pages of rebellion

"Since when...? Since when did I notice this? He looks exactly the same in appearance… as my son… Iron."

Several years ago, a new life opened his eyes to the world, and the sound of a newborn baby crying echoed through the hospital building. The woman who gave birth held her son in her arms, her eyes filled with tears and joy beginning to fade. Her pale skin grew even paler with time, and the signs of exhaustion on her face became more apparent. Her body trembled slightly, but she continued to hold her son gently, as if her life was tied to his. The child felt the warmth of her chest, which gradually began to cool. Her heart beat slowly, and each breath became harder. Tears fell from her eyes, but she smiled a sad smile as she looked at her husband standing beside her, as if wanting to reassure him before she left. Her voice weakened, and she whispered her final words, "My love, be strong..." Then she closed her eyes for the last time, and her body died in silence, leaving her son in her arms, still unaware of the loss of his mother.

"Maria..." Edgar whispered weakly as he pressed his lips together, tears beginning to fall from his eyes. He held his son gently and tried to stop his crying.

"It's okay... It's okay..."

At the age of six, Iron radiated with vitality and energy. His small body was full of endless movement, as if every corner of the world was calling him to explore. His messy black hair was scattered in all directions, and his dark eyes shone with a gleam of childish curiosity. He was running here and there, laughing loudly as if the whole world belonged to him.

His face was small, with chubby cheeks giving him an innocent childlike appearance. His eyes, despite his young age, reflected an unseen strength, as if something inside him knew how to face life with courage. His hands were always busy with something; either a new toy he discovered or a book he was trying to read despite the difficulty of the words, but what distinguished Iron the most from others was his smile that never left his face.

He always wore simple clothes: a loose shirt and shorts that fit him perfectly while he ran after his little dream, searching for new adventures. He wasn't afraid to approach people, always smiling at them, and making new friends with every person he met. He would walk up to adults, calling them by their names, as if they were a part of his world filled with joy and cheerfulness.

Despite his young age, there was something in his nature that set him apart from other children: a hidden strength, an everlasting vitality, and a determination that loomed on the horizon. Despite his innocence, he seemed to know that the road ahead was long and that one day he would reach what he aspired to.

Edgar walked behind Iron, who was leading the way confidently in the park, holding a stick as if it were a sword, pointing it ahead as he walked with a broad, joyful smile. Edgar walked behind him, his father, wearing a light smile of joy. At that moment, Iron pointed his stick toward a nearby swing, and his eyes gleamed with a faint golden light, filled with excitement and the desire for adventure.

"Dad, help me ride that dragon!"

"A... dragon?" Edgar said, his eyes filled with confusion as he looked at the swing that Iron had pointed his stick toward.

"You mean the swing?" Edgar asked.

Iron's face adopted an expression of mockery, as if the answer was obvious.

"It's clearly a dragon. What swing are you talking about?" Iron scoffed.

"Well, okay then, I'll help you ride that... dragon," Edgar said, feeling a little silly and embarrassed saying such a thing, but that feeling disappeared the moment he saw Iron's bright smile.

Edgar helped Iron onto the swing, and Iron began to swing slowly while sitting on a nearby seat. Iron swung back and forth, laughing with a wide smile. His face became noticeably red as he smiled, the red glow on his cheeks adding a touch of innocence to his features. He was holding his stick, pointing it forward as if he were a small pirate, living an adventure on the seas and the dangers it held with all his courage.

Edgar rested his head on his hand as he watched Iron play. Then, Iron lost his balance and fell to the ground. Edgar rushed to him, and Iron began to cry as his knees were scraped and started bleeding. Edgar quickly picked him up, gently patting his head.

"Calm down, the dragon will laugh if it sees you crying like this," Edgar said, trying to calm Iron.

Iron calmed down a little and wiped his tears, trying to stop crying.

"Okay," Iron said, his eyes still full of tears.

"He's really calmed down," Edgar thought to himself.

Several years later, when Iron was sixteen, he had become a mature young man, but the shadows of the innocence that accompanied him in his childhood still appeared in some of his moments. He had grown considerably taller, and his body had become more proportional and stronger, with defined muscles reflecting his constant training. His black hair was still thick, but the ends were more arranged, with some strands hanging slightly over his forehead, giving him a neat and less messy look compared to his childhood.

His dark eyes, which had always been filled with curiosity in his childhood, had become sharper and deeper, his gaze filled with strength and confidence. However, there was always a gleam of kindness and gentleness in his eyes, as if he couldn't hide a part of himself that sought safety and comfort.

His features became clearer, with a sharp jaw and soft cheeks. He took better care of his appearance now, wearing clothes that suited his youth, often in dark colors that reflected his strong and independent personality. He liked to stand out without drawing too much attention, yet he had a special charm that attracted those around him.

At sixteen, Iron had begun to be someone who made his decisions with greater confidence, someone surrounded by friends who loved his company for his ease in dealing with others and his quick wit.

Iron went straight to the principal's office, his father's office, and entered with tears in his eyes.

"Dad..." Iron said, on the verge of crying.

Edgar raised his eyes from his work and noticed Iron's tears.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Edgar asked, concerned for his son's health.

Iron pulled a paper from his pocket; it was a test paper with a failing grade.

"I... I failed the test," Iron said.

"That's what happened then," Edgar thought to himself, letting out a sigh of relief as he looked at Iron.

"It's okay. We'll work together later to improve your grades," Edgar said, reassuring Iron.

"Really? I'm glad I relied on you, Dad!" Iron said, and the tears quickly disappeared from his eyes, replaced by a bright, innocent smile.

Iron cried a lot, and whenever he faced a problem, he would ask for help from the person closest to him. He didn't feel embarrassed or weak about asking for help, and he believed there was strength in accepting weakness and relying on those around you. He was also quite foolish; despite being outstanding in practical fields, he was incredibly clumsy in writing and knowledge. Fortunately, practical skills were the most important, so his success was guaranteed. Well, that's what I thought. I was very foolish back then. I felt proud and arrogant that my son was the strongest and that his future was the brightest, and that... cost me my son's life.

A few months later, the practical test at the Daedalus Labyrinth arrived, and Edgar was watching from in front of the labyrinth's gate, ready to intervene at any moment. His eyes were focused on his son, Iron, progressing through the screen, smiling proudly. Iron had reached the open area, and there were other students as well, but they were surrounded by their "Echoes" and many minotaurs. A fierce battle broke out, and I thought their lives weren't in danger to this extent. I was confident in my abilities to stop anything wrong, but fate had other plans. The students were put in a vulnerable position, and Iron was trying to protect those in danger. He took responsibility for everyone, and they stood behind him like cowards, exploiting him to survive. At that moment, I had to intervene and save them all, but my son and I had a discussion there.

"We'll stop the test temporarily. You're not at the required level yet," Edgar said coldly.

"Dad, there are still people who might be in danger. I'm going to go save them," Iron said, his face showing seriousness and determination.

"This is not the time for playing, Iron. You're not fit for this test. Leave now."

"But with my skill, finding them will be easier!"

"I don't care. I'm not going to put you in danger."

"Principal! I'm a student at your school just like everyone else. I'm not your son here, just another student, and this student offers help. Whether you like it or not, I'm going to help!" Iron said, angrily at his father for the favoritism and discrimination he had.

Edgar looked at his son.

"You've really grown up... You look so much like your mother now," Edgar thought to himself, and a smile appeared on his face...

"Look east, if the situation intensifies, retreat."

Iron smiled a smile full of innocence.

"I won't die easily!"

That was foolishness... Iron was killed later while trying to save students who were trapped by a type of minotaur that only appeared in the depths of the first stage of the maze. The students he tried to protect with his life fled, leaving him behind. When I found him, he was a lifeless body with empty black eyes, filled with tears. His body was covered in wounds, slashes all over him, one of his legs missing, as if it had been severed by pure force, not by a sharp weapon. Bite marks were scattered all over his body, as the monster had tried to devour him, but it had stopped for some unknown reason. I was a fool. I thought I could save him no matter what situation he was in. I was angry. The students he saved didn't thank him or apologize. They didn't even attend his funeral. In fact, no student attended his funeral. Out of the 362 students who participated in the test, only one died. Is this really how it ends? Was fate always this cruel? Are we just tools that can be discarded once we lose our value? This is not fair. This is disgusting. This is vile. I hate this.

If doing good and trying to stay on the right path leads to a death like this, then what's the point of it all?