It's been 12 months since I began to walk, and walk I did. From the moment I could get up, I would climb out of my mother's bed, and leave the room. Only for my mother to wake up in a panic and chase me. I did this everyday; at first, she rushed around the house trying to find me. But after finding me hunched over a book the first ten times, her worries began to fade away which was good for me as I could finally begin learning about this world and its history. Learning about history brought me back to the nights I spent in the school library, when I first joined the history club at that time I cared about the club's goals and I loved every minute of it.

  “Little lady, what are you reading today? Would you like me to read it for you?” Margaret picked up the book I was looking at and read the cover.

  The Heroes of Old.

  “Reading about the heroes again? You must really like these stories. Well, I can't lie; the first hero was always my favorite. Here, let me read it.”

  A long, long time ago, in the country formerly known by the name Barr but now known as the Demon Zone, a boy was born—a boy unlike any other. This boy was unluckily born with the memories from a faraway place and a life once lived. He was born from a god's grace, with the prettiest red eyes and the darkest of hair. He even had, on top of his head, pure obsidian horns. Years later, this boy brought forth the rise of the demon race as a whole, and within that turbulent time, the first mage was born. A man of less than twenty entered into the world in much the same manner as the last, but this time the boy had been delivered by the god of life herself. With that, he had been given a purpose, and that purpose was to bring magic to the masses and to fight against the demon king and his beastly servants—

  Wait, why did she stop? I was just about to finally figure out these cat-scratchings of a language. I don't know why you all speak Japanese but can't even write a word of it. now—oh damn it, I thought I had this under control.

  “Oh, it seems you need a change, don't you, little lady? I'll have to get back to the story later.”

  How ridiculous. I have the mental acuity of a 17-year-old, but I'm still shitting myself. It doesn't tell you in any of these damn hero stories about that fact, now does it? I wonder what kind of hero I will be. Will I be like the great mage, firing spells and handing out blessings to my followers? Or maybe the sword king, fighting in the front lines as we take down the demon king? Or maybe I could be something like the herm lord with his 100 concubines, fighting for his affection and also ending the persecution of the beast folk. That wouldn't be too bad, but there's no way I'm having men in my herm, nope. Then again, I could be the coming of the second demon king. No, that doesn't make sense; I don't have horns, do I? The only thing I've got that's different is my blue hair.

  “Sorry, Erin, mommy's got to go to work. Will you be okay with your aunt today? She said that she had a surprise for you?”

  I agreed by saying with the few words my stupid body would let me say, “Yes, Mum.”

  “That's my girl. You will be good, won't you?” I simply nodded, not pushing my speech any more today.

  It wasn't long before mother dropped me off at her friend's house and headed to the inn for a long day's work. I hated going to Linda's house and that was all because her son he always bullied me for my hair and the fact that I didn't have a father. The first time this was mentioned, it confused me, as I knew who my father was. But then, after hearing Linda and her husband talking, I understood, it wasn't that people didn't know who my father was, but that it was forbidden for anyone to mention it or even acknowledge that I existed. I believe this was to protect the Eleanor family's name because if people were caught, there would be harsh punishments; a business could lose its license to operate, and a family might be fined for misinformation. This was a common tactic used by the ruling powers in my old world to stop any decent but here it was being used only to crush any opinion that didn't align with their narrative.

  I was forced to spend so much time at Linda's house playing with ridiculous wooden blocks and an old-school abacus. However, on a positive note, using these toys had its benefits: I had higher than average motor skills for my age, and with my memories, my cognitive functions were through the roof. I even did some tests to try and measure my improvements But there were still things I had no control over and that made me angry especially since others expected me to, even though i wished for control over this aspect of my body it still eluded me. One minute I would be playing with some toys, and the next minute I would be sitting in a puddle of my own urine. It wasn't until my third birthday of which I didn't receive any celebrations for. But on brighter side I finally gained close to full control over every function in my small body, from walking right through to my continually obstinate bodily functions. It was also on that day that everything changed for me, as Linda's son shifted from hating me to something else; he would always try to spy on me. He wouldn't leave me for a second, which made it feel very uncomfortable. All From that discomfort, I was compelled to escape the babysitter and run to my mother's side, and this is where I was headed now.

  A normal three-year-old walking down the streets alone would attract attention, but a blue-haired three-year-old was a different story altogether. The moment I reached the market, I knew I was in for it, as my stepbrother just so happened to be there with his other lordling friends. I tried to hide because every time my mother and I were seen by someone from the family, things only got worse for us. They had even tried to get us kiked out of our home by daging us to lady Eleanor, but it didn't work as the guard captain stopped them from dragging us there. Ducking behind a stall and out of sight, I pulled up my hood, in hopes of covering my hair with my street-browned coat before looking up at the stall owner, hoping it wasn't one of the—

  Oh no, it's her. It just had to be that gray-haired hag. The only one who would toss me to the wolves and laugh as they tore me apart. My mind raced as it struggled to find a way out of this.

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  I was about to run when a hand grabbed hold of me and pulled me down under the stall.

  “Stay here, brat,” the old hag said before calling out to my brother's guards.

  If this old hag turns me in, I'm going to kill her.

  “What is it, you old hag? If you have called us over for nothing again, we will do more than just revoke your permit.”

  I didn’t know what could be worse for a merchant than having their permit to operate revoked by the guild.

  “Sir, I—” One of the guards stepped forward, his hand on the hilt of his weapon, ready to strike at the old hag. The old lady stopped talking and began to shake.

  “Well, what is it? Did you want something or are you trying to sell us more of your stinking health potions? I swear you pot your actual shit in them.” the second guard said abruptly.

  “Well, you see, I saw that little blue-haired brat just a moment ago, and she was alone, I just thought you might want to catch her for the bounty.” the old lady said with a nervous stutter.

  “Are you sure she was alone? Her mother or babysitter wasn’t just out of sight?” the first guard asked, his face stoic. “I don’t need to remind you about the consequences for lying, especially with the new orders for every citizen in regards to that matter. If you’re wrong, we will return. Now, which way did she go, you old coot?”

  The old hag pointed with her crooked finger at an alleyway but strangely also at a building if you followed the curve of her finger. The two guards turned to the alley and said, “If you’re wrong, we will be back,” before heading off in haste.

  I looked up at the hag in disbelief. Did she actually help me?

  “Don't take that the wrong way, you little brat. I just didn't want those fools to start beating up a child in front of my stall. Bad for business, you know,” the hag said, winking at me with a grin. “Go home, you little brat, and tell your mother she might want to think about leaving town soon. There has been a lot of talk coming out of the lord's compound as of late.”

  I thanked the old lady as best I could and scrambled through the market, heading into the alleyway furthest from the guards. Only this was my biggest mistake of the day and one that would change my life forever. Just as I turned the corner, I ran headfirst into my stepbrother and his group of friends, all with evil grins plasted on the faces. My little lord brother stood over me as he looked down his nose.

  “Well, well, if it isn't the blue-haired mongrel. Where's your bitch mother today? Not with you? Good.”

  Pain ripped through my small body as a fist impacted my stomach. “Alright, lads, show her what good care we can offer—just make sure to not leave any signs we did anything. Gut shots only.” Two boys grabbed hold of my small arms while the others took turns punching me with all their might, only stopping once I fainted from the pain. Cackling could be heard as I was coming around. My brother knelt down beside me and whispered in my ear, “Tell the blue-haired witch we don't want her here, and this will keep happening until either both of you leave or you die. I'm happy with the second, but Father would have my head. For some reason, you mean more to him than you should—after all, you're just a bastard, aren't you? Well, speak up. Tell me what you are.” Albert said as he hit me harder. “Speak, damn you. I need to hear you say it. This won't stop till I'm satisfied. Now say it. Say that you're the love child between a prostitute and the man she was paid to spread her legs for. Say it, bitch.” Albert kept hitting me in the stomach until blood seeped from the corner of my mouth.

  I spat out blood and said, “Fine, you’re the love child between a prostitute and the man she was paid to spread her legs for.” Laughter erupted from his friends standing behind him.

  “She got you there, Al,” one of his friends said before everything went black for me as his fist hit me hard in the stomach.

  “Fucking bitch,” Albert said as he gave me a sharp kick before leaving with his entourage of nobles.

  Laying in the alley for the rest of the day, my internal organs were in so much pain that I couldn't move without feeling as if my body would rip apart. It wasn't until later in the evening that my very worried mother found me, accompanied by a group of merchants I had never seen before. “Mr. Elric, could I trouble you for some assistance to get her home?” my mother pleaded with the merchant.

  “It would be the least I could do for you, Miss Graystone.” I awoke three days later to find my mother hunched over the end of my bed while sitting in a chair. I tried to talk, but all that came out were groans and wheezes from my shattered body.

  “Mum, it's okay; you need rest, otherwise you won't be able to work in the inn.” I tried to say, but what came out was more along the lines of, “mu— it— okay need res—” followed by a round of coughing the likes of which I had never known before. Pain rattled through my body, startling Margaret awake. “Little Erin, mommy's here.” Margaret quickly dunked a fresh towel in cold water and changed it out for the one on my head. Only then did I notice how hot I felt. It felt as if lava was running through my veins.

  I'm dying, aren't I? Killed again by a bloody family member, and one much worse than the last. At least this time around, my mother will be safe. I thought as I slipped into unconsciousness. This repeated all night and most of the next day until I stopped waking up at all.