Chapter 10

A young boy with white hair and purple eyes was swinging a pickaxe, hitting it against dull stone. Shackles were locked on his wrists, bandages wrapped around his hands due to blisters.

Taking a short break, he felt a sharp pain behind his back. Turning around, he saw a man with a whip in his hand. "Get back to work, piglet."

Dreading from all this meaningless work, the young boy continued to swing his axe on the stone. Averting his eyes, he saw a man who looked similar to him, baring the same white hair and purple eyes.

His throat was dry, but he managed to speak up. "Dad... Why are we even doing this?"

The man sadly smiling, continuing to swing his pickaxe while answering. "If we try to resist, they will only kill us. I don't want that to happen to you. Your mother wouldn't want that to happen to you either."

The young boy's eyes wavered. His mother had died in this line of work. Now it was just him and his dad. "But we cant stay here forever..."

"I know, Neji. I know." That's what his dad always said. He knew his dad wanted to escape, but was so afraid to make a run for it. He felt the exact same way. He was scared. He didn't want to die. But at the same time, he didn't want to waste his life away, being forced to work in the mines. There was just no way.

~

Sometime later, Neji and his dad were standing in front of the man in control. Dark circles surrounded their eyes, blood ran down Neji's face. His dad was in worse condition, assuming he had more of a merciless beating than he did.

The man in charge had his arms crossed, looking somewhat disappointed. "I can't believe you two tried to make a run for it. You should be ashamed of yourselves."

Unable to tolerate it any longer, Neji snapped. "Nobody wants to work for some sadistic freak like you!"

Neji's dad looked terrified about his son's statement. "Neji!" The man in charge walked over to Neji, grabbing him by the collar. "Stop! Please! Let go of him! I beg of you!"

Neji's feet was dangling from the ground, trying to gasp for air. The man in charge sent the little boy a glare. "You better watch your tongue, piglet. I could end your life right now."

"No! Please!" Neji's dad pleaded. "Let my son go! If you're going to punish someone, punish me!"

The man turned towards Neji's dad. "You're willing to trade your life over this pest you call a son?"

"If you spare his life, I will be willing to die in his place!"

The man pondered at the thought, seeming like he made up his mind. "Very well." He dropped Neji on the ground, making him land hard on his back.

His body was in pain, it felt like he couldn't move. Neji turned over to his dad, seeing the man taking out a sword. His eyes widen at the sight. "Dad! Don't do this!"

Neji's dad gave him a smile, tears were in his eyes. "Promise me that you will live even after I'm gone." Neji felt himself starting to tear up at those words.

The next minute, the man pierced through Neji's dad's chest, the blade located where the heart was. The only sight the young boy could see was his father bleeding to death, slowly falling on his knees. His body began shaking violently.

Confirming that he was dead, the man harshly took out the sword from Neji's dad flesh wound, kicking him to the ground. "What a foolish man, trading his life for an ungrateful little brat." He dropped the sword to the floor, seeming that he had no more use for it. Turning his back, he began walking away. "Get back to work before I decide to let your father's death be in vain."

Neji felt his vision going blurry, almost like he was losing himself. He could not process that his own father had just died right before his eyes. But there he was. Dead on the floor.

Gritting his teeth, Neji ran towards the sword covered in blood, grabbing it and running towards the man.

The sword was pointing straight for the man's back, stabbing the man from behind where it stuck out from the other side. The man coughed up blood, but that still didn't leave room for mercy in Neji's heart. Twisting the blade inside his body, he harshly took it out.

The man dropped face down on the floor, a pool of blood forming underneath him. Neji was breathing hard from both anger and agony. He never killed a person before. But for his first time, he never felt so satisfied.

Dropping the sword, Neji walked over to where his dad was. The life was drained from his eyes which were still opened. Neji kneeled down in front of his dad, his fingers brushing over his dad's eyes to close them. "I will make it out of here, dad." With those last words, Neji made a run for it.

His escape from the faraway land was by boat that he managed to find. Using the wooden oars to take him wherever he may end up, Neji paddled away from the place that he will never return to. His life was beginning a new chapter, swearing to fulfill his father's promise to live on.

~

After a few days travel, Neji had arrived at an unfamiliar land. Up ahead, he saw a town full of people. People. The only other people he saw were the ones trapped in the mines with him. They always wore such pitiful expressions. But these people. These people were all smiling, enjoying their day.

Even if Neji never manages to find a home in this new place, he would take it over working in the mines any day.

Over the years, Neji was living in the streets, struggling to survive. His clothes were in rags, he was thinner than the average kid. His stomach started to growl, knowing that he should hunt for food soon.

The aroma of freshly cooked meat met his nose, making his mouth start to water. Following the scent, Neji knew that it was coming from the well known restaurant that many tourists gathered to eat.

Arriving at the back of the restaurant, Neji noticed the backdoor was opened to let out some smoke. Inside that room, he saw a stash of freshly cooked meat just sitting there.

Neji sneakily hid behind the wall, making sure no one was nearby. Now looking at the meat, Neji made his move.

Grabbing the plate, Neji happily grabbed it, knowing he was going to eat good tonight. "Hey! What do you think you're doing, kid?!" Neji saw one of the cooks running up to him with a crossed expression. Not wanting to abandoned this good food, he made a run for it. "Somebody stop that boy! He just stole our good quality meat!"

Neji saw some guards chasing after him. He was in trouble now. Not wanting this food to go to waste, he was holding it carefully while trying to ditch these guards. All he wanted to do was eat. If he kept running like this, he would run of energy due to an empty stomach.

Quickly turning a sharp corner, Neji hid behind the wall. He heard the guards running by who thought he had ran further. Holding his breath, Neji let out a relieved sigh. He knew he wasn't safe living in the streets any longer since the guards knew his face now. But what other place could he go?

Looking around to see if the coast was clear, Neji made his escape, exiting out of the town. It wasn't safe for him to stay, though it was a great place to steal food from time to time.

Neji managed to hide away in a forest where it was quiet. There was nobody chasing after him anymore. The scenery was peaceful, full of beauty and sunlight. This place would be perfect to live for a while.

Sitting down against the tree bark, Neji touched a piece of meat on the plate he was carrying. It has gone cold due to him running all over the place. But it was better than nothing.

Eating the first bite, it felt like he had died and gone to heaven. The flavor was pure bliss. He knew that he wouldn't get this kind of meal as often as he would like, so he made the best of it. Neji knew from then on, he would be grateful for everything and anything, continuing to enjoy such an exquisite meal.

~

Back in the present, Link hung his head low, thinking hard about Neji's past. The kid had gone through so much as a young boy, experiencing much worse than he has. He never expected this boy who was always smiling to be a slave in his past. Or to witness his own father's death.

Getting up, Link left some rupees on the table. Looking Neji in the eye, he gestured his head to have him stand up. "Let's go. I have somewhere I would like to take you."

Blinking, Neji stood up, following Link out of the restaurant. Thinking that he would have never eaten a delicious meal ever again, it was all thanks to Link for taking him in and starting another new chapter in his life. He was forever grateful to Link.

Link ended up taking Neji to a blacksmith, requesting them to make a specialized sword that you can't get anywhere else. In a way, Link wanted to make Neji feel better since it was no easy task talking about your past, especially if it's full of sad memories.

The wait wasn't very long. The blacksmith handed Link the finished sword in exchange for rupees. The sword was bedazzled with amethyst, the same color as Neji's eyes. The blade was nearly indestructible, just like Link's sword.

Link held out the new sword towards Neji. "Here. This is for you."

Neji grunted at the specialized sword, his eyes wavered at the sight. "Link... You didn't have to-"

"Yes I did. You are my assistant after all. What kind of assistant doesn't wield their very own weapon?"

"But this just means I'll have to repay you twice. I didn't even get to repay you yet for the last time. Now I have to-"

"You don't have to repay for this time. Consider this as a gift from me to you."

Hesitantly, Neji took the sword from Link. He admired it from every angle. Link was staring at his awed expression, thinking that the sword suited him.

Taking his eyes off of the sword, Neji looked up at Link. "Thank you so much."

Link softly smiled, tousling the top of Neji's head. "You're welcome. That sword is yours and yours alone. Don't forget that."

Neji nodded in response. "I won't." He paused for a moment, smiling brightly the next second. "Just know that I still have to repay you somehow!"

Link let out a sigh through his nose. "I know. But for now, just take it easy. I'll get back to that repayment of yours eventually."

"Ok! I'll be waiting for it!" Seeing Neji looking more cheerful than earlier made Link smile as well.

His smile soon dropped, remembering what he had to do when the sun goes down. Link's heart felt like it was sinking, feeling mixed emotions about this part of the mission. He didn't want to fail his master, but he didn't want to kill the princess. This was going to be the hardest mission Link ever had to do.