The boy was paralyzed with terror as he struggled to comprehend the horrifying events unfolding before his eyes. He felt an overwhelming sense of fear and helplessness, unsure of how to protect himself. Seeking refuge under the table, his heart pounded in his chest as his eyes widened with fear. Shocked and horrified, he caught sight of eerie shadow figures of a lady on the ground, clutching the shadowy forms of the people in the tavern. Panic surged through his mind as desperate thoughts consumed him: "Please, don't let me die. I just wanted to satisfy my hunger, that's all." As tears streamed down his face, he caught the attention of Jenni, his cries echoing the terrifying reality that surrounded them.
"Why are you crying? Are you scared?" She said to the boy, her voice slightly softer than usual. Feeling a mix of confusion and concern, she couldn't help but think to herself, "Ugh, why is he crying? It's so annoying. But... maybe I should go over there and see if he's okay."
Tears streamed down the boy's face as he stood near the woman, terrified that she might harm him. Suddenly, someone who had been hiding behind the counter emerged, ready to provide backup in case the S.S.U attacked and when there weren't enough people to defend themselves. The man hurled an axe towards Jenni.
Jenni found herself shocked by the man's presence, but her quick thinking allowed her to immobilize him using shadow figures. Unfortunately, she didn't have enough time to prevent the axe from nearing her face. However, in that critical moment, a male-like figure materialized before her, taking the blow from the butt end of the axe.
Jenni was both shocked and upset when she discovered that someone had taken something important to her, but what really bothered her was the realization that the person who had come to her rescue was the boy she least expected. Overwhelmed by anger, Jenni impulsively used her power of shadow manipulation, causing the shadow figures to twist the heads of the tavern people.
The boy peacefully slumbered, his dreams whisking him away to cherished memories of his childhood, when he resided in a grand house adorned with the loving presence of his parents and newborn sister. They had been an extraordinarily joyful family, until tragedy struck - a devastating fire, ignited by a monstrous force, consumed everything they held dear.
He was startled awake by a sudden splash of water on his face. Confused and disoriented, he found himself in the midst of a dense forest, far away from the kingdom. Bewildered, he pondered, "How did I end up here?"
"Oh, you're finally awake," a fair-skinned man in his thirties said to the boy, a hint of bashfulness evident in his voice. He sat beside a tree, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and brown pants, as if he were concealing something beneath his clothes.
The man called out, saying "Hey, Jenni!" She snapped at him, saying, "What, Steen!" Within moments of her response, both the man and the boy heard the sound of rustling bushes, as something swiftly approached them.
The boy was frightened, yet the man appeared indifferent to his fear. Suddenly, Jenni emerged from the bushes, the source of the rustling sounds. She approached the boy, examining his forehead where the axe had struck him. Luckily, all he had was a small bump that would likely fade within a week or less.
Jenni let out a sigh, gently placing her hands on both shoulders of the boy. She then started shaking him lightly while voicing her concern, "Do you even realize how worried I was? Next time, please think before doing something so dangerous! I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you, you know? Ugh, you can be such a dummy!"
As he responded to her burst of anger with a simple "I'm sorry," the boy couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. It was a bittersweet moment for him, finally experiencing someone who cared enough to be concerned about him. Overwhelmed, tears welled up in his eyes, as he found solace in the release of his emotions.
"Anyway, I'll ask you once more: What's your name?" Jenni said, locking eyes with the boy. As tears streamed down his face, he managed a smile before looking up at her and answering, "My name is Hugo."
Jenni extended her hand to Hugo and greeted him warmly, saying, "As the leader of the Hayes crew, I, Jenni Hayes, officially welcome you onboard. Welcome, Hugo."
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