Tae crossed her arms. Her tail bristled in irritation.
"Once he gets back, I'm gonna scold him like crazy! What does he think he's doing, playing the lone savior of the world forever?" she huffed.
"Po-possibly it's over now," Alice replied, looking around. "Wait… is Zetto talking to someone?"
"Huh?! Is he seriously speaking with someone now?!",Tae exclaimed, stepping closer to Alice.
Her irritation faded the moment she saw Zetto's face – full of both sadness and rage.
*
Eleven-year-old Hiro met up with Ren at the playground. Hiro had a big shiner over one eye. They swung back and forth on the swings as they talked.
"Dude, he really messed you up. I can't imagine what he did to your mom. You should report him to the police."
"It's not that simple. If he finds out it was any of us, he'll make things even worse."
"Then my parents will report him, and you'll be free of him!"
"No… I'm telling you, if he finds out…"
"You don't even have to tell him, for god's sake!"
"But you still don't know how scared we are. We can't even imagine what'll happen if…" Hiro sighed and stopped swinging. "It's really complicated, and I can't explain it. From your side, it probably seems pointless. I just have to become stronger," he said, smiling widely, then held out his hand for a fist bump. Ren bumped fists with him, saying:
"Then you've got a lot of bulking to do. Or start learning some martial arts."
"Yeah. That's what I'll do."
*
Years passed, and Hiro regularly went to the gym, paying for it out of his own savings. Sometimes his mom secretly lent him money from her paycheck, hiding it from his dad.
By the first year of high school, Hiro already had a well-defined muscular build. Girls would glance at him in the hallways – he was tall and ripped. On his first day, Hiro saw Zetto - a shy, quiet boy who never bothered anyone and occasionally helped others. The way he carried himself reminded Hiro of his relationship with his mom when his dad wasn't around. And that's exactly what made him burn with hatred toward Zetto. Not because he thought he was better than him. He was jealous of Zetto's life, something he'd never get for himself.
*
A few months later…
Hiro pulled Zetto's head out of the school bathroom. Ren stood beside him, either mocking or laughing at Zetto. Zetto had bruises on his arms and legs.
"Do you finally get it?" Hiro asked. "Fighting back will only make things worse for you."
Zetto bit Hiro's hand in anger. The redhead punched him in the stomach, and Zetto nearly puked.
"Smash his face in," Ren said. "Maybe he'll change his mind if we mess him up. Besides, even if some girl liked him, I've already spread rumors that he walks around with a stinky, wet head because he's got some weird toilet-water drinking fetish, hahaha! No way he's getting any through the entire high school! And they'll believe me more anyway – I'm tall, handsome, blond, haha!"
"No, I'm not that stupid. If I hit him in the face, it'll be obvious he got beaten up."
Seriously, Ren, you should shut up sometimes. You're just making things worse.
I picked you as my punching bag because someone had to be. I recently had the guts to stand up to my dad. Now that I've got peace at home, I can let out my frustrations, clear my past, and leave it behind.
"Now, hand over all your cash!" Hiro said in a commanding tone.
Zetto unexpectedly elbowed him in the crotch. The muscular guy doubled over and loosened his grip, letting Zetto break free.
"We just gonna let him go like that?" Ren asked.
"Yeah, whatever. Next time, we'll make him pay us double," Hiro replied with a smile.
I promised myself I wouldn't be like my dad… but man, it feels so good to dump all your bad energy on someone else. Makes you realize you're not the only one who's had it rough.
No, lately I can't complain. Ever since I took down that drunk bastard and kicked him out of the house, I've been living happily with my mom, even if it's humble. Whatever. I finally beat him.
Fate smiled on me, but I doubt it'll smile on that loser. He's in for a hard three years of high school ahead of him.
For Hiro, days like this felt like salvation – they pushed him away from the demons of his past. But for Zetto, it was just another level of hell. Until they were summoned to another world, every break looked like this: Zetto tried to fight back, but it was always two against one, and he never stood a chance.
*
"And you really think that pathetic little story is going to make me forgive you? It doesn't excuse a thing," Zetto said with disdain. "Besides, I never fooled myself into thinking you'd feel even a bit of guilt for your actions, not even a moment before dying."
Hiro gave a bitter smile.
"It's easy for you to demonize me, since I hurt you. Seems like you've forgotten I'm human too. And haven't you already done worse in your quest for revenge, Zetto? Who's the real monster here? I guess now I get at least a glimpse of what my dad felt when I fought him.
"That line keeps getting blurry," Zetto said. "To some, I'll always be a bloodthirsty beast. But for those who matter to me, I want to be the best version of myself. I do this and will continue to do it to keep them safe."
Hiro smiled again, this time with a trace of humor.
"You don't even realize how alike we really are."
"No. You and I… we've never had anything in common," Zetto replied, looking at him with hatred and disgust. "Don't try to make me feel pity – that won't work."
Hiro met Zetto's gaze.
I know that look perfectly, he thought, watching a spell shoot from Zetto's hand toward him. Those are the eyes of someone who won't stop at anything to reach their goal.
It was Hiro's last thought before he died.
Zetto exhaled with relief.
Makoto is the only one left. I thought that after killing Hiro I would finally get rid of the rage that's been blazing inside me since the first days of high school. Unfortunately, I've only weakened it. It won't vanish until Makoto is gone…
... but even so, right now, I feel so calm.
I've eliminated the second of the three most dangerous threats in my life in this world.
Which means it brings me closer to achieving inner peace, but most of all - to keeping all of them safe.
And now…
Zetto disintegrated the bodies of Luciia and Hiro, along with Ren's blood-soaked robes, leaving no trace behind, then removed the barrier from the carriages. Tae was the first to rush out.
"What the hell were you thinking this time? I don't even know if you were listening to a word I said during our talks – it just feels like I was speaking to a wall!"
"Sorry," he replied, looking off to the side. "I didn't want to get you involved. This was between me and the other heroes."
Tae, unable to hold back a whirlwind of emotions, kissed Zetto.
"Don't you ever do that again, got it?! I'm coming with you wherever you go because I can't stand the thought of losing you! I don't know what's going on with my dad, but if he… you know… then you'll be my only close person!"
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. I promise," he said, holding her close to him. They shared another kiss.
"I don't mean to interrupt," Yarick said, approaching them, "but we've lost all the building materials. Unfortunately, I don't know any towns along the way where we could actually get more."
Damn, I almost forgot about that, Zetto thought, looking at the destroyed third carriage.
"We'll talk about it at the next stop. I'm sure we'll figure something out," he replied with a confident smile. Yarick stroked his beard thoughtfully, nodded, and went to the second carriage, helping Meime with driving the horses.
After a while, Tae and Zetto settled into their carriage. Alice flicked the reins.
"Zetto! Have you already made those bad people leave? " Ora asked, getting off Maghra and hopping into the seat beside him.
"Something like that," he replied, smiling warmly.
"So now you'll be able to spend some time with me?" she asked, her big golden eyes sparkling with hope.
"Of course. We can play whatever you want."
"First, scratch behind my ear! Auntie Maghra and Tae have claws that are too big, and auntie Alice does it too gently! Only you scratch just right!"
Ora's comment made everyone laugh, including Zetto, who did exactly as she asked.
After some more travel, Zetto sat with Tae sleeping on him, resting against one arm, and Ora leaned into him, resting on his other side like a child seeking comfort. He held Tae as tightly and warmly as he could, while wrapping Ora in his cloak to make her feel safe and cozy.
After less than an hour of travel, they reached the Mountains of Frost.