1 Chicken Soup's Wake Up Call

Utoria, a world where Magic and Magical Creatures exists. This world is not only a home for creatures but also a place for a vast number of intelligent races. Elves, Dwarves, Beastfolks, Humans and many more, probably more than you can count..

Out of them all, Humans are the ones who developed the most, especially their Intelligence. They've built great nations and create bonds with the other races, making the world a peaceful place.

One day, An evil Dragon appeared and destroyed everything that the Humans spends their sweat and blood building, alongside thousands of lives, the world hasn't been the same ever since that day..

One year after the colonization of the Evil Dragon given the name "Regina", a group of people calling themselves "Swords of Order" appeared. Being led by 7 strong heroes, the Esteemed group defeated the Evil Dragon, ending the people's suffering. Making their names known throughout the world. Thus giving them the title "Cardinal Heroes".

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"Woah~..." the Child exclaimed excitedly while sitting on her mother's lap. "Mom, I'm going to be one of the Cardinal Heroes when I grow up! ~.." He added.

The Mother then giggled softly, putting her palm on top of her son's head and softly brushes her hand through his hair. "yes~.. I'm sure you will, Liam~.." She said softly.

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8 YEARS LATER...

"You're Banished, Liam"

"... Huh?..." Liam said in a wavy depressive tone before falling on his knees in shock, finally sitting down on the red carpet with his eyes fixated to his Father's eyes up on the throne.

Liam's mother then tried to speak up. "Wait, dear!.. Liam is only 10 years old!--"

"He's already 10 years old" His father exclaimed loudly while looking at Liam as if he's looking at something pathetic. "and he still can't use magic.." He added sternly.

"The children of my other Brothers have already started learning intermediate magic" The Father stated looking at his own son with such intense disgust in his eyes. "yet my own son, someone who's gonna inherit the throne someday! Could not even circulate his own mana properly!" He loudly exclaimed bashing the arm support of the throne chair broken with such rage.

The mother who could not say anything back then proceed to look at her son pitifully, meeting the eyes of her child, eyes filled with despair.

Liam who don't get what is going on, started to tear up and tried to reach his mother with his small hands. ".. Mom..? What is going on..?"

Seeing her own child ask for help, hurt her feelings, yet she chose to stay silent and look away from her son, worried about her own position.

Liam saw through that sign and gasp in despair, breaking down as he slowly put his arms down, lowering his view to the carpet.

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Moments after, the castle guards drags Liam out of the throne room.

"Just be glad that I didn't kill you." Liam's Father said before stating something loudly. "Liam Silverstorm, I hereby stripped you off your status as a nobility! You shall never use the surname Silverstorm ever again! Get him out of my sight!"

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Liam has been thrown out of the castle gates roughly by the guards, followed by a sack containing a few commonfolk clothes.

"Here, Her Majesty said to give this to you" one of the guards said as he hands Liam a pouch of what appears to be his own savings.

After that, the castle gates closed before him, Liam was disowned by his own family, thrown out in the middle of the night to avoid attention to the castle.

Liam who doesn't know what to do, stands up from the ground all covered in dust as he picks up the sack and carry it on his back, putting his pouch inside his blazer and finally walks away slowly from the castle.

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Walking aimlessly on the commonfolk streets in the middle of the night, Liam was confronted by three men, blocking his way from the front and behind.

"Why are you walking here in the middle of the night, kid?~.. Are you lost?~.." The skinny man on the front asked Liam in a nice tone while smirking.

"what's your name? ~ those look heavy, let us carry that for you~.." The fat man behind Liam asked, giggling softly.

Liam just stands in the middle, looking down and all silent while his hands were holding on the straps of the sack.

"Don't be scared~.. We'll escort you home~.. Its dangerous here at night after all~.." The third guy exclaimed, slowly approaching Liam and is about to hold him on the right shoulder.

"What do you think you're doing?" someone said from the dark, slowly walking out from an alley, looms a huge man, carrying a sack that reeks of blood and a sword on his waist.

He slowly approached the three and stares at them for a moment before asking again." what were you planning to do with that child..?"

Liam looked up to the man, meeting eye to eye. After seeing the child's eyes, the huge man flinched, followed by a glare to the goons. "Get Lost" He firmly said asserting his dominance with his aura. This huge man is clearly not your average Joe.

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After defusing the situation, the huge man bends his knees and went down to Liam's point of view. "Do you have anywhere to go to?" The Man asked.

Liam then concludes subconsciously that this man can be trusted, proceeding to shrug slowly.

"Then, follow me" The huge man said, standing up before walking slowly before Liam.

Liam then slowly walks behind him, slowly reaching for the man's shirt from behind and tugging on it.

The Huge man then looks back at him secretly and have another look on the child's eyes. (Those eyes.. This boy's traumatized.. I better not ask..), the man said inside his head as they walk forward.

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Moments after, they went inside an run-down establishment that was appears to be a pub.

"oh! When did you get yourself a son huh, Valad?" The man behind the counter said loudly while drying wooden water cups with a cloth.

"Shut up, Viktor" Valad replied sternly, slightly annoyed as he sits in front of the counter. "Give me some booze and prepare something to eat for the kiddo." He added.

Liam just stands in front of the entrance, feeling up the place by looking around.

"What're you just standing there? Sit here!" Valad said to Liam inviting him onto the seat beside him.

Liam then slowly climbed up the high chair and sit beside Valad, looking down the wooden table, seemingly out of his mind at the moment.

Viktor who was cooking some stew then ask Valad seriously this time. "so? What's with the child? I doubt there's any woman who would dare approach you in the first place but he's not your child right?"

(This bastard...) Valad said in his mind staring at Viktor's back before chugging up a shot of booze. "I saw him up the streets" He replied in a serious tone.

"eh? Shouldn't we ask were he lives? His parents must be looking for him right now" Viktor exclaimed worriedly.

"I don't think that's the case.." Valad said a bit softly, looking at Liam which made Viktor look at the child too.

"Ah.." as soon as Viktor checked Liam out, he got a gist of it and agrees with Valad, proceeding to focus on cooking the child a warm meal.

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A few minutes after..

"Here you go, eat up" Viktor said, handing Liam some chicken stew with star shaped scallops.

Liam a bit interested on a dish, subconsciously tried the food and started eating slowly while still zoning out.

As soon as Liam felt the warmth of the soup in his mouth, it wakes him up. Shortly after, he started sobbing while eating.

Valad just sit there, staring at the child with Viktor, smiling softly behind the counter.

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After finishing the dish, Valad hands Liam a handkerchief which the child proceeds to use to wipe his tears.

"Thank you for the meal..." Liam said softly while looking down at the plate, then looks up to Viktor "It was delicious" the child said with a saddened smile on his lips.

Viktor then proceeds to get the plate and ask the Child "So, what's you're name? I'm Viktor and this big fella here is Valad"

Still a bit hesitant, Liam told them his name "My Name is Liam Si--" He paused for a bit

*You shall never call yourself Silverstorm again!... *

"Liam, that's my name" He said smiling at Viktor then looks down.

"ohh, that's a nice name~ soo where do you live? Aren't you go---" As Viktor was about to cross the line, Valad grabbed his arm and shrugs his head at him.

"sorry! ~, I mean, do you have anywhere to sleep tonight?" Viktor quickly changed the question, still asking gleefully.

"I don't know.." Liam replied softly, a bit sad.

As soon as Liam said that, Valad gives a sack of coins to Viktor. "1 person room with 3 meals a day for a week, also the payment for the booze and the kiddo's food.." Valad said, standing up from his seat and going out the pub. "see ya." He followed, giving Liam a soft pat on the head.

"ah-" Liam tried to reach his hand to Valad to say thank you but the man quickly got away.

Liam who's Confused then stares at Viktor that then smiled at him. "it seems like you're staying here for the night!~" Viktor said happily.

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Viktor opened a room upstairs, though its all made of wood, the room is clean and simple, it even had a foamed bed.

"this is where you're going to sleep for this week, I hope you enjoy your stay, Liam" Viktor pats Liam's head with a smile before going downstairs. "if you're going to use the toilet, it's outside, use the lantern there if you're going out!" Viktor shouted while going down the stairs.

Liam proceeds to lay down the bed, hugging the sack of clothing he had while staring at the ceiling, recalling everything that happened just in one night, making him tear up a bit just before he shrug the thought away and turning to his side on the bed.

"I should thank them properly tomorrow.." He whispered before going to sleep.

TO BE CONTINUED...