I was just 8 years old. At that time, my life felt perfect.
I had a father who always laughed loudly when he came home from trading, and a mother who sang soft lullabies every night. Although we weren't wealthy, our small house on the outskirts of the village was always filled with warmth.
But that happiness was destroyed in one night.
—
I was sleeping when a loud scream woke me up.
"RUN! EVERYONE RUN!"
I gasped and opened my eyes. Through the crack in the window, I could see dancing orange light—fire. The sound of clashing metal, screams, and cruel laughter echoed in the air.
The bedroom door opened, and my mother entered with a panicked expression. "Hurry, honey! You have to go!"
"Mom, what is—"
Before I could ask, my father entered with a wound on his temple. In his hand was a rusty sword, covered in blood. His eyes were filled with hatred and fear.
"Magic pirates… they attacked the village," he said breathlessly. "They're after treasure and slaves. We can't fight them."
I froze. Magic pirates? I'd only ever heard stories about evil wizards who made a living by plundering and killing. And now they were right before my eyes.
Dad grabbed my shoulder. " King you have to run into the forest, now! Do you understand?"
"I… I can't leave you guys!"
"Listen!" her voice cracked, filled with anger and sadness. "You are our child. As long as you live, the blood of this family will live on in the world. That is more important than anything else."
I cried. My little body was shaking.
Mother kissed my forehead and whispered, "Forgive us. And be stronger than anyone, my child."
Then dad pushed me out the back door.
I ran through the darkness, through the forest. From behind me, I heard explosions, screams, and terrifying laughter. I wanted to go back. I wanted to help them. But my body was small, weak, and helpless.
Until finally—the voice echoed inside my head.
"Partner, listen to me. You can't go back. They've already chosen to protect you. If you go back now, you'll only die alongside them."
"DDRAIG! I can't! They're my family!"
"I know. But their deaths are not the end. Instead, they are the beginning of your journey. If you want revenge, if you want to protect those you will meet in the future… then persevere. Survive, grow, and become stronger."
I fell to the ground, crying as loud as I could. The sound of the fire devouring my house still rang clearly in my ears.
That night, I lost everything.
—
Years after that incident, I lived alone.
I wandered from village to village, sometimes working odd jobs, sometimes sleeping on the streets. The world was cruel to an orphan. Many laughed at me, many tried to bully me. But I always persevered.
When I was 12 years old, I had already learned how to hunt in the forest. I could control a little of my magic, enough to light a small fire or strengthen my body when fighting wild animals.
Ddraig is always by my side.
"Partner, every wound you experience is a lesson. Every hunger, every pain, everything shapes you. You are no longer the little boy who cried that night."
I strengthened my resolve. One day, I will take revenge on all the bad people who took my parents.
—
The years continued to pass.
By the time I was 18, I had grown into a dark-haired young man with fiery red eyes—a trait that always reminded me of my mother. My body had been trained by years of hardship.
I can now use Boosted Gear with greater stability. Although I haven't yet achieved Balance Breaker , I can already strengthen my body to the level of some mid-ranked wizards.
But I felt empty. Life was directionless, with no clear purpose other than surviving.
Until one day I arrived in the town of Magnolia.
There, for the first time, I saw a large building with a flag depicting a winged fairy. People were laughing, joking, fighting, but everyone seemed like family.
I stood in front of the door for a long time.
Ddraig whispered in my head.
"Partner, I know what's in your heart. You need a place to call home. Maybe… this is it."
I took a deep breath. My hands were shaking as I pushed open the guild door.
And with that step, my new journey as a Fairy Tail mage began.