chapter 1: Everhart family

Author's Note: Welcome back, this chapter was made thanks to Riot Games and how badly ranked matches work.

Jiho, scared, pushed himself with effort, staggering until he finally managed to hold onto the crib. His small hands trembled as they searched for support on the bars, then, as he turned his head toward the window, he saw it.

—I'm a baby...

Not only was he a baby, but he was also handsome.

Jiho, who had grown up his entire life as someone you wouldn't want sitting next to you on the train, had become as handsome as a model—though he was still a baby.

—The mission, I must do the mission. I can't let this face be ruined by a simple monster. Wait... I'm a baby. How can I even see a monster? Also, where are the caretakers? There are too many babies crying.

Suddenly, the old entrance door began to open. Realizing this, Jiho thought the caretakers had returned and calmed down.

The enormous main doors opened slowly, allowing a group of people to enter.

A man dressed in white led the way, prompting Jiho to think:

—Even for a caretaker, he sure dresses well.

Behind him, several figures: some in armor, others in fine robes, and a group cloaked in green, their faces hidden.

The guide moved among the cribs with the groups, inspecting the babies while calling out prices to the people.

—A slave sale… but wasn't the game set in a post-slavery era? Wait, didn't I write something about slaves?

Then, he understood.

The game hadn't started yet.

What was happening now was a pre-story event: the fall of the Everhart family.

The prestigious Everhart family, also known as the family with the most tragic ending.

After the tragic death of the heir at the hands of a terrorist group, the entire family slowly crumbled, and now Jiho was in the place where it all began.

Then Jiho realized—

—The heir must be around here. If I manage to catch his attention, maybe I can get out of this place before everything is destroyed.

—But… how do I get his attention? I remember that family was the only one that truly panicked about protecting their citizens.

Jiho made a decision, and with one phrase, everything began.

—Anything to survive.

With great effort, he leaned down and grabbed a toy sword. He used all the strength in his tiny body to stand up and point the sword at the group of visitors.

One of the men in the group saw him and burst into laughter.

—Hey, guide, this kid is trying to threaten me!

The guide sighed in annoyance.

—Stop with the nonsense. These babies barely know how to use a bottle.

But the man insisted.

—I'm telling you, there's a kid standing with a sword!

Everyone, drawn by the man's shout, turned to look. The guide, irritated, turned his head… and froze.

Jiho, with his tiny figure, was standing, holding the toy sword firmly in his hands.

—We apologize for this disrespect. We'll handle it immediately.

—What are you talking about? Since he disrespected me, I should be the one to handle it.

After hearing this, the guide nodded.

Before Jiho could react, the man who had mocked him unsheathed a real sword.

Jiho felt a cold sweat run down his back.

—If that idiot doesn't show up now, I'm going to die.

The man smiled, enjoying the show. With deliberately slow movements, he raised his sword over Jiho's head… and brought it down with force.

CLANG!

A figure stepped in at the last second, blocking the strike.

—Don't you think that's enough, Sir Thrall?

The man who had stopped the sword discarded his cape, revealing armor with a golden fleur-de-lis emblem surrounded by small flowers.

—It's Sir Gwynn! Kill him!

Immediately, the other visitors drew their weapons and rushed at him.

At once, the people who had come with Sir Gwynn jumped in to protect him.

Gwynn pushed the guide back and picked Jiho up in his arms.

—I admire your bravery. You know, we have an open spot in our house. Would you like to join?

Jiho, through tears, felt happy that Sir Gwynn had saved him.

—Wait… then how did Sir Gwynn die? I mean, if he has these people helping him, it wouldn't be strange if he survived.

Then, he saw it.

The guide, covered in blood, was on the ground… drawing a summoning circle.

Jiho's eyes widened, and he desperately pounded on Gwynn's chest. The knight, confused, followed the direction of Jiho's finger, his face tensing as he shouted with force:

—KILL HIM!

The knights rushed toward him, but before they could reach him, an invisible barrier stopped them.

The guide began to laugh—loudly.

—Too late.

Gwynn looked around, then furiously shouted again.

—ESCAPE!

Jiho realized—they were going to die.

And yet, for some reason, he knew he wouldn't.

—I don't think that god sent me here just to die.

Jiho knew he had to do something. With all his faith, he raised his hand toward the guide and repeated in his mind with all his might:

—Even if it's just breaking the barrier.

Gwynn turned to look at him and saw Jiho with blood running from his nose. Before he could do anything to protect him, a deafening sound echoed through the room.

—LUX HASTA!

Suddenly, a spear of light fell upon the guide's head.

The man had no time to react. The spear pierced through him instantly, engulfing him in golden flames, and in a second, he vanished.

Jiho's arm fell limp. His body had no strength left.

In Gwynn's arms, he surrendered to exhaustion and closed his eyes.

Mission complete. Keep going.

That was the last thing he heard before losing consciousness.

Author's Note: I lost three times in DS3 because of Thrall and created a guide named Thrall to kill him.