Gabriel sat in the narrow alleyway that connected his school to his father's palace.
As usual, he was battered and bruised. The pain had become routine — punishment for being a waste, a disgrace to his family.
"Urghh…" Gabriel groaned, forcing himself off the ground."Damn it," he muttered under his breath. Cursing was one of the few things he still had control over. His fate, however, was not. It was not as if he had chosen to be born this way. It was not as if he could tell the Creator how to shape him.
He walked slowly down the alley, dreading what awaited him at home. His classmates bullied him, but they never dared to go too far. After all, he was still the crowned prince of the Sunfire Kingdom. His step-siblings, however, had no such restraint. They could do whatever they pleased, and no one cared — no one except his mother and his biological siblings. They tried to protect him, but they could not always be there. Today was proof of that.
Sunfire Palace, Sunfire Kingdom
Gabriel stepped into the grand palace. He had lived here his entire life, yet he could never stop marveling at its magnificence. Still, admiration did little to hide his fear. Each step toward his chambers felt heavy, as though he were sneaking into enemy territory.
"Hey, you. Why are you sneaking about?"
His heart skipped a beat. Slowly, he turned, and his fears were confirmed. It was his sixth sister — Delaney Ashford, the first daughter of his father's third wife. Her pretty face carried its usual mischievous smile, one that made Gabriel's body tense. He quickly composed himself, raised his head, and walked past her without answering.
The smile vanished, replaced by an angry frown.
"You piece of trash! Who do you think you are?" she growled.
Gabriel stopped, his patience already thin."Delaney, what the hell is your problem now?" he snapped.
His outburst stunned her for a moment, but by the time she reacted, he had already slipped into his room.
"Bastard!" she screamed, charging after him.
Gabriel tried to close the door, but how could he be faster than a cultivator? The bitter smile on his lips showed that he already knew the answer. She forced her way inside.
Delaney lunged like a tigress."You'd better be careful how you run your mouth, you worthless trash!" she spat, landing a savage kick to the side of his head.
Boom!
Gabriel crashed into the wall and slid to the ground. His vision spun. The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, and when he spat, a few broken teeth came with it.
"Bitch…" he growled weakly.
Delaney laughed, her anger flaring. "Good, good, good. You've grown some nerve, haven't you?" she sneered, stepping closer and raising her fist.
Gabriel raised his hands to shield his face, bracing himself. Seconds passed… but the strike never came.
Instead, he heard a firm, familiar voice.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?"
Gabriel peeked through his arms. Standing in the doorway was his junior sister — Daisy Ashford. Relief washed over him, but so did shame.
Yes, he was glad to be rescued, but being saved by his younger sister filled him with humiliation. And yet, perhaps that was his fate — the destiny of the weak. To suffer.