THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
The rhythmic noise echoed throughout the courtyard. The end of each muffled thump carried with it a slight metallic note.
“Damn it Charon did you really need to work out this early in the morning?”
The source of the noise stopped to listen to the figure who was intruding on his corner. Tossed mousy brown bed hair framed the face of the youth whose hazel eyes were still blinking away his last wave of sleepiness. Stretching his lanky body languidly, he stopped a few paces away from the imposing figure that was the source of his morning complaint.
“Ahhh shit. Sorry Finn. Didn’t mean to wake you up. I just can’t stand still. Could barely sleep last night.”
Placing the sledgehammer on top of the tire he was striking, the restless youth straightened himself to greet his friend. His straight raven black colored hair stayed plastered to his forehead as sweat dripped past the steel gray eyes that were now trained on his friend. Steam rose from his athletically built body as the aura of heat from exercise swirled with the cold air of the morning.
Taking a step back, Finn rubbed his eyes at the sight and glared.
“Hey wait a minute. Did you get taller?
Charon raised his hands in an admission of guilt and he walked forward.
“Only a few centimeters really. But the good thing is I finally broke past 2 meters.” He flashed a smile at the increasingly disgruntled face opposite of him.
“Only a few centimeters? ONLY a few centimeters?! TWO METERS!!! What are you a tree? By Khan’s giant fist of justice, how is this fair? You are taller than the damn heroes.” Finn gesticulated at the head towering above him. “If you pack on some more muscle and weight you will be a damn juggernaut. Even explorers will be scared of you”
“Ok, you know that’s bullshit. If someone has more strength stat than me they will fold me like paper. We ain't even level 1 yet.” Charon retorted. “And you know why it’s hard for me to gain more muscle. Gym access is expensive and our diet here isn’t the best. We need to be ready.”
Both young men stopped. They were orphans. Children of explorers who lost their lives in the MAZE. The orphanage was set up by the Explorers Guild as a way to support the children of those who lost their lives adventuring, but even with the support and donations of explorers there really wasn’t enough money to go around. Charon and Finn weren’t the only ones who needed to be fed. It was expected of them to leave once they reached 18 years of age, either by setting out as explorers of the MAZE if their level 1 stats prove to be enough to qualify or making something of themselves on Earth with a normal job. Being 17, their time to graduate from the orphanage has almost arrived.
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Left to their own thoughts, both boys started to train. Charon returned to swinging the hammer on the tire, the slap of steel against rubber ringing out once into the morning air. Finn started his morning calisthenics with stretches.
An hour and a half later, “Hey! Do you two want breakfast or not?” A voice called out to them from the dorm building where the dining hall was.
As the two started walking towards the building, Finn lightly punched Charon’s arm, “Hey I know you are nervous but don’t worry man you will be fine. If you don’t have enough stats to get into the Explorer Guild right away, who the hell will? You trained like a man possessed since we were kids. If you don’t make it, Athena and I are screwed.”
“Who are you saying is screwed?” The source of the voice raised her eyebrow at Finn from the doorway. Her platinum white hair glowed in the warming morning sun which only emphasized the bright topaz colored eyes that flashed questioningly at the boys in front of her.
Finn waved his hand dismissively, “I was just telling Charon that he needs to chill. If he doesn’t make it, how in the hell are we going to.”
“Speak for yourself. I’m trying to get in with my research skills. I’m not a meathead like you,” Athena pouted as she poked Finn’s chest. Turning to Charon she smiled knowingly, “That being said this goober ain’t wrong. You are the hardest working of us all. If Lyra can become an explorer you definitely will be fine.”
All three chuckled at the mention of their slightly older friend. Despite her clumsiness and hatred for regular physical training, she still found herself with stats high enough to become an explorer, graduated from the Guild program with a role, and already is somewhere in the MAZE. She had just called in earlier, promising to bring them gifts when she came back to visit and to celebrate them starting their own careers.
“Ok ok. I’m starving. What’s for breakfast?” Charon asked as his stomach rumbled in disapproval at being ignored for so long.
Athena sighed. “You know the usual. Scrambled eggs, bread, and some fruit. Or that terrible off-brand cereal if you are up for it. You would think that with New Dawn promising to help support the place we would be getting some better food.”
Charon’s face scrunched up at the mention of New Dawn. A massive conglomerate that sold everything from civilian goods to explorer focused gear, the company had recently been making big inroads into the MAZE: hiring famous explorers and pushing their commercial products into grocery store shelves throughout the country. To be honest, to say he wasn’t a fan would be an understatement. The company had sent a representative over to announce that they would be sponsoring the orphanage with a large donation but something felt off. The representative was all smiles while talking to the kids but Charon noticed the way he stared at them when he thought others weren’t looking. Analytical, judging… almost like he was grading farm animals. The lack of warmth in his eyes while he was doing that set off alarm bells.
Charon trusted his instincts. Since he could remember, he did everything he could to protect himself and those he cared about. Without his parents around to support him, he learned quickly that he needed to use his brain as much as his body to survive. And being 17, without any levels to his name, he understood how little power he had in this world. This world revolved around strength. The power to tear walls down, the power to incinerate hordes of enemies, the power to inspire countless others to rise to the challenges of the MAZE. Explorers were the ones with power in this world. All he needed was his chance.