Dragon Knight

"People's hearts are like reflections on water, often saying things they don't mean and wavering endlessly. Yet humanity's most primal instinct is the desire to accept one another..."

"Tornado?"

"You need to get along with everyone! Don't shut yourself away because of the past."

"Someday, you'll make a true friend. They absolutely won't care about anything unusual about you. Believe me—when that moment comes, you'll feel a peace unlike anything you've ever known."

"..."

Somewhere deep within, memories long sealed away awakened from the depths of Tornado's mind.

In a dilapidated church in a bustling district, there had been a nun who lived in extreme material poverty but possessed an utterly devout faith. She was already very old, her face etched with deep wrinkles, yet her warm smile could heal the heart. Tornado had liked her very, very much. She was the only person who had ever entered Tornado's heart. Unfortunately, she was truly too old, and in the end, she could not withstand the merciless erosion of time, departing for the blissful shore she might perhaps reach.

"I thought there would never be anyone like you again, Sister." Looking up at the sky, Tornado's face held both a smile and tears. "When exactly did it begin...?"

When had it begun? Tornado asked herself. When had she come to believe that coexistence, dependence, and connections with others were worthless things that ought to be severed completely?

Ten years ago.

"Waaah~~~ Waaah~~~"

A baby was born.

"Bzzz—!!!"

Along with the piercing cry, the furniture, tables, chairs, bedclothes—everything in the room—strangely broke free from gravity.

"M-Monster!!!"

The barefoot doctor who had delivered the child fled in terror, while the young parents stood there at a loss.

Five years ago.

News of the freak in the family spread across the entire island. Driven by ignorance, fear, and confusion, the foolish villagers once planned to "put the witch on trial." The family had no choice but to leave their homeland and drift across the vast sea.

She struggled to help her father overcome a tsunami, ensuring the ship did not capsize.

"I won't allow you to use that thing! I won't! How many times have I told you?! Why won't you listen? Why won't you listen to me?!!!"

"Mom? Dad... isn't moving."

"Aaaahhh!!!"

Three years ago.

Mom's gaze changed. It became hysterical. Did she hate me?

A beautiful woman helped us. Sh-She was Mom's friend...

Liar!

What were they doing to Mom?

Two years ago.

My little sister was born. Mom went looking for Dad, leaving only me behind. So lonely... No, I'm not!

That nun seemed... nice? I'd watch her for a while.

The nun died too. I probably would never meet someone like her again. I cried. I wasn't sad at all, hmph~~~

One year ago.

Anywhere was fine. It didn't matter if they researched my abilities. What mattered was that Blizzard was sick. She was suffering, and I couldn't take care of her properly.

Boring scientists. So boring.

Half a year ago.

What the heck! Those useless scientists actually sent me to school? School... would there be lots of kids... around my age?

This place was pretty nice! Everyone was my age, and whenever I slapped the table, they listened to everything I said. They especially loved reasoning with me.

Then I suddenly realized—I was so short. Damn it!

Ten days ago.

Wow, there was finally someone shorter than me. His name was Brad Hyman. What an interesting guy. His eyes spoke of curiosity, but he bore no ill intent, and he wasn't afraid of me?!

I decided to tell a lie and ask him to be my friend. I didn't mean it! I just needed him to highlight the magnificent height of Lady Tornado!

Five days ago.

He was incredibly smart. He had already learned all those messy words.

Heehee~

He was incredibly stupid. Look—he fell down again. Such frail physical strength, completely mismatched with his brain.

Three minutes ago.

What was he doing? He had already gotten covered in wounds without blocking his vision, and now he wanted to block it too?

He'll die!

Trying too hard would get him killed, idiot, big idiot!

No, I can't just watch him hurt himself. He's still so...

My heart was in turmoil? I wasn't worried about him. I wasn't.

But...

I couldn't control myself. Before I knew it, I had grown used to his company—our chats, the occasional jokes, the bits of philosophy and questions I didn't understand. In truth, I didn't like being lonely either.

"You don't need to worry about me, my friend."

Friend.

I was his friend, and he was mine.

It was true, Sister.

"One day, you'll make a true friend. He absolutely won't care about anything unusual about you. Believe me—when that moment comes, you'll feel a peace unlike anything before."

I had felt it—a peace unlike anything before.

"Bred!"

"Bang!"

"Crash~~~"

Caught off guard by the collision from behind, Bred skidded like a human skateboard.

"Ow." Bred bared his teeth in pain.

Tornado, the culprit, realized she had overdone it, but she still pinned Bred down, pretending to be a koala as she haughtily said, "Adding some weight training should make it more effective!"

"..." Bred: I treat you like a friend, but you fucking want to ride me?!

Struggling to his feet, Bred staggered forward and continued his training plan.

Suddenly—

"Oh my~ Tornado actually got together with someone else behind my back. And what's more—he's a boy! This is simply unforgivable!"

A gentle, lazy voice carried undisguised killing intent. A girl was squatting on the trunk of a large tree nearby.

She had black hair tied into a bun adorned with a braid, large bright and clear eyes, and a face as soft and languid as her voice. A conspicuous beauty mark sat beneath her left eye. Wearing low-rise pants and a tube top, she confidently displayed her fair, youthful figure.

"It's you again, you disgusting perverted little bug, Melard Auberg." Tornado spoke imperiously. "If you don't like it, get lost!"

Melard smiled sweetly. "You can't even bear to call me Mela anymore? I won't give up, Tornado. I'll definitely make you accept my~ love."

Bred: "..." L-lesbians? And she dared set her sights on Tornado? He really wanted to lift the strip of cloth and see which fearless warrior was courting death!

"Heh." As Melard turned away, Tornado called out to her.

Melard happily clasped her hands together. "Have you changed your mind, Tornado?!"

"Smack!"

"Rumble!"

A slap sent Melard flying, and she tumbled more than ten meters away.

Tornado dashed over and, in the blink of an eye, stomped on Melard. Her hair bristled in fury, and her expression was terrifying. "You bear ill will toward Bred. Absolutely, do not, hurt him! Do you hear me? Absolutely not."

"Cough, cough~" Blood trickled from the corner of Melard's mouth, and half her face quickly swelled, but she maintained her smile. "Mm, okay."

Staring into Melard's eyes, Tornado thought for a moment. "You still haven't given up! To be safe, it'd be better to kill you."

"Forget it, Tornado."

PS: Melard Auberg is also from Akame ga Kill! Zero. Yeah, this Akame ga Kill! prequel is really good—I recommend everyone check it out. Also, I changed Tornado's backstory a little. The original work actually gave a rather brief description of Tornado's origins. (Well, the original One Punch Man was pretty brief even in its art style.)