Maria, god of misfortune by Leandra A. (little bear else holmelund minarik txt) 📕

Why do people love life but hate you?

That's because life is a beautiful lie and I'm a painful truth...

"I bet this is how Death will respond if asked why we hate him so much. I've already presented painful truth to several people for the sake of others, for them to continue living in this beautiful lie called Life." Maria stares up on the moon as he thought of these things.

 It's been a long night for him and for some reason he felt more tired than ever tonight.

"No matter how many times I washed these hands the smell of the blood won't come off "He clucked his tongue as he  tries to wash with the fountain's water his hands and face - drenched with blood.

 "I should be used to these things but this still makes me sick". He left out an audible sigh.

Maria then heard footsteps that's coming from behind and she glances at the silhouette of the man who came.  

"I can't believe that a wanted man like you will just nonchalantly go outside and stay in a place like this..." a familiar deep voice spoke and stepped into the shine of the silver moonlight.

Maria drew in a sharp breaths of air upon seeing the man who came to him sneakily,"Look who is talking...aren't you supposed to be under house arrest...General Shin"

"You did a great job, you really live up to your name Maria but I guess nobody would be able to tell that behind that face hides a cold blooded man." The general move closer to him while grinning.

"Yet I can't still believe it, are you really a man?" Said by the general in a mocking voice who then stared at Maria's look just after she went and assassinated the enemies general.

He was wearing a tattered red dress and a red veil that covers his head. The moonlight illuminates more the beauty of Maria's face and his red hair hiding behind the veil drenched in blood.

"Although that part is lacking..." General Shin shift his gaze on his chest and narrow his eyes to that place to have a closer look, "Altogether what I'm seeing is a woman, I bet with those thin arms of yours, dressing up and seducing your victim is necessary to get the job done" he leered at him.

Maria's eye brows drew down as his face started to frown , " Do you really want to know by seeing the real thing yourself !" His voice come out harsh and sharp as he drew his dagger then unsheathed it and points it to the general.

The general left out a soft laugh and then lift up both of his hands as if he was taunting him to come at him anytime he wish. Maria quickly move forward and the general found the end of the blade coming to rest against his throat for a bare second before he gets out of its range.

General Shin smirked " Not bad, Maria" he then rammed his knuckles on Maria's hand and the dagger dropped to the ground. 

Now both of them without weapons, began sparring and test the strength of each other until Maria found his self in the ground. While fighting the two seems equal in strength when suddenly the general eyes change into someone with a cold killing intent. Maria felt a sudden chill when he saw these and stopped his movement for a while, the general see this as an opportunity and pinned him down on the ground.

"Argh... Let me go you brute!" He shouted while gritting his teeth and struggling to escape from his hands that's holding him down.

 "Hahaha...I understand now how were you able to kill that general and the other's despite looking so weak, you are really strong and skilled. If I didn't get serious I might be killed by you now" The general snorted, then let go of him and stand.

"If not for these dress I would have been able to defeat you!" he frowned

"I know... you don't have to be so mad; I just want to test your skill." The general then offer his hand for him to grab and help him stand.

 " So what's your real name?" he asked him while leaning forward to him; " I don't suppose you want me to always call you Maria each time we met..." he then crossed his arms, waiting for his reply.

Maria was caught off guard with his question, "Its Kai... you can call me Kai, General Shin." he answered reluctantly.

"So it's Kai, Let's work together from now on Kai." He then offer his hand to Kai - waiting for him to reach and then smiled at him.

Just like what his name suggest this man is a beautiful lie that will sure bring the painful truth to all men. These were his thoughts of him.

Elle's POV

"Hey, Elle wake-up! we have been invited by the general to start living in his place from now on" Said by Kai whom I regard as a brother, father and sometimes a mother.

I blink my eyes and then let out a big yawn "Huh?..live?...Where did you say we are going to live from now on?"Asked by me who was so confused on what is happening. 

"General Shin's Manor" Kai answered

"You..." I gasp while covering my hand with my mouth, "don't tell me that you are no longer satisfied of being an assassin and now...you are planning to be a man whore of some general...you...I know that we are poor and I'm fine with your current work but this...this is just something I can't accept..and.." he interrupted me by knocking my head down. 

"Ouch! What is that for!"  I screamed to him then placed my hand in my head to check if there's a bump because of what he did. 

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kai shouted irritably. He then pulled my hand for me to get out of my bed. 

"Stop saying nonsense things, we need to be there before the sun came down, hurry!" This man who always treated me like a kid, even though I am already 15 years old. And to think that I am a fine young maiden to boot!

Kai and I have been living together for as long as I remember. He said that I was given to him by my mother who asked to take care of me. Kai was only five years old at that time when our mother and neighborhood were murdered 15 years ago. Ever since then we have lived a frugal life in this era were in at the early age I realized that it's no use struggling to our fate. 

But Kai was different. Although he was suffering I can see both kindness and hope still being reflected behind his cold eyes. That's what saves me as well. He would always say that he believes just like what her mother said to him, that by just living we will someday see the beauty of this world and the reason why we were born.

Honestly, I don't regret being born in this world that's full of chaos -that's because it's the chaos that made it possible for our fates to intertwine. Our relationship is even thicker than any family bound by blood. Although in order to survive, Kai at his early age had to kill in order for us to survive.

I was only five years old and Kai was ten, when we met this man named Kaede who we thought will save us from our misery. Unknown to me he made Kai steal from houses and people, threatening him that he will kill us if we disobey or escape from him. And it was not just us; there are other children who work for him which were also forced to do things for him.

 But when he attempted to sold me out to a foreigner to be a prostitute, Kai, in order to save me killed him using his own hands. I remember Kai's bloody hand trembling while holding a dagger smeared by that man's blood.

 "Kai, I'm sorry because of me...you" I was sobbing and my face was dripping wet from my tears as I watch Kai's blank expression after he killed a man for the first time.

"Don't cry...it's not your fault! Elle from now on you should stop crying from things like this...we still have a long thorny path to take." He then pulled me closer to him and then hugged me in order to make me calm down.

"Save those tears once we reached the end!" Kai said firmly to me.

We escaped together with the other children who are even younger than me as well and tried our best to do anything in order to live. From lying, stealing and even being hired to kill, we did all this to survive. 

But at least this time we are working for ourselves not for anyone, and we are satisfied with that. At this chaotic world, those who would dare to say that the path he chooses is wrong, were just mere hypocrites who never experience the real taste of this beautiful lie called life.

General Shin who was reputable as the strongest swordsman won't join the battle but instead chose to stay neutral with the issue. The neighboring kingdoms, not only Arias has seen this as an opportunity to subdue the small country of Hellas which they all have considered as one of the most threatening country due to its solid military foundation.

On the Far North side of Hellas located the kingdom of Cyrene who is planning to enter the battle as well. The kingdom of Cyrene located at the far North side of Hellas is a deserted place and like Hellas men of Cyrene were also used in war and battles although the reason is because of several internal conflicts occurring within their kingdom. They were often called as barbaric in nature but were very sensitive and loyal when it comes to their king and religion above all other nation.

They have sent their envoy to Arias in order negotiate with them, which surprise the whole kingdom because Arias and Cyrene have been on each other's neck for a long time now. What surprise them more is that the envoy that they sent