18 years later

Ding, ding, ding the bell rang.

Digging around the underbrush of a nearby tree, Michael can feel the cool dirt through his fingers as he digs for truffles. “Ahh,” thinks Michael. The sound of the bells means it’s around noon time. Looking in his backpack, he sees that he has around six beautiful black truffles. He adds in the four he just dug up. Looking up, he sees the rays of light peeking through the canopy of trees and feels the nice cool breeze pass through his dark black hair. “Nothing beats being out in nature, and collecting seeds of various types along the way.” He gets up and brushes the dirt from his hands and pants. Michael reaches over and grabs his hand shovel and the truffles placing them into his backpack. Pulling his backpack on and over his shoulders, Michael begins his long walk back to the village.

After about a mile and a half, he reaches the final hill that leads to his village. “What a view, I’ll never get bored of seeing the whole village from this far. Sure it’s not much, our village is one of the poorest around, but it’s home and all I have ever known. Good people live here!”

After another half a mile, Michael reaches the village and goes inside the general store. “Hello Michael, what have you brought for me today?” the store owner said while giving Michael a welcoming smile.

“Hello, David, I have something very special for you today. Black truffles, your favorite.” Says Michael.

Grunting, David says “You know that I can’t resist some fresh truffles. What do you want Michael?”

“It’s funny you say that. I have about 5 pounds of fresh black truffles. You know what I am always coming for, our farm needs some seeds for the upcoming growing season.”

“Ah yes hmmmm” David goes to the back of his store into the back room. Standing there Michael sees a new set of shears that would work perfectly for cutting down some thick, low-hanging branches around the farm.

“Will these work for you?” David hands over a bag of assorted seeds of various types. “I even threw in some old seeds that have been hanging around the shop for some time now.”

Michael put on a sly grin. “If you throw in those nice pair of shears, it’s a deal.”

David, scratching his bald head, let out a big sigh. “Since today is your birthday, let’s consider that as a gift from me.”

Michael was shocked. “I completely forgot it was my birthday! Thank you, David! You’re awesome.” Grabbing the shears and placing them in his bag, Michael runs for the door.

David yells out to him “Of course, Michael, anytime. See you later.”

As Michael leaves the store, he begins walking home. As he passes the alley behind the general store voices, he can hear voices. “Curiosity killed the cat, right?” Michael thought as he began walking down the alley following the voices. Slowly Michael creeps closer and closer and it becomes evident who is making all the ruckus. Taking in a deep breath, he realizes just how musty the air is here, “Smells like an old pair of work boots back here.” Creeping closer, he kneels behind a big old crate and looked just over the top. Staying out of view, Michael can make out the face of Sid and his two goonies. Sid is white as paper with bright blonde hair. Tall and just as round as he is tall. “This boy doesn’t ever miss a meal let alone even work. But who are they facing?

“Listen up,” said Sid “Just who do you think you are? You can’t just bump into me and think you can get away with it.” “Yeah said one of the goonies, you don’t bump into the boss and get away with it.” "Shut up, I just said that.” Sid spat in frustration. “Anyway, little Alex, what to do, what to do.”

“Sss iii ddd” Alex said stuttering, “I didn’t mean to, I was just cutting through the alley, to go fishing.” As Michael’s eyes adjust, he can see Alex, a small little boy with short red hair and freckles covering his dirty little face.

Totally ignoring Alex, Sid continued. “I know just what to do! We will just take your fishing pole, plus gear and we will call it even. Whatcha say, kid?”

“No!” Cried Alex, “That’s my father's. He passed away last year. It’s all I have to catch food with. I’m too small to hunt.”

“Well,” said Sid “Next time you’ll learn your lesson” as the bullies slowly approach Alex.

Michael thinks, “Typical Sid, who is the village elder's son, no one can figure out what happened to him. As long as I can remember he has always been this way.” Looking over, quickly, without thinking of the consequences, Michael grabs a few nice sized rocks from rubble nearby and throws them at the boys’ heads.

“Ouch, what the!!” Wham, wham! Michael keeps throwing them while running over to Alex. Sid and his goonies covered their faces to protect themselves from the flying rocks, they ran over and hid at the edge of a house. “Michael!!!! Michael!!!! Boys get him!” Sid said angrily. But they didn’t dare come out from behind the safety of the building.

Michael reached down and grabbed the fishing pole and gear in one hand he threw Alex over his shoulder with the other. He ran at full speed and took as many different turns as possible in the opposite direction of Sid. Not being able to hear Sid and his gang, exhausted, Michael’s hearing focused back into his immediate surroundings.

“Michael, can’t you hear me? You can let me down now,” says Alex.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” said Michael, “I think we are in the clear now.” Bending down, Michael sets Alex down and hands over his gear. “You should stay away from Sid until he forgets all about this," explained Michael.

“Well, knowing Sid, that will be by tomorrow,” Alex laughed.

Laughing with Alex, Michael kneels, taking his backpack off his shoulders, and opens it up. Reaching in, he takes out an apple that was picked in the forest and hands it over to Alex. “Here, you must be hungry.”

Alex’s eyes widen with excitement. “Very! Thank you so much. Hey Michael! I know Sid is always giving you trouble ever since you both were little.”

Turning to leave, Michael raised his hand in the air. “Ahh don’t worry about that. Stay out of trouble!” With that, Michael took off toward the orphanage.

Walking up to the orphanage Michael sees the barren field off to the side. "Whelp, that won’t be barren for long in another week or, so it’ll be time to plant." He thinks to himself.

Walking up to the doors of the orphanage, he can just hear the Headmaster. “Teresa have you seen Michael? It’s his birthday and I haven’t seen him all day. I wonder where he’s gone off to.” The Headmaster is an old man, short and hunched over, with more salt than pepper for hair. He always seems to wear the same old robes.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Teresa, the Headmaster’s sister, is along in her years as well, equally as short but not hunched over and still has the color of her hair, a light black. She to is always wearing robes around. “I haven’t seen him, but I heard him take off just as the sun was popping up over the mountains.”

Michael walked in through the two doors. “I’m here old man; don’t go getting too worked up.”

Headmaster nearly choking on nothing, “Old!! I am not old! I still have many years to go.”

“Anyway,” Teresa said interrupting the Headmaster and Michael before another argument begins. “Happy birthday day, Michael. It's not every day someone turns eighteen.”

“Yes, yes, happy birthday.” says the Headmaster “What are you going to choose?”

“Huh?” says Michael. “You know,” says the Headmaster, “Today is your eighteenth birthday. That’s means today is your choosing day; the day you get to choose what job you will fulfill for the village.”

“Oh yes," says Michael, “And I get to choose anything I want is that correct?”

“Absolutely,” says The Headmaster “Now what will it be?”

Michael, grinning, says “You already know, but I choose to stay here and become a farmer for the orphanage. I already have a field out back.”

The Headmaster, with tears in his eyes, says “Very well. I remember like it was yesterday when you showed up at this orphanage. You came out of nowhere with only your blanket and a…..wait wait!!!” The Headmaster turns around and, as quickly as he can, runs up the stairs. All you can hear is shuffling and things getting thrown around, until "I found it! I found it!" says the Headmaster as he comes down the stairs.

Standing in front of Michael, the Headmaster was holding what appears to be a really old letter with a bright red wax seal on it. “This letter was with you when you arrived, and I have forgotten about it completely until just a moment ago.” He hands the letter over to Michael,

“This was with me?” asked Michael. “Yes, I meant to give it to you a few years ago but sadly I forgot.” said the Headmaster looking apologetic.

“No, it’s fine,” said Michael “But this could be from my parents. Thank you, guys, for this, but if it's okay, I’d like to be alone.”

Teresa and the Headmaster at the same time said “Of course.” With that Michael heads back out the doors and ran to his secret little spot.

As he walked, he held the letter tightly to his chest and thought of all the things his parents could be. Adventurers, royal knights, or heck even bandits on the run, but his mind keeps returning to the same thing. "But why did they abandon me?” His thoughts come to a halt as he approaches his hideout. Usually, he looks around for any bystanders that might see the entrance, but in his excitement, he could only think of reading the letter. The entrance is small, just big enough for about two grown men to fit through. Bushes surround the entrance very heavily and debris covers the ground of the cave from many years of wind blowing stuff over creating the hideout. As Michael enters the hideout he thinks, “I have been meaning to clean this place up, but I only come here to be alone.” The only things that are in the small cave is an old chair that he had built a few years ago and a few scraps of wood he was planning on turning into a small dresser to use as a seed organizer. Going over to the chair, he brushes off some old leaves and some dirt. Sitting down in the chair he begins to break the seal of the letter. “Whelp here goes nothing.” Opening the letter, he begins reading……huh, what, I can’t even read this. Turning it from one side to another, he tries to make out the words. “Ahhhh, I can’t even read this, it’s in a different language.” Very frustrated he hears a small little voice, “Aligist”. "Huh? That voice! I haven’t heard that voice in a very long time! What did she say? Hmmmm… Aligist?” At the sound of these words, the letter began to shine and grow a very bright green. A few moments later Michael looked at the letter and was taken by surprise. “I..I can read it? How is that possible?” Confused, but overtaken by the letter, Michael begins to read.

Michael DraalStar

My son, my dear beautiful little boy. I am so sorry that I was not able to be there with you. Your father and I are both being attacked as I am writing this letter. The attacker is the Lich King. I don’t know why. Before today he was only a legend. There is so much I want to say but so little time. It is your choice whether or not you come home but know this: it will be a very dangerous choice. I have nothing to give you but your name, Michael DraalStar. If you decide to come home, I don’t know who to trust or who is even still alive. But if you do, I know you will come looking for answers. If your choice is set, then burn this letter. It will open a portal. Don’t be frightened! I love you, my dear little boy. Just remember: the choice is always yours.

Rikkie

Tears ran down Michael's face. “They didn’t abandon me; they were protecting me. I don’t know who my parents are or if they are even still alive. But I have a chance now to find out! I must go tell the Headmaster and gather supplies for this journey.” Getting up, he begins to walk to the cave's exit.

“Well, hello there." Michael hears an all-too-familiar voice. Sid and his goonies were squeezing into the cave's entrance, coming right towards him. Michael can see all the bumps on the boys' heads from the rocks that he threw at them a few hours ago.

“Ahh looking at our new coat hangers,” Sid said pointing at the bumps on his head. “Didn’t expect the village crazy person to throw rocks at us. But, hey, those that are crazy just keep getting crazier.”

Michael, instantly irritated, hears the voice again. “Run!” “Of course, the voice starts speaking now,” thinks Michael.

Sid, taken by Michael’s pause, “I bet those little voices are speaking now, huh?”

“Shut up and get out” said Michael

“Awww why? I’m beginning to really like this place. Might make it our new hangout, right boys?” “Right, boss”

“I don’t have time for this” Michael says as he places the letter in his pocket and begins to walk past the boys. One of the goonies takes hold of Michael’s black and orange shirt and pushes him back.

“Not so fast, Michael. We have a favor to return. Get him, boys.” The goonies take Michael’s flanks: one on the left and one on the right. Taking a moment and then lowering their heads, they take charge at Michael’s knees. Michael slightly moves to his right and, as the goon approaches Michael, he takes his hand and slams it on the back of the goon's head. Bringing his knee up catching him right in the jaw crack. The goon hits the floor and is out cold. The other goon rushes for Michael and throws a left hook. Michael dodges to the right letting the goon's punch pass right by him. Quick to react Michael takes his forearm and stops the hook. Catching the inside of the goon's arm and placing his other hand on the back of the elbow, Michael takes a quick turn to the left, placing all his weight onto the goon's elbow and... SNAP! Hollering in pain, the goon staggers back, retreating to the front of the cave.

Not paying attention to Sid, Michael pays for that with a smack to the back of the head. Sid snuck up behind Michael and just landed a nice punch to the back of his head. Hitting the ground, the letter in Michael’s pocket falls out onto the ground.

“Gotcha you lunatic.” Says Sid catching the letter in the corner of his eyes he says “What’s that a letter! “bending down to pick it up.

Michael jumps to his feet rushing over to Sid. Startled Sid tried to back up slipping on a loss rock on the ground and losing his balance. Sid lowers his guard trying to catch his balance again. Michael seeing the opening grabs the back of Sid's head with both hands. Pulling down on Sid's head as hard as he can take his knee and drives it right into Sid’s overgrown big nose and crack! The goon that was on the ground, comes to his senses and gets up joining the other goon, they both make their way for the exit. Sid screaming in pain with hands over his nose. Blood pouring out of the cracks of his fingers staggers back, joins his goonies.

“You won’t get away with this Michael” Sid said in agony. Reaching into his pocket Sid pulls out what appears to be matches. Taking a hand full, Sid strikes them all against the side of the cave. Igniting them all, he is scattering them in the heavy debris around him. The debris being as dry as it takes to the flame-like a dry Christmas tree and within seconds flames taller than Michael are closing in on him. “Good luck getting out of this one Michael, goodbye,” Sid says triumphantly.

Michael looking at the flames in terror, he begins to cough over and over falling to his knees. He had breathed in too much smoke and it is getting harder and harder to breath. The fire now only a few feet away, Michael hears a voice. “The letter” That’s right Michael thinks running over to where the letter is still laying on the ground. He picks it up still coughing and tosses the letter into the fire. Not even a second later, the letter is roasted. Terror runs over Michael feeling all hope lost he begins to back away as far as he can. Just then the ashes of the letter begin to rise into the air creating a circle moving clockwise over and over. Then the ashes shoot out in a straight line right behind Michael. As it hits the wall a circle begins to form growing bigger and bigger, opening up into what looks to be pure darkness. “The portal,” Michael thinks. The fire now right at his heels, Michael doesn’t even look back he walks right through the opening.