It was a new day, on a certain room, a certain boy was found laying in his bed, his eyes heavily closed indicating that he is still asleep, in reality. He wasn't, he couldn't stop thinking about his actions days ago. He clenched his pillow as he tried to forget about, he sighed. He finally opened his eyes.
"...." He was lacking enough sleep, ranging from only to two hours, his guilt plaguing him in a form of a nightmare. Always waking up in an hour or so, basked in cold sweat from his not-so-fake dream.
He shivered just remembering it. Being a burden, weak, a coward and many things that he couldn't remember, his flesh being ripped inside ou-
He shook his head as he dismissed that topic, he tried to get his act together, he then casted a smile.
A fake smile...
Today was a new day....
....
"Good day, Mr. Guest...!!!" It was Oliviia, she showed up after he finished preparing himself the moment he opened the door. He was slowly getting used to the sudden appearance of a brown haired girl. To the point that he isn't even surprised anymore.
He smiled.
"Yeah....goodmorning." He felt like the burden on his shoulders disappeared for a moment, having a companion really does help him forget his earlier problems. The same for Jack too.
"You're feeling good compared to yesterday...!!! Did something happen...!!!???" Curiously the girl asked, in an innocent manner, though she was worried she was a little happy that Klover managed to overcome his sadness, the same goes to others too. That was not true however.
Unbeknownst to Olivia, Klover was completely hiding it...
"Yeah...!! Your father consulted me about my problems, don't worry too much about it. The topic we talked yesterday was just my usele-" He stopped as he cut his sentence, then he continued.
"About the food, yeah...!!! About the food...!!!" This managed to convinced Olivia, though her expression turned into sadness for a bit, it then turned into genuine concern as she asked in curiousity.
"The food...?"
"Ah- ah yeah...!!! I got a little stomach ache, after I accidentally choked a certain one...!??" Unable to keep his lie, he just hoped that the little girl would take it. He wasn't that very good at lying, as he smirked in awkardness.
"Hmm...!! I see, then you should be careful next time...!! I don't want guests that are sad and gloomy...!!!" She walked away for Klover as she went downstairs before she continued.
"Also breakfast is almost here...!!! I'll call you later okay....!!! See ya for a bit Mr. Guest...!!! Her yell then went faint as she disappeared in Klover's sight.
He sighed in relief, as he looked at the direction she went away. He questioned himself.
"Couldn't she have teleported downstairs...?" He pondered until he came into a conclusion. It was mana.
"Her ability probably has a limit." He concluded as he then continued his day. Not noticing the murky feeling inside of him...
It was Envy...
....
Walking through the capital bustling of life Klover pondered onto something, about them meeting again.
'Would they blame me...?'
'Would they hate me...?'
Many thoughts ran through his mind, he couldn't help but blame himself for the situation happening days ago, atleast that's what Jack said.
'I've been sleeping in almost two days huh...?" He frowned, his eyes showing signs of tiredness. He wants to sleep yet he barely can. He doesn't know how to resolve his current situation right now.
'...It will probably end up awkward, maybe they'll start avoiding me too...' He sighed as he shook his head. As he reached the Adventurer's Guild, he couldn't help but feel hesitance about entering this place.
He frowned even further, he doesn't know what will happen if he enters. The feeling of fear rose through him, he gritted his teeth because of his cowardice. He turned back as he went into a different direction.
He went into the forest with the same route the said party took an subjugation with him days ago.
....
Through the vast vegetation ranging from blue trees, green and purple plants. A boy was walking through the vibrant blue green grasses, each step he stook produces a quite yet pleasant sound as he continued walking.
Why was he even here...? He doesn't know, it was just an instinct to go in here. What can he do in here...? He doesn't know it either, he just went here with no reason.
And purpose...
"...." It was quite, so is the voice of Klover. He looked in the area in serene and horror. He doesn't know what to think about these anymore. All these conflicting feelings confused him even more.
Shouldn't he feel afraid...? Shouldn't he feel in peace and satisfaction. He sat in one of the recently cutted
trunk he saw just now. As he questioned himself.
'What am I doing with my life...?' He asked himself, yet no one answered his question. What is his purpose for coming into these world...? He doesn't know that either. Instead of becoming stronger, what is his other purposes...?
'...' No answer came to his mind. If his goal of escape the shitty reality isn't working what should he do...? He close his eyes as he watched the beautiful view, different from the one days ago that has the mutilated scene of a dead man with his head chopped off.
"..." It was silence, with no motivation to do anything, he just sat there. As he contemplated on a another memory of his childhood.
Slight Flashback
'Don't break.' *Slap* The metal tip of the belt was whipped into his back. He had to resist, so he can see her again.
"You fuckin' piece of shit...!!! Why am I even keeping you here in our house anyway...! You better be grateful, your allowed to stay in this house...!! The moment you turn 18 is the moment you'll never see us again. Us beating you up is just a payment for staying in this house...!!! You fucking got it...!!" Kloe's Father yelled further, he whipped his belt into Kloe's back as the boy gritted his teeth in pain.
'Don't break.' Determination built up inside him, his pillar of hope was cheering him albeit far away. He can't fail her...!!!
"....ghhkkk.!!! He groaned as he can't contain this barrages of hits from his back. He wanted to fight back, yet he couldn't. They'll restrict him of his food and kick him out again.
It's been two years since the events of him being comforted by Shion, with one year later of her and Noan going together in overseas since their parents made them go to the same private school abroad. He said his final goodbyes to her. She shoned a smile as he will forever remember her words.
....
'We'll see again soon Kloe. Don't forget that I love you and I will always cheer for you when you are at your lowest...!!! Don't blame yourself, instead love yourself for who you are...!!!" She waved her goodbyes to the brown haired boy. They were currently in an airport, with Shion and Noan with their parents, and Klover alone by himself.
He tried to held his tears back yet it was useless. She was the one who gave her light through his darkness. Yet he was alone again.
One month ago, they tried to file a case of child abuse to Klover's parents. Yet it was useless as they were influencial themselves. They bribed their way through the system and they were let go with no consequence whatsoever. He remembered his parents smug face, as they looked at him. Thinking about those only caused him to become even more frustrated and angry. He shook his head as he looked at the reality before him. She was leaving, so is Noan. He closed his eyes as he accepted the reality before him.
"Yeah...!!! I know...!!! He fought back his tears with smile, he was going to endure this pain his parents brought him. Then he'll meet her again.
He then snapped out of his memories after his father left him. Kloe spat at his family that he hated the most. The abuse has gotten worse since the trial, with his mother joining in the tray of her husband's doing.
'Don't ever break...!!" He wasn't going to be their toy, he'll endure until she comes back. Nay, no matter how it takes...!! He glared at them in extreme hatred, yet he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Since he's still dependent on them...
Flashback End
He reminisce the memories of his earlier days, he couldn't help but think his parents were right. But he knows they were wrong.
He scowls at the thought of that. Just bringing up the word or in relation to the word "Family" is enough to make him sick.
"...tch." He shook his mind out of this hateful thoughts as he looked at the scene before him. Which in turn made him smile.
A short-term happiness or so they say is what is Klover doing now. Once he took his mind out of the scenery before him, negative thoughts then come rushing like a dam in his mind. He intends to face his problems.
Yet he couldn't bring himself to do it. Fearing the consequences of failure his parents ingrained into his mind, he gritted his teeth again in frustration.
His tired eyes wanting to close itself to get some sleep yet Klover forces it's body to open it. He was tired, clearly tired.
His promise to the girl he loved, betrayed him in his face, as if mocking him. No more pillars to help him support himself. He was close to breaking, desperate to find a new purpose, but he couldn't force his mind to splurge new ideas in his head.
He kept frowning, as his newfound distraction isn't working anymore. That is until-
"....things.....weird." A faint voice was heard in direction Klover was currently looking. He listened further, his ears perked up with this new conversation.
"...shit!!....seriously.....ierd....cracks...." Another faint voice was heard again, to Klover's curiosity he couldn't help but go closer to the source of the conversation.
'Crack...what's that...?' Thoughts raced on his mind as he remembered the time where the sky cracked. Klover knows what Nolan said six months ago.
Slight Flashback To Six Months Ago
'There are some cases where the cracks appeared out of nowhere. It could be through the land, the sea or even in the sky...!!! No one truly knows where they appear, but be always care since that is always the sign of an upcoming Invasion." The priest sighed in worry as he continued albeit muttered in silence.
"Since when will a Representative come and save us all...?" It was quiet but it was enough for Klover to hear, though Nolan didn't expect that as he didn't notice.
....
"...a Representative huh..." He talked to himself, he learned those through Nolan that during an upcoming invasion, a Representative will always appear. Without it the world will end, or if the latter was killed, but the world didn't end. Which gave them hope that the Representative was just hiding somewhere.
"Just where is this person even hiding anyway...? He scoffed as he questioned himself. Really though....? Why are they even hiding when the world was literally at the palm of your hands, you could have guards from the highest order to protect and monitor you, once it fails it's all over.
He sneakily walked through the source of the voice, with bushes camouflaging his appearance yet made noise to his movements. He didn't mind it though.
'The distance is still probably far away.' He concluded, he just need to hide in a distance first. After closing in, he'll significantly slow his movements to prevent as much sound as possible.
....
During those moments the unknown people talking was then revealed, along with other of it's acquaintances. They were dozens of knights, wearing a metal armor to their chest, exposing their heads and a metal pants and boots which restricts their movements a little, in exchange for greater defense. They were currently scouting the area, in case of something similar to the ogre incident will happen again.
*Sigh* The knight then started a conversation to his supposed friend, which is also a knight.
"...things have really gone shitty isn't it." The knight couldn't help but agree with the statement as he nodded.
"Yeah, I know.... Shit just went from zero to one hundred Things truly have gone very seriously, when will the Majesty announce an evacuation for it's citizen...? It seems to me the this country will be the first affected by the crack." The other knight responded to his friend. Still in a dilemma on where to evacuate it's citizens.
"His Majesty will probably evacuate them in Lofren, no way in hell they'll just drop them on Forsted."[modern_footnote]Renamed the kingdom from Forst to Forsted.[/modern_footnote] The demihuman knight with brown hair and eyes, to pair with dog ears joined the conversation.
The said demihuman knight scowled just by being dropped by at the Kingdom of Forsted.
"You mean that damn humanitarian country who always think humans are superior...? Fuck them and leave them to their asses...!!! Let's just hope that they don't have a Hero hidden in there...!! The demihuman knight yelled in anger, clearly showing that he has some bad experience on that kingdom.
"Oh, it's Sir Kleid...! What are you doing here..? Seeing they're superior they saluted in respect before they talked casually with each other, tension then arises.
"I just got interested in your fucki'n convo...!" Kleid reassured them of his intention, the tension then disappeared as they continued.
"There's some monsters being influenced by the crack or something, atleast that's what "The Exiled"1The Exiled is Leight's party, since they're literally exiled. party mean." The other knight said nonchalantly, the other two however are not faring it well.
"Sucks for those veteran party, I heard their tank was in a coma...!!! That's big losses for them, especially at such a situation right now...!" The two nodded in pity. There was a lack of adventurers right now, while it is not true, their experiences are very lacking. Veteran party with 3 to 4 years are being requested to investigate the locations of cracks just now. With "The Exiled's" tank in a coma they were excluded by it.
"Shame that quest was posted by His Majesty himself, they would've have gotten a lot of money from that...!" The three nodded again in pity, since there's nothing they can do.
"Well-"
*Swish*
The demihuman was about to speak as they were interrupted by a sudden sound, they then turn their attention to the source with their guards up.
"Who's there..!!???" The demihuman knight yelled. The other two then hastily went to catch the one hiding in the bush, finding nothing.
"...it's probably just the wind, Sir Kleid. It's spring season after all." After finding nothing they turned at the Kleid.
"...it's nothing...? Hm... Yeah, it really is getting windy today." The demihuman shrugged as they then continued their conversation, not noticing a certain boy running away from guilt and regret.
