Darkness covered the surroundings. Kenta couldn't feel any sensation in his limbs, nor could he open his eyes.
However, mysteriously, his vision wasn't obstructed. In fact, he could see as clear as day. Suddenly, started to hear various sounds of muddled voices; it was unclear what they were saying, but when he listened carefully, he could vaguely hear what they were trying to say.
An image began to play before him, showing the image of a beautiful woman who seems to be in her late twenties, approaching her thirties. She had waist-length sky blue hair.
A man with slightly long, blonde-coloured hair, and a young boy who also had slightly long, blonde-coloured hair.
"Kenta, did you wash your hands?" The woman who was standing around a small wooden table, arranging the dinner, said to the young blonde-haired boy who had taken a seat.
"Y-Yes, of course I did, Mom. I'm old enough to act responsibly, you know." He said, puffing up his cheek into a cute pout. Seeing her son sulking like that, she let out a small laugh.
"Oh, so you're old enough to act responsibly, eh? So, you should be able to help me farm, right?" The man who seemed to be in his early thirties asked, as he took a sip of his warm tea. "Of course, can I?" Kenta asked with a bright smile on his face.
"T-This is..." Kenta, who had been watching the image playing out before him, raised a voice. He recognised this scene.
Of course, he would. This was the day his parents were taken from him. Despite the happiness he felt from seeing his parents again, even if they were not really here, he felt extremely anxious remembering how everything had played out. He didn't want to see it.
He didn't want to relive this nightmare.
"Well then, how about you come with me this afternoon?" The man said while looking at Kenta. Kenta smiled while nodding his head as he replied.
"Would it be okay for me to ride the horses?" He asked shyly.
"Of course, but only after we're done with work." The man said.
"Alright, the meal is prepared, shall we dig in?" The blue-haired woman said while carrying a pot of rice and curry in her hands.
They all did a small prayer before eating their meals.
However, before they could finish, there was a soft knock on the wooden door. The blonde-haired man got to his feet and went towards the door.
Once the door was opened, a rather handsome young man who seemed to be in his mid-teens came into view.
Seeing the person who had visited them, the blonde-haired man promptly lowered his head respectfully.
Seeing that, the blue-haired woman also came and lowered her head. Kenta was left confused as to why they were lowering their heads.
The person who had visited them was the first Prince of this Kingdom; he was next in line to rule this nation.
His short, refined red hair was well-known in the royal family. His eyes were a deep green shade.
He donned clothing of extremely high quality; just calling it extravagant would be insufficient to fully describe his flashy appearance.
"Ah, your highness, it's an honour to have you visiting us. Please come in." The blonde-haired man said, gesturing for them to come inside his house. However, hearing his offer, the prince sneered.
"I have no interest in setting foot inside such a rundown-looking building. I came here for one reason, and that is to collect today's tax; your monthly due is to be brought in today." The prince said, sending a glare to the blonde-haired man.
"Oh, please forgive my rudeness. I'll get it right away." The man said, as he ran into his house and picked up his wallet, he gave the money inside to the prince waiting before the entrance door. The prince looked at the money and frowned.
"Only thirty silver coins? This isn't nearly enough. You have to pay at least 50 gold coins, you know." The prince said coldly, hearing his words, the blond-haired man had a pale face.
He usually earned all his money by farming. However, this year he wasn't able to make as much as he wanted.
On top of that, feeding his family was also his highest priority, so not much was left over from what he had made this month.
Seeing the look of impatience on his face, the prince concluded he didn't have enough money to pay his tax.
When he came to that conclusion, his mouth gradually twisted into a smirk.
"Don't tell me you can't even pay something as simple as tax, right? We are the ones who give you peasant protection from those repulsive beasts roaming at the Kingdom's border, yet you don't even have enough money to pay compensation." The prince said with an exasperated look on his face.
"Fo-Forgive me… but we weren't able to make any earnings this month. Could you wait until next month? I'll pay you double?" The blonde-haired man asked, as cold sweat ran down his face.
"Why should I wait? I gave you all more than enough time, didn't I? If you can't pay with money, then how about some other form of payment?" He said with a small smile, he gazed around the surroundings, once his sharp eyes landed on the blonde-haired man's wife, a small, creepy smile formed on his lips.
"I'll take your wife; how does that sound?" The prince said, gazing at the man before him.
"Wh-what are you saying!" The blonde-haired man shouted, not understanding the meaning behind his words.
"The meaning is quite clear, but I guess your inferior brains can't understand. Then let me repeat myself, I'm taking your wife." Hearing the words of the prince, he promptly went into a position where he would be able to protect both his wife and his son.
The woman holds her son in her embrace as though shielding him. "I see… So, you're going to stop me? How very amusing." The prince said, chuckling as though he found the situation funny.
"Do you guys hear that!? This commoner is going to defy a royal! Are they not audacious? We are the ones who ensure their safety from monsters and wild beasts by laying down our lives, yet they so ungratefully choose to step on our kindness like this. Guards make sure this fool regrets his foolish choice, make him experience something worse than death." The prince said, raising his voice unnaturally as though to get the attention of those nearby.
The onlookers all watch the scene with nervous expressions on their faces. And seeing the faces of everyone, the prince showed a satisfied smile.
His two guards, who had been standing behind him, both stepped forward after receiving his orders.
At the same time, they slowly drew the beautiful sword that was sheathed on their waist. The blonde-haired man draws a rusty sword that looks poorly maintained.
"Stand back!" He said to his wife and son, and she nodded once before stepping back to distance herself and Kenta.
The two knights both rush forward with their swords clutch tightly in their hands. 'No, stop showing me this! I don't want to have to relive this day, just stop it' he shouted internally. However, his cries were ignored as the scene continued to play out before him.
Both knights swung their swords horizontally. However, the blonde-haired man parried their swords with skilled movements.
Seeing that, the prince widened his eyes as he thought. 'Ah, I forgot you were once a skilled knight of this country in your youth, before you decided to quit, right? Sir Liam. But these knights have trained their entire lives; you, on the other hand, have let your skills fall.' The prince thought inwardly.
The knights both continued their barrage of attack as they both swung their swords faster than the eyes could follow. Liam continued deflecting them with a pained expression; it was clear he was getting overwhelmed by their fury and onslaught of attacks. The sounds of metals clashing resounded as sparks flew from their blades.
Eventually, the knights both stopped their attack and made eye contact with each other.
The knight at the front then dashed forward and thrust his sword forward. Seeing the trajectory, Liam easily moved out of the way, avoiding the tip of the sword that was coming towards him.
At the same time, the other knight circled behind him and swung his sword in a downwards arc.
Spurt!
The ground was stained with blood as the sword of the knight struck Liam's back. "Argh." A small, painful groan escapes his lips as his face distorts in pain.
Despite that, he didn't lose his will to fight; in fact, he glared at the knights while fixing his grip on his sword.
"Fuh, I guess he won't be so easy to kill, huh... what a pity, in that case, will you guys kill the boy over there?" The prince proposed with a carefree face. Hearing the order of the prince, the knights both sprinted towards the helpless Kenta, who was still clinging to his mother.
"N-No wait!" Liam promptly dashes forward despite the pain from his back wound, and he pursues the knights running towards his family.
The blue-haired woman shoved away her son with great force to pull him away from the immediate danger she felt.
"Argh!" Kenta raised a small groan as he fell to the ground with great force. Before he could say anything, something cold fell onto his face, something wet.
When he looked upwards, what he saw sent waves of shock throughout his spine.
His mother was impelled by a long silver sword from her chest, her clothes dampening.
Blood trickling down the corners of her mouth. Uncaring, the knight indifferently pulled out the blade of his sword from her chest, which was covered with blood.
With nothing to support her body, she fell to the ground by the force of gravity.
'No, no, no, stop it, stop it already! I can't watch this anymore!' He screamed in the void. However, his screams reached no one as the scene continued to play, unbothered.
"Basterds!!" Liam yelled in rage at the sight of his wife's fallen body, his eyes bloodshot red.
However, the knight held his sword into the air as the blade radiated a faint light; at that moment, roughly 50 blades of light were then formed.
Dancing in the air as though they were alive.
"Ahahaha.... That was my bad, I didn't expect she would do such reckless things over such a useless brat. However, you loved her, didn't you? You want to see her again, don't you? In that case, you'll be joining her right now, isn't that generous of me?" The prince said with a slight smile on his face.
As soon as the prince said those words, all the 50 blades of light went straight towards Liam at supersonic speeds.
When he looked up at the blades hurtling towards him, he clenched his fist reluctantly.
He knew he couldn't dodge all the blades coming his way.
With a fatherly smile on his face, he looked at his son, hidden behind his smile; there was a pained expression on his face.
Just what kind of thoughts was he having as he looked at his only son?
Kenta naturally didn't know.
Before he could shout his father's name, all the blades of light penetrated his body from all directions with that. Kenta's vision was obstructed as tears fell from his eyes.
***
The first thing that came into view was a wide ceiling. He then turned his head and saw the scenery of the room.
'That's right, I was brought to an orphanage last night, he thought, recalling the events of how he had ended up inside this room. When he raised his upper body, he saw that his bed was covered with sweat.
Followed by the sensation of tears running down his cheek, but he didn't wipe them away; instead, he thought about the dream he had just had.
'Was that a nightmare? I can't forget! What those guys did... it was unforgivable, I swear I will avenge you.' He once again resolved himself.
Knock!
"Hey! Kenta, are you awake yet?" Suddenly, he heard a soft knock on his door, followed by a sweet voice.