Year 163 EA, Neutral Area, Hoian.

Tus Gilgar, age 14, stood on a deck at the edge of a lake with a fishing pole in hand. On various places on his arms, legs, and face were brown and green bruises of small and large sizes. He faced the waters motionlessly, deep in thought.

“Hey Tus, why are you out here?” A middle-aged man with a little girl who walked by his side, asked.

The middle-aged man was Tus’s father, whose name was Reus Gilgar. He appeared rather ‘ordinary’ without a hint of internal energy coming from his body. He and the little girl also had fishing rods in their hands with almost the same intent as Tus.

Tus turned around and smiled, “I just wanted to see the water.”

“Brother was bullied again? He got so many bruises this time.” The little girl who stared, concerned with large eyes. Her name was Bell, six years old, and Tus’s little sister. She wore casual clothes that were carefully handmade, albeit not professionally

“I’ll talk with the town master.” Reus sighed and said after shaking his head.

“It won’t do anything.” Tus blankly looked back onto the water, “You talked to him before, but the town doesn’t care about our family. We are worthless to them. Every day, everyone we meet, look at us with those wretched faces! Even the children my age beat me and I can’t fight back. I hate it! Why did we have to be born different from the rest of them? The only people with that power, who actually stand by our side, are mom, grandma, and grandpa.”

Reus and Bell sat down next to Tus. Reus smiled with understanding, “I had to deal with the same thing you had when I was your age. Just give it time and it will work out, I promise. If it doesn’t, then you can have one free kick at me.” He looked to the noon sky and said, “Let’s catch dinner.”

Tus’s face brightened as he laughed.

…………

Year 165 EA, five weeks later, Hoian region conquered by the Country of Felan.

“Kill the Gilgars!”

“Free the land of their blood!”

“Bust that door!”

A large mob was outside a small house in the woods and they made loud, murderous cries as they carried torches, ropes, and improvised weapons ranging from shovels to harvester scythes.

“What do we do?!” Tus looked out the window in terror as the mob approached.

Three people also peered out of the windows alongside of him. There was his and Bells’ mother, Jul, with Bell and Reus. All of them, except for Bell, were stricken with fright.

“Why are they saying they want to kill us?” Bell asked innocently.

When Felan, a temporary Organization, expanded into the area, they followed the trend of the other forces with a genocide on those deemed ‘unfit.’ Everyone everywhere were encouraged to carry out the executions of hundreds to thousands. Even with such an awful act, people performed it passionately as they found themselves ‘burdened’ to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves. Adding to that mindset was the thought that such people were not really human to begin with.

Reus knelt down to eye level of Tus and Bell, and said sternly, “Both of you have go to grandpa’s place. They have the ability to protect you two and that land can’t be touched these people.”

Tus asked with tears in his eyes, “What about you and mom?”

“We’ll be fine.” Jul’s voice shook as she said so. She knelt down as well, “Hurry and take your sister. We’ll be fine.” She repeated.

“…” Tus knew the situation they were in and knew what hopes and dreams they had of them, but a feeling so strong that it crushed his chest, planted his feet down to the ground.

“Tus!” Reus yelled at him, causing the feeling to break, Tus nodded his tear stained face.

All of them silently hugged each other as the sound of the coming mob grew louder. Tus grabbed and carried Bell, running for the back of the house.

Bell cried out, “Mom! Dad!” However, the sounds were drowned out from the roars of the crowd that were already at the front of the house.

Tus dashed through the door and ran through the trees with the yelling Bell. They quickly made their escape as Reus and Jul confronted the crowd.

Whatever happened to their parents afterwards was unknown.

…………

Year 367 EA, Froir, Golden Flame.

“What’s wrong?” Worill noticed Tus’s unnatural behavior.

“It’s nothing.” Tus said with a darkened expression.

“Alright.” Worill nodded without asking further. “Well, that is the situation with the regimes and that bastard.”

“Are you sure they’re tracking us?” Tus asked while he looked outside.

“I checked the surroundings and that seems to the case. Three of his bodyguards are watching all the exits.” Worill answered.

‘So I really can’t leave the city right now. Maybe after the duel, I can sneak out.’ Tus helplessly thought.

“Is there any food left? At all?” Worill seriously asked Tus and Shel.

“Only the scraps on the walls.” Shel said after glancing at the stained walls.

“Really?! Neither of you could give me a plate?” Worill once again gazed at the plates that were practically clean.

Yarla’s room.

Yarla sat on the bed with her eyes closed and her legs crossed. Internal energy flashed sporadically over her body and blue scars formed in the air. From them, numerous crystalline claws reached out, desiring to come into the world. Faint, soul piercing cries echoed from within them.

This was a power practiced by her regime, World of Em, as it was passed down upon those who meet the qualifications. It was one of the methods to take advantage of one of the second hearts’ primary deposit, which was the abstract type, spatial. Its meaning is more than just matter and space, but more of the case of ripping apart the dimension, and control what comes across.

World of Em was made to access the Land of Darkness and Imagination, a neighbor to the Land of Oblivion. Although it was a neighbor, this land was seen not as dangerous as the Land of Oblivion, as whatever comes from it can be perfectly controlled, and has to quickly return or else the thing would die.

Yarla stopped and looked down at a blue pendent of a star. She muttered, “Mom, I’ll use your blessing to destroy this challenge and I’ll avenge you of those who wished you harm. No one will escape from this retribution.”