On a rainy night in a village at the edge of the HaulGray Kingdom, the soft sound of drizzle was broken by the cry of a newborn echoing through the silence.
In a modest house lived a family known for their harmony—a grandfather, a mother, and a father. With joy, they welcomed the child they had long been waiting for.
"Dear… look at our baby. So cute… and tiny," the mother said, her voice weak as she endured the exhaustion and pain of childbirth.
"Yes… our child," the father replied with a gentle smile, stroking his wife's head.
"Congratulations, Sir and Ma'am, on the birth of your baby," said the midwife.
"I'll clean up and take my leave now. Once again, congratulations," she added before tidying her things and leaving the room.
Not long after, the grandfather entered. The moment he saw his grandchild, his face lit up with a warm smile.
"Dad, would you like to hold the baby?" the father asked.
The grandfather carefully took the baby and rocked them gently. The child, who had been crying, slowly calmed down in his arms.
Accompanied by the sound of the rain, the baby gradually opened their eyes.
The grandfather and the couple froze in shock.
The baby's eyes were different. The right eye looked normal, but the left eye was crimson red, like blood.
The sound of the rain suddenly felt louder, and the joyful atmosphere turned tense.
The mother stared in disbelief, her eyes filling with tears as she shook her head.
The father was equally shocked, though he tried to steady himself for his wife's sake. Still, denial escaped him—his hands trembling, his eyes wide.
"Why… why are our child's eyes like that? Isn't that the eye of a demon the villagers talk about?" he said, his voice rising as he pointed at the baby.
The mother broke down in tears.
"No… no, my child can't be a demon," she sobbed.
The grandfather stood frozen, unsure what to do. Sweat formed on his brow as he struggled with his thoughts.
"I'm sorry… but we have no choice. We have to get rid of the baby," the father said, trying to convince his wife.
"But that's our child," she replied, unable to believe his words.
She looked straight into his eyes, hoping he would reconsider.
The father fell silent. Deep inside, he was devastated. After waiting so long for a child, he now forced himself to make what he believed was the best decision for the family.
After a few seconds, he hardened his heart.
"No, we can't raise that child. Even if it is ours, those red eyes will bring shame and disaster to this family," he said, his voice shaking as tears fell.
"Father, take the baby away. That child will only bring disgrace."
The grandfather hesitated, guilt filling his expression.
"Father!" the son said impatiently.
"B-But, son, this—"
"But what? Don't tell me you want to raise it. If you insist, then leave this house!" he shouted, his anger overflowing.
In a burst of emotion, he pushed the grandfather outside. The old man fell, clutching the baby tightly and shielding it from the rain. The father paused for a moment, then locked the door.
Slowly, the grandfather stood and walked away. From a distance, he could faintly hear the couple's sorrowful cries.
Lost in thought, guilt etched across his face, he walked through the drizzle with the baby in his arms, unsure where to go.
Then an idea came to him. He changed direction and headed toward an old cabin at the edge of the forest.
When they arrived, the baby suddenly cried. The grandfather gently tried to calm the child. The night grew colder, and he sat quietly, looking at the baby.
"I'm sorry… because of me, your life has become like this. I'm sorry," he whispered, breaking down in tears.
The next morning, he woke to the sound of the baby's breathing beside him. After a moment of silence, he stood, carried the child, and went out to hunt for food using an old, rusted machete he found in the cabin.
Days passed.
Rumors about the baby spread through the village like wildfire. The couple began receiving harsh treatment from the villagers. Eventually, the church labeled them as devil worshippers, accusing them of hiding the child.
Then the church made an announcement to the villagers, the kingdom ordered whoever sees a child with red eyes they must kill him and anyone who tries to protect him would face the same fate.
Things got worse, the villagers harassed them and tried to drive them out. The couple endured it in silence, trying to live as usual.
But one day, while the wife was shopping, a man deliberately threw a stone at her, striking her head and making it bleed.
She covered the wound on her head as people began shouting at her. Crying, she hurried back home. When she arrived at home the husband was shocked and couldn't believe what had happened to his wife, he hugged her, then she began crying again.
After that incident, a few days later, the couple decided to leave the village before the situation became even more dangerous.
They left quietly not, without the grandfather or the baby knowing.
They walked away, not knowing where they were going.
Years passed.
The child grew into a cheerful and active boy. His hair was black, and his left eye was deep crimson.
Sometimes, he played with children from the village who came near the forest. One day, after playing for a long time under a large tree at the forest's edge, they sat down to rest and chat.
"Hey, we've been playing together for so long. Why don't you tell us your name now?" a little girl said with a pout.
"Yeah, it's not fair if you won't tell us your name," said a chubby boy, frowning.
"B-But my grandpa said—" the boy began, but the chubby boy cut him off.
"If you don't tell us your name, I'll hit you. And we won't play with you anymore," he said, clenching his fist in front of him.
Hearing that, the boy's heart pounded—not without reason. He was afraid of getting hurt, but he was even more afraid of losing his friends. Even though his grandfather had warned him never to tell his name to anyone, he decided to tell them.
"M-My name is… Lukas De—"
Before Lukas could finish, voices of parents calling their children echoed from the distance.
The parents came over, smiling with relief when they found their children. Lukas stood quietly, watching.
A feeling of envy rose inside him. He wanted so badly to see his parents smile at him… to be held with that kind of warmth.
Soon, the parents took their children home. It was getting late, and the area was close to the forest.
As they turned to leave, one of them accidentally glanced at Lukas.
Their expression changed—from warm and gentle to panic and fear—the moment they saw his left eye.
"This child… this child…"
—CONTINUE—