"What? You have a lot of money, but you send thugs to bully a little girl?" one sneered, laughing cruelly as they eyed the sack of gold I'd left for them.
My gaze locked on my sister, who was now trembling and crying quietly.
In my old life, I had never seen anyone cry because of me. Never once had tears been stirred by my actions. But here, now—her tears hit me like a jagged stone, sharp and unforgiving.
Pressure swelled inside my chest, squeezing until breath felt like a distant memory. My vision blurred, tears pricked at my eyes—mine this time.
Without thinking, a storm exploded inside me.
I grabbed the nearest stone and hurled it with all my strength at the thug who had grabbed her trembling hand. The impact was brutal, and he collapsed, clutching himself, crying out in pain.
"Run!" I whispered fiercely to my sister, pulling her close.
But the thugs weren't done. Strong hands seized my wrists, gripping tighter than iron.
"Go," I gasped, voice trembling but urgent. "Run... and find help. Tell whoever can protect us—tell them about that man I hit!"
One thug drew a knife, slashing toward me, but I barely felt the blade's bite. Instead, a searing pain burst through my side—cold and deep.
I looked down in horror to see blood—not mine, but hers.
The blade had stabbed my sister's stomach.
Time slowed. A terrifying silence swallowed the world.
Tears spilled down my cheeks unbidden. My body trembled in agony and rage.
I stood, wiping the tears with trembling hands.
My eyes—it was like they changed color, gleaming electric blue, burning with a fierce, unnatural light.
The world narrowed to the thug before me and the girl I swore to protect.
As if the pain fueled some hidden power, I took the blade forced into her.
With cold, deadly calm, I whispered, "You die for this."
And with that, the air around us snapped as my latent power surged out—
A storm was awakening within me…