Chapter Three

The sky darkens, droplets of rain gently pitter-patter against the roof tiles of nearby noble houses. Eden slowly walks down the stone pavement, leading back home to the Trench. Not even looking up from the ground, he treads almost as if he's limping while carrying his Armaments by the shield's strap. He continually reflects back on his fight with Travis, his dreams, and his vow at church. Eden couldn't shake the loss, frustration, and embarrassment inside of him. He hates how everyone called him weak, he hates how everyone laughed at him, and Eden hates how he wasn't accepted in the training camp. But what Eden hates the most is himself. He couldn't land a single hit on Travis, his lack of combat, but most of all, the title, "One Star."

Eden's thoughts waver back and forth. "What if I was able to summon a Five Star," he mutters. Would everyone cheer my name like the others? Would I've been able to enroll in the training camp? Would I be able to wield some astonishing power? These questions keep pacing through his mind; it feels as though time has slowed for him. Eden clutches his Armaments and continues dragging himself.

"This is all because I pulled a One Star," Eden curses under his breath. He looks at the eight-pointed grey star that’s engraved on the shield with disdain. his blood boils at the single star then he slams it on the ground, growling. Again and again. "I wish I pulled a Five Star."

The air becomes grouchy, the clouds flash, and the rain heavier. The dirt on Eden's clothes washes off as the sky soaks him with, leaving a stream of mud.

"Hey, son, how'd it go?"

A familiar voice calls out to Eden. He slowly lifts his head up to see Sanders, carrying a bag of groceries in one hand and an umbrella in the other. Sanders smiles at him waiting for a reply. Eden quickly avoids Sanders's gaze; he couldn't bring himself to tell him about what happened today. Eden doesn’t want to relive the disgrace he went through at the camp, and he doesn’t want to disappoint Sanders with his failure.

The only place in the kingdom that could teach Eden how to use his Armaments rejected him. Now he has no one to teach him. It's over. Eden has nothing to show to Sanders; there's nothing for him to be proud of anymore. The Armaments he has might as well just be an antique; it probably won't even sell as much as well, considering it looks like any ordinary sword and shield. Forcing a smile at Sanders, he gathers enough will to give an answer. "I-it didn't go well but t-that’s okay. I-I’ll just figure something out.” Eden scratches his head and lets out a hollow laugh.

Sanders’s smile flips into a frown. "You can stop smiling now."

Eden looks away from Sanders; his mouth quivers as he struggles to find words. Nothing will come out of his lips, so he softly chuckles instead. Eden just wants to go home and forget everything; he wants to forget about the fight, the humiliation, and the dream of becoming a Legion. Ever since becoming a One Star, it's like the whole world is telling him to give. Like being a One Star is a crime. Being a Legion is all he ever wanted; he wanted to explore the world, fight monsters, save people, and simply live a new life. Now, that dream feels impossible to reach with everyone rejecting him.

"I can see the tears in your eyes, boy."

Sanders's words snap Eden back to reality; the mask he wears cracks and shatters. Tears stream down his face like waterfalls; he tries to wipe them, but they keep falling.

"You've been bottling it up. Huh?" Sanders gently sighs.

"Sanders, you said that there is a way out of dark tunnels, right?" Eden finally stutters. "Are you sure about that? Then, why do I have to be a One Star? Why? WHY DO THESE THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO ME?!" Eden weeps loudly as the storm becomes heavier by the minute.

The shackles that pull Eden back come off and screams. He hurls his Armaments to the side, crashing down onto the cobblestone road, then falls to his knees. He slams his arms hard on the ground to the point it bruises, and the tears... just keep pouring like the rain itself. "Life has already taken my parents! What more should it take away from me! Why does life have to take away my dream too!?" His shout resonates with the crash of thunder, making it boom through the air.

"So you're just gonna sit there and cry!?" Sanders's voice overpowers the sounds of thunder and rain that almost sounds like a beast's roar.

Eden flinches at the burst of Sanders's howl and fixes his gaze up, watching him drop the umbrella and bag of groceries. Eden has never seen Sanders make such a terrifying yet sad expression before. It almost looks like he’s crying but Eden can’t tell because of all the rain. His whole life with Sanders, he never once shouted at Eden; he always smiled and laughed whenever Eden got in trouble.

"You're just gonna take their no and give up on your dream!? Stand up, boy!" Sanders's voice booms louder than the storm. "Yes! I said that there's a way out of the darkness! But I never told you that the going gets easier!" He jabs his index finger toward Eden's face making him flinch and fall back. "You think the light at the end of the tunnel is just gonna be there when you open your eyes!?"

The tears on Eden's face slowly settle as he stares at his uncle with wide eyes. The storm follows and slowly dissipates.

"Light doesn't have legs to come to you, so you gotta be the one to open your eyes to the darkness and make your way to it!" Sanders stands in a firm posture and crosses both of his arms. "If you just sit there in the dark and give up, you will never see the light, and the pain will last forever!"

"STAND UP!"

Eden abruptly gets up with his back straight, wipes his nose, and places both arms straight down at his sides.

"Do you want the bad things to end?!"

"Y-yes s-sir!"

"You stuttered! I said, do you want the bad things to end?!"

"Yes, sir!" Eden shouts more clearly now.

"Then open your eyes to the dark and walk into your dreams! Who said you have to go through the training camp to become a Legion? You can do it differently and still become a Legion!"

"Yes, sir!"

"There is more than one path that reaches your destination, you know! Just like how they're multiple ways to get home! You can take the usual route, long way, shortcut, hell, even jump on top of houses can get you home!"

'Yes, sir!"

"If one road is blocked, try another! And if they're all blocked, forge your own path!"

"YES, SIR!"

"So, what are you gonna do?!"

"I'm going to become a Legion!"

“Again!”

I’m going to become a Legion!”

“Louder!”

“I’M GOING TO BECOME A LEGION!”

Sanders slaps his hand on Eden's shoulder. "That's my boy!"

Eden and Sanders both exchange hoarse laughs. Their throats hurt from all the yelling and screaming only make them both laugh even more painful. Sanders warmly smiles at Eden, finally returning one back to him.

Streaks of sunlight begin piercing through the dark clouds, almost as if it waited for them to smile.

"So, are ya done screaming at each other now!?" A fat lady pops out of her window and yells at them. "Bunch of weirdos."

"Oh! we are so sorry!" Sanders apologizes. Both Eden and Sanders bow and scratch their heads in sync. They refrain themselves from laughing even more as the old noble lady looks ridiculous in her large obnoxious hair and frightening makeup that the two have to look away immediately, or their bottles of laughter would burst.

Eden picks up the Armaments he threw, and Sanders picks up his umbrella and bag of wet groceries.

"Sanders?" Eden asks.

"Yeah?" Sanders replies.

"Were you just crying a little while ago?" Eden chuckles with his hand, covering his mouth to stop himself from bursting out in laughter.

Sanders narrows his eyes, "No. You probably just saw the rain running down my face." He turns away from Eden and walks away.

"Hey, wait!" Eden chuckles and jogs to catch up with Sanders.

"Hurry and leave already! You're in my window view!" The woman barks, gesturing her hand to shoo them away.

They both trail down the cobblestone road toward the Trench. They both take one last look at the fat lady, waving her hands at them and snicker.