A few years ago.
There was a part of Dark Waters that was called Paradise Away From Pirates. It was perhaps the only safe, harmonious place in Dark Waters.
It was forbidden land from pirates, as the paradise’s guardian angle was famously known for her hatred towards pirates.
The paradise had hundreds of islands, each looking like they were taken straight from paintings.
The crystal-clear waters and lush greenery made it a breathtaking sight, with trees filled with pink cherry blossoms and a gentle breeze that carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers.
At this moment, a ship with pure white sails appeared on the horizon, sailing gracefully across the sea.
On the deck, dozens of girls and boys leaned over the railing, looking at the water while smiling and laughing with their friends.
They were all dressed in their finest summer attire, their hair adorned with flowers and ribbons.
A short, lean-bodied boy with brown hair and black eyes stared out towards the endless ocean. He enjoyed the breeze on his hair and the sound of the waves crashing against the hull.
“Henri.” A brunette-haired woman called out to him, her voice soft and gentle. She was the teacher for the boys and girls.
After a successful year of school, they decided to go to the beach resort in the final week of the semester. It was somewhat of a prize for students who worked hard for the entire year.
“Yes, miss Sasha?” Henri looked away from the ocean and looked at the teacher with a curious look.
“Your parents told me that you haven’t behaved at home.” Sasha grabbed the railing and looked at the boy with a curious glint in her hazel eyes. “Is something bothering you?”
“Not really.” Henri replied.
Sasha’s eyes narrowed slightly as she didn’t believe him, but she then sighed and said.
“I am sorry, but your parents also wanted me to give you some work at the resort.”
“What?” Henri groaned. “Do you have to?”
Sasha wryly smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “I am sorry, but your parents have forced my hand.”
“Tch…” Henri clicked his tongue.
“No worry, it will only take an hour or two each day.” Sasha smiled gently and left to talk with other students.
“Yo, Henri, are you in trouble?” A cheeky-smiled boy approached Henri.
“Maybe.” Henri jokingly replied and asked. “What’s up?”
“A few girls wanted to play some games in their room tonight; want to join?” The cheeky-smiled boy asked.
“Mm, sure, why not.” Henri chuckled and looked down at the water, but then he saw something strange.
Below the water, a shadow moved, but it was shaped like a human.
“Yo, can you see this?” Henri pointed at the shadow.
The cheeky-smiled boy leaned over the railing and looked down at the water, but he saw nothing.
“I see nothing.”
“What?” Henri asked, confused. When he turned back to the water, he also saw nothing anymore.
‘Did I see wrong? Am I more sleepy than I thought?’
Henri shook his head and turned to the cheeky-smiled boy. “Maybe I saw wrong.”
At that moment, a frown appeared on his brows as he saw the cheeky-smiled boy’s smile disappear, and he stood still like a statue, looking at the ocean without any emotion.
“Uhm, dude, are you alright?”
“Don’t know.” The cheeky-smiled boy answered in a monotone tone as he slowly turned around and walked away.
Henri followed the boy with his gaze and then saw everyone else, even Sasha, standing still with their smiles gone and their eyes fixed on either the water or the empty air in front of them.
They looked like they were either too lazy to move or they were waiting for something to happen.
“Everyone?” Henri frowned and approached the teacher. “Miss Sasha, is something wrong?”
Sasha didn’t reply and continued to stare at the empty air in front of her.
“What happened to you all?” Henri shouted in shock and tried to shake Sasha awake, but she didn’t react. “Miss Sasha, you are scaring me! Is this some kind of joke?”
“They won’t be able to react for a while.” A voice came behind him.
Henri’s eyes widened, and he turned around to see a broad-shouldered man sitting on a railing. He looked powerful and intimidating.
“W-who are you?”
“My name is Mars.” Mars said with a smile and pointed at others. “Their fates have been stolen. For a few days, they act like empty shells until they recover their emotions, but because they don’t have their fate left, everything they do will fail.”
“H-how did this happen?!” Henri asked urgently and wondered why the same didn’t happen to him.
“I did that.” Mars smiled, and his star-pupiled eye shone brilliantly. “Unfortunately, their fates were very insignificant. They were not going to do anything meaningful in their lives.”
“W-why?” Henri’s voice shook. “Why did you do that!”
“Because of you.” Mars pointed at him with a cheeky smile. “As you can see, you are different. You have more fate than all of them combined, easily.
“You are destined for great things.”
Henri clenched his hands into fists and shook in anger. “W-why… did you do this to them?”
“Haha, well, there is an actual reason this time around.” Mars formed a straight hand and chopped across the air. “Neptune’s Wrath!”
Spurt!
Henri flinched as blood splattered across his face. He turned to the side with shaky eyes and saw Miss Sasha and all his classmates lying dead on the ground.
Their bodies were lifeless, and still, their eyes were frozen in a permanent stare.
“I don’t need the guardian angel of paradise to come scoop around your whereabouts.” Mars said with his arms crossed. “They will just think that you guys unfortunately sank to the bottom of the ocean.”
“Fucker!” Henri rushed at Mars with his fists clenched.
Mars moved as fast as light and kicked Henri down to the ground. He then pressed his foot on Henri’s throat and whispered venomously.
“You are now my property.” Mars’ eyes looked cold. “You’ll stay on the board of my ship while I steal your fate until you end up like your friends here. The faster you learn your place, the better it will be for you.”
Henri couldn’t stop his tears from falling from his eyes as he looked to the side towards his dead friends and the teacher, who were smiling and lively only minutes ago.
…
Back in the present time.
Henri’s lifeless corpse lay on the ground, tears falling from the corners of his eyes.
“H-Henri…” Loki’s hands shook in shock.
“No, this can’t be happening.” Loki’s voice trembled as he stared at the lifeless body of his friend.
“Aaaargh!” Ambrose rushed in with his swords and smashed them towards Mars.
Mars blocked them with his golden arm and threw a punch, which Ambrose dodged by tilting his head to the side.
Ambrose quickly used Formlessness to move behind Mars and struck him from behind.
However, Mars quickly jumped in the air and summoned a ball of golden flames on top of his hand before hurling it towards Ambrose.
Ambrose crossed the swords in front of his body, but the ball of flames still sent him flying into the distance.
“Hmph.” Mars’ lips curled into a slight smile.
At that moment, a magic circle appeared above him.
“Hmm?” Mars frowned.
“Maaars!” Loki’s enraged shout came behind him. “My village had a saying for people like you!”
“Huh?” Mars turned around to see Loki’s enraged face. “And what could that be?”
“That you are abandoned by the gods of magic!” Loki screamed. “Those who didn’t have talent for magic in the village did other things, such as farming or crafting!
“Those who tried to take an easy way, such as trying to increase their talent with spells, were scorned upon and banished from the village!
“We called those people The Lazy Ones!
“Mars, you are the embodiment of what we hate!”