Five years ago…
A middle-aged man-not even past his mid thirties- lingered through his town at midnight. It was snowing lightly and the snow glittered from the flickering street lamp. Christmas decorations covered the town flooding it with bright lights that are now dim. The man past by an old church where he heard faint crying. He paused for a moment. "Who is that?" He turned frantically wondering where the crying was coming from.
He heard a shift in position behind the church and ran behind it. There lying in the snow was a little boy not even a quarter of his height. He was lying there balling his eyes out. He wore a dirty white rag for clothes and his left arm was bloody. He had horrible bruises everywhere and it almost sounded like he was choking out his cries. The man walked forward quietly and slowly trying not to scare the boy. He extended his arm a little but pulled it back not sure what to say.
The boy heard the faint crushing of the snow in front of him and immediately froze. He removed his bloody hands from his face to stare up at him. He put his arm in front of him trying to protect himself. He whined heavily hoping that the man wouldn't hurt him. Many outsiders hurt and beat him like he was a worthless animal and he didn't want it to happen again. His parents abandoned him by dropping him off into this village where he hid. His hair was an auburn color though it was hard to tell from all the snow and dirt in his hair. His face was bruised up but not to bad to see that he had a very small and an angelic face under them.
The man stared blankly for a moment pondering the scrabbled thoughts in his mind. He then smiled and extended his hand as if towards a friend. Although a smile covered his face worry still showed in his eyes. "Here." His voice was as soft as a single note making the little boy a little more comfortable but still alarmed. He knelt down to the ground on one knee his arm still extended, "I sorry for whoever did this to you… but I promise… I'll take care of you." His comforting words took the boy deeply. No one had ever told him that before. He struggled as he tried to sit himself up so he could see the man's eyes. Tears ran down his cheeks making his bruises and cuts burn more.
The boy extended his hand so his touched the man's. He was still crying by the shock of the man's words. The man's smile grew, "My name… his Mana. Mana Walker." Mana took the boy in his arms and started carrying him off to home. "And your name shall be," He thought for a moment, "Allen. Allen Walker."
"Ma…na…?" Allen looked down, his eyes wide in confusion. "Allen…" He stared off into the foggy distance. He could just faintly see the figures of small houses. To him right now-unlike any other winter-the snow looked beautiful to him. Allen leaned his head against Mana's chest. He closed his eyes and started drifting off dreaming of the house that he would live in from now on…