Zed the Orphan

The attempts of the other kingdoms proved to be futile after they have already trampled on the lives of so many children. Though there are some that were blinded by the offers of their kingdoms and were treated according to what they have promised but they are already too late, the first kingdom to have accepted the Carriers as they really are have already advance too far for the other kingdoms to catch up.

               A few years later after the horrifying events that had occurred in the entire world that cost the lives of so many children, people started to act normally even after seeing a young adult use their awakened ability. The other kingdoms started to see them as treasures so they are more privileged than normal citizens. Seeing how the Carriers were treated, most of the youngsters had decided to reveal that they are Carriers, immediately getting the best education and life. But they are to prove that they are actually Carriers before the government issue them all the things that they need.

               “Hey Zed, look at them. Don’t they have amazing abilities?” a young girl named Pierce said to her one companion after seeing the other people trying to boast their abilities in front of so many people. “What? Showing your ability is quite stupid if you ask me. People will know how to deal with you after seeing what you can do. And why are you even following me in the first place? Your mother might scold me later if she finds out that you followed me all the way here and misunderstood that I forcedly brought you here.”

               The young man turns to the pretty young lady behind him who just gave him a cut smile and a wink. “What? Do you not want a beautiful young lady accompanying you?” she said with a sweet smile as if she is trying to make him approve of her coming with him to this part of the city but the young man doesn’t bite her bait easily and told her to go home.

               “I don’t care. Beautiful or not, I have things to do here and I can’t have you following me all the time.” He said and continued to walk forward when he saw her mother staring at them. “Pierce!” the young lady almost jolt after hearing her mother called out to her. The grumpy old lady came to them and immediately scolded Zed fro bringing her daughter in that part of the town. “And you Pierce? How many times I told you not to follow him?! He is a bad influence for you! You are going to attend the academy with all the carriers as well. You don’t have time to be goofing around with this- kid.” He old lady looks down at Zed who quickly lowers his gaze and bit his lips.

               Unexpectedly, Pierce stood up for Zed against her own mother which surprises the two. “What are you talking about? And why are you badmouthing Zed? I was the one that insisted on following him. Do you know that he had been telling me to stop following him until we arrive here? So you have no right to talk to him like that!” Pierce immediately sent sound wave that made everyone else aside from her kneel to the ground after their ears started ringing badly.

               Her mother immediately grabs on to her and tells her to go home. “You better be ready when I get home.” She then turns to Zed who is also suffering from the pain on his ears. The old lady pinched Pierce’s thigh that made her follow her mother’s orders. She glanced at Zed before leaving and apologized. “I’m sorry Zed.” She said with a sad tone while walking back. ‘This is what you learn when you stick with him. An orphan and a mongrel at the same time.” She cursed at Zed before leaving to follow her daughter.

               Zed looks at them walking away from him before turning his head back to the place where he plans to go from the very beginning. When he is about to continue walking, an old lady offers him a cotton to wipe the blood from his ears. “You should wipe the blood from your ears young man.” The old vendor smiled to him and he smiles back, thanking her for the help. “I will make sure to pay you back madam.” The old vendor shakes her head and told him that it is unnecessary. “What could possibly a young man like you have to offer to me? I have already got everything that I need. Don’t mind it and just continue on your way. You seem to be heading somewhere important.”

               Zed then gently bow his head and went on his way after the old vendor insisted. Zed went at the back of the alley and entered a well maintained mansion just behind the market where he met Pierce’s mother. “You’re a bit late Zed. The master is already waiting for you upstairs.” A man wearing a butler suit greeted him right after entering the door. “Sorry, something came up along the way.” The but let then noticed the bloodstains on his clothes and the dry blood that seem to have dripped from his ears and figured that something happened so he spared him from scolding.

               “Anyway, just go to the master.”

               “Thank you Mr. Krono.” The butler nod his head as Zed makes his way to the second floor and saw the man he is looking for watering the plants near the balcony. “Good morning master, I’m sorry that I am a bit late. There just some circumstances that appeared.” He immediately grovels to the floor as the man turns to look at him with a conflicted expression. “What are you doing? There is no need to go that far. I saw everything from here. There is no need for you to apologize.” Zed then looks at the master and thanks him for being kind even though he is late. “We are going to do the same thing today. So please be ready.”

               A few hours later and his business with the master of the mansion is finished and as he walks in the same path that he took earlier that morning, he saw the old vendor walking in a small alley. A smile appears on his face and immediately run toward the old vendor only to realize that she is not alone. The old vendor notices him and shakes her head gently. Telling him not to come any closer. It turns out that a few men are forcing her to walk inside the alley with a knife pointed at her back.

               Zed immediately felt his heart drown in sorrow. “I really am pathetic. I got help from the old vendor twice in a single day.” He tightly gripped his fists and decides to save the old vendor from the person threatening her.

               “Give us all that you’ve got old woman.” But when the old vendor tries to resist, she immediately got slapped. “That is not a friendly reminder geezer, that is an order.” One of the men sad coldly and aims to slap the old vendor again when Zed calls out to them. “Hey you pussies! Is an old vendor really the only person that you can threaten? Don’t you feel ashamed you bastards?!” he yelled with the intention of taking their attention.

               “Now who the hell is this? Your friend?” before the old vendor could answer, she got slapped on the face again. “Playing the hero huh? Let’s see how you will handle this.”

               KSSSH! DRIP! DRIP! DRIP! DRIP!