PROLOGUE

Along with the others, I stumbled to my feet, forcing myself to stare at the ground. I try to avoid any further contact with the boss or anyone. I always thought to myself it could be simpler if everyone would just leave me alone, but I’m never that lucky.

In this orphanage, there was one boss and he was the worst. He stood around looming over your shoulders, trying to find any reason to beat you to a pulp, even looking at him funny would get you whacked.

“Wake up, wake up, ya lousy maggots, get on wit’ it before I smash your heads in.” That was Max, a chubby oaf of a man and my boss. He walked into the sleeping chambers of the orphanage bringing with him the foul stench of sweat and blood. He carried a club and torch and smacked any kid who came near,  that caused us to usually wake up to the sounds of sobbing and pain.

While he wasn't the only worry I had, the older children were another one. They liked beating on the younger workers and especially me, they call me things like a monster, abomination, and worthless. At this moment in time, I am a scrawny young boy at the age of 14 with two small patches of scales growing from my back. When I first came I had a third, but it was ripped off when I got here. Max ripped it off thinking he could make some quick coin. He found that it turned to dust once it was removed from my body.

I’ve always hated the place, it’s an orphanage built on the outskirts of town with the buildings back lodged into the side of a mountain, or so it appears. Only the people on the inside know it’s really a child labor mine.

“Quit looking at dat ground you halfwits, ya best get to work before ol’ Max gets mad!” Someone collapsed from Max’s swing faced dead on the ground. A person fell on top of that body, then another person, and  another one. “Don’ fall over ya fools, now Maxi mad.” Everyone quickly ignored and walked past the dead bodies. This was a daily scene I witnessed.

Once we reached the mines, many went off to pick at the wall while the rest of us would shift through the dirt and mud looking for anything valuable. Sometimes we’d find small stones of ore. Those stones would then be exchanged for food or other necessities, like clothing.

After 12 years of working around the kingdom and here, I found various rocks and crystals. The largest block of ore I found was the size of a thumb, but that was only enough for a whole piece of bread. I didn't even get to eat it, one of the older kids ran up to me forcing me to the ground, then sat atop me eating my hard earned food, that night I went hungry, again.

We spent hours mining into the wall. Most of the days consisted of waking to the sounds of Max beating people who were close to the door, his guards droned over us to make sure we worked. If any of us fell ill on the job they would cut us down right then and there, not even bothering to move away from the rotting corpse. Next, we would get a chance to eat. We’d line up in front of them while they stood looming over a pile of food and clothes. Yet only a small sum of us got anything and rarely anyone went for clothing. Finally, we would be sent to bed, some starving and some sickly.

One night, I awoke to the sounds of screaming. I found that the kid sleeping to my right was flailing and scratching at his ear screaming the words, “HELP ME!! ITS AN EARWORM!!.” Soon after, Max strode into the room with a knife in one hand and a torch in the other. As he approached, he didn’t bother to avoid the bodies beneath him, crushing frail children beneath his feet. He didn’t spare a glance at the boy as he slit his neck. “Shut up ya worthless runt!” Just as quickly as he had come he was gone, leaving as if nothing had happened. I and the others became terrified. I now was encasing my head to keep the worms at bay with my tiny blanket and hands, that thought made me shiver throughout that night. When I awoke, I found worms swimming in a pool of blood and pus that had once been a person. Some of the blood stained my blanket and shirt during the night. They were some of the only things I owned.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

--Hero’s fall meeting--

Far off away from the Orphan Mine, the king has called a meeting, calling the other kingdoms to discuss a matter of grave importance.

“What are we going to do? The demons knock at our doors and the hero is on his last pair of legs! Nothing is going as planned. I will not let him pass when he has no descendants!” A plump man’s voice resounds over the conference hall as he stood with a wine glass in his hands.

“Stand down Berus. I understand what you're trying to say but we can't do anything for him. For the hero has already passed away this morning.” A Chorus of murmurs broke out among the crowd.

“The hero is dead? You mean to tell me that Leon, warrior of demon and builder of the great wall has died? Then what are we waiting for! We need to summon a new hero from the other worlds!” Berus interjected in a condescending tone.

The King shouts, “As I’ve said, we cannot unless you have thousands upon thousands of slaves to sacrifice at hand. Even if you did, I would not allow it personally. No human soul should be put through that kind of torture again. We are lucky that he gave pity upon us and helped us in any way he could.” The king then slammed his fist onto the armrest of his golden chair.

Berus spoke up this time “Who cares!? This will help us get rid of a few peasants within our streets.” Berus then whispered to his guards  “Most importantly, it will ensure I live!”

A noble in green clothes rose “Berus I’m sure you wouldn’t mind giving up your all your vineyard slaves to fuel this project? My King, this oaf, ought to pay for this project he so wishes to be done.”

All the peasants stood and shuffled into straight lines, hoping that the king wouldn't allow their lives to be given up in such a way again. Every single one of them remembered the first time they performed such duties. The summoning cost the kingdom nearly one-fifth of their population and they still haven't recovered from the heavy price.  The Hero who was summoned wasn't even that strong, he was exceptional at fighting, but couldn’t compare to a knight and could do nothing to the hordes of demons. Although, he did build a wall to fend them off and did possess some commanding abilities. He was also renowned for revolutionizing large scale combat.

“I honestly question how smart you all really are, Berus. Now, what kind of kingdom would I have if I continued to throw away lives at this rate? We’re already running low on manpower as it is”. All the peasants standing in the lines now saw their king in a positive light, in their pov, he was a man willing to save their lives.

Another royal stands, this time clutching his staff “Then what would you have us do my king? If we are not to summon someone, then what shall we do?” The old man said as he was struggling to stand. He couldn’t sit down, because standing when speaking to the king or someone of a higher power was required by law.

“I don't know what to do. Xerin? Any ideas?” The king turned his head toward a man hidden to his right. As Xerin approached, everyone could tell he was a regal knight of the finest order, easily surpassing the last hero in sword skills after all the years of practice. He wore brown leather armor with iron plates that cascaded down his body. Golden cloth threads hanging from his shoulder and a cape with the crest of the empire, an image of a sword piercing the clouds. “My king, I believe we should fortify the walls and create an army strong enough to push them back in the coming years. We must do this if we wish to survive!” The king then subtly nodded to Xerin's demand.

A young nobleman with a yellow banner stood next to the old one and raised his voice “My king, you would have a lowly commoner tell you what to do, we all know he is just a commoner leaching off your standing and wealth. Why I could easily beat him myself!” As the king was about to rebuke him, the old man smacked the child on the head with his staff “Listen here lad that may be a commoner, but he is still on the king's royal guard, now sit down and shut up!” the child took his seat without further incident, his face plastered with a look of fear.

“It’s settled then, I will send Xerin and the royal guard off to the walls.” Just as the meeting was coming to an end, a man in full plate with purple strappings and a cape, shoved open the 20-foot tall metal doors, not caring if he interrupted with the loud bang and the clanking of his boots on stone flooring. He made his way through the hall, now filled with an aura of dread. The king stood up to say, “Ahh Darius. Nice of you to make it, I was beginning to think that the Great Dragons weren't going to show up to this world shattering meeting.”