Chapter 1: The Cursed Child
The village of Ikweghwu was a place of warmth, love, and unity. Children played along the dirt paths, their laughter filling the air as women gathered under the shade of large trees, chatting and sharing stories. Farmers returned from their fields, their faces glistening with sweat but carrying smiles of satisfaction. It was a simple yet peaceful life—one untouched by the chaos of the cities beyond.
But peace is not for everyone.
A boy carrying a heavy sack on his back trudged through the village center. His clothes were worn, his steps heavy, yet his face remained emotionless. The moment the villagers saw him, the cheerful atmosphere shifted.
Some whispered, some laughed.
"Look at him… still as pathetic as ever."
"A weakling like him has no place among us."
Some of the younger children ran away in fear, calling him a monster. Others picked up small stones and threw them at him, giggling as they did. But the boy didn't flinch. He didn't respond. He simply kept walking.
This boy was Eli Rume—the one the village called cursed.
As he reached his small home, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the air.
"Brother!"
A girl, no older than ten, came running toward him, her eyes sparkling with excitement as if she was greeting a hero. She wrapped her small arms around him, hugging him tightly.
"What did you bring for me this time?" she asked eagerly.
Eli smiled faintly, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small candy. "Here, Peace. It's all I could afford today."
Her face lit up as she grabbed it. "Thank you, big brother! You always bring me something!"
Eli chuckled. "One day, I'll take you to the city. You'll see what paradise looks like."
Just then, a gentle voice called from the doorway.
"You're back."
Eli turned to see his mother, Gloria, walking toward him. She carefully removed the heavy sack from his back and smiled warmly.
"Come inside, you must be tired," she said.
They stepped into their small home, and as they settled down, Gloria glanced at her son. "How was work today?"
Eli hesitated for a moment. His mind drifted to earlier that day…
Flashback: The City of Power
Eli had spent the day working as a gardener for Mayor Benson, one of the richest men in the neighboring city. The mansion was unlike anything from his village—tall glass buildings, shining lights, and people in fine clothing. Eli had always dreamed of such a life, but he knew he didn't belong.
The workers mocked him from the start. "Look at the village boy," they sneered. "He doesn't even have a proper ability!"
Abilities. That was the measure of a person's worth.
When Eli had finally revealed his light power, it was met with laughter. His ability? A small glow, no brighter than a candle.
"That's it?" Mayor Benson scoffed. "You can't even light a whole room? Useless! Don't come back here unless you have a power worth something."
Eli had walked away in silence. His hands clenched into fists.
Back to the Present
His mother watched him carefully. "Eli?"
He forced a smile. "It was fun."
Gloria sighed but said nothing.
His sister beamed. "I want to be like you, big brother! Traveling to different cities, seeing amazing things!"
Eli patted her head. "One day, you will."
That night, after dinner, Eli sat outside, staring at the dark sky. His mother soon joined him, sitting close.
"I know you were lying," she said softly.
Eli looked away. "It doesn't matter."
Gloria placed a hand on his shoulder. "It does. Tell me what's wrong."
For a moment, Eli remained silent. Then, he whispered, "Maybe… fate is cruel to me. Maybe I was born to be useless."
Slap!
His mother's hand met his cheek. Eli looked up, stunned.
"Don't you ever say that again," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "You are my son. And you are special."
Eli's eyes watered. "But I have nothing, Mother… my power is worthless. The village hates me. The world doesn't need me."
Gloria cupped his face gently. "You don't need the world's approval. You need to believe in yourself."
Eli swallowed hard. "…But what if I fail?"
"Then you try again," she whispered. "You will rise, Eli. Even if you start from nothing."
A small flicker of hope burned in his chest.
The Next Morning
Gloria asked Eli to help her fetch wood from the nearby forest.
"I'll go," Eli insisted.
"Be careful," she warned.
As Eli walked toward the village gates, a group of hunters stood nearby, discussing something.
One of them greeted him. Eli blinked in surprise, about to respond when another hunter scowled.
"Why did you greet him?" he snapped. "He doesn't deserve it."
"He's a curse to this village," another muttered.
Eli lowered his head and walked past them.
As he reached the forest, he began to think about his past…
Flashback: The Birth of a Curse
The day he was born, the village celebrated—a new child was coming!
Every newborn carried a mark—a sign of the Red Sun's blessing, proof of their destined power. But when Eli was born… there was no mark.
Instead, he had a strange black spot in his eye.
The elders were horrified. "He is cursed," they whispered.
His father was furious. "This child is worthless! We should get rid of him!"
The village turned against him.
His mother was the only one who protected him. "He is my son," she had said. "And he is special."
She had given up half of her power just to give Eli a small light ability—without it, he wouldn't have survived.
Back to the Present
Eli sighed as he cut down some wood.
After returning home, Eli placed the wood he had gathered in the yard. His mother and sister helped him arrange them, but after stacking everything, Gloria noticed that it wasn't enough. She sighed and turned to Eli.
"We'll have to make do with this for now," she said, wiping sweat from her forehead.
Eli, noticing her concern, shook his head. "No, if we need more, I can go back and get some."
His mother frowned. "You've already worked enough today, Eli. Rest."
"But I'm not tired," he insisted. "If the wood is important, I don't mind going back. I can get more before it gets dark."
Gloria hesitated, but seeing the determination in her son's eyes, she finally nodded. "Fine, but don't go too deep. Stay where you were before."
As Eli prepared to leave, his younger sister, Peace, ran up to him, her eyes full of excitement. "I want to go too!" she said, grabbing his arm.
"No, Peace," their mother said firmly.
"But I just want to see the trees and help!" she pouted.
Gloria shook her head. "It's dangerous. Stay here."
Eli chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Next time, okay?"
Peace crossed her arms and frowned. "You always say that."
With a small smile, Eli turned and headed back toward the forest, this time walking at a steady pace. When he arrived, he quickly noticed something frustrating—the small trees he had cut earlier were the only ones that had been easy to chop. The remaining trees were massive, thick, and far beyond his strength to cut. He sighed and scanned the area.
"I need smaller ones," he muttered to himself.
Determined, he ventured deeper into the woods, searching for any trees that would be easier to cut down. As he walked, his mind drifted to the story of the Red Sky, the phenomenon that changed everything.
The Story of the Red Sky
"It appeared over a hundred years ago—an ominous crimson glow that spread across the heavens like spilled blood. The elders say it was a curse from the gods, punishment for humanity's greed. The moment the Red Sky appeared, everything changed. Women who gave birth under its light bore children with supernatural abilities. Every child was meant to be a blessing to their family, each one gifted with power from the Red Sun. Some had strength beyond human limits, others could control fire, water, or even the wind itself. They became the warriors and protectors of our world."
"But there was another side to this so-called blessing. The same Red Sky that granted power also twisted fate. Not all children were born equal. Some, like me, were marked by misfortune."
Eli paused, gripping his axe tighter. His mind wandered back to his own birth.
"Every newborn bore the sacred mark of the Red Sun on their body… except me. Instead of the mark, I was born with a dark spot in my eye. The elders whispered that I was cursed, an omen of misfortune. My father was furious, ashamed to have a powerless son. He wanted to abandon me. The village agreed. They called me a mistake, a disgrace. My mother… she was the only one who refused to give up on me. She believed I was special, even when no one else did. When I was weak, she gave me her own power, transferring a fragment of her light into me just to keep me alive. But even with that gift… I'm still nothing compared to the others."
His jaw clenched. Even now, he could hear the echoes of their laughter, their judgment. A weakling. A mistake. A child who should never have been born.
Eli shook his head and forced himself to focus. He spotted a small tree ahead and finally prepared to cut it down. But just as he raised his axe—
A strange feeling crawled up his spine.
His breath hitched. The forest, once filled with the distant sounds of birds and rustling leaves, had gone completely silent.
Then he heard it.
A whisper.
Low. Cold. Inhuman.
Eli stiffened and slowly turned his head.
A black figure stood in the distance, barely visible through the thick trees. Its body was shadow-like, shifting, almost unreal.
Eli blinked.
And in that single moment—
It was gone.
His heart pounded in his chest. His hands tightened around the axe. He darted his gaze around, searching for any sign of movement, any sign that he wasn't alone. But there was nothing.
Shaking off the fear, he quickly gathered the wood and turned back toward the village, his steps quickening.
Something felt wrong.
His heart pounded. He quickly grabbed the wood and hurried back.
As he reached the village, he saw a traveler.
The man stopped him. "Don't go forward, boy. A threat surge attacked a village nearby."
Eli's blood ran cold.
His village… was straight ahead.
Heart pounding, he ran.
When he arrived—the gates were covered in blood.
Eli's legs felt weak as he stepped inside. The streets were filled with bodies.
His stomach twisted. "No… no, no, no…"
He sprinted to his home.
There, on the ground, lay his sister—her body lifeless, her head missing.
Eli screamed. A sound of pure agony.
Tears streamed down his face as he cradled her small body. "Peace… no…!"
He stumbled inside.
His mother lay on the floor, barely breathing, her body covered in wounds.
Eli fell to his knees, eyes wide with horror. "MOTHER!"
She weakly opened her eyes. Blood dripped from her lips.
"Eli…" she whispered.
And then… the world went dark.