" who do you mean me? People call me the hero" the man in dark blue robes said confidently striking a pose chin up and hands on his waist as he took a peek with the side of his eye as if expecting something.
Does he have a screw loose or something and what's that pose and look are for?. Miho thought to himself skeptical of the man's sanity.
Then again i guess he is absurdly strong and he did saved us so i guess i will just play along with it. Miho thought to himself as he shakes his head for a moment.
" wow that's amazing thank you mister hero" miho said in an unenthusiastic tone.
The man in dark blue robes doesn't seem to notice the lack of enthusiasm in miho's words as he quickly approaches miho.
" sure anything for a cutie like you" the man in dark blue robes said as he kneels in one knee and keeps pinching miho's cheek
I keep forgetting that I'm still a child so i have deal with these kind of people. Miho thought to himself as he made an exasperated sigh as the man in dark blue robes keep pinching him.
" And whenever you saw other kids who are in trouble just like you just call me and I'll come right away ok?" The man in dark blue robes said with a warm smile as he looks at miho in the eye.
For some reason there's something comforting about his words it feels genuine. Miho thought to himself as he nods slowly.
"ohhhh right which reminds me!!! I need to collect these orc nose" the man in dark blue robes said as he stood up and scans the surroundings looking at all the orc corpses as he suddenly pulled a sack and a knife from his robes.
" Francis is gonna be so happy when he sees these" the man dark blue robes said enthusiastically as he cuts the orc nose and puts it on the sack.
Ohhh right azel. Miho thoughts to himself as he then approaches azel who's still lying on the ground.
" are you feeling better now?" Miho asks with a concerned tone as he holds azel's hand.
Azel just silently nods seemingly have calmed down already.
" earlier what happened?" Miho asks concern is still evident in his tone.
" right i failed to protect you after all i guess i owe you an explanation" azel said in downhearted tone.
When did it started?. Azel thought to himself as he relive his memory.
" my big brother is the best" the kid said gleefully laughing.
" woosh" little azel said as he's carrying the kid on his back.
The kid keeps laughing as little azel keeps a bright smile in his face
I was just a simple kid back then of course i always loved playing specially with my little brother axel whenever he compliments i feel like I'm on the top of the world.
" so you're the one who have hurt my little brother?" Little azel said as he talks to the kid then he punches it making the kid runaway.
" wow big brother is so cool" little axel said as he watches the kid runaway
" of course I'm your big brother after all" little azel chuckles.
Until one day my magical affinity was evaluated the crystal ball said i have an affinity to water and various other elements my parents were so excited saying " he might become the next sage and he needs to learn all kinds of magic early" so they immediately assigned a magic tutor.
" ha!!" Little azel shouts as he aim his finger on the target but nothing happened.
Little axel laughs watching in the corner as little azel keeps failing to cast magic then little azel laughs with little axel as little azel after that starts making faces while doing the practice which made little axel laugh harder.
Two weeks have passed and i still haven't learned anything my parents noticed it so they separated me and axel in hopes of me learning faster then after another two weeks of training.
" water ray!!" Little azel shouts as he points his finger on the target practice water came out of his finger.
Little azel was so overjoyed jumping.
his parents showered him with compliments but he doesn't care he only have one thought in his mind.
"i wonder what will axel think?" Little azel said to himself excitedly.
Then later little axel and azel sneaked outside the city walls as he then brags to his little brother what's he's capable of now.
" look big brother knows magic now" little azel said with a huge grin as he points his finger clumsily to a goblin's head then the goblin collapsed on to the ground as a thread of water came out of little azel's finger.
" wow that's so cool i wanna learn magic too!" Little axel said in awe as he looks at the goblin corpse.
"Not for now you still haven't done your affinity evaluation" little azel said proudly as he puffs his chest while looking at little axel.
" big brother is so cool" little axel as he looks at little azel with amazement.
" and because big brother knows magic now lets go hunt monsters and fight evil!" Little azel said chuckling as he raises his hand excitedly.
" yay lets go big brother is the strongest!!" Little Axel shouts as the two little kids march to look for monsters.
Goblins, imps and slimes they killed several kinds of monsters until they reached the entrance to a forest.
" big brother is really the strongest he can beat anyone" little axel said as he looks as little azel with nothing but amazement.
" of course I'm your b-" but before little azel can finish his words a growl starts being heard then slowly an orc emerges from the forest entrance.
Little azel quickly covers little axel.
" stay behind me" little azel said as little axel nods hearing his words.
" water ray!!" Little azel said pointing a finger at the orc but nothing happened.
" water ray!!"
" water ray!!"
" water ray!!" Little azel keeps shouting but nothing happens as the orc keeps approaching slowly.
" come on work water ra-" but before little azel can finish his words the orc swings its wooden club which sent little azel flying.
" ARGGGGGHHHH!!" little azel screams in pain as a bone on his shoulder got crushed he can't help but cry in pain.
Little Axel seeing little azel crying stoods in front of the orc.
" don't hurt my big brother!!" Little Axel shouts as he looks at the orc with angry eyes.
Then as little azel recovered a bit from pain he looks around searching for little axel then time stood still as little azel saw something flying.
It was little axel that's been smashed by the wooden club sent flying in the air.
Little azel was shocked not able to say or do anything.
But then as if it wasn't enough the orc with a sadistic grin approaches the lifeless body of little axel and smashed it's little body to pieces some of the blood flying on little azel's face.
" AHHHHHHHHHH" little azel can't do anything but cry and scream loudly as he can't move a single part of his body that starts trembling uncontrollably.
Then to the present...
" later i learned that i actually used way too much magic without thinking about mana " azel said in a sullen voice.
So that's how it is a guilt born from childhood mistakes . Miho thoughts to himself as he gave azel a sympathetic look.
"look it's not your fault " miho said in efforts to comfort azel
" how can you say that? I literally lead my little brother to his own death!" Azel said as his tone starts rising hand started to form into a fist shaking while his eyes is filled with anger.
" what am i doing of course a child like you don't know any better " azel lets out a bitter smile as tears starts forming in the side of his eye.
No i know how you feel full well. miho thought to himself as he remembers his past life when he was little.
" WHAT WERE YOU DOING? YOUR CHILD ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR! " the man shouts.
" NO WHAT WERE YOU DOING I WAS RIGHT AT THE KITCHEN COOKING FOR DEAR MY CHILD AND MY DAMN HUSBAND! " The woman responds also shouting.
Then there i was caged in my room crying not because i was almost hit by a car but because i know full well they're fighting because of me.
After that fight I've never seen my parents together again
For years i blamed myself thinking if only i were normal my parents wouldn't have split up i wouldn't have been a burden that's what I've been thinking until i met her during my teenage years.
" you shouldn't blame yourself it's your parents decision to divorce not yours and besides you- "
Then to the present.
Miho holds azel's hand that's still in fist.
" you were just a child" miho said softly as he caresses azel's fist.
Then azel's eyes softened as he looks at miho his fist loosening.
" you shouldn't blame yourself over things you have no control over forgive your inner child for it's mistakes" miho adds as he looks at azel with eyes filled with compassion.
" besides a child should just play and keep having fun right? " miho smiles warmly as he squeezes azel's now opened hand.
In that moment azel breaks down tears started flowing from his check as he quickly gets up from the ground and hugs miho tightly.
" thank you " azel keeps tearing up uncontrollably as he keeps hugging miho tight.
Then as azel calmed down both azel and miho lie down on the ground.
" you know if axel is alive he's probably at your age" azel said looking at the stars that's now visible.
" should i call you onii-chan then ?" Miho smiles looking at azel.
" what's an onii-chan?" Azel looks at miho confused
Ohhh right japan probably doesn't exist in this world stupid me. Miho thought to himself.
" it means big brother in a certain language" miho said looking at the stars.
" onii-chan huh? Sure it sounds nice " azel said as he also looks at the stars with a bright smile.