How unfortunate, In all of this worlds history there has never been a recorded instance of a non caster, in its rich tens of thousands of years of history Linus had to be the first, although that could just be a belief that grew popularity within their town for all he knew.
He understood, just rejected what this meant not only to him but to his mother. This was a world where those with power called the shots and the weak were look down on in disdain. Everyday Linus would creep into the forest bordering his hometown of Cleargrove in an attempt to use any form of magic. That being exactly where he came from before he ended up in his current predicament.
“Look at who we found here.” A pot bellied kid just short of 5’ stated.
I could feel the deep seeded antipathy from the three eyes that bored straight into me. Although I stood above the three standing around 5'5 in height this meant nothing in a world of magic, a fireball didn't care how tall you were afterall. Planted in my current position, I stared at the three with void eyes, the darkest shade of brown matching my hair. I was thin to the point where I should've been worried, and maybe I would've been if not for all of the other shit that took my attention from the smaller things. My already ragged cloths, still torn from previous altercations threatened to fall off at any second.
“P..Please just let me go.”
“Reem, It’s your turn this time.” The pot bellied kid stated, glaring at Linus in disdain.
I just stood there, I had grown used to this by now. Constantly getting beat up, spit on none of it seemed to faze me anymore. At this point in life there were only four things that could tug any type of emotion from behind that mask of mines, although there were quite the few times I would force emotions trying not to stand out anymore than I already did,
I closed my eyes bracing myself for the punch coming my way.
1….
2….
3 seconds….
“How sad….To pick on those weaker than you.”
Sigh….I can’t even defend myself.
I opened my eyes watching the scene play out before me. Reem, the one who had thrown the punch was now unconscious on the floor being repeatedly stomped out. The fat bellied kid tried running away but made it but only two steps away before being pulled back by the back of his robe.
“Sooooo….You like bullying people huh?”
I opened my eyes and couldn’t help but crack a smile at the scene. These were two of the four things that could pull the hidden emotion out, my only friend, and revenge. Truly amazing how fast a situation can turn. One moment you could be ganging up on a kid with no way to defend himself and the next you could be forced to eat grass, and moo like a cow. The scene drew a crowd, one could see the mocking laughter was really getting under the pot bellied kids skin with a bulging vein popping out of his head, while tears of regret flowed across the other guys face.
“Ok, I have things to do, you three can go now…Shoo” Zenith watched the three skirt off before turning towards Linus.
“You coming.”
I followed Zenith through the small town. We transversed through a series of back allies only stopping after we entered his small house.
“Damn, You can’t just let them walk all over you like that.”
Zenith said in a serious tone as he sat down in a chair looking at the crooked picture frames hung on the wall only by a nail threatening to fall at any moment. Zenith had been the only affable person I had run into yet in life once discovering my situation, I used to tell myself who needed people? Staying by myself is safer. But there was nothing quite like having a good friend you could trust.
“It’s alright, I will become stronger and…..”
“Listen Linus, You have really been pushing yourself, That can be dangerous.”
Zenith stated only after deeply exhaling eyes still on the picture frames.
“You should be the last one talking.” I said in a jest manner.
----------------------------------------
“It’ getting dark I should get home.”
I stood up approaching the door stopped only by a hand on my shoulder.
“Remember, If you ever need help just tell me.” Zenith stated
“Ok, I will keep that in mind.”
With that I stepped out the door heading home.
The second I took a step into my home the dark and gloomy atmosphere washed over me. All of my previous happiness instantly vanished as I trudged through all the broken glass from those who would throw rocks through the windows, Walking towards my mother kneeling by her side.
In her healthy state she was the life of the party. I could only sit there reminiscing the times way back when I would walk into the home to her singing and dancing. Now with her bedridden all I would walk into were her weak, shallow breaths. I was known for being a stone faced person but whenever I would enter home I couldn’t help but burst out into tears at the scene.
“I’m sorry!!” I struggled to say through my sobs.
“D…..nt b…..not…...our…..f..lt..”
“MOM!” My heart started palpitating threatening to climb up and out of my throat at any given second. This was the first time she has shown any sign of hearing me in so long, of course I would be a little more than excited.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
I sat there for what felt like a day, of course I was ok with that. Showing a sign of hope sparked the previous extinguished flames of hope I had, had. Her breathing seemed to be getting more stable, her once deathly pale face which was so drained that aside from her long flowing jet black hair one could mistake her as albino finally had a stroke of color.
After sitting there talking to her if that’s what you could call it as I would never get a reply. I had finally succumbed to the drowsiness I had been fighting the whole night. Although I wanted to stay a little while longer, eyelids drooping, and weighing a ton made that impossible.
“Goodnight mother.”
I stood up walking into my room plopping onto my bed...no a better term would be a slim sheet I would lay on. Although I did miss my bed I had no regrets. I had ended up selling a lot of my stuff in order to help pay for the rent. Of course it was a lot to bare for one kid but when desperate times are called on, desperate measures are taken.
Unlike the usual it didn’t take me long to drift off to sleep. Unlike most nights where insomnia would shake me awake at the faintest sign of drifting off, and constant twisting and turning on the twisted cold floor, This was a better feeling, more comfortable to say the least. It wasn’t just a harsh night eating away at me until I could finally unconsciously and temporarily escape it all. This was something I hadn’t experienced in so long, my long time friend insomnia who overstayed his welcome wasn’t around and something new showed up this time, tossing covers over him, as he drifted into the darkness which was my only source of peace. It was the first night in so long that I fell asleep with a smile displayed on his face.
----------------------------------------
“Huh, Where the fu…..”
I couldn’t help but pinch my arms trying to see if I felt any pain.
It was the embodiment of nothingness. Although it was nothing somehow I could feel it was something, or better put someone. There was nothing, complete blackness yet somewhere I knew there was more than just this.
Where the fuck am I?
I turned around to the same image my eyes processed facing up, down, left, and right, and of course I can’t forget forward.
“It has been so long come to my presence my child.”
“Who….”
I couldn’t even question before being abruptly interrupted.
“It is not time for you to know that yet, but you can get answers in due time.”
“But what’s gonna happen?”
“You will get your answer in due time, for now you are a forsaken one. But heed not you will be able to stand atop the world and save those dearest to you, whether or not this happens is entirely up to you.”
*Bleep*
Custom creation.
“This is your awakening as a forsaken, power in rest who would dare track you down? Now choose wisely as you can only choose once.”
Power in rest?
I looked at the dimly lit green status menu in front of my eyes. On the screen were six figures of six different races, that being an elf, human, dwarf, beastman, spriggan, and a goblin.
I was a human currently so I knew the hate that could stem from a human heart, but I couldn’t be anything else being a human was all I knew, but then again everything I knew was utter shit. I knew all of these but one.
[If you don't know something simply click the slanted ‘I’ at the top right]
Oh wow….Ok then what is a spriggan?
[Spriggan: Love the forest? Then you might want to be one of these forest dwelling creatures. Although not to strong physically with their tree like appearance and their quick wits they are very difficult to deal with and their keen sense for valuable treasures is second to none.]
Oh so they look like trees…..I’ll pass on that. How about a beastman.
[Beastman: Beastman resembling that of a human, have much in common with the latter ‘excluding the fact that they still hold resemblances to their true breeds (that being their tails, ears, claws, etc.)’. Unlike humans beastman have a set path. If they are more skilled as a caster knight then they will practice under the will of the sword, if its spells that they specialise in then they practice under the will of the mage trying to do the other ‘though not impossible’ would prove to be extremely difficult.]
Hmmmm….Fuck it, it’s just a dream after all.
[You have chosen beastman, choose a class.]
Class?
[Rouge, Ranger, Monk, Paladin, Warrior]
Definitely a rouge.
[You have chosen rouge. Finalize beastman, rouge?]
Under the pop up there were two options yes, and no. The moment my finger touched yes I felt my body going through a change. It wasn’t uncomfortable, the best way I could describe the feeling was that feeling you would get when your eyes were twitching only this time it was throughout my whole body.
[Beastman, rouge finalized. Transfering to cleargrove.]
Cleargrove? Guess I can’t escape it even in my dreams.
The space around me distorted. I could see the disproportioned town from what seemed to be another part of time and space entirely.
[Would you like to mark Cleargrove on your map?]
Huh? I looked at the text on the pop up screen, under the words was an empty map with just the town shown on it. Yea, I guess i’ll mark it.
[Cleargrove marked for future reference.]
I walked into the town not really caring to take in the depressing scenery. If I tried taking in the scenery I would just be reminded of all the ass beatings I had taken in the town.
Hmm...I should check out my house.
I couldn’t help but be curious. Approaching my home what I saw made my face distort. Outside my home were those three bastards from today. Throwing rocks at my home.
“Haha…..that bastard Zenith isn’t here to save you now you bitch.”
Even in my dreams I can’t escape them. Oh well, it can’t be helped I guess i’ll just get a few years worth of revenge.
Without a word I rushed the three. Passing by the other two scum I aimed only for the pot bellied kid as he was the cause of most of my pain, on top of that even if it were just a dream standing outside the place were my mother was currently dwelling with malicious intent was unforgivable. I would make sure to make him pay his dues tenfold.
Stunned the three did not have a chance to react before a fist slammed into the fat bellied kid rocketing him into a nearby tree. A trail of blood slowly found its way down his lips only letting go past his chin. Seeing this excited me, never in my life have I ever been this excited. For once my heart palpitated not out of fear but out of pure excitement. I bum rushed him throwing swing after swing one would consider me a mad man at the scene.
[You have gained a new skill: A madman's rage - When activated all reason will be consumed sparking the true nature of a beast.]
Huh?
The pop up caught my attention. Throwing the pot bellied kid to the side, I read the skills, attributes only to push the thought to the side. I mean it was only a dream, once I woke up it would be all for naught anyway, but damn did this feel good.
“Give me all your belongings.” I turned looking at the other two who at this point were paralyzed by fear. What they had just saw was on a whole new level of brutal. Their boss was now laying in a puddle of blood, his teeth scattered around his body, all one had to do was paint him green and he could easily be mistaken as a goblin but that would be even insulting goblins at this point.
“H...h..here take it all. Just please spare master Toflin.” The two replied simultaneously not daring to look this guy in the eyes.
Grabbing the items from the two and taking all of the pot bellied kids items. I looked at the scene with an approving gaze ignoring their words before turning around and strutting to the forest with an armful of items.
[Would you like to store items:]
Hmm….Yea
Looking at my arms full It was all I could do I didn’t feel like carrying an arm full of things the whole time. Seeing the items go into a space gate surprised me. Just how strong was this body? Space gates were only used by the elite in this world. One could imagine the face others would make seeing a space gate being opened in front of them. That was a skill only those coveted by guilds and kingdoms wielded.
----------------------------------------
I woke up with a smile on my face. That was the best dream I had ever had and it damn well would be hard to beat. It’s a pity I was interrupted by the sound of knocking at my door. I only cracked the door open a little just in case some bastards came to cause trouble which frankly wouldn’t surprise me. But it was just two of the towns guardsmen. What were they doing here?
“Hello, We are the towns chiefs, guardsmen last night we had got note of a murder around here if you know anything we would like for you to let us know.” guard one stated.
“I don’t know anything sorry.”
I tried closing the door before the other guard put his foot in between the closing path. Unlike the other guard I could feel the animosity coming from this one. Was it because I was a non caster? Or was it just because he was having a bad day? I don’t know.
“Listen little bastard, With the damage caused outside your home there is no way you didn’t see anything. So tell us what you know.”
“I’m telling the truth.”
“Toflin, calm yourself we have a job to do don’t get tunnel vision.” Guard one said before turning towards Linus and thanking him for his time.
Watching the two guardsmen move onto the next house, what the one guard said stuck with him.
With the damage caused outside your home there is no way you didn’t see anything.
“The dream…..” I muttered under my breath before quickly rushing outside without hesitation. What I saw caused my heart to drop. The tree I knocked the pot bellied kid into was snapped, splintered pieces of wood scattered around the area, and right under the demolished tree laid a puddle of dried up blood, with teeth littering the ground around it.
What the fuck?!?!?!?!
Then it hit me what the mysterious voice said.
“Power in rest who would dare track you down?”
Wait what about the whole thing about forsakens? This was just to much in one go. As I was staring at the scene in thought I felt a pair of eyes bore into me. Turning around I could see the one guardsmen looking at me before turning around and going onto the next house.
----------------------------------------