Chapter 8 - Healing and Killing

Warning - Child Abuse

Standing face to face with the second young master, whom I've only seen twice. He looks well dressed but the only difference between him and a commoner's clothes is that these clothes are noble's clothing but are hand downs. I'm guessing they used to belong to the first young master but he out grew them. Though the two are the same age, the second young master is quite smaller than his brother in build. Is it because his naturally small or is he malnourished?! I can't help but stare at him. He had sunken cheeks and his collar bone stuck out as his clothes seems to be in a disorderly manner

My hand unconsciously reaches for my neck as I look at him with pity and heartache. However that feeling changed when I realized that I was in the same state as he was. Two underfed kids staring at it other. It's at this point that we decide if we'll be enemies or allies. It's unlike the first time we met, ten days ago. I can remember it like it was yesterday, I was starving and trapped like a rat. Prepared to accept death at this point. Suddenly out of nowhere a bag smacks me right in the face, causing me to fall back from the weight and force. Head first into the hay, 'Thank goodness. I didn't head the concrete floor'... The sound of the door swinging close catches my attention, my body shoot up only to be met by the smacking sounds of the door shut. It was like they shut the door right in my face. At least it felt like it. I could only get a glimpse of his features, they were enough to recognize him

Sitting atop the hay, I can only grumble to myself, "I feeling like they did that on purpose-! Wait a minute." I open the bag, a note folded catches my eyes. I open it to see a drawing of someone eating, another drinking and maybe one of someone climbing then running? Is this some kind of exercise routine? I can't really say can these someone(s) I've mentioned are actually stickmen. This is like kindergarten class drawing skills, which is impressive cause most them - you can't even identify anything to be honest. Anyway back to the bag, putting the note down I pull out some clothes; a water sack... Or two? Some rope; shoes; fruits; warm slices bread(?!); a full roasted chicken-! Wait what?! Hold up, how did all this stuff fit in this bag? And how did that kid get such treasures cause I'm sure there's more inside. I quickly stuff everything back inside the bag and hide it under the hay. Then my once a day meal arrived, making me not so happy not to be hungry anymore. The next week was a blissful just cause I had enough to eat

Meanwhile on the first day the bag was given to our captive this happened. The Lord paced around the hallway in anger. It was as if he could murder someone if they spoke to him the wrong way. Soon two of his sons enter the hall. One very timidly while the other silently followed behind, once infront of him. He questioned them, "Which one of you took our family's great treasure, that's been passed down generation to generation?!" Huh? Who did it?!" He couldn't help but shout in rage. The eldest than got a flashback of see his brother enter the treasure room and exit with a certain bag, thus some food started going missing. 'i can take the blame for him than he'll have a a good impression of me?!' Naively the eldest son stepped forward and spoke as boldly as he could though his voice could clearly be heard trembling however he cleared his throat midway to sound more convincing, "I borrowed it to show it to my friends somehow misplaced it." The man laid his eyes on his son as if he were nothing more than garbage to him then questions him coldly, "You seemed to have what?"

The boy gulps than answers his father now looking at the floor. "Seem to have misplaced it father." "You mean you lost it?" His voice sounded too chilly, "Yes, fathe-!" The boy hitting the floor then grabbing his cheek is the aftermath result of hearing the smack resound before silence returned. The boy lying on the ground while holding his cheek only trembled in silence as he shed tears silently and in disbelief. 'Again- he hit me again!' Then the father's attention turned to the younger boy, who couldn't help but tremble in fear as he knew what would happen to him. Standing in place with his hands squeezing each other, he pisses himself. Upon seeing the liquid pool under his son's feet, the man stops in his approach, his hand already outstretched. Ready to grab his hair. He figured since his hand was already out, why not just grab his hair at least and so he did. Talking into the boy's ear in a low menacing tone, "Listen you little runt, I know you took it. I'm just waiting for a confession then you know what's coming after," he threw his head to the side as he let go

He went back to his son then ordered for a cane, once it was brought. He began beating him mercilessly, it was only when his wife that he stopped. She shielded her son with tears in her ears and begged for him to show mercy and stop. Thus he felt bored and walk away, dropping the cane on the ground. The woman helped her son up and with the help of guards, he was taken to his room while his younger brother was left to his nanny to be taken care of since his mother had pass. The eldest had a physician take care of him and apply soothing ointment all over his skin. While it was being applied, he couldn't help but remember how he curled up into a ball when his father whipped him with the cane. And how he flinched and yelped with each strike, it made him feel somehow. It also made him realize how pathetic he was in his past lives and how horrible of a person he was in his first

In the first he watched and imitated his father's abusive behaviour and other misdeeds, his fiancée being his first victim after they got married. He cheated on her, satisfied his greed and the list goes on... He wasn't a good person but then he paid for it with his life for over five lifetimes now. Then afterwards he became a weakly, compiled to whatever his father wanted him to do, still evil and died then he tried to comply to his brother but nothing he did in all the lifetimes ever pleased his brother. All except for one person... He finally his father for the greedy, selfish and self-centered person he was. His father's attitude towards him had changed drastically, he was much colder and harsher towards him. He never understood why his mother lofted his father before, now looking back at his younger brother whom he either bullied or treated as he liked. If he didn't dislike him than he must have needed a new brain or had a few loose nails needing to be checked. He didn't need to care about his father too much as he lost value to him this lost his favour. Meaning less people will find him annoying but there will be a few who will try to end him before the day of his destined end

In the meantime he'll have to make up for his misbehaviour towards his brother. Though it won't be easy. He closed his eyes while his mother sang a song for him to fall asleep faster, the later fell asleep first as she cried to much and caused herself a huge headache, though so the boy lies looking at his mother and feeling grateful for her. He closed his eyes as he fell into a deep sleep to make the pain go away. The next day, the door slams open causing the boy and his mom, she slept at his bedside, to jolt awake. Footsteps enter the room and stop at the foot of the bed, cold eyes staring down at the mother and son duo. "From today onwards you'll be training with the soldiers of our manor. And you'll be treated just like them," silence fills the room. Not leaving room for any debate, he leaves as fast as he entered without caring about how he ruined someone's day or morning. As long as the master's day wasn't ruined then he couldn't care less. Sitting on the bed feeling a light headache coming on, 'This is going to hurt...' Looking at his father, 'a lot'

The scene changes to the boy standing in the training grounds dressed in training attire. The other soldiers walk around him without giving him a second glance, its his first time that at the training ground, most of the soldiers didn't recognize him due to his plain clothing. In his present clothing he looked more like a peasant than a eldest son of a minister. While those who knew were ordered to act as if he was a new recruit. Feeling scared and out of place, the boy stands awkwardly in the middle of the field. Suddenly the boy jumps in surprise as a voice shouts loudly at him, "Worm, YOU'RE LATE! WHY!" The boy fidgets and peeks and the man who steps in front of him, opening his mouth to answer but getting cut off, "I-," "I don't care about your excuses as punishment you are opening to face off with me in a duel." The boy looks up at him in horror with only one thought in mind, 'Why is this happening? This never happened in my past lives so why-'. His sent flying across the field by a punch in the face, it felt like his teeth were knocked out but they weren't. Lying on the ground in complete pain, 'Is this karma or am i going to be tortured till the day my brother kills me?'