Ethan went about his daily tasks in the early morning. He greeted guests, ensuring their needs were met and that their stay were comfortable. While working, his father, called out to him.

"Ethan, we're running low on bread. Could you do me a favor and go pick up a fresh batch from your Uncle?

Ethan nodded, acknowledging his father's request. "Of course, Dad. I'll head over to Uncle's bakery right away."

The man to whom Ethan's father referred was not his true uncle, but rather a trusted business partner. Ethan's father held a prominent position as a well-established businessman in their village. Within the kingdom, the prevailing currency was known as the 'Lyram', a distinctive monetary unit crafted exclusively from a rare ore and through the intricate practice of alchemy. The scarcity of this currency in the daily lives of ordinary citizens necessitated a reliance on barter and trade.

Ethan's father devised a unique method to manage these transactions. He struck a beneficial deal with his business partner, allowing him to reside in one of their inn rooms without charge in exchange for regular deliveries of freshly baked bread. This arrangement proved advantageous since the inn often had vacant rooms throughout the year, enabling Ethan's father to turn this exchange into a profitable venture rather than incurring a net loss.

Using a portion of the obtained bread, he would barter with the local butcher for meat, ensuring a certain quantity of meat was acquired in exchange. This acquired meat would then serve as a trade asset for a corresponding amount of vegetables and fruits. This systematic approach to conducting trades allowed Ethan's father to sustain the inn without experiencing losses.

Through these carefully orchestrated exchanges, Ethan's father navigated the challenging economic landscape, ensuring the inn remained a viable and thriving establishment within the village.

Leaving the inn momentarily, Ethan set out on a familiar route toward the bakery owned by his Uncle, a jovial and skilled baker renowned for his fresh bread. The scent of freshly baked goods permeated the air as he approached the bakery stand.

"Ah, Ethan! My boy, What brings you here today?" Uncle exclaimed, his flour-dusted hands working deftly with dough.

"Dad sent me to pick up some bread for the inn." Ethan replied with a warm smile.

Chuckling, Uncle placed a selection of aromatic loaves into a woven basket. "Tell your father these are my freshest of the day, made with extra care. I hope they satisfy the hungry guests."

With gratitude, Ethan accepted the basket, the aroma of freshly baked bread tantalizing his senses. "Thank you, Uncle. I'll see you later."

As Ethan turned around, preparing to make his way back to the inn, he inadvertently collided with an individual of similar height. The unexpected impact sent both of them tumbling to the ground.

"Aghr!"

"Aghr!"

Startled by the collision, a man dressed in a butler's attire quickly approached the young boy whom Ethan had accidently bumped into. "Young master!" he exclaimed, concerned for his well-being.

Apologizing for his inadvertent collision, Ethan extended a hand to help the other person up. "I'm sorry about that. I didn't see you." he expressed with genuine remorse.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

To Ethan's astonishment, the young boy responded with a swift slap, rejecting his helping hand. The unexpected act caught Ethan off guard, leaving him momentarily stunned. The boy, assisted by his butler, composed himself and began dusting off his expensive garments with an air of superiority.

"How dare you! A peasant like yourself dares to display such disrespect!" the young boy sneered, his tone dripping with disdain.

Taken aback by the boy's hostility, Ethan recoiled, his brows furrowing with a mixture of surprise and confusion. "Is this kid serious right now?' he thought.

The young man pointed towards three burly individuals standing nearby, commanding their attention. "You! You and you!" he barked, singling them out.

"YES, SIR!" responded the three imposing figures, their loyalty evident.

"You know what to do."

"ON IT, SIR!"

Without warning, the three men forcefully pushed Ethan to the ground, launching a relentless barrage of kicks upon him. Each blow landed with a brutal impact, leaving Ethan defenseless and bewildered. Confusion and pain flooded his senses as he desperately tried to comprehend the reason behind this brutal assault.

"Aghr!"

In the midst of the chaos, Uncle, the owner of the bakery stand, witnessed the horrifying scene unfolding. He rushed towards the young master, Sven, begging for forgiveness and pleading with him to understand that this was a mere accident.

"Young Master Sven! I implore you to pardon this clumsy boy. It was an unintentional mistake," Uncle pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.

"You better step aside if you know what's good for you. Otherwise, your shop won't be allowed to operate in this village anymore. Make your choice, right now!" Sven retorted with a chilling threat.

Uncle looked back at Ethan, torn between the consequences of aiding him or succumbing to Sven's demands. In a moment of anguish, he made his decision, stepping aside and whispering softly, "I'm sorry..."

Ethan's mind swirled with confusion and disbelief, struggling to comprehend what he had done wrong to deserve such cruel treatment. The relentless assault continued, the pain intensifying with each strike. Bystanders observed the violent scene, yet none of them dared to intervene. "Why aren't they doing anything? It hurts!" Ethan's thoughts echoed in despair.

Bam!

Bam!

The young man who had ordered the beating wore an expression of twisted amusement, finding pleasure in witnessing others reduced to the ground, powerless and humiliated. As an eight-year-old child, Ethan had no means to defend himself against such aggression. With no one willing to step forward and assist him, he felt compelled to adopt a demeaning posture in the hopes of avoiding further harm. Lowering himself even further, he submitted to the young man's superiority, as the alternative was being mercilessly beaten to the point of potential fatality.

In a desperate bid to create a repulsive image, Ethan channeled his mana, focusing the energy into the palm of his hand. He conjured a cup-sized amount of water, discreetly placing it within the confines of his pants.

"Huh? What a disgusting insect!" the young man sneered, abruptly ceasing the assault. "Stop! I don't wish to be near him any longer. This disgusting insect has soiled himself."

The ploy had succeeded, granting Ethan a momentary respite from the onslaught. However, the shame and frustration he felt at stooping to such measures gnawed at his spirit.

He remained on the floor, his clothing torn and soiled, his body battered and bleeding. The pain overwhelmed him, rendering him incapable of movement in that moment.

Ethan's Uncle rushed over, his face etched with a deep sense of shame, and extended a helping hand to lift Ethan from the ground.

"Aghr, thank you, Uncle," Ethan murmured, acknowledging the support.

His Uncle hesitated, his voice laced with remorse. "Listen, Ethan... I..."

Cutting him off gently, Ethan reassured him, "Don't worry about it, Uncle. I understand the circumstances you were in. I won't hold today's incident against you."

Tears welled up in his Uncle's eyes as he mustered the courage to apologize once more. "I'm truly sorry... And can you please... you know..."

Understanding his Uncle's unspoken request, Ethan nodded. "Don't worry, Uncle. I won't tell my father about this. I'll keep it to myself." With great effort, he managed to lift himself off the ground, his body aching and his movements strained. Limping towards the basket of bread that had been knocked to the floor, he resolved to carry on, though the pain and humiliation lingered in his heart.

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