The Essence Of The Darkness
EOTL eps 1: Stretching Extreme Memory

SEASON 2 – ESSENCE OF THE LIGHT

"To forget something is a gift that God has given to a mandkind"

As a human being, being able to forget is one of the gifts that are never realized when it is worth being grateful for.

The human brain has its own considerations for sorting out memories. The human brain is able to determine which memories should be discarded until forgotten, which memories should be stored deeply at the far end until it is impossible to dig up again, which memories are stored at the top until they are easily retrieved when needed, and which memories will always be imprinted every second.

Because of this, sometimes man can directly sing the lyrics of an old song that for ten years he never sang again. Because of this, humans can protect themselves and their hearts from the painful memories of past trauma that are awake not to reappear.

To forget is a precious luxury.

Forgetting trauma to protect yourself from pain is a gift that Xavier could not have had until now. It was all because he was awarded the award as well as the curse for having a very strong photographic memory ability.

That ability makes his brain work out of control, storing all memories to the smallest detail possible on the surface and emptying other areas so that no one drowns.

From a very young age, Xavier can remember every second of his life, the color of clothes, human faces, smells and sounds, to details such as the location of small items he saw at a glance, no one has ever escaped and been cast away by his memory. That's why he became a genius at such a young age. He was able to remember lessons with just one listen, he was able to memorize a book to detail punctuation with just one read.

To everyone, that ability was a priceless gift, and in fact, Xavier thought the same thing.

Xavier, who lives in an orphanage without knowing his origins, is of course very happy when a family raises him. Baron Night and Marlene Night were good parents, they devoted great affection and considered Xavier to be his biological child. They give the best that a child can dream of from a warm and happy family.

In fact, when Xavier's younger brother was born shortly after Xavier became part of the family, Baron and Marlene Night's attitude remained unchanged, their affection remained the same, there is no difference between Xavier who adopted children with Akram who was a biological child.

For Xavier, the birth of his sister was a gift. From the first his father took him to go into his mother's nursery, then saw the baby sleeping peacefully in the crib next to the crib, Xavier already felt a deep affection and a strong desire to protect his sister from all harm.

Akram who was younger than five years from him was Xavier's most precious darling. Xavier always looks after and accompanies Akram, being his closest person and trying to be the first to help his sister. He accompanied Akram's first steps, he was also the first to come to help when his sister fell down while learning to walk, hold and wipe Akram's tears because of his injured and bleeding knee.

Xavier is always determined to be a good brother, he is also determined to be a good son, so that someday he can return the favor to this family, he said, the Night family who have given him the gift of a nurturing family. The Night family made him believe that there was a happy hope for a child with such frightening advantages.

Well, Xavier continued to hold fast to the belief that he had the right to be happy until that day came, the day of the kidnapping that ravaged his soul and destroyed it until even the crumbs of himself were no longer left to be picked up again.

The day was bright, just like his usual days. Xavier is currently nine years old, and because his genius far exceeds that of children his age, so he can't join the other kids at school and has to take special classes with lessons tailored to his fantastic brainpower.

Today, because his teacher had family affairs that could not be left behind, Xavier was able to finish his class faster than usual. Xavier is very happy because it means he can pick up Akram to his school and go home with his sister.

“Do you really not want the driver to come pick you up, Xavier?”

Mentor Xavier, sir, a very good old professor who was so amazed by Xavier's ability to remember at the age of nine years was frowning when he saw Xavier packed his books into a bag with a rash attitudeburu, his own gaze seemed thick, implying disapproval.

Xavier shook his head, smiling widely without being able to hide his spirit.

“I still had time to pick up Akram from kindergarten if it is still at this hour. The driver will pick us up at Akram's school later and we will go home together. Don't worry, professor, the distance from here to Akram school is quite close, it only takes a few minutes of running," he replied in a reassuring tone.

Despite not even being ten years old, Xavier gained the privilege of acquiring specialized teaching in one of the research sections of the city's large university area. Yes, Xavier is a very interesting special case for academics studying the wonders of the human brain. The professors are vying to be Xavier's mentor, while indirectly making Xavier a sample of his research.

The location of the University where Xavier studied happened to be only a few buildings away from where Akram was attending school. Xavier just needs to run on the sidewalk, straight down the main road and can get to Akram school in just a few minutes.

In an impatient manner, without waiting again for the approval of the professor who became his mentor, Xavier put his backpack on his back, then bowed half saluted to say goodbye to his mentor, and hurried to turn over, turning over, he ran out of the building and down the high stairs before then exiting the university gate and turning towards the school Akram.

The path to Akram school is currently quite quiet because this area is an education area with schools lined up from end to end. Because it is still a lesson time, everyone must be in his class in their respective school building to do learning and teaching activities.

Xavier felt a bit of fear through the quiet streets with big trees on his left and right, but he consoled himself by telling himself that the distance he had to go to Akram school was not too far away.

Her small footsteps took her darting away quickly, impatient to pick up her sister. Akram is always happy when Xavier finishes his lesson sooner and comes to pick him up…

A car that squeaked quickly and carelessly raised the front of his car tires to the low sidewalk that was stepped on by Xavier made Xavier's step stop immediately to prevent himself from being hit by a car.

Alertly, Xavier raised his head, frowning over the black van driver's carelessness that could have harmed pedestrians with his brutal driving.

However, when Xavier's eyes met with the burly man and dressed in creepy black, he immediately realized something was wrong. The men gave off a thick evil scent, making Xavier's hair stand up and reflexes instantly turned the body around trying to run away.

Unfortunately, it's too late. Xavier's small body was certainly inferior to the adult men who easily chased and subdued him.

When Xavier thrashed with all his might and was about to shout desperately for help on that deserted road, suddenly one of the villains swung his hand violently and punched Xavier's tiny stomach with merciless force, making Xavier only able to let out a groan of pain before then losing his consciousness.

Whether it had been how many days, Xavier had already lost his ability to count again.

He could only mark the day and night of the sun shards tucked away from the ventilation hole located far up there. When it was still there, Xavier knew it was still day, and then when it disappeared and darkness surrounded it. That was the only marker of the day that told him he still survived to this point.

Where Xavier was kidnapped and held captive like an uninhabited warehouse so dark it was terrible, he was locked up in one of the rooms in that warehouse, an empty room contained only a shabby and dirty blanket for the bed, with a musty scent mixed with terrible rancid and bone-chilling cold that tormented her tiny body at night.

Every day, it was never missed for Xavier to experience the torment. The people who kidnapped him were so cruel, they treated Xavier not as a helpless child, but more like a prey that could be used as a samsak to vent their anger and frustration.

At night, from the little time given to him to sleep and in spite of the torture, Xavier could only curl up withstanding the unbearable pain all over his body that was filled with bruises and severe wounds. There was no more residue on his skin to be given additional bruises, scratches and blisters from cigarettes that were ruthlessly bundled into his skin, plus with his stomach wrapped around the pain to remove stomach acid burn up to his throat.

All the torture and severe pain that sometimes makes Xavier want to give up and die alone. But, no. Xavier still didn't want to give up. She has a family that loves her, she has a little sister that she loves very much.

If he were to die, who would protect Akram? If he were to die, how could he return the favor to the Night family?

But, day after day had passed, day and night had fallen out of his count. Why is he still not saved? What the hell's going on?

If the kidnappers really wanted money, they would have sent a ransom request to his father, right?

Everyone knew that Baron Night had an incredible wealth that made anyone amazed by it. That's why, these people who kidnapped her would definitely want a ransom.

But, if money was the problem, wouldn't it be a trivial affair for his father? Then...why is he still locked up here for so long under the torture of his captors?

Question after question enveloped Xavier's tiny soul within his body that was wracked by pain. For a few moments, when the pain could no longer be borne by him, he once doubted and prejudiced his family. But that hope grew again. Xavier loves his family, and his family loves him?

Xavier melted tears of tears mixed with pain from the corner of his eye. He wanted to moan but he was scared. The kidnappers out there who usually stand guard outside his locked room from the outside will usually be angry if Xavier noisily let out the groans and cries that split the silent night. Therefore, while hugging himself with his hands full of bruised black marks, Xavier bit his lips until it bled to hold his sobs so as not to escape from his lips.

After being content to torture him all day, usually the kidnappers will let him sleep a few hours at night. It seems, tonight Xavier must hold on again until the sun comes back touching the morning….

The sound of footsteps of some people who were so loud towards the room where he was locked up made Xavier awake from his condition. He opened his eyes wide, feeling his heart pounding violently due to the bad premonition that instantly flooded over him.

Then, there is no need to wait long to get proof of his fear. The door he had locked suddenly kicked so hard that his hinges came loose, then the leader of the most ruthless kidnappers among others stepped in, followed by his men.

“I think we should kill him and dispose of his body to remove the trace. The police have sniffed like a hungry sniffer dog, we have to get this all done and get out of here,” one of the kidnappers said in a quick tone, while throwing a cruel gaze towards Xavier.

The words of the man seemed to burn the anger of the kidnapper leader. The burly man spat, then shouted harshly at his men.

“This is all your fault! Stupidly you even kidnapped this trashy boy and released the crown prince that we need to get the ransom!” the voice of the kidnapper leader blaringly filled the room, making everyone's guts shrivel at it. “Now all plans are falling apart. They've all been on standby to look after their crown prince until we have no chance of getting close, and we're even burdened with this trashy kid, who even his adoptive family wants to throw away and won't make up for!”

Xavier may have been exhausted by the torture and wounds on his body, but his ears were still able to hear clearly the words of the kidnapper leader. His eyes widened, his gaze in shock mixed with disbelief.

“My father... my father does not want to redeem me....?” Xavier managed to let out a faint trembling sound from his tiny, bleeding bruised mouth. He was unable to hold back his curiosity, and it was a huge mistake as the attention of everyone in the room was directed towards him.

The kidnapper leader immediately crouched down in front of Xavier. His hands clutched Xavier's tiny shoulders and forced him to sit, while his eyes shone with a deep hatred.

“Ya. garbage boy. Apparently you're just considered trash by your foster family. Your father refused to pay the ransom for you and just threw you away. Now you've been left in our hands to die and rot for no price..”.

“Cannot be! My father...my father loves me.. Dad couldn't possibly do that!”.

Xavier interjected with tears that flooded his cheeks. His entire body was trembling, half hysterical for not being able to receive the notice that shattered his last hope.

The kidnapper's leader chuckled, his hands cruelly clutching Xaver's chin and cheeks, being rude as he forced Xavier to look up at him.

“If your father wants to save you, of course you are safe in your comfortable adoptive family home and will not be lying here for us to torture and kill. But, reality? You saw it for yourself, didn't you?” taunting the kidnapper leader while laughing out loud.

“No... no...” Xavier is still trying to refute, unwilling to accept the reality even though what the kidnapper's leader says is true.

His stubborn attitude rekindled the anger of the kidnapper leader. Supposedly if this plan succeeded and they kidnapped the right child, by now they would have had fun and rich by carrying a ransom as planned. But, by wrongly kidnapping children and even taking the trash boy who is this adopted child, their entire plan was dissolved which ended in extraordinary failure and loss.

If only from the beginning this trashy boy did not exist….

The kidnapper leader's eyes lit up as he lowered the grip of his hand from Xavier's face and moved down to strangle the already bruised skinny neck.

As powerful as Xavier tried to wriggle away, but of course the skinny body of a nine-year-old was no match for the violent, spirited adult man who was strangling him. The more Xavier thrashed, the more he blazed at the kidnapper leader's cruelty, the louder the more as if he wanted to vent all the anger due to the failure of his grand plan to Xavier.

“You all come out! I'll make this child feel tremendous torture before I kill him!” in a horrible cruel voice, the kidnapper leader sent all his men out of the room.

Of course no one dared to refute the ruthless leader of the kidnappers. One by one, the men stepped out of the room, leaving the helpless Xavier alone in the hands of the human who acted as his lifeline.

The kidnapper grinned while looking down at Xaver. His hand that had strangled Xavier's neck was not at all sagging, completely indifferent to Xavier's blue face due to the forcefully severed air flow.

Later, the kidnapper's leader tortures Xavier with all kinds of horrific torture that can be done to a helpless little boy, leaving Xavier convinced at the last point that he is losing consciousness…. that after the darkness swallowed him, he would definitely die.

Thank you for the patience of the wait that finally ended as well.

Essence Of The Light (EOTL) is Season Two of Essence Of The Darkness which is specifically about Xavier Light.

May you all be happy to accompany the author and Xavier to live his life story to the end of the road.

Thank you for Vote Points, Like, Comment, Five-star rating and Coins.

And most importantly, the sincere support of the spirit from all of you is the main one.

Because there is already a group chat feature in Noveltoon (in Mangatoon there is no ) then the Author will make an announcement of uploading the script, update the schedule up and all novel-related stuff in the group chat author. Please join there.

Regards, AY