Allen, who was fast asleep, had a dream. The dream was a memory of his past. It was because of this memory that Allen admired Arvin and considered him a hero.
[5 months ago in the academy corridor]
The academy's west wing corridor was usually quiet at this hour, but that afternoon, the atmosphere felt incredibly heavy. Allen, who had just stepped out of the library, was intercepted by four students. Marcus Rexgor, a Viscount's son thirsty for recognition, stood in front with a smirk that hinted at madness.
"Hahaha. You're just a poor orphan, yet you managed to enter this academy? Know your place, commoner!" Marcus shouted, his voice echoing along the cold stone walls of the corridor.
Splash!
Instantly, a bucket filled with dirty, foul-smelling wastewater was splashed directly onto Allen's head. The water seeped behind his uniform collar, bringing with it the scent of garbage and failed potion dregs that stung his nose. Allen could only stand frozen, bowing his head deeply as the filthy water dripped from the tips of his pink hair, staining the academy's marble floor near the library.
What did I do wrong? Why won't they accept me as a student here just because I'm a poor orphan? Are all nobles like this? Father, Mother, why do I have to suffer like this?
Allen felt his chest tighten with pure injustice. He wanted to fight back, but his status as a scholarship orphan left him powerless. He was nothing but dust beneath their feet.
"Hey, poor boy, why are you silent?" Marcus snapped, feeling insulted because Allen did not immediately kneel and beg for mercy.
Twack!
A hard kick from an expensive leather boot slammed right into Allen's stomach. The kick was so brutal that Allen was lifted slightly off the floor before being flung against the hard stone wall of the corridor.
"Akh...!!!" Allen groaned in pain. His lungs felt as if they had suddenly been paralyzed, leaving him gasping for oxygen that had abruptly vanished from his surroundings. He clutched his stomach, his face flushing as he endured the excruciating pain.
"Hahaha. So you can feel pain too, huh?" The laughter of the four students exploded, filling the corridor with a sound that seemed like a melody from hell to Allen's ears.
"Why are you doing this to me? What is my fault?" Allen asked hoarsely, barely a whisper amidst his sobbing.
The four students looked at each other and laughed loudly again. To them, Allen was merely an insect that happened to enter a grand mansion. Marcus stepped forward and intentionally stomped on Allen's right hand as it lay on the floor. He pressed down with all his might, twisting the heel of his shoe over Allen's thin fingers until a terrifying sound was heard, the sound of shifting joints and cracking bone.
Why? Why must I endure such torture? Ah... it hurts...!!! Allen groaned, his eyes shut tight, resisting the pain that radiated all the way to his brain.
"You ask what you did wrong? Obviously, it's because you're a poor orphan who doesn't belong in a luxurious academy like this!" Marcus said while crouching, staring at Allen with a look full of disdain.
"Is it only for that reason that you oppress and torture me like this?" Allen asked, his voice trembling with helpless anger.
Thwack!
Another hard kick hit his stomach, in the exact same spot. Allen vomited a bit of clear fluid mixed with saliva onto the corridor floor.
"Akh...!!!" he groaned again.
"You're just a poor commoner! Forget talking back, even looking at us is enough to get you tortured!" Marcus growled. He grabbed Allen's pink hair roughly and pulled it upward, forcing Allen to look into his eyes, which were filled with darkness. Allen screamed as his scalp felt like it was about to be torn off.
The torture continued without a single person daring to pass by or help. The pain in his stomach intensified as one of them kicked him again with ferocity.
"Akh...!!!" Allen shrieked in pain. He sobbed uncontrollably, his entire body trembling violently from shock and pain that exceeded his endurance. "I beg of you, please stop!"
Instead of stopping, they grew even more violent. Marcus had already raised his hand, ready to deliver the final blow. But at that moment, the atmosphere in the corridor changed drastically. The magic lamps attached to the walls suddenly dimmed, leaving behind an oppressive deep purple light. The air became frigid, as if death had just breathed down their necks.
Suddenly, the three students who were preparing to hit and kick Allen stopped by force. Their bodies froze, bound by strands of dense shadow element magic. The chains of shadow wrapped around their necks and hands, pressing with a force capable of crushing bone.
"W-What is this?! Who dares do this to us?!" Marcus cried out, his voice now trembling with fear.
"I am the one who did it!" answered a cold voice coming from a dark corner of the corridor.
The four students turned toward the source of the voice. They were stunned, utterly shocked to the point that their faces turned deathly pale as they watched Arvin Vedegra slowly emerge from the shadows.
His academy uniform was perfectly groomed, creating a stark contrast with the overwhelming aura of darkness radiating from him. Arvin didn't need many words, his mere presence was a death threat.
"Arvin Vedegra, you are the son of the most renowned Duke in this kingdom! Why are you stopping us?" Marcus asked, trying to find refuge behind Arvin's high noble status.
Arvin stood before them, silent for a moment, staring at Allen who lay miserably in the puddle of dirty water before turning back to the bullies with a look of utter disdain. "Why did you do that to him?"
"Huh? Did I hear that right? He's just a poor orphan who doesn't deserve—"
Before the student could finish his sentence, Arvin moved his fingers mechanically. Instantly, shadow magic gagged the student's mouth, locking his jaw with an immense force of mana.
"Hmmppp...!!!! Hmmpp...!!!"
"Your reason is nonsensical! This is an academy, it has nothing to do with your noble status!" Arvin stepped closer. His gaze was full of disgust, as if he were looking at something lower than a common pest.
Without warning, Arvin delivered a powerful kick to the gagged student's ribs.
Thud! Crack!