The Law of Nature

"Thief!"

Panting. A small, frail child ran around town as he held on to two pieces of bread. Behind him was a large and bulky man, chasing the young boy with haste and anger.

Growl.

'I'm so hungry.'

Aiden could only think of his churning stomach. It has been two days since he last ate anything edible. He tried eating dirt, but it only made his stomach hurt more. There was no other way for him to quench his hunger. His entire life, as short as it was, he tried to live with high morals and principles. It was only that day that he finally sweep those to the side.

It was the first and only day that he stole. Yet the single wrong thing that Aiden made cost him everything.

As unfortunate as it was, he chose the wrong person to steal from. The man chasing him was Edmund Leverwant, a close relative of the lord of their region. The man owned the biggest bakery in town, and this made Aiden think that Edmund would not mind him stealing two small pieces of bread.

He was wrong.

As his small, thin body ran around streets and alleys, Edmund was coming for him with his large and full build. They resembled a large cat chasing a tiny mouse with how different their bodies physically differ.

Growl.

With another growl from his belly, Aiden's body gave up. His eyes widened as his body failed to follow his command. He wanted to run even more, just a little further, just so he could turn to the corner and disappear into the bustling main street of the town. Yet he was now frozen in place, mere moments before he could finally escape.

With a small thump, Aiden's body slumped to the ground. He had already lost his energy and along with it was the chance to alleviate the searing pain in his abdomen from hunger.

"Finally!" Edmund grinned as he waltzed closer to Aiden. The large body formed a shadow that covered every inch of Aiden's body. He looked up and tried to beg, but his already pained stomach was greeted with a powerful kick.

The frail boy was blown to a brick wall that was adjacent to the alley that he collapsed on. His lips released a cough of blood as his body rolled on the ground. The pain was never-ending at this point, and the hunger from before seemed like it was a tiny pinch compared to the strong kick that was delivered to his weak body.

Edmund gazed at the two people beside him. "Oi, White Cloaks. Aren't you going to do something about this thief?"

Aiden gulped at the sound of the White Cloaks. They were mages who acted as the patrol and defense of the kingdom. He didn't want to go to jail or worse, get killed. He was too young and he still wanted to live.

"Sir..." Aiden begged. "I need to eat. I'm so hungry."

Angrily, Edmund tsked and dismissed the White Cloaks. He approached Aiden with a devious smirk. As the man got closer, his large shadow cast on the small boy that was lying on the ground. "Then, you should work for it, not steal!"

Realizing that the man was going to take the bread away from him, Aiden rolled to his belly so he could try to soil the bread with dirt. He thought that when the bread was dirty, the man would not want it anymore. He could then clear the bread with dirt and then eat it, or not clear it with anything before consuming it. He just wanted to eat.

But for the second time, Aiden guessed wrong. With his long and muscled arms, Edmund forcefully snatched the bread from Aiden. The boy shrieked and tried to put on a fight, but it was useless. He was met with another kick, this time it was aimed at his head.

Crack!

Everything became hazy as the world fell into a pit of darkness. Aiden wanted to retain his consciousness, but the dark pit of slumber was too powerful for him. Along with his body, his mind collapsed.

'I'm sorry, mother, father. I tried to live my life righteously but it did not end well for me.' Was all Aiden could think of before his consciousness completely faded.

--

A soft tug on his shoulder awoke Aiden from his slumber. He thought he had perished, but the gods did not will his suffering to end. They were too entertained by his pitiful life, that they wanted it to go on.

"You're a sorry-looking boy, but I saw your body shift positions. Are you awake now?"

Aiden's eyes fluttered open as he heard the soft voice of a man. When his vision got clearer, he found himself lying in the most comfortable bed he had ever laid on. His gaze dawned on an older man that was sitting right on the chair next to the bed.

"Where am I?" Aiden asked. He looked outside, but there was nothing but darkness out there. "Am I..."

"In the forest, yes," the man replied as he took a sip of his tea. He returned to his wooden chair after tugging Aiden and now he was focused on the book on the table. "And right now, you are being taken care of by a hermit that everyone avoids."

Growl.

"Hermit–" Aiden wanted to talk, but his stomach beat him to it. It already begged for help before he could even utter another word. His shame did not go unnoticed because the man let out a slight chuckle

"I see that you are hungry," the man placed his teacup back into a small saucer and stood. "I shall bring you something to eat. Stay there."

The tall man walked away, giving the time for Aiden to inspect the surroundings. He was in a wooden cottage that was surrounded by soft orange ember lamps. The delicate warm light of the magical stone lamps around the room brought brightness to the place, making it seem like they were in a safer place rather than the woods that was infamously known to be a habitat for mystical yet dangerous beasts.

The bed Aiden was situated on seemed like clouds to him. The cotton blanket and the sheets that were on the bed provided Aiden the comfort and security that he has never felt before in his life. It was also the first time for him in six years to not sleep on the ground.

"Here you go," the man brought back a tray of food. Aiden gulped as the aroma of the warm soup and freshly baked bread invaded his nose. His guard was up, but he couldn't resist the temptation of the food. "If I wanted to kill you, I would've done you in in the two days that you were out."

Aiden looked at him. "I was sleeping for two days?"

"Yes, and if you don't want another day of passing out, you better eat," the man threatened. He gently placed the tray on Aiden's lap before he returned to the chair he was sitting on. "After you regain your energy, you should return to the city. I don't want kids here."

Aiden wanted to talk to the man, but he didn't have the will to do so. His body was already controlled by a great hunger that he managed to eat everything on the plate. This seemed to impress the man. He let out another small chuckle before returning to his book so he could leave the boy alone.

A few minutes after Aiden ate everything on the tray, he turned to look at the man. At first glance, he thought that the man was much older, but he only seemed to be in his thirties. He had long gray hair that he tied in a low ponytail, while his chin and upper lip were covered with a short stub of gray beard. Aiden gulped. "Why did you save me?"

"I was buying a book in the store when I heard a commotion. Fairly weird that I went to check it out and then saw Edmund chasing the tiniest human I saw in my life. I almost mistook you for a fae. Not too long after I got to the scene, your body collapsed on the spot. I didn't want to do anything but you stared at me and your face wanted to seek help before you passed out. Crazy thing."

"No one has ever helped me before," Aiden whispered. He looked down and felt a flood of emotions run across his body. For years, he only had to rely on himself to survive. He couldn't ask anyone for anything because nobody was there for him. This man was the first person who showed him what it's like to receive something.

"Thank you," Aiden said. He didn't know the feeling, but it was good. "My name is Aiden."

"I am Regal," the man replied. "And you don't look like you want to go back to the city. Something happened?"

"I don't belong there," Aiden replied. "There's nothing for me in that city."

"That makes two of us." Regal pursed his lips. "I'm not particularly fond of humans because they irritate me but you got my attention, kid. What happened?"

Aiden looked down at the tray that was on his lap. "Righteousness is reserved for the rich." Aiden returned his look at Regal. "The poor only knows the law of nature. Eat or be eaten."