image [https://imgur.com/z0aUACG.png]
Tenton straightened, working at the cricks in his back. The inn was spotless, and it was time to leave. He smiled around sadly, but proud. When those two “Heroes” had attacked a few days ago it had been so scary, but his town had pulled through and driven them out. The town council had gathered and talked late into the night, and had decided to pool their resources and back their own Hero. Tenton had stayed up listening through the night to them talk, and had been overjoyed when they had nominated him! He was going to be a Hero. A REAL Hero.
He stepped out into the sunlight and looked around. His friends, his family, and most of the town had gathered to see him off. His father approached, giving him one of his rare smiles. “Tenton… it isn’t much, but I want you to have this.” He held out a long curved sword. Tenton’s eyes widened as he took it. “Your khopesh! But you said..!” His father laughed. “Yes I know what I said, that was when you were just cleaning the inn! You had no need for it then. But you’re going to be a Hero now, and a Hero needs a sword.” Unshed tears glittered in his father’s eyes, and Tenton found his eyes prickling as well.
One by one other members of the town brought him small things that he tucked away into his bag. Letters, food, useful items, and keepsakes. Finally Lily approached. Lily Godsborn, his longtime crush. He felt his face heat as she walked close to him, closer than she come since they were children “Tenton… I know you’ll be so brave and do so much good. Get strong, and then come back and… keep us safe.” She looked deep into his eyes. “Keep me safe, Tenton.” She leaned in and kissed him very gently on the cheek. He could feel how much that kiss meant, and he straightened his shoulders, nodding to her. He heard some of the onlookers cheer, and his father laughed and patted him hard on the shoulders. “Make us proud, my son.” Tenton hefted his backsack and looked at them, his brow furrowing. “I will. I’ll become the strongest Hero. Stronger than any Chosen! And I will return!” More people cheered and he felt a surge of strength and joy course through him.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
As he turned to leave he felt a softer hand on his arm and looked back. It was his little sister Forsana. “Tenton, what happens if you come across those Heroes again? They were… so scary…” He nodded, his face clouding with determination. “I will punish them for how they treated the village. I promise.” His sister smiled widely and gave him a huge hug, and he gently peeled her off. “Be good, I’ll see you soon.” Without another look back Tenton strode forward. He felt like a man. He WAS a man now. The hopes and dreams of his village went with him, and he would rather die than let them down. He felt his stride grow longer, more sure, as he walked down the stone path leading out of his small village.
People leaned out of windows to wave at him, and he waved back at them, his bag light on his back. He knew that Chosen grew stronger than the people of The Continent… but it was very possible that only occurred because they were given so much support. So many resources. But he was equipped now. He would show his village, the Chosen “Heroes”, and even the Gods what a humble villager was capable of.
He left through the wide open gate, the soldiers at the top nodding down to him, one of them even saluting him. The road stretched wide ahead of him, in the distance forests and mountains he did not yet know the name of. He would though. And all that lived there would learn his name in turn. Tenton, the HERO.
As the boy left his home and walked down the long road, cubit by cubit the world behind him shifted back to ash and ruin. When he was out of sight a gust blew the ashes on the ground into stinking piles. Charred bodies rotted in the heat of the day, gathered outside a burned inn surrounded by a ruined town. A crow circled overhead, confused by what it had just witnessed, before tentatively flying down and plucking at the corpse of a young girl. So it was real after all. More crows circled and descended, pleased with the sudden bounty.