Today was my 50th birthday, the day I would finally undergo the rites of adulthood and become a man. I would be able to prove that just because I was small, didn't mean I was weak, and I would come home with enough honor, glory, and wealth to shame those who mocked me. I kneeled on the altar, sword in hand and survival pack on my back, as my Outer-Parent watched over me. The cheif spoke to me and warned me of the rites, as the chief did for all those who came before, and all those who would come after.
"Child-Gron you kneel before us today to try to become an adult. But remember, no titan is ever an adult before they are a legend to the little ones. The trials will be difficult, and you will likely never find your way home and you will probably die,. As we do for all, we offer you the choice of remaining a child for a few more years, and in your case especially I recommend it."
His words were understandable, but that did not make them any less annoying. Just because my Inner-Parent was human they thought me weak. But Kaisar was not weak, nor was Gron, he may have been human, but he was not a little one!
"I will undergo the rites now Chief-Adan, Our honor demands it."
Shaman-Ogus-Ijar nodded their head knowingly at this, they knew it would be this way, they knew me too well to think otherwise.
"We will now find you a calling, it may take some time, but..." Shaman-Ogus-Ijar stopped abruptly and began to concentrate.
"Ready yourself Gron, A grand calling is coming, bring us glory when you return."
I closed my eyes and held fast to my sword and pack. A grand calling would be fitting, once I was done no one could think me weak, and they would know my Inner-Parent strong for sireing me.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The feelings of swimming in angry mud subsided, and a loud scream was echoing through the forest I had arrived in. A little one was being attacked by a bear. The poor thing had no weapons on them, and obviously was so young they did not know how to fight. I drew my sword, emitted my aura, and charged at the bear, knocking it out with a swift strike from the blunt of my blade. The little one cried and crouched down babbling words in one of their tounges. Eating a Kulus from my pack, their tounges shifted to the true language as I approached them.
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"Please don't eat me. Please don't eat me. Please don't eat me." they spoke the same words over and over, like a mimic-bird that just heard them.
"I will not eat you little one, show me to your village, so I may bring you back there safely" I tried comforting the little one, patting their head with my hand.
They looked up ar me with a distraught look on their face. "Really? I - uh - it's just over this way, and across the river." the little one speaked at me. Why did their voices have to be so high pitched, my studies tell me on most words more than half the little ones speak like this! It is a wonder anyone can tolerate them, though I suppose I shall have to try.
I walked with the little one as they lead me towards their village, spreading my aura out so that no weakings would dare approach. I saw the little one was still quite distraught from their ordeal, so rather than get them home at a snails pace, I picked them up and carried them along. They yelped slightly and their face grew red however, so I put them back down hoping they would recover. They were saying something, but their face did not fix itself, so I picked them up and ran to their village. It was in sight within moments, but if we had walked at the little ones pace it would have taken hours, and there was little time to spare!
The sight of me running and jumping across the river with my steely aura speading out must have been a terrifying sight for the poor guards, but I shouted for a healer, and one of them had the good sense to step aside. The gates were closed however, and opening them might hurt a little one behind them, so I lept upon the walls, spotted a good landing point, and dashed into town, taking care to not crash into the little ones, and shouting for a healer the whole time. The one I was carrying was turning redder and redder when a little one in a white coat came up to me.
"You called for a healer? Might I see the patient? I am Doctor Peter Pertronus, renowned healer of all manner of ailments" The doctor looked upon me with a smile upon its face, so happy was it to be able to help.
I showed the one I was carrying to the doctor, their face was almost completely red, and they were much warmer than they should be! The doctor simply took one look at them intoned Cure Disease. The little one from the forest did not seem any better, and seeing this the doctor took a moment to give a full length chant in one of the magical languages the fruit would not translate, before finishing with a Heal The one from the forest had their redness fade and looked much better, though still rather tired. The doctor turned to me and said with a smile on his face
"She will be fine now, she just needs some rest. Now there is the matter of my payment, that was quite a bit of mana I had to expend there, and I typically charge quite a bit for the services of that latter spell, but if you would just come into my office I am sure we could negotiate an alternative form of payment. After all, I am someone such as yourself could provide me with excellent specimens for my research."