Extra's Path To Demon King-Chapter 37: Aspect Awakening Trial [3]
Chapter 37 - Aspect Awakening Trial [3]
"Damn it, this cretin just dirtied my clothes." stated the patrol guard while looking at his foot which he used to kick the dirty beggar. His pants now had some black stains on them. Which he looked at in disgust, the anger in the guard intensified as he looked back towards the dirty little beggar.
Just as he was about to go forward and beat the little beggar to appease his anger a bit. Another guard put a hand on his shoulder and stopped him. He looked back with apparent annoyance. But his fellow guard shook his head and said, "Do you want to get more dirty?"
The guard hesitated, hearing that, but then said, " Then I will beat up the bastard with a stick." But his fellow guard this time said with some annoyance, "Look around you, fool, there are too many people watching. Do not make us look bad in front of the nobles just to beat up a worthless beggar."
Only then did the guard look around and come back to his senses; he bowed to everyone who was watching. The guard came closer to the little beggar and stated in a menacing tone, "Get lost, you piece of trash, before I decide to kill you and throw you into the sea." The other guard shot the little beggar a pitiful glance and went on his way.
Axel left the place while limping, and blood was coming out of his little mouth. He entered back to the dirty-looking alley he was in before. Leaning onto the wall, he gasped for breath. A profound sadness swept through his entire being. When he looked at himself in the reflection, he realized something.
He was not simply put in someone else's body, rather it seemed Axel had partially become the existence he was inhabiting. It was different from his reincarnation in the body of Axel Nomrad.
He had become the one named Ash, while only a trace of his true self remained. Ash was the name of the boy. Axel had all the memories of the little boy. As if he is Ash himself. Ash was a little beggar who earned some pennies while begging on the streets daily.
Because of his lowly status, he couldn't get any odd jobs as no one would give a job to someone like him. He was even worse off than a commoner. His mother was a sex slave of some unknown noble, he threw her away after finding out she was pregnant.
The noble thought the woman would not survive alone in the streets, yet she did and gave birth to Ash. His mother loved her. With no one giving her any work as a former thrown-out slave, she had no choice but to start working as a prostitute after one year of giving birth to Ash.
She was an incredibly kind woman, especially to his son. Ash would see her mother coming at dawn every day while she was bruised and battered. At that time, he did not understand what his mother went through; living every day for her was a choice far worse than death. But she held onto life, not willing to leave her child behind.
But things only became worse. Luck was a bitch after all. Only 4 years afterward, she became pregnant again, and she had the choice to kill the unborn child, but she again decided not to. She gave birth to the second child, whose father she did not know, and her already worse state became even worse.
After giving birth to the second child, she was unable to work anymore, sensing her impending death. She made a deal with one of her co-workers; she would sell her organs to the wizards. A broker came to decide the price of her organs. Yet, the person commented ruthlessly, "Your body is already on the verge of breaking apart. Such organs are useless."
"But if you sell yourself alive, you will receive a good price. I can assure you that," stated the broker.
With no other choice, she decided to do just that. One night, her son came back. Ash greeted his mother with a smile, he showed her how many pennies he got that day. Ash's mother smiled at that sight. She said to her son, "Hey, son."
"Yes, mother," replied Ash.
"Do you hate your little brother or me?" asked his mother. Ash said after a while, "No, I love my brother and you. Because without you two, I have no one."
Tears threatened to fall from her eyes, but she did not cry. She had lost count of how many times she cried all alone in boundless pain. No one to understand her. No one to support, not even a friend to lean her shoulders on. She said to her eldest son hesitatingly, "Ash, if one day, I am no longer in this world, would you take care of your little brother for me?"
"And yourself," she added.
Ash rebuked angrily, "How many times do I have to tell you not to talk like that? I don't like it."
But his mother pressed on firmly, "Promise me, Ash."
"No, what did I just say? Why don't you listen when I am speaking, you stupid women?" stated Ash.
"Promise me, Ash," said his mother again. Ash had no choice but to accept his mother's words, "Alright, I promise."
Her mother smiled, hearing the reassuring words of her eldest son. The next day, Ash's mother was gone, nowhere to be seen. Leaving only his 3-year-old little brother behind for him to take care of. One of her co-workers came and handed Ash a pouchful of money.
His mother was no fool, she made necessary arrangements so that no one would be able to steal that money, which she had sold herself for. Ash had never seen that much money in his life. Yet, when he learned the truth that his mother would never be coming back.
All the money that he dreamed of his entire life did not seem so alluring anymore. Following the arrangements of his mother, an unknown hired man came and settled the two kids in a good house and with a caretaker, who would take care of them.
The man suggested Ash to begin studying, if he became educated. He can have luxurious life despite being commoners. The life of both him and his little brother would change for the better. Since the money left by his mother was limited and would run out. It took Ash and his little brother some time to adjust to the new situation, it was weird for them to live a day without going hungry.
It was rare for them to be so clean every day. It was rare for Ash to not go begging on the streets every day or perform circus or try to sell something to get some pennies. It was rare for Ash to come back home and not see his sick mother lying on the bed. His little brother continued to cry for days, not seeing his mother.
This content is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.
But eventually, they got used to it. But their heavy heart remained. Ash had to remain strong, not for himself but for his little brother. Time passed, without realizing it, as they got used to their above-average lifestyle. Ash also started to study after 2 months had passed since his mother's disappearance or death.
By now, he had learned the full truth that his mother, in her own will, sold herself alive to some mage in exchange for the money, since she did not have much time left to live. Another sea of incomprehensible sadness had crashed onto Ash when he heard that. He was quite mature for his age, and he already suspected something like that had happened, knowing his mother.
Time passed without realizing, Ash was now 8 years 6 months old. While his little brother Akon was around 5 years of age. Akon also matured quickly even though they did not have to live in the slums anymore or did not have much money problem.
But one day his little brother became very sick, so he gave him some medicine by telling the doctors about his symptoms. But Akon's condition only worsened as time went by. Ash had no choice but to admit his little brother to a hospital using a lot of the remained money.
But the horrifying news was revealed then on, his little brother had something called Cancer. An incurable disease. Only temporary solutions exist to extend the life of cancer-evicted patients.
Ash hearing such news couldn't believe it, the 8 years old boy who was as mature as an adult man said in despair, "Ah, luck truly is a bitch."
He begged all the doctors willing to give them all the money away, for any possible solution. Yet, there was none. Some tried to lie to him, but he was not so foolish as to hand them money, only for them to scam him in broad daylight.
"Big brother, don't waste the money left by our mother on me. It's not worth it." stated his little brother sadly. "Be quiet, and don't worry about anything. This big brother will take care of everything," said Ash, reassuringly to his little brother. Akon only smiled, hearing that.
It was a strange scene, a 8 year old boy and another 5 year old were conversing about life and death and money, when they should be playing around without understanding the harsh reality of the world.
