*This isn't how it was supposed to be!! How could everything I built fall so easily? Is she even alive? I'm sure she's alive, mum can't die easily at the hands of a dreadmourn. *
*I know what to do, getting medication for her would be the right thing. I still have to become a knight of pride and rise mother into the ranks of nobility. There's no way she would be dead, right? *
Shaking in thought, Thawne stared blankly at the corpse of his dead mother. The dreadmourn partook in its feast, tearing off her flesh as her eyes turned cold.
Thawne was struck with grief, and like a toy he simply watched. There wasn't any shred of energy within his limbs, nor did his mind thrust itself into a sprint.
It was thirteen years ago, after his brave sacrifice for a friend he loved and cherished. Approaching the light within the dark space he found his consciousness in, his eyes opened to meet the face of a fair lady.
She was indeed beautiful, and her white hair sent a sense of nostalgia to the little boy. Justin had been reincarnated as a child of a farmer, although being the son of a peasant wasn't bad.
In comparison with his previous life, having his body working without any diseases was surely a firecracker. His new name borne had become Thawne Woodlock, and as it suggested they were born of nature.
Solely focused on farming and hunting, Thawne's father ingrained his teachings into his son before his passing. Although it was unfortunate, Thawne promised he would protect his mother with all he had.
Now his promise had grown stale and absurd, as there was no way to keep it. Looking at the terror blankly, Thawne walked backward and leaned against the wooden wall.
"Dreadmourn?"
The sight before him had a huge impact on his mind, weakening his mental strength. Thawne staggered upon his stead and breathed unsteadily.
Huff!! Huff!!
"It can't be? Why is it in the countryside? Fighting a Dreadmourn would mean death if you aren't on par with the knights at the order."
"I can't do it!! This is just too much! Does this mean I will die here too?"
Flashback…
Pah!!
"What gives you the right to say you have to die? Or want to die nonetheless. Did you even think about what we would go through without you by our side?", Justin's mother exclaimed.
Holding his cheeks in thought Justin bent his head in sadness, and gripped the blanket laid over his feet. Tears dripped from his eyes as he shook in fear, and his dark hair fell upon his blue eyes.
"You two give everything for me to live. I know how hard it is to keep managing your finances and attending to me, that's why I want to free both of you."
"I can't get better. I tried but it still didn't work. If dying would save you two from the stress and pain I keep you through, then I would gladly do that!!", Justin sobbed.
Hearing those words struck his mother with grief, yet she threw her hand to land another slap. Seeing this, Justin closed his eyes sharply, but all he could feel was a warm hug from his mother.
"Even if something happened to us, we would continue to live on within your heart my child. So don't say such things. All that matters is if you survive, and that is what every parent wishes for."
A hazy memory swept through his mind as he shook in fear. It was a memory of his previous life, one which depicted the time he had fallen into depravity.
The monster turned its head slowly and fixed its eyes on Thawne's. Walking slowly with firm steps, it surveyed the actions of its prey before leaping in for an attack.
The dreadmourns were known to be senile and fierce. Cunning at times, they emphasized ending their prey with any means possible. Hence fighting against such a beast required a stable mind.
After deducting how careless Thawne was, the dreadmourn leaped unto his stead for a bite. The lad threw himself to the side on instinct and sharply dodged the attack of the beast.
The dreadmourn crashed through the wooden wall and scoured for its prey through the rubble. The child, however, rose quickly and ran out of the house.
Thawne's courage which had wavered became stern and strong, and his pacing heart grew slow. With deep breaths, he calmed his tense mind and gripped his chest firmly.
"Even if they ended up dead, I can still keep my promise. How could I forget this? They have always lived in my heart from the very beginning."
In pace, Thawne grabbed an axe from the garden and hastened towards the western forest. The deep forest had been a field he used to survey with his Dad in the early days, hence the terrain wasn't tricky to him.
With adequate information on the location of each tree and landmark, Thawne knew more than enough to help in surviving. His unsteady breath grew calm as he approached a large tree, and he quickly hid behind it.
Resting on its bark, Woodlock pressed the axe upon his chest. He was afraid, and the beads of sweat dripped endlessly into his raged attire. Yet with a fastened will, he longed for survival.
"When faced with overwhelming fear, keep your breath steady and focus on the battle. A knight with unsteady breathing has already failed in being a man of valor."
"If the enemy is far stronger, hold onto your mind as the weapon in battle. When brawn can't work against brawn, brains deal enough damage. As the mind is the wielder of all tactics."
"A knight should always keep his composure steady and firm, and plan out the attacks even before the attack. If the enemy is known, the battle has already commenced."
Revising the knight codes he memorized from Shen's teachings, Thawne gripped his axe tightly and waited for the exact moment to strike.
Running from a dreadmourn was useless, as they possessed far greater physical strengths compared to the human body. Nevertheless running was never the option for Thawne, and he yearned to be the end to the dreadmourns.
The beast approached steadily, and with its keen sense of the soul it searched for the prey. Thawne gripped his fists firmly as his eyes ran cold. In an oath, he promised to end the vile beasts.
"With this, my revenge has begun!!"