PROLOGUE
MY DREAM CRASHED down as the flag of Erideth rose above. Thousands of Damned scattered at the capital, witnessing the retreat of the regime that ruled the Kingdom of Greed for forty years. Beyond the pandemonium, light and darkness fought for dominion over the horizon. Twilight had favored the latter since the beginning of time, like how fate sided against me from the day I was born.
I stifled a yawn and squared my shoulders. Before I could wallow in grief, I left the place with all the stealth I’d came to master. The chants of the people clung to my ears as I navigated the way back to my glittering cage. When I could no longer hear the cacophony behind, the breath I’d been holding on broke free.
“Fortune favored the cunning.” I said, lacking reverence and conviction the declaration entailed, but loud enough to startle the guy I came across the street.
“Fortune favored the cunning,” he replied.
I stopped. My gaze traveled east, landing on the dejected face of an old man. His wrinkled forehead appeared older than his age as he held his empty wallet. A huge box in between them connected the dots. I lowered down my eyes. The bulge in the guy’s pocket proved me accurate.
Hateful words threatened to escape from the tip of my tongue. I stared at the scar that marred the back of my right palm. From the protruded line, the memories of my father’s warning resurfaced. I swallowed my anger against my will.
“Going somewhere?” I arched my eyebrow.
The guy chuckled; the old man’s body sagged. “Nah. I’m done here. He can no longer pay for my service.”
“Y-you can’t just leave me here. I cannot carry it. Please, I need this to feed my f-family.”
“Not my problem anymore. I am only doing what is right.”
They quarreled for a moment before the guy left, cursing all the gods, and kicking the box along the way. My hands curled into tight fists. I tucked the proofs of my anomaly behind my stiff back. Still, my cheeks and trembling lips left a more visible remnant of my transgression. I scoffed at the old man, my last resort of salvation, when he directed his pleading eyes to me. Tears strained his weary orbs.
‘Do not look at me like that. I already learned my lesson long time ago. A free service is a betrayal to Erideth. Helping without gaining something is a treason.’
I turned my back with a heavy heart. Determined to face the wrath of my father in home, but afraid to see the pain of the person I’d left at the street.
I looked above. Darkness had reigned.
“Fortune favored the cunning,” I whispered. “If only that fortune includes freedom, then I will ace their fucking Selection.”
