STIGMA

Violet Orchid Empire, Sun Mountain, Sun Sect.

The Sun Mountains were one of the main mountain ranges in the territory of the Violet Orchid Empire. The base of Sun Sect was located on the Sun Mountain as it was the highest peak.

At the foot of the Sun Mountain was a large area filled with terraced houses. These were scattered across the flatness of the terrain. This residential area was where the Sun Sect's grunt disciple lived.

It was a cool and pleasant morning. The sun had just begun to peek from behind the eastern horizon. The sky looked as fresh and clean as a rose that had blossomed after a whole night's rain. The soft, fragile rays of sunlight gleamed faintly and tenderly down on the terraced houses of the grunt disciples.

The mountains, the houses, and the looming trees were swathed in the light of the newborn sun and the cool, fresh morning air. A little away from the residential area of grunt disciples, in a secluded corner of the mountain foot, a small, shabby cottage was situated.

A stumpy young man walked toward a cottage from the forest. He looked about sixteen or seventeen years old. With the steamed buns in each of his hands that had by now turned cold and hard, he strode toward the cottage. When he reached it, he pushed open the door with his foot and stepped in.

The space inside the cottage was minimal. The room was almost empty as the young man owned very little.

A discolored table, a shaky and cracked wooden chair, and a bed were the only furniture in the room.

The sturdy young man put the buns on the table and walked to the bed.

An unconscious young man lay on the bed. His face was pale, his breath was deep and slow, and his clothes were torn and ragged.

His clothes were covered with blood spots from the many fights he had been in. He was also about sixteen or seventeen years old, but there was something about him that made it seem as though he were older. The smell of blood wafted in the air.

The sturdy young man's name was Evan. He was a grunt disciple of the Sun Sect.

"Tin? Tin?"

Evan shouted as he tried to wake the young man on the bed. However, the man did not respond. His eyes stayed closed as he remained lost in his unconscious world.

Evan was a rather coarse and vulgar fellow. He was the kind of person who would always follow his emotions and would never give any thought or consideration to his actions.

Seeing that his buddy was still not moving, he felt uneasy and worried. Agitated, Evan paced back and forth in the small space of the room. A few moments later, he returned to the bedside and tried to wake the other man once more.

"Tin, please wake up! You are scaring the hell out of me. Today is the third day, and you are still unconscious. Are you just going to die like this? At such a young age when you have so many things to see and when you haven't fulfilled your dream?

Were you ever worried about me? If you die, I will be all alone at Sun Sect. I won't have a single friend to talk to. You cannot be so selfish. Please wake up for my sake, as well as for your own, OK?"

Tears rushed out of his eyes like the surging water from an open sluice. Evan continued in this hoarse, broken voice," Tin, you used to protect me. With you by my side, no one dared to bully me or humiliate me. You were the one who would always stand up and teach those bastards lessons. I always wondered what good things I had done to earn an incredible friend like you.

But when others bullied you, I could do nothing. What a useless friend I am to you! I must have disappointed you so much. I am really sorry, buddy. Please don't die! Please don't leave me alone!"