Allen’s Memories

Allen slightly calmed the turbulent emotions caused by her crying.

She tried to gently suppress the sobs in her throat.

She tried very hard.

But it seemed to have the opposite effect.

The more she tried to control herself.

The more uncontrollable it became.

She had already had enough.

Everything seemed capable of driving her insane.

She wanted to find someone to confide in.

Someone she could rely on.

Someone who felt safe.

Now everything around her felt like a demon.

Stretching sharp claws out of the darkness.

As if trying to tear Allen apart.

Yet Allen tightly held one hand.

Luna’s hand.

A faint warmth flowed from that palm.

Passing through Allen’s hand that was covered in cold sweat.

That hand gave Allen an overwhelming sense of security.

If she had to describe it.

It was like a single lamp standing in a corner of absolute darkness.

Warm and comforting.

“That was something that started when I was very very young.”

Allen said hesitantly.

Her voice was filled with confusion.

As if she were carefully searching through her memories.

“When I was very very little.

I was already alone.”

“You mean you were an orphan.”

Luna interrupted and asked.

“Mm not exactly.

Not entirely.”

Allen said while suppressing her sobs.

“I wasn’t an orphan.

But in a way I was.

I was born into a single parent family.”

The story goes like this.

Nineteen years ago.

When I was very very young.

I noticed that no matter how much I invited my brothers to play with me.

They would always stay far away from me.

At that time I didn’t understand why.

But I would still follow their footsteps.

Even if it was only from far away.

Just watching them made me very happy.

I wanted to join them.

To play ball together.

But what I usually got in return.

Was my brothers leaving without saying a word.

I didn’t understand why.

I didn’t understand why they disliked me so much.

Back then.

My biggest wish during the Ice and Snow Festival.

Was not like the ordinary wishes of other children.

What I wanted was very special.

And also very simple.

I wanted to play ball with my two brothers just once.

Such a simple wish.

Yet it was never fulfilled.

I also didn’t understand why my father treated me the same way as my brothers did.

He ignored me.

It was as if I were transparent to him.

He never cared about my life or death.

And yet.

He still provided me with the same living conditions as my two brothers.

Anything I wanted.

As long as I told the servants.

I could get it.

That was also the reason I managed to live until now.

I never understood why my father and my brothers treated me with such coldness.

We were clearly family.

Until one day.

I finally seemed to understand why everything was like this.

That day was a gloomy rainy morning.

I was woken up early by a servant.

I didn’t know what had happened.

The servant said it was my father’s order.

As the third child.

I naturally had to obey.

The servant dressed me in a solemn black formal outfit.

Then led me deep into the woods of the garden.

At that place.

My father.

My brothers.

And a large group of stewards and servants.

Were already standing there.

Everyone was dressed in black.

They were surrounding a low grave.

On it was engraved the name Golia.

“The owner of the grave.

I think that must have been your mother.”

Luna said softly.

“Yes.

A woman who was hated.”

The memorial ended amid the chanting of the priests.

At that moment.

I saw my father who never showed emotion shed tears.

My brothers burst into loud sobs.

Only I.

I stood there alone.

Completely stunned.

Not knowing what to do.

Should I be happy.

Or sad.

I had no memory at all of the woman named Golia.

My childish self stubbornly stood there.

Murmuring to my brothers.

“Don’t cry.

Don’t cry.”

That afternoon.

A light rain began to fall.

I was forcefully grabbed by my two brothers.

They lifted me up.

And dragged me into the wine cellar.

“You monster.

Do you even know what you’ve done.”

My eldest brother Alex shouted.

At the same time his hand struck my face hard.

“I don’t know.”

I cried in reply.

“You really are honest.”

Without another word Alex slapped me again.

The intense pain in my face and the overwhelming force sent me crashing to the ground.

Alex clearly had no intention of letting me go.

He straddled me.

Forced my face upward.

And roared.

“Do you know this.

It’s all because of you.

You destroyed our family.

Because of you.

You walking curse.

Why did you have to be born.”

He shouted furiously.

His fists raining down on my face.

“I don’t understand.

Why are you hitting me.”

“It was you.

Do you know that.

It was because of you that my mother and Charlotte’s mother died from difficult childbirth.

Why did you come into this world.”

“Mother died because of me.”

Was it because of me.

Because of me.

Because of me.

“That’s right.

Why don’t you just die.”

“Why do you look so much like mother.

Are you mocking us.”

Alex didn’t stop.

He kept punching me again and again.

My head became dizzy.

But the metallic taste of blood in my mouth kept me from losing consciousness.

After an unknown amount of time.

As my consciousness faded.

I saw Alex and Charlotte climb out through the cellar’s only exit.

With a clear click.

The door was locked from the outside.

They intended to lock me inside the cellar to die.

After that I lost consciousness.

A long time later.

When I finally woke up.

I was surrounded by darkness.

Pitch black darkness.

I couldn’t see anything.

I curled up in a corner of the cellar wall.

Shivering from the cold.

A child’s imagination is limitless.

In the darkness I was terrified by monsters created in my own mind.

I don’t know how I survived those two days and nights in the cellar.

I only know that when I was tortured to the brink of mental collapse.

Someone finally opened the cellar door.

It was my personal servant.

In the entire mansion.

Only one person noticed that I had gone missing.

When I was carried before my father.

He didn’t say a single word.

He only ordered the servants to apply medicine to my wounds.

And carry me back to my room.

Of course.

My two brothers were not punished at all.

The next day.

They came to visit me.

After pretending to show concern.

They dismissed all the servants.

Lowered their voices.

And said to me.

“If you don’t want to die.

Don’t ever appear in front of us again.”

“Otherwise we’ll lock you in the cellar every time we see you.”

After saying that.

They laughed.

And left the room.

I was extremely afraid of the darkness.

I truly believed they would do it again.

From that day on.

I wrapped myself tightly in my blanket.

And never left my room again.

Everything I needed was inside.

There was a bathroom and a toilet.

So I began my long journey of self preservation.

Meals were brought by servants.

When I felt bored.

I asked them to bring books from the mansion’s library.

That became my daily routine.

Because my hair went untrimmed for so long.

It grew frighteningly long.

For convenience.

I had the servants bring me a comb.

And I would groom my hair while reading.

Until one day.

My father suddenly remembered me.

Maybe he was just bored.

But he came.

Perhaps my brothers were right.

I really did look too much like my mother.

When my father saw me curled up in bed with long hair while reading.

He suddenly burst into tears like a child.

He knelt beside my bed.

Crying out helplessly.

“Golia.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.”

“It’s all my fault.

I’m sorry.”

I froze there.

Not knowing how to respond.

After that incident.

My father never came to my room again.

Days passed.

Or maybe months.

I don’t know how much time went by.

One day.

An old man with white hair and beard came into my room.

“Are you Allen.”

He asked kindly.

I nodded.

Then shook my head.

“Don’t be afraid.

My name is Michelangelo.

I am a teacher.”

I nodded.

Then shook my head again.

“Well.

Have you heard of Anli.”

The old man asked with a smile.

I nodded.

Anli was a dragon slaying hero.

A legendary figure chosen by the gods.

Protected by divine power.

Who saved the continent.

“Do you want to become a hero like Anli.”

The old man asked.

I nodded.

“Then come with me now.

Your father has already agreed.”

He draped a red and black blanket embroidered with a golden griffin emblem over my head.

I grabbed a few books from beside the bed.

Followed him out of my room.

Out of the mansion.

And went to Gryffindor Academy.

“This is what happened when I was a child.”

Allen said softly.

Her hands were still tightly gripping Luna’s hand.

With no intention of letting go.