*I am sorry, Allen, but there is nothing we can do about your father," the man said, standing close a body covered with white clothes. "You see, your father died bravely. He died protecting everyone, as such, we will give him a befitting burial.*
"Allen! Allen!" A girl called, pulling on the sleeves of a boy slightly taller than her.
He shook and then glanced at the girl. "Mia. What is it?" He asked her.
The two of them had the same eyes — blue and deep like the ocean but unlike the girl's bright one, the boy had dull eyes, probably from lack of sleep. And another thing that differed was the color of their hair.
"Are you still thinking about dad?" Mia asked him, seeming worried. "You seem lost in thought."
"I am fine," Allen replied. "Why are you so back early today? School hasn't closed."
At the mention of this, Mia frowned slightly. Though she tried to hide it from her brother, he was still able to see the sadness in her eyes. Her expressions were so easy for him to read.
"I felt a little discomfort in my stomach and decided to come back home," she replied.
Allen gazed at her for some time and then continued. "Are you sure?" He asked her.
"Yes," she replied and then rushed inside the house to avoid further questions.
After she had left, Allen clenched his fists and sighed. Even though Mia tried to hide the sadness in her eyes, he could still see it. Even though she lied about why she came back home early, he knew it.
Their mother died a year after she gave birth to Mia and ever since then, the job of taking care of them was handed over to their father who didn't have a stable job doing. Still, he took care of them notwithstanding, providing whatever they needed.
After a year, it was said that portal doors strangely began to appear all over the world and these doors led to other dimensions... Dungeons, as well as caves. Inside these doors were monstrous beasts, different sizes, shapes, and classes.
At the course of it, humans began to awaken within them special talents that enabled them fight these beasts— these special humans were called Slayers.
Fortunately, Allen's father also awakened and surprisingly, he awakened a B-class talent. He became a certified slayer, diving into portal doors and defeating monstrous beasts. Through this, he was able to properly take care of his children... Providing them with everything they wanted.
Unfortunately, a year ago, the news of his father's death got to him.
*He was killed by an S-class monster.* They said.
Now, it's been a year since their father died and Allen having no choice then, joined the slayer guild, so that he could become a slayer just like his father even when he hated the job with passion.
This was so because there was no more available jobs in the city that could pay him the amount he wanted. He had his sister to take care of so he needed money more than anyone else out there.
He walked back into the house and saw his sister sitted on a couch. Her look alone made his sad the more.
As young as she is, she was matured enough to know how badly they were suffering. And how well to behave.
"Mia, I'll be going to the slayer guild now. We have some raids to do so there is no need to wait for me," he said to her. "There is enough food in the kitchen, eat and go to bed early. Tomorrow, you'll return to school, okay?"
Mia looked up, meeting her brother's gaze, she teared up. "Allen!" She cried and went to hug him.
Allen hugged his sister back. "Don't worry, Mia. I promise father that I'd take good care of you and that's what I'm doing already. I'll do anything... If not everything, to make sure that you are okay."
Mia cried more, Allen was left confused. He had tried to comfort her but ended up making her to cry even more. He sighed inwardly and allowed her to cry.
When she was done crying to her heat content, she wiped her face clean.
"Allen, always be careful out there, please," she said.
"I promise, I will."
Allen, once outside their house, waved at his sister and after that, he made his way to the slayer guild.
It was far from their house — a three-four hours journey so he boarded a cab immediately and left. On his way, he remembered all the times he had been training hard in the slayer guild, working hard and seeing to it that he learns everything there is to learn.
Although he never wished of becoming a slayer like his father, his father's death and the heavy responsibility lying on his shoulder made him do otherwise — do the thing which he disliked.
Soon, the cab finally stobbed at a place. There was a large gate in front so he headed over. As soon as he opened the gate and walked in, he was greeted by a few me faces and some old ones.
"Hey, Allen!"
"Boy, you came!"
"Allen!"
Allen heard his name but pretended like he didn't and instead, turned and began to head over to a room with a name on it.
'Mr. Kim.'
Just as he was about to knock on the door, it opened and a tall broad man walked out. Seeing Allen, the man's face changed but it was neither that of anger or pity... It was something in-between.
"What have you come here for today?" He asked Allen. "Didn't I ask you to stay away from D-class raids, they are hard to clear considering your level."
"You did but this is what I want," Allen replied. "I just came to make my presence known to you, that I'll be joining today. You or anybody can't stop me."
Mr..Kim silently watched as Allen walked away. His shoulders high, refusing to drop. He sighed and returned into his office.
Meanwhile, seeing how everyone was on Allen, one of the new comers was curious and decided to know more about Allen.
"Hey, who is that kid? A celebrity or a strong slayer?" He asked someone.
"Far from it," the person replied. "That's Allen, our E-class member."
"What?" The man asked, taken aback. "An E-class? He can't become a certified slayer with that level of talent."
"Exactly!" The person agreed. "We told him to go find something else to do but the kid insists on doing this one."
"He's stubborn if that is so," the man mumbled and just then Allen walked past them. "And what's that thing in his hand?" He asked the moment he saw the object Allen was holding.
"That's a dagger, the one his money could only afford," the person replied.
The man burst out laughing, gaining the attention of those nearby. "That?" He asked. "What can that thing do against a D-class beasts? It's best if stays back at home."