you, brat,” he sneered before walking away.

As their footsteps faded into the distance, Raphael finally let go of Lily, collapsing onto the ground, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The pain was unbearable, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that his sister was safe.

Lily knelt beside him, tears streaming down her face as she touched her brother’s bruised and battered body. “Big brother, I’m sorry... I’m so sorry...” she sobbed, her tiny hands trembling.

Raphael, despite the pain, managed a faint, saint-like smile. “It’s okay, Lily... It’s okay...” he whispered, his voice barely audible. He reached out and gently wiped away her tears. “I’ll do anything to protect you...”

Lily cried even harder, burying her face in her brother’s chest. Raphael’s smile didn’t falter as he held her close, his body aching with every breath. He had saved her, and that was all that mattered.