Sanguine War Era

Chapter 1: Losing is a new beginning

Ominous clouds loomed above the land of information, lightning stretched across the sky with thunder making crackling sound. People were scattering around frantically for shelter in the tiny streets of Prosarea, one of the many shopping districts of Peacius. Shopkeepers were trying in desperation to prevent their goods from becoming soggy in the rain. Carts of fruits, vegetables, meat and anything that one can sell under the sun, were being pushed by the street vendors to a place safe from the invasion of rain. Every resident of Peacius was occupied with getting as far away from the shower of rain water as possible. In this commotion, there was a particular group of people in a dark alley of the shopping district. A frail boy had his back against the dead end of the alley while a burly looking teenager with freckles spread out around his cheeks together with his skinny and bald partners, they surrounded the boy like hungry hyenas surrounding their prey. An escape from this tight situation would require a miracle from the god, Cei, god of mobility.

''Teiga, Teiga, you want to know why we are in this familiar alley again?'' said one of the freckled teenager with an evil grin written on his face.

''Heh, as if you need to explain. To extort me of my money again of course. But my father will help me get my revenge on you. However, I'll be really surprised if there were any other reas-'', before Teiga could complete his sentence, a flying fist straight from the freckled teenager clobbered his face. The force from the impact from the punch knocked the 7 Sets old Teiga into the wall with a loud thud coming from his head. He slumped down onto the ground. Teiga was unable to take in what just happened, only aware that he was sitting down on the cobblestone ground and leaning against the wall. Upon hearing the 'thud' and seeing Teiga slump down onto the ground, the bullies hesitated in preparing for another offensive.

''Oh fuck, was my punch too hard?'' said the freckled teenager as he turned his head gradually to his skinny counterparts, looking for confirmation.

''I don't know man.'' replied the skinny counterparts as they shrugged in unison.

Teiga lifted up his stick-like arm to touch the back of his head, trying to feel any possible bleeding. Feeling nothing, Teiga tried to get back up onto his feet but it was a futile effort as he dropped back onto the ground like a sack of potatoes. Seeing the moving Teiga, the bullies went on the offensive again, confident that he could withstand the impacts. With the freckled teenager dragging Teiga across the ground face down while his skinny counterparts kicked him in the abdomen, causing him to start coughing with a noticeable volume of blood. Kicks and punches were thrown at Teiga until he stopped flinching from the pain. Thinking that it was enough, the bullies wanted to achieve their main objective and the freckled teenager stretched his hand into the pocket of the fancy shirt that Teiga was wearing. Touching around in search of the money filled sachet. Once the hand has gotten a hold of the sachet, the bullies strolled out of the scene, leaving the debilitated child with sarcastic remarks.

Rain water soon came pouring down from the grey sky. As the rain water pelted the innocent looking face of Teiga, he slowly regained consciousness. He attempted to absorb all the information about the one-sided fight and realised that he lost to the bullies without much resistance, similar to a flying tree branch in a hurricane. The young boy laid on the ground as though seeking consolation from the cold and wet cobblestone floor. Receiving no response, droplets of tears formed a steady queue on his cheeks. He was not crying because of the needles of pain that stung him every now and then. But he was crying because of his weakness. Teiga was not able to savour triumph upon defeating the 'hungry hyenas' but instead he got to savour the salty taste of rain water on the sturdy ground.

''WHY!? Even though I am part of the renowned Ura clan, I was unable to even put up a proper fight against those bastards!'' Teiga thought to himself while slamming his small fist into the ground; a slam so weak that not even a single ripple formed in the puddle of rain water. He tried his best to reflect on his past actions, choices and thoughts only to realise it was his own naivety that landed him in his current plight. Thinking that his family's power was sufficient to defeat the bullies. The cold rain was falling from the sky as though trying to comfort the boy, trying to douse out the fire of hatred in him. However, the rain made the boy seem pathetic, lying on the ground with water-soaked nobleman clothes. This portrayed the very image of a failure of a nobleman in his young mind. That vivid image of failure soon spurred the now determined Teiga to make a vital decision; the decision to find the strength to fight, through the way of the Ura blade from his father, Levi Ura, the current clan head.