"Azazel, how can I become as strong as you?"
"Why all of a sudden?"
"Every day... you fight monsters alone. You even sometimes have to wake up in the middle of the night to guard us. I... want to help too."
"There are many ways to become strong. But the first thing you need to do is find your purpose."
"Find a purpose? I want to fight beside you."
"That's too small a goal. Well, anything can be a reason."
"So? How can I become as strong as you?"
"Don't become as strong as me, become as strong as your best self. To become strong, you shouldn't think about your limits, but think about how far you want to go."
"Ooh~ That sounds complicated."
"Yes. To become strong, every effort is necessary. There are many methods you can use, but... the most difficult is the first step."
"The first step?"
"Pushing yourself is the hardest thing, especially when you're in trouble and have no way to overcome it. The harder someone tries to push themselves, sometimes they just get sucked in even deeper."
"So... how do you deal with it?"
"A big leap."
"A big leap?"
"Yes. Doing something that's beyond your own limits. Try to push your limits... and if necessary, surpass the limits that have always been in front of you... That's how to become strong."
"Isn't overdoing something bad?"
"You're right. But sometimes we get stuck, and we have no other choice. Just walking isn't enough... because everyone else is doing the same thing. You'll still end up getting stuck along the way. To achieve something big, we also need to make a big effort."
"Somehow... that sounds very difficult and scary."
"Yes, it is scary. The bigger the action we take, the bigger the impact will be."
"How do I know if I can do it?"
"No one knows. Sometimes we can't just think... We need to go through it to get the answers."
*****
In the morning, all the children had gathered for breakfast.
Various small chatter and whispers could be heard.
They all seemed orderly as they kept their distance from the sound of the kitchen equipment, trying not to get involved.
Some of them tried not to look, while others felt tense at the sight of the tear-stained little girl before them.
"Enough of that!"
A huge commotion had ensued, and a guard finally stepped in when things got out of hand.
Bullying and fighting have long been commonplace among children.
Those who are strong will always take power, while those who are weak will be subordinate.
Rebellions sometimes occur... And those who don't realize how little their power is will inevitably suffer disastrous consequences for opposing someone stronger.
As a guard who had been entrusted with this task, he was not surprised by the scene before him.
A little girl sat trembling in front of some bad boys who often bullied her.
Those with a keen eye would have noticed that the girl was terrified.
Tears streamed from her eyes, cold sweat soaked her body, her messy hair stuck to her skin, and several scratches and bruises marred her delicate features.
And at this moment, everyone felt pity... But who should they pity? The little girl sitting trembling? Or the three bad kids lying on the ground in pain?
The little girl tried to move her right hand, but the guard held it tightly.
She looked around, noticing the mess of furniture and dozens of children staring at her with varying expressions.
She then turned her gaze to the three children lying on the floor.
One child stared at her hand, unable to move. Another seemed confused about how to move. The child beneath him grimaced in pain, looking disheveled.
The little girl glanced at the guard behind her, who was staring at her sharply with a stern expression.
The grip on her right hand immediately loosened, and she let go of the baking pan.
The sound of falling metal was quite loud and startling in the quiet atmosphere.
Several eyes began to focus on the blood-stained pan on the floor, before quickly looking away, trying to ignore the sight.
Seeing that the little girl didn't seem to struggle, the guard loosened his grip and quickly led her away.
A few moments later, they arrived at a commotion.
The girl saw the number on the door and immediately knew it was her room.
The door opened, and she entered quietly.
"For some time you will remain inside without being able to come out. So keep quiet, and don't cause other problems. The administrators will decide on your actions."
"Why?"
The girl, who hadn't spoken since the beginning, finally spoke.
The first words were weak and indistinct, so she repeated herself.
"Why... did you stop me?"
The guard didn't answer for a few seconds before finally responding.
"You broke the rules."
"I was only defending myself."
"You're right. But you brought this situation to this."
"'Why?' They started it."
"You could have avoided them and chosen a different way of dealing with it."
Hearing that answer, the little girl froze, and her breath hitched.
Her hair partially covering her face hardened, and she seemed to be getting angry. But actually... she felt sad.
How could she cope? She was bullied almost every day for trying to stay out of trouble. There were some kids who had become her friends, but their own fates weren't so good either.
In that fight, she was alone... even though there were so many people there.
Why didn't anyone intervene? Why didn't anyone support her? And why... didn't anyone help her?
For weeks, she had been through so much, so exhausting. And every time salvation came, new misfortune followed.
She felt exhausted, and hoped all her suffering would end. But she knew that wouldn't happen. To end it, she had to do it herself.
To create something that could change her fate. And she... didn't regret what she had done.
"I didn't do anything... wrong," the girl said to herself.
The guard, who heard her, ignored her and decided to leave.
The sound of machinery could be heard as the lights beside the door changed color, and the door locked, just as the guard had said before, telling her not to leave.
After the guard left, the girl turned and opened a drawer.
She took out various sheets of paper filled with scribbles and writing.
She drew several characters that appeared to be performing some kind of movement, then began to imagine one of the characters as herself, and the others as people she knew.