Everything started when he first started going to the outer section to receive early training to become an elite member of the sect. This program was only for clans influential in the sect, so basically everyone knew each other. Majority of them were either around five or less than ten, so the ideal was for them to socialise with each other and become close friends who would work together to lead the sect in the future. However, even if all the clans were friendly with each other, it would have been impossible for all of their members to get along.
When Fatty first learnt that he had to go to school, he was actually looking forward to it. His family was always kind and mindful of him as he was the youngest, but he was a child who longed for more exposure. Even though they tried to subtly warn him that he might face difficulties in school, he was too young to comprehend these warnings.
On the first day of school, Fatty excitedly walked up to his classmates.
"Hi, I'm Fatty Zain of the Riot clan. You can call me Zain."
The kids he walked up to had already heard about the chubby child of the Riot clan so they knew who he was. None of their clans had any conflict with the Riot clan so they were about to welcome him into their group, but they quickly backed off when they saw a certain group approach.
"Huh? Where are you going?"
Fatty was confused as to why the group suddenly backed away, but before he could chase after them a hand landed on his shoulder.
"Why don't you stay with us instead?"
As he heard this line, Fatty wondered if he was actually popular and turned around with a bright expression, but his face darkened once he got a good look at the ones behind him. He didn't know of the conflict between his clan and the Stein clan, but he was perceptive enough to notice that these children did not want to be his friends.
The one who grabbed him and their leader, Gin, was the oldest child in his class and a genius of the Stein clan. He was also the biggest bully in the class.
"Um, I'm Fatty Zain of the-"
"Yeah, I know. Fatty, right."
"Uh, well yes."
Back then Fatty wasn't that conscious of his name, but the snickers and smirks he saw on their faces as Gin said it gave him a bad feeling.
"I can't believe your parents actually named you Fatty. They should have just named you Piggy instead."
A comment from someone in the group caused the rest to burst out in laughter. Fatty had been told by his parents that he was given that part of his name because they thought he was cute as a chubby baby. He believed it less and less as he grew up, but for him at that moment it was unacceptable for them to ridicule his name.
"Please, could you stop that?"
His meek voice shouldn't have been heard over their boisterous laughter, but when he spoke they instantly turned silent and glared at him. Fatty unconsciously took a step back under their sharp gazes, but his shirt was grabbed by Gin and he was forced to stay in place.
"Huh? Are you telling me what to do?"
"Uh, it's just I don't like it when you make fun of my name like th-"
In the middle of his response, Fatty was interrupted by a slap from Gin. Due to his physique, Fatty had never felt pain from external injury before so he was stunned for a moment because of this fresh burning sensation. Little did he know that Gin had used nature energy in that slap.
"You talk too much. You're just a piggy so why don't you crawl on the ground and oink?"
After Gin released him from his grasp, the rest of his group started shouting for him to obey Gin. Fatty sat in a dazed manner on the floor, looking up at their malicious expressions.
"Piggy! Piggy! Piggy!"
Thinking back, Fatty believed that this was the moment his life started going down a bad route. After being picked out by Gin, there was not a day where Fatty didn't go through something painful or embarrassing. At first he endured thinking that it would end eventually, but then he started losing hope. He started thinking that those boys would never treat him differently.
But for some reason, he didn't want to ask his clan for help. This feeling that he had to handle this himself only grew stronger as he got older.
'This is my fight.'
That was what he kept telling himself, but he had long given up on fighting. And eventually, he chose to run away instead.
"Ha...ha..."
As Fatty sensed the approach of one of those responsible for his trauma, he clutched his chest while struggling to get his breathing under control. Not too long ago, he was a confident warlord decimating his foes, but now he was nothing more than a scared pawn. It had been quite some time since he was last like this, but unfortunately he hadn't gotten over it yet.
Even though he had transformed his main insecurity into his strength, the trauma hadn't been resolved.
"Fa-, Zain."
For the second time on this day, Serina squeezed Fatty's hand. The warmth he felt from that small hand was like an anaesthetic to his fear. As his breathing got in order, Fatty held her hand back and turned around.
"It's, been a while. Tico."
"Huh? Since when did pigs learn how to speak human language?"
Fatty flinched in response to his harsh tone, but Serina's hand allowed him to stand in place instead of dropping on all fours like in the past. However, this sight of Fatty was like a sharp knife to Serina's chest. She couldn't believe the same Fatty who would always act so carefree and confident was reduced to this state. But she didn't become disappointed, especially since looking at him reminded her of her brother.
'I, hate this!'
While tightening her grip on Fatty's hand, Serina took a step forward.
"He's not a pig."
"Serina?!"
The moment he heard Serina trying to stand up for him, there was likely gratitude in his heart, but it was engulfed by terror and worry. Fatty looked franticly between the stern-faced Serina and the darkening expression of Tico, sure that a confrontation was inevitable.
"To think they would allow brats in too, I guess the standards have really dropped this time around."
"If that's an insult to the elders' judgement I wouldn't mind passing your message to them."
"Ho, a little tattletale, huh? But since you're still new you must not know. Here, you need strength if you wanna flap your gums."
A silent and heavy pressure exuded from the lean young man. Tico came to check on whether or not Fatty actually got past the test, but since he was already here he figured he might as well he remind him of his status. However, the girl beside him was ruining his mood. With the connections he had, he was sure that even if he severely wounded her he would only get a slap on the wrist at most. Furthermore, he could also see a distorted face on the piggy who had come back.
If it was someone else that was threatening them, Fatty would quickly take the lead to protect Serina, but before Tico his knees buckled.
'No, no, not now!"
Fatty was already at the brink of tears, but his legs weren't moving. There were so many reasons he had to protect her, and yet none of them were enough.
'Damn itttt!!!'
Tico slowly raised his hand and focused his aura on Serina. However, another aura crushed it.
"What do you think you're doing to my cute little sister?"