In the territory of the Naein clan, the head, Ryuhei Naein, and his wife Rin Naein, had started a strong clan. Two years later, they were blessed with two children birthed: Kyuren Naein, the name they'd chosen for one of them.
Among the visitors to the Naein clan, there were a group of elves who had come to evaluate the children. They proclaimed that Kyuren Naein had a strong ability and hybrid powers, possibly inherited from a dragon.
Ryuhei, the head of the Naein clan, was a cold and evil man who saw his wife primarily as a means of reproduction. In stark contrast, Rin, the symbol of kindness, lovingly gazed upon her babies.
Rin, her voice filled with warmth and maternal affection, spoke softly to her children, her words imbued with love and care. "My little ones," she whispered, her eyes filled with tenderness. "You are so precious to me."
Amidst the elfish visitors, a voice laced with worry chimed in. "But what about the other child, the one who was born just seconds ago?" they asked, their tone tinged with concern. "It seems to be cursed."
Rin, still pondering a name for her newborn child, turned her attention to the Elves. "What do you mean by 'cursed'?" she inquired, her voice filled with a mix of curiosity and worry.
The Elves calmly explained to Rin, their voices filled with a hint of seriousness. "We've observed that the other child, the one who was born just recently, seems to lack certain emotions in his brain. He appears to be a special case."
The Elves continued speaking, their tone growing more grave. "We must caution you," they said, their expressions becoming more serious. "This child, due to the curse, has the potential to be a disaster. It's essential to handle him with extreme care and vigilance."
Ryuhei, his mind filled with a wicked plan, inquired about the second child. "Is that child strong?" he asked, his voice dripping with a sinister undertone.
The Elves, their foreheads beaded with sweat, responded cautiously. "Yes," they replied, their voices tinged with a hint of unease. "The second child, despite being a human, possesses demon hybrid blood, making him just as powerful as the first child."
Ryuhei's eyes widened with malevolent satisfaction as he heard the Elves' response. The revelation that his second child, who was born with demon hybrid blood, was as powerful as the first fueled his sinister plans even further.
Rin, despite the warnings about the second child's cursed nature and potential for disaster, smiled affectionately as she named him. "Kanji...Naein," she whispered, her voice filled with a mother's love. It was evident that she cared deeply for her children, regardless of any lingering concerns.
Decades passed, and the Naein clan had grown enormously in size and power. However, amidst their prosperity, Ryuhei had secretly conducted experiments on commoners, injecting them with Rin's blood in an attempt to enhance their abilities.
While Kyuren had established himself as a prodigy and achieved continent-level power at a young age, Kanji, lacking in emotion, had also made a name for himself by singlehandedly decimating the entire Assassin's Guilds. Despite their differing demeanors, both brothers had carved out their own paths of strength and lethality.
Ryuhei perceived Kyuren as his rightful progeny, valuing his potential and power. However, when gazing upon Kanji, Ryuhei saw him as nothing more than an instrument, a weapon to be wielded for his own purposes.
On a particular day, Kanji was in the garden, nestled in his mother Rin's embrace. She held him tenderly, her hands gentle as she cradled him in her arms. The garden, filled with the soothing sounds of nature, provided a tranquil setting for their intimate moment together.
Kanji, his voice breaking the peaceful silence of the garden, spoke up. His words were soft but filled with a hint of curiosity. "Mother," he began, his eyes fixed on her face. "Can I ask you something?"
Rin, her attention immediately shifting to her child, smiled faintly. "Of course, dear," she replied gently. "You can ask me anything."
A rare hint of vulnerability flickered in Kanji's eyes as he continued. "Why does Dad treat me one way and Kyuren differently?" he asked.
Rin's expression softened, her heart aching at her son's question. She knew the answer all too well but struggled to find the words to explain it to him. "It's...complicated," she responded, her voice laced with a mix of sadness and resignation.
Rin observed her son's pale, blank eyes, and her heart ached further. She knew how difficult it was for him, growing up under the shadow of his father's expectations and the weight of his own unique nature. "Sometimes," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "people see you differently than others because of things you can't control."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Kanji's lips as he looked up at his mother. Amidst the turmoil and confusion in his life, he found comfort and solace in her presence. "I like you a lot, Mom," he uttered softly, his voice filled with a hint of honesty and vulnerability.
Rin's eyes welled up with a mixture of emotions as she heard Kanji's words. She tightened her embrace around him, her heart both heavy and light at the same time. "I like you too, Kanji," she replied, her voice filled with a gentle warmth. "You know that, don't you?"
~Next chapter "Executioner of Abyss Legions"