"Why aren't you eating? If you don't eat then the food will get cold."
He urged me to eat the food but..
"Why...."
"Hm?"
"Why do you had to save me, only if I was dead then....everyone would have been happy."
"I don't know what happened to you but your bruises explains half of the things..."
He had noticed the bruises on my skin.
"If you don't mind, can you tell me what happened? How did you get involved in this kind of situation where you had to suicide?"
"....."
"Just two word....it will take only two words to explain everything and change his kind behaviour to the one I had seen before...should I tell him? Perhaps I should tell him... Atleast I can judge him the same way I do with others..." I thought.
"Rising Curse...."
He went silent just as I excepted from him and I knew that he would change his mind but-
"Oh! I see, so you are the one who gets a bad treatment in your everyday life...you should have come to me for help kid. You see I never saw you because I was usually busy in my work however, I felt really bad for you and I was thinking of adopting you. I am glad you are with me now. I will not let anyone hurt you anymore but promise me to not do any kind of stuff that would harm you, okay kid?" He said.
"...!?....You do understand what it means right? This title is feared among the villagers and you-"
"So what? You are nothing but a child, they should treat you as normal. This is just ridiculous, about the fact that they gave you a title and mistreat you like this. Don't worry about it, I will take care of you and raise you from now on. Forget about that senseless title of yours."
His words were somehow seemed geniune. He showed that he had accepted me. There was no one who ever cared about me but this old man here, not only gave me food but agreed to adopt me despite knowing who I was.
"By the way what's your name?"
"It's...Ray..."
"So, Ray is it, huh? I am Lopez and it's nice to meet you and you can consider me as your grandpa. You should start eating now, I believe you are hungry, Ray.
"Uh...yeah..." I said in a low voice.
No one ever called me by my name but this guy did.
"After the dinner, I will let you use one of the room. I have first aid box as I don't possess healing magic but it should be atleast acceptable since it will also help you heal." He said with a smile.
"You remind me of my grandsons, however, they are not with me anymore. They are not dead but they left me, while going with their parents and I don't even know where they live..." He continued,as if he had been alone himself.
We had started to eat while I was also eating at the same time.
"....!"
"Did you like it?" He asked whether I liked the food or not.
I nodded as I hurriedly started eating the food. The food was delicious and I couldn't and help but eating rapidly.
"*Chomp* *Chomp*.....*cough* *cough*"
"Haha, I know you like it but please eat it slowly. Don't worry, you can eat as much as you want just don't hesitate alright?" He said while he offered me a glass of water.
I nodded as I listened to him. I had never swallowed such tasty meals in my life. I was normally given spoiled foods and I had to live with it. I had faced so many weaknesses in my body as a result and other symptoms like vomiting, headache and so on. I had to avoid eating the spoiled food as people were not so kind enough to take me to the doctor, that's why I had to stole some foods for the living.
The villagers completely ignored my presence and even if they noticed me they only saw me as a punching bag to settle down their anger or irritation from other sources.
As I was eating, I was unable to stop my tears flowing through my eyes.
"There, there. Don't be a little cry baby but it's good to show your emotions sometimes to let your soul and mind get relaxed." He saw me while I was struggling to stop the tears flowing through.
After some time, when I had finished my dinner as I had also wiped my eyes.
"Now you feel better?"
"Yes....I think...."
I didn't wanted to show this weak side of mine but my emotions won against my will after all.
He had used the first aid and wrapped some bandages on my wounds. Then he showed me my room and..
"From now on, you will live with me. I will teach you everything you need to know for your future life. You must be tired right now so I suggest you to sleep and recover yourself and don't hesitate to call me whenever you feel like you are in trouble, Ray."
"Yeah." I nodded as I replied.
From that day, I started to live with my grandpa. He helped me, taught me how to defend yourself, taught me how to communicate with others, taught me basic things related to education and many more. I had learned many things from him. He knew many things and he was also a teacher who taught students at the nearby city in school.
He was a teacher, family, and a friend. He was everything for me. After two years passed by, grandpa brought someone in the house.
"Who is she?" I asked my grandpa.
"Her name is Kayde, her parents died and she became orphan but I adopted her as well. She is the same age as you are Ray. I hope you two become friends and get well along." He replied.
"Ah!" She looked a little afraid as she went behind grandpa, trying to hide.
"Don't worry Kayde, he is Ray. He is a kind person and I believe you will both understand each other and become friends. Come on don't be afraid, Kayde. Go say hi."
"Uh...o...okay..."
She approached me with her little steps as she looked at me.
"H-Hello, I am Kayde. It's nice to meet you...."
"Oh, hi I am Ray and-"
Just as I was about to finish my sentence, she hide herself behind grandpa.
"What!?"
"Haha, it seems she is not open to us right now. Sure, it takes time."
"I am sorry..."
"No need for apology, Kayde. I believe you will become used to it. Just don't stress over it." He said.
After few months, the friendship between Kayde and me rapidly increased. At first she looked like a shy person but she was way more talkative when she developed her bonding with me as a friend.
"Hey, Ray. What do you want to become in future?" Kayde asked.
"What do I want to become? I think I want to join guild and become a guildmaster."
"Oh that's nice! And what is your real reason?"
I already knew what I wanted to do so I told her that-
"To help innocent people and if possible, I would give a chance to those people who wants to change themselves." I replied
I told her while implying that I wanted give a chance to some people who want to change from evil to good person and never treat them harshly. I wanted a peaceful kingdom where everyone would live peacefully.
"That's an excellent goal, Ray. I also want to see a world where everyone can live together and give chance to those people who want a second chance to avoid becoming evil one." She agreed.
However one day, the fate took a cruel turn when I saw huge flames, engulfing the village. Everyone started running here and there, trying to protect themselves. Some people even sacrificed their own loved ones in order to escape from the rising flames.
I was desperately trying to find my grandpa and Kayde.
"Grandpa!! Kayde!! Where are you!! Please show yourself!! Grandpa!! Kayde!" I shouted as I was searching for them in these flame.
Then I witnessed something as if I had seen a ghost or something...
"No...."
My eyes became like a dead fish eye as I looked at Kayde's lifeless eyes. Her clothes were stained in red due to the overflowing blood.
"No... don't tell me....it's true....it must be some kind of nightmare....I believe that is the case...hahah... When I will wake up....I will just see a cheerful Kayde....right?....right?....."
Unfortunately, I realised that it was not some kind of nightmare....
"I don't want to believe it....."
"R....Ray...."
I heard my grandpa's voice...
"Grandpa!!"
I approached in his direction and saw him covered in blood...
---
To be continued...