His Second Adversity [ II ]; A New Path

Noname speedily ran back home, taking a shorter path that was quite filled with a lot of vines, but luckily, he still had his dagger with him and managed to cut through the obstructions until he finally arrived at his destination. 

He quickly rushed into the house with a reckless haste but was abruptly stopped at the doorway by the unexpected sight of some soldiers beating up his caretaker. Hope, his little brother, quickly ran to meet him from where he had been hiding, hugging Noname's legs tightly; for he was scared to death.

The soldiers, at that moment, set their eyes on Noname, they saw him panting in surprise, putting on the prince's cloak, and with a dagger in his hand... and sight was just enough to send a misconception into their minds. 

They all turned towards Noname, taking their attention off Lady Chan, who by this time was bruised and bleeding from their rough dealings with her, and before anyone could take any action, she gathered all the strength she had left and shouted...

"RUN!!!"

And with lightning-fast reflexes, Noname picked up Hope, dashed out of the building, banged the door behind and swiftly headed back into the thick forest.

The soldiers, in a similar manner, started a chase; The adjutant forcefully broke the door and dashed at an even greater speed towards Noname. He swung his sword with great precision in Noname's direction, but a 'FEW MINUTES' of 'VISITING' the forest could not dominate 'THREE YEARS' of 'LIVING' in the forest. 

Noname craftily manoeuvred around some trees, and this got the adjutant's sword stuck deeply into the trunk of one. Then, with a quick glance backwards, he noticed how deep the sword went into the trunk; it cut through the radius of the trunk, and that was when it dawned on him that the swinging of the sword was not just to immobilise him....

***...The queen sent the guards to bring back her son...

 ...and to kill Noname.!*** 

 Noname increased his haste with a growing tension in his heart. His sole aim at that point in time was escaping, and he focused so steadily on running away, ignoring defence and attack, and so, unfortunately, he was hit by an arrow that pierced deeply into his left shoulder.

The pain from the shot wrecked his whole body, causing him to fall to the ground, and the soldier who had shot the arrow casually walked to where Noname laid, picked him up, and started strangling him without mercy.

Hope, who also fell but was left unnoticed, picked up a stone in a bid to defend his brother. He gathered his little strength and hurled it at the soldier's helmet, causing the soldier to turn back and transfer his focus to the little child.

Noname, who had caught the stone just before it fell to the ground, held it with his tightened fist and landed a heavy blow on the soldier's helmet, sending it vibrating chaotically and equally disrupting his senses. The young lad then managed to free himself from the soldier's grip and continued his escape with his little brother. They eventually got to another part of the lake where there was a very high cliff just before it, that was the closest part of the lake to the river that flowed from it. 

Noname, on reaching this cliff, halted and caught his breath for a moment; the soldiers were still far behind, struggling with manoeuvring the dense forest. Suddenly, as if time itself had held its breath, everything seemed quiet and calm to Noname as he was about to make a decision that could change his life forever!....

 .... Thinking about the past and all the time he had spent with his brother, his eyes could no longer hold back its tears, it immediately started sending the little drops rolling down the young lad's cheeks.

Thinking of Lady Chan and all the memories he had with her got him so emotional; Everything she had taught him, the unyielding care and love she had shown to him, he could still remember a specific melody that she always hummed in his presence even from the time of his birth. A melody that has become a part of her, a melody that he had never heard from the lips of anyone,... a melody that reminded him that he was never alone.

At that piont, Noname could hear this melody in his head, being hummed as it was; It played softly, like background music that complemented the realisation that he was about to leave everything he had; he was about to depart from his home, his birthplace.... and venture into a new world, if he eventually managed to survive this escape. 

Noname then looked back and said within himself... 

'^I'm sorry, Lady Chan.... I'm sorry brother.... I won't be able to forgive myself for what I've caused you two, and I don't expect you to forgive me either..... ^

....Maybe I was a mistake in this world afterall!"

The soldiers were fast approaching, but they could not make it in time as Noname jumped into the lake and swam towards the fast-flowing river, letting it sweep them in Fate's direction.

>>>>>>>>>>>

"So you see Henry, these two significant events, as you have heard, defined who I am;

 The first unravelled the mystery of my identity and answered my desperate questions, while the second made me understand that there are some inevitable events that fate has set in one's life; no matter how hard one tries to manoeuvre... what will be, will be!

Fate has already written in its diary that my father's kingdom will perish, and everyone thought that I would be the key in unlocking the gateway to the forthcoming doom, but Fate's ink contradicted their thoughts, as the actual key was the demise of the prince, the one and only Fuku, which will end the generation of the kingdom's royalty.

 My brother was always meant to die, but I was the obstacle to his demise; always stepping in the way, contradicting the flow of things, until Fate swept me away, taking me unaware and instantly setting me on a whole new path... !"

" A whole new path?!.... " Henry remarked. "...Does this have something to do with how I found you?"

" As wise as ever you are Henry!... You see, after that very incident, we woke up on a very small deserted island just at the same time you arrived at the island.

... *sighs*....

Henry, this decision of mine to become a Grande Pirate is as important to me as my well-being is to you. I'm certain as ever that by now, the collapse of my father's kingdom is almost at its climax. This is the right time to show him the greatest revenge, the revenge of success and exceeding expectations!... 

...He had always looked down on me and took me as nothing, but when I return with my great achievements, he would have no choice but to accept the fact that nobody chooses the circumstances of their birth, and whether one was born normal or otherwise, every child comes to this world with a gift, they just unwrap their packages at different times and in different manners ! "

"I clearly understand your motive now, forgive me for my initial reaction, but don't you think it might be quite off the hook presenting yourself as a pirate to your father who... is a King?!"

"Yes, you're right, but that's the more reason why I have to first become a Grande Pirate. I could just throw myself into the abyss of a desperate pirate and over years attain Captain Black Jack's level and subsequently conquer a small kingdom to present to him, but we both know that a kingdom conquered by a pirate has no legal recognition, and the only way in which one can denounce himself as a pirate is by dialogue with 'The Demigod', of which only Grande Pirates have access to." Noname explained.

"Like I said earlier, I clearly understand your motive, but I hope that you know that someone like you aiming for something so big is, without a doubt, a death wish!" Henry tried to tell Noname the reality of his aspiration

"I know Henry, I know... but lest you forget, I'm a dead man walking! I'm already this close to entering the afterlife; I'm only living on borrowed time. 

My life itself has no meaning, but this... this is the time where I can at least show those who wished me dead that I am at least worthy of living. An opportunity like this comes but once in a hundred years, and I surely won't be alive till then!

Henry, you're the dad I never had in my father, so tell me... is what I anticipate worth it or not? Tell me if my actions are not worth your support."

Henry looked at Noname with a mix of concern and understanding and replied him after letting out a deep sigh— "As much as I got you when I asked for a treasure, you are indeed my treasure! but what's more, my own son! I wouldn't want to lose you or let anything bad happen to you. Noname, you're a man now, asking me for permission would be far too childish, but as for support.... 

*sighs*

... just be careful and stay out of Captain Black Jack's path as much and as far as possible!"

Captain Noname, after hearing his mentor's response, was pleased and felt overly happy. The truth was that he didn't think Henry would concur that easily. On his part, Henry, who was, in the truth of the matter, still deeply worried within himself, was done with the conversation and was exiting the cabin when he stopped at the door and gave Noname a quick reminder.

"You might want to start hatching your plans now. It's not too far before the commencement of the Magnus Praedo event. 

Of course, a good luck from an old man like me would have not even the slightest effect in an event densely filled with blood and bad luck, so all I can say is... be careful!"