A boy was being chased by a group of people whose clothes were torn, ragged, and looked as though they had been worn for a very long time.
He didn't know why they were after him. Just moments ago, he had been in a random place, and suddenly, people began chasing him from behind.
He had no clue how this situation had begun. He was only returning from his elementary school to the orphanage. But while descending the steps, he stumbled forward, slipped, and everything went black.
When he woke up, he was being beaten by a group of thugs. Somehow, he managed to run away from them.
And now, he was being chased once again.
As he ran through the streets, they never stopped. They kept pursuing him, forcing his breath to grow ragged and shallow.
Soon, his strength gave out. He collapsed, and the people chasing him surrounded him, raining blows down upon him mercilessly.
The boy cried out in pain, unable to endure the constant strikes.
At that moment, he heard a girl's voice command sharply, "STOP!"
The men turned and glared toward the source of the voice, but upon seeing the figures standing behind her, their expressions twisted in fear.
It wasn't the men themselves who frightened them — it was the emblem shining on their chests.
Terrified, they fled without a second thought, abandoning the boy where he lay.
The girl stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she looked down at him. In a quiet, almost disdainful tone, she muttered,"...Pathetic. What a disgusting sight."
But then she turned her gaze to her knights and ordered firmly,"Take this boy and treat him."
The knights bowed in silence and moved toward the unconscious boy lying on the ground. They lifted him carefully.
A healing potion was given to him, and soon, both his external and internal wounds began to fade. Yet, he did not regain consciousness.
Following their lady's command, the knights carried the boy to their carriage. After placing him securely onto one of the knight's horses, they mounted up as well.
Together, they rode back to the mansion.