I never stood a chance. Three hours went by, ten rounds in total, and I couldn't land a single hit. As I layed on the ground battered and bruised, jagged rocks digging into my back, arms and legs on fire, and my vision starting to blur, I began hearing voices surrounding us. It seemed that during our little training session, a small crowd of Amo’s men formed an audience, I guess since I was focused on survival, I didn't notice them till that moment.

“Ey! I got ten gold saying the squirt gets up at least two more times before he quits!” - I heard one guard cheer out.

“Ha, I’ll take you up on that one! Kid can barely see let alone stand, captains got him dead to rights.” - Another yelled from the otherside of the fight circle, whipping them all up into a betting frenzy.

My gut turning at the idea of proving the second guy right, I began to slowly crawl my way back up, using the wooden sword as a makeshift crutch. Immediately I regretted trading the nice jagged rocks for the feeling in my legs I could only describe as burning jelly.

“Bwahaha! Well ya heard the men squirt, lets see if you can make it.” - Amos barked, chuckling to himself as I struggled to stand.

“This, …wouldn't…be so…hard…if I could use my magic.” - I whined back in between breaths, causing an uproar of laughter between Amos and his men.

“Ha, you think I’m that soft do ya shrimp? Tell ya what, land one hit on me and I’ll let ya train with magic from there on. I’m sure I could talk your pa into lettin up a little.” - Amos retorted mockingly.

Giddy at the prospect, I couldn't help but smile. I can still remember the pain from my swollen cheek flare up as I did. Woozily, I planted my feet once more with my wooden blade poised in front of me. Through the mind fog, I tried to remember the five basic rules for fighting Amos had shouted at me during our matches. “First keep an eye on all your opponent's movements, even in the face, the slightest twitch can letcha know they’re commin.” Analyzing him from top to bottom, I wouldn't let my eyes rest for even a moment, constantly changing focus, looking him top to bottom. After several minutes, I peeked a shift in his left foot, in reaction I jumped around three feet to my left, narrowly avoiding an overhead downward strike that cleaved a small hole in the ground. “Second, always be lookin for openings. Ya never know when you’ll get another chance at their throat.” Jumping off my right foot, I launched a counter horizontal slash towards Amos. Faster then one could blink, Amos swatted away my weapon with his own, blocking the slash, leaving me open. With a huge grin, he struck me square in the stomach with his boulder of a fist, shaking the third rule loose in my mind. “Third, always have a back up plan, yer opponent could always be craftier than ya think” a rule that I wish I had remembered sooner, luckily along with it came the fourth rule. “Fourth, when rule three fails ya, remember to show them how crafty you can be.” Grabbing his hand with my left arm and holding on for dear life, I attempted to spin my sword around in my palm and aim a stab at his forearm. In retaliation Amos reared his head back, before promptly slamming it into mine causing me to white out for a moment, lose my grip and fall to the ground. As my vision started to fade in and out, I began to hear Amo’s men shouting around me once more.

“Come on kid! You can do it! All you gotta do is stand up one more time!” - I heard one shout.

“Yeah one more time, you can do it squirt!” - Yelled another.

Slowly rising from a whisper, to a chant, to a roar I heard the guards all begin cheering “One more time!” repeatedly, eventually even the ones who had bet against me started to join in. Through the pain and brain fuzz, I recalled the last rule Amos had taught me. “Fifth and most importantly squirt, no matter how many times ya get knocked down, you always have to get up, just one more time.” Nauseous at the prospect of taking more punishment, I grabbed the sword by the hilt and stabbed it into the ground while still laying on my back, causing the crowd gathered around us to go silent. Slowly I began to claw my way up the side, stumbling several times till both my arms were using it to support my legs that were barely locked under me. Eyes re-focused on Amos, he began to double and then triple in my vision, then everything went blurry, utterly exhausted my legs gave out from under me and I fell forward flat on my face. With the last little bit of strength I had left in my right arm, I pushed it above my head and produced a thumbs up, trying to make everyone think I was okay, whipping the crowd of large armored men to an uproarious cheer. Even with all the commotion I could hear Amos laugh above it all.

“Aye kid ya proved yer point. Hey, for all you bettin folk, that counts as twice anyone who says otherwise has to take me on next!” -Amos shouted at the crowd, causing some to groan and the rest to laugh along with him.

Strutting over, Amos lifted my tired body like a sack, throwing me stomach first over his left shoulder as he began holding me up with his left arm tucked around my legs.

“Aight now I gotta get the little wizard here back to his Ma and Pa, you idiots get back to your posts. And no word about this to the headmistress, she'll burn me alive if the word gets out.” - Amos postulated humorously at his men, causing them to disperse while murmuring. I remember hearing the sound of coins jingling and changing hands as they dispersed .

While feeling every bounce send a small twinge of pain through my body, Amos began carrying me back to the manor on his shoulder, keeping a slow pace for my sake. As he carried me I began reflecting on my humiliating loss, a pit in my stomach. The series of failures began to pile up in my mind and I began reprimanding myself for each mistake I had made. Clenching my teeth in anger, I could feel them begin to grind as I internally yelled at myself for each new mistake I uncovered, ultimately leading to a wave of depression to wash over me, I let a torrent of tears and snot loose on Amo’s shoulder.

“Aye squirt, what ya doin back there. Ya didn't really think you were gonna win today didja?” - Amos said while chuckling to himself. In response I nodded up and down, unable to speak through the tears.

“Bwahaha! Aye ya got spirit ya little hellion I'll give ya that. If ya weren't so well suited for the books I’d make a helluva fighter outta ya.”- Amos laughed again, inadvertently bouncing me up and down even harder, causing me to almost lose my breakfast.

“Squirt I got almost forty years on yeah, most of them adventuring with your ma and pa. If you stood any kind of chance today, I’d think you the son of god, not little ole Gylas.” - ears perking up, I shook the tears out of my eyes and asked.

“You adventured with mom and dad? What was that like?” - meekly.

“Aye, me, your Pa, your Ma, and my wife Celye, all made up a party, we even became titled adventurers, They called me Amos the living mountain. We went all over this wide world beyond the great desert. Seeing places like that castle that flies above the clouds where the angels who serve the gods live, or like the Sun Capital Solidar the land of dinosaurs. Fought many a great beast too, Griffins, Mimics, Even a Minotaur at one point, and we always came out on top. Ya know how squirt? - in response I let out a small “no,”. Embarrassed from my apparent lack of knowledge.

“We looked out for each other. I had the strength to take on just about any beast that came my way, but in situations that required less ax swingin and a little more… finesse, your Ma would rush in slinging all kinds of spells. Your Pa always had a new trick up his sleeve since his face was always in a book learnin somethin, got us outta many a tough situation I tell ya. And Celye, while a terror in her own right, kept us all patched up when we did somethin stupid. Ya get what I’m sayin here squirt?” - Still visibly confused, I let out an even softer “no.” in reply causing Amo’s to sigh deeply before continuing.

“Everyones got their own strengths and weaknesses kid. You may be phenomenal at magic, but not everyone has the natural chops for it like you and your folks. I don’t think I’ve ever even used a spell intentionally, all those little Aspects or whatever make my head hurt,” -He said chuckling to himself again.

“But I grew up in a land where you had to fight to survive, givin me a whole other set of skills than your old man. But because we were so different I covered what he lacked and vice versa. No man can be good at everything boy. Ya gotta find what makes you you, and run like hell towards it. Besides, rule five is a lot easier when you surround yourself with the right people.” - Arriving at the stairs leading up to the front door Amos paused.

“So uh, what do you think the chances are that your Ma is out on business.” - Amos questioned while shaking nervously in a cold sweat. Possibly hearing his voice, my mother swung open the doors so fast that the hinges could have flown off as if she had been waiting there all day for me to return.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Raffin sweetie, how was training, I hope mean ole Amos didn't give you too many boo boos.” - She said, racing down the stairs faster than lightning, scooping me off of Amos and into her arms. Flipping me around and holding me under the arms at her eye level, she looked me up and down. Murder in her eyes, she peeked around me over her glasses glaring at Amos.

“Amos, you had my son for three hours. Why does he look like you and your men spent the entire time stomping him to death? Why did you break my son? - She demanded through her clenched teeth, a growing ball fire now forming in her right palm while she held me up on her hip with her left arm.

“No…now Elild, I admit we got a little carried away, but the squirts got the heart of a fighter, he kept gettin up on his own, you and Gylas woulda been real proud if you could see em.” - Amos said, arms pointed out in front of him backing away from my mom, terror in his eyes.

“First I’m going to roast you alive, then I’m going to roast Gylas for suggesting this idiotic idea.” -Turning my head to the side I noticed my father beginning to walk out the door stuffing his face with a sandwich, eyes wide and mouth full upon inspecting the scene he turned around and bolted back inside.

“Wait mom!” - I tried to shout, getting their attention.

“I…I want to keep training with Mr.Amos,” - I squeaked out sheepishly, causing her glare to shift to me.

“Raffin, you look like you’ve been fist fighting trolls, don’t tell me you want to switch to studying the fighter class you’ll break your poor parents heart.” - She said, a mix of humor, fear, and anger in her voice.

“No… it’s not that. It’s just, Mr.Amos said I could train with magic if I hit him and…I want to practice what I'M good at I guess.” - I said softly, averting my eyes away from my mom, somewhat scared and embarrassed, out of the corner of my eye, I could see Amos beaming with his chest puffed out.

Pondering my request for several minutes, my moms face began to soften and the flames in her palm dispersed into the wind.

“Uhhh fine Raffin…but only twice a week, I dont think your little body or my heart could take much more than that. Now let's get you all patched up, my little warrior,” - She relented. Turning around to head into the manor. Relieved, Amos slumped down into a sitting position, exhaling the breath he was holding in that entire time.

“Don’t think you’re off the hook Amos, I’ll be letting Ceyle know about this. I’m sure whatever she can come up with will be even better than what I had in mind,” -My mother spat at Amos, venom in her voice, causing Amos eyes to grow wide, and his skin to go whiter than a ghost.

For around a half an hour my mom used her healing hands on me, patching up all the bruises and bumps that had accumulated while I layed in my bed contemplating that morning's lessons.

“Geez I have to hand it to the massive idiot, you're beat but there's nothing serious. I guess Amos does know what he's doing a little bit,” - She murmured, eyes narrow while casting her magic. Finishing up she stood dusting her hands off, side eyes glaring at the blanket I had draped over the zombie rabbit's cage.

“Now sweetie your dad used up the rest of his ingredients with his last couple of potions he made, so you’re going to have to recover your stamina the old fashioned way and take a nap. And make sure you rest up well, you’re on cleaning duties for the next three days” - She said, kissing me on the forehead then rushing to the door while keeping an eye on me over her shoulder.

“Okay, thank you mom,” - I replied, barely able to keep my eyes open, catching a soft smile from her as she left. Almost as soon as I heard the door shut, I drifted off.

Without knowing how many hours had passed, I awoke late into the night once more, the twin moons full and high in the sky shining through my window. Rubbing my eyes, I noticed a plate sitting on top of the cage on my nightstand with a little note that read ‘dinner’ next to it. Honeyed ham and steamed vegetables, a personal favorite of mine. Sitting on the edge of my bed to eat, I glanced over at the still covered cage. Feeling sympathy for the ‘creature’ I removed the covering to get a good look at it. Looking upon it, it somehow looked tired, unable to pick itself up with its tiny legs, the glow in its eyes flickering. Curious, I stuck a steamed carrot between the bars of the cage and laid it in front of its half skeletal face.

“Here, you can eat this if you want it,” - I said to the rabbit, carefully considering my wording.

Inching its face ever closer, the rabbit fished the carrot into its mouth before spitting it out seemingly disgusted.

“A rabbit who doesn't like carrots, that's weird,” -I thought to myself ever curiouser. A little worried that I would lose my ‘pet’ soon, I stabbed a small piece of ham with my fork and moved it towards the cage. Perking up, the rabbit scootched itself closer to the bars staring at the meat with it’s hollow eyes.

“Here, you can have it if you want,” - I repeated, still trying to ascertain how the creature would react. As soon as the ham passed the bar, the rabbit tore into it, scarfing it down, a small amount of light returned to its eyes.

“Wow, you really like ham too huh?” I asked, flinching back in surprise at the rabbit appetite.

“And hey it looks like you got a little better, good, here have some more,” - I said, sliding more meat through the bars for my little voracious friend. Now able to stand, it’s eyes remained lit no longer flickering, yet still dim.

“That wasn’t enough was it?” -To my shock, it shook its head no in reply. A little perturbed, I offered it the rest of the plate.

“Uh…will this be enough?”- I asked once more, a bit more curious than scared this time. In reply it shook its head no once more.

“Then how much do you need?” - In response the rabbit turned its head out the window, in the distance stood a fox, weak and skinny due to lack of game from the fire.

“Dont foxes normally eat rabbits?” - I asked it confused, it shook its head yes in reply.

“And you want to eat the fox?” - again it shook its head yes.

“Um.. alright I guess. Go for it,” I said, opening the window and then the cage, like a bolt of lightning, the rabbit jumped out of my second story window, splattering itself on the ground below. Mutilated limbs bending in directions they never should upon landing, it started reassembling itself as if nothing happened. Bones cracking as they snapped back into place it slowly stood back up and eyed its prize. Possibly disturbed by what it had seen the fox stared motionless, attempting to snarl at the abomination eyes wide with terror. Before it could react the rabbit shot at the fox, ramming its buck teeth into the fox’s side and began tearing away at the meat beneath its fur. Yelping in pain the fox desperately tried biting at the rabbit that was eviscerating its intestines, spinning itself in circles futilely snapping away but ultimately it began to slow. Finally coughing up blood it fell on its side opposite the attack. Mesmerized by the gory site, I tried to focus my vision ever harder on my ‘pet’s’ hunt. Blurring over due to the focus I began wishing I could tell what was going on. Suddenly my head began to throb and the voice from the other night began whispering in my head again.

“Young master, so curious about your creation. It brings a tear to this old servant's eye. Here let me offer you a little help. Focus not only on what you can see but what you can’t see, peer not only onto their physical body, but also into their spiritual body, or, lack thereof heeheehee” - it said, chuckling sinisterly before fading out once more.

Head in a haze, I repositioned my focus trying to pick out the Aspects from the words the voice had whispered to me. “Gaze at the spiritual body,” I whispered to myself, somehow instinctively channeling mana into my eyes, without knowing why the words “Deadeye” passed over my lips. Slowly a small sickly green flame-like aura surrounded the rabbit originating from a small black hole located at the center of its body. The fox’s aura on the other hand was a royal blue with a shining bright white light at it’s center, in the beginning the fox’s burned much more intensely than the rabbits, but slowly as the rabbit tore into its meal, the balance began to shift with the foxes fading ever dim and the rabbits growing to almost match the fox before the hunt. Having it’s fill, the rabbit stepped back from the fox’s carcass, once it had done so the bright light from the center of the fox’s being rose from its body, faintly around the light I could make out the shape of what the fox once made out of the same light as the center before it flew off into the night sky. Looking back down I could still see a bit of blue aura rise from the fox's body center now hollow like the rabbits. Suddenly the foxes eyes opened once more, glowing the same sickly green as the creature that had slain it, its aura also changing to match. Standing up both creatures dashed back towards the manor, jumping high to reach my windowsill, perching themselves in front of me.

“What…happened. Did… did you make another zombie?” - I asked them, shocked, supporting myself up with my bedside. In unison they shook their heads yes in reply.

“Will…will you do that to me?” - I asked, terrified and ready to bolt depending on their answer. Once again in unison they shook their heads no. Relieved, curiosity took over my better judgment.

“Why not?”- I asked, a single eyebrow raised. In response the rabbit laid on its back motionless, mimicking death.

“Oh so you need me to stay alive…er unalive I guess.” - Rabbit, still laying on its back, the fox answered a yes by itself this time as the other picked itself back up. Pondering their answers for a moment I tried to piece the information the zombies had given me. Curious, I fixated my Deadeye on the leftover food from my dinner. Very faintly the ham glowed with the same blue aura the fox had when it lived, the vegetables not so much.

“You don't need meat, you need the mana in it don’t you. And when you do that you somehow infects the other creature with your own mana creating a new zombie?” - I asked, hoping my creations would shed light on my curiosities. Motionless, the creatures stared at me without answer. No longer afraid I walked up eye to eye with my creations.

“Alright well what if I just give you some of mine would that work?” - I asked, hoping to avoid a tragedy in the future. Laying my hand between its ears, I tried channeling mana once more, this time from myself, into the rabbit. Suddenly a sharp burning pain shot up my arm, Julting back, I held my arm with my other examining it while fighting the pain. The aura surrounding my arm was now green and my limb looked like it was beginning to rot, after a moment of immense pain, my arm returned to normal and the green faded into an almost golden glow that surrounded the rest of my body.

“Alright, can’t do that I guess.” - I said to myself, choking back tears from the lingering pain. Fearing another tragedy in the future, I carefully chose my words before continuing my line of questioning.

“Do...you like hurting things?” - In response both tilted their head to the side, visibly confused.

“Do you like anything at all?” - still confused they continued to stare at me blankly.. Pacing back and forth gathering my thoughts, an idea struck me.

“Alright, what if you only ate creatures that were already about to die, would that work? Then you wouldn’t really be doing much harm.” - I postulated at the zombies, in response they looked at each other then shook their heads yes in response.

“Fantastic! Oh but I think mom would be really mad if she saw a bunch of zombies running around.” - Pausing to ponder to myself once more, I pieced together a somewhat foolish plan.

“Alright, this is what we’re gonna do. You guys are only going to eat things that are close to dying okay? And no matter what, make sure nobody ever sees you, stay hidden. But come and visit me at night once in a while okay? I'll tell mom that you ran out of mana and I buried you next to the forest.” - I said somehow certain my plan was foolproof. Following my commands the undead shook their head yes in response and took off out the window into the night. Exhausted from the events, I decided to tuck myself into bed, smiling proudly from my ‘accomplishment.’ As I lay there and my excitement faded, I began pondering the voice in my mind wondering what it was and why it was helping me, but the more I tried to probe at it, the fuzzier the memory became until I had no recollection of what it sounded like or even what it had said. Giving up I let myself drift off to prepare for maid duty my mom had prepared for me the next morning.