-AURELIA-

“CHERISH LIFE, MY SON...”

Aurelia, a witch who lived in a small town with her son Felix, had earned the baseless hatred of the townspeople. They ostracized her because of her appearance and demeanor. In truth, she had healed many of the town's sick, bringing them back from the brink of death. Aurelia possessed an extraordinary innate ability that everyone believed in: the power to bring the dead back to life.

People pleaded with Aurelia to resurrect their loved ones, be it mothers, fathers, children, spouses, or dear friends. There was a detail she never revealed to anyone: in order to bring someone back to life, she had to give up her own life. She couldn't bring herself to say it, so she rejected everyone and denied having such a power. Despite all her kindness, the people she turned away grew resentful of the benevolent witch. She couldn't bring herself to reveal that she had to sacrifice her own life because she feared it would make her seem selfish. After turning away each person in need, she would cry in despair and agony.

Aurelia, who valued everyone deeply and harbored no ill will toward anyone, but was unwilling to go as far as sacrificing herself for anyone, decided to leave the town. She became isolated from the community and established a new life in a place even farther from the town center. Her connection with the town was not completely severed; she still fulfilled all her needs from there, and occasionally she and her son would venture down to the town. However, the number of visitors dwindled. The people who did visit brought with them the rumors circulating about her in the town. Her departure had painted her as even more selfish and arrogant in the eyes of the people. No matter what she did, she couldn't win their favor or understanding. In her isolation and sorrow, Aurelia fell ill and had given up on life, even ceasing to seek healing for herself.

One day, when Felix went to the town for their needs, he was attacked by a bear on the way. The townsfolk found Felix in a state of unconsciousness, his body not torn apart but wounded. They rushed him to the witch. Despite her grief, some of the people who came still threw her selfishness in her face. They taunted her, saying, "Now you understand our pain." The witch knew that her son was not well at all. Her own potions and limited powers couldn't heal him. Felix died. Aurelia began to weep, laying her head on her son's chest. At that moment, the cruel words of the people echoed in her mind. Convinced that she had no reason to live in this world anymore, she took a sip from a vial of magical poison, saying, "Cherish life, my son..." and fell onto Felix's lifeless body.

Felix came back to life. He was as good as new, even stronger than before. He saw his mother's aged and lifeless eyes on his chest and realized she had sacrificed herself. But Felix hadn't heard his mother's final words. An overwhelming anger against the townsfolk consumed him. Mother and son, once bound by love, were now filled with the ruthless powers of anger and destruction. Aurelia's accumulated years of resentment toward the injustice and lack of understanding had now transformed into Felix's overwhelming emotions. Armed with tools like knives, pitchforks, chains, and iron from the barn, they headed back to the town as they used to. They wreaked havoc on the town. No one could stop Felix. Aurelia, who had fought for the town's well-being for years and had been ostracized, had turned the town upside down through her son's body...