(Part 2)

After winning the match, Azazel sprinted back home, his excitement driving him faster with each step. His mind replayed the moment endlessly. "Kenzo? Was he… Kenzo? But, it doesn't matter, I just want to play him!" he thought.

Suddenly, a group of six boys appeared in his path, blocking his way. They wielded bats and had angry expressions on their faces.

"Well, well, look who's here~," one of them said darkly, his forehead bandaged.

"If it isn't Azazel Minhas or should I call you 'Soul Breaker'? Did you enjoy your match today?" another boy asked, rhythmically tapping his bat on the ground, adding to the menacing atmosphere.

Azazel recognized them and rubbed his hair dismissively. "Ah, it's you guys. Yeah, I won." he replied with a smirk. "Honestly, are your bones made of rubber or something, that you're back for another beating in just two days?" he mocked.

The boys exchanged irritated glances and began closing in on him.

Azazel took a deep breath, preparing himself as he pulled out his ball and bat. His devilish red eyes showed no sign of fear. "You know, I really wanted to get home early today. But you had to ruin it! And now…" He raised his bat with an evil grin.

"You're finished!" He swung his bat, crashing it against theirs.

______

"Huff! Huff!" Azazel panted, wiping the blood from his cheek. His hands trembled, barely able to hold onto his gear bag. His clothes were a mess, his hair disheveled, and his body covered in bruises.

He slammed the gate of his house as the chauffeur opened it, who gasped in shock at his condition. "Young Master Azazel?!" he exclaimed anxiously.

"Shhh! I'm okay. Don't shout so loud," Azazel instructed, placing a finger over his lips as he dragged himself inside.

Hoor, seeing him, covered her mouth in horror, "Aza?!"

Azazel managed a grin, hugging her briefly before rushing inside and tossing his bags aside.

"Azazel?" Haris called next as Azazel rushed past him as well.

"Look at him, dear. Look at Azazel." Hoor cried as Haris ran behind Azazel confused.

"Gramps! Gramps...!" Azazel called out, his voice strained.

Azher, who had just finished his prayers, saw Azazel burst into his room, collapsing on the floor, breathing heavily.

Azher stood stunned and speechless, unable to react.

"Huff, huff, Atia… Atia Eden City Academy…" Azazel whispered, his strength waning. He collapsed, barely managing to add, "I… want to go there, please." His simple plea was met with Haris, Hoor rushing to his side and Azher catching him in a panic.

After a while, Azazel's finger twitched. Disoriented by a cacophony of loud noises that he couldn't make sense of, he turned his head from side to side, uncomfortable. His head throbbing with pain. "Augh…" he grimaced, every part of his body aching. He slowly opened his eyes, realizing an unfamiliar place.

"This isn't my room…" he thought, trying to sit up as Azher's loud scolding echoed around him. Azazel sat up, wide-eyed, as Ahmed stood in the doorway with his arms crossed, his expression stern.

"This is all because you aren't strict enough with him, Hoor! Today he's fighting outside school, and tomorrow he'll be in gang fights! Is this how we raise a child in a family of soldiers?!" Azher's voice was harsh and reprimanding.

"Sorry, father…" Hoor replied, unable to counter his anger.

"Sorry? What good will that do?! He'll destroy himself before he grows up, and you'll still be saying sorry," Azher snapped, his frustration palpable.

Hoor bit her lip, struggling with her emotions.

"Father…" Haris tried to intervene, but Azher cut him off with a glare.

"Don't interrupt! As a father, you should be more vigilant! You don't even know what he's up to all day, so don't you dare interrupt!" "If he wants to get beaten up so badly every day, let him learn a lesson from me. Why bother with anyone else? I'll break his bones but set him on the right path," Azher shouted.

Ahmed, listening to the argument, turned to Azazel, who was clutching the sheets tightly. "Are you happy now, Aza? This is what you wanted, isn't it?" he asked, disappointed.

Azazel, gritting his teeth, stood up. Ahmed, concerned, stepped forward to help him, but Azazel pushed his hand away angrily. "I don't need your help, brother," he said, fury in his voice. He walked toward the room where Hoor, Haris, and Azher were, with Ahmed following.

Entering the room, Azazel stared at them silently, his gaze a mix of anger and pain.

Azher sneered, "Here he is, the troublemaker of this house."

Walking over to Hoor, Azazel grabbed her arm and tried to pull her to her feet, but she resisted. He looked at Azher and said, "She's the best mother in the world. Don't say anything against her, Grandpa."

"Right, and look at how you've turned out," Azher mocked.

"I want to go to Atia Eden City," Azazel said, trying to keep his anger in check.

"Oh, and what right do you have? You'll ruin all the good students there as well." Azher assumed mockingly.

"I'll study," Azazel replied, hiding his emotions.

Hoor and Haris blinked in surprise.

"Hmph!" Azher snorted.

"I'll study. I won't fight. I just want to go there," Azazel repeated, his tone resolute.

"Do you think I'll believe you?" Azher questioned, skeptical.

Azazel remained silent for a moment. "I don't care whether you believe me or not. You never did, so it's practically impossible to make you believe me but still I want to go there." he responded defiantly. His gaze fixed on the ground and fists clenched.

Hoor grasped his hand tightly.

Azher glared sneering. "Let's see then. Two years. If you prove yourself in these next two years, I'll consider allowing you to attend middle school there. Otherwise, forget it," he declared, walking out and slamming the door behind him.

Azazel, once again drained of energy, collapsed as Hoor and Haris rushed to support him.

Azazel shook his head with a sad smile, "Sorry…"

Hoor, unable to hold back her tears, hugged him tightly. Tears streamed down her face as she cried.

For the first time, Azazel felt a fear he had never experienced before—seeing his mother belittled and feeling powerless to protect her.

Following this experience, days went by, and Azazel observed Kenzo leaving the academy with his group. Kenzo's achievements a subject of endless discussion. At times, Azazel followed him, and other times he watched from a distance as Kenzo played.

As the two-year deadline approached, Azazel dedicated himself to honing his skills, winning matches, avoiding conflicts, studying diligently, and returning home early. Despite his efforts, the gap between him and Azher seemed to widen. What began as defiance had shifted to fear and disrespect, with Azher's anger and demands intensifying every passing day, Azazel's resolve faltered and his fear grew.

(2 Years later)

"Finally! I'm heading to Atia Eden City—Haha!" Azazel exclaimed, sliding down the railing with excitement. His bag slung over his shoulder, he tossed the cock ball into the air and caught it effortlessly. Having grown into a tall, athletic figure, his black curls were neatly groomed, and his red eyes, once fierce, now reflected resolve and hard work. A broad smile lit up his face.

"Kenzo ShahJahan, watch out! I'm coming for your Captain's title!" he declared, spinning around as he headed towards the kitchen where Hoor was preparing breakfast.

"Excited, are we?" she asked, chuckling.

"Absolutely! I'm going to show him what real fear looks like. And when I return, I'll be Captain Azazel!" Azazel said, placing a finger on his chin, lost in fantasy.

"Don't forget you need to study as well," Hoor reminded him.

"Of course, I know," Azazel said, scrunching his face in mock aversion. He grabbed an apple from the basket, took a bite, and continued, "Kenzo's quite the big shot. Even the elementary graders at the academy know his name. ShahJahan1—he's the king of that world, and I'm determined to take that title from him! I want to play a match so thrilling that neither of us will ever forget it!"

Hoor turned around, pleased, and asked, "You really love cricket, don't you, Aza?" "Yeah, and ever since I saw him take that incredible catch, my passion for it has just skyrocketed," Azazel replied with a brilliant smile.

Just then, his watch beeped. Azazel's eyes widened, and he jumped up, "Oh no, I'll be late! Not on the first day!" He hurried out the door.

"Here's your lunch box," Hoor called, rushing after him.

Azazel grabbed it with a smile and gave her a quick embrace. "Tell Father I'll be amazing today." As he was about to leave, Azher emerged from his room.

A shiver ran down Azazel's spine as he instinctively stepped in front of Hoor, not physically but to shield her from Azher's sharp words.

He raised his arm in a salute and, with a firm stomp, greeted, "Azazel Minhas greets Sir Azher Minhas!"

Azher acknowledged him with an indifferent nod before walking away. Azazel watched him go, his expression unreadable, before heading out himself.