A stone suddenly flew through the air and struck Aster on the forehead.
Blood flowed from the wound, quickly running down past his eye and reaching his chin.
His vision blurred.
Should he stop the bleeding first?
Or find the person who had thrown the stone?
Before he could decide, the one who had thrown it stepped forward on their own.
"You're the one at fault!" the woman shouted angrily.
"The demon followed you! Because of you, so many people died!"
Lying on the ground, Aster slowly lifted his head. He realized those words were directed at him.
The woman's voice echoed throughout the village's main street. Drawn by the commotion, more villagers gathered, eager to witness the spectacle.
From birth, Aster possessed an appearance rarely seen even among noble aristocrats.
His silver hair and well-defined features clearly set him apart from ordinary villagers.
But that was not the true reason people avoided him.
The real problem lay in his eyes.
In this world, people could have eyes of many colors.
But red…
Red was a curse.
Only demons, vampires, and other monsters possessed such eyes. Because of that, red eyes provoked extreme fear and hostility among humans.
Some of the people standing beside the woman began to agree with her.
"The demon chased him the moment it saw the child."
"Yes, exactly."
Suspicions spread rapidly, soon solidifying into a single conclusion.
Before long, others joined in.
"It's all because of you!"
"Get out of here, demon!"
"If you didn't exist, none of this would've happened!"
"That child is the demon's accomplice!"
Shouts like these filled the air as they placed the blame for everything onto a single child.
Still, not everyone agreed.
Hans did everything he could to convince them otherwise.
"Aster is not at fault! He didn't do anything! This is all the demon's doing!"
He repeated it again and again.
But despair, fear, and terror revealed people's true nature.
The mob standing before Aster was desperately clinging to survival.
No matter how much Hans tried to explain, no one wanted to listen.
They didn't even try.
Then, a single sentence pushed them over the edge.
"We should kill him quickly. Then the demon won't come back," someone from the crowd said coldly.
After those words, stones began to rain down like a storm.
They struck Aster's body as he lay on the ground. Unable to endure the pain, he screamed.
First, the sudden surge within his body.
Then, the rain of stones.
This was one of the worst days of Aster's life.
Suddenly, one stone hit the clothes he was clutching to his chest.
The moment he saw it, he hugged the bundle even tighter and curled into himself.
'I have to protect it!'
At that moment, Hans' patience snapped.
"Enough! Stop throwing stones!" he shouted furiously.
Everyone froze, stones still raised in their hands.
Seeing an enraged Hans was like witnessing snow in midsummer.
He continued.
"What do you think you're doing?! How can a young, helpless child be at fault? The one responsible is the demon—not the boy!"
But someone among the villagers spoke up.
"Look at his eyes. Ordinary humans don't have eyes like that."
"When the demon saw Aster, it followed him and his mother and came to the village."
"The demon came because of the boy. That's why we have to kill him. If we kill him, the demon won't return."
The crowd agreed with those words.
Hans never expected the people he knew to change so completely.
Then another voice rose.
"Bind him and leave him in the forest. The demon will eat the boy and leave us alone."
Once again, the villagers agreed.
Lying on the ground, Aster was drowning in pain, despair, and the agony of losing the one he loved most.
He wanted to stand up.
He wanted to scream at the top of his lungs that he was innocent.
But he couldn't.
His current state wouldn't allow it.
So instead, thoughts born from the deepest pit of despair filled his mind.
'What did I ever do to you? Why are you blaming me for something I didn't do?! What is my sin?! Is it because I look different?! People don't get to choose how they're born!'
When people are afraid, they think of no one but themselves.
They do anything to survive.
The villagers were no different.
They didn't even leave Hans a choice.
Suddenly, Hans spoke.
"Then… we'll release Aster into the forest. The demon will find him on its own. If we send him away, the demon will follow him!"
His voice trembled, heavy with grief.
No matter what, he was trying to save Aster's life.
After hearing those words, the villagers slowly dispersed.
But the distrust in their eyes toward Hans remained.
Once everyone was gone, Hans helped Aster to his feet.
"Follow me," he said, leading him toward his house.
Hans didn't say a word on the way.
The man who usually joked just to cheer Aster up was completely silent.
When they arrived, Hans began digging a grave with one hand.
Despite having lost an arm, he was still strong.
While he dug, Aster sat nearby, watching.
Hans knew the boy was in no condition to help, so he said nothing.
After some time, the grave was finished.
They buried the only thing left of Aurora.
During the burial, Hans kept Aurora's bracelet.
Whether it was for Aster's future or as a keepsake, he didn't say.
After covering the grave, Hans gave Aster time alone and waited in front of the house.
Aster stood silently before his mother's grave for a long while.
He couldn't speak. The taste of blood in his throat wouldn't allow it.
So he stayed quiet.
After some time, he finally found the strength to speak.
"I… I… love you too… Mom."
After that, he returned to the house.
Hans was waiting.
When Aster approached him, Hans nearly collapsed forward from exhaustion.
Aster barely managed to catch him.
"You need to pack your things and leave quickly. If you stay any longer, they might kill you," Hans said in a weak, trembling voice.
Aster didn't resist.
He simply did as Hans said and gathered what he needed.
When he was ready, he went to see the village chief one last time.
Hans was sitting at the dining table in the kitchen.
"Come. Sit. Eat something."
"I don't feel like eating," Aster replied.
But his stomach betrayed him.
Hearing it growl, Hans smiled faintly.
"You're not leaving until you eat."
Aster slowly sat down and looked at the food on the table.
A simple soup.
"Where did this come from?" he asked quietly.
"Your mother made it."
Those words stirred something within him.
He picked up a spoon and tasted it.
The soup was warm, gentle, and incredibly delicious—unlike anything he had ever eaten before.
Tears welled up in his eyes.
"It's really good, Mom."
After that, Hans escorted Aster to the edge of the village.
"If you follow the road, it will split into two. Turn left, and you'll reach the city. If you hurry, you can get there by evening."
Then he handed him a small pouch filled with silver coins.
"Use them carefully."
Aster took the coins and stored them safely.
"Thank you… for the coins, and for everything you've done," he said as he took out a black cloth and tied it over his eyes.
"I'll never make such a terrible mistake again."
He still couldn't forget how the villagers had treated him.
Hans watched him with pity.
Just as Aster took a step forward, Hans stopped him.
"Wait."
He untied the sword from his waist and threw it to him.
"I can't use a sword with my right hand anymore. I don't need it. It might help you someday."
Aster took the sword and drew it slightly from its sheath.
It was in excellent condition, gleaming.
"Thank you. I won't forget your kindness."
With that, he turned and walked toward the forest.
Hans stood behind him, watching with sorrow-filled eyes.
"Take care of yourself!" he shouted.
As always, Aster nodded in response and disappeared into the forest.