Trembling with uncontrollable anguish, the boy's tear-soaked face contorts in agony as he screams into the empty void of the wilderness. His fists pound at his chest, a futile attempt to quell the overwhelming pain that consumes him.
"I saw it all! The faces...the people...me, me!" His cries pierce through the desolate landscape, each word a desperate plea for someone to hear and understand his suffering.
"You did this! You monstrous beast!" He roars, his voice raw and hoarse from the endless accusations hurled into the vast emptiness around him. In a final act of desperation, he slams his head against the unyielding trunk of a tree, blood trickling down his face.
But there is no one there to witness his torment. No one to see the fire burning in his bloodshot eyes, now devoid of any life or emotion. For within him, beyond the reach of anyone's understanding, lies a darkness so deep and unfathomable that even his own cries fall upon deaf ears.
And so, Viktor weeps...for the shattered innocence and soul that will never be restored.
****
My name echoed through the fog that seemed to be consuming my consciousness. Though my mind was hazy and disoriented, I could vaguely discern a feminine voice calling out for me. The sound of hurried footsteps grew louder as I struggled to wake up.
As my vision slowly cleared, I squinted against the harsh sunlight and tried to locate the source of the frantic footsteps surrounding me. But before I could respond, something was shoved into my mouth. It tasted like dirt, grass, and other debris from the forest floor. Frantically trying to spit it out, I felt small insects crawling all over my skin, their tiny legs pricking at me.
I brushed off the ants with a sense of panic rising in my chest, wincing as a sharp pain throbbed in my head. Through the haze, I saw Emeline and Charles approaching me. Emeline sprinted towards me and wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug, offering comfort and support.
Suddenly, a sting on my face followed by a loud smack jolted me back to reality. Emeline had slapped me, leaving a red mark on my cheek that stood out against my pale skin.
"How could you do this? Do you have any idea how long we've been looking for you?" she cried out between sobs, shaken and angry at the same time.
Charles knelt next to me, his warm hand resting on my shoulder. His eyes were filled with empathy and compassion as he leaned down to kiss the top of my head.
I stood there in silence, taking in their words without fully acknowledging them. My breathing was slow and steady, as if I were trying to ground myself in the present moment amidst the turmoil within.
Eventually, I stood up and brushed off the dirt from my clothes with robotic gestures. What had I done?
"We can leave now," I mumbled, barely audible over the sound of rustling leaves. With that, I started walking back towards the manor, not bothering to check if they were following. But the steady rhythm of footsteps behind me assured me they were.
Sensing my need for solitude, they respected my quietness and allowed me to reflect on my thoughts undisturbed. The three-hour journey back seemed much shorter when Charles suggested using his power to float us back.
Emeline hesitated at the proposal, her reluctance evident. Maybe she wanted to spend more time with her Big Brother and was afraid this swift return would take away that opportunity.
As we pulled up to the manor, Virmil leapt out of his seat and rushed towards me with concern in his eyes. "Boy, you nearly gave us a heart attack! What happened?" he asked, pulling me into a tight hug.
I found myself struggling for words, unable to fully explain the turmoil I had just experienced. "I'm sorry...I had a nightmare," I mumbled weakly.
Virmil's grip tightened even more at my admission. "Sending a child on a man's mission...I'll have a talk with your father about this. Go back inside for now; I need to speak with your brother," he instructed.
Following his orders, I made my way back into the manor and wandered aimlessly through its elegant halls without any real direction. Suddenly, a voice called out to me.
"Hello, darling! We were worried about you getting lost. I'm glad you're alright," the woman said, introducing herself as Patricia Tailon. Her words brought back a distant memory of when our paths crossed briefly during one of my mother's festivals.
I continued to stare at her, feeling confused and uneasy. She smiled warmly and gestured for me to come closer. "Well, don't just stand there like a deer caught in headlights," she teased.
Feeling awkward and unsure, I followed her lead as she guided me through the home until we reached a long, luxurious couch.
"Have a seat," she instructed, pointing to the spot next to her. Without hesitation, I sat down beside her.
As she crossed her legs, her gaze lingered on me as if studying my features intently. "Has anyone ever told you that you look like a girl? And I don't mean that in a bad way at all. You're quite beautiful," she remarked with a hint of seduction.
I wasn't sure how to respond, feeling uncomfortable and trapped. I shifted my eyes to the floor, wondering where Charles and Uncle were and why Emeline hadn't joined us.
"Hmgh," I coughed awkwardly, clearing my throat. "Maybe a few times. It's not something I really think about. But thank you..." I trailed off quietly.
She smiled softly, her fingers delicately playing with my hair as if tempting me to stay put. "Haha, of course. You're always welcome here, darling. Don't forget that," she murmured, continuing to massage my head.
My discomfort grew with each passing moment, but for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to protest as she held me captive with her touch and presence. Just as I began to feel suffocated, Uncle's voice broke through the spell.
"Viktor! Come here and grab your sword," he called out, thankfully interrupting the uncomfortable situation. I seized the chance to escape, quickly bowing before darting off to grab my sword and joining Uncle at the door.
"Yes, sir?" I asked eagerly, relieved to leave that awkward encounter behind. He nodded and motioned for me to follow him as he grabbed a blade from the nearby wall.
"Come on, I'm going to make sure you never lose another sword fight," he declared confidently as we left the manor.
We walked for what felt like hours through the forest until we reached a large circular clearing. The ground was covered in striking red sand instead of grass.
To my surprise, the scrawny boy from earlier stood there as well. He must be Virmil's son, which would make him my cousin. Did he also need sword lessons?
Virmil introduced us with a booming voice, "Hey, this is your cousin Viktor. His name is L. Hope you two get along."
L stood stoically, his eyes scanning the surroundings without a hint of emotion. I offered a warm smile and a tentative wave, but he merely shrugged in response.
As Virmil tossed a sword towards the boy, I couldn't help but notice how naturally he caught it - a sign of his formidable skill.
"First, I need to assess where you both stand," Virmil explained as we began to walk towards the sandy sparring circle, "So, you'll be sparring today. The first one to step out of the circle loses."
Just as we were about to enter the circle, Virmil halted us with a stern command. "One more thing, Viktor. Charles and Werner have told me of your proficiency with magic. But today, we're here to focus on your sword skills. No spells are to be used, understood?" He emphasized, making sure there was no room for misinterpretation.
I nodded in acknowledgment, feeling a twinge of disappointment at not being able to use my magic. But I knew that mastering swordsmanship was crucial for my development as a warrior. There would be many situations where relying solely on magic could be a liability.
Stepping into the circle, L took his stance with an air of confidence that made me pause for a second. But I quickly followed suit, mentally preparing myself for the challenge ahead.
"Begin!" Virmil's voice boomed through the clearing.
Without hesitation, L launched into a relentless flurry of attacks aimed at my chest. I barely managed to evade his strikes, leaping backward to create distance between us.
"Tch," I muttered under my breath, assessing L's skill level and formulating a strategy in my mind. Despite being a Tailon like me, I wasn't sure of his skill level, but it was safe to assume that he had formidable swordsmanship.
Determined to turn the tide in my favor, I charged at L, feinting a strike to his right before aiming a swift kick at his head. He reacted swiftly, blocking my attack with the side of his sword and pushing me away in the process.
I nearly stumbled but managed to regain my footing as I launched another assault. L aimed a quick slice at my knee, but whether he was holding back or simply not fast enough, I managed to evade the strike.
Seizing the opportunity, I struck back with two well-placed punches to his upper body, trying to break through his defense. It seemed to work, as I noticed a slight opening in his guard. Without hesitation, I dashed forward, closing the distance between us and delivering a series of kicks to his side, leg, and head. All three blows connected with precision and force, but to my surprise, L appeared unfazed.
I backed up, watching him closely for his next move. Suddenly, he vanished and reappeared beside me, thrusting his sword towards my side. I barely had time to react, managing to avoid the full force of the attack but still receiving a shallow cut along my side.
Despite the pain, I pressed on, engaging in an intense exchange of blows with L. Our swords clashed with resounding clangs as neither one of us seemed to gain any upper hand.
After what felt like an eternity of battle, I finally managed to land a solid hit on L's upper arm with my sword. Sensing an opening, I pushed forward with all my might and kicked L out of the circle - securing my victory.
"Bravo! Now that was quite the spectacle," Virmil exclaimed proudly as we caught our breaths. "I thought you were much worse with the sword, especially after hearing how badly your father wanted you to be sent here. You certainly exceed my expectations, boy."
But despite his praise, I couldn't shake off the realization of what lay ahead of me - a one-on-one duel with Virmil Tailon, a seasoned warrior and general. The thought was daunting, but I couldn't afford to back down now.
Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I nodded in acknowledgment of Virmil's instructions. As he positioned himself in the center circle, I stepped into the larger outer circle, mentally preparing myself for the ultimate test of skill and bravery that awaited me.
With a precise flick of my wrist, I summoned a small orb of crackling lightning magic. The air around me seemed to hum with energy, and I could feel the power coursing through my veins as I held the orb at the ready. I knew that to stand a chance against Virmil, I would need to combine both my sword skills and magical abilities.
"Begin!" Virmil's voice reverberated across the clearing, signaling the start of our duel. My senses heightened as I focused on Virmil's every move, anticipating his next strike and preparing to react at a moment's notice.
Despite my intense training and constant improvement, each attempt to defeat Virmil left me feeling frustrated and exhausted. But amidst the physical and mental strain, there was a glimmer of determination burning within me.
I refused to give up, even as the days stretched on and the challenges seemed insurmountable. I pushed myself harder, drawing upon every ounce of strength and resilience I possessed.
As the week came to a close, I stood before Virmil once again, sweat dripping from my brow and muscles screaming in protest. But this time, there was a newfound sense of resolve in my heart. I knew that I had grown stronger, both as a swordsman and as a mage, and I was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
With steely determination in my eyes, I readied myself for another round with Virmil, determined to prove myself once and for all.
At the end of the week mark, I finally managed to get Virmil to take a larger step back than usual, successfully breaking through his defenses just enough for him to call it an improvement. This granted us permission to return to the manor.
***
After taking a refreshing bath in our room, something unusual caught my attention - the sound of giggles mixed with pained cries coming from another room. Curiosity piqued, I followed the noise until I reached what appeared to be a woman's room.
As I cautiously approached, the sounds grew louder and more distinct. It was the sound of a young girl screaming for someone - her mother - to stop.
A loud slap echoed through the door, followed by disjointed laughter. Carefully peering through the slightly open door, I saw two women and Patricia holding down another lady who was looking at them with lustful eyes. As well as a fourth girl, fully clothed sitting in a luxurious couch not engaging in the pile up.
But as I took in the scene before me, my heart sank. The three women were completely nude, locked in a passionate embrace with each other despite their cries for mercy. And then I noticed the young girl's face - it was L.
Before I could process what was happening, Virmil suddenly appeared next to me and firmly grabbed my shoulders. He led me away from the room and spoke in hushed tones about what had just transpired.
My mind swirled with shock and disbelief as Virmil revealed the dark secrets that haunted his family. How L or Lilith had been forced to take on a false identity and how far he had gone to protect her. It was all too much to bear.
According to him, Lilith had been forced to masquerade as a boy because of her mother's perverse tendencies. But in a strange and twisted way, this had all worked out for Virmil, who had longed for a son. As he spoke these words, his eyes shone with a mix of pride and regret, as if he was still processing the consequences of his wish. The air around them felt heavy with unspoken truths and unhealed wounds.
Virmil nodded somberly. "Yes, our son knows the truth. He may not fully understand it yet, but he is resilient and knows that we love him no matter what
I couldn't begin to imagine what L must be going through, to be caught in the middle of such a tangled web of deceit and manipulation. But as I looked into Vilmir's eyes, I saw a glimmer of determination, a silent promise to protect his family at any cost.
As we sat in silence, the weight of Vilmir's words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over everything I thought I knew about the Tailon family. And as the realization sank in, I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets lay hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered.
He pushed himself up from the seat as he stretched. "Any way, don't think too deep into it. Were going to be training hard these next few days. So get all the rest you can." And with that he left to his room. He said we would train...
And train we did...