????: That boy is too smart, he'll get us out of this misery.
???: Don't be too sure yet, he might not get a magic good enough.
????: Don't worry, I'm already handling that. Laughs uncontrollably
???: You know what will happen if they find out we're trying to rewrite his genetic code by force.
????: Relax, darling. I'm not torturing him physically or mentally, it's simply a reprimand so he becomes a good man and a great investment for society — and for our pockets. Laughs again, louder
???: Be quiet, darling, they might hear you.
????: Darling, in this neighborhood they're more worried about what to eat or who to rob than about some shitty kid.
—Behind a door, there's a child curled up in a fetal position, with cold, desolate eyes. He can't cry — not because he doesn't want to, but because he just can't anymore. His eyes are swollen as he listens to mockery and shouting from his own parents, Vaelric Alverys and Serina Tharne.
Boy: I wish I could change my life... to have control over what happens... this fate is so unfair. I-I shouldn't be suffering like this. It's not my fault I was born from them...
—He said between sobs.
Suddenly, the door bursts open violently. Vaelric grabs the boy by the hair and says:
Vaelric: Complaining about the life we give you? We, who brought you into this world? We, who give you a place to sleep so you don't freeze, and bread for dinner? You're an ungrateful little bastard. You're a burden and a waste—and you dare complain? Tell me, Ceryn, are you going to keep whining?
Ceryn: No, dad... I'm sorry. I won't complain anymore... just don't hit me, please.
Vaelric: You don't tell me what to do, damn kid. He punches him in the stomach, harder than usual.
Ceryn (in pain): Why... did you... agh... use magic on me...?
Vaelric: Maybe that way you'll learn to respect the ones who brought you into this world, you bastard.
—Vaelric grabs Ceryn by the hair, drags him to the door, and throws him outside.
Vaelric: Now go find something to eat. Maybe then you'll appreciate us more, you little shit.
—And yet, Ceryn couldn't be happier. Ignoring the sharp pain, all he wanted was to feel just a little more free.
Ceryn spent about an hour searching through dumpsters until he found a boy—blue hair, green eyes, and a cheeky look. He was very skinny, but had a bright gaze. He approached and asked:
Blue-haired boy: What's on the menu? Anything you'd recommend?
—Ceryn looked at him seriously, and the boy, noticing the seriousness in Ceryn's face, said:
Blue-haired boy: Mmm... Tough crowd, huh? Sorry for bothering you... I'll go now.
—Just as the blue-haired boy was walking away, he heard a laugh.
Ceryn: Haha... hahaha... HAHAHAHAHA!
—Little Ceryn, for the first time, heard a joke that wasn't at his expense.
—The blue-haired boy came back and said:
Blue-haired boy: HAHA! See? I knew you had a laugh in there! Hehe... What's your name? Only if you want to tell me, of course. He says, a bit shy.
Blue-haired boy: I'll tell you mine first. My name's Akel—remember it! I'm gonna be the greatest archmage in history! HAHAHA!
Ceryn: Nice to meet you, Akel. My name is Ceryn.
Akel: Hehe, so what are you doing here? I don't remember seeing you around. I know all the beggars in this neighborhood.
Ceryn: Well, it's my first day being a beggar. I don't know much about the craft yet... but I learn fast. They always told me... I have above-average intelligence...
—Akel looked confused.
Akel: Hey, are you okay?
Ceryn: Yeah, well... can you help me look for food? I've been searching for a while without luck.
—Akel looked excited.
Akel: Yeah! Of course! I know the perfect place to eat the best food in these parts. Come on, trust me!
Ceryn: Alright... I'll follow you.
—They walked for about two hours until they reached a place.
Akel: Welcome to the place where your palate will be absolutely overwhelmed with delight!
Ceryn: You can say overwhelmed, but you struggle with the word "palate"?
Akel: Booo... You're no fun. You pay too much attention to details.
Ceryn: Yeah, well... how are we going to eat here? We don't have any money.
Akel: Hehehe, leave that to the great Akel. He laughs wickedly.
—Ceryn stayed behind waiting, and after two minutes, he heard some noise inside the place—then shouts—when suddenly Akel came out breathing heavily with two bags full of bread and drinks.
Akel: THERE YOU ARE! He runs toward him TAKE THIS AND RUN! WE'LL MEET WHERE WE FIRST MET!
Ceryn: WAIT, WHAT!?
Akel: JUST RUN, FAST—THEY'RE COMING!!!
—Ceryn grabbed the things Akel gave him and ran with all his strength until he lost the people chasing him. Even while being yelled at, for the first time, he felt free.
—After running a while, he finally found Akel again.
Ceryn: Akel!! I did it! I escaped with the stuff you gave me haha Ceryn said, exhausted.
—But Akel didn't respond to Ceryn's call. He was silent, holding the food tightly behind his back in a clumsy attempt to hide the stolen bag. In front of him, a group of three men stood. You could see their bad intentions just by looking at them: one was tall and bulky, the one on the left was thin with a hungry look, and the third was fat and the one who talked the most.
Fat man: Hello, Akel. Miss me? What do you have behind your back?
—The tall man raised his voice:
Tall man: Shut up, you're scaring the kid. Tell me, little Akel, what are you hiding?
—Akel was paralyzed. He couldn't move—as if he had seen the devil himself. Something came out of his mouth, though.
Akel: I... I already did what you wanted...
—The tall man got angry and raised his voice.
Tall man: Huh!? Are you questioning us? Want us to make you our property again?
—The strange-looking man responded, ecstatic:
Thin man: YES! NOW HE LOOKS HEALTHIER, NOT AS SKINNY. MAYBE HE'LL LAST LONGER THIS TIME—LAST TIME HE ALMOST DIED! HAHAHA!
—Upon hearing that, Ceryn felt his heart tear apart... but also a terrible fear that froze him in place.
—The tall man looked at the thin one and spoke:
Tall man: No, he already held up his end of the deal. What we want now... are the interests. He laughs. So give us the food. And tell your little friend to get out unless he wants to suffer the consequences.
—Akel reacted when he heard them mention Ceryn and shouted:
Akel: NO!! LEAVE OUR FOOD ALONE! WE GOT IT FAIR AND SQUARE! DON'T TOUCH MY FRIEND, PLEASE!!
—Ceryn heard Akel defending him... but he simply couldn't move. He heard the sound of a hit and Akel's cry of pain.
Tall man: Khg, damn brat. We give him a chance, and he resists. We'll take it from him anyway.
—The tall man grabbed Akel by the neck and said:
Tall man: You brought this on yourself. You made me do this. I didn't want to hurt you for no reason—but you forced me.
—Ceryn watched the tall man throw Akel to the ground violently, slamming his back hard.
—He took the food and walked up to Ceryn, looked him in the eyes and said:
Tall man: Pathetic coward. You disgust me. Just stood there watching your friend get beaten. You're garbage.
—He snatched Ceryn's bag and left.
—Ceryn was paralyzed and couldn't move until they were long gone.
—He ran over to Akel, crying.
Ceryn (crying): I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I couldn't help you... and y-you've helped me so much since we met... I'm s-sorry...
—Between sobs, he saw Akel smile and say:
Akel: Why are you crying? Hehe... We didn't lose everything. I managed to save two rolls and a soda! Isn't that a win?
—Ceryn was confused. How could someone be happy over something like that? Especially after being beaten so badly?
—Akel spoke again:
Akel: It's okay. It's not your fault. You couldn't do anything. Now we can eat peacefully.
—Akel said while smiling. He was hurt, in pain... but still, the boy chose to smile.
—The two boys ate. Ceryn was happy—he had never eaten something so delicious.
—Minutes passed, and once they were done eating, Ceryn, still curious, asked:
Ceryn: Hey, those gu—
—Before he could finish, Akel interrupted:
Akel: Don't ask. I never want to talk about it. Forget what you saw.
Ceryn: Sorry...
Akel: Let's go. It's getting dark. We need to find a place to sleep.
Ceryn: I have to go home...
Akel: You have a home!? Then what were you doing on the streets?
Ceryn: My father... he threw me out, told me to find food. Got mad at me and kicked me out. But I have to go back...
—Akel looked a little disappointed. He thought he was finally going to have a friend to sleep with and share with.
Ceryn: But we can see each other often. I'll come up with something so my dad lets me out.
—Akel got excited again and said:
Akel: When I become the strongest archmage of all the races, you, Ceryn, will receive the greatest reward... for being my first friend! HAHAHA!
—Ceryn laughed, but this time... it was a nostalgic laugh. Because despite all the bad of this day, he had enjoyed having a friend. He just had to return now... to his hell.
—And that night, as they said goodbye, as Ceryn returned home, he thought about how unfair it all was.
"Are we really destined to suffer? Is the path really already written? Do I really have to accept that this is my fate? My life? WHY IS EVERYTHING SO UNFAIR—WHY!?" He sobs.
"I just want to change it all. To have the power to change what can't be avoided. Maybe that way... Akel and I... could be happy..."
—Ceryn arrived home and was completely ignored. He simply walked to his room and lay down on his blanket.
That whole night, he kept thinking the same thing...
He wanted to bend fate to his will.