Child Bullying

"Ethan, does someone bully you here?" Isaac instinctively reached out, stopping Ethan just as he turned to leave.

Isaac wasn't the type to meddle in others' affairs. Sympathy wasn't in his nature, and he typically steered clear of unnecessary trouble. Yet, ever since he had taken over the body of a righteous knight, he'd noticed a feeling of righteousness and justice within him maybe it was just a after effect of possessing the body a justice hungry knight.

Ethan froze, his small frame trembling. Slowly, he turned around, his large, watery eyes to overflow. His lips quivered as if trying to form words, but no sound escaped. He didn't need to speak; the pain etched across his face said it all.

Isaac's jaw tightened.

'What kind of bastard bullies a kid?' The thought churned in his mind, filling him with a mix of anger and disgust.

*Ruffle*

*Sob sob*

Isaac crouched slightly and ruffled Ethan's messy hair. The boy's silent resilience broke, and tears spilled down his cheeks like a river breaching its dam. His shoulders shook as he buried his face into Isaac's tunic, his small hands clutching at the fabric.

"It's fine now," Isaac murmured, his voice steady and soothing. He patted Ethan's back gently, trying to calm the storm of emotions pouring out of the boy. "Tell Brother Arthur the name of the person who's bullying you. I'll deal with them."

Ethan looked up, his tears making his big eyes glisten like glass. "I-is sob aw--lright? S-sir A-Arthuthur?" he stammered through his sobs.

"Of course, it's alright," Isaac replied with a soft smile. "And there's no need to call me 'Sir.' Just call me Brother, okay?"

Isaac wasn't the kind of man to invite trouble, especially if it could be avoided. But bullying—especially of a child—was something he couldn't ignore. The sheer thought of someone tormenting this innocent boy churned his stomach. His disgust for the perpetrator only grew as Ethan struggled to find his voice again.

"I-it's the sob sob bwa-all... bald one," Ethan finally managed to say.

The name sent a flash of recognition through Isaac's mind. Hiruken. The same man who had openly opposed the Squad Leader's decision just moments ago. In Issac eyes he didn't have a good impression either and too think he wass someone who would bully a kid disgusted him even more.

Ethan's crying intensified as he spoke the name.

'That bastard… Of course, it's him. I had a hunch that he was a jerk but not to this extent,' Isaac thought, his fists clenching involuntarily.

"Hiruken?" Isaac asked, his voice carefully even despite the simmering anger beneath. "He's the one who bullies you?"

Ethan nodded, the gesture small and shaky.

Isaac stood, his expression hardening. He placed a reassuring hand on Ethan's shoulder and crouched slightly to meet the boy's tear-streaked gaze.

"Don't worry, Ethan. I'll make sure he doesn't bother you again. That's a promise from your brother."

Ethan's sniffles slowed, and though his tears continued to fall.

"Take some rest, Ethan. I'll take care of him tomorrow morning," Isaac said, giving the boy a reassuring pat on the back. His voice was gentle and firm.

"Th-thank you, brother," Ethan mumbled, his voice still shaky but no longer overwhelmed with sobs. His tears had finally stopped, leaving his cheeks damp but his eyes filled with hope.

"Yes, so rest well now. Brother will handle your troubles," Isaac assured him, his tone gentle but resolute.

Ethan nodded, wiped his face with his sleeve, and turned to leave. His steps were still hesitant, but there was a noticeable change—a lightness, as if a weight had been lifted from his small shoulders.

Isaac watched him walk away, his mind already strategizing. As much as he wanted to handle the bully in the morning, a nagging suspicion crept into his thoughts.

'No, tonight's not safe. That bastard Hiruken… If he's the kind of guy I think he is, he might come for Ethan when no one's watching.'

He made his decision. Without hesitation, Isaac slipped out of his tent, moving quietly to avoid drawing any attention. He followed Ethan at a safe distance, careful not to alert the boy.

Ethan, oblivious to Isaac's presence, had a small, hopeful smile on his face. For the first time in what felt like forever, he allowed himself to believe things might get better. His steps were lighter, no longer burdened by constant fear. With Isaac's promise lingering in his mind, he felt a sense of relief. Someone cared. Someone was standing by his side.

But just as Ethan reached his tent, a sharp, rude voice cut through the silence.

"Where's your ungrateful ass going? Aren't you going to pay respect to your seniors?"

The words were laced with venom, making Ethan freeze mid-step. Goosebumps prickled his skin, and the small hope that had begun to bloom within him shrank away.

That voice. He knew it all too well.

It was his voice.

The terrifying voice that haunted him.

Ethan's body trembled as he slowly turned to face the source of the sound. Behind the tent, a shadow loomed larger than life, and his heart sank as he recognized the figure stepping out from the darkness.

Isaac, hidden nearby, clenched his fists.

"Well, well, look at this. Our little healer is heading off without so much as a glance at his seniors. How disrespectful," Hiruken sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm as a sly smile spread across his face.

Ethan froze, his body stiff as a board. It was as if his feet were rooted to the ground, his legs refusing to obey his desperate wish to run. Fear coursed through him, rendering him motionless as Hiruken stepped closer.

The towering man's presence loomed over him like a dark shadow, suffocating and oppressive. Ethan's wide eyes darted to the ground, avoiding Hiruken's gaze, but his trembling hands betrayed his terror.

"Punishment is what juniors like you deserve for being so disrespectful," Hiruken said, his voice casual but with an edge that promised malice. He tilted his head slightly, studying Ethan as though he were some kind of prey. Then, his lips curled into a smirk. "But… I might make an exception. That is, if you tell me something."

Ethan swallowed hard, his throat dry. "Y-yes, Senior," he managed to stammer, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hiruken leaned in, his expression turning darker, the slyness in his grin now tinged with menace. "So," he began, his voice low and cold, "what did you go bitch about to the newcomer?"

(End of Chapter)

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