Running toward the incapacitated monster I felt my legs getting heavier and heavier with each step. The constant burn from lack of stamina on full display as my feet were unsteady below me, my eye lids fluttered kept open purely by the instinct of two animals in a battle to the death. With just ten meters separating us the throat of the creature had bold glowing green runes start appearing once more. Unhinging its jaw I knew I wouldn't cross the distance in time before the attack crossed the thresh hold of its mouth yet with no other options and knowing this was the deciding point of the battle I pressed on screaming in fury. Momentarily, the creature narrowed its gaze and rolled it's pupils into the back of its head before catching itself and forcing consciousness back whipping it's head into it's upright position. However, this one mistake was enough time for me to reach the soon to be corpse, corpses? Whatever this thing is I plan to turn it into was. Leaping into the air with the last of my stamina the creature released it's attack at the same time, a green stream of liquid came flying from it's mouth, twisting my body mid air the main stream of the attack missed while some of it landed onto my chest trailing down to my legs hissing and smoking. I drove the ice dagger deep into the yellow eye of the monster pushing with the weight of my falling body until I collapsed with a squish onto the body. The head and neck were writhing around underneath my weight. Thrashing violently for a few moments before coming to a stop entirely, utterly motionless.

[slain: Flesh Hydra Lvl 35]

[subclass available]

Rolling off the torso of the beast then onto the stone floor I stared at the ceiling. Beautiful crystals lined the ceiling, mainly yellow and red stained gems formed like misshapen teeth throughout the ceiling itself. Forcing my neck to crane I looked down at my smoking body, not feeling any pain either due to the nature of the attack or the shock of the situation I let my head flop back onto the stones. Rushing water sounded throughout the cave which I hadn't noticed until now, closing my eyes I focused on the sound calming me and reminding me of being back home at the work camp with Agatha... The exhaustion came to ambush me just like that damned monster did... Yawning I drifted off to my subconscious.

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"Well how am I supposed to fight you when you can wrestle a mammoth?!" I said throwing the wooden stick Agatha forced me to use while practicing fighting with her.

A teenage Agatha looked disheartened as she walked forward and bent down to be at eye level with myself at the age of eleven, gently placing her calloused scarred hands on my shoulders "Strength doesn't decide fights. If anything strength is a crutch used by those outmatched in technique. Or those too stupid to realize skill beats talent." letting go of my shoulders she walked over to the improvised wooden weapon and handed it back to me. "Besides, little guy, real strength has nothing to do with a person's body". Throwing an over hand she continued her assault. Hours later the sun was going down and I was drained of stamina and more HP then either of us had intended for me to lose. Scuffed and dirtied my knees shook then buckled under me causing me to start to fall face first. Agatha within an instant caught me and put me onto her back to carry me.

"Why am I still so weak compared to you? It's not fair" I spoke like a frustrated child, considering I was one.

"Battle prowess isn't what gives a person strength. Love gives us purpose, purpose gives us ambitions, ambitions give us power. I am certainly more powerful then you are, but strength has nothing to do with any of that. Strength is one of the means to fight others, that is true. But more importantly strength let's us fight against ourselves. Anger, hate, even love can cause people to do horrible, evil things. Strong people only do the right things, regardless how they feel"

Pouting with my chin on her shoulder, I said, "Well if it all stems from love I will never get power because no one loves me..." mentally laughing at my memory due to how emo I was, begrudgingly feeling bad for Agatha for having to deal with it.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Agatha stopped walking to turn her head towards me, "I love you little brother. Don't worry about things like power or strength just yet. Time for that will come, for now worry more about what's for dinner" growing a malicious smile across her face then pressing her forehead into my cheek, "cause I'm in the mood to cook"

The memory faded until a new dream began from when I was twelve...

Fire from a circle of stones illuminated the tiny room reserved for just the two of us due to Agatha being unable to share with the other 'laborers' Agatha sat in front of the fire with blood soaked clothes poking at it with a stick. Her sack like clothing would freeze on whichever side faced away from the fire. I ran through the wooden doors with a crash, "AGATHA are you okay?!" I tackled into her lap hugging her tightly. "I'm so sorry it's all my fault again..." I squeezed her while exhaling all the pain and guilt that accumulated from being the cause of her lashings.

"It isn't your fault. You just don't have a class yet so their work quota is too much for you to handle" she said as she stroked my hair. While sobbing into her new hole ridden ruined straw crafted tunic I spoke brokenly, "If I was jus... Stronger you won't h-h-h-have to protect me so much... You should just let them... Kill me." Her gut tightened with my head on it making me think I laid on an open wound making me jump back with tears running down my face. Was she? I've seen Agatha take multiple stabbings, slashing, whips, fists, kicks, even bites without showing so much of a grimace. But now she was crying while staring into my eyes, shocking me out of my fitful tantrum. She slowly placed a hand onto my cheek, "Jayce I don't care how many things happen to me. I don't care if you hate me or love me. I don't care how many times I need to protect you. NEVER say something so stupid again. One day you will protect me, with or without that stupid class. You are hope, if you die so does hope." Grabbing me by my shirt she pulled me into her chest holding me while we both sobbed frozen tears.

Smoke filled the room until a new memory surfaced

three years ago Agatha and I were on our way back from our first hunt out past the Arctic Desert, the Drukon had just sent us out to hunt since the naval blockade was preventing any supplies reaching this far north and while the mine itself was coveted by the military of the occupying Drukon nation the people working it were not as important. With too many laborers starving they allowed Agatha to gather food to keep the populace alive in exchange for her handing over two thirds of the food she gathers.

With huge braided ropes over each of her shoulders she dragged a fish the size of a single story home across the glacier.

"Why do I need to focus so much on meditation, that's all I am saying, it's still possible I get a class other then spiritual right?" I asked.

Not even struggling while towing the huge fish she responded, "Possible? Yes, but even if you do get a different class. Meditation hones your mind and spirit. Both of which you need in order to become the strongest you can possibly be."

"But if I get a spiritual class I will never be able to show you..."

with a look of confusion she said, "Show me?"

"That you were right about me. That I'm not a..." whispering under my breath, "waste of life"

Agatha appeared thoughtful for a moment then spoke, "Look there is no such thing as a 'waste of life' also spiritual classes tend to be the most annoying and hardest to counter in battle. Secondly, no matter how we live we will die with regrets, just make sure the only regrets you have at the end are stupid."

pausing she walked past me before I ran to catch up saying, "stupid regrets?"

chuckling from knowing that would stump me she continued, "yeah, things like 'I wish I didn't say this or that' or moments of being embarrassed." her jovial demeanor passing as she visibly relived a memory she began staring at the ground while walking, she said "not the other kind of regrets"

"What are the other kind of regrets?" I said while picking up a rock and throwing it off in the distance.

Sighing for a moment she said, "Ones like 'I wish I saved this person' or 'I shouldn't have killed this person' or 'If only I was there things wouldn't have turned out like this', big regrets that take a lifetime to forget, sometimes they become so massive that you aren't able to forgive yourself. Worse is when they make it so people you love can never forgive you. And you go on knowing it was your fault. Small regrets haunt you at death. Big regrets haunt your life"

At this stage in my life I was in between still being a light hearted kid and pretending at being a grizzled adult like Agatha, yet knowing her so well had showed me her switch in demeanor so I allowed the child to take the wheel as I told her, "Well if nothing else, I promise not to become someone you regret saving. I will never regret knowing you Agatha."

"Shut up and catch up Lizard brain" She chided me while trying to hide her half smile.