Kael Valeborn learned very early in life that silence was safer than words.
Words attracted attention.
Attention attracted punishment.
At eleven years old, Kael already knew how to walk without sound, how to breathe shallowly, and how to fold his hands in front of him and keep his eyes lowered. He knew how to exist in a way that took up as little space as possible.
Because in the Valeborn Estate, space was not meant for him.
The dining hall was vast—long enough to echo, tall enough that the chandelier's light never quite reached the corners. Marble floors. Gold-trimmed walls. A table carved from a single slab of stone.
The Valeborns ate well. Exquisite cuisines, lavish dishes, fruit juices, and tasty desserts.
Kael sat at the very end.
His clothes were a size too big—hand-me-downs that once belonged to Aren, then Darian, before finally being thrown at him. The fabric smelled faintly of old detergent and something sour. The cuffs of his sleeves were frayed. One button was missing.
In front of him sat a small plate.
Boiled vegetables & dry bread.
No knife. No fork. No water glass.
Across the table, Aren Valeborn sliced into thick cuts of meat, his movements confident and practiced. Beside him, Darian Valeborn leaned back in his chair, chewing loudly, watching Kael with amusement.
Kael waited.
He always waited until everyone else had started eating.
Only then did he lift the bread.
His stomach growled.
The sound was quiet—but not quiet enough.
Darian burst out laughing.
"Did you hear that?" Darian said, pointing his fork at Kael. "It's like a rat hiding under the table."
Lady Selene Valeborn didn't look up from her plate.
"Disgusting," she said coolly. "Can you not control yourself for one meal?"
Kael flinched. He knew it wasn't his mistake. He ate only twice a day—sometimes only once. It was never enough. Not even close.
"I—I'm sorry," he whispered.
Lord Edric Valeborn finally glanced at him. His eyes held no anger. Worse—no interest.
"If you're hungry," Edric said flatly, "then eat properly. Don't embarrass us in front of our own sons."
Kael lowered his head further.
Our sons?
Am I not your son too, Father?
He wanted to say it. But he knew it wouldn't matter. Nothing he says does. He's invisible in this household. He silently chewed slowly, forcing each bite down though his mouth felt dry.
The vegetables were cold. Just like always.
After dinner, Aren was mocking Kael for being such an embarrassment at the dinner.
"You're like a vermin, Kael... always hungry… The only sound I ever hear from you is that disgusting growl of your stomach… you're more pathetic than a street rat, always wanting food…"
Aren and Darian were laughing when Aren tripped.
It wasn't Kael's fault.
Aren had left his training bag in the hallway.
But when Aren slammed into the wall, he turned instantly.
"Why were you standing there?" Aren snapped.
Kael froze. "I—I was just—"
Darian interrupted him with a laugh.
"Obviously trying to get in Aren's way. He's always lurking."
Selene's gaze sharpened.
"Did I not tell you to go to your room?" she asked Kael.
"Ye—yes, Mother," Kael said quickly.
"Then why were you here?"
Kael opened his mouth.
Nothing came out. It wouldn't matter even if it did. Because his mother wouldn't believe him even if he said Aren told him to follow him behind as he humiliated him. He knew better. Silence was all he could speak.
"Basement," Selene said. "Until tomorrow."
Kael nodded. He always nodded.
The basement smelled of damp stone and dust. No bed. No blanket. Just a cold floor and darkness thick enough to press against his eyes.
This place was more familiar to him than any room in the house.
Because as long as he could remember, this was where he spent most of his life. Any mistake—the basement was his punishment.
No matter who made the mistake, he was always the one who was blamed and took it silently. Because that's all he could do.
This time, it was two days. With no food.
His stomach twisted. His head ached. Thirst burned his throat raw.
On the second night, footsteps approached.
A key turned softly.
The door opened just enough for a hand to slip through.
A small piece of bread.
A cup of water.
Kael's eyes widened.
"Quiet now," whispered Old Tomas, the estate's oldest butler. His back was bent, his hands shaking. "Chew slowly."
Kael nodded furiously, tears slipping down his face as he drank.
"Thank you," he mouthed.
Tomas hesitated.
Then gently closed the door.
Eating the stale bread in the dark and damp room, Kael thought to himself.
What could he do to make his parents just look at him? Not even a smile was needed. He just wanted them to look at him. At least like a stranger. Plain and normal. Because as far as he could remember, every time his parents looked at him, their eyes were filled with disgust or anger. Never love. Never care. Never a simple smile.
Every time he did something to make them happy or impress them, all he was met with were harsh responses and brutal punishments. He never understood why he was treated differently from his brothers. He never questioned. He didn't dare.
He never cried or showed any emotion. Because that guaranteed a bare-skinned kneel-down on stones under the scorching sun as punishment.
Though impossible, he closed his eyes and slept on the damp, cold ground.
On the third day, the door creaked open. The bright light blinded his eyes. His weak body couldn't stand immediately. Aren dragged Kael out by the arm.
"We're going on a trip," Aren said. "Try not to ruin it."
Kael's legs shook as he walked. He hadn't eaten since the bread. His throat was dry. Body weak. His vision swam.
The car climbed the mountain road, winding higher and higher, the forest stretching endlessly below.
It was supposed to be a picnic.
Kael knew better.
He sat in the back seat, hands folded, silent.
"Mom… my bladder is full. I have to take a leak." Aren said, gulping down the last sip from his juice bottle.
"Take that idiot with you. He's so stupid he won't even ask to go to the toilet.. instead pees in his pants and spoils my costly leather seats. " Selene's tone was harsher and sharper, filled with disgust.
Aren & Darian laughed hysterically at their mother's humiliating comment.
Kael bent his head down and stayed silent. Tears welled up, but he didn't dare shed a tear. Because even that would be seen as him spoiling the costly car's interior.
When they stopped, Aren and Darian stepped out first. They walked towards the stone railing. The stone railing was knee-high. Barely enough to let the vehicles know that the road is just that wide, and past it was a cliff leading all the way down to a dark forest.
Aren looked down laughing and spit out his saliva. The wind blew it away, and he laughed again.
"Come," Darian said, pointing towards the stone railing edge. "Stand there."
Kael obeyed. Aren and Darian took a leak, peeing on the stone railing and all over the place.
The wind was cold. Kael's stomach growled again—loud this time.
Darian smiled.
"Oh?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a red apple, bright and perfect. "Hungry?"
Kael stared.
"If you get down," Darian said, tilting his head, "on all fours… I'll give it to you."
Kael hesitated.
Aren watched silently as Kael lowered himself. Knees on the stone road. Hands on dirt.
Darian laughed so hard he had to wipe his eyes.
"Look at you," he said. "Even worse than a dog."
He tossed the apple, and it landed near the wet ground where they had relieved themselves. He threw it intentionally so Kael couldn't eat it even though a bright red juicy apple was in front of him.
But Kael crawled toward it.
"You're really going to eat that?" Aren said, disgust clear in his voice. "Even after it fell in filth?"
Aren stepped forward and crushed it beneath his boot. He ground his heel harder. Thinking that would make the apple inedible to Kael.
Kael picked it up anyway. He wiped it against his shirt. Filthy or not, stepped on or not—it was still food. Something he could fill his stomach with. He did not feel disgusted. Because, even though he was humiliated, at least he got an apple to eat now. A faint joy filled his dizzy eyes. He stood up.
The world spun violently. His body was weak. He couldn't balance himself.
Instinct took over. He reached out. He extended his arm as his body pulled him back. He hoped at least one of his brothers would hold his arm.
How foolish of him. They didn't. Instead, they laughed.
Aren raised his foot and kicked him in the chest.
The railing struck his legs. The sky flipped. And Kael Valeborn fell.
Aren and Darian ran to the car.
"Mother… that bastard Kael snatched the apple from my pocket while I was taking a leak… and when I asked him to give it back, he kicked me in the chest and tried to run away, but he tripped, and his knee hit the railing, and he fell off the cliff." Darian spun the story in his favor. Aren nodded.
Edric scoffed. "A proper punishment for a thief like him. Let's go. It's getting late for our picnic," he said with no emotion.
No one cared that Kael fell off a cliff. They just sighed like it was a relief. Something they had been waiting for. Something they were secretly hoping for.
Pain tore through Kael as his body slammed, striking rock after rock, then branches, then rock again.
Pain exploded everywhere at once.
Something punctured his lung.
Blood filled his mouth.
He rolled and rolled until the world finally stopped, and the forest swallowed him whole.
He lay twisted in the forest below. Kael was silent, comprehending the situation.
For the first time in his life
Kael screamed.
"AAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHHH"
It wasn't because of the unbearable pain exploding in his entire body. He screamed because he couldn't take it anymore.
"Why…?" he sobbed. For the first time, letting his tears flow uncontrollably. "What did I do wrong…? What have I ever done wrong? Why am I treated worse than a vermin… WHYYY? …"
No one answered.
His vision dimmed. His last thought wasn't of his parents. Or his brothers.
It was a single word, carved into him by years of quiet cruelty. Vermin.
Darkness closed in.
Silence.
Then—
A wind passed over his broken body.
Black light gathered above him, forming letters that did not belong to this world.
[Scanning Host: Final Cognitive Pattern]
Vermin. Vermin. Vermin. Vermin. Vermin. Error.
[Processing...]
[Installation Complete.]
[Vermin System Initialized.]
[Scanning for Other Vermin System Hosts...]
[Scan Complete.]
[Host Count: 1]
[System Level: Unknown]
Kael opened his eyes.
A wild rat stood near his hand, sniffing at the crushed apple he still clutched.
"Wa… water…" Kael whispered.
The rat froze.
Then it turned and fled to its burrow.
Moments later, squeaks echoed through the forest.
One rat.
Then five.
Then twenty.
They ran to a nearby lake and returned again and again, pressing close, letting water drip from their mouths into his.
[Passive Authority: Vermin Recognition.]
[Congratulations: Vermin Authority Acquired.]
[Lesser Vermin Submit Instinctively.]
[Reward Granted: Instant Healing Applied.]
Light surged through Kael's body.
Bones knitted.
Lungs cleared.
Pain vanished.
Kael sat up.
He closed his eyes.
Remembered the hunger.
The pain he had endured all his life.
The humiliation.
The disgust.
The ill treatment.
The laughter.
The kick.
When he opened them—
A green aura flared around his body.
And for the first time…
Kael Valeborn smiled.
Because he was no longer Kael Valeborn.
He had become Kael Verminborn.
In the distance, something else had felt it awaken.