A Big Incident

"Mum, hang in there! I'll save you!" A young man shouted.

He looked to be about only 15 years old. His clothes were filled with burns and holes. His hair was messy with curled tips that were burnt under intense heat. His eyes were dull and teary.

Everything in his sight was red and yellow. In fact, he was surrounded by fire. The smell of burnt wood and meat filled the whole house. With every breathe, smoke came in and made him cough several times. His back was sweating profusely. However, he did not care about any of those. His attention was fixed only on the woman lying before him. His slender hands were on the chest of the woman and they were glowing faintly with white light.

The woman's condition was much worse than the boy. Her hair was soaked in blood from the open wound on her head. Her dress was mostly burnt and stuck to her skin. The worst parts were her belly and left leg. They were completely burnt, black like charcoal. Even breathing was extremely difficult for her.

"Vel,... my child, go! You ... must live ..." She murmured with great difficulty.

She wanted to touch her son but her hands did not move. She could barely keep her consciousness at that moment.

"Mum, don't talk! I promise you, I'll live! You have to live too! I'll save you. I awakened Light Prowess! I'll heal you... so... so..." The boy repeated the same sentences he had been saying several times.

He tried very hard to convince his mother that he would save her, but even he could not actually believe in his own words. His mother's injuries were a thousand times worse than he could imagine.

Light Prowess was a sacred magic power that could heal injuries, cure poisons and dispel curses. Even thought it was a very strong prowess, he just awakened it so he could not utilize it well yet. And his mother's injuries were so serious that he would not be able to actually heal them even in his best condition.

"Mum, stay strong for a bit longer. I'll ... I'll de..fi..nitely ..."

This time, even before he could complete his sentence, he lost his consciousness.

-----

A luxurious bed stood in the middle of a grand and spacious room. The whole room was filled with the scent of sweet rose. But the young man lying on the bed was not aware of the luxury of the bed nor the rosy smell. The young man's name was Huvel Mustero. He was the second son of Duke Walter Mustero, the lord of Mustero Duchy. Said young noble's entire body was covered in bandages.

Burnt marks could be seen on some parts on his hands and his once handsome face. He used to have elegant light golden hair that touched his shoulders but now fire had eaten up all of his hair. His breathing was stable despite the serious burns on his body. He looked like he was just sleeping. However, the truth was he had not woken up for 6 days.

"Young master, I'm sorry... I could not save mistress. I... also failed to find my mother. But, please, at least you, please wake up..." Another young man standing beside the bed mumbled.

The corner of his eyes, and his nose were red. He looked to be his mid-twenties. He had a big and bulky body; his face looked stern and intimidating, opposite to Huvel's small and innocent looks. He also had burns on his hands though the burns on him were lighter than those on Huvel. His name was Karl and he was the one who saved Huvel from the burning house.

That day, Karl rushed into the burning house to rescue his mother without caring the intense heat. But he could not find her, and instead, he found Huvel and his mother fallen on the floor. Huvel's mother was already dead by the time he arrived so he could only carry Huvel to outside. The whole house quickly turned into ashes a few minutes later.

A number of corpses that fit the number of missing people were discovered after the fire died but all corpses had become black like charcoal and no one could tell which corpse was whose. Karl was devastated. The thought of him unable to save his mother and could not even find her corpse made him almost crazy. Only the thought of saving Huvel kept him sane.

Karl and his mother, Fina, were retainers of Huvel's mother, Melanna Mustero. Fina served Melanna as her personal maid since she was young; they were close like friends. Melanna brought Fina with her when she entered the Mastero household as a concubine. At that time, Fina already had Karl whose father was not known. As the son of a maid, Karl also became a retainer of his mother's mistress.

Karl stared at the unconscious Huvel and sighed. His world only had his mother, his mistress who treated him kindly unlike other adults in the courtyard, and young master Huvel who was like his little brother. Karl was four years old when Huvel was born. He was the caretaker of baby Huvel. The thought to protect Huvel was always on his mind since young.

Kurl chuckled a bit as he recalled how Huvel used to be very clingy to him when they were kids. To him, Huvel was not only a young master but also a friend and brother. Although Huvel was a little domineering, he never actually bullied Karl like others who called him a bastard child. Huvel always took his side whenever there was a fight between him and other servants within the courtyard.

"Young master, do you know that today is your 16th birthday? You are an adult now! Mistress must be very proud of you." He mumbled, smiling.

But then his face quickly turned dark as he wondered how Huvel would react when he heard his mother's death. He felt angry, frustrated and sad when he could not save his mother. Huvel would feel the same. He did not know how to comfort Huvel but he had decided to protect him no matter what happen from then on!

"Hmm... mm" Huvel mumbled. His eyelids slowly opened, revealing the jade-like pupils.

"Karl...? What are you doing?" Huvel asked Karl, the person he saw once he woke up. He did not notice that his voice was hoarse.

"Young master, you finally wake up!" Karl exclaimed in joy.

Huvel tried to sit up but he instantly fell back. His wounds became painful when he moved. He closed his eyes again. Then his eyebrows furrowed tightly and he suddenly looked up at Karl who was coming closer to help him sit.

"Karl, where is my mother?!"

Karl stopped his steps. He even backed off a little. He did not answer Huvel or looked at him, instead he stared at the floor. Seeing Karl's action, Huvel became impatient and even got angry.

"Karl, I'm asking you! Where is my mother?!" He shouted.

Karl was startled by his shout. Only then he opened his mouth, "Mistress, she... she is no longer with us. That day's incident… you are the sole survivor..."

Huvel shook his head vigorously. His fists were clenched tightly.

"I said I would save her! Still, in the end..."

Huvel's whole body trembled. Tears started to fall off his green eyes.

"Young master..."

"Get out! Get out!! I don't want to see anyone!" Huvel shouted like a lunatic.

Karl did not try to say any more. He left the room quietly and closed the door.

"I don't even want to see myself." Huvel murmured when he was alone.

-------

The next day, Karl brought Huvel to his mother's grave. Huvel was not strong enough to walk yet so Karl carried him on his back. Huvel kneeled and stared at his mother's grave. His nose and eyes were red but no tears fell from his eyes. He clenched his teeth so tightly that blood came out from between the teeth. He stayed there silently for a long time.

"Thud!"

Huvel fell down on the spot he was kneeling.

"YOUNG MASTER!!"