chapter 5

Chapter 9: The Breaking Point

Jin had spent months under his master's guidance, and his progress in arrow-making was undeniable.

The shafts of his arrows were straight, the fletching precise, and the arrowheads sharp. His master even grunted in approval one day, examining his latest batch.

"Not bad, boy. Almost as good as mine." That was the closest thing to praise the old man ever gave, and Jin took it as a victory.

He wasn't strong like Shin. He wasn't fast like the village hunters. But he could make something with his own two hands.

That, at least, gave him some pride.

The day started like any other. Jin was finishing up a set of arrows when he heard Mei's voice. "Oh look, it's the arrow boy" she sneered. Jin tensed but didn't turn around.

Mei and her friends-three boys who trained in martial arts alongside her- walked up to him, smirking.

"You know,' one of the boys said, " I heard your father was such a weak hunter that he got himself killed."

Jin's hands tightened around the arrow he was holding, but he said nothing.

"Oh? No reaction?" Mei smirked. "Guess he doesn't care about that worthless drunk."

Jin swallowed hard. His father had been a failure, drowning in alcohol after abandoning them, but still-he was their father.

"Maybe he takes after his mother instead" another boy laughed. "Oh wait, she's dead too."

Jin's breath hitched.

His fingers twitched, his nails digging into his palms. His body felt hot, and something dark twisted in his chest.

Still, he didn't move. Then Mei smirked and said, "Or maybe he's just another weakling like his big brother."

Jin roared.

He lunged at Mei, his anger exploding like wildfire.

His fists swung wildly, his movements sloppy but driven by rage.

He managed to grab one of the boys by the collar and tried to punch him, but before his fist could land, the boy easily dodged and shoved him to the ground.

Jin gasped as his back hit the dirt, the air knocked from his lungs.

"Wow, look at him go!" Mei laughed.

"Maybe he thinks he can fight just because he makes weapons," one of the boys jeered.

Jin didn't care. He scrambled back up, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists. He wouldn't let them insult Shin.

He charged again, trying to hit Mei this time.

She stepped aside, grabbed his arm, and twisted it behind his back. Jin gritted his teeth, refusing to cry out.

"Pathetic,' she whispered in his ear before shoving him forward.

He staggered, barely catching himself before his knees hit the ground.

The other boys joined in, shoving him, kicking his legs out from under him, laughing as he tried to get back up every time.

His lip split. His ribs ached. His arms trembled.

But he refused to stop fighting. He lunged one last time- -

and Mei kicked him in the stomach.

Jin collapsed, gasping.

"Know your place," Mei said coldly before turning away.

Her friends laughed as they followed her.

Jin lay there, his entire body screaming in pain. The world spun. His breath was ragged.

And inside him, something cracked.

He didn't know how long he lay there before he forced himself to stand.

He couldn't go home.

Not like this. Not beaten. Not broken.

So he dragged his battered body through the village and out into the wilderness, his breath heavy, his vision blurred.

The cold evening air burned his lungs as he walked, the ache in his bones growing with every step. When he finally stopped, he was at the lake outside the village. The moon hung high, its light reflecting off the water's surface. The air was still, silent, except for the soft rustling of the trees. Jin clenched his fists.

"Why?" he whispered, his voice barely above a breath. The pain in his be "as nothing compared to the pain in his heart. "Why is it always me?" His voice cracked. He fell to his knees, punching the ground.

"Why do l have to be weak?!" he shouted. "Why do l have to be the one everyone looks down on?! Why can't I fight back?!" His fists pounded the earth again and again until his knuckles bled.

His vision blurred. His body trembled.

But no answer came.

No one was listening.

No one ever listened.

He choked back a sob and looked up at the sky, tears streaking his dirty face. "I hate this.." he whispered. "I hate this world..."

For a long time, he just sat there, his body heavy with exhaustion. Then- Something moved.

Jin's breath caught.

There, in the lake-something was floating. His entire body went rigid. For a moment, fear paralyzed him. The only thing Jin feared in this world was death-and losing Shin. And right now, that thing in the water looked far too much like a dead body. He wanted to run. Every part of him screamed to turn away.

But his legs wouldn't move.

Slowly-hesitantly-he stepped toward the lake. The water rippled as he neared. And as he got closer, his heart began to pound.

Because whatever was floating there, waiting for him... Was about to change his life forever.