The Burden of Innocence

Livio was shocked as he saw Eero step between him and the girl, taking the slap meant for him.

"Eero, what the—? Why?" Livio moved closer, but Eero stopped him with his right palm.

The girl's shout and the sound of the slap had drawn the attention of the nearby crowd, and people started gathering around them.

"What's going on?" someone asked, looking at the distressed girl.

"This bastard made me trip, so I slapped him," the girl said.

"That's a lie! You tripped on your own. Nobody made you fall," Eero said, defending Livio.

"What? But the girl says you made her trip," another person, standing beside her, pointed out.

"She's lying. Can't you see?" Eero shot back, looking at them.

"After doing something so horrible, are you just going to run away like a coward?" another bystander stepped forward, closing in on Eero.

"First of all, I was the person she was referring to. My friend here had nothing to do with it. But you people are so blinded by her words that you're blaming Eero without any proof," Livio said, stepping closer to stand beside Eero.

"Then why is your friend defending you? Just admit you're at fault, and this will all be over," the person next to the girl said.

"I'm not going to do that! Because my friend Eero was right—she tripped on her own. Her scream doesn't make her right. Use your brain before siding with someone. If you don't have one, then don't interfere!" Livio clenched his fists in frustration.

Eero looked at Livio's determined face. "I think that settles it. We don't need to make this worse. Everyone should leave."

"Ahhhhn, I think you kids are getting full of yourselves. Don't you know you should always apologize to a girl?" a man sneered, stepping closer to Eero, his eyes glinting with excitement.

"Let's teach them some manners and show them how to behave with girls," another voice chimed in.

"Yes, you're right. Teach them!" the crowd murmured in agreement.

"Not again....." Livio's past flashed before his eyes. He remembered begging people to believe he was innocent while they beat him mercilessly.

"All this happened because of bitches like you....." Visions of his comrades dying before him filled his mind as he lifted his hand.

"But this time, everything is different. I won't let it happen again." Livio's eyes darted around, focused on the murmuring crowd and the girl who was now smirking.

A man threw a punch at Eero, but it was stopped mid-air.

Eero closed his eyes in fear, knowing they were outnumbered. He had always thought Livio couldn't fight since he was in the supply squad. But feeling no impact, he slowly opened his eyes—to his shock, Livio had caught the man's punch, saving him.

Eero stared in disbelief, his mouth slightly open. Then, as if understanding something, his lips slowly curved into a warm smile.

"Hey, Livio, let's not do anything stupid. Let's just get this over with. It's already nighttime," Eero placed a hand on Livio's shoulder.

"That's right, kid. Just say sorry, and we'll let you go. That's all there is to it. Can't you get that through your thick skull?" another man taunted, stepping closer.

Sweat trickled down Eero's forehead as the tension in the air became suffocating. "Yes, I am so...."

"Don't you dare say sorry!" Livio's sudden shout stopped Eero mid-sentence. "Why the hell did you even protect me? You took the slap meant for me, and now you're apologizing on my behalf? Please….... just don't do it!" Livio's eyes shone under the flickering light.

"Hey, don't say that," Eero tried to calm him, grabbing Livio's arm that was still holding the unknown man's fist.

"I think they need a lesson, yes.....… let's start with the dark-haired one." The crowd edged closer toward Eero.

"You bastards! How dare you drag in someone who had nothing to do with this? I thought the world was a good place. I believed the only thing that made it bad was people's perception of it. But I was wrong. You motherfuckers are rotten to the core! This time, I'll make sure the truth comes out of that bitch!" Livio's left eye began to glow.

He pushed Eero back for safety and rushed toward the advancing crowd.

Livio's glowing eye expanded briefly before it flickered—and then, somewhere else, Athena gasped. She clutched her eyes as if in pain, a radiant white light escaping between her fingers.

A vase crashed onto the floor as she struggled, and when the light subsided, all the aggressors around Livio were lying unconscious on the ground.

The bystanders who had only been watching were now paralyzed with fear, witnessing the difference in power between Livio and the others.

"P-Please, I'm sorry! I will never do anything like this again!" The girl who had falsely accused Livio waved her hands frantically, cornered against a wall.

"Livio, that's enough. She admitted her mistake. Let's go," Eero urged.

"No! Bitches like her don't deserve forgiveness. People like her misuse their position, ruin innocent lives—and you expect me to just let her go?" Livio turned to Eero, fury still burning in his eyes.

The onlookers whispered amongst themselves, a cold wind brushing against their tense bodies.

"Why the fuck did you frame me? And how dare you raise your hand against Eero, who had nothing to do with this? Who the hell are you people to judge anyone without knowing them—their personality, their behavior, their sins? When you help someone, you act like saints, but when you cast judgment, you act like gods!" Livio's breath was heavy, hitting Eero as he tried to calm him down.

"I'm sorry, please forgive me. I had a fight with my boyfriend, and I just wanted to vent my frustration. I swear, I'll never do it again!" The girl covered her face with her hands, tears spilling from her elbows.

"Sigh..... Let's leave," Livio muttered, turning away. Eero followed.

"Why the hell were you telling me to leave? Were you really going to let them beat you for something you didn't do?" Livio kicked a stone in frustration.

"I would've also sought the truth, but I didn't want violence," Eero replied with a soft smile.

"Look at you, acting like a saint. Believe me, this act will fuck you someday," Livio grumbled, not looking back as he walked ahead.

"I never knew you could change like this, Livio," Eero mused, trying to keep up with him.

"You've got some nerve trying to stop me while I was in a complete rage," Livio finally stopped.

"There was nothing surprising about it. Deep down, I knew you wouldn't hit her. You're still soft—you're just wearing a mask. So don't sweat it." Eero walked ahead, his body reflecting the dim streetlights.

The light slowly faded as the scene shifted—a beer glass slammed onto a table.

"Those bastards, Livio and his friends...." Miles muttered drunkenly, cursing them under his breath.

James, half-drunk, supported him while Freja listened in, stopping her serving for a moment.

"Hey, Freja! Bring the order!" Anya called.

Freja took the customer's order, but as she passed by Anya, her eyes widened slightly.

James stumbled off to the washroom, leaving Miles still drinking.

"What the fuck is this?" Miles grumbled, staring at a pin-sized dagger with a red blade and a blue base.

Suddenly, it burst in his hands.

James, washing his hands in the restroom, had no idea what was coming next.