Better as a man... No. If only I was better as a person, they wouldn't have to suffer. But they have to because they chose to trust a good for nothing like me. 'Trash' was a term that could be used to describe me now that I think about it.
Let me cease my stupid ranting and explain my situation. Right from the beginning of everything.
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"All of you be ready with your weapons, we shall protect our homeland and our families from those barbaric dogs, There will be no mercy for deserters, UNDERSTOOD!!"
Countless cries of agreement were given to those words filled with determination to protect and courage to stand up to our enemy.
I cannot help but feel more and more inclined to just run away. Those words which once filled me with same iron-like determination now rang hollow after hearing it time and time again.
The man who said the words was the epitome of the word 'knight'. His silver Armor which has a scent of blood on it, a red scarf on his neck and armored tunic pants made up of Kas steel to make it durable yet lightweight.
Commander Saji was an excellent warrior and commander. He was filled with empathy towards his men and plight of civilians. He was noble minded but also hotheaded. Tending to get angry easily. However, no matter what, he was still better at combat than me. We were close friends despite him being my direct superior.
However no matter the amount of respect I had for him, I couldn't accept him leading all these men to their deaths. The "Red Ones" were approaching with all their vivid authorities. There was even a possibility that there might be a Cardinal among them.
However, I know that no one here will run away even if I tell them to do so. Simply because of their homes and families. There was simply not enough time for evacuation and even if we manage to get everyone out. The chance of those bastards letting us go was next to none.
Therefore, I decided to go there as well and fight alongside these brave men and women. I had to protect my little brother, my last remaining hope in this world.
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The orphanage in which me and my brother lived was very poor but it was still better than being on streets. The church controlled the orphanages to provide education and food for the poor children who didn't have any families. However, the cost to run the orphanages was pretty costly and church, while not in best condition, still tried to do it's best for children and poor in order to improve their lives.
The royal family which used to have power over church, provided funds for the betterment of people. However, the entire royal family fell sick of a strange disease. Due to not having any cure to their sickness, All the church could do was pray for them but even that wasn't enough.
One by one, they started dying and finally on the day 12th month of the Farsale calendar, the king Loren Farsale died. Due to which, Church lost almost all of its funds and the kingdom became a battleground for noble houses to seize power over throne.
Despite the poor living conditions, I was happy since my brother Baraka and my friend Sulfina were always with me, we always enjoyed ourselves while trying to help out the nuns working there.
"Hehehe-hahahahah", I laughed as I saw the sight before me, baraka, like a good boy he was, read the book in his hands while in front of both of us, Sulfina was drenched in water. Her face was that of a demon's.
"KRUSHIAAAAAAAAN!!!" She screamed and leapt at me. Her jaws akin to that of a demons as I ran and screamed in terror.
"Wait- there is a good explanation to thi-"
"What is going on here??" Shit. Madam Farulia was here. I have to hurry up befo-
"Big sis, this vile creature, put a water bucket on the door to Baraka-chan's room. The moment I entered, the water bucket fell on me"
Farulia looked at me and then baraka. I gave my little brother the most begging look, I could give.
But I know whose side he will take.
"Big Sis Farulia, This was not what Krushian wanted" As expected of my brother. My super cute, intelligent and amazing broth-
"He told me, he wanted to drop it on you but unfortunately, Sulfina was the one who entered."
DAMN SNITCH. Even though I told him about the plan. Geez, I have no choice, I will pull his cheeks as punishment for ratting me out later. However, right now, I had two demons in front of me. Sulfina gave me a smug look of "you are done for" while big sis sulfina looked at me with a look of scorn.
"Krushian, You shouldn't play such dirty tricks, they are very bad, you know. Someone might seriously get hurt." She scolded me with a look of a mother scolding her son.
Heh, Woman hiding her true rampaging self because she is in front of my brother, if it was just me, she would have already been pulling my cheeks right now.
WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP, ITS NOW OR NEVER!!!??!?
"Huh- Argh" Before I know it, I lost consciousness
.
.
.
It was warm, more warm and loving than anything, It was the only thing which will ever love me, no one else but this, as it said so
It promised . it promised?
What did it promised? What am I forgetting?
Something I must never forget
What is it? WHAT IS IT? WHAT IS IT?! WHAT IS IT?!! WHAT IS IT?!? WHAT IS IT!?!! WHAT IS IT?!?? WHAT IS IT?!? WHAT IS IT?!? WHAT IS IT!??! WHAT IS IT?!?! WHAT IS IT?!?! WHAT IS IT?!?! WHAT IS IT?!?! WHAT IS IT?!?! WHAT IS IT!?!? WHAT IS IT?!?! WHAT IS IT?!?! WHAT IS IT!?!? WHAT IS IT!?!? WHAT IS IT?!?! WHAT IS IT?!?!?.
"-ian"
Huh, I can feel my mind being drained, I can still hear something.
"Ad-"
Her voice, yes, it's her voice, the voice of who?
"KRUSHIAN"
"Big bro!?"
"Krushian, Are you alright!!!"
My eyes opened and in front of me was the worried look of Miss Sulfina, beside her was my brother, he tried to stand on his wobbly legs, using bed as a support. Farulia, grabbing my shirt, was crying, her eyes red.
"What happened to you!? You suddenly fell down and lost consciousness!!"
Miss Sulfina has a look of concern as she looked at me. I felt bad, I wanted to get her attention so I decided to prank her but I never wanted her to feel hurt because of me .
"I am sorry, Big sis, I am alright, I just felt a bit weak suddenly, that's all."
"We can appoint a doctor if you feel weak, Are you sick!?"
"Big bro, if you feel weak, you can rest on my bed."
Baraka said, his voice was slightly teary and shaky. 'Scared' would be the correct term to describe his expression.
I felt guilty, making them worry, making them feel bad for me. I immediately put up a smile to make them stop worrying about me.
"Hey, come on, Baraka, Sulfina, I have fallen down so many times while playing on the field so many times. Do you really think something can happen to this cool, heroic me."
"Stop trying to act tough, you idiot!! If you are not fine then just say it"
Now, now, Karulia, I never thought, I will see you being this worried for me. Actually maybe I can tease her.
"You are thinking of something stupid again, aren't you?"
Once again she read me like an open book, well, she is my childhood friend. If there is someone who knows me more than anyone, it will be them.
The door suddenly opened and many kids came upto me.
"Hey, Krushian-nii san is awake, now."
"Adrian, Were you attacked by an enemy dark magic user!? Are you alright?!"
"You idiot, he is probably just tired after his race with me."
These three, I knew too well, Peter, Gedin and Luna.
Peter was the youngest out of all of us. He is a meek child but when she gets angry even Sulfina makes sure not to get near her.
Gedin was a complete chunnibyou, who loved dark magic and cool tricks. This guy would probably be arrested if he ever used any of his tricks in public.
I remember him using one of his kurai spell to create a black crow and using it to bring divine justice to Madam Khaleda, who was known for her grumpy nature, and denied us kids our rightful toffees. The black crow flew and shitted on her favorite coffee while she was drinking.
She banned toffees and chocolates for an ENTIRE week. I still remember how starved for chocolates we became in the week following that incident.
And last one was Luna, she was a total sword freak, she always practiced sword. I tried to imitate her but after sometime, I realised I had no talent for it.
She was really smart too, well not more than me of course, but still she was. I also had a race with her which obviously, she won but only because I was not going all out, if I was, I could've beaten her. Yeah, I totally would have.
"Let him rest you all. Please call upon me if you need anything, Krushian"
Sulfina said, in a very serious tone, seriously, I am really a lucky guy to get her as my sister figure.
"I understand, Big sis."
Sooner afterwards, big sis Farulia left to take care of chores around the orphanage, baraka, however, was adamant on sleeping next to me, well he is my cute brother, so how can I reject him, of course I agreed.
As I left to sleep, I could help but feel quaked, suddenly, a white pigeon, came into my view through the window, It started beaking on the window, I considered opening the window to see what it's about, however just then-
"You are not asleep, yet"
Sulfina looked at me with a seriously scathing look, she looked deathly worried when I fell over, so maybe it's give she will be worried. I felt bad, she was so concerned about me, I will be fine, it was just a fluke anyway.
"I am sleeping, ok, so don't worry"
"I will come to check on you again to make sure, if you do not sleep, I will tell big sis Sulfina"
Just when I thought, your concern was cute.
Huh, well, whatever.
"Alright, Alright."
I turned around and slept with baraka hugging me from behind. I closed my eyes again, falling asleep with my eyes covered by the darkness of my eyelids.
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End of Prologue.