Birth of Rage

As the hours passed, the thick fog began to dissipate slowly, as if the sky was breathing for the first time in ages. The sun was not visible, but faint threads of light timidly pierced through the heavy clouds, revealing the birth of a new day in the colony. The morning here was unlike any other; there were no chirping birds, no gentle breezes caressing faces—everything was tinged with melancholy. Yet, there was no time to stop or reflect. Life in the colony waited for no one, and everyone rose with the first thread of light, setting off to their tasks as if driven by an unwritten law, the law of survival.

But inside his small hut, Alucard was still deep in sleep, contrary to his usual habits. The usual hour of waking had passed, and he hadn't stirred. Lerin, who had already left for work, suddenly stopped at the door, hesitating for a moment. Her son was not one to sleep in; he was always the first to leave the hut, his determined steps leading the way in the cold morning. A hint of confusion crept into her expression, and she was overcome by a vague feeling that she should check on him.

She stepped toward the stairs leading to the upper floor where her son's room was, but before she could reach them, she was interrupted by Misa, her neighbor and workmate, who always appeared at this time, just as she did every day. Misa was a sharp-eyed woman with dark eyes that reflected a natural intelligence, and nothing escaped her easily. As soon as she saw Lerin pausing at the stairs, she asked with curiosity:

"Good morning, Lerin. Why are you heading up to Alucard's room?"

Lerin paused for a moment, torn between justifying herself or ignoring the question. But she quickly hid her concern with a faint smile and adjusted her stance as if she hadn't intended to go up in the first place. She said in a casual tone:

"Ah, nothing. I was just coming down from here."

Misa raised her eyebrows slightly but didn't comment. She simply gave a light nod before replying:

"Alright, let's go then. It seems like today will be a long one."

Lerin cast a quick glance toward the stairs again, as if trying to see beyond the closed door, then sighed silently before following Misa. Questions still lingered in her mind, but this world left no room for worry—life moved on, and work waited.

Together, they made their way to their workplace, the animal tannery, a large workshop dedicated to processing animal hides and crafting leather goods. The job was not easy; it was harsh on the hands and bones, but no harsher than life itself. Yet, Lerin and Misa found some solace in each other's company, where moments of quiet conversation amidst the hard work served as a small refuge, stolen from a merciless world.

Alucard turned slowly in his bed, as if his body resisted the idea of waking up. He opened his eyes gradually, letting the faint light seep into his consciousness. He lay there for a few moments, staring at the cracked wooden ceiling, listening to the silence that filled the room, broken only by the sound of his slow breaths. He felt an unfamiliar heaviness, as if the night had not been just hours of rest but a battlefield where his thoughts had fought relentlessly.

He took a deep breath, then pushed himself to sit up, his muscles tense, as if trying to comprehend this strange feeling he had this morning. Finally, he stood up, stretching his arms slowly, before heading toward the door, pushing it open silently, and descending to the first floor where his mother lived.

The air inside was warm compared to the cold outside, and the smell of food filled the atmosphere, bringing a sense of familiarity to the place. When he entered the kitchen, he found that Lerin had left breakfast ready on the small wooden table in the center. He sat down in front of it, contemplating the plate that had become so familiar it felt like a part of him.

The breakfast was simple but hearty, a dish that told the story of resilience in a harsh world. A boiled river fish, large enough for the two of them to share—half for him, half for his mother. The tender white flesh of the fish was soaked in a dark green sauce made from "Frost Plateau" herbs, rare plants with a pungent flavor that spread warmth through the veins. Beside it was a wooden cup filled with a mix of grains and rare nuts, which his mother had painstakingly gathered from traveling merchants. Their taste was strange, a blend of sweetness and bitterness, but oddly enjoyable, providing long-lasting energy, just what one needed in this unforgiving world.

He picked up the wooden fork and began to slowly turn the fish, eating in silence as thoughts crowded his mind. This might be the last time he sat at this table, eating a simple breakfast like this. He took a big bite, chewing slowly, letting the flavor seep into his senses. He lifted the wooden cup, taking a handful of grains and nuts, enjoying the crunchy texture and the deep taste that contrasted with the simplicity of the ingredients. This was real fuel, giving him the energy he needed to face what was coming.

But, amidst these fleeting moments, doubt crept into his mind, sneaking in like a shadow. He remembered Raiv's words about the journey, about the "Shadow Traps," about the dangers that would lurk around every corner. What the hell was he doing? Was he ready for this?

He felt a slight tremble in his hand, but he quickly shook his head, pushing those thoughts away forcefully. There was no room for hesitation now. He had chosen his path, and he had to move forward, no matter the cost.

When Alucard stepped outside, anger burned in his eyes. For the first time, he saw his quiet neighborhood for what it truly was—a void filled with illusion, a gray life without meaning, just nothingness. How had he not realized this before? How had he succumbed to this stagnation without even noticing?

He stood there, staring at the world around him as if the truth had finally struck him with brutal force. What the hell was he doing here? How had things come to this? How had he ended up trapped in this place, unable to even imagine what the world had been like before darkness took it all?

Right in front of him stood the "Children's House," a building dedicated to caring for the young, a program run by a group of specialists who handled education and everything related to the children. But to him, it was just another part of this grand illusion.

To his left stood the chicken coop, a place he knew well, but he quickly turned his face away from it, as if the memory of the "Shadow Traps" had suddenly emerged from the darkness of his mind. He didn't want to think about that now. He didn't even want to look in that direction.

To his right, the ordinary houses lined up, where Misa lived. It wasn't her house that occupied his thoughts, but what was hidden behind its walls. Misa's sister, the girl three years older than him, who, despite everything, he felt an inexplicable attraction to, as if she awakened something deep within him.

It was ironic… he didn't even know her name. Yet, he always felt her presence, saw her in the corners of his memory, in his dreams, in moments of stillness when he couldn't explain this feeling.

Alucard continued walking, his steps quickening unconsciously, as if the anger inside him needed to burn completely before it could subside. He wasn't walking just for the sake of walking; he was walking to feel as much resentment and contempt as he could for this hell they called "life." He needed this frenzy, needed to escalate it to its peak.

Then… at some point, he suddenly stopped. His eyes widened, as if something had stabbed him in the chest.

"Ooh shit… All, you bitchs!!" he shouted angrily without even realizing what he was saying. And in the blink of an eye, he took off running wildly toward the chicken coop, as if seeking a confrontation… with whom? He didn't know. Maybe with himself, or with this city that suffocated him.

He reached the coop, standing there staring at it, his breaths rapid, his face scowling as if ready for a holy war against the poor chickens. There was only silence… only him cursing and cursing nonstop, expletives flying in the air like rituals summoning a demonic entity.

And suddenly—"Splash!!"

A bucket of cold water came crashing down on him, drenching his head and clothes completely.

He stood there, frozen… water dripping from his white hair to the ground, his clothes clinging to his body. He opened his mouth slightly, slowly raising his head, as if he hadn't yet understood what had happened.

"Hahaha!! Look at him, he looks like a wet cat caught in a rainstorm!"

The culprit behind this watery crime? It was Jogan, the owner of the chicken coop. An old, toothless man whose mouth resembled a drainpipe emitting incomprehensible sounds. He spoke as if his voice came from the depths of a waterlogged cellar.

"Ugh, move along before I set your hair on fire, you pale idiot!" Jogan said in his strange voice, trying to sound threatening but ending up with a laugh that resembled the coughing of the dead rising from their graves.

Alucard remained standing, water dripping from him, staring at the old man with no clear expression. For a moment, it seemed like he was considering killing the poor man. Then suddenly, without a word, he turned and continued on his way… but not with the same wild anger. His steps were less sharp, and he was overcome by a strange feeling… shame?

He had changed… truly changed. He was angry, and he was still angry. But he was so angry… so angry that he couldn't even express his anger anymore. Inside him was a burning sensation he didn't know how to pour out onto the world.

As he walked on, with heavy steps and thoughts oscillating between anger and confusion, he found himself in front of the merchants' alley, the bustling heart of trade in the colony. Here, nothing had a fixed value; everything depended on the other person's need. A bag of rice might be worthless to a full-bellied man, but it could be a treasure to a hungry one. A sharp knife might be exchanged for a torn book, or an old necklace for a handful of salt. No laws… just need, and survival.

Alucard had always loved this alley. When he was young, he would come here with his mother, carrying things they didn't need and exchanging them for something more useful. It had been part of his routine, part of his life. He had even formed some fleeting friendships here, faces he was used to seeing, smiles he exchanged, words that didn't mean much but gave him a slight sense of belonging.

But now…

Everything seemed fake.

He stood there for a moment, his eyes wandering through the alley, the goods on display, the people negotiating eagerly, the children running between legs looking for something to steal. But he didn't see any of it.

All he saw was an illusion.

This place? This life? It wasn't real life. It never had been.

Damn them… Fuck this alley…And everything here.

He felt the anger rising inside him like a cold fire, a fire that burned only within him.

Then he suddenly turned, walking in the opposite direction, deciding to ignore the alley entirely.

He didn't want to see this place anymore. He didn't want to remember that he had once loved this place.