Path to Liberation

31 years ago…

"Eat this," a woman in her late twenties said as she handed over her leftovers to a seven-year-old boy that day.

The child was so excited to get the food that he accidentally touched the tip of the woman's fingers. He raised his head, terrified, and met the gaze of the woman who was looking at him with disgust.

"S-sorry," his voice cracked as his tears began to pour.

"You are disgusting; how dare you touch me with your dirty hand!" she yelled, smacking the young kid with the plate she was carrying.

The woman stood from her seat and kicked the little child, causing it to fall, before exiting the room, leaving the child appalled. The food was scattered all over the place. The child glanced at the meal with sadness. His hand reached his stomach, which began to growl with hunger.

The child had not eaten for three days and was famished. Looking at the leftovers lying around, he decided to devour them. He needs to survive so that he can save his mother, who has been imprisoned by the jealous nobility, thus his only option is to eat and regain strength.

" I eat wasted food, so this one is easy for me," he replied sarcastically and sorrowfully. As tears streamed down his cheeks, he proceeded to consume the food that had been spilled on the floor.

His day ended that way; at times it was far worse. He was five years old when his mother was thrown out of the dungeon and imprisoned, given that she was more beautiful than all the aristocrats. His mother's imprisonment was all due to a woman named Victoria, who slapped him with a plate.

Victoria's Fiancé wants to marry his mother since she possesses 'Beauty and Grace,' which irritates Victoria and leads to her imprisonment and makes his son Casimir her slave.

"Brat, Alice wants to see you," Victoria stated, fanning herself. The child remained unmoved, as if he didn't hear her, and was too preoccupied with cleaning.

Victoria glanced at him furious as he whacked the child's head with the folding fan she was holding, causing the toddler to look at her in terror.

"I said Alice wanted to see you," she responded aggressively.

"Now!"

The child hurriedly rushes out of the room and walks to Alice's residence.

As soon as he enters the female chamber, he is anxious and wants to flee away. He had been avoiding her eyes, which made the woman in her thirties laugh. The woman starts approaching him in lingerie. She begins seductively stroking his face, then passionately kissing the child's neck and reaching for the child's part. 

It's been 5 years since he became a slave to Victoria, and when he turned 8, Victoria began selling his body. Many people were drawn to him because of the look he got from his mother and his disdain and resentment for nobles grew more with each passing day.

He endured three years of slavery and sexual harassment from all the aristocrats.

He'd had enough; once Alice finished with him, he left the scene, and as he walked back to Victoria's house, he began to consider running away. He can't do it anymore and doesn't want to live like that. He wanted to be a typical child; he wanted toys and friends. He desired what regular children had.

On that day, the youngster did not return to Victoria's residence.

He walks around town barefoot after losing his shoes in a dog attack. He was starving and exhausted. As he continued to walk, his eyesight blurred, his surroundings darkened, and his stomach began to ache and make him want to puke. He started walking quickly and stumbled before collapsing.

I want to eat…I want to die…

When the young boy finally opened his eyes, he was greeted by the comforting aroma of food wafting through the air. Startled, he found himself met with the concerned gaze of a girl hovering nearby.

"Thank goodness you're awake," she breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes reflecting her worry. The boy had been asleep for two days straight, a fact that had left the girl anxious and questioning her own abilities.

"I was afraid my healing wasn't working," she confessed, her brow furrowing with concern as she glanced down at her hands, as if searching for reassurance.

The boy regarded her with alarm, his mind racing with fears and uncertainties. Who was this girl? Where was he? What if she intended to harm him, as others had done in the past?

Sensing his distress, the girl offered him a reassuring smile and gently patted his head.

"Come on, let's eat," she murmured softly, her voice laced with warmth and kindness.

Reluctantly, the fragile boy followed her lead, his eyes widening with longing as he caught sight of the meal laid out on the table before them. The girl gestured for him to take a seat, and with a hesitant nod, he complied.

But as he stared hungrily at the food before him, a wave of sadness washed over him.

"I-I don't have any money," he murmured, his voice filled with resignation as he feared he wouldn't be able to partake in the feast laid out before him.

A tender smile graced the girl's lips as she reached out to reassure him.

"You don't need money here," she reassured him, her eyes sparkling with kindness.

"This meal is for you, free of charge."

With a mixture of gratitude and hesitation, the boy tentatively began to eat, his appetite whetted by the promise of nourishment and kindness. 

As the boy hungrily devoured the meal before him, the simple act of kindness from the girl filled him with an overwhelming sense of warmth and gratitude. For the first time in his young life, he felt loved.

The girl, who was just fifteen at the time, watched him with a mixture of happiness and adoration, her heart swelling with joy at the sight of the child finally getting the nourishment he so desperately needed. Leaning her cheek against her palms, she couldn't help but smile as she observed him, her eyes shining with affection.

Caught up in his ravenous hunger, the boy suddenly paused, his gaze shifting to the girl beside him. He took in her lovely features, her radiant smile, and her long, flowing white hair that seemed to shimmer in the soft light of the room.

"What's your name?" he managed to ask between mouthfuls, his voice slightly muffled by the food.

"C-Cas-" he choked, sending the girl into a panic. Without hesitation, she leaped from her chair and rushed to his side, her hand gently rubbing his back as she tried to calm him.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern as she watched tears well up in his eyes. The boy's emotional outburst caught her off guard, leaving her feeling unsure of how to comfort him.

But despite her uncertainty, the boy's tears only served to deepen her determination to help him. "Don't worry, you're not going to die," she reassured him, her words tinged with a hint of panic as she tried her best to offer solace.

Eventually, the boy managed to compose himself, his tears subsiding as he wiped them away. With a shaky breath, he spoke his name, causing the girl to freeze in surprise.

"Casimir?" she repeated, her eyes widening in astonishment.

Casimir nodded silently, his gaze locked on hers as he waited for her response.

"I'm Hygeia," she replied with a soft smile, introducing herself.

Casimir met her gaze and simply nodded in acknowledgment, a silent understanding passing between them.

As Casimir finished his meal, Hygeia began to wash the dishes, the gentle clinking of plates and pans filling the room. Lost in her task, she was taken aback when she heard Casimir's voice.

Turning around, she saw him beginning to remove his shirt, causing panic to rise within her.

"W-what are you doing?!" she exclaimed, instinctively shielding her eyes from the unexpected sight.

Casimir looked at her with confusion, his brow furrowing in uncertainty.

"I'm paying," he stated hesitantly, his voice tinged with uncertainty. In his world, this was the only way he knew how to settle debts or show gratitude.

But Hygeia's response was immediate and firm.

"I said it's free!" she insisted, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment as she realized the misunderstanding. Casimir's innocence and lack of understanding about kindness struck her deeply, leaving her feeling both flustered and touched.

Unable to contain his emotions any longer, Casimir began to weep once again, his tears a testament to the years of hardship and mistreatment he had endured. Moved by his vulnerability, Hygeia hurried to his side, her heart aching with empathy.

It was then that she noticed the bruises marring Casimir's skin, some of them old and faded, others still raw and fresh. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized the extent of the suffering he had endured, the marks of cruelty etched upon his young body.

Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him, offering comfort and solace in the warmth of her embrace. Gently, she reached up to wipe away his tears, her touch gentle and reassuring.

"I'll protect you from now on, okay?" she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. And in that moment, as ten-year-old Casimir burst into tears once more, Hygeia made a solemn vow to herself: to shield this vulnerable child from harm and to offer him the love and kindness he so desperately deserved.

[ End of Flashback ]

As Casimir returned to the sanctuary of his cave at Asvattha, his mind still lingered on the enigmatic encounter with the girl who possessed three auras. Her presence continued to intrigue him, stirring a curiosity that he couldn't shake.

Upon his arrival, he was greeted by one of his people, Elias, the youngest disciple among them, who dashed towards him with a bright smile lighting up his face.

"Master!" Elias exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement as he approached Casimir, a puppy cradled in his arms. Casimir's eyes widened in surprise at the sight.

"Where did you get that?" he asked, his tone stern as he regarded Elias with a mix of curiosity and concern.

Elias's expression faltered, his demeanor growing somber as he mumbled, "Town." He braced himself for Casimir's reaction, fearing the worst.

"Why?" Casimir's voice was firm, his hand resting on his waist as he waited for an explanation.

The child hesitated, his gaze dropping to the ground as he struggled to find the words. "The dog looked hungry, so I fed him," he explained quietly, his heart heavy with guilt for his actions.

Casimir's expression softened slightly as he listened to Elias's explanation. "And then?" he prompted, his tone gentle yet firm.

"H-he followed me, so..." Elias trailed off, his voice barely above a whisper as he met Casimir's gaze, bracing himself for reprimand.

But instead of scolding him, Casimir surprised Elias by kneeling down in front of him, his touch gentle as he lifted the boy's chin to meet his gaze.

"If you want it, raise it," Casimir said simply, his voice filled with quiet understanding. With those words, he conveyed his trust in Elias's judgment, leaving the decision in his hands.

Elias's eyes widened in astonishment at Casimir's unexpected response, a wave of relief washing over him. "Thank you, Master," he whispered, a smile spreading across his face as he hugged the puppy close.

"I'll name you, Amir!" Elias declared happily, embracing the dog as it licked his face in excitement, eliciting a joyful giggle from the young boy.

With a final glance at the thrilled Elias and his new companion, Casimir turned and made his way deeper into the cave.