Standing there with a passive look on my face, I stared down at the youth who was currently kneeling before me. Salazar's forehead was touching the ground, revealing his back and his behind, which forced me to turn my gaze towards the heavens, so that I can keep myself from being corrupted.

And like that the silence continued. I didn't know what to say or do in this situation. I mean, honestly, the more I drag this out, the further the atmosphere becomes awkward. I had to think of a way to progress the conversation, but what topic could I go with?

'You are very pretty, are you sure you are a man?'... Well, that is a question I'd like to ask, but what if he said something from one of those erotic novel types, such as 'Would you like to check yourself?'.

I'm no monk, so I'm not sure I'd be able to control myself in such a situation, even if it is breaking my morals. I mean, I'm only human, and a man at that. I'm not even 30 years old yet, and I've been celibate for the past 4 years, so... I'll have to divert the conversation to a more safe topic.

Thinking about a plethora of topics that I could ask, I finally found one that was both a safe topic and one that could sate my curiosity, at least in a different aspect “You may rise, and do not bow before me without my permission again” I told that in a somewhat more stricter tone, because I truly disliked people bowing before me. Maybe I was the weird one for not liking it, but I didn't have an ego capable of allowing me to gloss over such a thing.

Like that, Salazar quickly got up and then started to bow before me, most likely to apologise for bowing, before stopping. He had a confused look on his beautiful face as he froze. Seeing him in such a manner hit so many of zones, that I had to forcefully turn my mind back towards the topic I wanted to talk to him about.

“I do wish to ask you something” I began in my sweeter voice, which is the one that Sasha told me was calming and soothing “Why are you alone out here, with nothing to do, with no one to guide you?” I was genuinely curious as to why a young man from a race as incredible as something called the 'World Tree's was hiding alone out in the middle of nowhere.

Hearing my question Salazar had a look of pain flash across his beautiful face before he began to murmur very quietly, so quiet that even I couldn't hear with my enhanced senses. His lips closed, then opened, before closing once again. He looked like he was trying to explain his current circumstances, but didn't know how to tell me properly. His pondered for a while, but aside from his expression darkening further, he kept quiet. The pained look on his face didn't go away during the entire time he attempted to talk and I could see a tear rise in the corner of his eyes. My god, how could crying make someone look even more beautiful?

But his beauty aside, I sighed. Why did so many children in this world have such terrible childhoods. Looking at Salazars expression, it was quite obvious something happened to his family which caused him to hide out in this backwater area. Shaking my head sadly “It's okay child” I said in a soft voice as I slowly moved towards him before gently placing my hand on his head.

Seeing my sigh and hand move towards him, Salazar flinched, but when he then felt my hand gently pat his head, he froze in shock before he turned his head upwards slowly. He eyes were full of confusion, but upon seeing my gaze filled with pity, Salazars tears came out like a flood, flowing down his cheeks before dropping onto the ground.

My heart clenched tightly as I thought about when Sasha was opening up to me, and I seriously felt that if I had another encounter like that, I might change as a person. I'm only human, and having one heartbreaking encounter was already taxing on my soul, and if I had another...

I forced those negative thoughts away as I let Salazar cry. I'm not sure why my voice was soothing, but maybe it was the fact that I appeared powerful and wise. Maybe having a powerful person to rely on made it much easier to cry. I mean, it's only a theory I came up with, but it sounded quite plausible.

I came up with this theory because of Sasha but I couldn't really confirm it before, because I didn't exactly have children left and right who had suffered terrible childhoods, but now that Salazar was also crying in my presence, I felt like this theory wasn't exactly a falsehood.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

Putting that aside, I wonder exactly what Salazar had gone through that he would cry the moment he had found a 'reliable' shoulder to cry on. Of course in Salazars eyes I was reliable, but considering my own power, I really wasn't. He wasn't crying on my shoulder either, but that was just a metaphor anyway. Still, I wonder what Salazar went through?

Was it like Sasha, where his grandfather or something similar drove him out of his own family? Or was his life in his clan nice and harmonious but then some other clan or group came and wiped his clan out, leaving him alone in this world?

Or was it his own beauty who caused the downfall of his own clan? Or was it on a higher scale than that? Was it his own beauty that caused the downfall of his own race? There were quite a few stories of girls of immense beauty causing wars back on Earth, I think the story of Troy was one such tale.

So if such events were possible on Earth, why couldn't it happen in this world?

In fact, I was certain that such things happened more often in a world like this, considering how easily people liked to flaunt their own powers and obtain whatever they want just because they were the 'Son of A', or 'Descendant of B'.

Who cares how Salazar ended up in his current situation, it wasn't like me knowing would make much of a difference. I'd simply let Salazar rely on me for now. Looking down at Salazar who was currently crying quietly, his beauty was incredibly amplified, but I didn't feel attraction, or arousal, or anything like that. I just felt pity, sadness and anger.

I didn't have enough power to save the world. To eliminate poverty, hunger, slavery or any such thing. I didn't have any power at all actually, but If I saw something in front of me, I'd do my best to help, even though I possessed no power of my own and had to bullshit my way through everything, I'd do my best to help whoever I could. In fact, as soon as I could, I would send a message to the Guardian Faith and tell them to adopt as many orphans as possible and to eliminate slavery, as well as aid all they could possibly aid with their own power.

Even if I could only make a single place in this dark, corrupt world better, I would do so. If I was in the position of these kids, I'm sure I would also desire a saviour who could come to save me.

And like that, the surrounding was filled with silence aside from the very quiet sobbing of Salazars. I wonder how long Salazar had been alone? Had it been a couple of years? Maybe a decade? Maybe since his birth? Who knew how long he had kept in his sadness... his loneliness... God damn it... Now I feel like crying. My own hypothesis made me teary eyed.

This world was a sink hole of tears. But I forced myself to maintain my composure. Even though it was alright for men to cry, because we were also sentient beings with emotions, if I started crying now, It would probably make the atmosphere awkward.

---

Hey guys, Old Man here!

First of all, I hope you all enjoy the chapter, even if it was a tad bit short (Barely 1400 words). In the end, I didn't manage to get out 2 more chapters this week, but I'll have 2 chaps guaranteed next week, with maybe a third as well.

I hope you all enjoy my series, and thank you all for baring with my slow writing speed. I promise things will begin to pick up pace. I write a bit slowly, since I try to create emotions more realistically, but I still think I do them ... either too strongly, or too weakly. Writing realistic emotions are hard, especially since I have never experienced what Zev, Sasha or any other character like them have. I do try my best though. Do trust me though, when I say that the emotional parts will soon conclude, and it will move onto interactions with other people, with less emotions, but more interactions. Emotions won't be gone for good, as this world isn't exactly a very nice one. I think it might even be a tad bit too dark.

Nonetheless, less discussion, more news. You'll all get to see Zev fight soon! And do trust me when I say it will be good. Hilarious, but good.

Love and Peace,

-Old Man.