Chapter 23: Malice

"Kindness is strength. Good nature is often mistaken for virtue, and good health sometimes passes for a genius. Anger blows out the lamp of the mind. In the examination of a great and important question, everyone should be serene, slow-pulsed, and calm. Intelligence is not the foundation of arrogance. Insolence is not logic. Epithets are the arguments of malice." —Robert Green Ingersoll , The Christian Religion: An Enquiry

"In consequence, when the pleasures have been removed which busy people derive from their actual activities, the mind cannot endure the house, the solitude, the walls, and hates to observe its own isolation. From this arises boredom and self-dissatisfaction, that turmoil of a restless mind and gloomy and grudging endurance of our leisure, especially when we are ashamed to admit the reasons for it and our sense of shame drives the agony inward, and our desires are trapped in narrow bounds without escape and stifle themselves. From this arise melancholy and mourning and a thousand vacillations of a wavering mind, buoyed up by the birth of hope and sickened by the death of it. From this arises the state of mind of those who loathe their own leisure and complain that they have nothing to do, and the bitterest envy at the promotion of others. For unproductive idleness nurtures malice, and because they themselves could not prosper they want everyone else to be ruined. Then from this dislike of others' success and despair of their own, their minds become enraged against fortune, complaint about the times, retreat into obscurity, and brood over their own sufferings until they become sick and tired of themselves." —Seneca, On the Shortness of Life

***

Their voracious behavior seemed to be quite persistent, kept insisting on taking the goat for them to eat and satiate the hunger they were feeling.

Now that all of the island's food had been gone in an instant just like that, people were targeting others who had food stored inside their houses. Only a few houses remained after the devastating chaotic sea of fire struck the island and the cataclysmic heavy storm that brought down old trees and destroyed crops meant to be harvested.

"Keep your hands off our property!"

'This is bad! They are not listening at all! At this rate, our livestock will be taken away. I need to do something!'

Being a kid once again and losing the ability he had once in his old life made Xenia somehow lose confidence in himself. Going against five grown-up men with only his obsidian knife and the knowledge he had of his old life doesn't seem winnable. The strength disparity would be far greater, and Xenia is aware of it. Therefore, having a scuffle against these men should be avoided at all costs. However, if things go south, Xenia only knows one thing he has to do. That is to protect his family no matter what it takes.

"No way we're letting this opportunity go to waste! Fuck off, kid. But we are taking your goat!"

The adult goat has been milked for a couple of years now by his family and is served delicious fresh milk. Also, the milk they received from the goat, them were made into cheese. It might not be a top-tier type of cheese, but Xenia's family was grateful for the blessings they always get.

And the goat's cry for help as the group of sick men dragged it by its leash, although it does not want to be taken away. That was when Xenia's body suddenly moved on its own. He watched himself rush towards the backyard at full speed, then jump on the three feet wooden fences they created for the goat.

Fearlessly, Xenia swerved and blocked the group of men's path, extending both of his arms to stop everyone.

Having been blocked, the group of five men scoffed at Xenia's bravery. For such a young kid, standing up for what he possesses somehow moved them a little. However, tiny bravery would not cause them to just walk away and forget everything.

"Look, kid. We don't wanna hurt you even though you're the son of that monster. So, just move aside and let us go."

While they were still being kind, everyone walked to the side to avoid Xenia, but the latter was just so keen on stopping them from taking the goat.

"I can't let you guys take the goat! It's ours! None of you are going away with it!"

Their faces began to turn wry, visible annoyance could be seen from them.

"Okay, you're starting to piss me off, kid! Move aside, or I'll smite you in the face!"

The guy in the middle raised his hand, intending to strike Xenia right across his cheek if he does not do what they told him to do.

"Mom! The bad guys are taking our goat away!"

"They are also going to hurt big brother Xenia!"

"We should go and help him!"

Upon hearing that some bastards were trying to hurt Xenia, his mother instantly fought her weak condition just to get up and see to it that no one hurt her son.

*Cough, cough*

"W-Who are you folks? Why are you stealing our goat and raising a hand on my child?"

Through the window where she always peeks to have some fresh air and see the morning shine of the day, she witnessed Xenia fall on his butt after getting slapped on his cheeks.

The shock of her daughters when they saw their big brother get hurt boosted that motherly instinct to protect her child. Vividly, she could see that Xenia's right cheek was flushed from the site.

"This is nothing," he spouted as he was trying to get up while still shaken by the strength the man possessed. "Unless you leave the goat behind, I won't move aside!"

Instead of stopping, Xenia's persistent behavior pissed everyone off even more. From a single strike to receiving two more, Xenia's right cheek became swollen. This was the time when his mother had to get out of the house despite her condition in order to save her son from the predicament he was in.

"Bastards!" Rough coughs were one of his mother's greatest enemies. And instead of somehow feeling threatened, the group of men laughed at her.

"Easy there, monster! One wrong move, and you might completely turn into a vegetable!"

And they then guffawed as loud as they could, shaming his mother in front of him after she tried grabbing one of them to put a stop to their abusive demeanor.

"You dare lay your filthy hand on me, woman?!"

Xenia's senses were all focused on that reverberating sound upon seeing his mother get stuck on her face, which resulted in her falling on her frail self on the ground full of dirt.

"Fucking scums!"

That was it. Xenia just snapped, unsheathing his obsidian knife from his belt, thus agilely moving through circles and landing a serious slash on the face of the person that dared hurt his mother.

"AAGGHHH!!! M-My face!"

Blood dripped and got in his eyes, blurring his vision as he continued to be hysterical.

"Kill that brat! No, get him, and I'll kill him myself!"

Nimble like a chicken being chased by its owner, Xenia ran around, avoiding the four others who were desperate to catch him.

"Get back here, you brat!"

"Circle around and anticipate his next movement, idiot!"

"Ack! That brat just fucking stabbed me!"

Xenia knows his way around the area, hiding behind trees to disappear all of a sudden, then jumping off from trees when they haven't noticed him climbing them.

"You've crossed a line, you bastards. If only you dimwits move along while I was still kind, none of this would have happened."

From being a brave and enthusiastic kid to an unhinged and skilled fighter, Xenia flipped a 180 switch. They reap what they sow. Even Xenia himself was quite surprised by how he was acting. However, he did not let such thoughts dwindle his desire for getting back at the group of men.

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