"Bound by Fate

My name is Olaf—or at least, that was once my name. I was tortured for centuries, and after all that suffering, I found myself embodied in a new form. My father and grandfather had both been heroes; how ironic, then, that I should become what I am.

I have now spent nearly three months in the orphanage. I got to know everyone there and even made some friends. All of them dream of becoming heroes one day. But me? I only dream of living a normal life like everyone else—or so I thought.

Every night, a voice echoes in my head, rambling in words I could not understand. Yet tonight it was clearer, though I still could not grasp its meaning. The sound carried a force so overwhelming that it felt like standing before a mighty power. The sensation filled me with indescribable dread.

I try to sleep, but whenever I close my eyes, I cannot. Sometimes I drift for a few minutes, only to wake again in terror. At last, Sister Oulit cast a spell on me so I would not see that nightmare again. For the first time, I slept without it haunting me.

When I awoke, my day began as usual: feeding the animals, tending the land, and resting with the other children. Of course, I always sat alone—I hate dealing with children. The breeze was so gentle, the kind that makes you never want to return indoors.

“Ulo! Stop right there! Don’t go near the bull!” someone shouted.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

“André! Little Ulo is heading straight toward the bull!”

“Come quickly!” shouted Nash. “Lend me your coat!”

“Why?”

“Just give it to me!”

“Fine, here!”

But it was too late—the bull had already noticed Ulo and was preparing to charge.

We had to save him. “Sister, push me toward the bull, quickly! Please!”

“All right, André,” she replied.

The bull lowered its horns, aiming at the child. At the last moment, André leapt onto its back, tying a cloth around its eyes and pressing one horn down toward the dirt, forcing the beast off balance. Ulo escaped, but André was thrown in front of the bull’s massive horns.

Just as the bull prepared to strike, a bolt of lightning crashed down, stunning the beast and knocking it to the ground. It was the master of the house, Lord Albert, arriving in the final instant.

“That was close,” he muttered.

“André! Are you all right? Answer me!”

“I—I nearly died… I don’t want to die!”

“Then stop crying and stand up,” Albert ordered firmly.

Later, everyone gathered for the meal.

“Ah, rice and plenty of meat!” someone exclaimed.

“Yes,” said Sister Oulit. “Because today we have a hero among us—André.”

“Me? A hero?”

“Yes. If not for you, Ulo would have suffered a terrible fate.”

“It wasn’t such a big deal.”

“Don’t be so modest! You deserve praise. Even we, with our powers, could not have done what you did.”

“Yes, that’s true,” another agreed. “So take as much meat as you like—it’s your day!”

“And what about me?” asked Albert. “If not for me, you wouldn’t even be eating this delicious food.”

“You don’t need encouragement, master. This is your duty,” Sister Oulit teased.

“Then no thanks? Hmph. Well, I do have something to thank you with… some of your favorite cakes.”

“Cake? You know we don’t usually like baked sweets,” said one of the boys.

“Don’t worry, I baked some for you as well,” she smiled.

“Really? Hooray!”

“Give me one too, Sister,” I said.

“But Olaf, you never like them.”

“Maybe not, but today I feel like having one.”

“All right, since it’s your request, little hero.”

“Yes, I am the hero today,” I said with a grin.

The cake was delicious, though I could not finish it all. “I’ll save the rest for tomorrow,” I told her.

“Very well. I’ll keep it for you,” she replied warmly.

That night, lying in bed, I whispered to myself: What a wonderful feeling it is to be a hero.

“Don’t you agree, boy?” a voice suddenly said.

I froze. “That voice… It’s you again.”

“Humans never change. Even after everything you’ve seen, you are still the same.”

“You’re the voice that comes every night… but you sound more than just a voice.”

A sword appeared before me, wrapped in chains on every side. The aura it gave off was so overwhelming that I thought my very bones would leap out of my body and flee.

“Do you feel fear? That is only natural, human. Humanity always craves endless praise, always chased by arrogance until they fall.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“I mean that even after all you’ve seen, you are still the same. Every emotion you carried in your previous life remains. Don’t you realize I know your past life?”

“How could you know?”

“Because I spoke to the former owner of this body. I told him that one day, his kindness would be overturned by evil strong enough to bear me. He thought I was speaking of his soul. But in truth, I meant the soul that would possess his body. And now, here you are. Welcome… to hell.”

“What do you mean?” I asked in horror.

“You’ll understand when the time comes to carry me.”

“Forget it. I intend to live this life without trouble. Carrying a sword? Are you joking?”

“Humans are greedy, but you… your greed is different. Yours is deeper, especially since you have seen hell with your own eyes.”

“Enough! I don’t want anything to ruin this life. I will never come to you, do you hear me?”

“Then why not wake up and save your family from the monster outside your farm right now, lazy boy? I am waiting.”

“What? A dream? What monster?”

“André! Wake up!”

I opened my eyes to hear the old man shouting. “Don’t worry—my shield will hold the beast. Take the children and escape quickly! Bring Michelle and the others!”

“Yes, Grandfather!” I cried.

The monster was enormous—its size unbelievable. I had to wake everyone.

“André, thank goodness you’re awake,” said Sister Oulit. “We must wake the children quickly and quietly. Move as fast as you can.”

“Yes!”

“Dief, Ulo, wake the others!”

“Has morning come?” one asked groggily.

“No, but we must leave immediately!” I urged.

“Why? What’s happened?”

“There’s a monster at the farm.”

“A monster?!”

“Quiet! Stop shouting! We must flee so that Lord Albert can deal with it!”

Once everyone was ready, we fled through the back gate.

Meanwhile, Albert lowered his shield and faced the creature. “Now, monster… I’m right here. Do you want me? Come and get me.”

The beast swung its massive fists. Albert dodged with lightning speed, striking with thunderous blows that forced the monster back. Gathering all his strength, he unleashed one final strike that made the creature explode.

Breathing heavily, Albert stood amid the smoke.

But then, through the haze, a figure appeared—smiling, clapping. “Well done, Lord Albert. You’ve defeated one of my pets.”

“Who are you?” Albert demanded.

“That doesn’t matter. What matters is—who are you? Are you merely Albert, the caretaker of this miserable farm, or are you the guardian of that great secret entrusted to you by the king?”

In an instant, Albert lunged at him.

“Careful—you almost hit me! And look, dust on my clothes… how unpleasant,” the stranger mocked.

“Who sent you? How do you know about me?”

“I cannot answer. That is a secret.”

“Then I will make you talk!”

“You are fast indeed… but shouldn’t you be more concerned for those children? I believe they are walking straight into death.”

“What? No! Leave them! It is me you want, not them!”

“Ha! You don’t understand. My task is not only to kill you, Albert, but also everyone connected to you.”

“Damn you!”

As Albert tried to escape the tightening circle of battle, a skeletal hand seized him.

“Trying to run? How pitiful… would you abandon me so easily?”

---

Meanwhile, we children ran with Sister Oulit.

“Children, hurry!” she urged.

“Will Lord Albert be able to handle the monster?” one asked.

“Yes, don’t worry. He is strong and will never be defeated by such a beast. We must only reach the hut and wait until it’s over.”

We were close to safety—so close.

But in a single moment, amidst the silence, blood splattered across the grass. Sister Oulit’s head was severed before our eyes. And from the darkness, a monster stood upon her corpse.

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