When I opened my eyes, I found myself inside a small wooden house, hidden deep within a dense forest. For a few seconds, everything felt unfamiliar. My breath grew uneven as panic slowly wrapped around me. I didn't know where I was.
Then I saw her.
My sister lay beside me, sleeping peacefully. Relief washed over me, but it didn't last. The moment I tried to move, a sharp pain shot through my leg. I clenched my teeth and looked down.
It was broken.
Before I could even process it, the screams returned — my mother's voice, my father's desperate cries. They echoed inside my mind like a curse that refused to fade. My chest tightened, and tears blurred my vision. I pressed my lips together, forcing myself to cry in silence.
I couldn't let my sister wake up to my weakness.
Suddenly—
Thud.
A hard strike landed across my face. I stumbled back, nearly losing balance. A tall man in his forties stood before me. His presence was overwhelming, his sharp eyes filled with cold authority.
"Your parents didn't give their lives for you to sit there and cry," he said. His voice was calm… but it cut deeper than any blade.
Through my tears, I stared at him.
He straightened slightly. "My name is Steven Harbour."
I wiped my face with the back of my hand. "…Leo Black," I replied quietly.
Just then, my stomach growled loudly, breaking the tension. The man let out a faint chuckle.
"You're just like your father."
My heart skipped.
"How do you know my father?" I asked, my voice trembling.
He didn't answer. Instead, he handed me food and gestured for me to eat. Hunger overpowered pride. I ate quickly, barely tasting anything, yet my eyes never left him.
When I finished, I asked again, "How do you know my father?"
He let out a slow sigh.
"He was my junior. I was the former Sword Knight Captain of Squad 2. Your father was my Vice-Captain."
That was it.
My mind was filled with questions, but his silence made it clear — I wouldn't get answers today.
"When you recover, Leo," he said at last, "I will tell you everything. But until then… you must promise me something."
I met his gaze.
"You will not leave this house without my permission. Do you understand?"
I nodded, even though I didn't fully understand why.
Soon after, my sister woke up crying. Ignoring the pain in my leg, I dragged myself to her side and gently lifted her into my arms. I fed her, played with her, and stayed close.
I had already lost too much.
Whenever my sister softly called out "Papa" or "Mama," my heart would tremble. Each time she took their names, tears threatened to escape my eyes. The grief rose like a storm inside me, suffocating and uncontrollable. but I forced myself to stay strong. If I broke… who would protect her
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks became a month.
One afternoon, Steven was gone. My sister slept peacefully. The urge to step outside, to breathe something other than confinement, grew unbearable.
He had refused me every time before.
So this time… I didn't ask.
I slipped outside silently and made my way back to my old town.
The moment I arrived, my blood ran cold.
Posters.
My face. My name.
A bounty of one million gold coins.
I hid in the shadows as guards patrolled the streets. And then I saw it.
Two heads hanging in the town square.
My mother. My father.
My mind rejected the sight. This couldn't be real. It had to be some nightmare.
Then I heard the Town Head speaking — the same man who once respected my family. Now he called us traitors. Enemies of society. Criminals who deserved death.
Something inside me shattered.
I turned away and ran.
When I reached the house, Steven was waiting outside. His eyes were filled with anger… and disappointment.
"You broke your promise—"
Before he could finish, my legs gave out. I collapsed in front of him.
The weight I had been carrying finally crushed me.
This time… I didn't hold back.
I cried