"Are you angry, Reinhart?"
A muffled voice asked.
The voice was coming from a masked man.
He was wearing black from head to toe but a red emblem could be distinguished on his arm.
It was a red skull with a snake slithering out of every orifice of the skull. It was the emblem of the most dangerous organisation of the world.
"..."
The black-haired boy was silent.
Around him, everything was devastated and burned down ruthlessly.
The stench of burned meat could be smelled even from nearby towns.
The boy's blue eyes were void and had already exhausted all tears.
In front of him were three corpses and behind him another one.
Blood flowed down, tainting the ground in red from their motionless bodies.
"Take them. Their blood may be useful."
At the man's who seemed to be the leader's order, four men with the same get-ups took the three bodies in front of the boy.
The boy finally reacted and reached out his hand.
"No."
The leader smiled and kicked the boy's hand.
The boy groaned as he held his hand.
"Cough!"
"!"
Suddenly, he heard behind him a moan.
It was coming from his younger brother whom he thought dead as well.
"Jo-Josua."
The boy turned around and shook his younger brother's body.
"Oh, he is alive? Kill him."
"N-No!"
The boy hugged his younger brother to not let anyone touch him.
"It's a cruel world, brat."
The leader's voice didn't hold an ounce of sympathy or pity. Rather, he was slightly amused.
"They are dead because of you."
"!"
"Curse Eden for giving you life."
As soon as he said these words, a bright blue light came out of the boy's body, engulfing the whole town.
****
"..."
Jayden looked up.
[Noyden Orphanage]
He entered the building.
"Oh, Jayden, you came early today."
The receptionist who was used to seeing Jayden in the afternoon was surprised.
Jayden smiled at her.
"Did you forget, today I'm starting school."
"Oh my, yes, of course! Our Jayden is joining the prestigious Royal Eden Academy! Thanks to you, our orphanage will without doubt become more famous than before."
"Don't tease me, aunty."
Jayden scratched his neck and went to take the stairs.
He had a plastic bag in his hands filled with sweets.
"Don't spoil too much, you won't see them soon."
"I know."
Jayden greeted and gifted every child from the orphanage he grew up with sweets. The children and young men alike thanked and gave him parting words.
Lastly, on the second floor, Jayden went to a peculiar room.
He knocked on the door four times and waited.
"Enter."
Hearing the voice, Jayden smiled and opened the door.
"Brot-"
"Ron."
Jayden spoke before the boy in a wheelchair could.
"O-Oh, Jayden, it's been awhile, how have you been?"
The black-haired boy who seemed two years younger than Jayden asked.
"I'm fine Ron. I hope you are taking the medicine aunty gave you."
"Of course, don't worry about me."
Ron puffed out his chest and showed his non-existent biceps.
Jayden smirked and ruffled the boy's hair.
"At the academy, they are giving me a scholarship and I will also challenge the Enigma Dungeon there. With enough money, I could renovate the Orphanage and hire a top healer for your legs."
Jayden promised.
"Do not spend your money on me, Jayden. As long you help the orphanage, I'm good."
"..."
Jayden stared at the boy's smiling face.
He lowered his head and bit his lips.
After a minute of silence, he stood up and walked away.
But before he could close the door, he turned around.
"I give you my word."
His hand squeezed hard the handle of the door.
His words held pure hatred, contrary to his gentle eyes directed at the boy in front of him.
"They will all pay."
'The academy will make me strong…'
He closed the door and leaned his back on it.
His face became serious.
"...and deliver retribution."