The cold wind blew through the black trees of the forest, and the branches scraped against each other like dead fingers.
Reinh, with eyes burning from fear, was riding his black horse as fast as he could. Dozens of barbarian riders were behind him, shaking the forest with their wild screams. They wore animal-skin armor and sharp horns.
The horse's breath came out like smoke in the darkness, but Reinh only kept running… because he did not even dare to look back.
"Hey little boy! Where are you running?" one of the barbarians shouted with an ugly laugh.
"Wait, come back so we can give you your pacifier!" another growled, and the whole group started laughing loudly.
Reinh clenched his teeth, but the fear in his eyes was too strong to hide. The last thing he saw was still burning in his mind.
His only friend, the only person who did not see him as useless and did not mock him for being talentless… threw himself in front of the spears so Reinh could escape. Reinh did not even know if he was dead or alive. And not knowing this was tearing his heart apart.
A whoosh sound cut through the air. An arrow hit his horse's leg.
The horse let out a painful cry and collapsed under Reinh.
The ground smashed into Reinh's face with speed. A cold rock split the side of his skull, and a scream of pain came from deep inside him.
His body fell on the ground like a piece of cloth, and he heard the sound of his bones breaking. The pain was sharp and blinding.
The barbarians arrived and surrounded him. Their shadows fell over his dusty, blood-covered face.
"Look! He fell! What a weakling, hahaha!"
"Oh look at those scared eyes!"
Their laughter hit Reinh's head like a hammer.
Then suddenly a short silence happened. Some of them bent down, looked carefully, and then their laughter became even louder.
"Hah! Black hair… dark blue eyes…"
"This is a damn Vorhelm? Really? We thought he was a worthless mercenary!"
"So even noble blood can be this scared?"
Reinh wanted to say something… but his tongue was dry.
The barbarian leader shook a bag with enjoyment. And then… he threw it in front of Reinh.
The head of his friend rolled onto the leaves. The eyes were open, the mouth half open.
Reinh froze, and his eyes turned bloodshot. His breath was broken and uneven. Hatred filled his whole body, but he said nothing.
At the same time, a heavy sadness fell on him, like it was crushing his newly broken bones again.
It was his fault. His cowardice caused this. He ran… and his friend died. He was weak… and his family was right to banish him. He even hated himself.
Why? Why is he this weak? Why is he so weak that he could not protect his only friend?
"We will not kill this one. He has value. A Vorhelm? He is worth more alive." The barbarian commander said with a crooked smile.
Chains were tied around Reinh's hands and feet, and they dragged him on the ground like a useless bag.
Days… weeks… maybe months… in the barbarians' base they broke him; they tortured him, starved him, and broke his bones again and again.
But with every torture, something in him changed. The pain no longer burned the same way. His spirit became used to the darkness. His will became something strange and monstrous.
As time passed, he became more and more numb to pain. Maybe at some point his pain receptors in his body got used to it and saw pain as a part of him.
Until one night, when he was starting to believe his life would end here…
Screams started. The sound of barbarian throats being cut fell like rain on the ceiling of the cell. The base had fallen.
In the middle of smoke and blood, a young girl entered the cell, and when Reinh saw that girl, for the first time in his life he felt alive.
Reinh, with tied hands and a broken body, lifted his head with difficulty. For a moment he thought… maybe he was finally saved.
But Athena stepped forward, paused… and suddenly started laughing.
"No, Reinh. Do not mistake it." With her sharp-toed boot she lifted his chin.
"This is only the start of your pain."
…
Reinh slowly opened his eyes. His face was covered in sweat, and drops of sweat were falling from his body.
"You okay, kid?" Arceus appeared above him and asked after seeing the sudden rise and sudden fall in this human's heartbeat.
"I am fine." He nodded with an emotionless face, wiped his sweat, and let out a breath. Once again he saw memories he did not want to remember.
He got up from the bed and sat on the edge. He did not think he would have a nightmare about the death of his only real friend, but after thinking about August's words today, it was normal.
He had forgotten those barbarians long ago, but today, when he heard that those wild and merciless creatures had attacked the borders of the Vorhelms, one of his oldest regrets came back to life.
But something was wrong. The barbarians should not attack now. In his past life, they attacked one year before he was banished, and one year after his banishment they were completely crushed after the Celestials interfered.
Some time after he was banished, he was captured by them and was tortured for a while until Athena and some of his former friends saved him.
So why is the event that should not happen even for ten more years happening now? Is it because of his rebirth?
"It looks like my rebirth is causing big effects and creating many changes." He whispered to himself.
"Kid, I do not want to interrupt your talk with yourself, but—" Arceus suddenly pulled him out of his thoughts.
"I know." Reinh nodded even though he did not look at him and stared out of the window. The sky was still dark. Everything looked normal.
But he could feel multiple presences surrounding the Tyrant Palace.
"Assassins?" Based on the presence he could smell, he whispered coldly. His face had no emotions, but maybe someone could consider him happy.
After all, something had appeared that could calm his madness a little.