Aria’s Perspective

A few moments ago…

After finishing the preparation work for dinner and confirming that Amelia was doing the assignment I gave her, I went to my room to lie down; as well as to check on William.

It’s about to rain soon. I hope Samuel and Zack come back on time.

Opening the door to my room, a lonesome and defeated back with drooping shoulders greeted me.

Closing my eyes, a sigh escaped my mouth.

I thought he would be better after Zack woke up, but this… This feels worse than his big mope, maybe a new level? Before there were only little-mope, small-mope, mope-mope and big mope. But… maybe super mope? The last big mope lasted quite a while and even afterwards, he was bringing the thing up for quite a while. It didn’t solve through any ordinary methods and I… I… I had to give into this bastard’s demands for a month. How did I end up marrying this shameless bastard?!!

While I was thinking to myself, William had turned his head back and was looking at me worriedly. His brows knitted, he asked, “Aria, did you catch a cold? Your face doesn’t look normal…”

You moron… Did you lose half your wits as well?

“No, I’m alright. Just a little tired.” I replied before lying down and burying my face in the pillow.

Another sigh escaped my lips. When will things go back to normal…?

Feeling a hand on my back, I saw William rubbing my back, trying to console me. He had moved using his wheelchair from the corner he was in to next to the bed.

My ears picked up his murmur, “I’m sorry….”

“….” It caught me off-guard, and I didn’t know what to say.

Just what is he trying to get at? I’m pretty sure I made it clear that I won’t support him in his decisions, the ones which I don’t feel right with.

“I know I shouldn’t have. And now even you’re suffering because of me. Maybe it would be—”

A pillow smashed on his face, making him silent.

This bastard?!

“You idiot!” I snapped back. “I’m sure I already told you, on more than one occasion, that I do not regret it. Any of it! What are you trying to get at? Trying to make fun of me? Do you think I am that weak willed?”

My hand was shaking and one part of me wanted to give him a few tight slaps; whereas the other part of me was still taking pity on this moron.

“If I didn’t have the resolve, I would have left long ago. Even then, you don’t get it at all, do you? Nevermind, it’s my fault for trying to talk through to that thick skull of yours. William, maybe you won’t admit it but… You have changed, and for the worse.”

Such a kid! It’s a waste of my time trying to talk to him.

William tried to talk back, “A-Aria I—”

*Knock*, *knock*, *knock*. *knock*, *knock*.

However, violent knocking sounds came from outside.

Displeasure flashed through my heart as I got up and went to take a look, giving the moron in my house a deep glare while leaving.

Maybe Samuel and Zack came back. Is he knocking or trying to break the door? I’ll have to teach Samuel how to knock properly at this rate.

Tidying my hair while walking, I reached the door. Through it, I could hear faint murmurs through the door.

Opening the door, a commotion from outside greeted my ears.

It was a scene of a black-haired boy wearing bandages over his left eye being surrounded by almost a third of the villagers and my boy trying to shield him.

What the…

William had already ignited my rage, and now this bunch of scum almost tipped it over the point.

Taking a deep breath, I reined myself while asking, “What is going on here? Zack, Samuel, come here. And you all? Why are you all grouping against these two children? What wrong did they do?”

Samuel grabbed Zack’s arm while trying to walk over. But a moment later, Zack jerked his arm free of his hold and took a few steps back, as if vigilant of something. My eyes couldn’t help but narrow. I parted my lips to say something.

However, before any words could come out, a man walked out of the crowd.

This man had a barrel for the belly. His head was reflecting the scene of clouds overhead in its full glory. He had a large buffy moustache with no beard, whereas black bags populated the area beneath his eyes. He wore a tight fitting formal attire, attempting to emphasise his noble status. A badge with the number ‘five’ hung from his coat pocket, depicting his status as a tier-5 magician. This man was the current chief of this village: Frances Damaskions.

However, instead of the respect for an official or a magician, his lascivious gaze only gave me a sense of repulsion and disgust.

His mouth curled into a crooked smile as he stared me up and down.

“Yes, Mr. Damaskions, what brings you here and why this commotion? I humbly ask you all to leave peacefully and to not bring shame onto your families by bullying children.”

“Miss Aria… It’s just—” The bald man before me opened his mouth.

Closing my eyes, I cut him off. “It’s Missus Aria, Mr. Damaskions. Please correct yourself.”

“Fine, Mrs. Aria.” He spat. “We’re here to bring your husband to justice for his crime of housing the sinner of the village, a devil in human skin, in his house. He tried to bring destruction to the village and—”

I felt a shaky hand locking its fingers with mine and my grip on it tightened. I knew if I didn’t do it, I would end up doing something I shouldn’t. Letting out a deep breath as I opened my eyes and turned my head to the side to see my husband.

“Ey, baldie, you done? Can’t you see that the child’s scared?” William said, his tone annoyed.

“You…” the ‘baldie’ said back. “People, we found him! Both the devil that caused the calamity of the village three and a half months back and the sinner who supported him!”

Mutters spread through the gathered crowd.

“Is-is that true? I thought William and Aria were good people. I never knew they would do something like this.”

“That little child, his black hair and face, he must be the devil.”

“Damaskions is right! I will make them pay for what they have done!”

Resentful gazes landed on the little boy while his tiny frame trembled incessantly.

*Cough!* *Cough!*

Coughing twice, Frances Damaskions dragged the attention towards himself as he said, “Today, we are all gathered here to punish the sinner of the massacre a few months back and his accomplice! He was the one who caused those villains to come to our village and the one who got our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, friends and family — all of our kin — slaughtered without a chance for survival. That smell of blood which filled the area — the blood of the deceased who were murdered for no reason, the cries which filled that night, all due to this cursed devil!”

He pointed towards Zack. The kid’s legs were trembling as Samuel supported him to keep standing while trying to convince him to come back. However, the kid himself refused to come back. He looked towards us — towards William — with a complicated gaze filled with despair, hope, shock, resentment, disbelief, trust and a sense of betrayal.

“This kid— no this devil— not only did he get our people killed, he also didn’t spare his own mother. She died because of him, while not knowing that her own son was the reason for her demise. She was with him the whole time, protecting him till the end, yet he repaid her with taking her life. He killed her! He killed his own mother! Not only did he not spare our families, he did his own even worse!”

Does he have any right to live? Any right to bring another calamity to our village? Any right to disrupt our lives? Any right to cause us more harm? Will we face another calamity because of this devil? NO! TODAY, WE SHALL DRIVE THE DEVIL OUT OF OUR VILLAGE! TO PROTECT THE VILLAGE! FOR OUR FAMILIES!”

“FOR OUR FAMILIES!!!”

“FOR OUR FAMILIES!!!”

“FOR OUR FAMILIES!!!”

The shouts rang out as the gazes boring through the child intensified. However, that child walked towards us, not minding the gazes. His steps were not shaking as he walked before standing in front of William. He clasped both of the older man’s hands in his own as he looked at him with a lifeless orb.

People say that eyes are a window to one’s inner self. And his eyes were hollow, without a shred of emotion. No resentment, no shock, no despair, no disbelief, nothing. Nothing at all.

The way he looked pained me as I closed my eyes. Moments later, despite the commotion caused by the villagers under the lead of Damaskions, a distinct, soulless whimper echoed in my ears.

“Uncle… Is-is that true? Is it true that… that I… I…T-that my mother… She… I killed her?”