A flock of birds soared through the tree-coated fields of Mystic Mountain in a jet-like formation, slowly descending and rushing through the frenzy of branches erecting from the trees. The birds' collision with the branches were followed by loud scattered cries echoing through the open blue skies.
That was when the injured boy's eyes bulged open. For five seconds, he admired the beauty of the mountain enhanced significantly from the shining sunrays piercing through the leaves.
Then it hit him - he was still haunted by loneliness.
The restricted smile of admiration and true beauty plastered across his face quickly faded, bringing the return of his gloomy frown of depression. "Why should I continue living in this world?" he asked himself, recurring thoughts of death and despair crowding his mind like a flash flood. "This power tortures me mentally and physically, yet my will to live acts like a shining ray in a world of darkness."
The deteriorating skin on his hands met the damp, thin grass gently blowing beneath his body. He pushed against the tree's hard oak, lifting both his legs against the ground and glancing towards the beautiful buildings of Crystal City. He melted into a long stare, slightly relieving the overwhelming feeling swarming his mental state.
"That idiot Grace, always forcing me to do chores…" Kevin pouted, slowly pacing himself towards the city. He grabbed the final pair of leaves covering him from the gloomy boy's sight, revealing themselves to each other for the very first time. "There's another kid out here?" Kevin whispered to himself, examining the thick blisters across his leg which reminded him of the mysterious flame outside his window the night before. "Are you hurt? If you want, I can ask Grace to treat those bur-"
Throughout the span of the boy's childhood, he lacked skills of communication due to his hatred towards other human beings - in reply to Kevin's treatment offer, he bolted straight back into the colorful forest. "All of you are the same! Nobody in this wretched world of entities is truly offering to help - they're just all worthless pieces of shit who deserve to d-"
Two sinister chuckles sounded from behind the bush. In the span of just two seconds, they grabbed the injured boy and rushed toward the Sword Graveyard.
About 30 minutes later
Now holding Grace's groceries, Kevin strolled back up Mystic Mountain towards the shed. He was interrupted by a sudden scream blooming from the southeast direction, forcing him to drop both his groceries and rush towards the scene. "I don't know what the hell is happening, but it can't be good!"
---
"We've been looking all over for you, but now we've finally got you in our grasp!" a loud voice sounded. The injured boy, now tied against a tree branch by his wrists, let out another desperate scream begging for help. "Nobody's willing to help someone like you, boy! The only way out is submission or SUDDEN DEA-"
Sudden crackles of lightning emanated from the distance, shifting the focus of the two kidnappers. "That sound…" one of them, firmly gripping a small butcher knife in his hands. The other held a wooden bat, staring lifelessly into the boy's eyes with a hysterical smile. "This boy could go for a rather hefty price!" he claimed, completely disregarding the crackles of lightning gradually growing louder with each passing second. Before the instinct of taking action crossed their minds, it was too late - Kevin had appeared through the bushes with a crackling fist, piercing the man holding the butcher knife straight in the chest. "Seems like we've got some kidnappers roaming free across Crystal!" he shouted, shifting his glare towards the man holding the wooden bat.
"You twerp!" he shouted in reply, swinging the bat straight down towards Kevin and forcing him to the ground. "I'm not going to put up with your hero act - you either kill or get killed within this world, and we'll USE YOU TWO AS AN EXAMPLE!" Kevin desperately glanced at the boy, who was now heavily breathing and sobbing while watching his struggle. "WHY THE HELL ARE YOU PURSUING ME!?"
Kevin gasped, the gravity of the boy's scream pushing against him like a heavy anvil. "You're obviously hurt, so I'm going to revise your question - WHY ARE YOU PUSHING ME AWAY!?" Both their reactions shifted onto one another, changing the gravity of the entire situation. The white-haired kidnapper holding the baseball bat pushed harder against Kevin's body, grunting loudly with a smile. "How exhilarating breaking the spirits of young children can be!" he called, slamming the bat against the dirt just inches away from Kevin's head. "YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!" the boy shouted yet again.
Despite the circumstances, Kevin's head lifted from the ground without any worry. Sparks of lightning ignited across his body, exerting small waves of warmth across the area. "I won't consider death… UNTIL I SURPASS THE REALM GOD!" he cried, blowing the kidnapper across the room and slamming him against the ground.
The sound of the baseball bat conjoined the sorrowful boy's scattered whimpers and the crackles of Kevin's lightning, followed by the arrogant grunts of the white haired man who glared angrily back towards Kevin. "I won't let a kid stop me…" he muttered, slowly pacing across the room and snatching the bat from the floor's grasp. "Not now, and NOT EVER!"
Memories of Kevin's training alongside Grace flowed through his mind like an aggressive waterfall, encouraging the raging lightning stretching across his body even more than before. He had never been in a real fight before, but he felt as if this had happened many times before.
With his unstoppable determination and his effective control over lightning, Kevin struck the white-haired kidnapper in the chest, blowing him against a nearby tree. After confirmation regarding his unconsciousness, the lightning across his body faded.
About a minute later, he emerged from the dirt as if nothing had happened, using the butcher knife to cut straight through the ropes holding the boy on the tree. "You alright?" he asked, his eyes focusing on the beautiful sunset peeking through the forest. The child hesitated for a moment, following a waterfall of tears streaming down his face. "Why the hell did you save me, boy!?" he continued, glancing at the kidnappers' unconscious bodies. "There is no such thing as sincerity in this world, and you won't encourage me to think otherwise!"
His head focused on the dry dirt beneath them, Kevin's head lifted towards the boy's face, staring straight into his hazel eyes. "Helping each other out no matter the cost," he answered, placing his hand on the boy's brown, messy curly hair. "That is the quality of a true friend."