Chereads / Hearts in Bloom / Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Kaito's cruelty

Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: Kaito's cruelty

The trio managed to escape the ancient cavern, exhausted and battered but victorious. They had overcome the trials set by the guardian, proving their worth, and secured the mysterious artifact—though its true purpose was still unknown. With every step toward the village, they felt the weight of what they had uncovered, both in strength and responsibility.

As they re-entered the village, they were greeted by a few curious locals who had heard of their journey. One villager, an older man with a weathered face and sad eyes, approached them, motioning them toward a quiet corner near his home.

"You've come back alive," the man said softly, glancing at the sword Akiko now carried. "I knew there was something about you all. Your courage… it reminds me of someone I once knew."

Akiko sensed there was more to his words, a shadow that clung to the man's voice. "What do you mean?"

The man sighed, leaning back against a wooden post. "There was a young boy here once—a kind soul, hopeful and strong. He believed he could make a difference in the world. But that all changed when Kaito… when he arrived here."

Takeshi shifted uncomfortably, sensing the pain beneath the man's words. "What happened to him?" he asked.

The villager took a deep breath, eyes focused on the distant mountains. "The boy's name was Hiro. He was only 17—still a child in many ways, innocent to the world's darkness. But he was determined to protect this village, to do what was right, no matter the cost."

The man's gaze dropped, filled with regret. "Hiro was brave but naive. Kaito saw that... and he twisted it. At first, he approached Hiro as a mentor, promising to train him, to make him stronger. Hiro believed him, trusted him with all he had. But Kaito's intentions were far from noble."

The villagers around them had fallen silent, listening with somber expressions as the man continued. "Kaito slowly turned Hiro's own courage against him. He manipulated him, teaching him things no child should know. Combat skills meant to maim, ways to fight without compassion, without mercy. Kaito pushed Hiro to the edge, breaking down the boy's spirit piece by piece."

Riku clenched his fists, feeling a surge of anger rise within him. "How could he do that to someone so young?"

The villager nodded sadly. "That's the question we all asked ourselves. Kaito's methods were cruel; he treated Hiro like a pawn, a tool for his twisted games. He took everything good in that boy's heart and warped it, until Hiro was barely recognizable."

Akiko's eyes narrowed as she absorbed the man's words. "What happened to Hiro in the end?"

A shudder passed through the villager. "When Kaito was finished with him, Hiro… well, he was no longer a boy, at least not in spirit. The person he had become was almost unrecognizable—violent, ruthless, and lost. He was abandoned by Kaito, left to bear the weight of what he'd done. He became feared by the people he once wanted to protect, seen as a dangerous outcast."

The man hesitated, his voice thick with emotion. "And the worst part of it all? Hiro was never given the chance to choose his own path. He was just a boy—a 17-year-old child who wanted to help, to protect. But Kaito destroyed that dream and turned it into something dark, something Hiro couldn't escape from."

Silence fell over the group as the man's story settled heavily in the air. The sorrow and anger were palpable, and each of them felt the tragic weight of Kaito's cruelty.

"That… that's unforgivable," Akiko finally murmured, feeling a new determination harden within her.

The villager nodded, his eyes filled with an unspoken plea. "For Hiro, and for every soul Kaito has wronged… if you ever get the chance to end his evil, remember the boy he destroyed. Remember the life he stole before it could truly begin."