Varnok gets out of bed, puts on his socks, and walks into the other room. But he immediately notices that his mother and father are not home. He first washes his face and hands, then walks slowly into the kitchen. On the counter are a few dishes, some leftover rice from the previous night, and a knife. He heats the rice, places it on a plate, and eats.
Even though he is full, he is still thirsty. He puts the remaining rice into another dish, wraps it in a bag, takes it, and steps outside. He heads toward the village center. There, he calls out to a middle-aged man with a hat and a beard.
Varnok: "Water."
Man: "Water?"
The man picks up a bottle of water and continues speaking.
Man: "Your family never liked sending you out. What happened?"
Varnok hands him the plate of rice and takes the bottle.
Varnok: "I'm alone at home."
The man smiles.
Man: "Alone?"
Varnok: "Yes, Uncle Hans. Alone."
Hans: "Alright then. Take care of yourself."
Among the crowd, Thanatox watches Varnok in secret.
Thanatox: "He did it knowingly. This boy is exactly the type I've been looking for."
Evening arrives. Varnok is still waiting for his family to return. He lies on the couch, eyes fixed on the ceiling, lights off, the house silent.
Varnok: "I'm bored."
Moonlight is the only thing illuminating the quiet, dark house. But suddenly, the light begins to dim. A silhouette appears at the window—of a middle-aged man wearing a hat. The man lifts his hand slowly and taps on the glass.
Varnok: "So you finally came."
Varnok sits up and stretches widely. The frightening calmness in his eyes does not reflect his emotions. He stands, walks to the kitchen, and picks up the knife lying on the counter. He stares at it for a few seconds, then suddenly furrows his brows. Tensing up, he hurls the knife at the window with full force.
(The sound of shattering glass and a man's scream)
Varnok walks outside calmly and looks at the man. It is Hans.
Varnok: "You're nothing but a creep. I've known it since I was a child."
Varnok drags Hans's corpse to the dark backyard. He pulls the knife out of Hans's forehead and heads back. At that moment, a sound comes from the grass.
First, a head emerges. A man with dark orange braided hair pulled back. His eyes lock onto Varnok's as he steps out of the bushes. On his white coat—decorated with orange patterns and resembling a doctor's garment—there are a few dried drops of blood. His black shoes remain hidden within the darkness. Varnok, hands in his pockets, turns toward him.
Varnok: "You again? Thanatox."
Thanatox smirks.
Thanatox: "I see you've hunted someone."
Varnok: "Because of you. You're the one who brought these feelings out."
Thanatox: "I merely ended the lies. This is who you truly are."
Varnok reflects for a moment. He raises the knife in his hand. As the blade reflects the moonlight, he throws it at Thanatox. Thanatox catches it with his hand. Then he slides it back into its sheath and begins peeling away the damaged skin on his hand. The skin falls away, revealing fresh flesh beneath.
Varnok: "I'm curious about something."
Thanatox: "What I am?"
Varnok: "No. I don't give a damn what you are. What I'm curious about is why you carve up corpses."
Thanatox chuckles.
Thanatox: "Pleasure and experimentation. That is my true self."
Varnok: "Experimentation? What kind?"
Thanatox: "Experiments about all the different ways I can kill humans. But there's something I'm curious about regarding you."
Thanatox pulls a garbage bag out of the bushes and throws it to Varnok. A strong stench emanates from the bag.
Thanatox: "Well? Disgusting, isn't it? Yie-heh."
Varnok: "Disgusting? What are you talking about? This smell is pleasant. Like meat that fills my stomach."
Thanatox bursts into laughter.
Thanatox: "Yie-hehahahaha…!"
Varnok stares at him with empty eyes.
Thanatox: "I didn't know you loved your mother this much, boy. Yie-hehe."
Varnok: "Huh?"
Varnok opens the bag—and is shocked.
Varnok: "You… What did you do?!"
Varnok lunges at Thanatox, pulling his arm back to punch him. As he pulls his arm back, a chain shoots out from it. Thanatox catches Varnok's punch effortlessly.
Thanatox: "You should thank me, boy."
Varnok: "My arm… It hurts, and there's some blood. And on my other arm… a chain?"
Thanatox smiles.
Thanatox: "This is Konkai. A power every human would desire."
Varnok: "Konkai?"
Thanatox: "The smooth, sharp-tipped triangular stone that fell to Earth as a meteor years ago."
Varnok: "That stone caused this chain? Why would that stone be inside me?"
Thanatox: "Child, it's better if you learn it yourself. But first, there is something about you. You've been different from other humans from the beginning. You just called the smell of a corpse pleasant—your mother's corpse, at that. Yie-heheh."
Varnok: "You bastard! Did you kill my mother?! You disgusting creature!"
Thanatox: "I did it for your own good, child. Otherwise, you would never grow stronger. The place you belong must be far from prying eyes."
Varnok: "Far from prying eyes?"
Thanatox: "Yes. That way, you won't be caught, and you can live peacefully. Now I have bad news for you. I've called the guardians here. There is a house outside the village. Find it, and live there from now on."
Varnok: "What?! No! This can't be!"
Thanatox: "Yes, it can, Varnok. Ah, and one more thing…"
Thanatox slowly retreats into the darkness of the trees.
Thanatox: "Your name is now Nekryon."
Nekryon: "My whole life…"
Nekryon grabs the bag containing his mother and begins to run.
Nekryon: "Far from prying eyes…"
The guardians are on their way. Their shouts echo in the distance. Nekryon runs toward the mountain as fast as he can.