William
William was abandoned as a newborn infant, left at the gates of the orphanage. The caring nun who oversaw the orphanage discovered him nestled inside a basket. The basket bore a red ruby with an intricate image—a mighty black dragon entwined around a crimson and ebony sword. Though there were traces of blood and footprints outside the gates, no lifeless body accompanied the baby.
The nun surmised that someone had brought the child to safety while being pursued. They must have been gravely injured, diverting their pursuers elsewhere to protect the infant. Taking William under her wing, the nun became his caretaker, tending to him along with the other children in the orphanage.
The orphanage relied on sponsorship from the city's baron, but corruption led to meager funding. Despite this, the dedicated nun managed to keep the orphanage running. Using her holy magic, she treated the sick and even made home visits to provide assistance. Her decision to serve at the orphanage stemmed from her desire to experience the blessing of motherhood—a dream unfulfilled due to the church's prohibition on marriage for priests and priestesses, who needed pure bodies and an affinity for holy magic.
In this world, the use of magic, including healing magic, was exclusive to priests and holy knights. However, there were exceptional individuals known as heroes, chosen by the gods. These heroes possessed formidable powers, capable of self-healing and harnessing strong abilities bestowed upon them. The world comprised twelve empires, each devoted to one of the twelve gods. In a perpetual cycle spanning ten thousand years, heroes were selected by the gods to defend against the champions of the demon gods from another world.
The selection of heroes commenced with the ringing of twelve bells—one at the main church of each god. These "world announcers" signaled the beginning and end of hero selection, as well as the individual selection of heroes by the gods. Only the head priest or priestess could hear the name and location of the chosen hero when their respective god's bell rang. To confirm the chosen hero's identity, the priest or priestess asked the hero to reveal their God-given stigma and activate their holy weapon, passed down through generations. The names and whereabouts of the chosen heroes remained secret, known only to the emperors, royal families, and the head church of the respective gods, ensuring their protection.
Returning to William's story, several years had passed since he joined the orphanage. One fateful morning, the nun was discovered dead in a nearby well. She was a well-known figure in the city, renowned for her selfless acts. The city guards conducted an investigation, ultimately concluding that the nun had committed robbery after striking a person. The cause of her demise was deemed an accidental fall into the well, with a pouch of gold coins found beside her.
The official narrative portrayed the nun as a guilty party, but even seven-year-old William could discern the truth. It was clear to him that the members of a dark guild had orchestrated the nun's murder, acting at the behest of the city church. The church sought to eliminate her because her benevolent actions and low-cost services had drawn people away from their influence.
Despite the knowledge of this injustice, no one dared to challenge the church's actions. The city lord and the guards were complicit in the corruption, rendering them incapable of bringing the truth to light.
The orphanage gates had once been a place of hope, but now they stood as a reminder of the cruel realities that plagued the inhabitants within. William, filled with anger and disbelief, witnessed the hypocrisy of those who had turned against the nun. They uttered words of condemnation and malice, tarnishing her memory with their venomous tongues. They accused her of robbery, branded her a disgraceful woman, and even questioned her worthiness to wield the power of their goddess. It was a sickening display of self-preservation at the expense of an innocent woman's reputation.
William seethed with indignation. How could these people, who had sought the nun's aid to save their loved ones, now condemn her in death? When they had nothing to offer but their gratitude, they had praised her, promising to repay her kindness in the future. Yet, they repaid her with disdain and slander once she was gone.
In the months following the nun's demise, the orphanage's financial support dwindled. Even the meager funds that were previously tainted by corruption ceased to arrive. The older children took on odd jobs to provide for the younger ones. Despite having the opportunity to leave the orphanage and fend for themselves, they remained out of loyalty to the nun who had instilled in them the importance of unity and care for one another.
William, the second youngest among the children, decided to work as a boot polisher. He toiled tirelessly, his young hands rubbing vigorously to bring a shine to the shoes of passersby. But his determination was fueled by more than just survival; it was driven by the memory of the nun's kindness and the injustice that had befallen her.
Among the youngest children at the orphanage was a fragile six-year-old girl. With her blue hair and crystal-like eyes, she possessed an ethereal beauty. Despite her delicate frame and limited mobility, her radiant smile would light up whenever she saw William. The girl adored him, and he, in turn, cared for her deeply. William made it his mission to bring joy to her life, devising ways to make her smile and forget her sorrows, even if only for a brief moment. The memories of the nun's love and the bond he shared with the young girl served as pillars of strength during the darkest times.
And so, time pressed forward, five years slipping by in the blink of an eye.