The warm sunlight bathed the streets of Aurudil.
Under that same light stood Eirian, facing the disgusted look from Aizel, his older brother.
"I can't believe this," the man exclaimed. "You still haven't hunted a single demon? Damn, I didn't think you were this useless—even with help!"
Eirian felt those words hit him hard. He was used to them, but it was rare for Aizel to be so openly cruel.
"It's not our fault! Some idiot interfered and stole our prey," another boy cut in. "Maybe if it was nighttime, it'd be easier."
He was the oldest of the rowdy kids Aizel had hired to assist his brother.
It was important for Eirian to learn how to lead groups his own age. When he went to the academy, lesser nobles would surely want to serve him, and he needed to be used to it by then.
"You shut up, brat. You're the biggest disappointment here," the young man snapped, not even bothering to look at him as he turned back to his brother. "You have to make an effort. It's been two days since you awakened your Devastra. That's plenty of time for someone of your lineage to handle something like this."
Eirian lowered his gaze further.
His power wasn't the problem. It was something no one understood.
"Hey, brother," Aizel said, his tone softening as he put a hand on Eirian's shoulder. "I'm sorry to be harsh, but it's for your own good, understand? You know how Father will react if you fail the mission. You don't want him scolding you again, right?"
Eirian felt a chill at the thought.
Calling his father's punishments "scoldings" was putting it mildly.
The last time he'd disappointed him, he'd ended up so injured that even with healing rituals, he'd been bedridden for five days.
"A-alright," the redhead finally said quietly.
Even if it was difficult, he had to fulfill his father's wishes.
That's what a good son did.
"That's the attitude," Aizel said with a smile, ruffling his brother's hair. "You'll see, it shouldn't be harder than killing white snow rats."
The young man let out a small laugh as he said it.
It was as if, for him, rats and demons had the same value.
"Do you remember when we used to hunt them during snow season? I remember they disgusted you so much you couldn't kill them. You even started crying."
Eirian remembered. They were smaller back then.
Though there was a detail Aizel didn't know. Eirian hadn't cried from disgust. He'd cried from pity.
He hadn't wanted to kill the rat. He'd felt sad for it.
He was weak.
And for that same reason, he also didn't like the idea of capturing a demon.
For him, their lives were as valuable as anyone else's.
But Eirian knew he couldn't tell that to his brother.
He wouldn't understand.
Unlike him, Aizel was strong.
"Look, I'll help you a bit. It'll be easy, you'll see," his brother said with a smile. "Uuuu, let's see."
The boy squinted his eyes, searching for something.
Right then, he found exactly what he wanted.
A demon and a fairy were entering the street.
The fairy was a beast-man, young, surely still a child. He had golden hair and lion ears.
Next to him was the demon. She had scaled skin in certain parts of her body, and several serpents rested on her head, fused with her light brown hair.
"Perfect. Boys, surround those two," Aizel ordered calmly.
Everyone except Eirian obeyed, approaching the two children and boxing them in.
"Ummm, u-uh, excuse me, would you let me pass please?" the beast-man asked in an innocent voice, seeing a boy blocking his way.
The boy smiled.
"Sure... not," he said, shoving the blonde to the ground.
The child fell on his back with a groan, dropping the bags he was carrying.
"Huh? What the hell is wrong with you!?" the demon girl shouted, glaring at the boy who'd pushed him.
Before she could protest more, arms grabbed her from behind by the waist.
The blue-haired boy held her while laughing.
"It's not him you should be worried about," he said in a sadistic tone.
But she didn't back down. She stomped hard on his foot and elbowed him in the stomach.
"Don't touch me, you disgusting bastard!" she yelled, still struggling.
The blue-haired boy gritted his teeth. His mocking grin twisted into anger.
"Damn bitch, stop resisting!"
"Let me go, you bastard!" the girl shouted. The serpents on her head stretched out, biting his neck and face.
The blue-haired boy screamed and released her, clutching his face in pain.
"Damn, it hurts!"
Eirian clenched his teeth.
Why did everyone love violence so much?
He looked around.
Why wasn't anyone intervening?
People were walking the street, but they moved away when they saw the scene.
No one paid it any mind.
Why was he the only one who hurt seeing others mistreated?
Was that weird? Was he weak?
Maybe that's why his father always called him useless.
Maybe he was right.
"Come on, Eirian," Aizel said in a kind tone, patting him on the back. "Finish the job. You just have to knock her unconscious and we'll hand her over to Dad."
Eirian swallowed hard.
Little by little, he began raising his trembling hand.
He still remembered his mother's last words.
"Be strong."
That was her wish. That's what she wanted.
But he hadn't been able to fulfill it.
Because he was too weak.
The screams of the fight grew louder. The girl had already taken down three of his companions. They weren't going to last much longer.
"Run, Regulus! Flee! Go get help!" the girl shouted while struggling with another boy.
The blonde boy looked terrified. His eyes were teary, his face stained with his own blood.
"B-but Ruth..." Regulus started with a trembling voice, but the demon girl cut him off.
"Shut up and go! You have to be brave, Regulus! Run!"
Eirian's eyes widened. As if those words were meant for him.
It was true. He had to be brave. He had to stop acting like a coward.
He had to stop being so pathetic.
"Agneyastra," the boy proclaimed. His expression turned furious, his gaze burning. "Atmosphere-incinerating bow!"
The tattoos under his eyes and on his arm glowed with a crimson light.
Flames materialized between his fingers, gathering until they formed the shape of a bow.
He drew back the string.
"Igneous radiance!" the boy roared as he released it.
The air roared, and a ray of heat shot from the bow to the ground right in front of the girl.
When it struck, the projectile unleashed a massive burst of heat, sending out an immense shockwave.
The demon collapsed unconscious in an instant, under Eirian's stern gaze.
"Well done, brother. Well done."