Gerard is the third son in his family, a family full of raw strength and muscles. Their toys were weights, barbells, and heavy rocks—a family full of power and might.
While his older siblings focused only on fighting and destruction, Gerard was interested in technology. Of course, the moment his father knew, he had a complex look on his face at that time.
At first, he didn't accept Gerard as his son; his muscles were lean and not bulky, his passion for power was dormant, and his love for his mother, instead of destruction, made it more frustrating to deal with.
Gerard was regarded as a baby. Even until he reached the height of his growth, he was still called a baby.
Meanwhile, his father, knowing that Gerard was different, embraced it. Not because he was persuaded to, but because he felt like there was something more to him that he was meant to be for, other than what the family blood ties him to.
His father became harsh towards Gerard, except for his siblings. Anger can only drive out the passion within him, yet the risk of it backfiring was too severe. Nonetheless, his father continued to indirectly harass him through mocking, bullying, and other sorts of mental warfare.
Gerard grew hatred for his father, yet stayed composed. The bullying was quickly dealt with by retaliation, mocking went silent after he had successfully overthrown the gang within the academy, and the nitpicks from the lecturer went south after Gerard humbled them by being superior to them in their specialized knowledge.
Gerard was strong, not just strength, by intelligence and will as well. Nothing could break him—a shred of weakness could never be found.
He was unstoppable. Armed with such a masterclass of a status, it seemed like there was no limit to how much Gerard could achieve in his lifetime. A trophy of historical events could be lined up like a roster if there were a document about him.
After his graduation, he joined the Kronos Corp to garner fame in his name. After being acquainted with his team for seven years, having been through many skirmishes, he had grown fond of them. Too fond.
***
Everything took place in the Siege of Yuuyhrar City. My comrades, my allies, their stenches cling onto the earth and me. The city, devoid of any maintenance, began to collapse again, buildings crumbled like Styrofoam. Supply line was targeted over and over, and materials for repair and necessities were scarce.
Everything was blurry and disorienting, even trying to focus was as hard as inserting a string into a needle. My hands, filled with dirt and small wounds, shook violently as I continued to blink several times.
A ringing sensation that I could only hear was overwhelming the screams and explosions around me. The sound of gas leaking, rubble rolling, was starting to come slowly. Eventually, my hearing was cleared.
The scent of burnt wood and bodies overwhelmed me, it made me insane. The bodily smell of those around me who had met their fate was pungent, opened agape—their bodies mangled as their extremities rushed out.
I could taste the mix of blood and tartar, a hint of bread and juice could be faintly tasted as I swallowed. It was the meal I had just eaten a few minutes earlier, and a kind old lady was generous enough to sneakily bring ample supplies to our area. It's not enough, but her will to keep moving made us motivated.
My body, numb and almost lifeless. My chest, pounding slowly and resonating with every breath I took. The whole feeling is as if I were underwater, drifting as the tide pulls in a single direction.
Except, I wasn't underwater. I can feel the small rocks where once an old apartment tore my skin apart like paper. My right hand was as if floating without using any of my muscles.
Someone was pulling my hand, gently and softly. Their hands, like they weren't meant to be here, in a place called "Yuuyhrar City, The Contested."
Who is this person... Such innocence deserves to be in a palace and not a battlefield where people die. I have to bring them away from here....
"Gerard!! Please don't move, I'll bring you to a safe place!" I still couldn't see; my vision was blurry and distorted, yet my ears remained crystal clear. A voice of an angel could be heard, like a contrast to the sounds of war.
"This voice... Could it be...?" My head suddenly rang a piercing frequency, I couldn't help but clutch the temples of my head.
"Gerard!! Please, I'll take you somewhere safe." Her hands gripped tightly and pulled with all her might. Her small stature couldn't even move an inch because of Gerard's large body.
"Helena, please leave me be. You should get out of here. I'll follow you-"
"No! I don't want to! You're blind right now because of a gas leak in the rubber plant, please listen to me!!"
"YOU'RE ALL THAT I HAD!!! PLEASE...!!!!!!" She screamed with all her might as she continued trying to drag Gerard's body.
Consuming all her strength, Helena knelt beside Gerard. Her heart was pounding faster than his, almost audible enough to be heard. Helena held Gerard and hugged him.
"Please... Don't leave me." She howled, her small arms barely reaching around his shoulder. Exhausted and scared, she clung onto him.
"...I'm sorry," Gerard said. His words were barely comprehensible because of his dry throat. Yet he tried to speak with all he could. He tried to hug her back, yet the pain of the rocks abraded onto his chest was amplified.
"Eh?! Wait, let me lift you-" She stood up and tried to flip Gerard, with every ounce of her strength, she managed to.
"Hahhh... Hahhhhh...."
"Thank you," Gerard said as he tried to catch his breath. His strength was slowly recovering as the sun pierced through the dark clouds, hitting his eyelids and keeping him awake.
"Let's get out of here after I recover for a bit, Helena."
"...Mhm," Helena nodded.
"Once we survive, we'll travel the world, right? With my mechanical brain and your strong muscles, we can conquer the seas!!" She laughed it off as he playfully punched Gerard's shoulder.
"Of course, if we survive, that is. I'm sure we will. I'll make sure that we do." Gerard replied with a smile on his face. His eyesight is going back to normal, restoring his previous vision. The smoke that clouded his eyes was slowly fading away.
Helena quietly sang a song as she tended Gerard's wounds. Bandaging every injury that Gerard had sustained with her only med kit. In a few minutes, the gray cloud cleared, and a beautiful crimson-orange dusk gradient approached.
***
That was the last time Gerard had seen Helena. With her disappearance, he vowed to find her. It had been five years. Gerard had kept a picture of the whole squad stationed in Yuuyhar City. He doesn't know much about Helena except her name.
"Even so, I'll try to find you... But first," Gerard brandished his bardiche that was kept under the floor of the tavern. Every swing created a soft yet elegant trail of silver.
"As the Heir of Solitude, the 3rd son of Amakaur, and the Shadow of Yuuyhar City, I vow to find you. In this world and another." Gerard left the tavern with a purpose and an oath, a new future he would carve for himself.
"I'll await your arrival, Kronos Corp. Until then, I shall hold this frontline as the rightful Heir of Solitude."