return of death

The Festival Beyond the Wall

The next morning, Leon woke up earlier than usual.

A smile rested on his face as he quickly prepared for the day.

Today was special.

Not because of the festival.

Not because of the city.

But because it was Asura's ninth birthday.

Leon wanted it to be a surprise.

A real surprise.

Something his friend would never forget.

Soon, the two boys began walking toward the massive wall that separated the noble district from the outer settlements.

As they approached, the giant gates towered above them like mountains of stone.

The walls stretched endlessly in both directions, guarded by heavily armed soldiers.

For most slaves and commoners...

Passing through these gates was impossible.

Asura looked up at the massive structure.

Even after seeing it every day from afar, it still felt imposing.

Two guards stepped forward.

Guard:

"Halt."

His eyes landed on Asura.

"And who is this?"

Leon answered immediately.

Leon:

"My cousin."

"He came from another province to visit."

The guard narrowed his eyes suspiciously before eventually nodding.

Guard:

"Very well."

"You may pass."

The giant gates slowly opened.

And for the first time in his life...

Asura stepped beyond the wall.

The moment he entered...

He froze.

Everything looked different.

Everything.

The streets were clean.

Stone roads stretched neatly across the city.

Beautiful houses lined both sides.

Colorful flowers decorated windows and gardens.

People walked through the streets wearing clean clothes and smiling faces.

There was no smell of dirt.

No starving children.

No collapsing houses.

For a moment...

Asura simply stared.

To someone born and raised in the outer settlements...

This place looked like heaven.

Nine years.

For nine years he had lived surrounded by poverty and suffering.

And now...

He was seeing another world hidden behind a single wall.

Leon noticed his expression and smiled.

Leon:

"Pretty amazing, isn't it?"

Asura slowly nodded.

Asura:

"...Yeah."

A strange feeling filled his chest.

Not jealousy.

Not anger.

Confusion.

Why did one side of the wall live like kings...

While the other side suffered?

Before he could think further, Leon grabbed his arm excitedly.

Leon:

"Come on!"

Asura blinked.

Leon:

"There's a festival today."

Asura looked confused.

Asura:

"A festival?"

Leon stopped.

Leon:

"Wait..."

His eyes widened.

"You've never been to a festival?"

Asura shook his head.

Leon smiled.

Leon:

"Then let's go."

The closer they got to the city center, the louder everything became.

Music filled the air.

Children laughed.

Bright banners danced in the wind.

Thousands of lights hung from buildings like stars.

The festival was alive.

Asura's eyes widened.

Food stalls stretched endlessly across the streets.

Roasted meat.

Sweet pastries.

Colorful fruits.

Candy shaped like animals.

Games.

Music.

Performers.

Dancers.

Magicians.

Everywhere he looked...

People were smiling.

For the first time in both his lives...

Asura simply enjoyed himself.

He had spent one life surviving.

And another life growing up in poverty.

He had never truly experienced happiness like this.

A small smile appeared on his face.

Leon noticed immediately.

Leon:

"Do you like it?"

Asura nodded.

Asura:

"I do."

The smile on his face became slightly wider.

Leon looked around at the joyful crowd.

Then his expression became serious.

Leon:

"One day..."

Asura looked toward him.

Leon clenched his fist.

Leon:

"One day, I'll change this kingdom."

Asura remained silent.

Leon continued.

Leon:

"I want everyone to enjoy things like this."

"Not just nobles."

"Not just rich people."

"Everyone."

For a brief moment...

Asura found himself believing those words.

Then—

A familiar voice interrupted them.

"Well, well."

Three noble boys approached from the crowd.

The same boys who constantly mocked Leon.

The leader smirked.

Noble Boy:

"Leon."

His eyes shifted toward Asura.

Noble Boy:

"Oh?"

"Who's this?"

Another boy laughed.

"Looks like some little prince."

Then his smile became cruel.

"Or are you finally done playing with that slave?"

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Leon stepped forward.

Leon:

"Shut up."

The noble boys looked surprised.

Leon:

"Leave."

The leader's expression darkened.

Noble Boy:

"What did you say?"

Before Leon could react—

One of the boys grabbed his collar.

Everything happened quickly.

Asura moved immediately.

His old instincts activated.

He threw a punch.

The boy stumbled back.

But reality quickly reminded him of something.

He was no longer the Ripper.

He was only a nine-year-old child.

Three against two.

The fight didn't last long.

Minutes later...

Both Asura and Leon sat on the ground near an alley.

Covered in bruises.

Covered in dirt.

The noble boys had already left.

Asura clenched his fists.

His body hurt.

But what hurt more...

Was the realization.

Asura (internal):

"I'm weak."

His mind flashed back to Reza.

To Mira.

To his little sister.

To his parents.

Asura (internal):

"I couldn't protect anyone before..."

His fists trembled.

Asura (internal):

"And even now..."

Suddenly—

A strange sound interrupted his thoughts.

Someone was laughing.

Asura looked beside him.

Leon was laughing.

Actually laughing.

Despite his bruised face.

Despite the blood on his lip.

Asura stared at him.

Asura:

"Why are you laughing?"

Leon wiped a tear from his eye.

Leon:

"Because..."

He laughed again.

Leon:

"For the first time in my life..."

He looked toward the sky.

Leon:

"I stood up to someone."

A smile appeared on his face.

Leon:

"And yeah..."

He touched the bruise on his cheek.

"We got beaten badly."

Then he laughed again.

"But honestly..."

His eyes sparkled.

"It was fun."

For a moment...

Asura simply stared at him.

Then...

Against all reason...

Against all logic...

He started laughing too.

The two boys sat there beneath the setting sun.

Bruised.

Dirty.

Broken.

And happier than they had any right to be.

Neither of them knew it yet.

But this day...

Would become one of the memories they cherished most.

Because some bonds are not forged through victory.

They are forged through hardship.

And beneath the golden light of the setting sun...

The friendship between Asura and Leon grew even stronger.

And ausra returned toward his home, happy, happy, but he did not know about the storm that was coming.

End of Chapter 8