018. Skar

A giant room with white marble walls reflected light in all directions. A magic circle shone in the corner of the room and many small children were crying. The only source of illumination other than the light from the magic circle was a large white crystal floating right in the center of the room. 

All the children were wearing brown tunics and pants. The children were spread out in all directions and were all crying. 

Some were crying in the center of the room, some were crying while leaning against the wall, and some were crying in front of the entrance that was also the exit. 

At the entrance, there is one large iron door covered in lightning elemental magic that would electrocute anyone who touched it. 

Among all the crying children, there was one boy who was just sitting on a pile of haystack. 

His hair was white and his expression was annoyed because he was disturbed by the noise of the childrens.

"Tsk, what's with all of them? Those damn old guys really think they're on my level. It's just annoying," grumbled the white-haired child who was Skar. 

Not long after, the metal door opened slowly and several small children stopped crying.

One girl was suddenly thrown into the room followed by 3 large sacks of boiled potatoes. 

Right after that, the door closed again. The girl had long brown hair and didn't seem worried or panicked. 

But that was not the center of attention, but the 3 sacks of potatoes. 

All the little kids ran around quickly and bumped into the girl with brown hair. All hell broke loose for the boiled potatoes, everyone scrambled and grabbed as many as they could, some were trampled in the crowd and some just stood and waited outside the crowd and hoped there were still potatoes left.

"Everyone move!" shouted Skar who silenced the entire crowd. 

The white-haired boy walked over casually and picked up 6 large boiled potatoes then turned around and returned to his place. 

As soon as Skar left the crowd, chaos ensued once again. 

In the midst of the wild situation, Skar witnessed a new child who was saddened to see that one boy who was thin due to malnutrition, the malnourished boy had died due to being trampled while fighting over the boiled potatoes. 

"How could such a sad thing happen?" the brown-haired girl murmured and caught Skar's attention.

"What happened? He's weak and trying to get in the crowd, that's what happened. Of course he's going to die. How stupid," Skar responded as if answering the girl's rhetorical question. 

The brown-haired woman immediately shot Skar with a glare that made him uncomfortable. 

"Tsk, you brat." Skar turned around and walked towards his haystack. 

The day came to an end. The new kid joined the other kids, moving around and sleeping on the floor made of the clay that was hardened into a stone. 

Skar alone slept on the straw. A new morning dawned and Skar had a sudden change in circumstances.

There was less crying and no more negative energy. It all happened because of the new kid who interacted and entertained the other children. 

The new kid sat in the middle of a group of children who also sat listening to the new child's story. When someone was sad, the new kid hugged them and rubbed their heads. 

The new kid exuded a gentle and loving aura like a mother to her own biological child. 

"Tsk, what is she doing? There's no point in defending the weak," Skar muttered, walking to the toilet to finish the nature's call. 

After a few hours passed, the metal door opened again and 3 sacks of boiled potatoes were thrown inside. 

Skar who had been lying on the haystack now stood up. He yawned for a while and then walked towards the potato sacks.

Unfortunately there was one thing that was different this time, all the children lined up to take their fair share. 

"Pffthh... Why are you guys suddenly like this? Well, it's not a bad idea either, now I can take with -"

Skar was interrupted by the new kid who seemed to be quite annoyed. 

"No rushing the queue, everyone should line up and take fairly," the new kid snapped.

"Huh? Who do you think you are? Order me around! You snot-nosed brat!" Skar shouted and a fiery red magic circle suddenly appeared on his palm. 

A huge fireball was created above Skar's hand and all the kids who were lined up immediately ran away.

"Listen to me, you snot-nosed brat, in this world, the strong make the rules. Hahaha!"

Skar threw the fireball at the new kid while laughing out loud. 

*Whush! 

The fireball suddenly disappeared and now the new kid came towards Skar with his hands clenched into fists. 

*Bhuk! 

The new kid punched Skar in the stomach until the white-haired boy fell to his knees and lost consciousness not long after. 

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Skar opened his eyes slowly and felt the sensation of a very soft pillow. That cozy sensation was the new kid's thigh. 

Skar immediately jumped away with his face flushed with embarrassment.

"What... What did you... do to me?!" asked Skar with a blushing face. 

The new kid smiled kindly, "Thank goodness you're awake, here's your share." The new kid offered a sizable boiled potato. 

"Don't boss me around, brat!"

The new kid's forehead wrinkled in annoyance and puffed up both her cheeks, "What's wrong with you? You're a kid yourself but you're so arrogant. I have a name after all. My name is Maya, Ma-ya."

"Who... who... Who cares about your name!" Skar turned around and stepped away. 

"Who the hell is she? Suddenly coming, suddenly comforting those weaklings, suddenly getting in my way. I hate that brat," Skar grumbled as he walked towards his haystack.

Skar just sat on his haystack and watched the group of children playing happily. 

Skar's stomach suddenly rumbled and he clutched his empty stomach. 

The white-haired boy could only sat still and watch, waiting until everyone was asleep.

Once everyone was asleep, Skar rushed over to the pile of sacks and hoped that there were still potatoes left. But there were none left at all. 

"Right? I told you, take this."

Maya's voice that suddenly appeared from behind managed to startle Skar.

"Y...Y...Y... You?" Skar looked at Maya and then at the sack and then back at Maya.

"No, I'm not hungry, I'm just looking for bugs." Skar stammered and looked away.

Maya just smiled, "I still have your share, do you want it?"

Skar's stomach rumbled and forced the boy to accept Maya's kindness. 

"It seems like there's no other choice, I'll eat it." Skar took the boiled potato in Maya's hand without even looking at Maya's face. 

Maya inflated both her cheeks once again in annoyance, "You're acting arrogant again, at least say thank you."

"Shut up! I don't need to thank you!"

Maya got even more annoyed and punched Skar on the back, "Evil, you're so evil, ungrateful."

"Stop it, you snot-nosed brat!" Skar stood up immediately after finishing the boiled potatoes that Maya had given to him.  

The white-haired boy walked away, leaving Maya who still annoyed.