All day long, Azrael didn't feel suspicious about anything around him. Only when he returned home did he realise it was odd that his aunt had allowed him to bathe at home.
"Auntie, are you sure I can bathe at home? Won't Uncle get mad if I did?" Azrael asked again just to be certain. He didn't want to get punished by Christopher because of this.
"So do you want it or not?" His aunt started getting annoyed as Azrael kept asking questions instead of being grateful for her rare kindness.
"I'm sorry, Auntie. I'll go take a bath right away," Azrael said quickly, nodding before she could change her mind.
Today, his aunt seemed unusually kind. Even her faint smile didn't have its usual bitterness. But Azrael was too tired to care.
Usually, he had to go to the nearest river or the village well just to wash up. His uncle would never allow him to bathe in the house.
Worried they might change their minds, Azrael made sure not to take too long. After washing himself, he immediately stepped out of the bathroom, intending to return to the attic to continue training.
But as he was heading toward the attic, he happened to catch sight of Alwin holding a book that looked all too familiar.
Azrael frowned, thinking hard, until he realised that the book in Alwin's hand was the very one he had hidden his training manual, the one he'd tried so hard to keep secret.
His breath caught. For a heartbeat, the world seemed to stop. That book... it was his only way out.
"Damn it, if Alwin finds out that's mine, I'm doomed," Azrael muttered, panicked.
And just like that, Azrael realised Alwin had seen him. Their eyes met, and a chill ran down Azrael's spine as he saw the wide grin forming on Alwin's face.
Azrael's fear grew worse as Alwin started walking toward him. He instinctively stepped backwards, trying to get away.
But Alwin moved faster. Before Azrael could do anything, he found himself pulled into a tight side embrace—Alwin still clutching the training manual in one hand.
"In a hurry, are you? Where do you think you're going?" Alwin tightened his grip until it nearly choked Azrael.
Azrael's small body tensed in fear, sensing the threat behind Alwin's every movement.
"I-I was just going back to the attic to rest," Azrael answered softly, bowing his head, not daring to meet Alwin's gaze.
"Is that so? Too bad. I actually wanted to ask you something about this book," Alwin replied, flipping the manual open in front of Azrael's face.
Azrael's face turned even paler at Alwin's words. His heart felt like it had plummeted off a cliff. He racked his brain, trying to escape this crisis, but the harder he thought, the foggier his mind became.
He could only let out a dry laugh. "How could I possibly know anything about that book, Cousin?"
"Right, scum like you wouldn't understand. Then why did I find this book hidden in your vest?" Alwin's voice grew cold, and his sharp eyes bore into Azrael, who instantly stiffened.
Azrael's neck turned icy at Alwin's words. He now knew for sure Alwin had discovered the truth.
The grin on Alwin's face widened as he saw Azrael trembling in fear. That reaction alone confirmed it—this book really was his.
"Don't tell me you were planning to take the Knight's Trial? So what I saw back then was true after all. I thought I was just seeing things," Alwin laughed, lightly slapping Azrael's cheek with the book.
"N-no! Cousin, you've got it all wrong," Azrael quickly shook his head, trying to explain himself, desperately hoping Alwin would believe him.
Azrael couldn't let them know he planned to take the trial. He'd rather be punished, however severely, if it meant keeping his plan a secret.
"Is that so?" Alwin looked at him with curiosity.
"Yes! There's no way I'd dare to do such a thing!" Azrael nodded frantically, his eyes wide with fear.
Slowly, Alwin released him from the suffocating embrace. Azrael felt a brief sense of relief, thinking Alwin had finally believed him.
But it was nothing more than a false hope, because the next moment, a slap landed hard on his cheek.
Alwin had struck him with the book, laughing cruelly as he did. "You really think I'd buy that stupid excuse of yours? You must have a death wish. Let's see what Father has to say when he finds out what you've been up to."
Azrael's face went ashen, like all the blood had drained from it. His pupils trembled with helplessness as he shook his head, pleading.
"Cousin, please don't tell Uncle! I'll do anything for you!" Azrael quickly dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around Alwin's leg and begging for mercy.
"You want my mercy? Sorry, but demons like you don't get to dream of such things." Alwin kicked Azrael off him with disgust.
As Azrael hit the ground, Alwin grabbed him by the hair and dragged him toward the living room, where their father was resting.
Azrael wailed, pleading and struggling to get away, but Alwin's grip was too firm. He was helpless.
Alwin threw Azrael to the ground in front of his father. Christopher looked down at them in confusion, unsure what this was about.
"Why are you dragging that cursed brat in front of me?" Christopher glared at Azrael with disgust before turning to Alwin with a questioning look.
"Father, look what that bastard was trying to do. I found this book hidden in his vest," Alwin said, handing over Azrael's training manual.
Trying to stop him, Azrael leapt forward, but it was pointless. Alwin kicked him away.
Christopher's face darkened as he examined the book. He wasn't stupid—he immediately understood what Azrael had been planning.
Seeing that, Alwin took the opportunity to speak again.
"That bastard planned to become a Knight, Father. Yesterday when we were in the city, I saw him at the Knight Headquarters," Alwin explained, glancing at Isaac.
Isaac got the message. He pulled out a scroll, and Azrael's heart sank even further.
"I found this parchment in the attic, Father," Isaac said as he handed it to Christopher, reinforcing Alwin's accusation.
Christopher stood from the sofa. He didn't even need to open the scroll to know what it was. He marched toward Azrael, grabbed him by the hair, and forced him to look up.
"You really thought you could leave this place? Planning to kill more people? Was murdering your parents not enough?" Christopher roared in rage.
"Uncle, please forgive me," Azrael begged again and again.
"There's one thing you need to understand, you're not allowed to leave this house. I've told you already, you're a cursed demon's child. You'll bring disaster wherever you go!" With eyes burning red with fury, Christopher slammed Azrael's head against the floor.
Then he stood tall and looked at his sons, both of whom were grinning with satisfaction at the sight of Azrael being punished.
"You know what to do. This time, break both of his legs before throwing him into the basement," Christopher said coldly. There was no hesitation in his voice.
"As your wish, Father." Alwin nodded, understanding completely.
Christopher walked away, leaving his two sons to carry out his cruel order.
As soon as their father was gone, Alwin grinned wider and started beating Azrael mercilessly, making sure not to forget the part about breaking both of his legs, just as he was told.
Azrael could hear the sickening crack of his own bones, a sound more painful than the pain itself. Because at that moment, Azrael wanted to scream, but no sound came. Pain blurred his vision, but worse than that was the shattering of hope.