Rai was slammed into the ground by his father, Leo, who pressed both of Rai's hands tightly behind his back.
"You bastard! Where is she?!" Leo roared.
"I… I don't know!" Rai cried, tears streaming down his face. "And even if I did, I would never tell you!"
"You liar!" Leo snarled, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "Bring back Cynthia!"
With that, he began beating Rai mercilessly until the boy fell unconscious.
When Rai finally opened his eyes again, his body ached all over. He found himself tied to a long wooden post in the middle of the village square. Before him stood the entire population of the village—men, women, even children—glaring at him with hatred in their eyes.
"Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!" the villagers chanted in unison, their voices filled with venom.
The five-year-old boy trembled, his small body shaking as tears blurred his vision. His mind struggled to process the nightmare unfolding before him. Why? Why are they all turning against me? What did I do?
"This boy has committed a grave sin," Leo declared loudly, smirking as he raised his hand to silence the crowd. "He helped the devil escape. He even protected it. That makes him a devil as well!"
"F-Father…" Rai sobbed, his voice breaking. "What did I do wrong? Hera is just a baby! Why the hell do you call her a curse?!"
Leo's gaze hardened. "Still can't understand, boy? Because of Hera, misfortune has begun to fall upon this village. And I, as the village head, must fulfill my duty. I will eradicate this threat before it destroys us!"
The villagers erupted once more.
"Kill him! Kill him! Kill him!"
Leo turned toward them with a wicked smile. "Come, my people. Let us burn this devil—and hunt down his companion as well!"
The villagers stepped forward, carrying containers filled with liquid fuel. They splashed it over Rai's tiny body until the smell of gas hung heavy in the air.
Then, as one, they raised their flaming torches high—ready to set the boy ablaze.
Before the villagers could burn Rai, an old woman stepped forward, leaning on her wooden staff. She raised her voice, trembling yet firm:
"Don't kill him. This boy… is the fated Chosen One."
The crowd fell silent, their chants dying in their throats. All eyes turned toward Leo in confusion.
"What the hell, Grandma?" Leo snapped. "Step aside, or we'll kill you too! This child is nothing but a devil!"
The old woman's gaze sharpened, boring into Leo's eyes. "Anyone here can die… but not this child."
Whispers spread through the villagers, their certainty wavering.
Chosen one? Rai thought, his heart pounding. Who is this grandma? But… thanks to her, my chance of escape might be possible.
At that moment, the sound of hooves thundered in the distance. A carriage surrounded by armored soldiers appeared, pushing through the crowd. On their breastplates shone the unmistakable crest of the Royal Guard.
Leo's face twisted in dread. That symbol… The Royal Guard? Here?
The lead knight dismounted, glaring at the scene before him. "What is going on here? Who is in charge of this village?"
Leo immediately stepped forward, bowing slightly. "No, sir, we were merely… eradicating a devil. We mean no harm to our people."
"Devil?" the knight frowned. "What nonsense are you speaking?"
"Yes!" Leo insisted, his words tumbling out in desperation. "This boy—he let the devil escape! He even helped it. That makes him a devil himself! And all of my people can attest to this!"
The knight's eyes narrowed. "So… you claim he helped the devil escape? Tell me, how do you know this child you speak of is truly a devil?"
Leo hesitated, his voice faltering. "W-Well… actually, the devil is a newborn baby. She was born with an insignia on her back. A mark that proves she is the child of the devil!"
The knight's expression sharpened. "An insignia? Describe it."
Leo swallowed hard. "A… diamond shape, with a lotus inside."
The moment the words left his mouth, a faint cry echoed from the royal carriage.
Rai's blood ran cold. His eyes widened in horror. That cry… No. That's Hera! Please—someone untie me! I can't let them take her!
The knight raised his hand, and his soldiers aimed their weapons at the villagers. "Nobody move! Anyone who makes the slightest wrong move will die where they stand!"
At his command, one soldier entered the carriage and carefully lifted the infant. Holding the baby in the air, he turned her small body and revealed the mark on her back.
"Meticulous…" the knight muttered, his eyes gleaming. "This is no curse. This is the Divine Insignia of the Ancients."
A smirk spread across his face. "This is a gift from the gods themselves! Hahaha! And you fools dared to harm her?"
His voice hardened, echoing like a death knell. "Then it is you who shall die! Men—slaughter them all! I will take full responsibility!"
The village erupted into chaos. Screams pierced the air as the Royal Guards cut through the crowd mercilessly. Blood flowed across the dirt as men, women, and children fell beneath their blades.
Amid the carnage, the old woman hurried to Rai, quickly untying his restraints. Her wrinkled hand grasped his trembling arm.
"Go!" she cried. "You are the Chosen One. Someday, you will roar across this continent. Escape, grow stronger, and reclaim your sister!"
Before Rai could answer, a sword pierced through the old woman's chest. Her body fell lifelessly to the ground as Royal Guards advanced.
Rai's heart shattered. Tears blurred his vision as he ran with all his might, his small legs carrying him away from the burning ruins of his village.
"Hera…" his voice cracked with grief. "Forgive me… I'll come for you. No matter what, I'll bring you back!"