Chapter 6
The faint sound of Leon's footsteps echoed through the cold hallways of the mansion. His body still ached from the injury to his arm, despite the cheap dose that the head servant had given him, which had eased the pain slightly. His silver eyes gleamed with a mix of anger and disappointment as he recalled the words of the mansion's overseer.
"Trash? Pathetic?" he muttered under his breath, his weak fist clenched tightly to the point of pain.
As he walked, his older brother, Erik, and his friend, Daniel, crossed his path. A mocking smile curled on Erik's lips as he looked at Leon, as if he were nothing more than an insect.
"What's this? Still hanging around here, you loser?" Erik said, his brow furrowing as if he couldn't understand why Leon existed.
"Didn't you learn your lesson from last time?" Daniel added with a malicious grin, circling Leon like a hunter stalking its prey.
Leon tried to ignore their words and move past them, but Erik grabbed him by the shoulder forcefully, stopping him in his tracks.
"You're just tarnishing the family name by being here, Leon. I think it's time you understand your real place."
Leon didn't respond. He simply stared at the ground, trying to suppress the rising anger inside him. But Erik didn't stop.
"Hey, Daniel, what do we usually do with failures?"
Daniel laughed loudly and said, "Maybe we show them their place. Right?"
At that moment, Erik shoved Leon harshly against the wall. His frail body slammed into the cold stone, and he felt a sharp pain in his back.
"You don't even deserve to be part of this family!" Erik shouted, grabbing Leon by the collar of his shirt.
Anger and frustration welled up inside Leon. But suddenly, for the first time in years, he lifted his silver eyes and locked gazes with Erik. His stare was cold, yet it carried a spark no one had ever seen before.
"Enough!" Leon shouted in a strong voice, causing Erik and Daniel to pause for a moment.
It was a brief moment, but it was imposing. Leon felt that spark he had long tried to bury finally starting to rise.
"I'll prove to everyone… I'll prove to you all that I'm not what you think I am!" Leon said, his voice filled with determination.
Erik laughed derisively and said, "Sure, we're all looking forward to it." Then, he threw Leon to the ground and walked away with Daniel, leaving Leon writhing on the floor.
But this time, Leon didn't just feel weakness. He felt something else... a desire for change.
"I'll get stronger… stronger than you can imagine." Leon muttered as he struggled to rise, his eyes shining under the moonlight that began to seep through the hallway window.