💝- A memory that made them feel loved
The smack of flesh striking metal rang out in the field, followed quickly by the jingle of a chain slowly returning to a slack position. A young Zed, hair and eyes still their unchanged brown and skin a shade darker, having not yet spent a lifetime in the dark, glared at the iron chain.
He had heard of the initiation ritual for prospectives of the Fist of Shadow and while he had no desire for the title, the thought of cutting an iron chain with one’s had?
Well that strength was something the young Zed yearned for.
Once again Zed struck the chain, once again the iron links lashed back and forth from the chop. This time however, Zed hissed in pain, the side of his hand had been split open, skin blistered from the impacts.
“I think now would be time to stop, my boy” Zed spun, grasping his hand. It was Kusho, the man who had graced a no name orphan with membership into the Kinkou.
With a gentle hand, Kusho pried Zed’s other hand from the injured one, tutting as he inspected the impact cut.
“Just what got into your mind to attempt that Zed?” he asked, ushering him towards the well at the back of the training grounds. In short order he was washing the cut in the bucket.
Despite the curtness of the words, even as young as he was, Zed could see concern.
Demurely, still unsure, he answered “Because I want to be as strong as you are” Zed couldn’t bring himself to look at his teacher, staring at the water as it turned a misty pink.
Kusho had stopped scrubbing Zed’s hand and placed a hand on his head, ruffling the orphan boy’s hair.
“I have no doubt you will one day be known far and wide for your strength, Zed. There is no need to rush yourself“
As he looked into the eyes of the man who he would later regard as father, he had no idea how horribly true those words were.
He just finally felt like someone in this world cared.