The heart

A soldier rode at high speed along the dusty road. His red cape billowed in the wind, marking his position as a member of Lord Kaloch's guard. The day was hot, and the cavalry advanced with determination.

On the horizon, the soldier glimpsed a strange scene. A wagon was abnormally parked on the roadside, tilted to one side as if hastily abandoned. As he approached, what he saw chilled his heart.

The scene was a true carnage. Bodies of men and animals lay on the dusty ground. It was a scene of devastation, and the air was permeated with the smell of iron, emanating from the blood. The soldier observed closely as he approached, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

In the shade of the wagon, he spotted two figures still alive. One was a child, trembling with fear and horror, tears streaming down their eyes. Beside them was a man dressed as a bandit, with torn and blood-stained clothes. The man was drenched in sweat, panic etched across his face.

The soldier raised his guard, prepared for any threat. He deduced that the blood-covered man might be one of the possible culprits of the atrocity. With a firm voice, he asked, "What happened here? Who are you? What have you done?"

The bandit stammered a few words, his voice trembling. The child could only cry, unable to provide a clear explanation. The soldier needed answers and, at the same time, to keep the situation under control. He remained vigilant, ready to act as the situation demanded.

The bandit vehemently denied the accusation with a shake of his head. However, as he attempted to speak, his words were muffled by a psychological terror that left him breathless. Motionless, he watched the soldier wield a sharp and gleaming sword. The blade shimmered in the sunlight like a silver ray, revealing an intricate engraving along its length.

The soldier stood firm, his expression determined, displaying confidence in his ability to maintain order in that chaotic scene.

Johnny, in turn, felt a surge of conflicting emotions. The surprise of finding his uncle in such a situation momentarily left him paralyzed. He recognized the opportunity, but also knew it was a delicate moment. Revenge was within reach, but he needed to decide if it was the right time and what the cost of that choice would be.

Johnny blinked, plunging into painful memories of the past. Vivid recollections of his stomach twisting with hunger echoed, along with the desperate feeling of hearing his insensitive guardian declare he had no money to help. Entire nights were stained by the image of that man enjoying bets in bars while Johnny struggled to survive. His heart raced, anger and sadness intertwining in a storm of emotions.

In that moment, Johnny was face to face with the past that haunted him. The man who contributed to his days of suffering was there, in front of him. A spark of determination ignited in his eyes, for now, he had the chance to confront the one who had pushed him into the abyss.

Johnny whispered to Luiz with tear-filled eyes, "Attack with everything when I signal!" His voice was so low that the soldier, a few meters away, couldn't hear his words.

Luiz tensed his facial muscles, expressing his hesitation to take any action. Regret echoed within him because, despite not wanting to remain inert, the fear of the small psychopath paralyzed him.

Johnny closely observed the scene around him, realizing there was no one else besides the soldier and Luiz. As his emotions oscillated between the desire for revenge and the risks involved, he devised a plan in his mind.

If he attacked using his talents, the soldier would likely believe the bandit was attacking. In that case, the soldier might retaliate and kill the thief, which, in a way, wouldn't be bad, as it would be a form of "cleaning up" the crimes. On the other hand, if he managed to eliminate the enemy with a single attack, he would also rid himself of a parasite that had made his life miserable.

The soldier ordered firmly, his voice echoing authority in the dark depths of the night: "Lie down on the ground, now!" His eyes expressed unwavering determination.

However, the bandit, faced with the disturbing sight of the blood-stained ground, where the traces of the recent heinous act were still visible, hesitated for a moment. His twisted expression revealed the repulsion he felt, delaying his obedience to the soldier's command. This hesitation did not go unnoticed, conveying to the soldier the impression that the bandit had no intention of surrendering easily, leaving an air of expectation for possible resistance hanging in the air.

Johnny noticed the bandit's hesitation, and this sparked an opportunity in his mind. With a subtle and quick gesture, five glowing runes appeared in the air, forming a line behind the bandit.

Each of the runes, as if coming to life, triggered the release of bronze daggers sharp as razors. The movement was so fast that it left only traces of their path in the air, like bright streaks cutting through the night. The daggers hummed like serpents toward the soldier.

The soldier, acting purely on instinct, desperately tried to block the attack with his sword, but his efforts were in vain.

The blades struck his head and chest with devastating force, shattering him into multiple pieces. Flesh, blood, and bone fragments scattered through the air. The impact was so violent that there was no chance of defense, leaving the poor man completely shattered.

Johnny muttered, his voice interrupted by the macabre sight now before him. Carefully, he removed pieces of his uncle's entrails that were stuck on his shoulder, feeling the sticky touch of blood on his hands. He said, with a touch of surprise and appreciation in his voice, "Not bad!" recognizing the increase in his combat abilities and the power he was gaining.

The daggers, propelled by the runes, proved to be distinctly superior to the stones Johnny had used before. Their impressive speed far surpassed that of previous shots against the former leader of the bandits. Furthermore, the durability of the metal daggers stood out, indicating that they were much more resistant than the stones.

Luiz was lying on the ground, his body trembling with fear as he watched Johnny, the child, walking undisturbed through the sea of blood to collect the spoils of war. It was a disturbing scene, a demonstration of the lack of appreciation for life and insensitivity on the part of that disturbed child.

Johnny held his uncle's sword in his hand, realizing it was heavier than he had imagined. "Is this iron?" he murmured to himself, surprised by the weight difference compared to the dagger he used to wield. The feel of the cold iron in his hands was a constant reminder of the hardness of the material.