Valeus and Mikhaela had a unfortunate history, Mikhaela Sondar a prodigy in everything he did, and Valeus had first met when they were both very young at a noble banquet.
Mikhaela was the son of a lesser known noble family, the Sondars.
He used to be a commoner who was adopted at the age of 10 to the sonders as his parents had died from beasts, beasts that he had killed after the fact which was what got him adopted.
After witnessing his talent, his family had poured in money to send him a swordsman and magic teacher for him.
And of course Mikhaela Sondar had mastered all that they had taught him in less than a month.
From that day forward Mikhaela Sondar became famous for being the commoner that defied his class.
Becoming a comparison for the unfortunate children of the nobles.
At the banquet Sondar was the star of the show, while values was a child hidden away because of his unfortunate appearance.
He was barely fed and barely treated like a human, treated like trash in his own home.
Values was starving that day and decided to try and steal some food from the banquet.
As he was sneaking out of his room he came across Mikhaela who was walking out of the banquet to get some air.
They spotted each other and froze, Mikhaela was slightly shocked at the young boys appearance but kept it to himself and smiled, he then asked for the young boy's name.
The young boy filled with an anxiety and shame at being caught, introduced himself with his head hanging low.
They both talked for a short while discussing their hobbies and favorite things and such as children do.
Then Mikhaela asked Valeus why he wasn't at the banquet.
"Its…Its because I look like this…"
A minute of silence lingered before Mikhaela said in a cheerful tone.
"You look cool, like one of those cool heroes in a fantasy fairytales."
"You…really think so"
"Yeah, want to be friends, I've always wanted a sparring partner to join me in training with my teachers."
He wanted to believe it, it was true but Valeus just couldn't see it that way, he couldn't trust Mikhaela's words.
The words hung in the air with a cheerful aura, inviting and accepting. but unfortunately what was said was to be greatly misunderstood.
Values looked at him with disgust and anger.
Not because what was said wasn't a real compliment but because of its hidden implications that values assumed was there.
You see Valeus's siblings would always bully him at a constant in multiple ways. And one of those ways was quite an insidious one.
One day at 7 years old his 3rd older brother Zjeron Shephard at 13 years old acted kind to him, playing with him, sparring with him, even having conversations with him while everyone else avoided him.
Values was so incredibly happy, while everyone treated him like an animal his brother had treated him like a person and much more than that as a friend.
After the day he spent with his older brother he had smiled while the day ended and he left his room to sleep.
The next day it was his birthday and he decided to say hello to his older brother and celebrate with him while he was talking to the rest of his siblings about something.
Then suddenly out of nowhere, Zjeron pushed him to the ground and stomped on his chest while his face was full of a mocking happiness and a sadistic delight.
"Oh look, the pig actually came to us on his own, just like you said" 3rd sister Ashra Shephard 13 years old
"Seeing you play with that freak was so disgusting, Zjeron your so hilarious" 4th brother Darren Shephard 10 years old
"Hey freak, oink for us" 4th sister Illyis Shephard 12 years old
"Your eyes probably cant see us but where right in front of you pig" 5th brother Galeson Shephard 8 years old
"You're still alive, why? Don't pigs have a short life span or something" 4th sister Illyis Shephard
Valeus squinted and looked at his kind older brother stepping on him while others berated him, and through all that he was confused wondering why his brother would do this.
"Zjeron…whats going on, what is all this." Values Shephard 7 years old
"..."
"Pft…how dare a dirty mongrel speak to me" Zjeron Shephard
"Did you actually think I cared for you, that I would play family with a pig" Zjeron
Tears started forming in Valeuse's eyes as he heard the harsh words coming from someone that he thought was a friend.
"Hmm, speaking of barn animals, you know what would be a good idea." Zjeron
"Throwing pigs blood on him hehehehe?" Ashra
"Making him eat raw meat?" Galeson
"I think dirt would be more thematic" Illyis
"How about making him ride a horse until he falls off like a loser" Darren
"Those do sound interesting but…I have something better" Zjeron
"What is it, what is it tel us haha?" Illyis
"We get a branding iron and mark him as our property" Zjeron
Silence insured, with the rest of the siblings looking sightly uncomfortable upon hearing such a request.
Values opened his eyes wide in shock.
"Zjeron, please, please don't do this. I'm sorry, if there's anything I did I'm sorry so please don't do this."
But his face was kicked by the very boy he was pleading too.
"Uhhh Zjeron don't you think this is going a little too far…" Darren
"Y'yeah…what if dad finds out." Illyis
"I…I dont know if I want to go through with this" Illyis
Some of the siblings remained silence with looking more and more uncomfortable as time went on.
"What are you all cowards, dont worry im talented so i'll only get a slap on the wrist" Zjeron
Valeus began pleading again.
"z…Zjeron plea-"
His face was kicked again.
"I told you, a dirty mongrel like you should not speak to me." Zjeron
Zjeron then grabbed him by his arm and lead him to the fireplace.
"Arnt you all coming, or is this too scawwwy for you."Zjeron
The siblings clenched their teeth, until some agreed to go while others refused and went back to their rooms running away with a face covered in slight fear and uncomfortability.
Only Galeson and Ashra still looking uncomfortable decided to participate.
Once they were at the fire place, Zjeron commanded both Ashra and Galeson to hold Valeus down.
Values once again for the last time began pleading.
"Ashra, please, stop him, this isn't right, I know you that, I can see it on your face."
Ashra looked at him pitifully and then turned away while closing her eyes with a face already showing guilt.
"Galeson come on man, dont you think this is too much…"
Galeson looked at him and then and then sneered while turning away from him, eyes closed.
Zjeron had then grabbed the Branding iron out of the fire place.
"This branding iron, holds the mark of our house, for things that belong to us, for things that are below us, for things that follow, move, and perform for our purpose and nothing more."
"Its your birthday right little Valeus"
"I guess even a mongrel like you deserves presents on such a special occasion."
"Consider this a gift, from me to you"
…
When it was over, values's throat had dried from the screaming, his thigh had been branded leaving him unable to walk while he was left shaking with tears overflowing dropping endlessly from his face.
When it was done his siblings had quickly left before people could gather to find out what was going on.
When people eventually arrived instead of consoling or calling for a healer, they merely commented on his appearance while keeping away a far distance.
One of the many, many step mothers had come down to observe what was going on.
Her face quickly faded away from frightful curiosity to a sadistic grin while she looked down at the boy crying to himself.
"How disgusting, even your cries sound like a pigs." Stepmother Helen Shephard 30s in age
"Drag him away, have one of the nurses apply some ointment and a bandage only, don't you dare waste even a single bit of healing magic on this filthy mongrel."
The maids surrounding the boy had followed the orders.
After that event, Values continued to be bullied by his siblings though some of it felt forced by some of his siblings.
Maybe they didn't want to be outcasted like him so they continued to join in on the bullying. At least that's what Valeus thought to cope.
And that is the reason why when young Mikhaela was nice to him and even offered him friendship, he couldn't take it.
Values looked at him, anger in his eyes withe eyes half shut, and then he ran away back to his room.
The hatred in his heart would grow every so slightly, more and more
Years later before he was kicked out of the household he would become more and more antisocial.
He started to avoid the people in the household, the servants, his siblings, his parents, his step parents, everyone.
But still the bullying would continue when they found or spotted him.
Eventually his family in turn also ignored him, a different kind of torment, not bullying, just the complete outcasting of Valeus Shepherd.
And as you know when that bullying continued through high school, he lost it, and became a drunkard delinquent.
Eventually the shepherd family would decide to host another banquet after years of not hosting one.
They decided to invite all members of the family, even Valeus.
Everyone at banquet would sneak glances and whisper insults at values while laughing just loud enough for him to hear.
Eventually Valeus becoming enraged would start insulting everyone there.
He even threw a wine bottle at one of the arrogant nobles.
This enraged his father and step mothers who scolded him in front of everyone.
And for the first time ever he fought back against them and insulted them with vigor.
This led to him being officially disowned in front of everyone.
He left the banquet slamming the door while degrading everyone in it.
"Well if im a pig, all you shitty nobles are parasites, leeches that live in a hivemind and can only eat each other's shit while hive fiving one another. while pretending your ancestors didnt just stab one another in the back to get you to where you are now, fuck off mate."
He left with all the money had on him, just enough for a couple days at an inn.