(Date: ???)
The beauty of the sunlight brightened everyone's day.Birds were living their best lives in the sky.The weather was perfect — not as hot as summer, not as cold as winter;just that kind of warmth that brings peace to your chest.There wasn't a single cloud in the sky, and yet…
"FOR GOD'S SAKE, WHY AM I IN A DUNGEON?!"
The only reason I even knew what the weather was likewas because five minutes ago, I was sitting on a rock outside.Then some bastard showed up, beat me up, kidnapped me, and threw me he—
Before the man could finish his sentence,a huge guy in full armor walked into the dungeon.His steps echoed through the small, crumbling space,the gray stone pillars looking like they could collapse any second.
"Quit joking around,"the armored man said in a low, heavy voice."This place is big enough already — I'm not dealing with your voice echoing, too."
The captive's eyes widened in confusion.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!? You're not the one who beat me up!"(He looks terrifying… but damn, he's got style.)
The armored man slowly walked up to the iron bars of the cell.Each step was deliberate — heavy enough to make the ground shake.The prisoner, Amaro, probably thought that was the end for him.
"Amaro," the man began. "You're a good person, I'll give you that.But that's how life is — a single thought, a single mistakecan ruin even the most stable lives.You're smart, but you never realized what was really happening — around you, or within you."
Amaro — yes, that was his name — stared at the man in shock.His brows furrowed, then lifted in confusion,then his eyes narrowed as his face grew calm.He took a deep breath, like he'd finally given up.
"You know," he said quietly,"for a moment I really believed everything could be okay.I thought I could go back… I even thought I had gone back.But in the end… I just ended up standing in front of you again."
"Yeah, sure," the man replied dryly. "But come on, don't overthink it."
"Try hearing that at sixteen," Amaro muttered."It's weird… I don't even know what to say.My only crime was picking up a rock and throwing it into the sea.How was I supposed to know someone cared so much about that rock?"
"You couldn't have known," the man said calmly."I don't blame you for that.But you're old enough to understand how our world works.When people lose something — when they get hurt —they need a scapegoat. Even if you're innocent,they can't rest until someone else suffers for their loss."
"So this is the end, huh?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Losing someone like you this early is a shame, Amaro.You could've gone far. But now… if you'll excuse me, I'll begin."
The man raised his arm slowly, ready to strike.The iron bars between them clearly meant nothing to him.Amaro could feel the crushing power he was about to face —a power far beyond anything he could withstand.
"One…"
And then, a voice echoed in Amaro's mind.
"Would you like this never to have happened?"
(What? What's going on…?)
"Do you wish this would never happen again?"
"Two!"
(I… I don't understand!)
"In the next second, you'll die. Do you want to die?"
(No! Of course not! Why would I want that?!)
"Do you want to win? Do you want to live?"
(Yes… I mean— yeah, I think I do.)
"When he says 'three', you'll die. Answer me. Do you want to live or not?"
(I do.)
Silence.And then Amaro shouted — louder than he ever had in his life.
"I DO! I WANT TO LIVE!"
"Then there's nothing more to say."
Time slowed for Amaro —so much that the man before him seemed frozen.He thought these were his final moments,until a shadow appeared behind him.
(What the hell is that!? I can't even turn around!)
"What are you waiting for, Amaro? Leave."
(What? The cell's locked, and that guy's still in front of me!)
"Amaro… right now, that man isn't alive.And that cell isn't locked."
In disbelief, Amaro stood up.He moved like he was in a trance,opened the cell door,walked past the dead man's still body,and climbed the stairs toward the sunlighthe hadn't seen in what felt like hours.
(It's only been five minutes…but it feels like the longest five minutes of my life.Still, I'm here. I can see the light again.Even if it's just for five more minutes, it's enough… no, wait—)
"You don't need to think about that anymore, Amaro."
"Honestly, I'm afraid to even look back.You don't exactly sound… comforting, you know."
"My name's Faust #######.Since you're not asking, I'll explain: I'm fifteen.I won't use you for anything, won't hurt you,and I'm not doing this for personal gain.I didn't plan to find you — I just happened to be here.And sorry about killing that guy earlier… it was kind of rushed.But now that you know me, I think you can turn around."
"There's no way this is all just random kindness.You must have a reason — good or bad, doesn't matter, but it's there."
"That man was right. You have light in you.You can go far — and I want to see that."
"So… what does that mean, exactly?"
"It might sound fast, maybe even absurd,but I think I've proven myself enough.And honestly, I doubt you've got a better option right now.Be my brother, Amaro. Take my family name.Let's be family.I know you've lost your parents —so stay with me. I'll take care of you, feed you,raise you if I have to.Let's live under the same roof."
I didn't know what to say.A boy younger than me — though at least 1.85 tall —had just saved my life.Should I really accept?Anyone watching would call me crazy,say I was trusting a stranger.But… unless you've felt it yourself, you can't understand.That boy glowed to me.His words warmed me in a way I hadn't felt in years.
"FINE THEN! From now on, I'm part of your family.I don't know why, but… for once, I don't feel alone."
"Perfect."
...
"And that's how I met him."