Chapter 4: The weight of promise
1010 Words
A shadow loomed behind him.
Henry saw it—the glistening claws, the deadly intent. He opened his mouth to warn Arial—
Too late.
The attack came swift and merciless, piercing straight through Arial’s chest.
Time slowed.
Henry’s breath left his lungs. He watched in horror as Arial’s sword slipped from his fingers, clattering onto the bloodstained ground. His brother staggered, a weak smile crossing his lips—his gaze filled with pain, but also something else. Acceptance.
And then—
He fell.
Henry lunged forward, catching Arial before his body hit the ground. Trembling, he cradled his brother, pressing his hands desperately against the wound. Warm blood seeped through his fingers, refusing to stop.
"No—No, no, no!" Henry’s voice cracked, his chest tightening with grief. "You promised me! You said I wouldn’t get evicted! You promised—!"
Arial coughed, a weak and broken sound. His fingers feebly grasped Henry’s sleeve. "I… kept my promise… Now it's time to keep yours, Henry."
Henry’s heart pounded as he listened.
"Remember," Arial whispered, his voice barely audible. "Our parents… always said we were twins of the moon… born to save the world."
Tears blurred Henry's vision, but he nodded. From the memories of his past life, he knew Arial spoke the truth.
"Promise me…" Arial’s voice wavered, his breathing shallow. "You'll train hard… And when the time comes… you'll save the world."
Henry swallowed the lump in his throat. "I promise," he whispered, his tears falling freely.
A faint smile touched Arial’s lips. "Thank you… brother."
And then, with a final exhale, he surrendered to the darkness.
Henry held him tighter, shaking, as the battlefield around him blurred into nothing but pain and loss.
"Nooooooo!" His anguished scream tore through the air.
As if responding to his grief, the battle began to fade. The vile creatures that had once filled the battlefield vanished into thin air, dissolving like shadows before the dawn.
A sudden voice echoed in Henry’s mind.
[System integration completed.]
---
System Update
Name: Henry Darko
Race: Hunter
Age: 18
Level: 1
Exp: 0/1000
Health: 100/100
Skills: None
Spells: None
Weapon: Basic Dagger
Talent Limit: 4
---
Skill Points: 0
Attribute Points: 0
Strength: 2
Agility: 2
Intelligence: 5
Stamina: 5
Mana Capacity: 1.5
Magical Capacity: 0
---
At first, Henry had believed life in this world would be easy. But Arial’s death shattered that illusion. Worse, everyone at the academy blamed him for it.
And so, Henry made a silent vow.
'I will train. I will grow stronger. It doesn’t matter if my body is weak. I will make sure I rise to the top.
But most of all—
Zazu.
The name of the creature that killed his brother. The way it smiled as it drank Arial’s blood.
I will hunt them down. Every last one of them.
--------------
The academy halls were suffocating. Not because of their size, but because of the whispers. The stares.
Henry was ranked dead last. Too weak. Too insignificant. A stain on the academy.
He walked to his classroom, his steps heavy. Around him, the students whispered, their venomous words wrapping around him like chains.
"It’s his fault Arial died."
"Pathetic. He doesn’t belong here."
"He should’ve been the one to die instead."
The laughter followed him, digging into his skin, burrowing into his mind.
'Why did the goddess reincarnate me like this? Why can’t I be strong like my brother? Like the high-ranking students?'
The question burned in his heart as he clenched his fists.
They were getting stronger. And he—
He was standing still.
--------------
It had been a month since Henry officially became a student at the academy.
And nothing had changed.
He walked through the hallways with his head down, trying to make himself invisible. But they always saw him.
They saw the grief, the vulnerability that refused to fade.
And they hated it.
"Hey, weakling! Get over here."
Henry’s breath caught. 'Not now… please, not now'.
He turned, dread settling in his stomach. A large, bulky student sneered at him.
Henry took a step back. Then another. He tried to turn away—
A hand grabbed his arm.
"Where do you think you’re going, trash?"
A second student stood in front of him, blocking his path.
Henry's pulse pounded. 's**t…'
/SWOOSH/
He barely had time to react before a fist came flying toward his face.
His body moved instinctively—arms raised, bracing for impact.
/THUD/
Pain exploded through his skull as he was sent crashing to the ground.
Blood dripped from his lips. He gasped, but no sound came out.
"Come on, crybaby," one of the students sneered. "Show me your strength."
They kicked him. Pushed him. Spat on him.
Henry curled inward, his body trembling. He could hear their laughter, ringing in his ears like a cruel melody.
"Your brother isn't here to save you."
That one hurt the most.
He bit his lip to stop the sob from escaping.
'Why? Why did I have to be reincarnated into this world? Why am I so weak?'
Darkness began creeping at the edges of his vision. His body ached, but it didn’t matter anymore. He could feel their fists, their feet striking him—but none of it mattered anymore.
Then, as if from a dream—
"Henry."
A voice.
Faint at first. Then louder.
"Henry."
A chill ran down his spine. He knew that voice.
His eyes fluttered open, and there—
Standing before him, wearing warrior’s armor, sword in hand—
Was Arial.
Henry’s breath caught.
"Brother?" he whispered, his voice breaking.
Arial smiled, warm and reassuring. "Henry. Remember your promise."
Henry’s hands trembled as he reached out. But his fingers passed through Arial like mist.
He wasn’t real.
And yet, his words burned into Henry’s soul.
"Don’t forg
et to train hard. You’re the savior of this world."
And just like that—Arial was gone.
Henry lay there, staring at the empty space where his brother had stood.
Then, slowly—painfully—he clenched his fists.
- Writer
