A nine year old boy could be seen fighting with a teenager.
Behind him was a little girl with messy hair decorating her face. She looked towards her older brother with worry. "Attar..." she murmured with glossy eyes.
Every once in a while, some hoodlum would come around with time to kill. They would go roaming around looking for something entertaining to do. Though their form of entertainment differed from the general populace. To them, messing around with the siblings would be a good way to help their depraved desires.
"Kekekeke. Kid!" laughed the teenager. "Come on, is that all you got? If you don't stop me, something bad will happen to your precious sister!"
The boy named Attar charged at the teenager. He would be kicked down but every time, he would get back up and charge once more. Attar knew that although they were hoodlum, they wouldn't do anything bad to him and his sister. However, things might be different if they get too bored.
Thus, Attar had to fight. He had to keep fighting until the threat went away. No matter how futile it was, he couldn't give up.
A few minutes passed, and the teenager kicked Attar straight in the face, and walked away. A sneer was on the teenager's square face as he did so.
Attar panted as he eventually regained his bearings. His nose was bleeding and his chest was littered with bruises. A cold, ruthless glint was in the back of his eyes. Formed by the injustices that he and his sister had to endure.
Attar and his sister, Josephine, lived in an abandoned shack down the alley. It was the only adequate shelter that the two could find in the slums. Any more would require involving themselves with the local gangs.
The two entered the shack they called home and Josephine helped Attar onto the bed. The cloudy skies above them began to pour down rain. Their roof let out a tak tak tak noise every time the rain hit it.
Attar and Josephine lived in a modern world where humans had unlocked supernatural abilities. If one possessed enough money, they would be able to buy an Essence-Unlocking Crystal, though it depended on one's own talent to determine what the ability was.
Attar sighed as he thought about the past. Living in the slums and constantly protecting his sister rapidly matured him. At the age of 1, his father and mother had been killed. At the age of 2, he was put into an orphanage. At the age of 7, the orphanage burnt down, and the siblings had to find their own way.
Two years had passed since then. The numerous conflicts miraculously forged Attar's body and made him even stronger! Because of Attar's strengthening tiny body, he was able to successfully defend his sister. However, it wasn't enough. Food was beginning to disappear.
The two were growing children, their appetites was insatiable; they gorged themselves on every piece of food they could find ...even if it was from unorthodox sources. Attar had been thinking of a plan the past few weeks.
He would join the local gang, and grow strong enough to send Josephine out of this dreaded place. She could live a new life!
BOOM! A lightning bolt struck nearby. Attar jolted and his thoughts dissipated. He saw Josephine staring at him with worry. He felt an inexplicable sense of sadness and hugged her. "Don't worry Josephine. Your big brother will protect you." he said in a childish yet firm voice. Josephine hugged him back and closed her eyes.
The rain poured down even harder and their roof began to shake. The siblings were unfavored by the heavens it seemed. Throughout the years, they only had each other to rely on. Josephine would constantly break out in fits of anxiety, needing Attar to console her. Attar was much worse. He would often have nightmares about his parents.
More often than not, he would dream that this was all actually a dream itself. That his parents never passed away, that he and his sister never had to go through this, and that he would wake up the next second. Only to actually wake up and realize that it wasn't a dream. The scars, the pain, and the emptiness he felt was all real.
But he couldn't rely on anybody. Josephine's mind was too fragile; Attar was the pillar holding her up and if it seemed that he was breaking, it would ruin her. Thus, Attar could only withstand the pain himself for all these years.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Three consecutive lightning strikes. Attar let go of Josephine and went over to a makeshift table they created. On it were two loaves of bread. He took one for himself and brought one over to Josephine. The two ate silently as they closed their eyes and listened to the rain.
More and more lightning came down. Attar began to notice something as he heard the thunder. It was coming closer and closer, near where they were! Attar's eyes grew wide in horror as he realized this. The shack had no windows so he was oblivious to what was going on outside.
Under this extreme threat of death, Attar hugged his sister. He desperately wished that she would be protected. The thunder got louder and louder, closer and close to where they were. "Heavens! Take me, but leave my sister!" he prayed anxiously in his heart. .
Outside the shack were two figures chasing after a bloody man in black clothing. They had flew from building to building chasing the black-clothed man. One of the two figures opened their palm straight, sending out lightning towards the black-clothed man. The black-clothed man dodged and the lightning struck the nearby ground.
The other figure made a cutting motion with their palm and a wind blade flew out towards the black-clothed man. This time, the black-clothed man was unable to dodge and lost his lower body. As he fell towards the ground, lightning shot towards him and into the shack.
The shack's roof completely collapsed under this force and the black-clothed man's body disintegrated. However, the lightning lost no momentum and shot towards the siblings.
"Protect! Protect! Protect! Protect! Protect!" thought Attar.
At this very moment, as the lightning neared the siblings, a deep red glow emitted from Attar's body. The lightning slowed down and weakened greatly under this glow, but still hit Attar straight in the back.
The siblings were sent flying into the rain & dirt. Josephine was knocked unconscious and Attar was barely hanging on by a thread.
"Oh? Interesting." said one of the figures as they landed on the roof of a nearby building. "Did you see that?"
The other figure nodded and responded. "A natural awakened. Such fortune is hard to come by! He's young too. If we can assimilate him into our Imperial Regicide group, we can obtain a world-class assassin!"
Attar's heart dropped as he slowly opened his eyes to the sight of an unconscious Josephine. He quickly felt for her heartbeat and was relieved when he found out it wasn't too weak. He weakly turned his eyes towards the figure approaching him. He tried to stand up, but found that his legs wouldn't listen to him.
The figure squatted and looked at Attar. "It looks like you care a lot about this little girl. Sister?"
Attar nodded.
"Join us. We will take you in and send your sister out of the slums. All for your undying loyalty." whispered the figure. His words were enticing, and a glimmer of hope appeared in Attar's eyes.
He turned his gaze towards Josephine and resigned himself. He was in no position to bargain. For Josephine, he would do it.