The journey took 10 days. I went through deserts where the hot sun castrated my skin and the sand burned my feet. I went through tropical forests where the water was bitter and the humidity covered my body with a thick layer of sweat. I climbed mountains and rocky trails where the risk of death was imminent.

During my expedition, I questioned myself many times.

Should I go back? Is it really worth it to go to this big city?

I blocked those thoughts as fast as they came to be. Even through all of my sufferings, I had to push forward. My life depended on it.

As I climb up a small dune, I look out at the mass expanse of a vast city ascending into the clouds. A 20-foot wall wraps around it, patrolled by guards with gleaming silver armor and red cloaks. Approaching a set of wide wooden doors that marks the entrance of the city, a guard motions me forward.

“Your silver coin please.”

I ruffle through my bag until I feel the cold metal in my hand. Bringing the coin into the raving sunlight, I make a quick prayer before giving it into his outstretched hands. A silence falls upon us as I watch him observe the coin. He nods his head, flicking the coin back to me and pushing me forward. I let out a heavy breath, the weight of the journey easing off of my shoulders.

For a minute, I’m in a dark tunnel where I can barely see my feet in front of me. The echo of my footsteps engulfs my ears. At the end of the tunnel, there is a bright view of what's to come. As I near it, I hear the buzz of the city. Shouting voices, a horse neighing, the clinks of coins, the ring of a bell, it’s a stark contrast to the strange quietness of my hometown. Making my way into the sunlight, the brightness dims my sight. Rubbing my eyes, I blink a few times until a vivid picture of a city comes into view. I watch in awe as the world comes to life. I’m in the middle of a marketplace, the bustle of people all around me. I take in a deep breath, letting go of all my worries and inhaling my newfound freedom.

As excitement bubbles in the pit of my stomach, I explore my new home. Tall buildings line the roads, climbing up to immeasurable heights. Stores and markets fill the streets with all kinds of goods that range from normal food to gold jewelry. The people around me come in all shapes and sizes. Some wear large, straw hats and oversized potato sacks. Another wears a velvety, black cape with a cloth wrapped around his face.

I scan the environment, looking for a sign that catches my eye. Specifically, a wooden poster that has the word “Guild” printed on it.

Hero guilds. They litter the city with opportunities to become a hero. Long ago, when the world was in dire need of protection, groups formed guilds in order to recruit more people for the effort. These guilds want strong ambitious men like me that is up for the task. I’m ready, more than ready to enter a new path in my life. Jumping in the air, I launch my fist into the sky.

“What do you mean I can’t become a hero??” I gasp.

“It means you can’t become a hero.” A bored clerk leans his arm on his drooping chin.

“As I told you several times, you don’t have the proper licenses in order to officially become one.”

“What kind of rubbish is that?” I stamp my foot.

“It’s the rules buddy. I can’t accept you.” He frowns, putting the application back into his drawer.

“Now get out of here before I call security.” He waves me away.

I sit on the curb with my head down as the reality of my situation settles in.

I can’t become a hero.

Strolling through the city, I look for more guilds. But I’m rejected, again and again, their monotone voices resound in my head as they shoo me away.

Before I know it, it’s already evening. I trudge into an empty alleyway, away from anybody’s prying eyes. Wrapping myself in a blanket, I fall into a restless sleep.

“Hey… hey you. Wake up.”

I open my tired eyes to see a guard hovering over me.

“What are doing on the streets boy.” He holds a lofty, golden spear, “Where are your parents?”

“What do you mean? I’m an adult.” I blubber out.

“Let me see some identification then.” He doubtfully responds.

I reach for my bag but I grab nothing. I frantically scour around me for my possessions but they're gone. Poof! It’s like they disappeared into thin air.

“Where is it?” Panic rises up my throat, “Where the heck is it?”

“Okay kid, come with me.” He pulls my arm.

I push him to the side with all my might and tug my arm out of his grasp. Running out of the alley, I am introduced to the blinding sun.

“Stop right there!!” The guard yells.

I will my feet forward, maneuvering my way through crowds of people. His footsteps patter behind me. The looming threat of being captured forces my body to run as fast as possible. Sprinting deeper into the city, I turn one more corner before falling to my knees. I wheeze in a couple of breaths, my lungs on fire. Closing my eyes, I raise my arms in surrender and wait for his strong arms to take me down.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

I wait but nothing happens.

“Get out of the way kid. Your in the middle of the road!” Someone barks.

I open my eyes, gazing at the crowd walking past my kneeling body. I don’t hear a shouting guard or clanking footsteps. I stand up and step back into the afternoon rush, blending into the people and its city.

The aroma of fresh bread wafts into my nose, my stomach responding in a low growl. Craning my neck over a pile of wooden baskets, I peer at a bakery shop filled to the brim with every kind of pastry imaginable. My mouth waters just thinking about taking a bite out of that soft, doughy bread. The gnawing pangs in my stomach increase second by second, tempting me and my judgment. All I have to do is casually walk up to one of the piles and put it into my pockets.

“Where are your morals?” A voice in my head criticizes. I shake it away, getting up from the hiding spot and preparing myself for the act.

Striding down the roadway, I pretend that I’m a normal citizen passing through the area. Whistling a tune, I snag a piece of bread and stuff it into my pocket as quickly as possible. I feel the burning bulge of the bread in my pants as my leg rubs against it.

That was easier than I thought. All it took was a little-

Walking straight into an obstacle, I let out an oof before falling right on my butt. Did I just walk into a wall? How stupid am I. Raising my head, I find myself under the shadow of a burly, muscular man wearing a white apron.

“Who do you think you are, stealing from my shop.” He spits.

He grabs my arm, his tight grip sending ripples of pain through my bones.

“Guards, he’s over here!!” He shouts.

Dropping me onto the ground, a set of guards surround me. I survey the area for any kind of escape but it’s too late. My body goes slack as I let them take me away.

❧

Long grass sways in the wind, swinging back and forth. There is a slightly earthy aroma in the air, hinting at the autumn season to come. Sitting on top of a hill, I watch clouds slowly make their way across the sky. Throwing my toy to the side, I let out a yawn before getting comfortable in the grass and letting my tired eyelids rest in the sunlight.

Baaaaa

Baaaaaa

I awake to a fluffy sheep staring at me with its black, beady eyes. At first, we stand motionless, the urge to run tingling on the soles of my feet. But instead it calmly approaches me, petting its head on my chest. It lets out a little baa before resting its heavy body on my lap. Frozen in place, I let my hand rest on its incredibly squishy fur. We lay there for a few minutes, enjoying each other’s company.

“Theodore! Theodore! Come, Dinner is ready.”

The sheep’s head lurches up but it makes no act to get up. Father lumbers up the hill with a farmer’s picket in his hand. Sweat falls down his forehead, his face gleaming in the sun.

“Look, Father! Look what I found!”

He collapses next to me, letting out a dogged sigh.

“Oh, that’s a cute pet you have there.” He strokes its fur. “Where'd you get that?”

“It came to me!” I beamed, “Do you think we can keep it?”

He shakes his head, closing his eyes as a soft breeze whisks through the air. Pursing my lips, I shake my father’s stocky body.

“Why not? He’s lost anyway.” I frown.

Father rolls to the side, lifting his exhausted body. Stretching his arms to the sky, he lets out a long and exaggerated yawn.

“Because he isn’t ours to keep. He has to an have owner somewhere.”

“But he’s on our property!” I complain.

He kneels in front of me, picking up my toy in his hands.

“Theodore, if something is lost, like this toy.” He raises it up.

“If it’s it on, erm let’s say Paul’s property across the street.”

I stare back at him in confusion.

“Then what should Paul do with the toy?” He asks.

“He should give it back to me?” I hesitantly answer.

“Yes, if he knew who the toy belonged to.” The sheep in my lap falls into slumber, its snores playing a soft tune.

“But he doesn’t. So he takes it into his home and takes care of it. He cleans it when it gets dusty and oils it when it sputters. So when we go to Paul’s house next time, it’ll be is as good as new.” He drops it onto the ground and spins its wheel. It rides across the grass until it stops at the base of a tree.

“I don’t understand what your saying,” I question.

“This sheep right here.” He points at it, “We don’t know who the rightful owner is.”

He caresses its head.

“So we should take it in our home, feed and take care of it, and then visit our neighbor’s homes and find its owner.” He grins as the sheep cuddles in his hand. “That is the right thing to do.”

“But I’ll miss it…” I let out a disappointed cry.

He embraces me and kisses my forehead. Trapped in his never-ending warmth, I attempt to wriggle out of his grasp.

“It’s okay, we can always visit him.” He chuckles.

“Really?” I look up at my father’s smiling face.

“Of course we can.” He lifts me up and carries me down the hill as I emit a playful laugh.

“Now let’s all go, mother is waiting for us.”

The sheep’s excited baaaas trail behind us as we make our way to our bright home.

❧

“What’s your name son?” Leaning on the cold, hard concrete wall, I glare at an old, white-haired man sitting on a bench through rusty metal bars.

He’s wearing a pristine, navy-blue uniform with glistening medals lined on his breast pocket. His face is hard and calloused with a red scar across his cheek. His eyes tell a different story though. They are soft and baby blue, bizarre compared to his overly tough appearance.

“Theodore,” I whisper.

“Theodore hm, do you know why you’re here today?” He asks.

“I stole something,” I mutter.

How did my life come crashing down so fast?

“Yes, you did. And do you know what punishment that ensues?” He crosses his legs.

“I don’t know, you tell me.” I snicker.

My life is over. I am a forgotten man in a dark cell, waiting for the death of my spirit.

“10 years in prison, maybe more, Do you understand that Theodore?”

I slowly nod my head.

“You will be transferred to the city council where you will serve a court trial,” He explained “Any questions?”

I respond in silence. My cell closes in, trapping me in its grasp until it strangles my throat. He gets up from his seat, brushing the dust off his pants.

“Why did this happen to me?” I tremble “What did I do to deserve this?”

“I don’t know Theodore. You tell me.” He says. He eyes me with a hard stare, waiting for my response.

“I, I-” I can’t get the words out.

“You know, people like you.” He steps towards me with his perfect black shoes. “You have your whole life ahead of you.”

I look down at my bare feet covered in red blisters.

“But for some reason, you guys are all the same. Always getting into trouble and screwing up your own lives.” He sighs. “When will you ever learn?”

“I lived an honest life. I’ve always followed the rules. Why can’t you do the same?” He shakes his head before turning away and striding towards the door.

“Wait!” I shout. He stops in his tracks, easing his grip on the door.

“I didn’t want this either,” I confess. “All I wanted was a better life.”

“And you came to the city to do that?” He sneers

I sink to the floor, tears threatening to take over me.

“I left my family to come here,” I begged, “I sacrificed everything.”

“And for what?” His voice echoes throughout the cell.

“To become a hero.” I gasp.

He kneels over my cell, so close that I can see the deep wrinkles on his face.

“You remind me of someone.” He breathed, “Someone that I knew long ago.”

Ruffling in his pocket, he brings out an object in a closed fist. Opening his fingers, he reveals a silver key in his hand.

“I have a proposal for you.”