Chapter 1: The Broken Crystal Ball

Located on the edge of the Sanctus Kingdom, there sits a small village, as old as the country itself. The villagers are happy, and they are prosperous. Everyone has enough food and warm shelter. Families laugh, and harvests are successful. Children can play happily in the streets, not knowing of the dangers outside of the village. 

Because across the village borders lies the horror of the real world, an unpleasant and unfair society that oppresses all that goes against it. Luckily, the small nameless village is of no consequence to this cruel world that seeks its own version of perfection. 

And so, the villagers can live happy, free lives forever… yeah, if only that were the truth.

***

The sun has just come up and a young man with an average build, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes, is seen patrolling the main wheat field of the nameless village. He is wearing a dark tunic with even darker pants. As he walks through the fields, ensuring the wheat is growing properly, he gazes back to the small village that he has lived in all his life, and he sees the sun rising over the small buildings of his happy village. 

While walking back to his family's home, he passes through the village square. The small market is waking up from its sleep, stalls are being set up and fresh fruit and vegetables can be seen in crates, soon to be sold by women during their daily shopping trip. As the young man walks past his favorite shop, the bakery, a short old man can be seen cleaning the windows and inside the bakery, an old lady is baking her famous bread rolls. 

“Hey, if it isn’t Des? You know today's shift doesn't start til noon?” Said the old man to the young man.

“I was just checking the fields before it got too hot.” The young man replied.

“Oh, well, have you had breakfast yet, if I know your mother as I believe I do, she is probably still asleep.”

“Haha, yeah, she’s still asleep, and no, I haven't had breakfast yet.” Said The young man.

“Well come on in. Gran has just put some rolls into the oven.” 

“Sure thing, boss.” Replied the young man.

They entered the shop, and yes, he does work in this bakery, and he’s quite good at it too. About two years ago, a terrible sickness affected his mother, and since he was an only child, and his father was out of the village on a trip, he needed to get a job. The two old bakers, who were family friends, gladly took the young man under their wing, and taught him everything they knew. 

“My my, if it isn’t Desmond, you’re quite early?” Blurted the old lady.

“Hey Gran, I’m actually here for some of your delicious rolls.” Replied The young man. 

“Oh… well… sure why not, there's plenty.” The old lady said reluctantly, “And you’re like a son to us, so of course, have as much as three.”

“Thanks Gran, my rolls still can’t compare with yours!” Exclaimed Desmond.

“Hahaha, I don’t know, I’d say they’re close.” Blurted the old man.

“Yes, you're a natural baker, I’m proud of your work, and you should be too.” Said the Old lady, encouragingly. “There’s nothing to worry about, give a couple of decades and one day yours might be able to match up to mine.”

“Hahahahaha…!” They smiled and enjoyed some good doughy rolls.

Desmond was a happy guy, he might not be super strong, or have an amazing talent for the sword, like the rest of the village men, but he had close friends. Young and Old. The two bakers were like parents to Desmond… well… maybe more like grandparents. Des lived a nice life, and he was grateful… However, there was one small thing, a hole in his heart, and no matter what he tried, nothing could fill it. Friends, pets, even love interests, nothing could fill that void. It was as if there was a part missing from Des. But Des lived as if he was completely content, it wasn’t for any big reason other than because he wanted his friends and family to think he was happy. 

***

The door to a small house opened slowly and Desmond walked inside the humble building, making sure to kick off his muddy boots. Otherwise, his mother would have a fit. The smell of eggs frying on the stove top filled the room, and his mother turned around from her soon to be breakfast. 

“Oh, Des! Good morning, how are the fields today?” She returned to watching her eggs sizzle.

“The same as always, nothings wrong. Should be ready to harvest in a couple weeks, maybe a month.” He sat down at the three person table in the middle of the kitchen. 

“Oh, that's nice. Maybe we can get enough money for a new kettle.” She smiled as she handed some fried eggs to Desmond. 

“Thanks mom, your eggs are the best.” He smiled back as he golfed down the meal. 

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Haha, Thank you for the compliment. Did you see anything interesting on your way back from the field?”

“No, there wasn’t much, some merchant I’ve never seen before was setting up a stall, but it wasn’t very special, just the same old stuff.” He seemed gloomy and maybe upset. 

“Listen, I know you feel like you're missing something in your life, but I’m sure you’ll find something you could do for the rest of your life.” She said sweetly.

A rugged figure entered the kitchen from the bedroom door, “Yeah, Baking isn’t exactly manly, now is it?” This rugged figure was Desmond's father.

“Oh shut it, If baking is what he’s good at, he should do that for a living. He makes more than you do hunting and helping with the harvest!” His mom defended him from his father.

“Hey, that's not important, and even so… if he wants to do that, I guess it’s fine.” He shrugged as eggs were handed to him. “Whatever puts bread on his table.”

“No, Dads right. I like baking, but I don’t think it’s what I want to do for a living.” Said Desmond, finishing his eggs and handing his plate to his mom.

“Well, we know you can’t do crap with a sword… have you ever thought about being a magician?” Suggested his Dad.

“What, a magician, you mean those guys from your stories?” Asked Des.

“Yeah, have you ever been tested for a mana heart yet?” Said his mother.

“Um, it never occurred to me.” Desmond thought hard, but never even considered that route.

“You know, Mages are highly respected, if you're lucky enough to have an affinity, then you could have a great life.” Said his father.

“That sounds… interesting.” Desmond felt something flutter in his heart, it was as if that hole was being filled in, for the first time in his life, he genuinely felt good.

“Hey, I’ve got a friend who’s a mage, he’s in town at the moment. He could do the test!” Suggested the rugged man. “Let's head there right now.”

They got up and kissed the cook goodbye, and set off to the only Inn in the village. “Susan's Inn” was on the side opposite of their house, so they had to journey through the busy square. The stalls were now open and people were lining up to get their groceries for the day. The line to the bakery was especially long. Des and his dad got a wave from the two busy bakers while passing. It was the busiest time of the day. Before it got too hot to go out, people got their errands done. And it was a race to get done before noon. Because that's when the temperature really started to rise.

They arrived at the Inns' door, and opened it. They were greeted by a young beautiful lady, about the same age as Desmond. She was gorgeous, with blond hair, blue eyes, and a huge freaking rack… I mean, she had a great smile on her face, and that is definitely where the two men were looking.

“Ahem, what can I do for you two gentlemen?” She suddenly broke them from their transe.

 “Oh, hello Miss, what room is Mr. Ignis staying in?” Asked Des’s father.

“And why do you need to know that, Mr. Stotler?” Asked the beauty.

“Miss, he is a friend of mine, and I have urgent business with him.”

“Uh huh… whatever, he’s in room 4. Up the stairs and to the left.”

“Thank you Miss, have a pleasant day… and thank you so much once again.”

The two men left with a slight blush and traversed up the steps and to the left. A big number “4” was painted on the third door… there was no room “1,” for some reason. After knocking on the door… and knocking on the door… and knocking on the door, there was no answer.

“Hey, dumbass, open up already, it's me.” Shouted the father.

The door slowly opened, and an old man with a cane walked out, he got close to the rugged man. This older gentleman was smaller than Des or his father, but that didn’t stop him from smacking the hell out of the rude bastard who woke him up from a pleasant dream about a certain Inn Clerk. 

“What da Hell do you want Ray, I was having da most amazing dream… and you woke me up… God damn you!” Shouted the old man.

“Shh, please quiet down, I want you to test my son.” Requested the man. 

“Raymond, couldn’t this have waited a few hours, why did you have to interrupt my dream.” The old man seemed to start tearing up. Then he pulled Des’s ear to his mouth and whispered, “Do you want to hear about it?” The old man smirked and moved his eyebrows… up and down, up and down. 

“Spare us the details, old man, nobody wants to hear it.” Said Des’s father.

“Raymond, I wasn’t asking you. I was asking this young man. What's his name?”

Before Des’s father could speak, Desmond cleared his throat and spoke, “His name is Desmond.” 

“Oh, a jokester I see.” The old man let go of Desmond. “I like jokesters, make life more fun, but so do certain hotel clerks. If you know what I mean… Desmond?”

Desmond grinned and a chilling intent covered the hall and room, “Of course.”

The old man Grinned the same chilling grin back at Desmond, “Haha, I like this boy, he’s funny, just like me. Come on inside my humble abode.” He waved the two men inside.

The door closed and they were inside the small room of the Inn. It wasn’t fancy or anything, but it was nicer than Des’s room. A single window lay on the other side of the room, it allowed the room's inhabitants to see the busy village square and would show the sunset when dusk came.

“Please have a seat in my office. I’ll be with you in a moment.” The old man took two steps forward, then he pulled a bag out from under the bed.

Desmond looked around for a place to sit, but this so-called office didn't have any chairs. The old man set the bag on the bed and put his hand in it. His hand lowered further and further into the bag. The bag was by no means large, and could probably only fit a bowling ball, but the old man kept going deeper inside, looking for something. Soon, his entire body was inside the bag and all that could be seen were his grotess fungus covered feet. 

He pushed himself up from the insides of the bag and out he popped, along with him was a crystal ball in his hands. Des looked at the ball confusingly, then back at the bag.

The old man noticed and smiled. “Confusing, I know. I had that same look on my face when I first saw someone reach inside a magic bag. The inside is bigger than the outside.” 

“Oh, I’ve never seen one before.”

“Clearly” He smiled again. “Now, come over here and place your hand on this crystal ball.” The old man set the ball on a dresser adjacent to the bed.

Desmond approached and placed his hand on the orb. “Like this.”

“Yes, now I want you to imagine your body is full of water.”

“Okay?”

“Good, now, push all the water into the orb in one go.”

“Got it.” Desmond closed his eyes and imagined his body was an ocean, and his arm was a river. He pushed water from his hand to the orb like a violent current pushes water miles away from its original location.

Suddenly, the sun went dark, and a shadow covered the sky. Raymond and the old man looked out the window, a solar eclipse blocked the sun's light. They looked back and saw a bright purple cloud move violently inside the orb. The old man's jaw dropped and Raymonds pants turned a darker color. The orb began to crack, and separated into a couple fragments. The purple cloud dissipated and the eclipse passed. 

Desmond opened his eyes, looking at the broken orb. “Um, did I break it?” He smiled, “Sorry.”

Raymond fell backwards, passed out, and twitched like a dog playing dead. The old man held his arms up as if praising god, he danced around the room and jumped off the walls before finally stopping mid air, then he fell to the ground. 

The old man grabbed Desmond's hands, “Oh please great one, would you become my disciple?!?! The old man looked up at a confused Desmond.

“Eh?” Questioned Desmond.