"Uncle Nero, let's hurry! We have to make it to the market before all the good spots are taken!"
Cassius is now 5 years old. Nero has spent the last few years teaching the boy manners, farming techniques, and discipline. The fire lit inside of him the day Cassius arrived is one that has been burning ever since.
"I'm coming Cassius, Fealty had to do 10 checks. You know how meticulous she is."
"Everything is fine now though, right? Are we able to go?"
"Yes Cassius, but you really should have more patience. Remember, the seeds you plant won't show their fruit immediately."
"We're not talking about seeds and fruit. We're talking about getting a decent spot at the market."
"Yes, I know Cassi-"
"Let's go!"
Cassius then took hold of the cart and started pulling it, with 300lbs of produce contained within it.
"Wow Cassius, you've been working on your breathing, haven't you?"
"I train it every day just like you say to. I want to get as fast and strong as you."
"Cassius, there is nothing wrong with being ambitious, but you know by now that you won't be able to achieve the same heights of power as me through our breathing technique alone"
Nero's race, Siladarian, is a humanoid race with more similarities to actual humans as opposed to differences. Besides their ash-white hair and fiery green eyes, Siladarians have bigger cardiovascular systems, which also includes thicker blood vessels and more elasticity among those regions. Their kidneys produce more peritubular cells, and their bone marrow produces more stem cells, which causes their bodies to make more blood cells of all types, as needed. They also have more blood vessels that help oxygen to reach their muscles quicker and more efficiently. They can produce 50 times as many blood cells as compared to humans and elves.
All of this allows Siladarians to be stronger and faster than humans. However, without their nation's breathing technique, only a fraction of their true power is able to be used.
They are able to increase their strength to that of 200 humans, due to a breathing technique that was cultivated as a means to work longer and harder throughout the day. Without it, they would be just slightly above humans and elves in terms of physical capabilities.
Other races are able to replicate the technique, but not near the extent of a Siladarian. The average human and elf can produce 10% of the total power that an average Siladarian can.
"I know Uncle Nero. I'll find another way to get as strong as you."
"You're already quite far. 7% output at 5 years of age is tremendous for someone that isn't Siladarian. Even at 5 years old our youngest can only hit 12%."
As promised, Nero kept his word and told Cassius of his sister and her sacrifice for him. He explained to Cassius that he has no further knowledge of the matter. Despite being too young to remember his sister, Cassius visits her grave every day.
Nero and Cassius make it to the market to sell their produce and other goods. Siladarians are mostly farmers and craftsmen. They depend on their land and own bodies to get what they need and want, but sometimes they will trade with wandering merchants that come into their nation. Once a year, during the last 3 weeks of the warm season, Siladar has a huge festival where they sell and trade their goods and celebrate their successful harvests.
"I'll be right back Cassius. Lee and I had discussed weeks before about a trade of my winter-corn for his lettuce. Do not go anywhere. I don't trust these merchants."
"I'll stay right here with the cart."
"Good, do not move away from it for whatever reason."
Nero walked off and left Cassius' sight. Cassius felt a sense of duty and honor, being left in charge of the cart and the produce within it. He had made it up in his mind to not move a single foot from the cart, but then someone started to get his attention.
"Hey, kid, will you help me out," this strange man called to Cassius.
"My cart wheel got stuck in a hole here, I can't pull it out."
Cassius looked at the man and saw him pulling on a cart handle much like his.
"Please kid, it's just right here, I just need someone to push it from the other side while I pull."
Cassius debated within himself if he should go or not.
"Uncle Nero is always telling me to be helpful to those that need it. He also said to not leave the cart for whatever reason, that he doesn't trust merchants. This merchant seems kind though, and how can he steal our produce if his cart is stuck? There's plenty of people around too, they'll see if someone tries to steal from us."
Cassius decided that helping the merchant was the best course of action.
"Okay, I'll help you!"
Cassius walked about 20 feet over to the alley that the merchant's cart was in. As soon as he passed the corner, two men in the alley grabbed Cassius and covered his mouth.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
"AHHAHAAAHAHAHAHA! I told you using this weak looking guy as bait was a great idea!"
"I'll admit, I was wrong. As promised, I'll give you an extra 10% of the cut when we sell this kid."
"What do you think we'll get? He's Siladarian right, I mean he is here at the festival and was with a clear Siladarian. Maybe he's mixed? Or has some issue that made his hair and eyes different?"
"Hard to say, it could be either. He could be human. Either way, we'll be getting a lot of money."
Cassius tried to scream for help, but no words managed to escape. Muffled sounds and tears were all that he could expel.
"Great, so, I can leave now, right," the weak man asked the other two with a hesitant tone.
"Leave? You're a witness to a kidnapping, you aren't going anywhere."
"Yeah, you aren't going anywhere!"
The one that lost the wagered 10% extra held onto Cassius, and the other man took out a knife and stabbed the one asking to leave in the neck. Blood squirted onto Cassius' face, and his mind then went into a state of shock. All that was on his mind was that happening to him, or him being forced to help put others through that. His tears began to flood out of his eyes even more.
"Stop crying kid, you're getting my hand wet!" The man holding Cassius then punched him in the stomach.
He began to laugh as he saw Cassius writhe in both physical and mental anguish. Too focused on that pain, he failed to notice his partner being attacked by another child. The man only noticed after the sound of flesh being stabbed repeatedly started to fill his ears.
He peered up and saw his partner on the ground, lifeless, with a kid around the same height as Cassius stabbing his corpse in the chest.
"Iso... what are you doing? Get up and kill that kid," his mind had snapped.
"That's my brother! GET OFF HIM!"
The man holding Cassius then dropped him and went to attack the other kid. A reeled back punch approached the kid, but he moved out of the way and swept the man's legs out from under him. As the man was falling to the ground, Cassius saw the kid jump high into the air. The man then landed on his back, knocking the wind out of him, and shortly after the kid's knees came crashing down onto his neck. His throat was completely crushed.
Cassius witnessed the whole thing and was amazed that a kid, that seemed his age, could pull off such a victory. Still sniffling, Cassius went to thank the kid.
"Th-thank yo-"
Cassius was then punched in the face by the other kid.
"What were you doing!? You could've easily taken those two by yourself! You're Siladarian right? I'm sure Nero has taught you to be strong, were you enjoying seeing those two kill that other man?"
Cassius was on his knees, his cheek incredibly sore from that punch, but he could tell the kid was holding back.
"W-what could I do? They just grabbed m-"
"You should be so much stronger than them! If you used our breathing, you could have easily fought them and won! Honestly, has Nero not taught you anything?"
"I know how to use it, but that doesn't mean I know how to f-fight."
"Then it's time to get serious about it! Do you want something like this to happen again? Do you want to see your family hurt next?"
Cassius then got reminded of the story of his sister and her sacrifice. He did not know why she was killed, but he knew she was strong enough to protect him. He never knew her, but he did know Nero and Fealty, and they have been there for him. He did not want to see them hurt. The thought of losing them brought more tears out of Cassius.
"I don't want them to get hurt," Cassius belted that out with his entire being.
"Then you better get serious," the kid said again, trying to convince Cassius. He presented his words with a smile that showed he was confident; in himself and in Cassius.
"I'm always serious about what I say and do, that's how everyone should be! That's what my dad tells me. We shouldn't play around with thoughts, emotions, or actions. Say what you feel, mean what you say, and do what you say you will!”
At that moment, Cassius had engrained those words and the kid's appearance into his eyes. The young boy had the same ash-white hair as every other Siladarian, along with the fiery green eyes. His hair was shaved on the sides and in the back, the top of his head had messy hair that went over his forehead to the top of his eyebrows. He had a confident smile that said he believed in everything he was saying and doing.
Cassius had never had another child Siladarian be kind to him. They were all scared of him because he was human and didn't have the same colored hair and eyes. They avoided him, but he didn't care because he had Nero and Fealty. Despite this kid punching him, Cassius knew he was being kind to him and accepting him.
"What's your name? I'm Cassius."
"Garth, nice to meet you Cassius!"
"Will you train me to fight like you did," Cassius asked Garth with a resolved look.
Garth looked impressed with Cassius. He was amazed at how fast he decided what path to take.
"I can help you train, but you should really ask your dad."
The two boys walked back to Cassius' cart. They sold some corn and other crops together, traded clothes and other produce for a wide variety of seeds, vegetables, and fabrics. Nero had returned after being gone for 30 minutes, and the first thing he noticed was a slight injury on Cassius' face.
"What happened!? Did someone hit you? Who was it? I'll kill them," Nero spoke to Cassius with such an earnest tone that Garth's heart sunk at the thought of Nero killing him.
"It's nothing! I just had a little mess up, but Garth helped me!"
Nero's eyes kept darting from Garth to Cassius as he processed what was said to him. He saw the seriousness in Cassius' eyes and knew something drastic had happened.
"Well, if you say it's nothing then it's nothing. It seems like you've made a friend, and a respectable one at that. Look at how much you guys have gotten in just the 30 minutes I was gone!"
The three of them spent the next 6 hours together at the festival. They continued to trade and sell, and they also enjoyed some game booths that were scattered throughout the city. The fun seemed like it would never end.
Garth and Cassius said goodbye for now, as Cassius and Nero were heading home for the night. Garth and Cassius had made plans for Garth to come visit, and Nero told them Garth was welcome any time. On the way home, Cassius asked Nero to train him to fight.
"Are you sure you want to go down this path now? It can be difficult, both physically and mentally."
Cassius looked into Nero's eyes and with a convicted face he said, "yes, I need to start now. Please, help me get stronger."
Nero agreed, saying they would be starting first thing tomorrow. It was nighttime when they arrived back home. Fealty had greeted them as they entered the cottage and she had already prepared dinner for them. Cassius had told her about his day, how he made a friend and that they spent the day together. Fealty was glowing with joy, as she had been hoping that someone would befriend Cassius.
She knew fear of humans have been long-engrained into most Siladarians. The devastating pillages that took place 60 years prior, and lasted for 10 years, had left a massive scar on the minds and hearts of their people.
The Human-Siladarian conflict was a territorial one. Eris wanted to expand their borders, but they had deep roots with the elven nation, Lefaye. Instead of colonizing on the opposite side of the world, and starting a possibly long conflict with either the Giants or the Dragon people, they decided to push the Siladarians out of their land.
None of this is officially confirmed, this is just an agreed upon thought by most Siladarians. They are known for their peaceful ways and love of living by their own means, and so they assume these reasons are why the Humans decided to start a war with them.