"Ugh!" Ayden spat some blood.
He was all beaten up by the people around him at the village. It has been years that Ayden been training with Apollo . But he never improve at all. Villagers there were very upset with Ayden because they thought Ayden didn't try his best to improve and master fighting skill so they always tie him up and beat him up for it.
His master, Apollo even ignore what happen to him. But not for old man Ratri. He care about Ayden because he know him since he was a child. He even rescue him from the man eating lizards. He always gives Ayden food secretly at night. He sometimes spend time chat chatting with Ayden at night. He was like a dad for him.
Old man Ratri couldn't bear looking at Ayden so he has decided that he want to free Ayden and he willingly to face consequences for Ayden because Ayden is still young and shouldn't experience these stuff.
At night. The very deep in forest village are silent. Ratri went and check on Ayden who were tied up at a wood pillar at the middle of the village. He brought a little bit of food and a map for Ayden to help him escape. He wake Ayden up. He said
"Young man, Ayden. I couldn't looking at you getting this all beat up. I want to free you. It's not like you want to be here either. Right?"
"Huh? No! I won't escape. It's even my own fault that I cause my friend died. I deserve all of this! "
Slap!
Ratri slapped Ayden.
"Just go. Okay. It's not your fault. You are still young. Don't you miss your parent. " Ratri said.
"But!"
"Ayden! No. Just go! I'll face consequences. I'm already old and you still young. My last request before I die is I want to see your bright smile like back when you were just a child. "
Ratri smiled at Ayden
He untie Ayden and gave Ayden food and map. Ayden run away while holding his tears.
"Hey! That brat just ran away! Who freed him! " One of the villager shout.
"Farewell, old man Ratri. Thanks for everything. "
When he finally far away from the village. He slept on a tree. The next day, He continue his journey back to his hometown. Once he reached there, everyone were looking at him like they were looking at lowest scum in history. Just by one glance they know who's child is this. Some people throw stuff at him.
"EVEN IF IT'S BEEN 7 YEARS DO YOU EVEN THINK I WILL FORGIVE WHAT YOU DID! " a random person shouted.
Ayden turn around and saw Ivo's mother and then someone pushed him to the ground. It was Ember's father. He keep punching Ayden's face again and again. He picked up a huge stone with intend to smash and kill Ayden.
"Hey... I thought you already dead back then turns out you were alive. Good then I'll finish your life then. "
Suddenly someone stopped Ivo's father and took away the stone. He reach out his hand to help Ayden.
"Can you stand? " asked the boy who were about the same age with Ayden. Ayden remain silent. He even refuse to grab on the boy's hand. He stood up by himself and walked away. The boy didn't give up. He try to talk to Ayden.
"Hey that was pretty rude haha. " he giggled.
"Yo Ayden how many years has it been? 7 years right? It's me. Bruno".
Ayden stopped and stand there for awhile. Bruno was Ayden's bestfriend when he was a child. Ayden walk away along the route that lead him to his house. When he reached there and knock the door. Someone opened. It was a little girl.
"Mom! Somebody's here. " the little girl called her mother.
The woman goes to the door. Unfortunately it wasn't his mother but he's sure that it was his house. "Hey do you know a woman named Vesta and-"
Ayden couldn't finish his question and he got cut off.
"I know. " said the woman
"Where is her?!" Ayden asked
The woman did answer instead she slam her door.
Ayden sigh.
Bruno run towards Ayden.
"Hey I know what happen to your family. " Bruno said.
"They were exiled from this country they might be somewhere maybe. " bruno said.
"Thank you.. " Ayden said with timid voice. Ayden think that his family might already dead because the nearby country does not like his country. Ayden walk back into the forest with gloomy face.
He fall on his face in the forest and it started raining. Ayden just lying down and thinking about his family. Suddenly there's footstep approaching him.....
(To be continue)