*Swoosh, swoosh*
In a thick forest on the outskirts of a small village, a boy no older than 5 years old was running like his entire existence depended on it, because it might as well.
He had long, beautiful red hair with streaks of purple, and purple eyes that were like beautiful gems glowing in the dark.
The forest was dark and gloomy, perhaps from the bloodshed that had soaked these lands lately. He could still hear the distant wails and utter agony of women losing their lovers and children before being forced to bear the worst of men this world has to offer. After that, there is nothing else for them but to experience the warmth of death's embrace.
"Stop him," the boy heard from behind, as he pushed past his limits, dodging obstacles ahead with utter precision and inhuman speed.
"Why is he so fast? He is just 5 or 6 years old and hasn't started practicing yet," another of his pursuers said with utter frustration. He was getting tired already.
"Shut your snout, Pig! He would go for a lot of gold," the leader, who was at the forefront of the pursuers, barked at the complaint. Besides, he won't make it far. With the amount of bloodshed that happened, the low-tier beasts around are getting riled up. "
The boy, Alaric Voss, they called him, looked ahead, despite the darkness around that felt overwhelming in his current condition; he could still see clearly, in fact, he could see precise details about the world around him.
Thinking about the situation he is in right now, he couldn't help but sigh helplessly.
'Ah, fate,' he mused
'How eternally fickle you are,
My closest friend, my worst enemy.'
Fate was a thief; his past life had taught him. One that stole joy and left only IOUs, it steals joy in increments and dangles hope like a puppet, then severs its strings with a smile.
He was fated for great things, they said
You are destined to reach great heights, they said.
Now, they were all dead. he watched as life was ripped out of their helpless body, as they tried but failed to stop his pursuers, who would stop at nothing to get hold of him.
He had only known them for 5yrs but they felt like family. They treated him well, even with his disability made others wary.
*Swoosh, swoosh*
A monkey's screech snapped him from his thoughts as he saw it swinging from tree to tree while pointing to the right. He didn't hesitate as he dashed to the right.
"He turned again," a man with an ugly mug said.
"This is dangerous, we might end up in the territory of a beast and get mauled to death," the fat man, called 'Pig' by the leader, said.
The leader frowned, scanning the trees until his eyes locked onto the monkey.
'The monkey's guidance felt too convenient,' he smirked, as if realizing something. "Keep chasing him".
The subordinates followed despite their fear that something unfortunate might happen.
Alaric's lungs burned as the minutes stretched, but the men's persistence never faded. The chase continued for another 20 minutes before Alaric suddenly stopped. he chuckled in helplessness before hiding behind the thick trees.
"Finally, he stopped breathing heavily and sweating, the fat man said, to which the leader nodded with narrowed eyes as if contemplating what had happened.
"Everyone, be careful, that boy is not so simple".