The Guards walking with the boy were slightly scared of him, everyone who wasn't a prisoner watched the fight, if it could be called that, the final moments ended up being a one sided beat down with the boy smashing his father's head into a bloody clump of flesh. The boy was shackled and being dragged down a dimly lit hallway back to the place they hold him in, upon entering the room he finally got a good look of where he was being locked up in.
A giant rectangular room with the walls on the left and right being replaced with cells and another door opposite of the one they came through, each cell holding various of people ranging from animals and insects that can walk on two legs, to skeletons and people with their skin falling off, there were some humans in the mix but very few.
Hushed whispers echoed throughout the room as they continued to his cell.
The creek of the iron door hushed the whispers as the boy's shackles were removed, being pushed into his cell didn't bother him as he stared at the only person to be kind to him. Being a little taller than him Laylana walked close to him being silent, the fear of rejection in his eyes couldn't be seen by the blind woman.
The boy was ready to for a violent reaction and braceed himself, the silence grew for a few more moments until she wrapped her arms around the boy in a tight embrace.
Shocked the boy didn't know what to do, right now his mind couldn't form a single coherent thought "It's okay little one, let it out." The small gentle words broke something inside him as the events of the past hours finally caught up to him, the wail of the boy haunted the residents of the prison as the pure anguish was felt, minutes past as both guards and prisoners were to shook by the uncanny wails to interrupt it.
When he finally fell limp in her arms, Laylana held him and slowly brought the boy down and laid his head on her lap"Why do these lands have to be so cruel."
She let the boy sleep while she was stroking his hair in comforting manner but she slowed down as she over heard something that made her grimaced.
"Seriously his own father?"
she felt for the boy after she just heard, the man he fought was his own father, the mental scars would last forever.
She stroked his hair until she felt something wet touch her fingers "is that...by the code."
Laylana smelled blood, the blood from where the rock stuck his head oozed onto her fingers. Laylana face was that motherly worry as the bleeding didn't stop, trying to think on a way to stop the bleeding.
she sighed in defeat knowing what she has to do, what she wants to do. She whistled, using her echo location to find the wound.
" I'm sorry old friend, it seems I'm unable to keep a promise still."
white smoke began to come from her mouth and slowly heading to the boy's injury, it surrounded the injury.
"This injury is healed." She whispered, the white smoke began to glow until it disappeared with the injury. Blood went down her nose, she quickly wiped it away making sure none of her blood got on the boy.
Laylana started to stroke the boy's hair again as she waited for match to start, she always hated fighting ever since.....her passing.
* * *
The boy was silent and went to sit by himself in a corner when he woke up, the cheerful and childish wonder when she spoke and taught are all but gone now, when she tried to talk to him he only gave one word responses and hum of acknowledgment.
"Why?"
The out of nowhere question caught her off guard "What ever do you mean little one?" Laylana asked "Why are you so n-nice to 'e?" The boy said his eyes looking for answers "Be-"
"WHY?" He shouted making Laylana jolt a little from the verbal explosion, him shouting started to wake the other prisoners up and for them to shout but he ignored them and continued.
"WHY?" grief and self-loathing evident in his tone.
Laylana quickly closed the distance and held him, he tried to escape but little by little he stopped and just cried until he calmed down "it's okay little one." Laylana hummed the tune that always calmed him down.
After a couple minutes the boy calmed down but still had those eyes that caused her heart to break. She began to think of something to cheer him up if only a little.
"Little one."
The boy gave his attention to Laylana who spoke "You would like to have a name?"
"Maybe having to call his own can do the trick."
"A name?" The boy asked give her confused look "Yes, As you know my name is Laylana, it's completely my own and only mine." Laylana said
"Something thats completely my own?" Laylana nodded and the boy a noise if thinking making him look weird cute in Laylana's eyes.
"Little one." the boy stood up with confidence and said, Laylana couldn't help but laugh making the boy turn red in embarrassment "hm, forgive me but your name can't be that." Laylana said still trying not to laugh.
"Why?" The innocent question made her giggle once more "Name's have meaning, and I'm quite sure you don't want to be called little one all your life."
"Vaaaleeeoh?" The boy dragged the word out "Valeo? Like the legend of the Wigsi tribe?" Laylana asked a little shocked by this.
"What's a Wigsi?" The boy asked, that's when Laylana remembered he's just a child. "I'll tell you when your able to understand more words okay?"
The boy nodded although a bit downtrodden "I think Valeo is perfect." Her words made the boy look up "Really?" The hope in his voice making the Laylana smile "Of course, Valeo." She said, the shine returned in his orbs as he gave Laylana a huge hug.
Returning it the duo held it until Valeo broke away "What's a hero." Valeo asked. Laylana went into thought trying to word it in a way he could understand.
"A brave person for the fearful, a strong person for the weak, someone who rises for the fallen." Laylana said clasping her hands around his face "You can be that someone Valeo."
His eyes widen in amazement as the words sunk deep into his soul "I can?" Valeo asked, Laylana kisses him on his forehead and gave him the most motherly smile she could muster.
"Yes you can."
* * *
Valeo's second fight was going horribly, the people of The Apex thought it would hilarious to set him up against a creature instead of another contestant, the fact it was young didn't help in the slightest as it's blue serpentine tail crashed into the side of Valeo's chest sending him flying at a wall, the grip of the blade loosening, the white fur wrapped around its long neck moved and bristled as the creature hissed "Survive," was the only thing on his mind as the creature swung its claws aiming to injure the boy.
Duck and rolling from the wall he was cornered in Valeo got behind the creature and swung the sword with as much force he can muster, the hissing of pain reached his ears as black blood splattered on the ground, the crowd roared in excitement as the creature slithered away from him, the serpent with clawed arms looked at Valeo it's body poised to attack or dodge with Valeo doing much the same.
Lunging at each both Valeo and the blue snake with arms went to meet in the middle, Valeo side stepped to right using the creatures moment to his advantage and swung the blade at his neck, spurts of blood splashing on him and the sand.
It's head fell to the ground as Valeo halted and stood over it's corpse, the smell of something putrid reached his nose while he was breathing heavily, he didn't care at the moment feeling the scratch marks adorned his body from the creature, blood from the creature dressing the sand in black, the guards dragged Valeo away as the event continued in the back as the cheer of the crowd echoed throughout the area.
It continued through the hall while Valeo was escorted ponder what that creature was, he wonder why it didn't bother him like the death of that man did, it's been weeks since that event and yet he gets nightmares about it, sometimes when it happens he wakes up in the arms of Laylana.
The pensive look he had and the blood over his body made the guards feel uneasy and walked a little faster, they entered a dimly lit room Valeo has not seen before.
Bare stone walls and the lack of any furniture with sole exception of a wooden stool in the middle gave the room an ominous look, getting shoved into the room jolted Valeo out of his observation as the guards stood post just outside.
Walking to the stool Valeo spotted a bucket with some water in it, a object drifting in the small confined space,
"take off what ya wearing and use the sponge to clean ya self and the water to wash it off, ya dirty fucking rat."
The gruff voice of one the guards said, grabbing the object he found out is called a sponge and slowly dragging the sponge across his and watched in fascination as the blood was absorbed by the sponge tinting the once tan sponge into a dark grey.
While doing this Valeo was eavesdropping on the guards conversation as they weren't really being quite about,
"Ay leo."
"What's up?"
"I heard ye and ya little girlfriend are going outside The Apex for a date, is that true lad?"
"Most definitely, we've heard that Ashwood was hosting a festival for couples and thought it would be fun, I even use one of my sick days for it."
"Ya know the commander will have your head if she finds out."
"Oh that...I told her it was a one time thing ya know, I was drunk and she was there, shit just got out of wack I'm trying to not let Elsa found out anything about that."
"Is that the other reason why?"
"More or less."
Valeo didn't care for the other stuff the guards were talking about but the name Ashwood caught his interest, finishing up Valeo put the garb from his fight with that man and walked out, continuing to eavesdrop Valeo learned there's towns miles away from The Apex each with their own little community.
"Is there really....something beyond The Apex?
* * *
"Is there really 'laces outside The Apex?" Valeo asked, finishing her daily rations Laylana put down the paper plate she was holding. "Little one, did you really think that this place was the entirety of the land?" the quiet response told her everything "By the code." Laylana took a deep breath "Yes Valeo there places beyond this prison, the Forest of Opeli for instance, surrounds The Apex and neighboring towns."
Valeo's eyes widen "What's the forest like?"
"It's very green."
"Green?" Valeo asked
"Yes, but it's very.....unforgiving."
before he can ask about that statement the door slammed open,three people entered the room making the chatter cease, two fully armored knights in each side of a young man, the fancy clothes and the air of smugness around him gave away his noble birth "So this were they keep the... cretins," the boy said looking over the room, going to each cell and looking inside.
"No."
"No."
"No."
He continued until he got their cell "Ooooo, why hello darling." The voice made Valeo shiver and he didn't know "This one will do nicely." The young noble said waving his hand for someone to come over, Valeo recognized the man who dragged him away to his first fight, bandage still on his nose the guard opened the door and walked in "What is the meaning of this?" Laylana stepped in front of Valeo who was glaring at the gaurds.
"The prince gets what he wants." Was all he said as he put shackles on her "I-i beg you're pardon?" Laylana was now confused and worried, her echo location showed the absolute rage on Valeo's face as he realized what going, rearing his top arm back for punch Valeo didn't the blur aimed for his chest, the guard with the bandage saw the boy crumble and smirked "Fucking freak."
Valeo couldn't move, no matter how much he tried nothing moved, he saw Laylana drop to her knees beside and held him, he didn't feel her but saw the pensive look in her face until a broken smile replaced her face,
"I'm sorry I won't be there little one, your going to have to survive on your own."
"Be strong."
"I leave you one last gift, a boon from my role."
"Truth."
Sorrow filled her voice as white whispy smoke slowly exited her mouth making its way to his forehead and then all went black.
* * *
Muffled sounds was the first thing his mind focused on, Valeo opened his eyes to see a wooden ceiling above him "AAAAAAAAH!" He shot straight up from the scream, he was in a small room with weird boxes with lights on them, people in odd clothing were rushing all over the room in a panic and a woman on a bed red faced, for what reason Valeo didn't know.
"Shara just push my love."
That voice.
It's can't be, he's supposed to be gone, Valeo stared at the man who made his life a living nightmare, before he can spiral into rage upon staring at his father the woman on the bed went limp and everything went black once more.
Valeo looked around, nothing but pitch black surrounded him, suddenly a deep red lit up behind Valeo making him turn around. Two infants inside of a red circle greeted his eyes, boy having raven colored hair, the red circle began to lose its color as the infants begin to wiggle more in desperation.
A blue glow came from one of the infants as it reached for the other, slowly it made its way to the other infant who's wiggling was slowly ceasing, the one covered in a blue glow finally made contact with it sibling.
Both slowly merged as the blue glow of the one infant shined bright nearly blinding Valeo, shielding his eyes Valeo waited for a couple seconds to open them, he wish he hadn't.
There in the place of the two infants was....him, a baby version of him but still him nonetheless.
The teeth, second jaw, the four arms. Valeo couldn't believe it, he refused to believe it, deep down he knew it was all true.
He was two people in one, did he fuse with the other infant or the infant fused with him, who was he, these questions made the boy drop to his knees.
His vision began to spin as did his mind when the world went black once again, he was back in his cell, Laylana nowhere in sight. The information overwhelming him as a burning sensation in his head made him grab and dig at it.
He screamed, that's all he could think to do, the roar of the boy woke everyone up those who were asleep and the ones awake to back away.
One question raged in his head, body and soul.
"WHO ARE WE?"
* * *