Born to the village chief he was supposed to be the heir of his people. His mother had given birth to three stillborn in the years leading up to his birth. He was supposed to be the miracle child of the Clan. As he took his first breath and began crying out his mother took her last. A storm raged outside as rain battered the hut and it became known as the worst in generations as many of the villagers lost their lives when the river flooded the village. His father lifted him up to better see his beautiful son as the candlelight flickered he saw something no human has ever seen. His precious sons eyes were blue, they looked as if the sky was trapped inside them and as he wailed for his dead mothers love a heinous rumor was born. One of the midwives began to tell the other villagers of how a cursed boy with blue eyes not only killed his mother but caused the storm. The rumors took a life of their own and fearing his people would turn against him the Chief decided to send Roderick to live on the outskirts of town. Commanding the midwife to be his new mother she was forced to move. As he grew the looks of fear and hatred were common to him. He rarely came out during the day due to the constant beatings the other boys would bestow on him. Becoming more of a night owl he found the peace and solace of the night comforting. He also became adept at hunting small game at night since his eyes could see better. at night than the other boys. One night when the moon was full, he fell asleep under its gaze only to be woken by one of the other boys kicking him in the stomach.
"There he is! Look at his pale skin and light eyes, what even are you!? Why did the chief even allow you to stay in our village? You are bringer of misfortune!" The boy yells as he kicks Roderick again and again. Roderick stares at the other boys pleading with his eyes to help him but in return he is granted sneer and laughter. One of the other boys joins in and now and they are all kicking him. The last boy reaches down and grabs a sharp rock and brings it over to the leader.
"Let’s just kill him, would anyone even care?" He asks.
"Probably not, he can’t even speak either. What good is he? All he does is eat our food, if we get rid of him maybe the Gods will bring the animals back. We will be heroes!" The leader exclaims as he raises the rock above his head. Roderick closes his eyes and waits for his end when suddenly a yell and the sound of the rock landing next to him startles his eyes open. He sees a girl his age with her arms around the leader’s neck. She has him in a choke hold and has the fiercest look he has ever seen on her face. The other two boys run at her, but she kicks one of the in the chest and sends him tumbling. The other slides to a stop and the leader is thrown into him. Both boys crash to the ground and she picks up the rock.
"Leave him alone! Your fathers are the ones who cannot find our food. Do not blame their incompetence on him! If I see you hurt him again this rock will meet you faces! Do you get me!?" She screams. The boys nod and run off as they were roundly humiliated. Roderick stares in awe at her bravery and that moment he falls in love with her. She is the only person in the village to protect him, to care what happens to him. She reaches down to help him up and he can see her green eyes sparkle.
"If they bother you again let me know, by the way I love your eyes. It’s like looking up at the sky." She says with a smile. He takes her hand and stands up next to her. It was this moment that defined his life and set him on a course to be worthy of her. He decided right then and there he would never be beaten again and would die for her.
"My name is Reina, what is yours?" She asks. Roderick cannot answer since he hasn’t been spoken to enough to learn language. “No worry, I’ll teach you to speak, and you can choose your own name." She smiles again. Over the next five years she would sneak out at night and bring him food. As he was now getting enough food he began to grow and mature. She taught him to speak, and he began to work on his strength. Over time if any bad event happened to the village he was to blame and forced to live further and further away from the rest of them. His strength grew to the point where he was never attacked again but in return the jealousy the other boys felt grew. Reina has also grown, she is now the most beautiful woman in the village. His hair was long and down her back with light green eyes. Her skin was tan from being in the sun all day long and her smile would brighten anyone’s day.
She loved to help others and became the protégé of the healer in the village. She took to it very strongly and learned as much as she could of the sacred art of healing the body. One night she began her trek to see him once the moon was high in the sky. At this point he lived very far from the village and the three boys followed her secretly. Tonight, they would have their prize, they wanted her and nothing could stop them. Roderick sits outside his makeshift hut waiting on her to come down the path but she never comes. He knows something is wrong, so he sprints towards the village. As he runs, he hears a scream unlike any before and knows she is in trouble. Spurred on by fear he runs ever faster to finally come upon the three boys standing with their backs to him.