Faul: The Reincarnation

Chapter 7: Little King Of Mischief

Ten years felt like a few days for Faul and felt like forever for Maria and Billie. The contrast between how time moved for each of them was almost unbelievable. For Faul, whose soul had lived for centuries across ages and who had witnessed the rise and fall of kingdoms, this stretch of ten years was nothing more than a fleeting moment. Faul lived for over five thousand years before his death and reincarnation, so a mere ten years felt like nothing. It was like the blink of an eye to him. He had seen generations pass in less time during his previous life. The flow of time had become something that no longer anchored him. But for Maria and Billie, it was entirely different. Every day, every sunrise and sunset, every cold night and quiet morning in the mountain marked the long passage of time. They had aged, matured, and adapted to mountain life, but never once did they stop counting the days and wondering if life could be more than this constant cycle of survival.

Faul is now a young strong man. He is ten years old, but his strength and physique are not like that of a ten years boy. His appearance alone could startle even the bravest of men. His shoulders were broad, his muscles well-defined, and his posture carried the authority of someone far beyond his actual years. Faul killed a wild boar with bare hands at the age of five and knocked down a full-grown giant wild tiger about ten feet tall with a single punch. The beast, which once roamed the mountain with unchallenged dominance, fell in a single blow from the child. The power, strength, and speed he has are beyond that of an average human. He moves like wind and strikes like thunder, a force of nature housed in the body of a boy. With all this strength and power, he has never for once acted out against his mother or Billie. Not once did he allow his power to influence his character. He loves the two with everything he has. His heart, no matter how ancient his soul was, remained loyal and full of warmth toward the only two people who stood by him since the beginning.

Each time he achieves another milestone, he leaves Maria and Billie in awe. Whether it was leaping across cliffs, lifting massive logs, or demonstrating knowledge far beyond his years, he was a constant source of wonder to them. Faul kept growing both in wisdom and in strength. His growth was not just physical; his mind was sharp, quick to analyze, and hungry for knowledge. The three have been in the mountain for ten years and have forgotten how it feels to live in an actual city. The sounds of busy streets, the laughter of children playing in neighborhoods, and the sight of lanterns glowing at night were now distant memories. They no longer remembered the scent of baked bread from street stalls or the way festival lights sparkled in the sky. Their world was now one of trees, rocks, rivers, and endless sky. Maria still wants her son to live the life of a normal human, but whenever she sees Faul, she realizes he can never live a normal life. He was destined for something far greater and far more dangerous.

Faul has red pupils like that of a dragon, hard scales that run down his spine, and two tiny crystal-like fangs. These things alone have shown that Faul is not fully human. Even though he looked mostly like a boy, the features he carried set him apart from any living being they had seen. Faul has learned how to retract and show his fangs at will, a skill he mastered after months of trial and error. He practiced often, not because he wanted to scare anyone, but because he wanted to understand himself. But the red eye and the scales are still there. They do not go away, no matter how much he tries to hide them. It was a part of him that told the truth he could never run from.

Faul, Billie, I need to talk to both of you; Maria called out after much consideration. She had been thinking about this for months, maybe even years. Her voice trembled slightly, but her face remained strong and composed. The two boys sat down and were staring at Maria as if their life depended on it. The seriousness in her tone made them sit still, waiting for something important. Maria stared at the two boys with her heart full of pain for not being able to give them a normal life. She had dreamed of so much more for them, but life had different plans. I want us to move to a city. We have been in the mountains for years. I want you two to have a life outside this mountain; Maria said to the boys. Her words carried a deep longing, a hope she had buried under the layers of fear and survival.

Yeah! Faul shouted. His voice rang with joy and excitement. His whole face lit up as if he had been waiting for this moment for a very long time. You know I've been sneaking out for some time now to look at the city. The city is so beautiful and people there are very kind to each other; Faul kept saying out of joy without seeing the reaction on the faces of the two. He was lost in the excitement, recalling every moment he had secretly observed the lives of ordinary people. Maria and Billy were very surprised at what Faul was saying. They stared at each other and saw the surprise in their eyes. Their mouths parted slightly, but no words came out. But they decided not to talk to him about his act of sneaking out to the city. Perhaps it was better to let it go and focus on what was ahead.

Faul, listen. Humans are not like they seem at first glance. There is both good and bad human. There are those who will want to hunt you down for what you are, those who will want you to get hunted down for not understanding what you are, and those who will want to help you for not understanding what you are, and those that will help you because they consider you their friend and because they love you; Maria said staring at her son. Her words were full of care and warning. She had seen too much in her life to be blind to the risks.

Please, I need you to promise to always listen to me when we are out in the city. The city is not safe for you, so you need to lay low when we get there; Maria said, showing her pinky to Faul to seal the pinky promise. Her eyes pleaded with him to understand how important this was. Faul connected his pinky with his mother's and promised with all his heart. He nodded seriously, the grin on his face fading slightly as the weight of the moment settled in.

Alright, everybody prepare. We are leaving for the city at dawn; Maria said. Her voice was firm. She went straight and started turning every piece of earth she raised to build their shelter back to how it used to be. She worked with her hands, her body moving with a memory of every stone placed and every stick tied. It took her almost all night to do so because they turned the mountain into a little reinforced fortress because of how destructive Faul's training turned. The walls they built had been strong enough to withstand his power. They were not leaving behind just a shelter, but the history of a decade lived in hiding and in growth.

And at dawn, they left for the city to start a new life. The sun had barely broken over the horizon, casting golden rays over the mountain, when they began their journey. Their belongings were few, but their hopes were plenty. Will Faul survive the pressure of the city without acting out? That was the question that kept lingering in Maria's thoughts as they were on their journey to the city. Her heart was heavy with worry, but also filled with hope. She knew this was just the beginning of something far greater, and she silently prayed that Faul would find his path without losing himself.