Hate

[ 10 Years Ago... ]

It was a beautiful day.

Sun was shining brightly, casting warm rays onto the earth below. Wind was gentle, rustling the leaves on the trees and creating a soothing melody.

Three youngsters were running through a field, their laughter echoing through the air.

One of them was a young girl with jet-black hair flowing behind her as she ran, her ocean blue eyes sparkling with joy and innocence.

Following her closely were two boys - both with obsidian-black hair and warm green eyes.

All of them had similar facial features, resembling siblings or close relatives.

"Luna, it's not fair. You are using Mana!"

One of the boys cried out, his voice filled with playful frustration.

"You are also using mana Nova, don't act innocent!"

Luna retorted with a teasing smirk, making the boy click his tongue in annoyance.

While the two of them engaged in their playful banter, the third boy dashed toward Luna and caught her hand, pulling her off balance and causing them both to tumble to the ground in fits of laughter.

"You are ruining my hair, Eldric!"

The trio continued to roll on the grass, their laughter mingling with the sound of birds chirping in the distance until they finally came to a stop, lying side by side and catching their breath.

"Mother is probably looking for us..."

After a few minutes of peaceful silence, Luna finally spoke up, breaking the calm atmosphere.

"We should head back before she gets worried."

Eldric also suggested, slowly rising to his feet and extending his hands to help Luna and Nova get up.

It was truly a beautiful day.

***

[ 2 Years Later... ]

It was a terrible day.

Clouds blanketed the sky, blocking out the sun's rays and casting a gloomy atmosphere over the world below.

Rain poured relentlessly, drenching everything in its path.

A group of people stood huddled under umbrellas, their black clothing soaked through, their faces etched with grief and sorrow.

The sound of weeping and somber whispers filled the air, as they gathered around a freshly dug grave.

"Today we bid farewell to a person who brought so much light and joy into our lives..."

A solemn voice of the priest echoed through the cemetery, his words barely audible over the sound of raindrops hitting the umbrellas.

"He was a beloved friend, a caring brother, and a cherished son..."

While the rain continued to fall, a young girl with jet-black hair stood silently at the head of the grave, tears mixing with the raindrops on her cheeks.

She tried to hold back her sobs, her body shaking with grief as she clutched onto a small hand of her brother, Eldric.

"Everything will be fine,"

Leaning closer, Eldric whispered softly in Luna's ear.

"Liar."

Luna whispered back, her voice choked with emotion. She could tell her brother was acting strong for her sake, but his eyes were filled with the same pain and sadness that she felt.

Their parents were also standing by their side, their faces etched with sorrow and anguish.

"If not for the demons..."

Eldric could hear his mother's bitter voice as she whispered to his father, her words laced with anger and grief.

"If not for the demons, we wouldn't be standing here, saying our final goodbyes."

Luna's and Eldric's father could only nod in agreement, his expression filled with a mix of resignation and anger.

It was a very dark and tragic day.

A day when Luna and Eldric realized the immense weight of loss and the cruel realities that life can bring.

After that day, Luna lost a part of her heart, becoming a person who rarely smiled or laughed for real anymore.

Eldric, on the other hand, became very kind and protective of his sister, vowing to keep her safe.

One thing that united them was their shared resentment toward the demons.

It was the start of their tragic story.

***

[ Present day... ]

The crowd went crazy as Orion kicked Eldric's scythe away, sending it flying through the air.

For a moment, Eldric simply stood there, his face expressionless, as if the situation hadn't fully registered in his mind.

"Feeling scared?"

Orion taunted, oblivious to the murderous look in Eldric's eyes.

Little did he know, a certain string just snapped inside Eldric's mind.

His calm demeanor shattered like glass as he felt a surge of anger and determination coursing through his veins.

Although Orion was not a Demon, his hand was.

It really didn't matter to Eldric anymore.

[ Lightning Step ]

Eldric's body blurred with lightning speed as he lunged at Orion, his movement being so fast that it left a trail of afterimages in the air.

Orion didn't even realize as his body hit the ground with a thud, the wind knocked out of him.

Thud...

A massive cloud of dust rose from the impact, engulfing the area and hiding the view from the students.

Many thought the battle was over until a loud scream tore through the silence.

It was the agonized scream of Orion.

Seeing that something was wrong, the referee instantly used his Mana to dispel the cloud that hid the view only to be shocked by what he saw.

Orion's twisted and unconscious body was lying on the ground with blood dripping from his entire body while Eldric stood on his chest with his scythe in one hand and the detached Demonic hand in the other.

Noticing the teacher staring at him, he simply smiled.

"I won?"