Chapter 2 : Valerian
In the Eastern district of Star River City, within the alley area, a small figure moved swiftly through the narrow passageways. The figure, a boy of approximately fifteen years old, stood at a height of 1.6 meters with striking features.
Despite his handsome face, his pale complexion and malnourished frame detracted from his overall appearance. His long, unkempt silver hair, ruby-red eyes, sharp eyebrows, and defined chin added to his unique presence.
This young man, known as Valerian, appeared to be fleeing from an unknown pursuer. His eyes betrayed a sense of fear and urgency as he ran, clutching a small pouch tightly in his hands. "I hope they don't catch up to me," he muttered under his breath, his heart racing with each step.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the alley, causing Valerian to freeze in his tracks.
"Where is that little rat?" A man's voice rang out, sending a shiver down Valerian's spine.
The chase was far from over, and Valerian knew he had to keep moving if he wanted to escape whatever danger lurked behind him.
"Over there," another voice sounded beside the other man.
Two men in ragged clothes immediately appeared at the entrance of the alley, holding sticks in their hands and shouting.
Valerian's face changed when he heard the voice of the two men. "Oh no, they caught up to me. I'll be in deep trouble if they catch me," he thought.
"Stop right there, you little thief! Return the money you stole from us and we'll let you go!" the men shouted as they ran after Valerian.
Valerian paid no attention to the shouts of the men behind him, instead focusing on increasing his speed.
He skillfully navigated through the alleys of the Eastern district, a part of town he knew well.
The men continued to chase after him, demanding that he stop, but Valerian remained determined to evade capture.
As the chase persisted for ten minutes, Valerian felt sweat trickling down his forehead and his breath becoming labored.
Glancing back, he realized that the men were no longer in sight. "I believe I have lost them," Valerian thought to himself, breathing a sigh of relief.
Coming to a stop, Valerian leaned against the alley wall to catch his breath.
Taking a moment to survey his surroundings, he noticed that he had reached a dead end with a wall blocking his path.
"I must find a way out before they catch up to me again," Valerian thought, feeling a sense of urgency.
Valerian wasted no time and headed straight for the alley entrance. After a few minutes of walking, he finally reached the exit.
But as soon as he stepped out, a sudden force hit his stomach, knocking him to the ground. His eyes widened in shock as he vomited up some undigested food, making his already pale face even paler.
"Hehehe, looks like we've got you now, you dirty rat," taunted the two men who had been chasing him. Valerian thought he had lost them, but they had caught up to him.
"You can't escape from us now," sneered one of the men.
"Return the money you stole from us, and then we'll let you leave in one piece," the man said, brandishing a stick.
Valerian pushed himself up, clutching his stomach, and shot a fierce look at the two men before him.
Through gritted teeth, he retorted, "The money was mine to begin with. You were the thieves, not me. I was just trying to get back what was rightfully mine."
"Ha ha ha ha ha!!"
The two men laughed heartily as they gazed at Valerian with disdain, as if they were they looking at a retard.
One of the men stepped forward and said, "Well, kid, it doesn't matter if the money belonged to you or not. As far as we're concerned, you're the one who stole from us. So, we have to teach you a lesson on how to behave."
"Hey, bro, quit chatting with him. Let's show him not to steal from us again," the other man yelled. Valerian looked scared as the men got closer, cracking their knuckles.
Valerian was viciously attacked by two men in the alley.
One of the assailants swiftly lunged at him, delivering a forceful blow to his stomach, causing Valerian to collapse to the ground in agony. As he lay there, clutching his stomach in pain, the other man seized a small pouch from his grasp and joined in the brutal assault.
The alley echoed with the sounds of Valerian's screams and the cruel laughter of his attackers.
Desperate to shield himself from further harm, Valerian instinctively covered his head with his hands and curled into a protective ball as the two men continued to rain down blows upon him.
Despite Valerian's pleas for mercy, the relentless beating persisted for what felt like an eternity.
Eventually, Valerian lay motionless on the ground, his body battered and broken. Unmoved by his condition, the assailants continued their assault for several more minutes before finally growing weary.
Exhausted from their violent outburst, one of the men callously remarked, "Let's go. This will serve as a lesson to him never to cross us again." With a disdainful snort, the man who had stolen the pouch turned away, leaving Valerian bruised and broken in the dimly lit alleyway.
The alley fell silent once more as Valerian lay sprawled on the ground at its entrance. His body bore numerous bruises and cuts, his clothing tattered and torn. To any passerby, he would appear lifeless, yet the faint sound of his breathing proved otherwise.
After twenty minutes of lying motionless, Valerian managed to rise unsteadily to his feet. His face was drained of color, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Using the alley wall for support, he slowly made his way towards his modest courtyard.
Struggling for over an hour, Valerian finally reached his dilapidated courtyard. Upon entering, he pushed himself to enter his room before losing consciousness.