Ash Ember

The village name is Margusthar. Farm animals are being domesticated and field are still wide and large. A typical outskirt home of farmers. As he look upon the place, it exudes calmness and tranquility. Currently, his situation led him to that place.

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Few hours earlier

"eh?ehh?ehhh?!" The moment she open her eyes she saw an unfamiliar face reflected on the flowing stream water. [What's this feeling of Déjà vu?] Every time she look upon the water her face changes. Now, the face she's seeing is youthful and her hair is trim short. Somehow, this time she could sense that she turn into a teenage boy!

[what the heck!] upon sensing urgency and confirmation she feel her chest. It wasn't there anymore! And her lower part, she felt something hanging in between!

[kyahhhhh!] She reincarnated into this world. Become the primordial villain and now turn into a boy! Nothing really is impossible in this world.

A flock of events filed into his head and remembered the old hag extracting his magic. She promises she would turn him into something.

[Is this what she meant by it?]

Oh boy! He was glad he didn't turn into a bird or a wild boar in the forest. But if she really had the magic to alter one's appearance, she should turn him into a handsome man. Geez, what help would it be looking like a fragile teenage boy?

"ahhrggg!" he rolled and wailed like a mad man.

[What about the kid? And the witch?] Somehow she disappeared of nowhere.

"ahhrggg!" he rolled and wailed again.

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!

"uhmmm… are you lost?" A young boy not far from his age popped up from the bushes. In his hand was a bloody mountain rabbit newly hunt.

And this young boy ended up taking him.

That's how he ended up riding his small wagon pulled by a bunch of domesticated dogs.

The boy was the one pulling the rope while he was freeloading. Up to this point, he couldn't get his suspicious stare at him. What is his deal? He appear like some kind of pure angel and offered him a transportation without charges. He's experiences where always awful that's somewhat he never put his guard down.

"May I ask where are you going young?" He's kind of timid. He's like a crystal that would break easily if mistouch.

"I will tell you when we are on it"

The boy kept his posture and focus in padding the wagon. On their way, they passed an abandoned village. A village that sets his unpleasant memories. The first village that suffers his burning fury.

"This village will be put to agricultural sect soon." The boy voice out in a reminiscing manner. "Time flies and it's been 20 years since that black day"

He look upon the empty land and sigh heavily.

"a lot of people died I know that and to think in just a flipped in all wiped out its their retributi…wait what? 20 years?"

"yeah, well now that tragedy is over. We just grateful the perpetrator has long gone."

Curiosity strike him. 20 years had passed and surely a lot of things happened.

"Tell me, how do you say that she was gone?"

The boy didn't hesitate to tell him the full details.

That morning, a bunch of soldiers and knights are on the mission to eliminate her. They got an anonymous tip about her place and they march them willing to ambush her. There was a long a battle and with the knights magic the villain was subdued. They kill her on the spot and bury her corpse. That is according the statement the palace declared..

It wasn't what happened. He could tell that it was all scripted. There were no battle held on the forest because she escape. He could sense that some big shots manipulated that ploy in order to gain the public trust. Shit! Just some cheap ploy.

"ahhhh knights are really amazing…" the kid said in a dreamy tone.

"what about being a knight… and by the way I haven't know your name"

"It's Tim, it's said that the one who fought most the villain is the knight that send her to her last breath. When I grow up, I will become one of them"

"What about you sir…."

"Ash" that name came naturally through his mind.

"Ash, what do you want to become"

Does he really need to answer him? Truthfully he doesn't have any specific goal in mind.

"… I think I will become a villain that will kill all the pretentious hero in this land"

"ehhh?" Tim was completely stunned with his revelation. Then afterwards regain his composure. "I think you're joking…" The moment Tim turn his head he caught his scornful look.

There are lot of gallant heroes whose who uses the nativity of peoples admiration to their own deception. People who claim to be a hero to gain political prowess are half-assed. They need a true sense of retribution. If he didn't lose his power, maybe his taking that path.

"Ash…you've been a lot of hardships aren't you?"

"What nonsense…" This boy has been bugging his personal life lately. It's his fault, he let his guard down. If he's not that chatty he wouldn't follow his flow.

"But you know Ash… no matter what the circumstances, always lift the edges of your mouth and perk up a smile. I'll lessen the burden you're carrying"

Great. Now a boy younger than him is preaching the ways of life. Just how low did he become that he's being look after by a kid?

"wanna come to my house? Mom and Dad would love to meet you"

Ash just tilted his head and gazes upon the clear blue sky. What good will it make to go there?

However, the face of a boy expecting his positive response was overflowing. He's looking at him grinning ear to ear.

"If it's not inconvenient, please take care of me"

The youth face lit up with excitement and he hum along the way.

***

A large field. A simple house. The air in this place is sure amazing.

Ash was led by Tim and entered the house. The family consist of three with Tim the only son since the father works on the field, the mother was left making chores.

"I'm home! I've brought lots of fruits" He boastfully told his mom.

The fruits are the products that he pick from that forest.

"Tim, you shouldn't venture deep into the forest. Who knows what creature lurks on the deepest part." His mother shot him a worried look.

That's not true. He already exterminated vile beast on that area. "That forest is safe now" He couldn't help himself but to enter their discussion. The two people who seems to be secluded unto their own world notice his existence. This time, it seems that Tim remember him.

It's not wrong to manifest your family love, however you shouldn't forget your guess cause that would be rude. He just shove that idea and didn't much pay attention.

"oh, he's Ash mom. I met him in the forest and you know…" He pulled his mother's ear and whisper something. His mom become stiff for a second looking at him.

Please, stop looking at him like that. It was a sort of pity look. One that seems to sympathize over his hardships. But he didn't expect her next move. Tim's mother pulled him to her embrace and tightly hug him. He felt a warm sense of atmosphere surrounding him. He felt it for the first time since he came here.

The feeling was so warm that his heartbeat begun to race.

"You must have been through a lot? You know, were only a small family and I wouldn't mind an additional member." Her voice was gentle and soothing like a real mother who would say to her child. Flow of unpleasant things popped into his mind and he became desperate at a certain situation.

"Yeah, I don't have minding a second brother… but you'll be the younger son. Since I'm the first here so I should get the first child rights"

This family…their so warm.

She pulled her from his embrace and started to prepare his snack.

"So how about it." Tim was overly being familiar with him already. He's always shoving his face near him.

"What about your father…"

"Nah, its okay. If mother allows it I'm sure he'll understand. After all I'm also an orphan like you"

His statement was taken him aback. From his upbringing one wouldn't say that he came from that tragedy. Most people being scar turn to be brutal and evil. Tim was different. He was raise full of love with his family.

"wait… so how did you say that I'm an orphan…"

Tim held his two hands. He was looking seriously to him. "Earlier I saw your scar on your chest. I got that one too. It's a mark of those slaves that have branded on that villeinmonica terror day. It's okay now. You don't need to hide it"

Looking at his chest. It was a V letter with a thorny vine overlapping the character. "Strange though, yours are different from mine. " Tim was branded with a letter S. Just a pure S character on his back. Immediately, Ash pulled his clothes and hide his unpleasant mark.

Villeinmonica Terror day, is a special day decreed by the King in commemoration of the knights who died on that day. A whole village was destroyed by the villain and a massive people including the king at that time. Villeinmonica is the name of the villain who anillated the entire swarm of crowds in just a minute. Tim was a survivor of that village and the knight who rescued him was his father. Although after that incident, his father gave up his position as a knight and married his mother.

While Tim was foretelling that story, Ash couldn't stomach the slice fruits infront of him. Their talking about him right? Bullets of sweat came running done his spine.

But somewhat he felt something odd about this information. Why haven't the authority disclose the mishap of mistreating people. Slavery and punishment. They only focused on the result without investigating the cause. Heroes! They should know what they are talking about. They were not heroes. Their just people wearing fancy clothes and spreading the wrong principle of justice. Much more, people are being blinded by them.

"Ash are you okay…" Both the mother and son observe his silence.

"Ahhh, I just remembered something unpleasant" Tim patted his shoulder with sympathy. "A true man never let his past influence his future. Revenge will take you to nowhere"

Later that day his father arrive from the field. A tall masculine man with fair tanned skin entered the house.

[He's a former knight huh?]

"Dad!" Tim swiftly threw himself on this man's arm. At first he taught that Tim was just a mama's boy, however when he saw this scene, he can clearly assume that he's the type to showers so much love and appreciation towards his family.

"Dad, we have a new member…he's name is ash" Ash immediately stood up and made a light bow

"I'm Ash Ember"

Upon introducing himself, the man studied him firmly. Scrutinizing every part of his body

"Hmmm…"

"Dad?"

An intense atmosphere filled the air.

"hahaha, well I guess another skinny kid would enter my abode. Don't worry kid, I'll make you a man in no time. You gotta have a muscle enough to be called such one!"

What's this feeling of something…Like some kind of left puppy over the side and was picked up by an owner. The development was so fast!

"Whoa, just like that….Are you just gonna let any stranger into your place easily. What if I'm a bad guy…" He wasn't able to finish his words. A strong punch just barely misses his head and smashes directly unto the wall. A flow of murderous intent was somewhat in the air.

"Are you a bad guy kid?"

"No Sir!" As if his life would depend on what his mouth would gonna spout next. He decided, playing the safe zone.

"Honey, don't excite the kid anymore, he's been through a lot. Your ugly face will just heightened his fright" the strict looking man became happy go lucky upon he was tease by his wife. "I was just testing his will honey…"

"oh honey you are so cute"

"A while ago, you told me I'm ugly, now you tell me I'm cute."

"Teehee, you're ugly in a cutest way honey"

"you're the most beautiful woman in my life"

Geez, he's going to melt any moment with the hotness inside. The sweet is overload that he might get a diabetes.

Tim was just casually listening to these two as if it was like some ordinary things in this world.

"By the way I haven't gotten your Dad and Mom's name?"

Just like the, the two couple who seems to be secluded in their own world, approach him forming their self- introduction. Well, at least they still minding their surrounding after all.

"I'm Ron Toble and this is my wife Berry Carter"