"WAAAHH!!"
In a certain hospital, the desperate cry of a newborn baby rang out sharply. In the room, a beautiful lady haggardly lay on the hospital bed, accompanied by a ferocious-looking man who held her in his arms.
The man looked at his wife softly. An indescribable feeling sprung out as a bundle of black mop hair was slowly being held by his wife.
This feeling of pride, happiness, and a bit tad of something inexplicable...
The new father cannot explain it.
"Ren, our son..."
"Yes, he's perfect."
The nurse looked at the glowing couple and silently retreated from the room.
"Should we name him after the First Hero?"
"Why?"
The wife looked at the husband perplexedly, but the man had this weird feeling. It felt stupid, but a man must trust his instinct, especially a soldier like him, who countlessly entrusted his life to his instinct.
"I couldn't explain it. But this boy, the first time I saw him, I just knew that he'd be great."
"What if he's not? I do not want the pressure to destroy our baby boy..."
Her watery eyes turned to the sleeping newborn. As a parent, she wanted him to grow splendidly, carry himself with pride, and be satisfied with his life.
But she does not wish for him to be someone everyone looks up to. If he turned out to be a mediocre born, it's fine.
Being a loving son is enough.
The ferocious man stood in silence. Then he rubbed her hair, showing a smile on his rugged look.
"Do not be afraid. I'll look after him in the future."
"Husband, do you trust our son so much?"
The lady tried to pry something from her son, looking at him up and down. The man laughed at his wife's cute antics, softly tightening the embrace.
"Even if there's no such a feeling, I'll trust him. I don't know how will he turn out to be in the future, but as parents, we should try to carve out a good path for him, shouldn't we?"
"If Husband says so, then... I'll also trust our boy."
The lady has a hint of a competitive look in her eyes, making the man grin.
"Then, it's decided."
"My son, your name is Urapus Ashford. Do not be scared because of your name, for we want you to live a happy life."
As if responding to their declaration, little Urapus twitched, and his eyes opened, showing the couple a pair of dark, ebonic eyes. They curiously looked at the first thing they saw in their time of existence.
The baby giggled, provoking laughter from the couple.
On 12th December, Year 302 of the 2nd Phoenix Calender, Urapus Ashford was born.
7th July, Year 305 of the 2nd Phoenix Calendar
"Father, I wish to read the book of the First Hero."
In a simple, cozy two-story house, a man was reading a document by a fire when a little boy walked towards him.
Despite being just a child, the boy's steps are firm. His posture is straight, with a sense of calmness in his eyes.
The ferocious man smiled at the boy's unusual demeanor. This kid is always calm as if it were an inborn trait.
"Why do you want to read it, my son?"
"I'm very curious, Father. The First Hero... He has the same name as me."
Little Urapus's eyes held a tint of confusion. Why would such a legendary existence have the same name as him?
"We named you after him, Urapus. But don't fret, we do not wish you to be just like him. However, I hope you honored the name of the hero by being a good person and growing to be a splendid man. You do not have to be a hero."
His father patted his head with a smile.
Urapus closed his eyes and wondered,
'A hero?'
"Father, what is a hero?"
The man paused. Before he answered, he looked at the window with a proud yet bitter look.
"A hero is a person of unimaginable caliber, someone who could overturn the mountains and shake the sky! They're our guardians, beings that could fight off the threats outside our beautiful Blue Earth."
Urapus seems conflicted, looking at his father with doubt.
"But Father, that description befits an Awakener more. If that was the case, wouldn't most Awakeners be heroes, then?"
The man looked at his son in amazement. He has a proud look, laughing gleefully.
"Yes! Great! You could already differentiate those two terms. Now, there's no need for me to hold things back from you."
"Now, listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you. But do not tell this to anyone, not even your mother, understand?"
Little Urapus understands the gravity of the situation. Even Father's closest kin, Mother, cannot be told of this information.
"Urapus, Awakeners... They're not Heroes. They like to call themselves that for fame, but they're by no means a Hero. Only Urapus, could be called a Hero. Hence his title as the First Hero, while the First Awakener is someone else."
"Heroes are not just being with extraordinary means. They're beings of the noblest souls and hearts, who are willing to protect us with all they have, not to pursue fame and wealth, but to ensure that the future generations have a place they could proudly call their hometown, Earth."
Urapus looked up in awe. Such an exalted being!
"A Hero is an unrequited title. It is a title granted to the noblest beings amongst the Awakeners. But don't mention this in public, alright? Awakeners are insecure people, and would easily be agitated if denied of their 'fame' and be compared to others."
"And one more thing. Urapus, unless you have enough power and influence, do not openly pursue the title of Hero, for if you are too weak, you will be targeted en masse."
In the end, his father warned him with a serious look on his face.
Urapus also looked serious, nodding determinedly.
That day, unbeknownst to his father, Urapus decided.
He wished to be a Hero.
Only by having such a title could he be worthy of inheriting such an exalted name.
Only by having such a title could he be proud of being an Awakener!
Of course, if he could become an Awakener, that's it.
"Enough power and influence..."
Little Urapus looked down and muttered, clenching his fists in determination.
3rd March, Year 306 of 2nd Phoenix Calendar.
Urapus is now 3 years old, and on his way to be a 4 years old this year.
"Mother, where are we going?"
Urapus is being held by his mother, who smiles amusedly at her son's nonchalant attitude.
"You're already 3 years old, yet you have no friends. Mother wants to bring you to Mother's meet-up with her friends. There are a couple of cute girls your age. Be careful of your looks, alright?"
Urapus's parents have concluded something about their son.
He's an attractive kid. The genetics really do wonder. To think that Urapus could inherit the beauty of her mother and the ruggedness of his father.
As a result, he has what his mother likes to call, the vibes of a dashing boy. Urapus couldn't understand, but he assumed it was a good thing.
Soon, a simple yet beautiful cafe came to their sight. The door's bell rings as they enter the place.
"Tashya! Here!"
His mother's name is Natashya Ashford, with her surname inherited from his father.
As Natashya sat with her friends, she introduced the nonchalant boy to her friends.
It's not because they peer pressured her to introduce him. Definitely not.
"Kyaa! Who is this boy? He looked so handsome!"
"Tashya, don't tell me you adopt a celebrity's kid?!"
One of her friends asked seriously, but the lady just laughed it off. She lifted her head like a proud swan, while the boy sat on her lap calmly.
"Hehe, this is my proud firstborn, Urapus Ashford! How it is! Isn't my son handsome?"
Her friends didn't respond. They just looked at the handsome boy who calmly sipped a can of juice, given by his dear mother.
His simple black eyes stared at them, as if questioning the meaning of their gazes.
"I couldn't take it anymore! This vibes... Ughh!"
In the end, he was assaulted by their dainty hands.
"Alright, alright. Urapus, go and play with their kids. I fear that these old ladies will snatch something they shouldn't."
Her friends looked at him pleadingly, but Natashya just snorted in disdain. Only she could play with Urapus all she wanted!
Urapus was 'kicked out' by his mother. Not wanting to disobey his mother, he strode towards the cafe's playground, where a group of little girls huddled together playing with their dolls.
Urapus felt this inexplicable feeling. There are no boys his age, only a bunch of little girls.
'Such a pity...'
"Hello Ms. Becky, I wonder what you have in store?"
"We have pastries! Sweet, delicious pastries!"
The little girls are playing house? Urapus rubbed his head. He looked around in the hope of finding others, but sadly, these girls were the only ones around.
Having no other choices, his short legs slowly strode towards them.
"Hello."
There are 4 little girls in the group. A sunny, short-haired blonde girl is the loudest, along with a shy pink-haired girl whose hair is in a ponytail.
Urapus grimaced a bit. Their hair hurt his eyes.
They're too bright!
The other two are the opposite. They seem like twins, with the only difference being their hair color. The indifferent one had a mop of long white hair, while beside her stood a bored girl with short black hair.
Urapus's greetings paused the group activity. They slowly turned to the source of the voice, finding a handsome little boy silently staring at them with his abyss-like eyes.
The sunny girl gaped exaggeratedly.
"Wow! You're so handsome! You should play with us!
Urapus scorned her inwardly. What a fickle girl! Does that mean if I'm ugly, you won't play with me?
But oh well, mother's command is mother's command.
Accepting her invitation, Urapus sat beside her, trying to ignore the twins' gaze that bore deep into his back.
"What's your name?"
Urapus started, looking at each of them curiously.
"Maria Swerchz!" The sunny girl proudly puffed out her chest.
"Rebecca Yosferd." The pink-haired girl answered shyly.
"Roxanna Harden." The white-haired girl indifferently looked at him.
"Roxenn Harden." The black-haired girl curiously looked at him.
As they were the children, he got the answer pretty quickly. He also noticed their status by their surnames. Urapus twitched.
So mother has been mingling with prominence family all this time...
"You have pretty names. My name is Urapus Ashford, pleased to meet you."
Urapus showed a polite smile, but it seems children tend to misunderstand gestures...
"Yes! Yes! Pleased to meet you too!"
Maria Swerchz squirmed under his gaze. Even Rebecca besides her shyly twirled her hair.
Urapus sighed. This is gonna be a long day.
Oh well, at least the quiet twins are pleasant companies. They're quiet, understanding, and seem to be intelligent.
Urapus nodded to himself. He should befriend them later.
Of course, that doesn't mean he dislikes these two energetic bundles. In fact, such an energetic disposition is quite nice for the nonchalant him.
It's just quite a challenge to play with someone with contradicting personality.
He did not count how many times have passed. But suddenly, as he tried to console the sulking Maria, whose character he scolded using a middle-aged figurine, his mother appeared with a smile.
"Having fun, aren't you? Hehehe..."
Urapus smiled awkwardly.
"A-Are you Urapus's mother?! Wow, you are so beautiful!"
As if having ulterior motives, Maria quickly walked up to Natashya and hugged her leg, looking up at her with a sneaky look.
Rebecca hugged her other leg like a sneaky cat, her violet eyes looked up at her to seek approval.
As Natashya was enjoying the company of these two cute little girls, Urapus approached the silent twins who seemed to be in their own world.
As if knowing something, Roxanna also looked at him with her piercing crimson eyes. And surprisingly, she was the one who started the conservation.
"Your name... It is the name of the first Hero. Why is that?"
Hearing this, Urapus unknowingly smiled.
"My esteemed Father entrusted me with the First Hero's name."
"...I also wish to be the Hero."