Chapter 28: The Paths We Walked

**The Paths We Walked**

[The Devotion of an Atheist]

"Kai, Vance! Breakfast is ready."

A woman stood in the middle of a lush, sunlit field, her silhouette framed by the golden hues of autumn. Her raven-black hair, long and sleek as flowing silk, cascaded down her back, swaying with the gentle breeze. She called out with a voice as soft as a lullaby, her tone carrying a warmth that made even the fallen leaves stir, dancing in the crisp morning air.

Two young boys, mirror images of each other, halted their chase as the words reached them. Their gazes, bright and filled with childish wonder, snapped toward the source.

"Mother!"

Their voices rang in unison, brimming with unfiltered joy. Without hesitation, they dashed toward her, their tiny feet rustling the grass beneath them. She stood waiting, unwavering, arms open in quiet anticipation. When they finally reached her, they clung to her waist, their laughter light and unburdened, as if the world itself existed only within this fleeting moment of warmth.

She looked down at them, their wide grins stretching so far it seemed as though their happiness could touch the sky. Their innocence blended perfectly with the serenity of the world around them, the harmony of nature and love intertwined.

A tear, unbidden yet welcome, slipped down her cheek. Every morning was the same—this embrace, this boundless affection, this overwhelming love that made the weight of existence feel so light. *Having children truly is a wonderful thing,* she mused, pulling them closer as they made their way home.

**"I want to learn magic!"** Kai declared, springing up from his chair. His arms flailed excitedly as he painted imaginary spells in the air, his mind conjuring visions of legendary wizards. His cheeks were still puffed with half-chewed food, yet his enthusiasm refused to be silenced.

Raze, their mother, chuckled softly as she watched him. *How adorable...* There was something refreshing about seeing children dream so freely, yearning for adventure beyond the comforts of home.

"Brother, I want to be a wizard too!" Vance, his younger brother, spoke up timidly, his wide eyes shimmering like stars in the dark. He gazed at Kai with admiration, as if his older brother were already a hero of legend.

"Heh!" Kai grinned smugly, finally swallowing his food. "Of course! Follow in the footsteps of your amazing big brother!" He puffed out his chest and rubbed his nose, reveling in his self-proclaimed greatness.

For a long time, this was their life—an endless cycle of peace, laughter, and dreams.

Until the day everything changed.

The door burst open with a deafening crash.

Rift stormed inside, his breath ragged, his face painted with desperation. His wild eyes darted around the room, searching frantically.

"Raze! Kai! Vance!"

His urgent call sent a chill through the air. Raze turned, startled, her heart lurching at the sight of him.

"Rift! You're back!" She rushed forward, arms open, ready to embrace him—only for him to seize her shoulders, gripping them with a force that sent a shiver down her spine. His hands trembled. His expression was one of horror.

"Raze," he gasped. "The village is under attack. Raiding forces from neighboring kingdoms—the war has reached us. We're right on the battlefield." His voice cracked. "Take the kids and run. Now. I'll buy you time."

Her breath hitched. For a fleeting second, panic clawed at her chest, but she swallowed it down. She couldn't afford to break—not now, not in front of their children.

"I-I see..." She forced herself to nod, her voice steady despite the storm of fear swirling inside her.

"Father! You're back!"

Kai and Vance rushed to him, their faces alight with pure, untainted joy. The sight struck him harder than any sword ever could.

*I swear... I'll protect those smiles. No matter what it takes.*

Kneeling, Rift rested his rough hands atop their heads, ruffling their hair gently. His smile was warm, reassuring—yet behind it lay a silent farewell.

"Listen," he murmured, "Mommy has a surprise for you. She's taking you to a beautiful place. You have to follow her, okay?"

"Really!?" Their eyes sparkled, their excitement a stark contrast to the chaos looming just beyond their home. They turned to each other, bouncing on their heels.

"Really," he lied.

Catching Raze's gaze, he gave a subtle nod. Understanding immediately, she tightened her hold on their sons, edging toward the door.

"Daddy will have a surprise for you, too, when I come back," Rift added, forcing a grin. "So be good, alright?"

The words burned in his throat. He knew he would never return.

"I'm sorry, Kai. Vance..."

With one final glance, he turned away. His hand clenched around the worn handle of his axe—the same one he used to chop wood, now repurposed for war. Without hesitation, he stepped out into the inferno.

The scent of burning wood and blood stained the night air. Screams rang from every corner—desperate, terrified.

"To arms! To arms!" a voice bellowed.

"Protect the children! Get them out of here!"

"NO! My husband is still fighting—"

"Move, damn it! They'll slaughter us all!"

The villagers fought like cornered animals, wielding whatever they could find—farm tools, kitchen knives, their bare hands. Rift joined them without hesitation.

A knight clad in black steel never saw him coming. Rift's axe cleaved through his armor, splitting flesh and bone. The man crumpled, blood spilling onto the earth.

"You bastards from the kingdom!" Rift roared, his voice raw with fury.

A second knight charged. Rift sidestepped, his axe biting deep into the attacker's side. The knight gasped, blood bubbling at his lips before he collapsed.

They fought. They fell. One after another.

Yet the tide was unrelenting.

The clang of metal. The cries of the dying. The crackle of flames devouring the village he once called home.

Then—pain.

A sharp, piercing cold bloomed in his chest.

His vision wavered. His grip slackened.

Time slowed.

He barely registered the blade protruding from his heart, nor the blood dripping from his lips.

Through the haze, he saw Raze in the distance, clutching their sons as she disappeared into the trees. Safe.

A small, broken smile tugged at his lips.

"I'm sorry... Kai... Vance... Raze..."

The world tilted.

His head struck the ground with a dull thud, severed clean from his shoulders.

And just like that, the man who swore to protect his family became another nameless body in a war that cared nothing for love, or sacrifice.

"Mother, have we arrived yet?"

Kai's voice was lined with impatience, his small hands clenched into fists as he bounced on his heels. His excitement had yet to wane, his bright eyes filled with wonder.

"We're close," Raze murmured, resting a gentle hand atop his head. She forced a smile, one she prayed would mask the unbearable weight pressing down on her chest.

When they reached the small tunnel leading to the riverside, she knelt before them, gripping their shoulders tightly. "Listen to me. Crawl inside and wait for me on the other side. Be good boys, alright?"

Kai and Vance exchanged glances before turning to their mother with gleeful grins.

"Wow! This is like an adventure!" Kai beamed.

"Yeah! A real adventure!" Vance giggled, already crouching down, eager to explore.

But Raze grabbed their hands, her grip trembling. "Kai, Vance… listen to me," she said, her voice almost breaking. "You must stay there until I come for you, alright? You have to promise me. If you break that promise… Mommy will be really, really sad."

Her lips trembled as she forced a pout, pretending to cry like a child.

Vance's heart clenched at the sight. "I don't want to make you sad, Mother! I promise!"

"Me too! I'll keep my promise!" Kai declared.

She smiled. "Good boys."

As they eagerly crawled into the tunnel, Raze waited until they reached the other side before gripping a nearby boulder. With all the strength she had left, she rolled it into place, sealing the entrance.

Then, without a second thought, she turned and ran—far, far away from them.

Her heart pounded in her chest, not from exhaustion, but from the excruciating pain of leaving them behind. But she had no choice. If the soldiers searched the area, she had to lead them away.

She had to be the bait.

Even if it meant she wouldn't return.

Minutes turned into an hour. An hour into two.

The riverside was eerily silent, save for the gentle murmur of flowing water.

"Brother, it's been a long time… aren't they coming back?" Vance whispered, hugging his knees. His small frame shivered, not from the cold, but from unease.

Kai tightened his grip on his own arms, forcing himself to stay strong. "Mother said to wait, so we wait." His voice wavered. "I don't want her to be sad…"

But the silence stretched endlessly, wrapping around them like a suffocating mist.

Vance sniffled, his resolve crumbling. "I miss them… I want to see Mother and Father!"

Kai clenched his fists. He had been trying to ignore the gnawing doubt growing inside him, but deep down, he felt it too.

Something wasn't right.

"...Alright." He swallowed hard. "We'll go find them."

Vance nodded eagerly.

As they crawled back through the tunnel, Kai braced himself to move the boulder. But the moment he pushed it aside—

A wave of putrid stench crashed into them.

The thick, nauseating smell of decay. Of blood.

Vance gagged violently, his stomach twisting. "Blargh!" He fell to his hands and knees, vomiting onto the dirt.

Kai, however, barely registered the smell.

Something else had seized his attention.

His fingers were sticky. Warm. Wet.

He looked down.

Red.

His hands were covered in blood.

His breath hitched. Slowly, his wide, horrified eyes traveled forward—

And landed on **her.**

His mother.

Lying on the ground. Unmoving.

**No.**

A choked noise escaped his throat. His knees buckled, sending him collapsing beside her.

"M-Mother…?" His voice cracked, barely above a whisper.

The world blurred, his vision swimming between reality and denial.

Vance stumbled forward. "M-mother…?" His voice was small, uncertain—until he saw her.

His entire body went rigid.

He dropped to his knees, shaking his head in disbelief. "No… No… Mother, wake up…"

There was no response.

No warmth.

Only her frozen, lifeless body.

"No… NO!!" Vance screamed, his tiny hands gripping her dress as sobs racked his body. His cries echoed through the empty wilderness, piercing the night like a wounded animal's wail.

Kai's trembling hand reached for her cheek.

Still soft.

Still wearing that gentle smile.

As if she had died still thinking of them.

Something inside him **snapped.**

He gritted his teeth, swallowing back the burning in his throat. His tears blurred his vision, but he forced himself to stand.

"Vance… stay here," he whispered. "Stay with Mother. Don't leave her alone."

Vance only nodded weakly, too broken to protest.

Kai turned on his heel and ran.

When he reached the village, his breath left him in a choked sob.

It was gone.

Burning.

Corpses scattered across the streets like discarded dolls, their lifeless eyes staring into nothing. The air was thick with the scent of iron and smoke.

Kai staggered forward, his body trembling violently.

"W-what… What is this…?" His voice cracked, his mind unable to comprehend the sheer destruction before him.

Who?

Who could have done this?

Rustle.

Rustle.

Tap.

Tap.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance.

Kai turned sharply, his body tensing.

From the shadows, an old man emerged, his white hair swaying with the breeze. His left hand clutched a book, while his right leaned on a wooden cane. Though his gaze was empty, lifeless—he saw **everything.**

"A survivor?" The old man's voice was calm, almost indifferent. "Are you alone, child?"

Kai stepped back, his heart pounding. His fingers curled into fists. "Who are you?" His voice was hoarse, raw. "Did you do this?"

If the old man said yes, Kai would **kill him.**

But the man simply shook his head. "No. This was done by sinners."

"Sinners…?"

The old man tilted his head, as if gazing at the burning ruins. "Yes. Sinners called humans." His voice was quiet, yet laced with venom. "They are parasites, consuming, destroying… For them, taking life is easier than breathing."

Kai's lips parted, his throat dry. "But why?" His voice wavered. "Why our village? Why my parents? We never did anything wrong…"

The old man chuckled darkly. "That's just how the world works, boy."

Kai stared at the ground, his fists shaking. His tears fell freely now, staining the dirt beneath him.

The man took a step closer. "My name is Dahmer. I was once a wizard, like the ones you dream of. And I have seen this happen countless times."

His voice lowered, almost whispering. "But it doesn't have to happen again."

Kai lifted his head. "...What do you mean?"

Dahmer's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. "I can grant you power."

"Power?"

"Yes." He extended his hand. "Power to burn them to ash. Power to make them suffer as you have suffered. Don't you want it?"

Kai's breath hitched. He hesitated for only a moment before his eyes darkened with resolve.

"If I take it… can I kill them?"

Dahmer's smile widened. "Yes. But… there is a price."

"I don't care," Kai growled. "I don't care what it takes. I'll **burn them all.**"

Dahmer extended his hand. "Then let's create a better world together."

Kai grasped it.

And at that moment, the world **changed.**