The Past: Anxiety and Apprehension

At midnight, the villagers throw a weekend party over the success of Fenrius who has stolen another cargo. Thanks to the boy's strategy, the gang of children were again unharmed, much different without him. In the warmth of the bar, the bonfire dances along with the music that brings the soul of glory to life. The strum of the guitar massages the ear from the voice of the human heart. They clapped together while singing.

Hearing the excitement inside the bar, the flirtatious wriggling of the trees outside also struggled, dancing swaying in the wind accompanied by the sound of night singing that formed an orchestra. Beautifully melodious in musical harmony and tone. A chill and a mountain mist descended on the village as if wanting to dance with them at tonight's party.

On the darkest day, on the brightest night!

Take the hard way, for us to enjoy—

The savior of the day, the watchman of the night!

Come on let's play, The Witching Night Boy...!

O, Fenrius, where are your daddy and mommy?!

A Child prodigy, who fell from the sky,

Praise the Deity, in the heaven sky...!

Know our agony, away from the city,

Come on Fenry, continue your story...

...................... (The song continues about the previous brave children; one of them is Fenrius who before became the leader of a children's gang. They participate in eradicating the monsters in the Gronoa mountains such as goblins, trolls, spirits, harpies, spiders, Yeti, and Ice Dragon. And because their actions are commendable, this song was created.)

The rain came to join in the fun, filling the party with all the sounds of joy. Lightning flashed into a flash of light, the party grew livelier with the sound of shaking thunder. They laughed together and toasted. All joy, all happiness, no tears, no sorrow, hopefully, the natural feast outside is not a disaster for the attitude of human kindness.

This was the first time the beggar boy listened to a beautiful song that wanted to make him cry. During a month away, he did not expect his sacrifice to be able to be sung a song that bound his heart to Runeverse. It was too late to turn a deaf ear, everyone in the village already knew his name. His eyes gazed at the fire, his face lit up and imagined, the flame of the torch still within him, not wanting to die like a smoldering bonfire.

People swayed rhythmically as if they had forgotten themselves to the beat of percussion in the inns frequented by travelers. There was the clatter of the feet of a group of soldiers in iron armor, tapping the ground from outside which drowned out the music.

The bar door opened loudly, startling the bar's occupants. On the chest of the soldiers' armor was the emblem of the Black Hydra. They were compactly silent when Atria troops came with angry faces. Especially their commander whose face clearly looks like it's boiling with billowing smoke, getting dizzy thinking about this village again.

“Cursed you stinking street bastards!” ranted the Atria commander. “This is already the umpteenth time our supplies have been stolen! You must be held accountable, you thief!!”

The villagers looked at each other, not understanding what the commander was talking about. The existence of these soldiers is very old-fashioned, disturbing the fun. Even though there is no evidence of missing supplies the last time they checked the slum from house to house. The pungent odor from the village sewers did not seem to dispel their sense of smell completely and keep them away from the region.

"Sorry, but what you're talking about has absolutely nothing to do with us," said one of the villagers who then continued drinking.

The Atria commander came to the villager, and strangled him up, “Don't pretend you don't know, thief! If my patience runs out don't expect to be alive tomorrow!"

"The thief you mean is not here," interrupted a black-haired boy bravely.

The boy's bravado caught their attention. Who else if not Fenrius, the beggar boy who would not stand still when he saw soldiers in majestic and radiant armor trample down poor ragged peasants. His modesty was born to defend the weak. After fighting the beasts, Fenrius' guts increased drastically. His gaze was defiant as if nothing scared him anymore.

The commander let go of his stranglehold and headed towards the boy, “I heard that recently there's a children’s gang who often attack our couriers! Give me an explanation if you don't want to be a battered brat!”

“Little children? Fighting soldiers with armor and weapons? You're kidding, right? It's more likely a black sheep in the palace, sleeping and eating under the same roof as you."

The commander opened his eyes wide, slightly startled, “The royal member who stole his own supplies?! Name it! Or give me proof!”

"Who knows?" said the boy casually.

The angry commander grumbled harshly, “You stupid brat! There could be no spies or traitors in the blankets. And if tomorrow there is another theft, we will destroy this village! This is my last warning!”

The Atria Commander, who couldn't stand the smell of the villagers, hit the table and left the bar, followed by his soldiers. Their tracks are gone, and the bar atmosphere is quiet as the grave. The villagers breathed a sigh of relief when there was no sign of them anymore. Several people glanced at each other, then stifled laughter.

In an instant, everyone in the bar burst out laughing together and continued the party again. Fenrius' smile broadened. Seeing them laugh together is also comforting. The last time the soldiers behaved this way, three villagers were killed and several seriously injured. Again, the boy saved an entire village, not with a sword or throwing punches, but with his silver tongue and selfless heart. He is a lucky boy.

“Hey, Fenrius! Are you going to steal their supplies again?”

"Of course, if not, won't they grow suspicious?"

“But what if they want to annihilate this village?”

“If they want to annihilate this village, we just have to fight them.”

Thanks to the boy's blessing, the noble souls of the villagers were awakened. They had promised, from now on, whatever the boy did, they would support him. As long as there are villagers, this village will never be destroyed. The classic statement, if one goes to war, then we all go to war!

The bar owner responded to Fenrius' words, “No, you can't steal anymore, Fenrius. You've done everything for this village. If it weren't for you, maybe we'd blame each other and never be together."

“That's why I had to do it,” insisted Fenrius who remained stubborn. “To keep this village safe, I simply stole without being caught by them.”

"Fenrius! Don't be rash! Surely they will add a courier escort,” the bar owner reminded him again. “The longer you play with fire, the bigger it will become, and burn you!”

Fenrius was at a loss for words, he resigned himself to their words, “Okay... I guess I have no choice,” he relented, jumping off his chair and going out of the bar.

The beautiful and long night ended as the rain and thunder died down. The quiet night cools the anger, it's time for the children to go into their rooms and fall asleep hoping for sweet dreams. There were only a few people who were still drinking beer.

Under the ditch, the exhausted Fenrius headed to his thin mat to sleep. One thing that didn't bother him was that he didn't have to get up early. He was pensive about his actions last night that angered the Atria soldiers. Everything he did, harming the village or not, had nothing to do with it as long as he kept fighting. Damn it! Thanks to that bitter experience, he couldn't sleep like the other kids.

He doesn't even remember his parents when he was a toddler, but he's grateful to be a beggar and a thief, what a humiliating life in Runeverse. But when he thought about the rhyme again, his negative thoughts were thrown away, his eyes slowly felt heavy and finally, everything went dark, Fenrius fell asleep in a sweet dream as the song resonated.