Utopia Shattered Ideals Chapter 4

The blood-red night slowly gave way to darkness.
Far behind them, the sea of flames that had been their home smoldered on the horizon.
The wind was freezing, while the children huddled close to each other, too drained to speak.
Some had collapsed from exhaustion, others still mourning the loss of their families — all broken by the terror of the attack.
No one dared utter a word.

Only the quiet whimpers of children and the slow, steady rhythm of hooves broke the silence as the caravan entered the dark forest near the ruined village.
The children’s wagon rolled in the middle of the caravan, surrounded by their captors.
The forest itself exuded an ominous aura.
No animals lived here, yet everyone in the world had heard of the horrors it hid: birthplace of the almighty Beasts, deadly monsters, and unpredictable mythical creatures.

The merchant glanced at a blond man beside him.

“Hey, Zekram. Keep an eye on the brats. I don’t want a single one slipping away — I’m not giving anyone a discount.”

Zekram snorted. “Asdo, have you looked at them? None of them are thinking of escape in the next hundred years.”

“I don’t care. This job is big, and we’ve only finished the easy part so far — and that was the small paycheck. If even one of them gets away, I’ll cut your hand off.”

“All right, all right… relax,” Zekram muttered, glancing around nervously.
“Still think it’s wise to cross this forest? What if a Beast finds us?”

“Shut your mouth. I won’t risk a border patrol. We’re in the territory of that dead lizard — nothing can happen to us here. After this we cross into the Dog’s domain; he should leave us alone.”

“I wouldn’t take that so lightly… it’s still one of the Beasts. What if a powerful mythic shows up right here? Do you really think you can fight it and still protect the ki— AHHHH!”

Zekram screamed as Asdo’s floating knife sliced off one of his fingers.

“You psycho! What the he—!”

The air around Asdo shifted.
He stepped forward in a blur, closing the distance between them, and looked Zekram in the eye — his eyes so cold they reflected only terror.
Slowly he tilted his head and whispered in his ear.

“Zekram, I let you work for me because you’re always up for any dirty job. But if you don’t have the guts for a mission, tell me beforehand. Don’t whine in the middle of it.
You’ll keep your pathetic mouth shut now… or I’ll show you hell on earth. Got it?”

A cold shiver ran down Zekram’s spine.
He had worked with Asdo for years and knew the madness that lurked in him.
And the one thing he had learned: Asdo was stronger than he had ever dreamed of being — and he always kept his word.
That combination had earned him great respect in the underworld.

“I… I’m sorry,” Zekram stammered.

Asdo’s grim face split into a laugh.
“Ah, don’t look so down. I get it. If the Dog bites, or worse — that damned Bird shows up — even I wouldn’t be thrilled. They’d have to raise the pay, and we’d still all die.”

Zekram forced a weak smile. “Yeah… you’re right…”

Asdo clapped him on the shoulder.
“Good. We’ll rest before we enter the Dog’s territory.”

They traveled for hours through the dark forest.
Towering trees rose hundreds of meters into the sky.
The woods held strange berries, enormous mushrooms, and sometimes far away a glimpse of something unnatural.
A cool wind rustled the majestic canopies — a strangely soothing sound in the otherwise eerie silence.

They finally stopped by a wide river that seemed to divide the forest into four parts.

“Zekram, wake the kids. Let them drink at the river and light a quick fire. Make sure every single one drinks — I don’t want any of them dying out of spite.”

Zekram nodded and climbed onto the wagon.
He flung the door open and barked:

“Get up, you worthless brats!
Stretch your legs and drink — this is your only break!”

Some children had already been roused by the stop; others woke at his shout and slowly climbed out.
Among them was Xenos.

He forced his voice to stay calm.
“Who are you? Where are you taking us?”

Zekram smirked.
“Ah, a brave one. What do you think? I’ll give you a hint… ever heard of the Circus?”

Xenos froze.
The Circus — the great alliance of the underworld: gambling, drugs, weapons, trafficking, even children.
He understood immediately what fate awaited them.
They would be auctioned off in the black market — some trained as assassins, some sold as slaves, others, the prettiest ones, destined for fates too vile to speak.

“I see you’re a smart kid. Stay quiet and you’ll be fine… at least for now.”

Xenos knew resistance was useless.
He was far too weak to defeat the captors, and running away without his little brother was not an option.

Damn it… what do I do? I’m the only one here who can fight… but they’d kill me easily.
Run? But what about the others…?
I can’t even get Tragir out, let alone everyone else…

Nausea rose in him as fear coiled tighter in his gut.
While many children had never heard of the Circus, those who had began to panic.

A boy suddenly screamed:
“You can’t do this! You’re monsters! You killed mom and da—!”

Whack—

Before Xenos could react, Zekram blurred past him and struck the boy so hard his face split and teeth flew out.

“From now on you stay silent and obey. Understood?!”

The children shrank back in terror.
They knew this was no empty threat.
They obeyed and stepped out one by one to drink.
Among them were Tragir and Micael.

Micael whispered to his friend:
“Hey, T… what’s going to happen to us?
Wanderer Jo warned us about the Circus… and now there’s nobody left to help us…
My mom is dead… what do we do?”

He looked to Tragir for guidance, not knowing the storm raging inside him.

Tragir muttered, his fists clenched:
“We do nothing.
If we try anything, we’re done for.
Maybe… maybe we could run with X, but the chances aren’t good…”
His voice hardened.
“We just wait.
Wait, survive… and one day I’ll tear their heads off.”

His whole body trembled with rage, veins standing out on his neck.
Micael froze.
Tragir, born into a warrior family, had never shown an interest in violence.
He had even despised it.

“But what about the others?
You’ll make it — you’re smart, X is strong… I’ll manage somehow too… but the rest… they’ll—”

“I don’t care about the rest!” Tragir snapped.
“Don’t you get it?! We’re screwed. All of us!”

His shout drew everyone’s attention.
Until his older brother stepped forward.

“And whose fault is that?!” Xenos roared.
“Who disabled the barrier—”

His voice faltered as he realized-
too late.

Children shouted from every side:
“Is that true, Tragir?”
“Did you bring the barrier down?”

“No, that’s not how it happened!” Tragir shouted.

But the shouts rose into a frenzy:
“Then where was the barrier?”
“Did your father sell us out?”
“Made a deal with them, didn’t he?”

“No! My father… my father did nothing wrong. I… I stole the barrier board…”

The children’s rage erupted.
“So it was you!”
“Why did you do it?!”
“Because of you my mom and dad are dead!”
“My parents too!”
“You destroyed the whole village!”

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“Why?!”

“I didn’t know this would happen… I’m sorry—”

“Sorry?!”
“You were always telling us to be careful!”
“Always acting like you’re better than us!”
“You bastard!”
“Murderer!”
“I want my mom and dad back!”
“They slit my dad’s throat!”
“It’s all your fault!”

Their pent-up grief and helplessness burst out, finding a target in Tragir.
Some might have pitied him, others thought it his deserved punishment.
The line of blame was blurred… but in that moment he became the image of their pain.

Micael stood in shock.
Tragir… brought down the barrier?
But why?
He’s always so careful…
But he confessed it…
Was mom killed because of him?
Is it all his fault?
No… he’d never do that…

While Micael struggled with his thoughts, the chaos escalated.

“You filthy traitor!”

Smack—

A blow sent Tragir sprawling in the dirt, his nose bleeding.
He screamed in shock — but the children didn’t stop.
They swarmed him, kicking and punching.

“Why?!”
“You liar!”
“You monster!”
“Die!”
“I hope you rot!”
“You ruined everything!”
“I hate you!”

He curled up on the cold ground.

„Please… stop…
I’m sorry…
It’s my fault…
Please stop…“

Yet the pain in his heart hurt far more than the blows.

They’re right…
Always telling others to behave…
Always acting better…
And I… I took the barrier down…
But I never wanted this…
He tricked me…
Please… stop…
They’re the ones who killed everyone…
It hurts…
Mom…
Dad…
X… help me…
Why won’t they stop…
Why won’t anyone understand…

“Enough!!!”

The cry of a small girl cut through the uproar.
For a moment the forest fell silent.
All eyes turned to her.

“Yuna…?”

Xenos, until then frozen in shock, seized the moment.

“Yuna’s right!
Yes, Tragir lowered the barrier — but he would never hurt any of you.
He’s a good kid, you know that.
He was tricked!
You blame him?
Who destroyed our home?
Who slaughtered our families?
It wasn’t him, was it?!”

The children fell quiet — some out of fear of Xenos, others because his words struck home.
But Tragir was already broken.
Stress, guilt, and self-loathing drove him to another mistake.

He bolted.

He ran as fast as he could, leaping across the river, not caring where — only to get away.
Away from the cruel words, the kicks… above all, away from his guilt.
He ran faster than ever before, desperate to outrun his pain.
Stones cut his feet, thorns tore his flesh, poisonous plants burned his skin.

From the riverbank, Asdo watched with fascination.
“Zekram. Bring the boy back. Alive.”

Zekram jabbed a finger toward the trees.
“Number One. Number Two. Bring him back.”

The two men jumped after Tragir.

Xenos lunged forward without hesitation, closing the distance.
His heel slammed into the first man’s ribs, driving him into his partner and knocking them both sprawling in the dirt.

They cursed and scrambled to their feet, but the brief clash bought just enough time for the brothers to slip into the dense shadows of the forest.

Asdo’s eyes hardened.

Zekram was shocked
“Squad One, hunt them down. Search the whole area. Now!”

He blurted in panic:
“Asdo, I’m sorry! But don’t worry, they don’t stand a chance. We’ll have them back in ten — no, five minutes. I swear!”

To an outsider it sounded like an excuse, but to anyone experienced it was an honest assessment.
No matter how capable Xenos seemed, alone or with Tragir he could not escape for long.
In this tangled, dark, dangerous forest, it was impossible to cover much ground quickly.
Sooner or later they would tire.

But Zekram did not know — could not know — of the Devil.

The Devil who had waited in the shadows for ages.
The Devil who had worked on one single, world-shaping plan.
The Devil who, at this very moment, had found the final piece of his puzzle.

Fate was moving — and at its center stood Tragir and Xenos.

Xenos pushed through the undergrowth, branches tearing at his arms.
“T! Wait! I’m sorry! I’m not angry with you!”

“X… go away! Please! Leave me alone!”

But even as he said it, Tragir knew it was a lie.
He had never wanted to be alone.
It was the thing he feared most.
And now, more than ever, he needed his brother — a shoulder to lean on, someone to hear the words caught in his heart.
But guilt consumed him, whispering that he did not deserve his brother’s love…
A choice that would drag them both into unimaginable darkness.

Behind them, the forest came alive.

The crash of boots on roots.
The snap of twigs.
Harsh, ragged breathing.

“T, please they´re gaining on us!” Xenos was close to reaching Tragir.

Leaves rustled above.
A shadow swept across the moonlight.
The brothers could hear them now — the raiders moving not just on the ground, but in the trees.

A branch cracked to their right.
Another heavy thump to their left.
Closer… closer still.

“Run, T!” Xenos urged, shoving his brother forward.

Something hissed through the dark — an arrow that buried itself in a tree trunk beside them.

“I see them! Down there!”

The shout came from overhead — too close.
Tragir looked up just in time to see dark shapes dropping from the treetops like hunting beasts..
His breath caught.
That’s it… it’s over… because of me, X will—

The thought shattered.

The night deepened, the air around them growing unnaturally still.
Even the wind stopped.
A cold prickle crawled down Tragir’s neck.

Something appeared before him.

Something that should not exist.

A silhouette, vaguely human — and yet wrong.
Ash-grey skin.
A face that might once have been human, marred by two curved horns sprouting from its brow.
Leathery, bat-like wings spread behind it.
A thin, whip-like tail curled lazily in the air.

And the eyes… deep crimson, burning within pools of black sclera — like coals smoldering in a bottomless void.

With an ominous smile on its ink-black lips, the figure spoke.

“Hello, child.
Welcome to my home.
It seems you’ve got a problem…
Shall I… help you?”

For Tragir, time stopped.
Every fiber of his being screamed in terror.
This presence was ancient, powerful — and corrupt.
He knew it meant no good.
But his situation was hopeless.
He knew nothing of any rescue, nothing of the dark future looming over him.
He knew only one thing: this being could grant his wish.

And in his shattered heart, trembling with pain, a single wish took shape.

His gaze lifted to the sky.
He heard his own voice whisper

“Kill them all.”

The creature’s grin widened.
“Your wish… is my command.”

Whoosh—

An instant later, a warm rain spattered Tragir’s skin.

Thud.
Thud.
Thud.

Bodies fell from the sky — headless.
The corpses of the attackers hit the ground.
With them came a red rain of blood, dripping from the branches above.

Tragir stood frozen.
“…Thank you…”

The creature extended a long, clawed hand.
“Thanks won’t be enough, boy.”

It grasped his wrist.

“From now on… you belong to me.”

Back at the river, Asdo’s patience was fraying.
“They’ve been gone twenty minutes…”

Zekram was visibly nervous.
“They’ll be back any moment…”

“Doesn’t look that way to me… I’ll take two squads. You take the rest and get the other brats to the meeting point. Think you can manage that?”

Zekram sighed in relief.
“Of cou— AHHHH!!!”

A flash of steel.
Asdo’s flying knives cut off his hand.

“Get moving.”

Zekram clenched his teeth in fury but dared not speak.
That sick bastard… I’ll have to get Q to sew this back on…

Asdo disappeared soundlessly into the dark forest.
The rest of the group hurried to gather the children and fled — not toward Tragir, but across the river.

Yet as soon as they reached the opposite bank, something unexpected happened.

A figure stepped out of the forest’s depths.

Huge.
Canine in shape — yet more powerful, more muscular, with black, glossy fur that shimmered under the moonlight.
It looked majestic.
Solemn.
And like the very end of all things.

The creature stopped, raised its head, and spoke in a calm, deep voice:

“You have sinned in my domain…
You shall face the punishment you deserve.”

Blue flames bloomed silently along the beast’s fur — cold and strangely beautiful.

A heartbeat later, it was already too late.

Zekram could not react.
Could not comprehend.

“What’s happening…?
Is this… the Beast Kyrometheus…?
Is this the Flame of Justice…?
But it doesn’t even burn…
It feels… so…
beautiful…”

He crumbled into ash.
Painlessly.
Almost peacefully.

Legends said Kyrometheus’s fire reduced the guilty to dust.

All sixty attackers were judged in a single silent moment.

Only the wagon remained.
And with it — the children.
They had not dared to leave the wagon.
Even after the sudden stop, after the quiet catastrophe, they sat there frozen.
All of them.
Except one.

Micael.

He stepped forward, shaking.
Yet he placed himself between the creature and the wagon.

“If you want them… you’ll have to get through me!”

His whole body trembled — but he did not move aside.

The Beast tilted its head slightly — almost respectfully.

“Brave little warrior. I will not harm you. I will take you to safety.”

Micael was on the verge of throwing up.
The creature’s presence was overwhelming, immense.
And yet… something inside him kept him standing.

“Safe…?
Where?
We don’t have a home anymore!”
His voice cracked, tears in his throat.

The creature’s deep voice remained calm.
“Do not worry. I will bring you to a good place.
You will want for nothing.”

For some reason, Micael believed him.
Why?
A feeling.
An instinct.
Perhaps simply because such a majestic being did not seem like one that could lie… or needed to.

And yet… something stirred within him.
A spark.

„Will I become strong enough there… strong enough to never lose anyone again?
Strong enough to protect?
Strong enough to keep my promises?“

Kyrometheus was silent.
In his long life he had seen countless humans — brave, cowardly, greedy, proud.
But this boy…
Small. Weak.
And yet — steadfast.

“That,” he said at last, “I cannot promise you.”

Micael sank to his knees.
He bowed as low as he could, pressing his forehead to the ground until his skin split and blood seeped into the earth.

“Please! I beg you!
No matter how — I must become strong!
Please, send the others away!
Please send them to safety!
But please… please help me!”

Kyrometheus hesitated.
Before him knelt not merely a boy, but raw, unshaped potential.
He wanted to refuse — instinctively.
But what if the boy chose the wrong path instead?
What darkness might he unleash if left unguided?

Kyrometheus felt it —
like a breeze before the storm.

This choice would change things.
For him.
For the boy.
For humanity.

In the end he spoke:

“The road will be harsh.
Are you prepared?”

A pressure fell upon the world.
So great it seemed the very ground trembled.
Micael gasped for breath, feeling as if the weight of the earth itself pressed down on him.
And still — he lifted his head.
He met the creature’s eyes.
With a bleeding brow and burning resolve, he rasped:

“Yes.”

“So be it…”

Kyrometheus summoned a blue flame in the shape of a bird and sent it toward the wagon.
Upon contact, they vanished.

Left behind were Kyrometheus and Micael — alone in the stillness of the night.

“Follow me, boy.”

The blue flame flickered in the dark as the beast turned away with the boy.

Far behind them, deep in the forest, crimson eyes gleamed — and a soft, amused laugh echoed between the trees.

In this legendary place now remained the children — lost, yet chosen.
Two best friends, so close…
and yet so far apart.