The first time Ayato and Anastasia met was 9 years ago. At that time, Ayato was not accustomed to his life. Constantly being hunted down, he had to live in a different place, sometimes different countries at a time.
It wasn't good for a 7-year-old boy at the time. It wasn't normal. If Ayato hadn't hired lots of bodyguards, he would've died 10 times over. Even then, some of them betrayed him.
That's where Anastasia came in. During his time in Scandinavia, he met a young girl. She was in her mid-teens at the time but she was homeless.
He helped her, despite the language barrier. When Ayato was against a wall, he was betrayed by his bodyguard. Coincidentally, Anastasia was by his side and she had helped him.
She was a magician who was betrayed herself. She must've understood what he was going through. From there, it was simply fate.
Anastasia was family to Ayato, more than his real one. To him, he cared for her as he cared for his mother and sister.
There was no way he would allow Anastasia to suffer. In the same way, there was no way that he would allow her assailant to live. Family or not.
Ayato arrived at the family house. The old woman at the gate shivered when she saw Ayato's dark figure.
"W-welcome..."
"Shut up. What room is Horobi in?"
"H-Horobi?"
She asked. He glared at her.
"The basement..."
She shakingly replied. He walked to the gate and opened it, making his way toward the house.
"You should probably get out of here. This whole building is coming down."
"R-right..."
·———·
"GAAAHHH!"
"What bullshit are you spouting?! Messed with the wrong person?! Who do you think you are?!"
Horobi whipped her continuously, frustrated with her complacent attitude despite the situation that she was in.
Horobi was unhappy. As an extreme sadist, it was the biggest annoyance seeing his target smiling. He had never failed to break a target before. Not before Ayato, at least.
Usually, he would be far more angry but he managed to leave Ayato with a massive scar, so he felt satisfied.
Anastasia smiled. The more she was tortured, the more she smiled.
Why? Why did she despite her morbid situation? What gave her hope?
"...!"
When he realised, Horobi lowered his whip. He was amazed.
"You... Do you have that much hope in that failure? You believe that Ayato Kyouya will save you?"
It stunned him. Even when she was hurt, even when she was suffering, she still believed in her master.
"Of course... Be...cause... he's my s-saviour."
Anastasia breathed.
"That bastard is your saviour. Some failure both you and him are."
"Are you sure...? I mean..."
There was a thud. Horobi turned around in a huff.
"'That bastard' is going to kill you."
Ayato said, cracking his knuckles. He shut the door of the basement and marched toward Horobi. His fists flared with black flames.
This wasn't the work of any spell. It was the force of Ayato's rage gaining life.
There is a theory that flies around often. It's called the Magical Rampage Theory. The summary is that emotions can strengthen or weaken the effects of a magician's magic and mana.
Ayato's rage gave birth to the eerie, black flames.
"You may have gotten the slip on me yesterday but—"
Horobi's face contorted as Ayato smashed his fist into it. He was sent flying into the wall beside Anastasia.
"Master..."
He heard Anastasia croak.
"Anastasia."
"I'm fine..."
It rose. This time, Ayato couldn't resist. He couldn't restrain himself any longer. It was the first time in his life that he felt like this.
The black, hot flames of rage. They spread from his hand and consumed his body like wildfire. His rage had literally consumed him.
"What's this? A parlour trick?"
Horobi asked while wiping his nose.
Before Horobi could talk anymore, Ayato dashed over to him and stomped on his stomach. Horobi splurted blood.
"I'll fucking kill you, bastard!"
Ayato roared.
Another part of the Magical Rampage Theory—the stronger the emotion, the stronger the magic used.
The black-haired boy picked up the grey-haired boy by gripping the top of his head.
"W-wait...! I-I'm sorry!"
The boy begged while coughing blood. It was no use, however. Ayato was focused on killing Horobi. There was no escape.
Barbarically, Ayato smashed Horobi's head against the wall. There was no mercy. With each pound, more and more blood sprayed the wall. Finally, he slammed Horobi's body against the floor with his brain spilling out.
It was a grotesque sight. Ayato mercilessly murdered Horobi. He wasn't fazed. Instead of focusing on his lifeless body, Ayato burned the shackles on Anastasia.
She dropped, struggling to stand. He removed his flames and caught her, putting her arm around his neck.
"The shackles were..."
"Don't worry about it, Anastasia. This place won't last itself."
·———·
May 2nd, 2105.
There was a massive black fire in the Kyouya's land that destroyed their family house. One boy from the Kyouya Family was found dead.
Ayato left the Midnight Banquet and went straight to the hospital, staying by Anastasia's side.
It was also that day when the name Ayato Kyouya was known to those of the outside world. Even during Golden Week, Ayato still found himself in trouble.