Only I Am A Reader

'I miss them.'

People often said that childhood was the main phase that defined what kind of person someone would grow up to be. However, what was it that defined a person's childhood?

What was there to develop in the mind of a child whose age could be counted on one hand other than a sense of belonging… a faint relationship linking them to their parents and family?

'I miss it.'

What would a child end up with if even that was taken away from them? In a state of emptiness with nothing to cling to, there was nothing that could take root other than one of the humans' strongest emotions.

'I want to return.'

Desire.

'I want to go back.'

At first, one may search for what they lost, hoping to retrieve their core. Unfortunately, not everyone had that option, that was especially the case for a child. One could only wish, but not all wishes came time.

'...I want one.'

Upon losing all hope to return to the state one was most comfortable in, they would automatically move on to emulate it. Pouring their desire towards finding a replacement.

'I need one.'

Similarly, the attempt to recreate what was lost was often difficult as well. However, in certain cases, it just happened so a person's desire would fit on or overlap with another's. In even rarer cases, such people would be in close proximity, but it was then that the magic happened.

'I can be one.'

Within the bounds of one dirty basement, a pair of children noticed each other as if attracted by the faint warmth that they barely held on to, desiring for something impossible amidst the dozens of children stacked like livestock.

'We can be one.'

Their desire for home had been denied the day their villages were burnt to the ground in order to satisfy the bandits' greed. Their desire for a family was extinguished when their parents that were too old for a commodity were killed just before their eyes, but…

'We will be one!'

In each other's warmth, the pair of helpless children saw something that could fill their emptiness. They saw someone that could be their home, they saw someone that could be their family. The children were too small to understand that they had little time to live let alone be together, but all they wanted was to be each other's cornerstone for whatever time they had!

Even as their bones grew apparent… Even as they watched child after child being taken away… The duo held each other's hands as they awaited their destiny. Alas, certain things were meant to be.

"Die, treacherous bandits!"

The two didn't desire salvation, neither did they wish to survive this ordeal in hope of a bright future. All they wanted was to accompany each other, but fate had it that the dirty basement didn't happen to be their last stop.

"As one of the Namgung Family's Twelve Swords, I, Namgung Seonja, will rid this world of evil pests like you!"

Just when less than ten children were left alive, the bandits who had grown careless were suddenly raided at night. The swords of the Namgung Family that stood at the peak of the righteous factions easily slaughtered them in the name of preserving justice! However…

'What should we do?'

Only confusion could be found in place of blossoming hope in the hearts of the pair who had ceased to think about anything other than staying next to each other. The bandits that oppressed them were no longer, but their life had become no better.

Just as the Namgung family sought to be known for, the great heroic deed their Martial Artists had achieved resounded in the region, but that was it. They claimed self-sacrifice, but the raid was only for the sake of reputation. As for the kids in the basement… no one bothered to check the place after the killing was done.

'Should we go out?'

Instead of salvation, the Swordsmen's attack brought disaster upon the pitiful children. The bandits were no longer, but the same could be said about the dirty rations that they survived this far on. In a state of extreme hunger that they couldn't endure by holding onto each other, the duo silently crawled out of the hellhole...

'Where…?'

They had watched the 'heroes' slaying the bandits through the gaps between the wood, but their bloody swords were even more scary than the bandits'. Now that they had left on their own, they had no idea where to go!

There were still a few more children who remained alive, but their mentality had long collapsed under despair. The two that only cared about keeping the other alive couldn't be bothered to lift them up and bring them along. Without any particular option, the pair could only march straight in one direction in hope of finding something to eat.

'Food!'

As their unexpected survival streak continued, the boy lifting the girl on his back chanced upon a populated village before he collapsed in turn. Someone even took pity on them and threw them two pieces of bread, both of which ended in the girl's mouth. Unfortunately… That was as far as 'luck' could bring them.

Kindhearted people existed, but not many could afford to help others at the bottom of the ladder. The legendary murim was prosperous as it was dangerous, but normal people had it even harder. For a pair of emaciated orphans, the situation was even worse.

"Hey!"

However, did that matter when they survived up to this point? The two did the impossible to preserve their 'home'! Whether it was begging, stealing, or working, everything was fair for the sake of maintaining their 'warmth'!

Before too long had passed, a stranger clad in black silently approached the pair who stuck to each other in one of the alleys' dark corners, presenting an offer that the unforgiving cold didn't allow them to refuse…

"Cheon Baekho and Cheon Yeon."

For the first time in their long journey, rather than standing side by side, the pair confronted each other under the head instructor's call, bringing about bits of their forgotten past.