Hundreds of centuries later…
And quickly, Don woke up from his sleep, interrupted by a bucket of water thrown in his face. His vision, wavering between confusion and the blindness caused by the sunlight, took in his partially illuminated body. He noticed his master's imposing figure, scarred and draped in an enormous cloak made from dragon and chimera hides, elegantly attired and clutching his staff, as he regarded Don with an indifference that bordered on anger rather than calm. The Owl, an elderly man with whom he lived, along with his wife Helena, a normal human, in a small, peaceful village of 339 inhabitants called Duncaster, located southeast of Glimmetropolis.
"Wake up, for fuck's sake! I've never seen a young man as lazy as you. And I've been putting up with you for a long time," said Max.
Don snapped his head up suddenly, looked around in complete confusion to see what had happened, and upon seeing Mr. Max, he understood everything. So he quickly got up.
"I've taught you discipline, boy. No one in my house sleeps in like a lazy ass after 6," continued Max.
Helena, still very sleepy, came outside, drawing all the attention with her greasy face and messy hair, looking much older than her husband, who appeared to be a 40-year-old man while she looked 70, even though she would turn 81 very soon. The first thing she did was look at her husband who was scolding Don. Without fully listening, she innocently said:
"Good morning, dear. Everything alright?"
"Don't stare at me so much, boy," Max said, pointing to the field behind the house, which he had received as a gift from Count Richard Choiniere after the war against the impure ones, a war whose consequences humans still don't understand to this day. "The crops won't take care of themselves. The crows have completely destroyed the scarecrow. Go fix it, please."
"Yes, sir. I'll go right now!" said Don enthusiastically.
"So what are you still doing here? Get going, boy!" shouted Max while hitting him on the buttocks with his staff. Don ended up screaming in pain and hurried to get there as fast as possible.
As he stepped into the sun, Mr. Max struck the ground with his staff, causing him to trip and fall violently. Immediately, Don demanded an explanation.
"Stupid!" said Max disappointedly, staring at him with the piercing gaze of an owl. "Mirror!" he pronounced. A circle formed in front of Don, taking shape from molecules into a reflective object showing his face, revealing his reddish eyes with particular shines that penetrated anyone who looked at him.
"Ah… That? It's just that…" stammered Don.
"Don, don't play with that. It's very dangerous to go out like this… Such a careless boy. You know very well the consequences," warned Max.
In a small flash, Don remembered:
"Master, what are you doing?" asked the young 15-year-old Don.
In those times, Mr. Max looked younger than now. The only thing that never changed was his piercing gaze that made him seem always angry when he wasn't speaking, nor training alone or with Don daily, while he peeled and prepared condiments.
"I'm going to tell you something, boy. Remember your home. Remember that you come from the ancient domain of Glimmeria. Your blood… the blood that runs in your veins is that of a Supaibi, and that's reason enough for the new kingdom of Glimmeria to torture you for months, experimenting on you as if you were a rat," explained Max.
"Please, Max! He's still not old enough to handle what you're telling him," Helena scolded, worried for Don.
"He'll have to handle it if he wants to survive facing those humans," replied Max with a grave and neutral tone.
"So, humans are the bad ones?" asked little Don innocently, without receiving an answer. While Max prepared a potion…
"Grandma isn't bad, right? Master?" They froze without saying anything. Max looked at his wife, uneasy for not having chosen his words well, and quickly corrected:
"Your grandmother is an exception, like some in this world. But always remember this: trust is earned… it's not bought. Don't trust even your own shadow. Others must earn your trust. Did you hear me, boy?"
"Yes, sir," he said, looking into the cold eyes of that man.
"Now drink this," ordered Max.
Back to the present:
"Well, it's just that… I ran out of potions and had no more left. Besides, their effect lasts very little," explained Don.
"I doubted it anyway. I've been working on a better idea to camouflage your appearance. So double work for you today, boy," he suddenly took out two flasks from his pocket, threw them to him, and ordered him to drink them.
Don drank them, and instantly his tail, his eyes, and his veins, which shone through his skin in the shade, disappeared. His bright and beautiful eyes dulled to a dark and opaque red, and his white hair turned red. He looked at his arms and noticed that the veins no longer glowed. He touched his face: the thick veins around his eyes were gone.
Now that Don had a human appearance, everything was fine, and he could relieve himself of the worry of being pursued by the kingdom of Montesis. He turned to his master:
"I'm going to the field now to see what's happening," he said with a slight smile on his face. His master, completely indifferent as always, stared at him fixedly. Definitely a man of few words.
[Don's Perspective]
While searching for the scarecrow in the vast wheat field, I thought: Well, I suppose the master will always remain so insensitive. I've been living here for over 20 years. He told me that no one should know my true age. He doesn't admit it, but he has a terrible hatred for humans, although ironically, he managed to love one…
By sheer bad luck, a bird came out of nowhere and shat on my shoulder.
Upon finding the scarecrow, I picked it up looking for its ether core. I found it, but it was shattered, as if it had been eaten. The blue metal was also damaged, a strange phenomenon. I put it in my bag.
Now the master will surely have an idea of what happened. I think I'll have to go to the village to buy materials…
Suddenly, I heard a loud and sharp buzzing that crushed my mind. I screamed, fell to the ground, and entered acute suffering. The sound stopped abruptly. BAM!
I didn't understand what had happened to me. I thought it was a migraine from the heat, but I continued towards the center of the village, the only place always full of people.
As I walked, I noticed familiar faces (not friends, since I was locked up in my childhood to hide my peculiarity). I greeted them. Suddenly, two children deflected a ball towards me at high speed. By reflex, I threw my head back and caught it with my right hand.
"Wow! How did you do that? You must be strong, right?!" asked the child in amazement.
"What? It was just luck. Another misstep and I'd have another headache!" I said with a worried smile.
[Pow!]
A girl (María) hit the boy on the head:
"You have to apologize, dummy!" Both apologized.
"It was nothing, kids. But I see you still speak with punches as always, María!" I commented.
"Well, you see…" she laughed, showing her missing teeth.
"I see you're also missing teeth!" I laughed out loud.
"Don't laugh, I hate you!" shouted María. [BAM!]
She punched me in the stomach so hard that my white veins and reddish eyes shone for an instant. She almost knocked my soul out!
It seems that María developed her powers without me knowing. Thank God, my transformation wasn't revealed, but I was left aching on the ground.
"Sorry, I got carried away!" María kept apologizing.
"For your age, you have a lot of strength. You could be a knight of the kingdom," I said with a broken voice.
"Really?"
"Yes. Just be careful when playing. You might kill someone," I whispered fearfully.
"When I grow up, I'll be a rank 7 knight and end all evil!" she said, raising her fist.
Her mother picked her up:
"You'll be rank 7 by studying, you naughty girl. Time to eat!" Then she greeted me: "Hello, Don!"
"Hello, Kira," I replied neutrally.
"You're as calm as ever."
"Likewise. You look well," I tried to say more, but she interrupted:
"See you later, Don!"
Why does she always leave when I'm about to say something? Well, time to find the merchant… Where could that pervert be now?
After hours, I found him:
"Hello, Don. What brings you?" he asked.
"Every time I buy, you're in a different place. Isn't it easier to stay put?"
"It's capitalism, Don. Your monkey brain wouldn't understand."
"Irritating as always. Where's your store?"
"Right here," he smiled maliciously and threw a gray cube that transformed into his store. "Do you think you're better than me?"
"No. 1 kg of blue metal, magic iron, and ether dust."
"That'll be 100 gold coins."
"Are you kidding me? I'll give you 10 silver," I protested.
"Blue metal is scarce. Prices have gone up!"
"Then I'll find another!"
"Sure, son of the Owl?" he looked at me wickedly.
"2 gold coins and an aphrodisiac."
"Sold!" he shouted, shaking my hand firmly. "My best customer!"