《The beginning after the end》


 Prologue

    Something had to be going wrong.


    The pressure suffocating me from all sides overwhelmed my senses. I thought my fat was melting, my muscles were tearing, and my bones were being crushed. The pain was indescribable, more intense than anything I had experienced before.


    My muscles seemed to tear and my bones creaked under an invisible force. The flesh of my body twisted with every movement, unable to protect me from the agony that enveloped me. I thought this must be what hell felt like.


    Instinctively, I wanted to scream to release some of my suffering. But something stopped me, a liquid threatened to flood my lungs.


    I understood that screaming would not only endanger my own life. With great effort, I held back the scream that was fighting to escape from my throat.


    Suddenly, I felt an unbearable pressure in my skull. It was as if they were crushing my head, extracting my brain through my nose and eyes. The pain was so intense that for a moment I considered wrapping the umbilical cord around my neck to end it all.


    It was then that I heard soft crying, it sounded like a woman. Wait, Cord? Crying? Only then did I realize my situation. I was being born, I was a baby.


    Curiously, the first thought that crossed my mind wasn''t of panic or disbelief. Instead, I found myself reflecting: So the light at the end of the tunnel is actually the light coming through the vagina...


    I couldn''t believe birth was so painful. Did all human beings have to go through this hell just to be born?


    It seemed incredible to me that humanity continued to reproduce in this way. The only reason I didn''t give up was because of my mother.


    I could feel the pain of childbirth not only in my own moans but also in the contractions of the uterine walls surrounding me.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    I wasn''t alone in this struggle, my mother was with me. Through tears, the woman gathered strength and the pressure that threatened to crush me suddenly changed.


    At the decisive moment, I added my weak efforts to those of my mother, even if they were the weak efforts of a baby. When finally my skull escaped the clutches of the birth canal, I let out the scream I had been holding back.


    A sea of stars passed before my sight, transforming into a hazy symphony of colors, only to be abruptly replaced by a blinding light that forced me to close my eyes and I could cry for the first time.


    But gradually, the world around me began to clear.


    When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I felt was a dazzling light. I squinted, uncomfortable, trying to focus my blurry vision.


    I saw a small arm moving by itself in front of me. It took me a moment to realize that arm belonged to me, although I didn''t yet feel it as mine.


    My body was out of my control, making only reflex movements in response to external stimuli. I remembered what modern science from my previous world said: this was due to the immature brain activity of a newborn. They were right, my brain hadn''t fully matured yet.


    With effort, I directed my gaze toward the two figures watching me from above. My vision, still developing, only captured blurry shadows of their faces. My hearing wasn''t much better either.


    I decided to analyze my surroundings, as it seemed to be the only thing I could do.


    Gradually, my eyes became accustomed to the brightness.


    It seemed I had been born from some satanic summoning ritual because this room was lit only by a couple of candles and we were on the floor on a bed of straw.


    Looking at me intently while holding me was an impressive woman. She had long, silky golden-red hair and impressive green eyes, bright as emeralds.


    She radiated a warmth I wasn''t familiar with, something that simply drew you in without realizing it. Her naturally colored lips shone with the setting sun as luminescent rays spread across the small wooden room, the light made her look like an angel.


    I could almost see the halo above her head.


    I reached out my hands toward her, wanting to touch this divine being, and met another hand that slowly wrapped around mine as her pale face filled with love while her hand slowly caressed my cheek.


    Then my mother pulled down her shirt, exposing her bare breast, before gently placing my face next to it.


    I couldn''t understand what she was saying, but I thought I understood the point.

 Chapter 1: My life now

    It was interesting to feel how my mouth moved instinctively the moment I pressed it against my mother''s breast. It was an involuntary movement similar to that of my arms and legs, and I felt as if I were inside a small animal.


    I felt a warm liquid going down my throat without tasting much of the flavor. However, I felt the liquid going down my trachea and stomach as if I were drinking water right after waking up in the morning.


    I was able to concentrate on drinking breast milk because my limbs weren''t moving thanks to my mother wrapping me in a blanket while carefully holding my neck as my esophagus filled amid maternal love.


    I didn''t remove my lips from my mother''s breast until I could drink no more, and my lips stopped moving by reflex when I felt full.


    My mother lifted me up and started patting me on the back. I thought I had something stuck in my stomach, but it was just a burp. I felt renewed and the sound of the woman laughing was music to my ears when I felt my eyelids closing.


    On the second day my world changed completely.


    My mother, showing the strength of a tiger, decided she was sick of resting and got up to perform daily tasks.


    I had the chance to see her complete figure. Despite having given birth the day before, she was an attractive woman, about twenty years old.


    She was definitely well-endowed in all the right places, with a fit body perfected through hard work. Her shoulder-blade length hair was a beautiful golden color, with red tones throughout.


    The candlelight made it look like there were flames dancing inside.


    The days passed slowly, a week after my birth, my senses were gradually developing. However, life as a newborn was far from exciting.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    I spent most of my time lying in my crib, unable to move my body properly. I felt incredibly bored and helpless.


    Obtaining information about my new world was an arduous task. I couldn''t even clearly distinguish the passage of days and nights. The reason was simple: I slept almost all the time. A baby''s body was terribly inefficient.


    I fought against constant sleep, but it was a lost battle. As soon as I opened my eyes, my eyelids would close again as if they weighed tons. And when I managed to stay awake for a few moments, hunger would immediately assault me.


    There was no point in resisting. When the need became unbearable, I resorted to the only method I had at my disposal: crying at the top of my lungs.


    The pride and honor of my past life had no place in my new reality. In desperate times, desperate measures were required. Crying was the only way to communicate my needs and ensure my survival.


    Despite my efforts, my mother couldn''t sleep at night from day one. There were no signs of my father...


    Dad...


    Apparently, in this era child-rearing was exclusively the mother''s responsibility. My mother never looked away when she was alone in the house with me.


    She carefully wrapped me up every time my limbs came out of the blankets, even if she was dozing. She tried to help me sleep after feeding me and helping me burp.


    My mother''s daily routine consisted of feeding me, making me burp, and helping me fall asleep over and over again. I pretended to fall asleep when my mother wanted me to in order to help her. She could only sleep for about an hour or so when I pretended to fall asleep.


    I saw my mother cry for the first time after a week.


    I heard her cry with exhaustion, although her silhouette was still blurry. Her sobs were the opposite of the cheerful laughter I had heard when I was born. My mother must have been at her limit, as she hadn''t slept well even once during the week.


    I was the first and only child, so it was the first time my mother was raising a child. She couldn''t go to the bathroom alone and her maximum sleep was one hour at a time.


    Then she broke down crying and I realized how difficult it had been for her to raise me.


    I saw her stop crying to feed me and, at that moment, I felt I could go hungry for a day if it meant my mother could sleep deeply for today.


    However, my mother became anxious and called everywhere when I suppressed hunger pains and didn''t scream.


    Twelve times a day every two hours.


    My mother fed me and made me burp again as if she hadn''t cried. My goal wasn''t far away or in the future. It was here, right in front of me.

 Chapter 2: My life now (2)

    I found myself in a dark space, defenseless and vulnerable. Our new home was a simple construction of poorly arranged planks that barely protected us from the elements.


    Water filtered in mercilessly every time it rained, and the wind whistled through the cracks as if mocking our misery.


    From my limited perspective as a baby, I could observe the deplorable state of our possessions: a few worn-out rags that served as blankets and a couple of rusty tin bowls that constituted all our dinnerware.


    The walls, damp and neglected, served as home to countless black insects that crawled endlessly. Mud dripped from the ceiling with an irregular rhythm, mixing with the creaking of the tiny legs of those unwanted invaders.


    The stale air made it difficult for me to breathe, but I had learned to live with it. I had no other choice.


    The sounds of those creatures that shared our space had become a macabre symphony that accompanied my days and nights.


    When hunger became unbearable, I began to cry, knowing it was my only form of communication. As expected, I heard my mother''s sweet voice:


    ¡ªOh, it seems our baby is hungry again.


    I felt her warm arms wrapping around me gently, and I stopped crying immediately. Why continue wasting energy when I had already gotten what I wanted? Crying was exhausting, and with my hunger, it only made my condition worse.


    ¡ªHoho, I think you recognize mommy ¡ªI heard her say with that voice that radiated happiness despite our circumstances.


    Of course I recognized her. How could I not? Although I spent most of my time sleeping and my mobility was practically nonexistent, I had memorized every detail of her face.


    A small smile formed on my lips upon hearing the word "mommy," confirming her suspicions.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    I watched how her eyes shone with love while she gently opened her blouse. The first time she breastfed me, I remember feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable ¡ªvestiges of my previous life¡ª but now it was the most natural thing in the world. Without hesitation, I accepted her breast and began to feed eagerly.


    The sensation of warm breast milk heating my tiny body was indescribable. Each swallow brought with it a wave of peace and well-being that flowed smoothly through my esophagus.


    In those moments, held in her soft arms, any complaint or frustration vanished like fog before the sun. It was a comfort and security that I had rarely experienced in my previous life.


    My eyes closed, not from tiredness this time, but from pure satisfaction.


    As days turned into weeks, I noticed gradual changes in my senses. My mother''s voice became clearer, as if someone were slowly adjusting the dial of a radio.


    Objects in my field of vision began to define themselves better, although they were still far from being completely sharp.


    During the day, I behaved as expected for a baby: I cried when I was hungry, slept at regular intervals, and enjoyed maternal affection.


    My mother, whose name I had not yet learned, earned her living as a basket weaver. I watched her work with her rough but skilled hands, interweaving fibers with a precision that only experience can give. In her spare time, she became a gatherer, an occupation that barely allowed us to subsist.


    I suspected my mother was an angel because I had never known someone so kind and warm.


    While they carried me on their back with a sort of baby cradle strap, I accompanied her to what she called the district.


    To feed us, she secured me to her back while collecting mushrooms and algae that grew in the perpetual darkness and humidity of the underground tunnels.


    This place, I gradually understood, was an underground shelter, far from the sunlight and blue sky that I only knew in my memories.


    From my privileged position on her back, I observed the pure earth floor, devoid of any vegetation and full of potholes and rocks. Instead, we were surrounded by artificial and colorless constructions that were lost in the darkness.


    When I looked up, instinctively searching for the sky, I only found absolute blackness, deeper than any night I had known. It was a darkness that devoured light, so dense that I could only compare it to the void itself.


    The streets we traveled through were crowded with people who, like us, wore light and ragged clothes despite the persistent cold.


    The dwellings, small and precarious, were piled up along the sides of the narrow paths that meandered through the tunnels of the underground district.


    They were makeshift constructions with cheap stones and various materials, silent witnesses to the daily struggle for survival.


    ¡ªOh, it seems Adelaide had a great harvest today.

 Chapter 3: Road Ahead

    When mommy ran back to the tunnels, someone with a dirty face greeted her. It was as if they hadn''t washed their face since the day they were born.


    Most people in the district looked like that. Almost every day they went to the nearby coal mine to work in exchange for some food.


    It wasn''t just about coal extraction. Any dirty work that needed to be done would be carried out by anyone who wanted to survive.


    The underground shelter had access to water sources like aquifers and underground rivers, so the amount each person received per day was fixed, and no one dared even think about asking for more. Additionally, there were almost no clean water sources nearby.


    Or rather, any clean water source was too dangerous to go to, as wild beasts gathered there to drink.


    Therefore, everyone in the district always looked so dirty that no one could see their faces clearly. Mom, for some reason, seemed to be the exception.


    I had never seen her work in the coal mine because she had her own way of surviving.


    My mother didn''t respond to anyone who greeted her. Apparently, she just wanted to return to her shack as quickly as possible.


    The reality of this underground world was cruel: few managed to reach adulthood. I saw other children, some smaller than me, others barely able to walk, struggling against hunger and diseases. Most succumbed to unknown plagues or simple colds that, without medicines, became death sentences.


    Pregnant women, as my mother had been, faced a particularly grim fate. Giving birth under these conditions was comparable to walking through the gates of hell, and the survival rate for both mothers and babies was frighteningly low.


    My mother, despite her sweet and harmless appearance, always carried a bone knife while gathering. I saw her staying constantly on guard, her eyes scanning the shadows for potential dangers.


    Despite the circumstances, she maintained an optimistic and talkative attitude. She told me stories, described the things we found, and constantly taught me new words. It was her way of making this dark world a little brighter.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.


    I responded as I could, with babbles and coos that, although simple, made her smile. Each attempt at communication seemed to light up her face, so I strived to improve my articulation, practicing silently when she wasn''t watching me.


    Language was a particular challenge. Without references for most of the words and phrases I heard, my progress was slow but steady.


    At least I had managed to understand basic terms like "milk" and "food," essential for our daily survival.


    My body grew gradually, but my speech capacity remained frustratingly limited. No matter how hard I tried, I could only emit basic sounds like "ah," "uh," and "oh." The powerlessness of not being able to express my thoughts and feelings weighed heavily on me.


    One particular morning, a noise from outside startled me. Instinctively, I searched for my mother''s face, finding in her eyes that unconditional love that had accompanied me since my birth.


    I felt my facial muscles respond with more control than I had had until then, forming a genuine smile.


    ¡ªYou smile every time you see me ¡ªshe said tenderly¡ª. Did you like it so much? Am I so beautiful?


    In my mind, the words flowed clear and precise: "Yes, you are. I love you so much." But my mouth could only produce a kind of infantile melody.


    ¡ªMy little one, are you singing? ¡ªHer delight at my attempts at communication was evident.


    The satisfaction of seeing her happy with my efforts compensated for the frustration of not being able to speak. I wanted to show her my love in every possible way, even if they were as simple as these inarticulate sounds.


    ¡ªI know you came from me, but you''re too cute ¡ªshe continued, bringing her face close to mine¡ª. Who''s so pretty? Yes, you are.


    Instead of kissing my lips or cheeks, she found my toes peeking out from under the blanket. She kissed them repeatedly, causing tickles that I couldn''t help but enjoy. Naturally, she proceeded to lift her shirt and took me in her arms to feed me.


    I sucked her breast eagerly, noticing how my senses had sharpened. The taste of milk, with its subtle coconut touch, was more distinctive than ever. My eyes could better capture the details of her face while I fed, and my ears perceived every small sound around us with greater clarity.


    When I was satisfied, my lips continued moving by instinct, although I was no longer swallowing. It was a reflex that, according to what I had heard my mother comment, would gradually disappear over time.


    ¡ªBaby, grow healthy and strong ¡ªwhispered Adelaide while holding me against her chest¡ª. I love you so much.


    Unable to respond with words, I concentrated all my energy in my gaze, hoping my eyes could convey the message that my mouth couldn''t pronounce: "I love you too, mom."


    I thought it with such intensity that I could almost feel the words vibrating in my small body, wishing that somehow she could perceive the depth of my feelings.

 Chapter 4: Road Ahead (2)

    I was lying in my crib, reflecting on the concept of time. I had stopped obsessing about measuring or understanding it, concluding that it was a futile exercise in my current situation.


    What mattered was that I could feel how my body developed day by day, and how the initial tedium of being a baby was gradually dissipating.


    That morning, I observed my mother as she prepared for her journey to the district in search of water. Although dawn brought some security, I couldn''t help feeling a knot in my stomach every time I saw her leave. However, there were more urgent matters occupying my mind.


    Nutrition was a constant concern. Despite my mother''s tireless efforts to gather food, my body needed more to develop properly.


    I was tormented by the idea that I needed to find additional sources of sustenance if I wanted to grow stronger, but resources in the sewers were scarce. Nights brought chaos and anarchy to our shelter, making the search for food even more challenging.


    However, fate smiled upon me when I discovered something promising behind our house: surprisingly fertile ground. The most interesting thing wasn''t the soil itself, but its inhabitants: thumb-sized worms that writhed beneath the surface.


    My mind, which retained knowledge from my previous life, immediately recognized their nutritional value. These creatures were not only rich in proteins and carbohydrates but also contained a variety of trace elements and minerals essential for human development. They could be exactly what I needed to boost my growth.


    While contemplating this discovery, I felt the frustration of not being able to walk yet. However, I couldn''t help but smile imagining the day when I would finally have total control over my limbs.


    As time passed, I adapted better and better to my new body. The day I managed to crawl for the first time, I experienced indescribable joy. Seeing my mother jumping with excitement at each small achievement in my development made all the effort worthwhile.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    But the real turning point came when I pronounced my first word. After practicing in secret for weeks, I finally gathered the courage to say:


    ¡ª...Mama.


    It was a word I had abandoned in my previous life, and for a moment I hesitated, wondering if I should feel uncomfortable using it again. However, seeing my mother''s reaction, all doubt vanished.


    Her radiant and sincere smile confirmed that I had made the right decision. For me, recognizing her as my mother was the first step in fully embracing this new existence.


    Thanks to her constant conversation, I gradually assimilated the language. I watched with fascination how the barter system worked in the underground shelter, where people exchanged goods and services without using money. Each day brought new opportunities to perfect my control over this body and master basic motor functions.


    I had been named Arceus, or Ars for short. At first, it seemed like a somewhat cute name, especially after seeing myself reflected in the metal sheet we used as a mirror.


    My reddish-golden hair, inherited from my mother, shone even in the dim light, and my red eyes, apparently a trait from my father, stood out in my childish face. Although I couldn''t predict how my features would be when I matured, I consoled myself thinking that as long as I maintained a healthy weight, everything would be fine.


    The days continued their march, and my growth was constant. My small stomach seemed to be a bottomless pit, quickly digesting everything I consumed and demanding more almost immediately.


    One particular morning, I woke up feeling a voracious hunger that made me stir in my crib. As always, my mother didn''t take long to come to my side, looking at me with her characteristic tenderness.


    ¡ªMy little one, are you very hungry? ¡ªshe asked sweetly while lifting me in her arms.


    I watched her as she settled to feed me, a routine that after more than a year I knew perfectly.


    I lay down on the white and fluffy blanket, beginning to suckle eagerly. The familiar and comforting taste made my tiny feet move instinctively with satisfaction.


    My mother, who had learned to interpret each of my gestures, smiled seeing this sign of contentment. With gentleness, she tickled my feet, causing me to shake them in the air. It was impossible to maintain composure before her playful caresses.


    In a matter of minutes, my tiny stomach was completely full. I felt how my body visibly relaxed while Adelaide hugged me lovingly and gave me soft pats on the back.


    I rested my cheek on her shoulder, experiencing a sensation of security and warmth that I had never known in my previous life.


    ¡ªMy little one, aren''t you eating too much? ¡ªshe joked with a melodious laugh.

 Chapter 5: Q & A

    Her comment seemed so funny to me that I couldn''t help joining her laughter with a genuine infantile gurgle.


    While enjoying these intimate moments with my mother, my mind wandered to deeper reflections. I thought about my previous life, an existence that now seemed blurry and distant, about my death, and about that nebulous limbo from which I couldn''t escape.


    At the beginning of this new life, I had suspected it might be some kind of divine punishment. However, I quickly understood that I was wrong.


    Despite not fully understanding my situation ¡ª where I was, why I was here, who had brought me ¡ª I felt deep gratitude.


    This wasn''t punishment, but an incomprehensible and wonderful act of grace. For some reason I couldn''t comprehend, I had been given back what I had so carelessly wasted in my previous life.


    Without tangible evidence to support it, I firmly believed this was a precious gift. My previous name had vanished into oblivion, but now I had a new one, Arceus, and with it, the opportunity for a new beginning, free from the weight of my past, my mistakes, and my guilt.


    This small body, which at first felt alien and strange, now seemed to fit perfectly, as if it had always been destined to be mine. The feeling was so overwhelming that I couldn''t contain my emotions.


    ¡ªAh... Ah... ¡ªI tried to articulate something, anything, while tears began to spring forth. I didn''t care about crying; I forced my immature vocal cords to make some sound that could express the intensity of what I was feeling.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    At that moment, I made myself a solemn promise: this time, I would do things right. While my mother rocked me in her arms, my determination burned intensely.


    Although many things still didn''t make sense ¡ª why I had been born here, what my purpose was in this new world ¡ª I knew I would have enough time to discover it all.


    I had had enough of remaining stagnant, of yielding to adversity, of hugging my knees in defeat. I didn''t care if I failed or stumbled along the way. I didn''t care how many obstacles I had to face.


    This time... This time would be different. I would live fully, make the most of every moment in this world!


    I expressed my resolution with the only means I had available: a cry that only a baby could produce, a mixture of joy, determination, and a touch of fear before the unknown.


    Adelaide, perceiving the intensity of my emotions although not understanding their true nature, held me tighter against her chest, whispering words of comfort and love.


    ¡ªIt''s okay, my love ¡ªshe murmured while gently caressing my back¡ª. Mommy is here. I''ll always be here for you.


    I clung to her, letting my tears flow freely. In that embrace, I felt how all the fears and doubts I had accumulated since my rebirth gradually dissolved.


    As I calmed down, I began to perceive my surroundings with new clarity. Colors seemed more vivid, sounds sharper, and every detail of the world around me took on deeper meaning.


    While Adelaide gently rocked me, humming a lullaby that I already recognized as my favorite, I felt a wave of peace completely invade me. My eyelids became heavy, and although I fought to keep my eyes open, not wanting to miss even a second of this new reality, sleep was relentless.


    Before succumbing completely to drowsiness, I had one last conscious thought: "Thank you." I didn''t know exactly to whom or what I was directing my gratitude.


    Perhaps to the universe, perhaps to some higher power, or maybe simply to life itself for this second chance.


    With a small smile on my lips, I finally surrendered to sleep, safe in my mother''s arms and full of hope for the future that awaited me. This time, this time I was going to do it right.

 Chapter 6: Q & A (2)

    POV ADELAIDE PENDRAGON.


    The cutting wind whipped strands of my golden hair into my eyes, momentarily blinding me as I walked the familiar path to the aquifer.


    I breathed deeply, allowing my eyelids to close while the night''s coolness caressed my skin. The soft whisper of the wind enveloped me, bringing with it memories I preferred to keep buried.


    The world has been relentless and cruel, I thought bitterly, especially for someone in my position. The memories of the incident that changed my life forever crowded my mind, unwanted and painful.


    Like every weekend since my husband''s death, this routine had become my new normal.


    The journey to the nearest aquifer to collect water was just one of the many responsibilities that now weighed on my shoulders.


    Not everyone in the district can afford to have water at home, I reminded myself while adjusting the empty buckets in my hands.


    My thoughts inevitably drifted to Arceus; Ars, as I fondly called him. An involuntary smile drew on my lips thinking about my little treasure.


    He was the greatest gift I could have, the sweetest and most charming two-year-old child a mother could wish for. And I don''t say this just because I''m an affectionate mother, of course not hehe.


    I intend to be a strict and fair mother.


    Sometimes I worried that he was too sweet for his own good. The shelter was no place for such a small and innocent child.


    I want you to have a good and normal life, my little Ars, I whispered to the wind as I walked, but this place... this place is full of people willing to do the unspeakable to survive.


    As a mother, I couldn''t help feeling like the luckiest person in the world every time I looked at my beautiful baby, who filled my days with joy and laughter. He was truly special, perfect in his own way.


    His hair, identical to mine, framed those extraordinary crimson eyes that hypnotized me every time I contemplated them. He''s simply adorable!, I thought with maternal pride.


    The last six months had completely transformed my life. While the beginning was difficult, now I couldn''t imagine my existence without him.


    I wish this peace would last forever, I silently pleaded while continuing my way. However, there was something more about Ars, something I couldn''t fully explain.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    During our time together, I had noticed patterns in his behavior that intrigued me and, sometimes, unsettled me.


    ¡ªHe''s just like his father ¡ªI murmured to myself, remembering when he started crawling. The pride I felt at that moment almost made me cry, but I had no idea of the challenges that would come after.


    It was impossible to take my eyes off him; in the blink of an eye, he would sneak out of the house. My little sun, wasn''t even aware of the dangers lurking in this place.


    His curiosity was insatiable.


    I was fascinated watching his head, which seemed disproportionately large for his small body, constantly turning while trying to absorb every detail of his surroundings.


    As I approached the aquifer, surrounded by limestone rocks and permeable sediments, my thoughts turned darker.


    The circumstances surrounding human birth were truly absurd and unfair. Some were born holding a golden spoon, while others, like me, had to forge it with our own hands.


    Some are born holding a golden spoon, others are born having to forge it ourselves. Just by luck, some are created from the sperm of a fortunate bastard.


    Just because they were lucky, they were conceived from the egg of a disgustingly rich woman.


    Effort?


    It could only be called effort if moving your tail faster than other sperm could be considered an act of merit.


    Others might be endowed with extraordinary talent; one that could forge a clay spoon into a golden one if the opportunity arose. The inequality in human birth was the same throughout the world.


    I myself had experienced the whims of fate. As captain of one of the expedition teams, I had proven my worth.


    Reaching grade E as a hunter at eighteen was a considerable achievement, especially considering that even the lowest rank, grade G, required passing tests designed to prevent unnecessary deaths of reckless youth.


    In all my years of service, I had only seen a handful of grade D hunters, and not a single grade C hunter ¡ªif they really existed.


    Upon reaching the aquifer, I rolled up my sleeves, exposing my pale, untanned skin. The years of hard work had left their mark on my arms, now thick and strong.


    Suddenly, a black shadow that was stealthily approaching lunged at me. My vision filled with giant jaws with razor-sharp teeth.


    Crunch.


    With a quick movement, I dodged the attack of its thick sharp legs and unsheathed the bone knife from my waist.


    The knife pierced through the middle of the cockroach''s mouth, which was equipped with multiple mouthparts that worked in coordination.


    Calmly, I moved forward and drove the knife deeper. With the additional force of the cockroach''s attack, the blade went through its neck and protruded.


    The collapsing beast also pushed me backward while blue blood leaked out. On both sides, two cockroaches charged while I bent down to pull out the knife.


    I observed that these cockroaches measured just over three meters in length equipped with long antennae that moved constantly, with an elongated and segmented body that had six powerful legs ending in sharp claws that allowed it to climb and move with agility, along with a massive and robust structure covered by a thick and hard exoskeleton that merged with the absolute darkness.


    I was lucky, killing a cockroach wasn''t easy if you didn''t stab it in the head, which was its only weak point. I silently thanked not having brought little Arceus.


    Its shell was extremely hard and resistant to physical attacks, with a rigorous surface marked by numerous protrusions and sharp spines that serve as natural defense.


    Quickly backing away, I pushed the knife and pierced the head of a cockroach that was passing at full speed.


    The other cockroach moved behind me ready to attack quickly.


    Crack!

 Chapter 7: The Threat Is Coming

    I moved and straightened up quickly.


    Even so, I received a bite on the arm from the cockroach before I could do anything, and fresh blood came out of my arm.


    If I hadn''t reacted in time, they would have torn my arm off.


    ¡ªArrrgh! ¡ªI cursed silently, frowning hard, trying to keep calm while swinging the knife that was in the other hand.


    But at the last moment, the cockroach suddenly moved and slightly turned its torso to the right.


    The blade didn''t reach its head, but slipped to the concave point where the armor plates joined and, instead, hit one of them in the center, sliding helplessly over the adamantine chitin.


    Instead of killing the beast with a decisive blow, I ended up causing no damage at all.


    Worse yet, I was unprotected. The next moment, the cockroach hit me hard with its shell, throwing me away.


    I flew sideways and crashed against the maze wall, feeling myself running out of breath. Suffocated and disoriented, I fell ungracefully into the mud.


    By instinct, I rolled to one side. Something passed by my side and hit the wall, causing pieces of earth to fly through the air. Then, it rose into the air and was thrown backward.


    But by then, I had already regained my common sense.


    I turned my body and managed to land on my feet and take a few steps back without falling. The next second, my knife was in front of me, held with both hands as I had learned in the scout corps.


    The cockroach was already charging at me with a threatening fire burning in its eyes.


    Energy flowed from the knife to my hand, then spread to my arm, shoulder, and finally covered my entire body. I instantly felt stronger, faster, more resistant.


    But was it enough? No. To survive, I would also need some luck.


    A claw-like leg flew at me from the right, the other from the left. There was no time to back away or dodge to the sides.


    So, instead, I did something that made every instinct in my body scream in protest.


    I jumped forward, shortening the distance with the attacking monster. The claws crashed together with a loud crack behind my back.


    Instinct or not, it was the only logical step. After all, the knife''s attack range was much shorter than the cockroach''s. I could only counterattack by getting closer.


    Before the beast had time to react, I did what I had done miles of times before. My muscles moved even before my mind gave the order.


    With a fluid motion, I raised the sword above my head and cut down, pushing with one hand while pulling with the other. My entire body moved in unison to deliver a powerful blow.


    The knife whistled as it cut through the air. Then, it hit the joint of one of the cockroach''s front legs and went through it, severing the limb completely. Blue blood spread everywhere.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    I had less than a second to be surprised.


    But there was no time for distractions. Due to the loss of its front leg, the cockroach lost balance for a moment, falling forward and down. However, it had five other legs. This wasn''t going to last long.


    But coincidentally, at that precise moment, its other front leg slipped in the mud, sinking the monster even further.


    Without wasting this opportunity, I stepped forward, raised the knife, and drove it into the cockroach''s mouth. A severed jaw fell to the ground as the monster impaled itself on the knife with its own weight.


    The creature''s body convulsed before going still.


    It was dead.


    I exhaled slowly, feeling only now the pain in my chest and neck. I carefully touched my head and winced. My hand became wet with blood.


    ¡ªAt least I''m alive. ¡ªI raised my head abruptly and realized there were no more cockroaches.


    The monsters possessed certain rudimentary intelligence, but they couldn''t compare to humans. In essence, they remained predators that acted primarily on instinct. Their cunning was of a bestial nature and wasn''t so difficult to overcome. That gave me the chance to live another day.


    Memories of my time in the Scout Corps surfaced as I prepared to refill the buckets. Our main task had been hunting mutants, extraordinary creatures capable of absorbing mana and creating their own cores, objects of incalculable value.


    Mutants cores had an unlimited number of uses, which made them very valuable and highly sought after. Of course, the higher the grade of mutants cores, the more valuable they were.


    Mutants were classified from grade F ¡ªlike the cockroaches that attacked me¡ª up to the legendary SS-grade monsters, although the latter were more myth than proven reality.


    Although cockroaches were cataloged as grade F, these mutants could easily resist attacks from a grade D hunter just because of their shell.


    As a general rule, one should always assume that mutants are stronger than humans of the same category. Simply because, even if we remove mana from the equation, a mutant''s physical body was much stronger than that of an average human.


    The underground shelter, although dangerous, was manageable if proper precautions were taken. The more powerful mutants inhabited the depths of the caves, while the shelter''s perimeter was well mapped and relatively safe for grade E hunters like me.


    I would need three trips to fill the house''s water tank. The aquifer was far away, as areas where water could be found in the shelter were quite rare.


    The full buckets were very heavy, although I was injured I lifted them as I always did. If I didn''t do it, my son and I would die of dehydration.


    If the buckets were bigger, I could make fewer trips, I thought as I lifted them. Wouldn''t that be easier?


    Since my husband''s death, the weight of maintaining the family had become overwhelming, but as a mother, I had accepted this responsibility without complaining.


    As I prepared to return home, a chill ran down my spine. At first it was barely perceptible, a slight vibration under my feet that soon intensified.


    Suddenly, the earth began to shake violently. My body staggered and the water buckets tipped over, soaking the ground and creating a muddy mess under my feet as I instinctively crouched down.


    The tension was palpable in the air, and fear began to sprout in my heart when my ears caught a sound similar to breaking wood.


    ¡ªA scream? ¡ªI muttered to myself, trying to convince myself it was just my imagination.


    The sound reminded me of a strangled bird, but deep inside, I knew it couldn''t be any bird''s song.


    An icy chill ran down my back as I tried to rationalize what I had just heard.


    It couldn''t be a human voice.


    I tried to erase my uneasiness with these thoughts, but then they vanished when a louder sound resonated in the air once more.


    My heart skipped a beat in my chest. There was no mistake: it was a human scream.


    Without thinking twice, my hunter instincts took control. The tremors, though not common, represented a real threat in the underground shelter, and I began running toward the origin of the screams.


    My legs were moving faster than they ever had before, so much so that I feared tripping over my own feet. The screams and howls became clearer as I got closer, each sound more chilling than the last.


    My heart was beating wildly against my ribs, but I couldn''t stop. Something terrible was happening, and although fear threatened to paralyze me, my legs kept moving forward, toward those sounds that became increasingly clear in the darkness of the shelter.

 Chapter 8: The Threat Is Coming (2)

    POV ARCEUS PENDRAGON.


    More than two years had passed since my reincarnation into this world.


    My growth had been remarkably fast, favored by an environment that, although precarious, was better than that of most children who inhabited these gloomy caverns.


    Poverty had become a constant companion. However, I had begun to find small glimpses of happiness even amid our scarcity. It was surprising how the mind could adapt to the most adverse circumstances.


    The previous month I had made an interesting discovery: this world, like Earth, seemed to be governed by the cycle of the four seasons.


    I noticed it mainly through the changes in the harshness of our survival.


    Winter was particularly cruel in the underground shelter, with dry and relentless winds that penetrated clothes like invisible blades, cutting flesh with their merciless coldness.


    Then came those months where the hilarious cold subtly decreased, announcing what seemed to be spring, bringing a slight respite to our underground existence.


    Adelaide had started going out alone in search of water now that I was two years old. She always made me promise not to leave the house during her absence, a promise that weighed on my conscience as the hours passed.


    Usually, she made sure not to take too long, but that day something was different. Uneasiness began to grow inside me while I waited for her return.


    Why is she taking so long?, I wondered while walking around the house, holding a small wooden stick in my tiny hands.


    My steps were cautious as I made sure there was no one around before venturing into the backyard.


    The backyard held a precious secret: it was one of the few places where, with luck, one could find animals that hadn''t mutated.


    Earthworms were an invaluable treasure in our underground world, and the mere thought of other refugees discovering my little secret made me shudder.


    The consequences would be truly terrifying.


    A man''s wealth is his own ruin, I thought as I began to dig with the small wooden stick.


    It was knowledge I had acquired early in this new life: keeping secrets was as important as finding resources.


    As I dug, I felt my improvised tool hit something. My heart skipped a beat as I nervously looked around, making sure once again of my solitude before examining my finding.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    A fat worm writhed in the freshly removed earth, and with the efficiency that only survival can teach, I proceeded to clean it and prepare it for my consumption.


    The taste was unpleasant, but the feeling of satiety that followed was worth every moment of disgust. I was about to return to our ruined house when a vibration in the ground stopped me in my tracks.


    The rumble that followed resonated through the rock walls like the roar of an ancient beast awakening from its sleep.


    An earthquake, I immediately recognized, as I watched the more experienced adults begin to call their children, urging them to seek shelter.


    The mild vibrations quickly transformed into violent shakes that made the ground beneath my feet take on a life of its own.


    I fell to the ground, but my mind remained clear. Without hesitation, I crawled away from any structure that could collapse, seeking open space.


    Once I found a relatively safe place, I lay down following the protocol I had learned: hands behind the head, legs bent, waiting for the chaos to pass.


    The sound was deafening: walls creaked as if they were about to give way, rock fragments rained from the ceiling, and the terrified screams of my neighbors resonated throughout the district.


    I watched as the makeshift structures we called homes crumbled under the fury of the tremor, while large blocks of rock fell, blocking tunnels and burying entire sections of the district.


    The air became dense with the stench of blood and acrid smoke, forcing me to hold my breath. When silence finally settled, a silence more terrifying than the previous chaos, I ventured to slowly raise my body.


    That''s when I heard it: a thunderous noise resonated, making every fiber of my being shudder.


    And the next second, something huge emerged from the ground...


    As I turned my body, I found myself face to face with a nightmare come true: a giant centipede, a magical beast in all its terrifying glory.


    This monster seemed like an armored battle machine created with the sole purpose of killing living beings.


    Its body measured more than three meters wide and fifteen long, decorated with dozens of blade-like legs on each side.


    Its armor, a spectacle of dark blue on top and light blue on the bottom, gleamed sinisterly in the shelter''s dimness.


    The exoskeleton, segmented into three columns, was bristling with spikes that protruded from the central column like a crown of death.


    But it was its face that froze the blood in my veins: an anatomical nightmare where one head seemed to be contained within the mouth of another, with two thick bone scythes protruding like demonic jaws.


    I''m going to die, the thought hit my mind like a hammer, leaving my expression empty and distant.


    My dry lips pressed tightly together as I evaluated my options: flee or fight. Both seemed equally futile.


    Fear took hold of me, cold and paralyzing, but a part of my mind kept fighting: "Come on... I can''t allow myself to die here."


    I didn''t want it all to end like this, not when there was so much to live for, so much to discover. Desperation clouded my mind as I struggled to stay conscious.


    Damn it...


    The reality of my situation sank deeper. There was no escape, no matter how frantically my mind worked seeking a solution.


    I was trapped, like prey before an immensely superior predator. Its segmented body undulated with a grotesque and unnatural rhythm as it slid forward.


    The beast''s shriek resonated in my ears, but before it could make its final move, a dark shadow interposed between us with a deafening sound.


    My small body trembled as I observed this new variable in the equation of my survival, not knowing if it represented salvation or simply a different death.

 Chapter 9: What鈥檚 To Come

    POV DARIUS''S


    I moved through the tunnels of the underground district, feeling each step resonate against the stone walls.


    My black cloak billowed behind me, a constant reminder of my duty as vice-captain of the exploration corps.


    I could feel the tension in my muscles, developed after years of training and battles against the mutants that threatened our existence.


    The scar that crossed my face¡ªa mark of past battles¡ªtensed as I frowned at the distant sounds coming from further ahead in the tunnel.


    Something wasn''t right.


    My years of experience screamed it at me, and my instincts were rarely wrong.


    Something is wrong, terribly wrong, I thought while quickening my pace, my boots echoing against the stone floor.


    The smell came first: that unmistakable metallic aroma of blood mixed with the stench of death.


    My heart began to beat faster, not from fear, but from the terrible anticipation of what I knew I would find. I had smelled that combination too many times in my life as an explorer.


    ¡ªGlug, glug...


    The sound froze my blood.


    There, before me, one of my companions was choking on his own blood. A grotesque hole pierced his chest as if some beast had torn away a part of his being.


    My eyes reddened as I contemplated the scene, and I felt as if I were about to cry tears of blood.


    I knew him well, too well. He had been a formidable warrior, a man who embodied strength and determination.


    Now, as I watched the light fade from his eyes, I felt a pang of pain so deep I could barely breathe.


    That bright spark of life I had always admired in him was slowly fading, like a candle consuming itself in darkness.


    It shouldn''t end like this, I thought as I watched him take his last breath, his body shuddering one final time before becoming still forever.


    I looked around, and the devastation I found hit me like a punch to the stomach. Everything had been destroyed, burned to ashes. Nothing remained standing, nothing remained intact.


    The bodies of my companions... my friends... lay scattered like broken dolls, their bodies'' limbs had disappeared in a grotesque display of carnage.


    ¡ªDarvus, Jairo... ¡ªtheir names escaped my lips like a belated prayer.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Memories flooded me like an unstoppable tide. Darvus, always talking about his little daughter, proudly showing me the drawings she made for him.


    Jairo, who just days ago had confided in me that his wife was expecting their second child. More than brothers in arms, they had been my brothers in this endless struggle for survival.


    The exploration corps was an elite unit responsible for exploring the outside of the underground shelter to gather information about mutants and their behavior.


    We carried out combat missions to eliminate mutants and recover lost territory, which meant members very often had to leave their loved ones behind to join the fight.


    And yet, it was these two who now lay in a pool of their own blood, having died at the hands of some unknown beast.


    Why didn''t they run? They''re idiots... I thought as tears flowed freely down my cheeks, something I rarely allowed myself. But here, faced with the evidence of their sacrifice, I couldn''t contain them.


    Their eyes remained open, their fists clenched in a final gesture of defiance. I could read the story of their final moments in the battle marks that surrounded them.


    They had fought until the end, knowing they had no chance of victory. It was the kind of courage I had always admired and feared finding in my companions.


    The sound of footsteps behind me pulled me from my grief. In an instant, my sword was in my hand, my body turning to face the new threat.


    The familiarity of the figure emerging from the shadows only intensified my anguish: Abel, our captain.


    ¡ªCaptain? ¡ªI uttered the word with a mixture of relief and suspicion.


    ¡ªIs that you, Vice-Captain? ¡ªhe responded, dropping to the ground with a sigh of relief that seemed out of place to me.


    Anger began to boil inside me as I observed his state: unharmed, relaxed, as if the death of our companions was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.


    ¡ªCaptain, could you explain what happened? ¡ªI asked, struggling to keep my voice controlled.


    ¡ªIsn''t it obvious? A mutant ambushed us, a giant centipede ¡ªhis casual response only fueled my fury.


    ¡ªWhat I mean is, why are you the only one who managed to escape? The members of your group are dead...


    His response turned my stomach: ¡ªWhat the hell? Vice-Captain, are you saying you''d prefer I died along with these guys?


    As I listened to him explain how he had hidden while urinating, how he had chosen to save his own life while our companions died, I felt something break inside me.


    It wasn''t just disappointment or anger, it was a deep disgust for the man who was supposed to lead and protect our soldiers.


    ¡ªThey believed in you ¡ªI said, my voice loaded with contempt¡ª. Those two would give their lives if you asked them to. Shouldn''t you at least prove you''re worthy of their respect?


    ¡ªShut up! What does their respect have to do with me? Ahhh, shit! I can avenge them, can''t I?


    Rage burned in my eyes as I looked at him. This man represented everything I despised, everything I had fought against during my life as an explorer.


    ¡ªYou''re a piece of rotten garbage ¡ªthe words left my mouth before I could contain them, though I didn''t want to anyway.


    ¡ªWhat the fuck was that, bastard?! ¡ªhe roared, but I no longer cared about his anger.


    My mind was elsewhere, thinking of those who might still need help. I couldn''t waste more time with this coward when there were lives at stake. Without another word, I turned and began walking toward the underground district.


    ¡ªHey! Bastard! If you go that way, you''ll surely die! You should run in the opposite direction! ¡ªhis shouts echoed in the tunnels behind me¡ª. Damn idiot, don''t you know everything ends once you''re dead? Hey!


    I ignored his words and pressed forward.


    My path was clear: if there was any chance of saving even one life, the risk would be worth it.


    And if I couldn''t save anyone, I would at least ensure that the mutant who had massacred my companions would pay for its crimes.


    As I walked away, I could hear Abel muttering insults and justifications for his cowardice, but his words were lost in the echo of the tunnels, as empty as his honor.

 Chapter 10: What鈥檚 To Come (2)

    POV ARCEUS PENDRAGON


    The dust storm hit me violently while the thunderous roar made the earth tremble. The air became dense, almost unbreathable.


    ¡ªKuheuk! ¡ªI coughed violently, feeling the dust entering my lungs. My throat burned, but that was the least of my concerns at that moment. The centipede was lunging at me, and I knew I was going to die.


    This is the end, I thought, closing my eyes tightly, waiting to feel the searing pain that never came.


    Instead, I felt strong arms wrapping around me, and a woman''s soft chest against my face. I knew that embrace, that scent, that warmth.


    Mom...


    I opened my eyes and looked up, finding her face tense but determined. My heart shrunk when I saw the two scythes ¡ªwhich it had as jaws¡ª so close that I could distinguish the mud pieces stuck to their shiny surface.


    My mother fell face down with me in her arms, barely avoiding the blow that could have killed us both.


    But that moment of calm lasted barely a breath. Reality was much crueler: we were lying on the ground, completely vulnerable, and a huge blade was suspended above us like a guillotine ready to fall.


    I saw the exact moment when my mother realized our situation. Without hesitation, she rolled to one side with me still in her arms.


    The sound of the blade hitting the ground was deafening, causing small tremors that I felt down to my bones.


    If she had taken one second longer... I didn''t want to finish that thought.


    Adelaide tried to stand up, but the blade swung towards us like a deadly whip. My heart stopped when, instead of dodging, my mother used her own back to cushion the blow.


    I heard her muffled groan of pain, and felt how her body tensed around mine as we were sent flying through the air.


    Why, mom? Why do you sacrifice yourself like this for me? The questions tormented me as we flew through the air. I saw how she prepared her body for impact, protecting me with every fiber of her being.


    The impact against the rocks was brutal, but she rolled with mastery, dispersing the force of the impact while keeping me safe against her chest.


    As soon as we touched the ground, Adelaide stood up and began to run. Behind us, the earth exploded with unimaginable violence.


    The monster tore through the layers of rock as if they were mere sheets of paper.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    The crater it left was an open wound in the earth, two meters deep and twenty meters wide. Its eyes, small but full of primitive evil, followed us with a mixture of rage and hunger that froze my blood.


    It''s too fast, I thought with terror while watching how it launched itself towards us.


    Its legs pierced the earth, leaving a trail of destruction while trying to pierce us with its scythes. Rock fragments flew from its pointed shell like deadly rain.


    Fortunately, my mother had managed to gain enough distance. I saw her lower her body without reducing speed, run several more meters and then turn around.


    The monster was already in motion, moving with an agility that seemed impossible for something of its length. It was like watching a derailed train heading towards us at full speed.


    My heart stopped when Adelaide put me on the ground, while kneeling in front of me.


    Her eyebrows trembled while she grabbed her back''s side, and I could see the pain in each of her movements.


    ¡ªArceus ¡ªher voice, that voice that had always been my beacon in the darkness, now sounded broken and shaky while putting her hands on my shoulders¡ª. Run, don''t look back, understood?


    The words got stuck in my throat, forming a knot that threatened to choke me. I brought my trembling hands to my face, understanding with horrible clarity what my mother was planning to do.


    Tears began to flow uncontrollably, and my breathing became choppy when I bit my lower lip hard.


    ¡ªBut mom... ¡ªI managed to articulate between sobs.


    ¡ªObey Arceus! ¡ªshe roared, and I saw the tears in her eyes. I had never heard her use that tone, it was the voice of someone who knew they were in their final moments.


    ¡ªNo... No! ¡ªI screamed with all my might, refusing to abandon her. I saw the pain cross her face, mixed with guilt that reflected my own.


    That''s when I noticed it: drops of blood near her feet. My mother was wounded.


    Rage invaded me, an anger so intense that it burned inside. It was an indescribable feeling, more terrible than anything I had experienced in my short life.


    In the next instant, the space where we had been was destroyed by the monster. My mother''s arms moved at a speed that my eyes could barely follow.


    Was I dead?


    That was all I could think when my small body didn''t even register the moment the centipede accelerated.


    I watched in horror as Adelaide was violently thrown backward, the sound of her arms breaking and her ribs cracking was forever etched in my memory.


    Before I could do anything, the sharp tip of a scythe hit her in the chest with the force of a siege ram. The force of the blow was enough to make her rib cage cave in and send her body flying through the air like a rag doll.


    I struggled to stand up, my entire body protesting against every movement.


    When had I fallen?


    My mother had knocked me down when they threw her backward, but the shock had prevented me from realizing it at that moment.


    My mind worked at full speed while evaluating the situation: she had managed to defend herself once, but it was painfully obvious that she couldn''t do it again.


    I turned my head and saw her... my heart stopped for a moment. Somehow, my mother lay on the ground, her body twisted at an unnatural angle.


    Something wasn''t right, I observed how she struggled to breathe. A dark, thick liquid flowed from her mouth, and horror invaded me when I realized it was blood.


    She''s choking... my mother was choking on her own blood.


    Tears blurred my vision while I watched how the person I loved most in the world sacrificed herself for me. The pain in my chest was unbearable, as if each of my mother''s broken bones was a dagger stabbing into my heart.


    Everything was too real, too cruel.


    I saw her try to move, her limbs barely responding to her commands. It was like watching a puppet with cut strings, and each of her weak movements tore my soul apart.


    The centipede''s strength had been devastating, and the cruel reality hit me like a hammer: winning wasn''t even an option in this battle.

 Chapter 11: Next Step

    At this rate...


    The thought remained unfinished in my mind as I watched my mother, desperately struggling like an insect caught in a spider''s web. The power gap between her and the monster was an insurmountable abyss.


    I felt the weight of a pair of compound eyes on me. The red glow in them was like looking directly into hell, two crimson flames that burned with an insatiable bloodthirst.


    Any normal human being would have lost the will to fight before that gaze, but I...


    I have a choice, I told myself while the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.


    Despite my wounds, I could survive if I ran away. The rational part of my mind, that adult voice that whispered survival advice, told me that I could live if I moved away from the woman who trembled at my side.


    It''s not wrong to flee, that voice tried to convince me. It''s not cowardice, it''s survival.


    Was he crazy?


    The question echoed in my mind while a bitter smile formed on my lips. I slapped my cheeks hard, trying to silence those cowardly thoughts.


    I didn''t need to hear them, I didn''t want to hear them, even though I knew they were right: there was no possibility of winning.


    The logic was simple and brutal: if I escaped once, it would be easier to do it a second time, and the third would barely affect me. I would become Arceus Pendragon, the one who only lived thanks to his cowardice.


    I would rather die by my own will than become a cowardly spectator of life.


    It was a foolish and irrational judgment, I knew that. But the monster didn''t flinch at my moral dilemma. Almost immediately, its two scythes headed towards me with terrifying speed.


    That''s when it happened: as if emerging from nothingness itself, a man appeared in front of the monster.


    I saw him jump between the deadly scythes with a grace that seemed to defy gravity, leaning forward to deliver a devastating blow with his long sword. All his weight, all his strength, concentrated in that single attack.


    Logic suggested there should be a gap between its shell and torso armor. It was simple mechanics: anything that needed to be flexible couldn''t be completely rigid.


    I saw how the tip of his sword found that small space, sinking into the monster''s body until the hilt brushed against the chitin.


    Of course!, I thought with a moment of triumph that evaporated as quickly as it had come.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    My expression darkened when I saw that the creature didn''t even seem to notice the wound that should have, if not killed it, at least significantly weakened it.


    With a movement that seemed casual, the monster twisted, throwing the man as if he were an annoying fly.


    The bone scythes scraped against the rock as it extracted them from the ground, the sound echoing in my nightmares.


    The man, thanks to the force of the shake, managed to recover his sword that had remained stuck in the monster''s flesh. That involuntary movement saved his life, allowing him to dodge the mortal blow of the scythe by millimeters.


    ¡ªDarius! ¡ªMy mother''s voice, weak and trembling, startled me. I saw her sit up with difficulty, wiping the blood that still flowed from her mouth¡ª. Take Arceus and go!


    ¡ªCaptain... ¡ªDarius''s voice trembled while his gaze jumped between the monster and my mother. The fear and terror on his face revealed the terrible decision he had already made.


    Everything happened in an instant: he sheathed his sword and ran towards me, grabbed me and placed me on his back with a movement that didn''t give me time to react.


    ¡ªHey, what the hell are you doing?! ¡ªMy scream resonated throughout the place while I struggled to free myself from the grip of the man who carried me with one arm¡ª. My mom is still here!


    From my position on Darius''s shoulder, I stretched my arm with all the strength I could gather, trying to reach my mother while he ran.


    The distance between us grew with each step, and the centipede slowly advanced towards her, like a predator sure of its prey.


    ¡ªArceus! You must live! ¡ªMy mother''s cry pierced the air, her voice broken by the sobs that shook her body.


    I couldn''t look away from her.


    I saw her cover her mouth while crying heartbreakingly, and each of her tears was like a dagger in my heart. The words got stuck in my throat, replaced by sobs that shook my entire being.


    My body shuddered violently when I saw the monster position itself over her. Fear invaded me like a tsunami, sweeping away any coherent thought.


    My muscles tensed involuntarily, my mind went blank, leaving only a vast emptiness where hope had once existed.


    Then it happened: a huge and bloody mouth enveloped my mother''s head.


    ¡ªStop!! ¡ªMy heart-wrenching scream resonated throughout the underground district, a sound so full of pain and desperation that it barely seemed human.


    I saw how my mother''s headless body collapsed, a grotesque fountain of blood sprouting from the neck, soaking the ground with a crimson liquid that seemed to shine under the dim light.


    My shoulders shook uncontrollably while sobs shook me, unable to form coherent words.


    My hands trembled like leaves in a storm, and my breathing was erratic, as if I had forgotten how to do something as basic as breathing.


    The pain was so intense that I felt like I was drowning in it. It was unbearable, it was heartbreaking, as if someone had taken my heart and was squeezing it without mercy.


    I had never imagined my heart could hurt this way. I clutched my chest tightly, trying to contain the self-destructive whirlwind of emotions that threatened to tear me apart.


    Tears ran freely down my cheeks, blurring my vision until the world became a blurry smear of meaningless colors.


    I couldn''t breathe while emotions kept surging inside me like an unstoppable geyser.


    It was as if all natural disasters had decided to unleash inside my heart at the same time: a rage that burned like an uncontrollable forest fire, consuming everything in its path; a pain that flooded and drowned every corner of my being like a devastating tsunami; a corrosive guilt that made the very foundations of my existence tremble; and a regret that destroyed years of development and growth like a relentless hurricane.


    I could feel these emotions wreaking havoc inside my heart, tearing my sanity piece by piece.


    Every fragment of my being screamed in agony, while my mind struggled to process the horrible reality of what I had just witnessed.


    Now, all that was left to me was this dark hole of emptiness and regret.


    I had no one to blame but myself.

 Chapter 12: Next step (2)

    ¡ªDe verdad, despierta ya.


    Permanec¨ª en silencio, fingiendo dormir.


    ¡ªOh, peque?a. No pasa nada, vuelvo en 10 minutos. Despu¨¦s de eso, no habr¨¢ m¨¢s pr¨®rrogas, ?entiendes?


    Continu¨¦ sin responder, escuchando los suaves pasos de la mujer rubia que se alejaba de mi cama y el sonido de la puerta cerr¨¢ndose tras ella. S¨®lo entonces me atrev¨ª a abrir los ojos y a examinar con cautela mi entorno.


    ?D¨®nde estaba yo?


    La pregunta reson¨® en mi mente mientras intentaba orientarme en ese extra?o lugar.


    ¡ªEsto no es el infierno... ni es el cielo ¡ªmurmur¨¦ para m¨ª mismo, las palabras apenas un susurro en el silencio de la habitaci¨®n.


    I observed every detail of the room with a skeptical look. It was a normal room, the kind of place where a common, ordinary child would sleep.


    ¡ªWhere the hell am I? ¡ªThe question hung in the air while a memory invaded my mind without warning.


    Mom''s smile.


    Her sweet voice, the last one I heard before... The thought remained incomplete, the pain too fresh to process.


    After seeing her die, I found myself exposed to the harshness of the world without even having time to mourn her loss.


    Darius, I remembered with a bitter taste in my mouth.


    The man who took me away from her simply left me in this orphanage and left without saying a word.


    I didn''t hold a grudge, the truth was that no one wanted to take care of an orphan like me.


    The least he did was leave me in some underground shelter orphanage.


    I looked around with new eyes, evaluating the place. The orphanage was surprisingly large, housing about twenty new orphans.


    The facilities left me perplexed: dormitories, a dining hall, a playground, a sports field...


    How is it possible that an orphanage with such good conditions exists?


    For someone like me, who had lived in a house similar to a shack, this place seemed too good to be true.


    I lowered my gaze to my bare feet, feeling the wooden boards beneath them. My clothes were clean, too clean.


    Strange, I thought while observing the plate in front of me: an apple and two breads. All of this is too strange.


    All the children were eating at a large wooden table while sitting on wooden benches.


    The feeling that something wasn''t right never left me while I spent most of my time analyzing every detail.


    When the bell rang that afternoon, I saw the children playing in the yard entering the orphanage. Some were my age and height, others were larger. The boys wore long shirts with white pants, the girls wore long shirts with white dresses.


    What was that?


    I wondered when I saw one of the sisters handing a letter to a blond boy.


    ¡ªA letter sent by a godparent ¡ªa voice beside me startled me.


    I turned to find a redheaded girl with beautiful crimson eyes, staring at me fixedly with her hands behind her back¡ª. Sometimes they also send gifts.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    The girl seemed to be one or two years older than me, and she was looking at me with raised eyebrows.


    ¡ªDon''t you have a godparent?


    I didn''t respond. I didn''t want to talk to anyone, not even a girl. But she had other plans.


    Suddenly, I felt her hand grabbing mine, pulling me like a toy.


    ¡ªA godparent is an adult who takes care of you and wants to adopt you ¡ªshe explained while dragging me with her.


    Later, in the dining hall, I heard her declare with conviction: ¡ªAdults are kind, they''re not bad.


    ¡ªNo! They''re not! ¡ªprotested a boy of similar age with reddish-brown hair sitting next to her.


    I remained silent, watching the exchange without expression while she negotiated: ¡ªOkay, let''s say half are kind and the other half bad, Reinhardt.


    ¡ªVery well! ¡ªThe boy named Reinhardt seemed satisfied with the compromise.


    La pelirroja sigui¨® hablando mientras com¨ªa con el tenedor en la mano izquierda: ¡ªEse ni?o, Matthew, recibi¨® un juguete enorme de su padrino la ¨²ltima vez. No paraba de presumir de ello. ?Es para golpear a la gente en la cabeza!


    No quise herir sus sentimientos, as¨ª que me limit¨¦ a escucharla en silencio. Mi mirada debi¨® reflejar la tristeza y melancol¨ªa que sent¨ªa, pero ella nunca se apart¨® de m¨ª.


    Incluso durante las clases, mientras una de las cuidadoras rubias explicaba algo en el aula llena de asientos de madera y ni?os ansiosos por participar, la ni?a segu¨ªa habl¨¢ndome.


    ¡ªEl padrino de Lily le compr¨® ropa. ?Un vestido rosa! Es tan asqueroso ¡ªcoment¨® con fingido disgusto.


    M¨¢s tarde, bajo la luz de la l¨¢mpara de uno de los dormitorios, la o¨ª declarar orgullosa: ¡ª?Yo? ?Claro que no necesito padrino! ?Porque mi madre prometi¨® venir a buscarme!


    ¡ªDijo que vendr¨ªa cuando pasaran cien noches ¡ªlevant¨® la mano izquierda, mostrando los dedos¡ª. ?Cien noches pasar¨¢n en un abrir y cerrar de ojos! ?Lo sabes?


    Me obligu¨¦ a sonre¨ªr, sintiendo que mi coraz¨®n se ahogaba en mi est¨®mago.


    ¡ª...Espero que venga pronto ¡ªescuch¨¦ su murmullo, su peque?a voz mientras entrelazaba sus dedos.


    Al d¨ªa siguiente, o¨ª mi nombre. La rubia cuidadora me sonre¨ªa y sosten¨ªa una carta en sus manos. Se arrodill¨® frente a m¨ª.


    ¡ªEs una carta para ti ¡ªanunci¨® dulcemente¡ª. Ya tienes padrino. ?No est¨¢s feliz?


    Mir¨¦ la carta con incertidumbre. No quer¨ªa que me adoptaran. No quer¨ªa reemplazar a mi madre.


    Un ruido me distrajo: la bandeja, la pala y el tenedor que llevaba la pelirroja cayeron al suelo cuando se detuvo en seco, mirando la carta en mis manos.


    Vi c¨®mo su expresi¨®n cambiaba: cejas fruncidas, labios temblorosos, ojos brillantes que conten¨ªan l¨¢grimas. Por alguna raz¨®n, me sent¨ª terrible cuando la vi salir corriendo llorando.


    Deber¨ªa dejarla que se calmara, pens¨¦, pero despu¨¦s de un rato fui a buscarla. La encontr¨¦ en otra habitaci¨®n, escondida debajo de una mesa de estudio cubierta con una manta blanca.


    ¡ª?Vete! ¡ªsu voz temblorosa intent¨® asustarme.


    Obedec¨ª, pero s¨®lo por un momento.


    Por primera vez, iba a actuar como el ni?o que era.


    Regres¨¦ con dos galletas, levantando la manta para dejarlas a su lado.


    ¡ª...Esas son cosas que uno aprecia ¡ªmurmur¨® con expresi¨®n malhumorada.


    La vi tomar una galleta y darle un mordisco mientras me devolv¨ªa la espalda.


    ¡ª...La verdad es que las cien noches pasaron hace mucho tiempo ¡ªconfes¨® en voz baja¡ª. Mi madre cree que no s¨¦ contar hasta cien, pero lo s¨¦.


    Su voz se quebr¨® y fue reemplazada por sollozos que sacudieron su peque?o cuerpo.


    ¡ªAhora estoy solo ¡ªsalieron las palabras entre l¨¢grimas.


    Me sent¨¦ en silencio, apoyando mi espalda contra la de ella.


    Yo tambi¨¦n estaba sola, pero no lo dije. No hac¨ªa falta. Sent¨ª su sorpresa al sentir el contacto, girando su rostro lloroso hacia m¨ª.


    Por un momento, una peque?a sonrisa apareci¨® en sus labios y sent¨ª que algo dentro de m¨ª se suaviz¨® un poco.


    Tal vez no ten¨ªamos por qu¨¦ estar solos.

 Chapter 13: Family

    POV CASSIE''S


    Life in the orphanage was all I knew. Eight years had passed since I arrived here, since my mother left me with the promise of returning in a hundred nights.


    Now, at ten years old, those hundred nights had become almost three thousand. But I was strong, I wouldn''t break down just because I couldn''t see her again.


    Why am I thinking about this right now?


    I wondered as the familiar sound of the six o''clock bell resonated through the hallways, marking the start of another day.


    With a vigorous movement, I threw off my bed sheets while my gaze slid across the long hallways, flanked by twin beds. Since I arrived, the view was too familiar.


    ¡ªWake up, kids! Breakfast is ready! ¡ªI shouted with joy, raising my arms in the air and watching as my companions began to wake up slowly.


    I watched as some children unconsciously lifted their heads, others yawned trying to chase away sleep, and the last ones stretched their arms forcefully to shake off drowsiness. It was like a disorderly symphony of movements that repeated every morning.


    My eyes landed on little Lulu, who was struggling with the buttons of her blouse while sleep still clouded her gaze.


    I approached Lulu. She was seven years old, and her two beautiful pigtails fell over her chest while her clumsy little fingers tried unsuccessfully to complete her task.


    It''s like seeing myself from a few years ago, I reflected as I knelt in front of her.


    From the corner of my eye, I caught a blonde flash: it was another of our little demons running as if his life depended on it, with a mischievous smile on his face. Behind him, a black-haired boy raised his arms like a ghost, making strange gestures.


    I watched Thomas chasing him with raised hands, making his usual ghost gestures.


    ¡ªCatch me! ¡ªThomas shouted, his voice mixing with the morning''s laughs and yawns.


    ¡ªNo! ¡ªJake responded between laughs, skillfully dodging the beds.


    ¡ªStop playing and get ready ¡ªI heard one of the older girls, around eight or nine years old who was in the bed in front of mine, say. Her serious voice contrasted with the general chaos, while she adjusted her black glasses on her nose.


    ¡ªCassie, I don''t know how to put on my shoes ¡ªPowder''s trembling voice pulled me from my thoughts.


    Before I could respond, two more pairs of tearful eyes joined her plea, small hands holding shoes as if they were incomprehensible treasures.


    ¡ªA moment, don''t cry ¡ªI told them softly, the scene was quite familiar.


    And before I knew it, I was now the oldest here. It wasn''t just a matter of age; it was a responsibility that had grown naturally over the years.


    Later, when we finally went out into the hallway, I found myself carrying one of the smallest, a brown-skinned boy with black hair who seemed ecstatic to be in my arms.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The hallway bustled with activity with children of all ages.


    The building we called home was a labyrinth of spaces I knew like the palm of my hand: the cafeteria where we shared our meals, the pantry that stored our culinary treasures, the classroom where we faced exams, the attic that guarded secrets from previous generations, the bathrooms and showers where I organized endless shifts, the infirmary I had visited more times than I could count, the library where I took refuge on sad days, the playroom full of laughter, the music room where some found their voice, the storage rooms that held forgotten stories, and mama''s... no, the mother superior''s office, along with the caretakers'' rooms.


    In the hallway, I ran into Vinnie and little Lyra. Vinnie, with his dark skin and eight years of wisdom, guided Lyra with the same gentleness I had learned to show.


    Lyra, with her oval face and blonde pigtails, hugged her white teddy bear as if it were her anchor in this world.


    ¡ªGood morning, Vinnie, and little Lyra ¡ªI greeted them, noticing how behind them, in the bathroom, Leo, with his peculiar light blue hair, waited his turn next to Sofia, who showed the patience of her seven years.


    ¡ªGood morning ¡ªVinnie responded, raising his right hand with a soft smile.


    Lyra, for her part, gave me one of those smiles that illuminated the entire room. ¡ªGood morning, Cassie!


    Arriving at the dining room, I felt the familiar relief of having achieved another successful morning. ¡ªWe made it in time ¡ªI declared with a bright smile.


    Suddenly, I felt as if the world tilted beneath my feet. Someone had pushed me hard, and my center of gravity threatened to send me to the floor along with my small load. I''m not going to fall, I''m not going to fall, I repeated to myself while juggling to maintain my balance.


    Miraculously, I managed to stabilize myself while the little one skillfully jumped from my arms, landing with the grace of a cat.


    Turning around, I found myself face to face with the two morning troublemakers, the black-haired and blonde ones, who looked at me with angelic smiles that fooled no one.


    Jake and Thomas, the two morning tornadoes, had decided it was the perfect time for a surprise attack.


    ¡ªGuys... ¡ªI narrowed my eyes, feigning an annoyance I had never really felt about their mischief.


    ¡ªI''ll eat you up! ¡ªI declared, opening my mouth threateningly and raising my arms while running after them. Their screams of fake terror mixed with laughter filled the hallway as they fled.


    After our little chase, I returned to the dining room with Marcus stuck to my back, his small hand playing to cover my mouth in a game that only we understood.


    The dining room, with its three long tables, was the heart of our peculiar family. Reinhardt, my age-mate with reddish-brown hair, pushed the cart with the food pots, while Arceus, a year younger but taller than everyone, carried the milk jar.


    ¡ªGood morning, Reinhardt, Arceus ¡ªI greeted, maintaining my smile, they were my best friends.


    ¡ªGood morning, Cassie ¡ªReinhardt responded with his usual kindness.


    ¡ªGood morning ¡ªArceus''s greeting came accompanied by a contemptuous look.


    Arceus has always been different, I thought while observing him. Taller and more robust than Reinhardt, he was the only one who dedicated himself to exercising regularly, for reasons known only to him.


    ¡ªYou have a lot of energy for not having eaten yet ¡ªReinhardt observed, his soft smile showing he understood my way of being perfectly.


    ¡ªAre you five years old? ¡ªArceus''s comment was accompanied by a cheeky smile.


    I frowned and pouted, knowing I was only confirming his point but unable to avoid it.


    ¡ªI''m older than you, Arceus ¡ªI protested, though I knew it was useless as I watched him walk away through the dining room.


    A melodious laugh beside me made me turn my head. ¡ªYou too, mama? ¡ªI asked with exasperation, finding Emilia''s smile, her blonde hair framing her face while her black uniform blended with the orphanage''s darkness.


    Mama.


    The word came out of my lips naturally, as it always did when I addressed her.


    She wasn''t my biological mother, the one who had asked me to wait a hundred nights and never returned, but she was the one who had filled that immeasurable void in my heart.


    Emilia, who never complained when we were noisy, shameless, bothersome, annoying; who spoke animatedly with us without a single wrinkle of disgust on her face.


    If a mother is the one who takes care of you, who feeds you, who worries about you, who gives you love, who warms your little heart without abandoning you... then Emilia is my mother.

 Chapter 14: Family (2)

    Mama was my best teacher, a teacher of compassion, love, and courage. If love is sweet like a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.


    Emilia looked at me tenderly while holding her left arm against her chest.


    ¡ªHelp me, Cassie ¡ªshe told me with that soft voice that always made me feel at home.


    My mother, I thought while approaching her and hugging her tightly, still annoyed by Arceus''s comment. ¡ªMama... ¡ªI murmured against her black uniform.


    ¡ªI like that about you ¡ªher hands gently rested on my shoulders, and I could feel the familiar warmth of her touch.


    I lifted my head to look at her directly. ¡ªThat I''m five years old? ¡ªI asked mischievously.


    I saw her gently shake her head, and her next words made my heart swell with joy.


    ¡ªNo, that you value your entire family so much ¡ªher melodious voice caressed my ears while her hands touched my face tenderly.


    ¡ªThank you, mama ¡ªI felt my face brighten with a brilliant smile.


    Despite everything, I treasured everyone. My dear mother and my precious brothers.


    Who cared if we weren''t related by blood?


    There was nothing that mattered more to me.


    This house... was my family. And these were our ordinary days, filled with the warmth that only home can provide.


    The air vibrated with my brothers'' animated voices. I watched as dozens of children dressed in white uniforms sat at the three oak tables, surrounded by all kinds of dishes. Emilia, at the front, rang the bell she held high.


    ¡ªJust in time. Enjoy your meal ¡ªshe announced with her clear voice.


    A collective "thank you for the food" resonated before we all started eating and enjoying.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    After eating and brushing our teeth, we headed to the room that functioned as a classroom.


    For our future. For our well-being, I remembered Emilia''s words explaining that these exams were the substitute for conventional schools that existed in ancient times.


    I didn''t think too much about it while taking the complex exams. The questions of numerical reasoning, logic, attention and concentration, abstract aptitude, and verbal reasoning flowed under my pen with familiarity.


    When we finished, I heard exhausted sighs around me. Some leaned back on their desks, others stretched tired.


    ¡ªI was... ¡ªSighed one.


    ¡ªWe finished... ¡ªsaid another.


    ¡ªI''m done. ¡ªComplained a third.


    ¡ªReinhardt, you''re amazing ¡ªexclaimed someone else.


    ¡ªYour name is first among all.


    ¡ªThat means you were number one again, right?


    We were the top three, as always, Reinhardt, Arceus, and I, I thought while looking at the results table.


    Reinhardt, the genius with the brightest mind. Arceus, so smart he was the only one at his level.


    I really didn''t care about the tests, but the fact that my mama would praise me made it all worthwhile...


    After each exam, we were allowed to go out and play to our heart''s content. Although it was as dark as always outside, none of us cared while playing among ourselves.


    The uneven ground, covered in dust and debris, was our playground. ¡ªDo you want to play, Arceus? ¡ªI asked while stretching my left arm with my right.


    I saw him leaning on a rock about ten meters away, absorbed in his book. ¡ªI''ll pass ¡ªhe responded without bothering to look at me.


    ¡ªTch, would it kill you to come and play with us just once ¡ªI glared at him.


    ¡ªWhat are you looking at, hm? ¡ªLulu''s voice surprised me from behind.


    ¡ªAh! ¡ªI let out a scream when I felt her arms surround me in a surprise hug.


    ¡ªHey, don''t do that!


    ¡ªHaha, sorry, sorry. You didn''t move an inch for a while, so I couldn''t help it ¡ªshe apologized between laughs.


    ¡ªWhat kind of reason is that...


    ¡ªHey, I''m going to start counting ¡ªReinhardt''s voice interrupted us from the side.


    I turned my head and saw him with his hand raised, ready to start counting. Lulu and I ran out with the other children, big and small, while Reinhardt stood with his arms crossed before beginning his search.


    Running, jumping, playing and hiding behind debris and stones, I remembered we had been playing these games since we were little.


    The rock formation with all its blind spots, the earth and debris surrounding the house on all sides... It was the place that all my brothers and I knew like the palm of our hand.


    The house''s lands extended far and wide. But aside from this extensive terrain, there were two places we were forbidden to approach: the tunnel leading to the other underground shelters and the narrow ravine, where my brothers were adopted.


    None of us ever questioned those rules. While you lived under this roof, these were the rules you followed.


    Well, except for that time Reinhardt, Arceus, and I secretly ventured beyond the narrow ravine, where all we found was a hidden door.


    Still, I never hated it.


    How could I?


    My mama was here... I already had everything I wanted.


    I was already happy.

 Chapter 15: Half the truth

    POV LULU''S


    None of us would live here forever. Before turning twelve, it had already been decided that we would all leave the orphanage and be sent to live with adoptive parents.


    My thoughts wandered while listening to the cheerful voices of the small children rising throughout the yard.


    A short distance from the yard, beneath a giant rock at the top of an earth hill, I sang to myself.


    I created a soft melody with my voice, quiet enough that even a butterfly could hear me. A pity I had never seen any.


    ¡ªWhat a beautiful melody ¡ªI suddenly heard.


    I jumped in surprise at the voice coming from above my head.


    ¡ªCassie!


    Cassie agilely jumped from the top of the rock where she was, her crimson hair braided in a single plait flew through the air behind her.


    ¡ªI heard a wonderful song while climbing the tree and couldn''t help it... ¡ªshe smiled sweetly¡ª. Sorry.


    I put a hand over my heart. ¡ªYou scared me...


    Cassie sat next to me, hugging her knees, while looking at me with a curiosity that made me nervous.


    ¡ªSo, what''s the name of this song? ¡ªshe asked.


    Doubt invaded me.


    Should I tell her?


    But her genuine interest encouraged me.


    ¡ªIt has no name. I didn''t give it one, ¡ªI responded in a low voice.


    Her eyes opened in surprise.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    ¡ªDid you write this, Lulu?!


    ¡ªYes... ¡ªI confirmed, confused by her reaction.


    Why would she find something so simple so amazing?


    Cassie exclaimed joyfully, ¡ªThat''s incredible!


    She looked at me with her wide crimson eyes. She truly believed it.


    Anyone who could do something she couldn''t seemed amazing to her.


    ¡ªLet me hear a bit more!, ¡ªshe asked me.


    ¡ªWhat?


    I never expected such a request.


    I looked at her, perplexed. Cassie waited patiently, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.


    ¡ª... Well ¡ªI finally agreed.


    I felt embarrassed in front of my first audience.


    ¡ªBut keep it a secret, okay? It would embarrass me ¡ªI said raising my index finger. Cassie smiled and nodded.


    I began to sing, softly, as if telling an intimate secret.


    My voice, trembling and weak at first, gradually became clearer and stronger.


    I felt I could be myself.


    Cassie hugged her knees and observed me.


    Suddenly, Cassie began to sing with me.


    What a surprise!


    I looked at her, amazed that she had caught the melody so quickly. But she continued, without losing the rhythm.


    My song rose with the wind, blending with her voice.


    The time Cassie spent with me was different. She was someone who enjoyed playing, running, playing chess, but with me she found another type of comfort.


    When she congratulated me on my song, I just smiled awkwardly and looked away. ¡ªI''m not that good... ¡ªI mumbled.


    From my perspective, Cassie was perfect. Capable of doing anything and being better than most at it.


    She was smart enough to always get the best grades on exams and was also an exceptional athlete and a fast runner.


    Everyone loved her.


    My younger siblings admired and adored her, while those her own age recognized and respected her for being even more capable in some areas.


    Compared to Cassie, I considered myself boring. I didn''t stand out in studies and was always the first to be caught in games. I never knew what to say to people and knew that if I couldn''t be fun, nobody would respect me.


    I loved music, but for me it wasn''t a source of pride. It was cool to be good at studies or sports, but being good at music didn''t seem like a big deal.


    That''s why I wanted to be good at something else, anything.


    I wanted to change.


    Later, in my room, I reflected. I held my small notebook, tracing with my finger my never-accomplished goals.


    ¡ªI couldn''t do even one, as always... ¡ªI mumbled to myself.


    ¡ªLulu! ¡ªCassie calls me from the door¡ª. Mama wants to see you.


    I quickly put away the notebook and followed her.


    In the dining room, dinner preparation is in full process. While mama scolded the small children.


    ¡ªMama, I brought Lulu.


    Upon hearing Cassie''s voice, mama, who wore a black dress and white apron, turned to look at her.


    Next to Cassie, I nervously looked away, wondering what mama would tell me.


    Mama put her hand on my shoulder.


    ¡ªCongratulations, Lulu.


    Hearing those words, I raised my gaze and met mama''s eyes while she smiled kindly.


    ¡ªYou''ll join a welcoming family.

 Chapter 16: Half the truth (2)

    POV CASSIE''S


    The next morning was no different from the others. I began my day as I normally would, got up and made my bed.


    Today Lulu will be adopted. She will leave the only home she had known during our short lives.


    I no longer remembered my mother''s face, so I wondered what these godparents who sent gifts that later became adoptive parents would be like.


    Why do we never see them? Will they be kind? Tall? Intelligent? Will they be like me?


    I tried to imagine them, letting my mind wander for a moment.


    Without letting sadness consume me, I went to the bathroom to use the toilet, wash my hands and face. I tried to comb my tangled bright red hair with a comb before giving up halfway.


    I returned to my dressing table, slowly grabbed and put on my impeccable white uniform that I knew was the last time. The only thing we were allowed to wear as children.


    I had always wished I could wear other garments with different fabrics, textures, and colors, I reflected while dressing.


    Breakfast was full of delicious food. Sweet porridge with fresh fruit and honey. Soft pancakes as fluffy as cotton candy. White eggs like clouds and golden yolks like the sun. Bacon, toast, and sausages cooked and crispy to perfection.


    If the food is this good inside the orphanage, what would food be like outside? It must be first-class.


    My thoughts were quickly interrupted by Mama, who silenced all the children and gathered us to bless the table before starting breakfast.


    I wasn''t very hungry because I was thinking about Lulu, who was going to be adopted today.


    Then, we took our daily exam. And we lived our lives as happy members of a peaceful orphanage.


    Finally, the moment arrived for Lulu to leave.


    ¡ªI can''t believe this is your last day, Lulu! I''ll really miss you! ¡ªLucy told little Lulu with tears in her glasses, which she quickly wiped with her shirt.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡ªMe too! ¡ªAnna exclaimed, managing to hold back her tears.


    ¡ªOh, don''t worry, I''ll write to both of you. Once we''re adopted, we''ll meet and go shopping together! We can try new and exquisite food ¡ªLulu assured them.


    I smiled watching the scene, feeling a lump in my throat.


    ¡ªOr pretty dresses! ¡ªAnna got excited¡ª. Or books and art pieces signed by our favorite artists!


    Lucy''s face completely lit up, radiant at the positive mood change of her two friends.


    ¡ªThat''s the spirit, girls! Come on, let''s have breakfast together. I''m hungry ¡ªsaid Lucy.


    The other two girls nodded while the three finished setting the table and helping the youngest sit in their chairs.


    My siblings cried while sharing a box of tissues among them. But there weren''t enough tissues for everyone, as there wasn''t a single dry eye among us.


    It was normal for children to cry when one of our siblings was adopted.


    ¡ªLulu, please don''t go! ¡ªsome of the smaller children shouted.


    ¡ªNow, now everyone ¡ªsaid mama, clearing her throat¡ª. I know we''ll all miss Lulu, but please, try to be happy for her. She''s going to a new loving family and I assure you they will love her as much as we do. Now everyone can hug Lulu and give her their last goodbye before she leaves ¡ªmama instructed, smiling.


    The children obeyed, everyone took turns hugging Lulu. Lucy, Anna, and I were the first.


    Goodbyes are always difficult, I thought as I approached to hug her.


    I smiled through tears while hugging Lulu.


    ¡ªGood luck, Lulu. Your new family is lucky to have you join them. They''ll love you like I do, like we all do ¡ªI said in a supportive tone.


    Lulu tried to be strong while holding back tears.


    ¡ªI love you too, Cassie. Thank you, one day you''ll have a family of your own that will love you and be lucky to have you too ¡ªshe responded.


    Most children didn''t know the harsh truths about our parents or where we were born, I remembered.


    For us, finding a family to stay with is a truly exciting idea. But in the end... Leaving always makes us sad.


    ¡ªAre you okay, Arceus? ¡ªI asked, looking at my friend who hadn''t said a word during the farewell, worried.


    ¡ªI''m fine ¡ªArceus lied unconvincingly.


    Lulu nervously smiled at Arceus and gave him a hug.


    Something wasn''t right, I thought, watching the scene.


    Arceus lowered his head and whispered barely audibly: ¡ªI''m sorry.


    Reinhardt and the other children were confused, this wasn''t how a farewell should be.


    Arceus had always been the calmest of all the children. Why was he apologizing?


    ¡ªCome Lulu, it''s time to go. Your new parents are waiting for you ¡ªsaid Emilia, looking at Arceus with a frown.


    Lulu nodded while moving away from Arceus, which took all her strength.


    Lulu looked at her friends one last time.


    She said goodbye to the rest of the children, smiling as she left and the door closed behind her and mama.


    Time later...


    I snuck out of the orphanage without anyone noticing.


    I didn''t want to be punished, but I needed to see the godparents who were coming to pick up Lulu.


    Although I knew mama would scold me, I thought it would be worth it.


    After all, I had also gotten a godparent but never knew who or what they were like. This was my opportunity.

 Chapter 17: Broken dreams

    I ran through the extensive area of land. As always, the entire place was dark.


    In the orphanage at least there were lamps that illuminated most of the place.


    The rock formation with all its blind spots, the earth and debris surrounding the house on all sides.


    I scanned the area, my eyes trying to catch any detail.


    Besides earth and rocks, there was nothing else.


    I kept walking, heading southeast, until I reached the edge of a narrow ravine.


    What could this be?


    I carefully passed my fingers over the weak fold, camouflaged to look like a common crack along the steep cliff.


    It was a door.


    It was the same earth door that I had found back then, which had refused to open.


    Curious, I tried to push the hidden entrance once more. However, the earth door refused to move.


    There must definitely be some way to open it. I''m missing something.


    Think, Cassie. Think.


    I knelt after reaching a conclusion.


    I passed my hands over the rocky wall again, moving aside the bush that covered most of the lower half of the hidden door.


    After several minutes of trying to find the handle, the button, the lever, anything to open the lock mechanism, I finally found it. About four feet from the ground, near the crest of the door, my left hand sank into the cliff. At first, it felt like I had accidentally touched some kind of sap or glue-like substance, but as I made patterns with my hand, the wall''s viscosity changed.


    Each time I guessed the pattern wrong and tried to introduce my hand deeper into the lock''s hole, the earth surrounding my hand became more viscous and pushed my hand out of the lock.


    ¡ªDamn it ¡ªI muttered softly after the twentieth failed attempt to open the door.


    Without having given up yet, and with no time to waste, I concentrated on the area where the lock was.


    When I made the correct pattern with my hand, for an instant the area lit up, which allowed my hand to sink deeper into the hole without fear of having to start over.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    I pulled the handle buried deep in the hidden door''s lock mechanism. With a satisfying click, the earth wall rumbled before opening.


    I stood up and didn''t waste time in heading down the narrow corridor.


    The passageway, which was approximately almost two meters wide and had a ceiling that brushed the top of my head even when I was hunched, was more like a rudimentary tunnel than a real corridor.


    What a strange place, I thought.


    Fortunately, there were candles that cast a dim light inside small cubicles excavated on both sides of the walls.


    I could feel the heat of the candles, but after venturing through the strong earth winds, I welcomed it enthusiastically. I stayed on the left side of the corridor, to be a bit hidden, I didn''t want my mama to discover me.


    I continued through the dimly lit corridor until something luminescent (which wasn''t a candle) appeared in the distance and without thinking much, I headed towards the light.


    The tunnel curved slightly as I approached the motionless light and my ears could capture distant echoes of sounds. The sounds became louder as I continued advancing through the tunnel, but too many things were happening at once for me to distinguish specific sounds.


    There were conversations, echoes, and multiple heavy footsteps. Finally, after a few more minutes of walking, the tunnel''s exit was right in front of me.


    I walked towards the exit carefully, trying not to accidentally kick any stone or make any other noise that might alert a guard who could be around the corner.


    Not perceiving any signs of activity outside the tunnel, I walked quickly to the edge of the exit, where a curtain of shadows hid me from any unsuspecting gaze.


    I stood looking, unable to comprehend the magnitude of what I had discovered.


    The corridor opened into an enormous cavern with a flawless vaulted ceiling, so for a second, I doubted I was still underground.


    Instead of candles, huge torches covered the walls to reveal how large the cavern actually was and who was inside.


    I let out a string of curses in my head while looking down. In the center of the cavern floor, approximately two floors below, there was an enormous stone wall rising up to a white circular hole, which seemed to be the sky. According to the books in our house, only the sky had clouds.


    The rough and uneven stone walls, with small protruding stones and cracks, rose to a dizzying height.


    Beneath them, there were dark silhouettes of figures I couldn''t recognize. Afraid of being discovered, I stepped back while hiding and focusing my view.


    Wow! Could these really be Lulu''s parents? They''re so tall!


    The thought crossed my mind, and I continued looking.


    When the silhouette was completely focused, illuminated by the fire''s light, I began to examine it. It looked very strange. Not like people usually look.


    Then I realized.


    It wasn''t a sweet vision of loving parents, but something horrible.


    The monster had a long white face with four vertical eyes looking in different directions. Two above, two below with a gigantic mouth in the middle full of hundreds of knife-sharp teeth and a terribly long and thick tongue from which saliva dripped.


    Holy heaven!, I screamed in my mind.


    The creature was dark, 3 meters tall and standing on its hind legs. Its gigantic thin arms with long and sharp claws seemed capable of crushing anyone. It also had two mini sharp horns on each side of its head.


    The vision of the creature made my eyes open abnormally and my mouth open wide with horror while I began to step back.


    However, what scared me most was not the monster''s size nor its terrifying figure, but the container it was balancing in one of its large hands.


    The little Lulu who had greeted, smiled, and said goodbye to me was locked up upside down and her small body unnaturally bent inside the container.


    The girl was lifeless, swimming from head to toe in a crystalline liquid, with an expression full of pain in her open eyes.

 Chapter 18: Broken dreams (2)

    I had to cover my mouth to prevent screaming while feeling a wave of trembling. I felt goosebumps rising from my feet to my head, my skin tingling like needles.


    This can''t be happening.


    My eyes opened so wide that I could see every detail even better, and from that point, nausea rose to my throat, burning the walls of my organs.


    What was happening?


    All the air trapped inside my lungs came out as a frozen vapor. A trembling hand forcefully covered my mouth to contain the scream that froze on my lips. And no matter how much I tried to break away from this image, I couldn''t.


    My eyes, covered in wild horror, stared fixedly at the body hanging in the container that the monster was carrying.


    ¡ªDon''t move ¡ªI told myself, trying to prevent my heart from bursting out of my chest.


    I didn''t even realize how I started trembling feverishly. My lips trembled while I felt everything freezing with horror, feeling the void that was slowly sinking me. My hands began to shake violently and my teeth started chattering slightly.


    ¡ªChildren are not my favorite dish ¡ªThe monster''s voice awakened all my senses.


    ¡ªIdiot, carry the container carefully. That girl is valuable merchandise, not something to eat ¡ªI heard another say.


    What were they talking about? I brought both hands to my face trying to understand what was behind their words.


    ¡ªThe human flesh from this shelter is for the conservation of our species ¡ªone of them continued.


    ¡ªThat''s right, leave everything in our hands ¡ªEmilia''s voice, my mother, seriously frightened me when my body shuddered.


    A sharp sword pierced my brain as I began to understand....


    My God, it wasn''t possible¡­


    My skin bristled and shivered, and I felt my spirit split in two¡­


    Then¡­


    An unexpected change fell like lightning, a strange sensation that everyone felt. This sensation rose across my skin. It was hard to describe, but something in it felt¡­ twisted.


    I felt this sinister unknown feeling shaking my body. The same happened to the monsters, who suddenly knelt, facing the circular hole in the sky.


    The figure descending from the circular hole had a much more humanoid silhouette than these monsters, was two meters tall, wore an elegant black armor, had blood-red eyes, and had a sharp and piercing tail. Its pale gray skin with black scales blended with the cloudy sky in the background.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Standing there, barely keeping myself upright, I felt like a simple spark against the wind, completely vulnerable.


    I felt desperation.


    The mysterious figure exerted a suffocating pressure throughout the cavern when it landed on the ground.


    After a few seconds, I gathered the courage to look down again.


    ¡ªM-Mr. Cylrit? ¡ªthe muscular monster greeted while remaining kneeled next to my mother, confused.


    ¡ªWhere is Emilia? ¡ªthe man asked coldly, confronting one of the monsters that had frightened me so much.


    ¡ªI am here, my lord ¡ªmy mother responded, still kneeling, lifting her head.


    ¡ªVery well. Listen carefully. Within two years, prepare the three with the maximum score for their imminent harvest. The rulers desire new offspring ¡ªHis soft voice spread like a cold breeze, causing chills down my back despite the distance separating us.


    ¡ªUnderstood, my lord ¡ªmy mother responded, visibly relaxing her shoulders.


    I felt the paralysis of an electrifying terror. Had I heard correctly?


    My heart sank into my stomach, and I knew I had to get out of here as soon as possible.


    I fled as fast as possible when, suddenly, the man looked over his shoulder.


    For a fraction of a second, his gaze passed through the tunnel where I was running. I felt that his gaze finally overlooked me, but in that fugitive instant, his cold eyes fixed on my back with the attention of a predator, when my body visibly shrank while running desperately.


    There was no doubt about it: he knew I was there.


    Exiting the tunnel, what I received was the always pleasant breath of earth''s wind.


    However, after a mile of rapid running, my body had succumbed to a bout of chills.


    I escaped, running through earth and debris as fast as my small legs allowed me until they finally gave way and I fell to my knees, hunched over myself and breathing heavily between sobs.


    What did I just witness?


    These monsters were worse than I could have imagined.


    All the adopted children... were dead.


    Were we food?


    Did we live just to be eaten?


    No, that didn''t seem to be the case. The monsters'' way of speaking didn''t seem to talk about simple food. They seemed to give us a much more important role.


    Were we raised and killed for pleasure?


    No, that makes no sense. They called us "merchandise", so our bodies clearly had value... But what?


    I didn''t understand.


    I suppressed a sob and rubbed my face with a sleeve to dry the tears falling... I had been desperately trying not to cry about this disturbing reality all this time.


    But now it was practically impossible.


    I couldn''t lie to myself and continue as if everything was fine until my turn. I couldn''t let my other companions go to their death without knowing.


    We had to get out of here. Flee as far away as possible.


    Rage, anguish, helplessness, and betrayal invaded me when remembering everything. My body shivered as I began to sob.


    No... Mom.


    Faced with the crushing truth, tears began to run down my face like a torrent that finally broke the containment wall.


    My face turned pale and my entire body trembled while I lost my voice in a heartbreaking cry of pain.


    Gritting my teeth and holding back the sobs forming in my chest, the tears wouldn''t stop. My hands were trembling and I was breathing intermittently.


    I began to cry from rage, from sadness. I felt humiliated for having believed I finally had a mother I could trust.


    I opened my hands forcefully when a heartbreaking scream escaped from my dry throat. Rage fought against the pain in my heart for a long time while I lamented everything.


    I cried and cursed the whole time, refusing to believe that all of this was real. As a sister, as a companion, I just wanted to protect my family, the few people who were important to me, let them be happy and healthy.


    I was prisoner to an immense, indescribable anger, more terrible than I had ever felt in my life.

 Chapter 19: Meeting

    POV''S ARCEUS PENDRAGON.


    I got out of bed as soon as I was sure everyone else had fallen asleep. I carefully opened the door and stepped out before closing it behind me.


    Sneaking around at night made me nervous, so I was careful not to go down the stairs because I knew they made noise.


    I managed to reach the library through total darkness. When I opened the door, the dim light of a lamp illuminated me.


    I quickly entered before anyone could see me and closed the door behind me.


    Cassie was sitting at one of the tables, with an open book and a fire lamp beside her.


    When she heard the door open and close, she looked up and her eyes focused on me.


    After a moment, she stood up.


    ¡ªYou didn''t back down. Good.


    She turned to look at me as I closed the distance between us.


    ¡ªEveryone else is sleeping. Emilia went to bed a few minutes ago. So now we can talk freely.


    I closed my mouth for a moment and reflected.


    Emilia, huh?


    Apparently, Cassie has already learned the truth.


    ¡ªI know.


    I knew she would have many questions and that her interrogation would determine whether she could trust me or not. While she was thinking, I opened my mouth.


    ¡ªI don''t know where to start. What do you want to know?


    I gave her a thoughtful look before shrugging.


    Cassie hesitated for a moment.


    ¡ªI need to make sure my theories about you are correct. And if you really know what I think you know, I want you to know that you''re not the only one. If you accept, we can even work together.


    I touched my lower lip.


    Cassie had really been watching me and seemed to have dedicated many thoughts to this.


    And... from what she just said, she''s almost understood it perfectly.


    The only detail she hasn''t alluded to, which she doesn''t seem to have deduced, is something she couldn''t have guessed: my reincarnation.


    I inquired while shaking my head.


    ¡ªWork together? How?


    I questioned while crossing my arms.


    ¡ªIn fact, first, what do you think I know?


    That was the first topic, the most important one to address, before any other.


    Cassie snorted.


    ¡ªI''m supposed to be the one asking questions here.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    I tilted my head from side to side while trying to better read her mood. She definitely didn''t look good at all.


    ¡ªYou know what''s on the other side of that door. You know what this place really is. And what we were born to become. That''s why you''ve been so weird since you got here. That''s why, every time someone is "adopted," you''ve never seemed really happy for them.


    She spoke so fast that I felt like my mind was going numb listening to her.


    However, she was right about everything.


    ¡ªThere was always hesitation and sadness in your eyes. You might think you''re a good actor, Arceus, but it''s quite obvious if you act so weird.


    Her tearful voice came out as if she was squeezing every word from her throat.


    She gave subtle hints, but vaguely, just in case, and gave me enough information so that, if her theory was correct, I could grasp her deeper meaning. Cassie was cautious even when she actually had most of the answers.


    I exhaled a sigh, not knowing how much I should reveal.


    ¡ªThis place is like a cage. No, it is a cage. They feed us well and everything goes according to plan. When we wake up, when we go to bed, everything. We''re nothing but cattle waiting to be sacrificed.


    Cassie stood there trembling like a lonely leaf on a tree. She sobbed and then raised her head. She seemed to have calmed down a bit, but her eyes and nose were tinged with red.


    ¡ªThey''re killing them and devouring them...


    Cassie said glancing around as if she was nervous, letting out a shaky sigh while crossing her arms over her chest, scared.


    ¡ªGood. We''re on the same page.


    She sighed as if relieved.


    ¡ªAll of this... is probably to maintain the quality of our lives as merchandise. After all, we probably wouldn''t taste as good if we weren''t healthy or were malnourished.


    Cassie shuddered at my comment before nodding in agreement.


    ¡ªAnd what about the daily exams? Emilia encourages us to learn, but what''s the point of that if they''re just going to eat us?


    I began to frown deeply at her question.


    In fact, if we''re cattle, they shouldn''t feed us.


    I originally thought that educating us should seem almost dangerous to those monsters.


    The meat won''t taste better if we get good grades, right?


    It seemed that age and score had something to do with the level of the meat.


    Although she was certainly right, that wasn''t the conclusion I reached after years of research.


    ¡ªIf I remember correctly, those who were shipped were between seven and fourteen years old. And if seven years is usual. Then...


    I gave Cassie a hint so she could understand it on her own.


    Cassie covered her mouth while opening her eyes with fear upon reaching the expected conclusion.


    ¡ªSo basically, our shipment was proposed by our high grades?


    Cassie looked at the ground helplessly.


    ¡ªStill, I don''t understand. Why do they classify us by score?


    ¡ªMaybe it''s the size of our bodies?


    I suggested, but then shook my head.


    No... thinking about it, it can''t be that. In that case, they would care more about our body mass.


    Cassie opened her eyes forcefully, having reached a chilling revelation.


    ¡ªBrain size.


    My face hardened and I went rigid.


    ¡ªHuh?


    We both fell into deep contemplation. Yes, that was it.


    It is said that the human brain is 90% developed by age 6. Others also maintain that by age 13, it''s fully developed.


    ¡ªIt''s just an assumption for now.


    ¡ªFine. Now tell me, what did you see outside the orphanage?


    With a guttural and primitive howl that tore through me like shards of glass, Cassie broke down in tears.


    Although we were just one step away from each other, an indescribable void of emotions separated us.


    ¡ªWhat''s wrong?


    Cassie took time to respond.


    The room itself seemed to mourn for Cassie as her sobs and moans filled the air.


    ¡ªDo you remember the door we found when we were children?


    ¡ªI do.


    ¡ªWell, beyond that door... There''s a tunnel that connects to a well.


    ¡ªA well?


    ¡ªA well that leads to the surface, to the outside world.


    I stood there stunned at that information.


    The knot in my throat blocked any words of comfort I could say, so I did what no one else could do without knowing the truth: give her hope.


    ¡ªLet''s run, Cassie. We need to leave this place behind.


    ¡ª...


    It wasn''t Cassie''s anger that made my gut boil like this... it was my own.


    ¡ªI don''t know what the outside world is like, but we have no other choice if we want to survive. It''ll be okay, we''ll manage to escape. If it''s you and me definitely...


    ¡ªDo you think it''s possible to bring them with us?


    ¡ª...


    ¡ªIf we leave them here... They''ll end up like this! Without a doubt! We can''t leave them behind. I don''t want anyone else to die!


    Tears ran down her cheeks and clouded her vision. Cassie''s body visibly shrank while her small shoulders trembled, she couldn''t breathe as the torrent of emotions continued to surge from her.


    Do you think it''s possible to take them all with us?


    ¡ªAre you joking, right? Cassie, you see... It''s not possible to take them with us.


    It simply wasn''t possible. There was no way to escape from this place.

 Chapter 20: Lights In The Darkness

    The clock struck ten and a bell rang, which meant it was time for recess after long hours of exams. It was a large bell that hung from a tower outside, unconnected to the main house.


    I was lying on a rock about ten meters away from the children who were running and playing in the rocky area, absorbed in my book.


    It was a copy I had found hidden in the orphanage library a few months ago. It was so well hidden that even I, who spent most of my time reading, could only find it not long ago.


    The book was titled: Encyclopedia for Ascendants.


    "What we are today is nothing but stardust. The earth you walk on, the nitrogen in our DNA, the iron in your blood, the calcium in your teeth, the carbon inside you and me, were born within the core of stars. When these stars explode in a supernova, they release into space the elements that formed inside them. Over time, the elements cluster together to form new stars, planets, and other celestial bodies. Every time we look at the night sky, we contemplate a fragment of our own history. All the elements that make us up were created in the heart of stars that shone long before the world existed. What you are and what you touch is stellar matter, we are in essence... Children of the Stars."


    I never tired of reading that magnificent introduction, which made my heart tremble with enthusiasm. The idea that every atom of my being had been forged in the heart of a star made me feel both insignificant and transcendental.


    "An Ascendant is someone who has awakened the stellar core within their body to manipulate stellar energy and can use their wonderful abilities. While some powerful creatures already have their stellar cores formed, most are born in a Latent state, like humans. Learning to control stellar energy is the hardest part, but by absorbing a stellar core from some mutant, success is almost guaranteed."


    ¡ªTurn.


    "The stellar core is a mysterious and enigmatic spherical space located inside the Ascendant''s body around the stomach area. Because it is ethereal, it does not occupy physical space as an internal organ would. The core is infinitely large, but at the same time infinitely small."


    In contrast, a mutant''s stellar core was a very rare energy sphere, which fell when you killed mutants and only grade C or higher beasts formed a stellar core.


    I see, there''s much to learn, I thought.


    With that thought, I closed the encyclopedia and made myself more comfortable on the dirt ground.


    In this world, there were various mysterious forces, and we Ascendants could be classified into several main professions: Knight, Mage, Explorer, Warrior, Archer, Assassin, Sorcerer, and Priest.


    Professions formed a fundamental part of the world and reflected the accumulation of an individual''s growth and skills, as well as their future path.


    Those with whom commoners had the most experience were Warriors. Warriors were Ascendants who had undergone rigorous training and had awakened their latent abilities. Their physical attributes far exceeded those of a normal human.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.


    These Warriors not only possessed physical attributes several times superior to those of normal humans, but they were also experts in the use of various weapons and martial arts. The realms of the common world, along with nobility, were generally formed by Warriors who had achieved a certain level of power and prestige.


    I lost myself in my thoughts, imagining what it would be like to become one of those powerful Warriors or perhaps even a Mage capable of controlling the mysterious forces of this world. I didn''t care what my profession was, as long as I had the power to protect myself.


    My hands closed into fists, determined to discover my own potential and place in this dystopian society so different from the one I had known.


    Today was the day, finally, after years of preparation, I was ready.


    I stood up, shaking the dirt from my clothes while the voices of playing children echoed in my ears.


    Teamwork would be crucial to escape, but doubt gnawed at me: how could I convince these orphans that their lives were a lie?


    I wasn''t even sure I wanted to bear the responsibility of protecting them in this cruel reality.


    I cast one last look at those children who laughed and smiled as they ran.


    I looked away and headed toward my destination, remembering how I too had once wished I could live so carefree.


    I had longed to know nothing, remain ignorant of the truth and simply enjoy this new life... but it was impossible for me.


    Certainly ignorance was a blessing, but my mother''s sacrifice weighed on my conscience. She had given her life for me, and wasting that sacrifice would be a slap to her memory. Dying here would be betraying the woman who had believed in me until the end.


    It was fine. It was fine as it was.


    I carefully observed my surroundings, making sure no one was following me.


    I approached a small cave blocked by a giant rock that seemed to have been moved recently.


    This was the reason for my intensive training. The reason why most of the children most of the time found me training.


    It took me several years to move this rock.


    When I first discovered the cave, I considered it an excellent training exercise to strengthen myself, to stop being weak. I wanted to prove myself.


    No, thinking about it. It wasn''t any of that. I wanted to punish myself, I felt guilty. This immutable situation was so frustrating and overwhelming that I felt my heart could explode at any moment.


    Perhaps this way I would feel a little better about myself.


    I needed to sink into remorse and regret for having been so weak, for having been unable to do anything, for having been just a burden to my mother.


    Days, weeks, and months passed, and the rock remained motionless. At first, no matter how much force I applied, my feet would just slide backward while the rock remained firm as if it were welded to the ground.


    There were times when I thought it was impossible. The rock wasn''t particularly thick, just a giant disc without much thickness, but to me it seemed an insurmountable barrier.


    An ironic smile crossed my face as I remembered those hard days, when my hands were covered in blisters and calluses. But I never gave up. Pain transformed into conviction, conviction into stubbornness, and stubbornness into obsession.


    I became so obsessed with the idea of moving the rock that, when I finally managed to move it a few millimeters, I felt an indescribable relief. Sweat soaked my hair and ran down my exposed body like rain, but I had moved what I believed immovable.


    Returning to the present, I set to work. The wall rumbled when I pushed with all my might, and a grunt escaped from between my clenched teeth.


    My hands trembled noticeably as I pushed the rock - which no longer seemed so giant to me - until it finally moved enough to allow me to enter.


    Although I expected nothing from the cave, at least I wanted to see what it was like.


    When I entered, I came to a small cavern. It wasn''t large and not very spacious. In the cave there was a slight scent of flowers, which wasn''t stale because it had been covered for a long time and air couldn''t circulate.


    The cave was a bit dark.


    After walking for a minute, I suddenly saw a ray of light in front of me. My vision also expanded.


    At the front of the cave there was a dark yellow sphere, from which the light came. The light shone in the deep and narrow crevice that formed on the surface of the earth.


    I tried to extract the crimson gem when a blinding light flooded my vision, brighter than any sun I had ever seen before.