There are two kinds of pain in the world .
The kind that make you scream and the kind that turns silence into your only language .
Fenra belonged to the second kind .
Kaien realized that when she stopped flinching at his voice . Fear had given away to something quieter - resignation. She obeyed not because he demanded it because resistance had long ago stopped being part of her vocabulary.
They had traveled for three days , passing through villages that smelled of iron and smoke .
The villages grew poorer the closer they got to Baron Mikal 's estate . Everyone spoke his name the same way they spoke of storms --
Inevitable, destructive, and not worth cursing because curses don't stop the rain.
Bastard, Fucking Pig .
Kaien had seen and hear the tyrant before in movies and in history class or in suits and ties smiling behind the company logos .
Mikal was simply the medieval version of the same disease.
He wasn't angry .
He was curious.
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At night
They camped near a river, where the moonlight beld into the water . Fenra sat by the fire .
Her wolf ears twitching faintly as she stared into flames .
Kaien watched her without speaking . He wasn't one for comfort and she wasn't one for conversation.
But tonight, something different hung in the air . The silence between them wasn't hollow. It was waiting.
" How are you feeling ? " Kaien with cold voice .
" Good " Fenra flatly , she weirdly staring him because he hadn't a single word and now he was asking how are you .
" Hmmm . " Kaien coughed , just trying to make conversation .
" Why .... Fenra hesitated, but " Why are we going ? "
Kaien was glad . After being reincarnated, he was having conversation with a girl ( except Listi )
" Oh ... We are going to meet Baron Mikal in Virena Village. "
" Baron Mikal " after hearing those word , Fenra had a drained face . She was in shocked.
" Fenra .... Fenra ... Fenra .... "
" Huh ? " Fenra turned her head .
" Where have you lost ? I was telling , we are going to visit , Mikal . "
" Why ? " .... Fenra asked coldly .
" For money , Of course . People Man need Powerful people . I am your sure , we will get some money from him . ",
There was silence. Fenra shocked face and trembling hands , justifying that something was wrong.
" Tell me .... " He said at last . " What happened ? "
Her shoulders stiffened. For a moment, he thought she'd stay . Then softly , she spoke .
" I am from Wolf Tribe of the Virena Village . My father was the leader of the pack, his name was Runo . He ruled the pack where everyone lived happily until ---
" That man came . " Fenra tear about came .
" He came from the West , Mikal . He said he wanted to make peace . To trade iron for protection. We believed him ."
His voice was slow , detached. Each words seemed to cost her something.
But we agreed. Then One day ---
" He came with soldiers , not merchants . He said our kind - beastkins - were monsters pretending to be people. "
He called it cleansing. The elder resisted but they burned alive . Those who ran were hunted . Those who begged were chained .
They killed children infront of their mother .
Raped women infront of their husbands and children .
Everything I have was destoryed .
Kaien stared into a fire . The flames reflected in his cold eyes , making him look more demon than man .
" And you ? " He asked .
Fenra hesitated, " I was a scout . I tried to lead some of the young ones to safety . We were caught . And he marked us . "
She lifted her arm slightly. A black rune pulsed faintly beneath her fur , near her shoulder.
Its pattern twisted like a living smoke .
" He beat us , with bat , with fist and pouch . Kicking everywhere he want . He raped me always , where ever he want . He do want be want .
Screams and tears . Until he broke me ....
He sold me the Slaver . Threw me like a broken tool . But one thing remained his Mark . "
" And he said anyone who tried to free us would die . Some tried . They did . "
He leaned closer , studying the mark . The air around it shimmered faintly with mana . He could feel the curse's intent .
It was more than magic . It was malice woven into flesh .
" Quiet a clever,man " he murmured , " A curse that punishes compassion . Make mercy fatal . Efficient way to train obedience."
Fenra 's expression didn't change . " It worked . "
For a while , neither spoke . The fire crackled, wind whistled through the trees .
Kaien broke the silence. " So that's why didn't resist when I bought you. "
" You can't remove it " she said flatly . " If you try , you'll die too . Everyone does . "
" My friends , my comrade, everybody die ."
Kaien smiled faintly . " Good thing , I'm not everyone. "
Her gaze flickered toward him ,wary . " You'd
die too . "
" Maybe " he said ." But I'd rather die breaking the rule than someone who follows by someone else rules. "
She blinked at him , uncertain if he was mocking or not .
Later that night deepened, Kaien took out his Shadow Katana , shimmering with black aura , it's sleek form and thin like a condensed twilight .
He cut his palm lightly and pressed his bleeding hand against the curse mark .
Fenra gasped , " Stop --
The air trembled . Red sparks danced across the rune , reacting violently . A shockwave of energy pushed Kaien back.
His hand smoked faintly , skin burned but not destoryed .
He looked at the wound then at her .
" Well , it's real . You weren't exaggerating. "
" Why ...why would you test it ? "
" Because every person should know their enemy . If even enemy is strong .... You should how to crack the enemy. "
She stared at him , speechless . Not in awe--
She was far beyond that -- but in confusion.
The man didn't act like a saviour or monster .
He was something far stranger.
When she finally slept , Kaien remained awake . He sat his blade resting across his knees . Thinking .
" What should be done ? "
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At morning , as they walked and reached the village walls , gold trimmed building rose beside starving beggers . Music drifted from brothels , laughter from gambling den .
It was paradise built on bones .
Kaien walked through it with silent contempt .
Every smiling face reminded him of corporate banquets , every bow of obedience mirrored the meetings where weak man worshipped stronger.
" Welcome Home , Fenra . " He said quietly.
She flinched at the words , thiggh there was no malice in his tone . Only cold irony.