Changes

Two years had passed since the tragedy that happened in Jasmine. All the other assentments on that region got alarmed for months after they heard what happened in that small village. No one could believe that a Phoenix, a Primordial Ancient, could go crazy and suddenly attack that place.

Beast Hunters appeared from time to time on those lands to do a full patrol on the perimeter and try to find any traces of the passage of other beasts there. Sometimes, an Ancient or another always passed near assentments, it was something common. But one would clearly show its intentions to attack if it was in the mood for it.

After some investigation, they were sure that the Phoenix came from far away lands, but it didn't settle anywhere in that region for sure, which was another strange thing about its approach that made the Beast Hunters get even more confused. Generally, it wouldn't just go straight to a specific place, attack, then go straight back.

After almost one year of investigation, they put that case as an isolated anomaly that happened exclusively in that village, probably because two of the people in that place who died at the hands of that Ancient were very powerful, and their amount of Mana might have had attracted the beast's attention.

That was the only explanation. If it was right or not, they didn't care. They could not stay there forever to solve those cases and forget that they had other duties to accomplish in the frontline and defending other cities that were closer to the Thresholds and had more cases of Ancient's attacks.

Jasmine received a benefit from the owners of that county. As they were a profitable village regarding taxes, count Mark decided to help them to rebuild the houses of the people who were still alive and give the basis to start their little business again.

It was really kind of him, in the perspective of that folk. At least, he seemed kind at the start. However, the most cunning people residing in Jasmine knew that the count was interested in the lands of their village and how fertile their soil was.

Before, it was a village that needed to pay taxes but was emancipated from the county because of the prestige and power of Arthur Stormray. Nonetheless, now that their elder was gone, also as his only son, they couldn't stand against count Mark.

Also, most of the villagers were deceived by the count and the guards.

"Now that you all know that the dangers of this world are nearby, and we never know when another tragedy will happen, it's better to be under the wings of the county and accept our intervention in the development of Jasmine and its lands.

"If back then you had the protection of the county, you would have been saved earlier, and the Beast Hunters would appear in time to kill the Ancient."

With those words that were surely just a way to attach Jasmine to the county, so they could transform it into a commercial object, count Mark was able to make the new eldest of the folk assign a treaty which made the village get into the total power of the county.

This way, Jasmine's folk and the entire land were basically sold, but with a price higher than the benefits.

...

"Get him, Matteo! Get him!" The loud sound of men yelling and laughing was heard through the not so peaceful village of Jasmine.

It was noon. Because of the hour, everyone knew what was happening there. After all, that kind of show usually happened when the sun was already at its peak. At least two days per week, they would hear the same thing around that time.

Meanwhile, a beauty was crossing the streets of Jasmine at full speed, seeming desperate and in a hurry for some reason. That was a sight that happened often as well.

Alice had turned fourteen just some months ago. She was now considered one of the most beautiful ladies in the village. Every man that passed by there could only crave their eyes on her and don't let go until she turned to another street.

Her silver hair was as beautiful as always, straight and silky, and had a nice smell. Her skin wasn't too pale, it was pinkish skin color, in which her cheeks were always somewhat blushed. Her face matured as well, having a diamond shape, red delicate lips, and the same sharp emerald eyes as before. Her body had sumptuous curves, which was incredible due to her current conditions.

But there was something that made her keep safe from the hands of all the bourgeois men that now settled in Jasmine: her legs.

Since the incident from one year ago, she hadn't been able to move anything from her waist down.

Of course, those men who just had eyes for her body wouldn't want a defective woman who couldn't even move properly. That's why they never touched a finger on her. Also, her father struggled all those years to gather as much prestige and fame as he could as the main healer of the village, so he could keep his daughter safe.

At that noon, Alice was crossing the streets on top of her wheelchair as always. However, noon was an unusual time for her to be taking a stroll, except if THAT thing was happening again.

Without the fear of being hurt by that careless rush, she pushed the wheels of the chair at max speed, following the sound of those screams to get to the right street.

"Go! You are too weak, little boy! Raise from the ground!"

"Don't let him trick you, Matteo!"

"Oh, shit! It must have hurt a lot!"

"Use the sword, Matteo!"

The girl had tears in her eyes, but those weren't of sadness, but fury. She was tired to deal with that idiocy every time.

Alice needed to take five minutes more to finally get to the right place. When she arrived, the moods had already soothed. The guards of the city were walking off while taking the last sips of their mead.

"You arrived late today, Alice!" One of them mocked."Your boy is already done!"

One of the guards kicked the one who spoke that in the butt.

"Hahaha! You are saying it as if he didn't do a good job today. That's not true at all, since he fought with three men one after another for fifteen minutes. If you don't remember, he beat the shit out of your brother before getting spanked by Matteo!"

"Shuddup! My brother was drunk. Tsk!"

The last guard to stay there was in the middle of the circle they were doing before, he had his hands covered in blood and was looking at a boy kneeling on the ground.

"Next time, remember to get me first, little shrimp." He spoke, finally, spitting on him and following his friends. That guy sure seemed to be strong, different from the other drunks that crossed Alice's way.

The girl sighed once she saw the state of her childhood friend. She drove the wheelchair in front of him, her face was filled with anger.

Alice put her hands on his shoulders.

"What the hell are you doing, Dean!? Fighting with guards all the time, training every single day, not eating properly, and working like a slave... Do you want to kill yourself? Are you wasting the efforts that your father and grandfather made to raise you and keep you alive?"

The boy, who had his face all swallowed and his clothes torn, also as his hands hurt and covered with dried blood, looked at her. His eyes were burning with hatred.

"I said to you not to involve yourself with it. I am fine."

"For how many times will you revolt like this!? Isn't it enough? Don't you think it's about time to become an adult and start to act like one, you idiot!? Some people care about you out there and they are suffering due to your change and the way you are going with your life by now."

"Who?" He murmured, his voice filled with pain. "Who is even caring about me?"

"I AM! Why do you think I, a cripple, am driving this heavy wheelchair under this hot sun at noon just to help you!? Stop being stupid, Dean!" She was shaking him at each phrase she said. She had a furious expression, but behind her eyes was suffering and pain as well.

Alice didn't complain at all. Not even a single day. She didn't care to have become a cripple. But what made her sob every night was knowing the type of life that her best friend was deciding to have. Alice could only think that his dad and grandpa were looking at him from the heavens with disgust right now.

"Dean... Dean looked at me!" The boy forced his swallowed eyes to open sufficiently to look at her.

He thought that her agonized and angry face would make him get sad and regret what he did until now, but that wasn't the case. Dean didn't feel anything when looking at Alice. He couldn't bring himself to have a hint of empathy for her suffering.

Every time when he considered opening his eyes enough to look to the outside world, he would remember the scene of his father getting burned until the last bone.

"Dean, when will you stop to hate so much?" She asked, on the verge of tears.

"I don't know... I can't know at all..." The boy said, his crimson eyes were more opaque than charcoal, and his voice had no motivation at all.