I was 6 years old when my parents abandoned me at a temple. I don't remember much of it other than how depleted it looked in the middle of the woods. The monks there took care of me for a short while before I was adopted by the Yun family. I say adopted, but I was just a substitute for the young master that passed away from an illness.

The Yun family has 3 older sons and a daughter. The young lord that had passed away was the daughter's twin. His name was WeiEr Yun. Apparently his body had always been weak since birth and one night he silently passed away. Madam Yun, their mother, couldn't handle the loss of her child and was bedridden for 3 weeks until Lord Yun, their father, adopted me.

At the time I didn't understand what was happening around me. Madam Yun had locked me in a small room without any windows and 3 times a day a servant would bring me porridge. Every day, Madam Yun would spend time with me. She'd brush my hair, wash my body, and clothed me.

For several months, daylight didn't exist in my eyes. I didn't even know how she looked like, but one night after she left the room, I snuck out. It wasn't long before a servant found me playing in the courtyard and informed Madam Yun. She came running as she yanked my arm and dislocated it. I remember crying in pain as she held my face and her face instantly paled.

After returning to my room no one came to see me for several days. My arm was in pain and I was starving, until Madan Yun returned. I remember her ice cold hands as she slapped my face several times until it bled. Then she said,

"WeiEr, don't ever leave this room. If you do, I'll hit you again and you won't have any food to eat. Your body is weak. You have to stay where I can see you."

Having said that she called a physician in to look at my arm. However, I was still a child and didn't understand what she meant. Many times I left the room and each time I did, the worse the punishments. After those several times, I understood that I could not leave that room.

I remember hearing the servants saying that I wasn't allowed to leave because the Madam could not bear to see my face, because it was not her son's face. I lived in that room for another 3 years until the Madam died from an illness as well.

After the Madam's funeral, I was finally able to leave the room. I thought my life would be better, but it turned for the worse. My eyes were sensitive to the light, so they were covered with a bandage that wrapped around my head. Many said I was blind and I believed them because it was painful wherever I opened them, so I kept them closed.

My siblings hated me. They were constantly bullying me. They pushed me into ponds, threw rocks at me, and would put bugs in my food. I was always covered in scratches and bruises. Then one day MeiYi, the daughter, came to ruff me up pretty badly as she said,

"If it weren't for you, I would still have a mother! If you didn't exist, my mother would have spent more time with me than visit you all day! You're not even my brother, but every day she calls you WeiEr, WeiEr, WeiEr!"

What was I supposed to say? I also didn't want to be locked up in a dark room with nothing to do, no one to talk to, and eat porridge every day. Wherever I spoke the Madam would slap me because my voice didn't sound like WeiEr. Every day I was beaten because everything I did was different from her dead son.

Although the three older brothers also hated me, only the eldest, RaiYa, did not physically bully me. The second eldest was, NaiWei and the third was HuLang. They were close in age, all a year apart with RaiYa at age 16. Although RaiYa did not torment me, he was more heartless than the other Yun children. He treats his siblings with tender care and is courteous to the people around him, but talks down on me like I'm dog shit. He pretends I don't exist, but purposely say hurtful comments out loud making sure I can hear it such as,

"When you're born filthy, you can't be anything else but filthy," or "Trying to make yourself look pitiful to attract attention, just how low can a scum be?"

Even though his comments hurt. I still can't help, but yearn for someone to love me and take care of me. Why can't someone just look my way too?

For another 5 years, the Yun children tormented me and Lord Yun just idly stood by like nothing was happening. Even the servants treated me harshly. Many times I was beaten till I passed out and locked in sheds for several night. I feared being locked up in small areas despite not being able to see anything.

I was constantly in pain and sick from servants throwing buckets of cold water on me during the winters. Slowly my body started getting weaker and thinner, but as dumb as I was, I still believed that someone might come to care for me.

Many times I wondered why Lord Yun didn't throw me out or why I don't get angry at the people who tormented me, but then I'm reminded of Madam Yun who spent the rest of her life with me and not her family. I was being punished by the Gods because I wasn't being a 'good boy' or at least that's what Madam Yun taught me. What was anger anyway? It was a feeling I've never felt before, but I've seen it way too many times to know what it is.

I didn't have much education and I didn't have personal tutors like the Yun children. I couldn't read or write, but sometimes I would occasionally eavesdrop on one of the Yun children's lectures. I live in a well-known country called Qin. The Yan family is also a well-known and huge clan. There's a main Yun clan and branches.

Our family is part of the main and famous for wealth and power. Many Yun members are high class scholars and fighters. Everyone has their own elemental power, some might even have two, but most don't have any. I don't think I'll ever get the chance to find out what mine is though. The Yun children start training their elemental powers by age 12 so that by age 18 they are ready to choose their own path.

When the time came for the Yun brothers, RaiYa and HuLang both entered the army whereas NaiWei entered for military tactics. RaiYa had just been promoted to a general a couple years ago and haven't returned home since then, but MeiYi has been sending letters to her dearest brother to return home for the winter.

On the day of his return, MeiYi decided to play a prank on me and ordered the servants to take me into town and leave me there till nightfall. The servants did as they were told, but also stripped layers of my outer robes and eye bandages. For the first time, I was truly afraid of the outside world. I couldn't see where I was walking or who was nearby. I crawled on the ground and found a tree to sit next to. The air was freezing as I sat there curling myself up to stay warm. About an hour later I heard footsteps approach and a man asked me,

"Are you okay?"

My eyes slowly open to look at the man standing in front of me. I know him or rather I know his voice. It's been some years, but his voice hasn't changed other than his tone that was unusually kinder than usual. His grey eyes looked down on me with concern and his long black hair half tied behind him drooped down like silk. He was handsome, tall, and built. I was shocked silence. My sight hasn't disappeared and RaiYa was talking to me.

"Are you okay?" he repeated.

"Oh! Um... Yeah I guess I am fine."

"You're fine? Sitting in the middle of nowhere and dressed this lightly?"

"Well... I am waiting for someone."

I looked around noticing that the servants had thrown me somewhere in the woods. For some reason RaiYa did not recognize me. I didn't think I changed that much in a couple years, but I guess I did grow a bit and my voice was also changing. Ah it must've been that my eyes weren't covered with bandages otherwise why would he care? Unless he changed?

"Who are you waiting for in this kind of weather and all the way out here?" RaiYa asked.

"The servants. They went back to get me more layers."

"I see. I've never seen such insolent servants that would make their lady wait out in the cold."

"Haha... You're right. I should really be on my way then."

Lady? Even though I said that, I really don't know where I am. I started to walk off when suddenly a cloak was set on top of me and I was lifted from the ground. He carried me in both his arms like a child.

"You're walking the opposite way. There's not even a trail there. It's quite obvious that you were left out here. You don't even have shoes on. Rest at my place for a while and we can find your place later." Said RaiYa.

He's right. I didn't even notice that I wasn't wearing any shoes, but I can't go home right now. Meiyi kicked me out, so that they could have family time.

"I'm Yun RaiYa. What's your name?" RaiYa asks.

"..."

My name? WeiEr??? Ah no that's not really my name. Bastard? Cripple? Dog shit? You? Hey? What was my name again? When was the last time someone asked for my name? Should I just make one up?

"...J-JunHe?" I replied.

"Are you asking me? Anyone can tell you just made that up... but that's fine. If that's what you want to be called by. Next time tell me your real name." RaiYa slightly smiled as he chuckled.

JunHe? That's really all I could think of? Well should I just make that my name? A name I made for myself... I could slightly feel my cheeks blush from embarrassment, but also from sorrow.

I couldn't help, but look at the things around me. Everything was so different from what I thought. The colors, the trees, snow, and even my hands. I didn't know how to explain it, but my chest felt light and I wanted to touch everything. We chatted some more until we reached the gates of the town.

"If you could leave me in the town, I think I'll be able to return on my own."

"Is that so? Then will I be able to see you again, JunHe?"

"Oh um... maybe?"

"Then in 3 days, meet me at the town's front gates, right here, at sunset."

Before I could reply RaiYa took off. I had to walk back to the woods because that was where the servants had left me. If they found me in town, they would try to create problems for me. For now, I will just keep quiet about my eyes. I've been blind for years, it's best to keep staying blind. It's not like anyone takes care of me anyways.

As I return back to the spot the servants left me, I would occasionally think of how kind RaiYa was towards me. His tone and attitude was completely different. He even carried me all the way to town. Sadly, I had to walk back.

Slowly I started to drift off into slumber until I felt someone yank my body into a carriage. The servants must have returned for me. Once I reached home, they threw me into my room. Why couldn't they have at least put me on my bed? I could barely get up and walk. I couldn't feel my feet and hands. I might lose some toes and fingers. I collapsed on the side of my bed making loud tumbling noises. I called out for help, but no one came in. I could see the shadows standing outside as I lose consciousness again.

When I awoke, I was still lying on the ground. How many hours or days had passed? I'm not sure. Looking down at my fingers and toes, they were almost black. My skin was severely frost bitten. Having gone to see the family doctor, he said because they weren't treated right away, I might lose feelings in my hands and feet. They also might not function as well as they used to. Losing some feelings in my hands might be beneficial. Accidentally touching hot things can be avoided if I can't feel it.

I wonder what the Yun children are doing. Are they having fun right now?

JunHe Yun? Would the Yun family let me use their clan name? Maybe I should make up a surname for myself as well? JunHe Mo. JunHe Yi. JunHe Rong. JunHe Li... Well. I'll think about it later.

It's been 5 days since I collapsed. No one came to check up on me within those 5 days and now I'm severely sick. RaiYa is probably angry with me for not showing up.

I painfully get up to get some water and as I do I noticed the poor condition of my room. Dust everywhere, rotting wooden floors and walls, and old basic utensils. It's not a place anyone should be living in and yet I've been living here for years. No wonder it was always so cold during the winters and hot in the summers.

I don't even have a table or chairs, just a little night stand where I usually eat my food, a bed, and a closet. The servants usually leave me food at my door steps every 2 days. Today, they brought me a tray, but everything looked old and smelled weird. Moldy bread, left over soup that's almost solidified, and yellow rice. Is this normal food? Do I always eat this? Does everyone else eat this too? I ate the food despite its smell and it tasted normal. I guess it really is food.

As time pass I began to think if I should I leave the Yun family, but I don't have any money and I probably wouldn't be able to make a living without any connections. I'll probably live like a beggar on the streets for years. Not only that, but I don't know how to awaken my elemental powers or if I have any. I probably wouldn't be able to defend myself either. Well, at least here I'll have a roof over my head and food to eat from time to time.

I looked around for some clothes in the closet and noticed how tattered and worn down they were. They're all the same style with a dirty white color. All the edges of my clothing were grayish brown from collected dirt and poorly washed. I grab a set to put on and a roll of bandages to cover my eyes. It was hard wrapping my bandages myself. My fingers could barely move and they ached a little when bent.

The main house was in chaos. Servants ran around in terror as they tried to please RaiYa. He's been on edge for several days and punished many servants for the tiniest mistake. After I recovered a little from my sickness, I wanted to sneak into the small library that the Yun children used to study in. Since I can see now then maybe I could learn to read and write.

My hands touch the corridor walls as they guide me. Having been blind for such a long time and getting lost was beneficial. I knew my way around just by touching the bumps and dents on the walls and floors. As I kept walking, someone knocks me over and steps on top of my hand. I couldn't feel anything, but I knew it was stepped on because I couldn't move it.

"What's this? The leech is still here. How shameless. Still living off of us. Disgusting." The man scoffed.

It was RaiYa. He's been in a terrible mood, but never has he physically hurt me before. He kicked me against the wall and held me down with his other foot. I could feel an intense pain in my shoulder. I could hear him pull out his sword and place it near my neck slicing my skin as blood starts to drip down.

"Should I just dispose of you myself?" RaiYa said coldly.

"RaiYa~!" NaiWei shouted with joy. "I heard you got stood up by a lady. Is that why you've been so upset? Why don't you just search for her?"

"If I could find her, I would have found her by now." RaiYa replied calmly yet coldly.

"Ehhh~ all you need to do is ask around for her family name."

"She didn't give me her family name nor her real name. She looked so timid that I didn't think she'd refuse."

NaiWei laughed historically as he pulls RaiYa off me and they chatted as they walked off. I could feel my blood and sweat run cold and my body trembled. I retreated back into my room to tend to my wound, but it didn't stop bleeding. My trembling fingers only made it worse and by the time I was done, the bandage was messily wrapped around my neck. Is this also how the bandages on my eyes look? Looking down on my hand and shoulder were bruises that RaiYa had inflicted on me. The thought of teaching myself how to read and write disappeared. Although the younger Yun siblings bullied me, they have never attempted to kill me like RaiYa.

Remembering the conversation RaiYa and NaiWei had, RaiYa thinks I'm a woman that set him up, but I was a boy and I was unconscious at the time. What if he finds out that it was me though? Wouldn't he kill me on the spot? What about my eyes? Will he take them from me if he finds out I can see?