As Kael saw the fear take over Lyra's expression, a knot formed in his stomach. "Yes, I am Noel Oscar," he confirmed, his voice steady despite the chaos in his mind. "The illegitimate son of the Oscar family."
Lyra recoiled slightly, her eyes widening as if struck by a physical blow. The name hung in the air, heavy with implications that echoed through the silence of the night. Every muscle in her body tensed, and Kael could see the wariness etched on her face.
"You… you are Noel Oscar?" she stammered, her voice a whisper, as if afraid to speak it too loudly.
Kael nodded slowly, trying to gauge her reaction. "I know the name carries weight, but I am not the man I once was. I have changed"
"Changed?" she interrupted, her voice rising with a mixture of fear and disbelief. "Noel Oscar wasn't just the name of a privilege man but that of a monster, a name that speaks of untold terror… how can you bear that name? how can you be that man?"
Kael felt a surge of frustration. "I didn't choose this. My past is a burden, one that I cannot escape. But ascribing me to a monster is an exaggerated remark, I have done nothing short of what was done to your village and I don't see you calling those bastards monster
Not to mention I saved you and can help you fight back against those who destroyed your life and mine."
Lyra's eyes softened slightly, but the fear lingered. "you sure have no idea what you've done right?" kael brow frow even more confused at what she was getting at on
"You bear the weight of a name that has caused so much pain. Can you really take that burden and turn it into something good? Or will it consume everything you touch and leave destruction on its path?"
Kael met her gaze, the darkness swirling within him. "I don't know Lyra, all I can promise you right now is that not a single one of them who had taken something precious from me would live long to tell the tale."
killing intent surge out of his being when he said this part with unbreakable resolved.
"you sure are more than the monster I presume you are, but I rather cast my lots to a monster that could serve justice to those deserving of it
than hope for a miracle from a Hero who might really never show up"
her words hit kael deeply, he sigh helplessly not knowing how to respond to Lyra.
"just so I know, tell me the truth please. did you sacrifice an entire village just to bridge the gaps between our world and that of the supernatural?"
kael eyes widen in shock as he lost the strength to even support himself, a sudden look of realization hit him hard enough he looks like the air had been knocked out of his lungs.
...
somewhere a bit far away from the village Kael and Lyra were in, a group of bandit were celebrating the spoils they took from the village.
a few of the beautiful Young girls were captured just for the pleasure of the hot headed, their scream echoing from within some of the tents.
a Melody to the hearing of the others buzzing outside with wine, the merriment sure is one of great enthusiasm.
"I can't believe we made so much gold just by wiping out a few bugs for those greedy bastards
and we still got to plunder the spoils of the dead, this sure is a good deed captain" one of the drunk bandit mouth off praising the just concluded mission.
"haha, true Mark. this type of deals are ones I love best, those greedy power grab bastards offering a good deal just to take care of a few misgrant
a good deal indeed, can't wait to get the other half of the deal, we sure wouldn't be stressing ourselves over bandits business for a long time"
everyone of them burst into a fleet of laughter, sheering and drinking to themselves.
"I still really didn't see a reason they would want us to kill everyone in the village, they could have just sent us after the ones who offended them or something"
"hahaha, you are so naive Rick, no one offended that fat bastard. he most likely just needed something belonging to this village and I bet it's a very precious resource
owning and monopolizing it is definitely his aim, so he had to take out every hindrance to his plot. the villagers are just collateral damage"
"hmm, I see. doesn't that mean we can...."
"yes of course Mark, it surprised me you are so slow to grasp this all along. if they are willing to go this mile to acquire this village
it means what ever they needed the land for or any resources hidden inside would be very valuable
information on such thing are of high price in the market, many would pay a fortune to get their hands on it"
both men smile like idiots at each other, thinking of the huge rip off they intend to make from cutting edge. their eyes probably spinning the money sign already.
"we just have to wait till he pays us the balance and then we are good to sell him of to the highest bidder.
acquiring treasure are quit easy but keeping one is entire a different case, let's hope he have the means enough to protect this treasure of his, else it his lost"
"indeed" the strange voice got everyone riled up, each drawing and brandishing their weapons as the all turn to the direction the voice had trailed in from
surprisingly they were shocked to see a kid suddenly in their midst, his short brown unkept hair. slender physique, deep intense black eyes an a cruel smirk playing on his lips.
"who are you kid and what are you doing here?" the captain asked keeping his guard up against this kid that mysterious appeared in their midst.
"oh me, I'm a nobody at the moment. I was advised never to mention my true name to anyone else ever again but I might default that promise if you are willing to pay the price"
the bandit looked at each other as if they couldn't believe their own hearing, series of mocking laughter resounded from the bandit when they replay his words in their mind
"you are such a clown kid, I'm being honest when I say I see potential in you for making this old soul laugh
too bad you dropped by at the wrong place and the wrong time to showcase your talent"
"I'm grateful I could relieve your miserable soul before you met your undeniable demise
I hope this laughter is strong enough to withstand what's to come after you"
the smile on the bandit face froze when they heard this, the chill in his tone, the coldness in his voice and the seriousness in his face made it pretty obvious he was just joking around"
"kill his bastard and discard his remains to the beast of the wild, make sure to make him suffer first. death is too much of an easy punishment for muttering rubbish"
the captain ordered immediately, while the other spring into action. rushing over to give Kael the beating of his life.
immediately they encircled him, taking no chances in case the kid got a trick of his sleeve. they were dropped down screaming from immerse pain, clenching their head as if it's about to explode.
the others instinctively shift backward seeing this, their boldness taking a cope of step back.
"he is a mage" one of the bandit screamed, preparing to elope from the scene but that single action got him killed by the captain.
"nobody leaves, be he a mage or not. he is still a kid and inexperienced with the powers of mystic. we stand together to fight"
the others wanted to refuse but seeing the eyes of their captain held their peace and their post.
"tell me kid, how much were you paid by that bastard? I believe he must have offered you quite a lot to get rid of us and keep his secret
but I bet I can offer you more if you reconsider, you might even be able to rip from both side.
what do you say, ready to make more than the minger you were offered by that greedy bastard?"
kael look at him like one stirring at a fool, "why don't you ask her yourself then" the captain looked confused but sooner than later he understood.
because just beside Kael feet, the shadow was rising and in no time a lady with dead pin cold gaze focused on him. he fel a chill he has never in the history of his life felt when that gaze landed on him.
"How?" he stammered, taking a cope of step back unknowingly to him. his heart pounding against his chest in a rhythm the thumb sound could be heard by those closer to him.
this was obviously because he recalled this face, he was the one who killed her personally. he stabbed her and left her to death when she refused to be taken away as toy for their amusement that would be discarded later on