The rain poured heavily, soaking Andrew and his oversized white shirt—the only thing he had left after being forced to leave his home.
Thunder roared overhead, each deafening crash making him flinch. To him, it sounded like the cannons of war or the wings of thunder dragons cutting through the sky.
Andrew sat near the road, his lifeless eyes watching as giant green lizards pulled wagons up and down the muddy path. Occasionally, a rare carriage-like vehicle powered by Qi crystals would rumble past, its gleaming exterior drawing stares from passersby.
He observed adventurers boasting about the monsters they had slain or captured. Their heavy, gleaming armor radiated strength and power. Each carried an array of impressive weapons: massive axes adorned with glowing gems, swords nearly as tall as their wielders, or war hammers wrapped in pristine white cloth hanging on their backs.
They look so strong and powerful. I bet they aren't afraid of anything…
One of the luxurious carriage-like jeeps stopped in front of him. Its exterior shimmered with silver and red accents, exuding prestige.
The door slid open, revealing a man with fiery red hair seated on a plush red cushion. He was dressed in striking attire: silver pants, a long-sleeved red shirt, and a sleeveless silver jacket.
Opposite him sat a black-haired man clad in heavy armor, unmistakably an adventurer. The black-haired man glanced at Andrew, his expression sharp and curious.
"Why are you sitting in the rain, young boy?" the armored man asked.
Andrew glanced at the vehicle, then back at the man. "My dad doesn't want me anymore," he replied flatly.
The man raised an eyebrow. "Why would he do that?"
"I don't know," Andrew said, his voice trembling slightly. "He started yelling at me and my mom… then he kicked us both out."
The armored man's brow furrowed as he looked around. "Is your mother with you?"
Andrew shook his head, his gaze dropping. "She left too…"
"Ah… I'm sorry to hear that," the man said after a moment of silence. "But may I ask you something?"
Andrew nodded hesitantly.
With a serious expression, the man leaned closer. "Are you a Vlandos?"
Andrew blinked in confusion. Despite his second chance at life and all his knowledge from before, the word meant nothing to him.
The red-haired man finally spoke, his voice smooth yet commanding. "What he means is, do you have access to the chaos?"
Andrew's stomach churned at the mention of it. He nodded slowly.
The red-haired man stepped down from the carriage, his actions uncharacteristically casual for someone of his apparent status. He approached Andrew with an umbrella, shielding him from the downpour.
"You see," he began, gesturing toward the armored man, "some people fear your kind. His own mother was terrified when she found out he had access to the chaos. So, you're not alone."
Andrew understood what the man was trying to say, but it didn't matter to him. He didn't care about shared experiences or sympathy. All he wanted was to go back home—to hear his dad's stories about his childhood.
The black-haired man straightened, his expression growing more intense. "Do you have the seal?"
Andrew hesitated, then nodded again.
"Show it to me," the man demanded.
Reluctantly, Andrew raised his clenched fist and opened his palm. The ominous red spider-shaped seal glowed faintly in the dim light.
The moment they saw it, both men froze. The red-haired man's eyes widened in shock, and he instinctively took a step back. The black-haired man, however, reacted with fury.
"Evil!" the man spat, drawing his sword in one swift motion.
Andrew scrambled to his feet, panic setting in. But before he could run, the blade sliced across his face, cutting deep into his cheek and grazing his neck.
A cry of pain tore from Andrew's throat as he stumbled to the wet ground, clutching his face. The searing pain overwhelmed him.
He braced himself for another attack, but it never came. Looking up through tear-filled eyes, he saw the red-haired man gripping the black-haired man's blade with his bare hands.
"Have you lost your mind? He's just a child!" the red-haired man snapped, blood dripping from his palms.
"That seal!" the black-haired man growled, his voice filled with hatred. "It's no ordinary seal!"
"I know," the red-haired man retorted. "But that doesn't justify killing a child! He doesn't even understand what he's caught up in."
"Don't be naive!" the armored man snarled. "That seal is proof he's meddled in things no child should."
"Enough!" the red-haired man barked. "Give me a healing elixir for him, now."
The black-haired man glowered but eventually relented. With a wave of his hand, a vial of red liquid materialized from the air.
Andrew cradled his face, the pain still sharp and unbearable. Tears mixed with the rain streaming down his cheeks.
The red-haired man knelt beside him, holding out the vial. "Here. Trust me, I'm not your enemy."
Andrew flinched, his body instinctively pulling away. His gaze darted to the man's bleeding hands, evidence of his attempt to protect him.
"I don't need it," Andrew muttered through gritted teeth. "I can heal myself."
A faint red aura enveloped his hands as he pressed them to his wound. Slowly, the gash began to close.
The black-haired man's eyes widened in shock, but before he could react, the red-haired man stepped between them, blocking his view.
"You… can heal?" the red-haired man asked softly, his tone a mixture of awe and concern.
Andrew nodded. He didn't understand why the man seemed so fearful, but it was clear his abilities weren't something to be celebrated.
The red-haired man's expression softened. "What's your name, boy?"
"Andrew," he replied hesitantly.
The man's lips curved into a small smile. "Andrew… what do you think of the name Andrew Goldface?"
Andrew tilted his head, confused.
"Would you like to become one of my children? I am Carbon Goldface, son of the seventh-ranked adventurer and hero of the Dragonwake Kingdom."
Andrew's gaze flicked to the adventurers down the road, then back to Carbon. He didn't care about being adopted or gaining a new name, but one thought burned in his mind.
"Will that make me strong?" he asked quietly. "Strong enough to never be afraid again?"
Carbon's smile widened. "Yes."
Eleven years later.