It was a nice day outside. An isolated village of half-bloods was just waking as the sun rose over the hillsides and onto their land. This was a place of safety. A place of security. A place where beings who were half ancient, half-human could live, hidden from the Tribe of Darkness.

It was always hidden, for if the tribe found them, there would most definitely be dire consequences. However, the small village remained under the radar for years, and the people were happy.

"Hey," A little boy, no older than five whispered in the security of his home. He had pure white hair and gentle grey eyes. His skin was also pale, nearly white, but not quite. He was lying on his back on the bottom bunk of a classic bunk bed. His eyes had opened long before the sun had risen. "Are you awake?" He whispered, lifting his legs and kicking the bunk above him.

"No," Another child replied. This child's hair was dark black. He was four years older than the younger boy, being nine years old. His skin held more color than his little brother, being a shade of grey instead. He lightly smiled and pulled the blankets around him closer, keeping his eyes shut and yawning. Unlike the other child, this one enjoyed his rest and didn't like to be disturbed.

"Oh. Okay..." The first boy nodded, lying down and closing his eyes as well, before he finally realized and opened his eyes, sitting up with an annoyed expression on his face. "Wait, hey! You liar!"

"I'm not lying," The older boy yawned, eyes still shut. "I'm really asleep. Honest."

"Then how the heck are you talking to me?!" The younger boy exclaimed, holding his arms out. "You're a dirty liar, Dio!"

"I'm sleep-talking. Obviously," The older boy calmly replied, not taking any offense to being referred to as a dirty liar. "So don't wake me."

"Come onnnnn," The younger boy whined, getting out of bed and standing up on his tiptoes so he could peer onto the older boy's bunk. "You said we could play in the woods today! You promised! Get your lazy butt out of bed!"

"But sleep is calling. And I must answer..." The older boy yawned.

The younger boy scowled, then looked around the room, before smirking and snapping his fingers, making a few purple sparks appear in his right hand, like electricity. He quickly jumped up and tapped the black-haired boy on the shoulder, delivering a small zap that caused the older boy's hair to frizz up.

He immediately sat up upon being zapped and hit his head on the ceiling.

"OW! Oitnemid, what the heck?!" He cried, opening his eyes and rubbing his head. Both eyes were a mysterious black color with an almost dark purple hue.

"You weren't getting out of bed, Dimentio," The younger boy giggled.

"So you zapped me?!" Dimentio exclaimed. "There are more humane ways to get someone out of bed, you know."

"I know!" Oitnemid chimed, giggling more. "But none of those ways are as fun!"

"Alright, I get it, I get it," The older boy sighed, rolling his eyes and brushing his hands through his frizzy black hair, trying to smooth it down. "I'm up. Happy?"

"Very!" Oitnemid beamed while Dimentio climbed down from the top bunk. "You promised me we'd play today! You can't keep putting it off! You never play with me anymore!"

"Ugh," Dimentio breathed, yawning and stretching his arms. "First I have some chores to do. I'll play with you in the afternoon. Okay?"

"Awwww, why do you always have chores?!" The little boy whined. "Can't you just take a day off?!"

"I wish," Dimentio shrugged, giggling and leaning down to mess up his little brother's hair. "But you know how it is. There's always work to be done."

"Yeah, yeah. I get it." The little boy said, cringing and pushing his older brother's hand away. "We'll play after you're done. I'm gonna go out and climb trees in the woods until then!"

"Okay," Dimentio smiled, standing up and grabbing a small backpack, slinging it over his left shoulder, then reaching for the door. "Just don't fall and die. And tell mom where you're going. AND don't wander too far."

"I know, I know," Oitnemid giggled. "You say that every day. I'll be fine."

"I know," Dimentio smiled, waving and leaving, walking into the kitchen, where he rushed to one of the cabinets and grabbed a simple apple, biting down on it as he grabbed his father's old cloak, stuffing it into his backpack.

"Heading out to town?" His mother asked him, sitting in a rocking chair and putting the book she was reading down. Her hair was black, like his own. However, her eyes were grey like his brother's. She wore a kind smile on her kind face.

She was human, and a beautiful, smart one.

"Yep," Dimentio nodded with a mouthful of food.

She smiled softly at him, then stood up and walked over, placing a gentle hand on the side of his face as she eyed the cloak Dimentio had sticking out of his backpack. It was a long, dark purple cloak that was far too big for him, but he always took it with him everywhere. It made him feel like he was taking his father with him.

"He'd be proud," Dimentio's mother whispered.

"I know, mom. You say that every day." Dimentio giggled, readjusting the straps on the bag and shaking his head, heading for the door. "I'll see you later. Oitnemid said he's gonna be playing in the woods."

"Alright. Have fun today!" She waved, as he left the house, feeling the morning sun start to shine down on him. The air was still chilly, but he knew it would warm up soon enough.

His father had previously been a member of the tribe of darkness. He died not long after Oitnemid had been born when they were all fleeing to find this village, along with the other half-bloods. Dimentio had been four years old when his father was taken, but he still remembered him well. Dimentio specifically remembered that his father made lots of silly similes and always had a bright smile on. He was also super powerful, which Dimentio had hoped to be someday.

He himself wasn't all that great at magic yet. His younger brother was more powerful than him, actually. But still, magic fascinated him, and he loved watching people use it.

Was he jealous? Slightly. But it was okay. He had faith that his powers would come.

He walked through town, looking around at all the happy faces out on the street while he took a large box filled with food his family had saved for the neighbors, who were struggling financially, and carried it over to the next house over when Oitnemid suddenly appeared again.

"Dimmy! Are ya done? Are ya done? Can ya play now?" The kid frantically asked, poking Dimentio in the shoulder in an annoying manner. To this, Dimentio just rolled his eyes.

"I'm clearly carrying stuff. Just go home. I'll play later." He explained.

"Come onnnnn, you always say that!" Oitnemid whined. "You're ALWAYS too busy nowadays!"

"I said I'll play later. Just go bug someone else."

"Please Dio! I never get to see you! Why can't you make time?" The kid cried. "Mom's busy, you're busy, why is everyone busy?!"

"Because that's life," Dimenito shrugged. "Perhaps you should get busy too. I'm sure you can find something else to do."

"But I just wanna hang out with you!"

"Please, just go away. I don't have time for you right now." Dimentio breathed, his voice slightly firmer than before.

To this, the little boy drew back, his smile fading. Dimentio didn't mean for his voice to come out sounding like that. But he was busy. He had things to do. He didn't have time to deal with his little brother right now. So, the kid looked down, muttered an "Okay... I get it. I'll play later," and left.

Dimentio sighed as his brother left, but didn't take it too hard. This was how siblings were. He didn't let it get to him. He just moved past it and knocked on the neighbor's door with his foot. "Food delivery!" He called, waiting for an answer.

About thirty seconds later, a fifteen-year-old opened the door, smiling wide. "Hey, kid!" The teenager beamed, twirling a joker card in his hand. His eyes were a deep brown color. His hair was also dark brown, his skin tanned. He wore a red tophat with two cards stuffed into the belt of it, as well as red gloves, a red vest, and a long white undershirt with a tie. He also had one red diamond painted on his right cheek and a black on the left. He sorta looked like a weird street magician.

"Cosmo!" Dimentio beamed, nearly dropping the food box in excitement upon seeing the older boy. However, he was quickly able to regain his balance, making sure not to drop anything. "What are you doing here? Your house is across the street."

"I'm helping my girl's family out," He shrugged, taking the food box from Dimentio and setting it down inside. There was a fourteen old girl who did live in that house, who Cosmo was basically obsessed with. Dimentio didn't remember her name because she rarely talked, being super shy. Whenever he saw her she was always hanging around Cosmo. It was clear that Cosmo was head over heels for her. But none of this was all that relevant to Dimentio, so he didn't think much about it. The teenager beamed down at the food, then smiled mischievously and looked down at the kid. "Hey, wanna see something cool?"

"Always!" Dimentio quickly nodded.

With that, Cosmo took the joker card in his hand, then spun it around, making it seem to just disappear. Then, a moment later, he reached behind Dimentio's ear, seeming to somehow make it reappear in his hand.

That was this guy's thing. Illusions and tricks. "Whoa..." Dimentio murmured in amazement, eyes going wide.

"I know right. Also, check this out!" He beamed, waving his hand and seeming to make a red rose appear in it. Dimentio's eyes went wide. He reached for the flower, only for his hand to phase through it.

"It's not real. Just an illusion!" Cosmo laughed. "But it's still cool!"

"Indeed it is," Dimentio eagerly nodded.

Cosmo was always doing cool tricks like that. Dimentio loved seeing his magic. He was the oldest kid in town, being the first half-blood in this area. Dimentio never said it out loud, but he really looked up to the guy. Yes, Cosmo was silly, but he was also kind, always trying to put smiles on people's faces. If face, everyone in town was kind.

Dimentio loved his life. His family, his neighbors, everything. Yes, people were struggling, but they were also happy. He loved the town with all its imperfections.

He smiled and waved goodbye to the teenager, finished all his chores, and started heading towards the woods to find his brother and FINALLY play with him, as promised.

Then it happened.

He was just leaving town, heading out to the woods, when it hit. He heard a very loud booming sound, which made him jump.

Then, there were screams.

"H-Huh...?" He asked, turning around himself and back to town, seeing fire.

And lots of it.

There were people in the streets running and crying. He could see Cosmo outside, looking around in confusion. But he couldn't see his mother or his brother anywhere.

"KID!" Cosmo shouted as soon as he spotted Dimentio, running up and grabbing his arm. "THE TRIBE! THEY FOUND US! WE GOTTA EVACUATE!"

"W-What?!" Dimentio cried, his voice sounding much quieter than he meant it to, almost as if he couldn't get the air needed to speak. He was starting to find it harder to breathe, when another loud booming noise went off, making both the boys flinch.

"Oh, no, no, no," Cosmo hissed, letting go of Dimentio, then turning and kneeling so he was at the kid's level. "You find your family and get as far away from here as possible. I gotta find my girl."

"What?!" Dimentio exclaimed, his eyes getting teary. "W-What's going on?! I thought we were safe! Why is all this happening?!"

"Just stay calm and get out!" Cosmo cried, turning and running. "I'll be right behind you!"

He lied.

Dimentio stood frozen in fear, hyperventilating as more booming noises went off, the sound of powerful magic destroying the home he loved so much. He could hear the screams of good people dying and the maniacal laughter of the tribesmen doing it.

"....Mom! Oitnemid!" He cried, suddenly turning and sprinting to the woods, bringing his hands to his mouth. "OITNEMID?! WHERE ARE YOU?!"

He continued searching the nearby woods, then gave up and rushed back to the burning town, heading for his house. "MOM?!" He cried. She didn't respond. He swallowed, then ran up to his house, but right as he reached for the doorknob, another explosion went off, throwing him backward.

He remembered his head hitting the ground, then everything going black, hearing nothing but a high-pitched ringing.

______

When he later woke... he wasn't the same. The sky was grey and filled with ash... home was no longer home. He could barely see. Why couldn't he see? It was like half his vision was just... gone. Everything on the left side of his face burned and hurt. It was unbearably painful.

"....Mom?" He asked, sitting up, wincing as he did. "M-Mom?"

He slowly stood up, still feeling the heat radiate from everything. There was so much smoke that it was hard to even breathe. He coughed a few times, trying to gasp for clean air.

His backpack was destroyed. His father's cloak was burned to a crisp. It was gone. His dad was gone.

He walked to his home, taking a look at his reflection on the golden doorknob and immediately gasping. His left eye was no longer black, but a horrible, glowing yellow color. Most definitely from the magical blasts.

He shook his head, then swung the door open, slowly and carefully stepping inside. The roof and parts of the walls were gone. It didn't look like home anymore. "Mom...?" He whispered, fearing the worst.

No one answered. It was empty. No one was around. He couldn't hear anything. Not a sound or a sign of life anywhere.

Until he heard footsteps.

They were coming from behind him. He immediately perked up and turned around himself, only to see a man in a dark red cloak. Similar to his father's cloak, only different color.

He could see a few cloaked tribe members marching through the town, taking care of the people the explosions didn't get. But everything was much quieter now.

Friends he had, adults he trusted, familiar faces lied helplessly on the ground. He could even see Cosmo, the boy he looked up to, lying broken on the ground, his arms wrapped around his girl as if he was trying to protect her.

It was horrifying. Each tribe member had a different way of attacking. A different way of killing. Some used fire magic, some used invisible forces to suffocate people, and some just used random weapons. Each of their cloaks were different colors, but he could tell that they were all tribe members.

He breathed heavily, trying to process everything that was happening. It was all too fast. He needed to find his family. His eye hurt. His face hurt. Everything hurt.

"M-Mom?!" He cried, running into the broken town again, feeling hot tears burn as they streamed down his face. "MOM?! WHERE-"

"N-No... Please, please stop," A small voice whimpered from a few feet away. Dimentio halted in his tracks, immediately recognizing it to be the voice of his kid brother. He felt his heart lift upon hearing it, then rushed towards it, having to climb over some rubble and ruin.

He got to the top of a pile of ruined home and looked down to see the man in the red cloak. He recognized him as the tribe's leader, as he had a pin on his attire that said so. His weapon didn't seem to be magic exactly, but a large, silver sword which the man held in his right hand, gripping it tightly. He also had deep, glowing green eyes. It was a scary green. Not the pretty green that Dimentio associated with life and peace. But a dark, unsettling green.

Green was Dimentio's favorite color. He had always loved it. But he didn't appreciate the green of that man's eyes.

He looked forwards and saw his little brother, face covered in cuts and scratches. His white hair had flecks of red blood on it, and he looked afraid. He was hugging their mother, who was on the ground. She didn't look so good. Her eyes were shut. Her chest wasn't rising and falling with her breaths. It didn't even look like she was breathing.

Oitnemid hugged her tightly and looked up at the green-eyed man, trembling as he spoke. "Please, I haven't done anything to you. Why are you doing this?"

"I'm simply ridding the world of impurity. We're making the world a better place, and won't stop until every last impure disgrace is gone," The man stated his voice ghostly cold.

Dimentio felt himself begin to shake. But he didn't jump forward. He didn't run to Oitnemid and put himself between the two of them as he should have. He just stayed up there, frozen in fear. Frozen in horror as the man lifted his sword into the air and Oitnemid squeezed his eyes shut.

He just sat there and watched as the man brought the sword down on his little brother.

He sat and watched as the color red painted the side of that sword, thinking to himself that this HAD to be a dream. This HAD to be some sort of horrible nightmare, and that he'd wake up soon and it would all be over.

But he never woke up. Because this was real. And he just watched it happen.

"THAT'S MY BROTHER!" Dimentio cried after it was too late. His voice was broken and it cracked, but he didn't care. He quickly jumped down and rushed for Oitnemid, who was, like his mother, no longer breathing. Dimentio quickly slid to his knees and grasped his little brother's shoulders, hugging him tightly and allowing tears to fall. "No, no, no, no, no" He whimpered. "Please no."

"Oh, look. Another one," The green-eyed man laughed, looking down at Dimentio while the young boy sobbed, breathing heavily.

He wasn't afraid for himself. He wasn't thinking about how he was about to die. His mind was just flooded with the fact that the last thing he ever said to his brother was, 'Please, just go away. I don't have time for you right now.'

"This should be quick," The man stated, lifting his sword when something inside of Dimentio snapped.

Something suddenly changed.

A part of him did die that day, with that town and with everything he loved. Something about losing everything he ever knew changed him. The kid slowly let go of his brother, carefully lowering the kid to the ground, and turned around himself, tilting his head and glaring at the man with the green eyes.

He never hated anything more than he hated the color green at this moment. Because green was the color that took everything from him.

He felt his sadness and grief be replaced with anger. He clenched his trembling fists tightly, glaring up at the man with his one good eye.

He'd remember this feeling. Hate. Hate and grief. A feeling he'd never be able to let go of.

And he teleported away, right before the man's eyes. As if it was something he knew how to do all along.

______

That man, the one with the green eyes, was the Tribe of Darkness's leader. The one in charge of it all. He tasked himself with creating a perfect world where no impures would exist. And that's what he planned to do. That man left the tribe, leaving it under the leadership of his second in command, a slightly younger man with bright blue eyes and blue skin. Then, this man with green eyes searched the world for this last impure, promising that he would find him someday and that he would kill him.