Pain exploded across Osric's face.
He barely had time to register the blow before another fist crashed into his jaw, sending him staggering backward. The taste of blood filled his mouth as laughter echoed around him.
Why is this happening to me?
The answer didn't matter. It never had.
Osric collapsed to the ground as a boot slammed into his ribs. He curled instinctively, arms raised in a useless attempt to shield himself.
Laughter followed.
He recognized those voices instantly. He had grown up hearing them — mocking him, belittling him, reminding him of his place.
The orphanage.
He hadn't seen them in years. Not since he left.
Why now?
Why today, of all days?
He had only been working as a waiter at the inn. Just another quiet shift. Just another attempt to survive.
And then Ruben had walked in.
The former orphan stood before him now, broad-shouldered and confident, wearing the clothes of a knight apprentice. A sword hung at his waist — still sheathed, but heavy with promise.
Ruben grinned as he raised the sheath and brought it down again.
Osric cried out as the impact rattled his bones.
Behind Ruben stood five others — three men and two women, all around the same age. They watched with amusement, laughter spilling freely as Osric struggled to breathe.
"I thought you'd disappear by now," Ruben said, his voice dripping with contempt. "Still crawling around like the useless dog you are?"
Osric clenched his teeth.
I don't want this anymore.
For the first time in years, something inside him snapped.
I won't be the defenseless coward who just takes it.
He pushed himself up and swung his fist.
It was slow. Weak.
Ruben laughed and stepped aside effortlessly, jabbing the tip of his sheath into Osric's stomach.
The air was driven from his lungs.
Osric collapsed to his knees, coughing violently as spit and blood sprayed the dirt.
"Hahaha!"
Ruben stepped closer, looming over him. He spat.
"That face of yours disgusts me," he said coldly. "Talentless. Weak."
He leaned down, voice lowering. "How desperate was that inn to hire trash like you?"
Laughter erupted again.
Osric raised his head, eyes burning.
"Why does it matter to you?" he asked hoarsely. "What do you gain from stepping on the weak?"
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Ruben's expression twisted in fury.
He kicked Osric in the face.
Osric crashed onto his back, stars bursting across his vision — yet he still tried to rise.
"Is it your inferiority complex?" Osric spat weakly. "Is that why you're so angry about your ugly face?"
A short laugh escaped from behind them.
"Pfft."
Ruben froze.
He turned and punched the girl who had laughed, knocking her unconscious instantly.
Gasps followed. The others stared in shock.
Ruben turned back toward Osric—
—and a fist slammed into his face.
Osric staggered back, stunned.
I did it.
I actually hit him.
Ruben wiped blood from his lip, eyes burning.
"You piece of shit."
For a brief moment, his hand twitched toward his sword.
But he stopped.
Even as a knight apprentice, he was still just an orphan. He couldn't afford the consequences.
Instead, he raised the sheath again.
With terrifying speed, he swung.
Osric barely managed to block it. The impact sent him flying across the ground.
Damn it… that almost broke my arm.
Ruben snarled, surprised.
Osric noticed it — the hesitation, the anger clouding Ruben's movements.
He's not thinking clearly.
Ruben charged again.
Osric rolled aside by instinct and pushed himself up. His fingers brushed against something hard.
A stone.
Ruben lunged.
Osric hurled the stone.
It grazed Ruben's cheek, cutting flesh. Blood flowed.
Osric didn't hesitate. He dropped low and slammed into Ruben's legs.
They crashed to the ground.
Ruben tried to rise—
—but Osric was already on him.
Punch after punch rained down. Weak, desperate blows — but precise.
Some slipped past Ruben's guard.
I'm doing it.
I'm finally fighting back.
Then pain exploded at the side of his head.
A kick.
Osric was thrown aside.
He had forgotten.
The others.
Two of the men attacked him without mercy while another checked on Ruben.
"How dare a dog bite its owner!"
"You think you can fight just because Ruben went easy on you?"
The world blurred.
Pain drowned everything.
The last thing Osric saw was Ruben approaching, sheath raised high.
"Let's go," Ruben said coldly. "If he dies, we don't want witnesses."
The group disappeared into the forest.
Osric lay alone.
Bleeding. Broken.
Is this really how it ends?
Dying alone… like a nobody?
His vision faded.
I don't want to die like this.
For once…
I want to be someone with power.