Eiran

"What's that?" whispered Lord Phil. He signaled us to remain still. Hours after the noise from the surface, Lord Phil sent three skilled men from our little town to investigate. They returned and reported quietly to him, and then he dismissed them. Everyone was curious to know what had just happened. Seeing the worry on our faces, he gestured for us to remain quiet and continued by assuring us that we had nothing to fear. "A flying beast accidentally fell dead on the surface," he said with full confidence.

Living here is very difficult. We eat less due to the poor supply of food. We are not allowed to plant crops due to security reasons. Once a week, a few men from our town were selected to scavenge for food on the surface. It was a risky endeavor, but necessary for our survival. We've lost a significant number of men who were willing to take this risk, and sometimes it was rewarding. The food supplies are divided into small portions and shared evenly among everyone.

Security is the top priority in Arkham. It is the duty of everyone to ensure that this is achieved. Vampires can be easily killed using silver weapons. However, only a few silver weapons are available in Arkham. Learning about your enemy gives you a better advantage. It helps you understand their potential actions and weaknesses, allowing you to make better plans. These are the words of Lord Phil. His principles and way of life have kept us safe from our enemies.

When I grow up, I'd like to be as powerful as a knight. I want to lead men into battle and return victorious. I want my name to be known everywhere in the world. But when I look in the mirror, I get discouraged. Why? Because I am too thin. I'm the thinnest kid in our town. Despite having a large appetite, I'm still as thin as a stick. Kids make fun of me, calling me all sorts of names. "Hey, you keep getting thinner every day," Griffen, the annoying troublemaker, shouted while pointing at me.

Griffen is the top bully; he is loud, aggressive, and shameless. He bullies not only me but also most kids. He is also the strongest kid, so no one dares to challenge him or his gang.

Lyra, on the other hand, is my best friend. She acts like a boy, is also aggressive, playfully bullies me, and always has my back. Just like me, Lyra has only one parent: her father. He is a tall, angry-looking man. But unlike my mom, her dad is not the loving and caring type. He cares less about Lyra's well-being. He doesn't provide food, clothing, or fulfill his responsibilities as a father. Ever since his wife was slain by beasts who invaded his village, he has become a shadow of himself. Surprisingly, Lyra doesn't seem frightened when she's with her father, unlike me. She remains calm and shares laughter with him, even though he doesn't reciprocate and instead groans. What a peculiar man.

Mother provides Lyra with the motherly love she lacks. Not to mention, she loves Mom's cooking, which is prepared without garlic.

Griffen walks up to me, grabs my right arm, and examines it before laughing out loud. "So thin," he says while laughing. I quickly pull away, and Lyra gives him a serious glare without saying a word. "What are you looking at, Lyra?" Griffen shouts angrily. At this moment, I'm genuinely terrified and don't want to engage in a fight with this troublesome character. The children nearby gather around, hoping for a confrontation. "Answer me!" he roars. Lyra remains silent but fixes her intense gaze on him. Griffen erupts and shoves her forcefully to the ground. Seeing her suffer fills me with anger. I immediately push Griffen hard on his chest. Despite his strength, he doesn't budge an inch, and the children laugh at me. Griffen responds by delivering a powerful slap to my right jaw, causing me to fall next to Lyra. "Get up and fight, skeleton boy! Get up!" Griffen orders, preparing to attack. "Fight! Fight!" the children surrounding us chant. Strangely, I'm not scared. I feel a surge of energy coursing through my body. I give him a determined glare and stand up. I'm ready to confront this brainless kid. Feeling confident, I clench my fists, ready to prove that I'm not weak but a powerful individual. Lyra, still lying on the ground, touches my arm and signals for me not to engage. I nod at her and then charge forward, fueled by newfound energy. I get close to him and leap up, about to deliver a punch to his face.

Bang! Everything goes black. What just happened? I gradually open my eyes and see Griffen standing next to me while I lie on the floor. Lyra rushes over and helps me up. "Are you okay?" she asks, her concern evident. She then turns to Griffen and shouts, "Leave him alone." Griffen spits on me and departs. Not wanting anyone to notice, I conceal my tears, letting them fall inwardly.

Lyra escorts me home and recounts the incident to my mom. Mom is angry with me and admonishes me never to fight again or try to prove anything to anyone.

That night, I fall asleep with tears in my eyes, hoping for a day when no one will dare to challenge me.

A loud knock awakens both my mom and me. As we step out to investigate, we find Lyra there. "Dad hung himself," she says tearfully. Mom rushes to Lord Phil for assistance.