"Wake up," a commanding voice pierced through the servant's slumber, jolting him awake. As he blinked into consciousness, he found himself in the midst of a vast field, the chilly night air sending shivers down his spine.
Startled, his eyes widened when a sword was thrust into the ground before him. A mysterious figure stood in the shadows, obscured by the darkness. The voice echoed once again, demanding, "Tell me your name."
Confused and disoriented, the servant retorted, "Huh, who are you? Show yourself!" His voice carried a mix of fear and defiance as he tried to make sense of his surroundings and the presence before him.
Emerging from the shadows, a young boy stepped forward, wielding a pitch-black dagger. The servant, bewildered and attempting to mask his unease, let out a mocking laugh. "What is this, some kind of joke?" he scoffed, trying to dismiss the surreal situation before him.
The boy persisted, demanding the servant's name once more. An air of defiance clung to the servant as he retorted, "What's it got to do with you?" attempting to mask his unease with bravado.
The boy's patience wore thin, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. Sensing an opportunity, the servant, assuming the boy's distraction, swiftly seized the sword and aimed it at the boy. His voice shook with urgency, "Your name, tell me your name, boy!"
The boy hesitated for a brief moment before responding, "Aden? I guess?"
The servant's frustration escalated at Xander's seemingly uncertain reply. "Guess? What does that even mean?" he snapped, demanding clarity. Then realization struck, "Wait, that's a name. You... you're that woman's son, aren't you? You're here to take revenge on me, aren't you?"
Xander's demeanor remained calm despite the servant's threatening words. "Revenge? Let's just say I want to test something," Aden replied, an aura of determination enveloping him, a contrast to his youthful appearance.
The servant, still underestimating Xander due to his age and physical, started to threaten him. "After I'm done with you, I'll have some fun with your mother," he sneered, thinking Xander was just a child.
Xander's expression didn't change, but there was a shift in the air around him. "I will kill you with this sword, you know," the servant continued, his voice growing more aggressive. "Your mom won't even recognize you."
Suddenly, a voice emerged from behind him, "Yapping and yapping. Is that all you know?"
Simultaneously, a sharp pain pierced through the man's ear. Panicking, he tried to touch his ear, but to his horror, he couldn't find it—only a wet surface remained.
As he glanced at his hand, now stained with red liquid, the realization of the gruesome truth finally set in. He began to scream in excruciating pain.
As the man was writhing in pain, Aden stood calmly, his eyes holding a stern glare. The servant stumbled backward, his hands covering the bloody stump where his ear used to be.
He screamed and yelped in agony, frantically searching for his missing ear, unable to fathom what had just occurred. The horror of the situation dawned upon him, and his screams pierced the silent night.
The man, seeing Xander approaching, quickly grabbed the sword and swung it through the air. His face contorted in agony, streaming with tears and sweat, as he wildly tried to fend off the boy.
"G—Go away, you demon!" the man stammered.
Xander laughed, finally hearing someone acknowledge him by his rightful title.
But then, as Xander laughed, he saw the man throw away his weapon and start crawling away, his fear palpable in every movement. Xander's excitement quickly subsided at the sight of the pitiful man running away from him. He lowered his head, feeling a mix of disappointment and annoyance.
"Pathetic human," Xander muttered under his breath, a tinge of disappointment in his voice as he watched the man scramble away. He began to sense a growing impatience within him, deeming the encounter pointless.
Swiftly deciding to conclude matters, he made a decisive choice to expedite the situation.
Xander sprinted toward the man, his dagger poised for the strike. The man saw Xander approaching him and braced himself with his hand, anticipating the fatal blow. But just as Xander's weapon neared, he halted, a sudden agony contorting his expression. Bewildered, the man glanced up, contemplating a counterattack, yet Xander's gaze froze him in place.
"Go! Don't let me see you again," Xander commanded sternly. The man hesitated for a moment, then scrambled to his feet, clutching his injured ear, and bolted from the field, casting fearful glances backward.
As Xander stood alone, the ache in his heart intensified, the sensation almost unbearable. Struggling to maintain composure, he focused on calming himself, recognizing the interference was the doing of the goddess.
He grappled with the complexity of his predicament, his mind swirling in an attempt to decipher the rules of this baffling new existence. The pain coursing through him wasn't just physical; it dug deeper, resonating as an emotional turmoil. Xander couldn't fathom why his attempts at aggression seemed to set off this painful reaction, the repercussions tethered to an invisible chain that tugged at his heart with each violent intention.
Contemplating the goddess's interference, he couldn't shake off the feeling of entrapment. It wasn't just the physical limitations but the underlying sense of manipulation that gnawed at his being. The realization weighed heavily on him – his autonomy was compromised by an unseen force.
With an unsettled mind, he resolved to control his impulses, understanding that any murderous attempt might trigger this excruciating sensation once more. There was a daunting realization that his actions were no longer solely his own; every step seemed like a delicate dance on a razor's edge, cautious not to evoke the wrath of this mysterious binding force.