It did not take long for Lucifen to change from a pathetic little runt who ran away to cry each day to a child who expressed himself through violence and hatred.
He started blindly hating his brothers and anyone else he sees around the house. At first his brothers were confused by his actions but seeing how children are children, they started to retaliate by doing what children do best, being mean.
This wasn't an intended byproduct of Lucifen's new approach but he quickily started to enjoy the retaliation as it fueled later incentives.
At first it was all name-calling and ignorance that drove these children into a rather cold war in their family. But as it progressed, Lucifen started a fight with 3rd oldest child.
The fight was short lived but the memory of it lived long for all participants, having a mother or two break apart the fight. "At least I gave them a reason for them to dislike me.", he thought, rather pleased with himself and his new motive.
The fighting continued but nothing ever surpassed the simplistic brawl of children, having his punishments continue to grow in large. It eventually lead to his father hearing about this, who wasn't at all happy with the news.
He brought Lucifen up to a room, and did what fathers do best with naughty children.
After the beating, Lucifen's violence mutated into a more discreet approach. Seeing how the only time his father and him would be together is with a belt in between.
He no longer brawled unless one of his brothers provoked him, but he did enjoy spitting in their name.
As a result of his more aggressive change, he wasn't allowed at the dinner table anymore and all food if any were to be given to him was distributed to him in a kind matter, giving him the food in person and telling him not to be anywhere near the family as they dine.
At first he was struck deep by this, being in a way exiled from the company of everyone as he dines alone now. But as he finished his first meal alone, he smiled. He had the company of his tree now when he dined, preferring it to any warmth or cold a beating heart could give.
In his eyes, he was lucky. For all the other children had their own mother, with two even sharing one; He had his tree, which was better than any mother he could've wished for.
It was his mother in more ways than his true biological mother, if he even had one.
