Neron’s POV

Dusk was settling, the sky was a pink hue, a golden light spilled over the horizon as the blazing sun set. The tears on my cheeks had dried and left sticky salt stains, my eyes were puffy from the hours of sobbing. I pushed myself off the ground and staggered, my mother’s blood had dried on my clothes and hair, the smell of copper overwhelmed my nostrils. I stared at my mother’s limp body and screamed, I turned my head away in horror and tumbled onto the ground, crawling away.

Why didn’t anyone come to help? Why were we abandoned? There surely would have been reinforcements here by now.

“I-Is anyone out there?” I stuttered, shuffling through the street in paranoia, refusing to look back. There was no reply. The eerie silence sent chills up my spine, even the sizzle of the flames had quieted. Colourful orbs were floating in the air, I recalled when mom had once told me that mana particles were spheres of multicoloured light. She rarely ever let me go to the town's arena to watch the battles, but when I did, it was generally around the time of my birthdays. The memories flooded my mind, I could remember when the clashing of swords and conjuring of spells sent goosebumps up my arms as I watched in admiration.

The town was utterly deserted, bodies were sprawled everywhere I looked, so I ran. I ran as far as I could to get away from this forlorn place. This was no place for me to live anymore. I darted through the streets and narrow alleyways to avoid the terrifying sights as anger and fear pulsated through me. Dust flew into the air, trailing my steps as I headed towards the nearest exit into the forest. The amount of blood never seemed to end, it didn’t matter how much I tried to shield my eyes, because at every turn, there were scenes that made me want to curl up into a ball.

I found myself in the empty magical forest surrounding Darcester, it was brimming with insects and unknown creatures that sent me running at the slightest rustle of a bush. The trees towered far above me, the mushrooms glowed and brief beams of moonlight shone through the brush. I gasped for air and dropped onto my knees. I gazed around at the lush woodland that surrounded me, the dusky sky didn’t make it any easier to see. I moved clumsily through the forest and collapsed face-first onto the moist soil. Dirt entered my nostrils and mouth, causing me to cough it out and wipe my mouth in disgust. I might as well just curl into a ball right here and let a creature kill me.

But I couldn’t. Not until they were wiped from the face of this world.

I clenched onto the dirt with my hand and squeezed it. I mustered the little strength I had left and pushed myself off the ground. Refusing to admit defeat, I stood still and focused on the surroundings. Every susurration causes my eyes to flit to the source. This was the only way I could survive. Without food, I would be doomed within this forsaken forest.

Hours had passed, I hadn’t caught a single meal, dawn was arriving and time was running out. Frustration flowed through me as I stared at the sharp branch I had torn off a tree, vexation drove me to my wits’ end. If I don’t catch anything now, my death will probably be ensured. There was a squeak, I pivoted and carefully watched the bush where the sound had come. A low-growl sounded, I raised an eyebrow, straining my eyes in the darkness. I could barely make out the shape before it disappeared in a blur, I swung my head around, anticipating where it might appear next. At last, a form emerged from the darkness, the moonlight made it easier to discern; it was some sort of crossbreed between a rabbit and a bat. Its white fur gleamed beneath the radiance of the shining mushrooms, the ugly wrinkled face bared its teeth at me aggressively. I stared in shock, fear took control of my body as I backed away, one step at a time. I shook my head frantically, this isn’t the time to hesitate, your life’s on the line. The creature approached, its black beads for eyes were fixed on me, I steadied my footing and pointed the jagged branch at the menacing life form. It snarled and charged at me, my instincts and reflexes reacted before I knew it, I struck the creature into the heart mid-air and pinned it to the ground. It squirmed and screeched in pain, but I held my stance, even after it had gone limp. I stared at the bloodstained fur of the beast, I was immobilized by panic. How can living beings kill? How do they look into the eyes of their targets and strike through their heart without hesitation? I crumpled to the ground meters away from the prey I had slaughtered and spewed out the last of the eggs I had from earlier today. Clenching my jaws, I hardened my gaze and inched towards my well-deserved meal. I should be proud that I caught something, right? I always asked mom to teach me magic so I could fight, so I should treasure this. This can mark my beginning.

It was the next day, afternoon had arrived and I roamed around the endless forest, I was probably kilometers away from Darcester and had managed to kill another crossbreed between a rabbit and a bat that I decided to refer to as a rabbat. I needed to get out of this dense forest, and fast. Is it even safe for me to go to the capital? It’s too far for me to safely make it there alive on foot. I sat in a clearing with a pile of logs in front of me and took a deep breath as my face scrunched up with concentration. I tried to wield the mana in the environment, yet nothing came to pass. Without proper guidance, I wasn’t going to get anywhere. It frustrated me that so much magic surrounded me, yet there was nothing I could do about it. I sighed and gave up, my stomach began to complain so I pulled out the last of my charred rabbat meat. Thanks to this abnormal forest, I was lucky to have found a fire-breathing lizard that was the size of my entire leg. Unfortunately, however, I had to escape after getting my meat cooked because my branch could not penetrate its dark scales. I didn’t expect the outside world to be so dangerous.

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I knew that at one point or another, I was going to have to return to Darcester. The lack of materials will be the prime reason for my demise, and so I headed south towards my home-town. My eyes were tiring and my limbs ached, but there was nowhere for me to rest reliably when the dangers of the forest were so apparent, I was simply out of options.

I crept around the border of Darcester, rain began to pour, my eyes were bloodshot. I prepared myself for the gruesome sight that I was about to behold. The smell of death lingered in the air, the fires had gone out but most of the structures had broken down. It’s been over a day, yet no one has come by. Surely someone would have noticed and alarmed the nation, maybe the demons made sure that this was kept quiet, but that doesn’t make sense; how could we be the closest town to the capital and be attacked without anyone knowing? I refused to acknowledge the one thought that flashed across my mind, I pushed it away and focused on the mission at hand. I slunk my way towards the entrance of the town, summoning my courage, I walked forward towards the town square. All the crimson blood had dried up, I tried to avert my gaze from the bodies spread throughout the town. Anger rushed through me once again, what did they gain from this? I grimaced, I didn’t care for anyone else, they were the same people that had casted my mother and I away; they probably even deserved death. Who do I blame for her death? The Devil King, the kingdom...or myself? I shivered and discarded the thought, I was nearly at the town square. Fortunately enough, getting to the town square from the eastern gate was a cinch, I simply had to keep on walking forward.

I hurled out the leftovers of the rabbat meat I had for dinner while crouching in the town square. The scent of decaying bodies engulfed me, my eyes were wide from fear as I stared at the fountain that was now bloody instead of spraying water. Immediately regretting my decision of returning, I approached the weapons shop and coughed dryly. Judging from the condition inside, the shop seemed to be stable and intact...except for the broken window and torn sign. There wasn’t a trace of bandits, so I dashed through the shop and quickly observed the armory. I hated being twelve years old. Nearly none of the pieces of armor fit me, and even if they did, they were too heavy or uncomfortable for me to maneuver around in. I seized a black cloak laced with gold as well as a pair of pants and boots. All I needed now was a weapon, then I could finally leave this town and never return. I quickly changed out of my torn clothing and into the new set of garments. I had to roll up the sleeves of my cloak due to it being a little bigger than my usual size of clothing, I snapped the buckle of my belt into place with satisfaction. I walked around the store for a couple of minutes as I tested the flexibility of the clothing, pleased, I searched for a weapon. The only good thing about this situation was that I got cool clothes and strong weapons for free, the problem was that I had absolutely no experience with them, nor did I even have the will to fight living beings. A glint caught my eye, I turned around to see a pair of silver daggers with coal-black leather handles and irregular designs embossed onto them. It appeared to be a normal pair of daggers, so I took their scabbards and attached them to my belt on both of my hips. I picked up the daggers and swung them around in the air and smiled. They were a little bigger than my hands, but I could get used to them. I sheathed my daggers, and took some leather shoulder pads. I put them on and headed towards the doorway, but a bright flash surged through the street outside, I backed away and shielded my eyes instinctively.

Could there really be people? I could hear humanlike murmuring outside, I shrunk into the corner of the shop behind the customer desk. My eyes were vacantly fixed on the stairs opposite from me that led to the higher floors of the building where the shopkeeper had probably resided before. Beads of sweat went down my back, my heart pounded against my chest from terror. The heavy thumping footsteps from outside the shop shook me to my core, I scrambled to the stairs, I wobbled from my useless legs that gave out from fear. My hands were slick with perspiration as I reached out for anything to grasp onto, my hands slid off as I lost my footing and tumbled to the ground. Weapons and armor alike fell to the ground with a large clang that surely could have been heard from outside of the establishment, I cursed and scuttled up the stairs.

“Did you hear that?” a gruff voice sounded from outside the shop.

“Do you think somebody’s still alive?” another throaty voice came.

“It doesn’t hurt to check, does it?” the first voice replied.

My eyes widened, I needed to find somewhere to hide. The second floor was an average bedroom with papers and open drawers everywhere. There was a loud crash from downstairs as I snuck up the steps to the second floor, I trembled and felt short of breath. Panic-stricken, I searched for anywhere that could keep me hidden, to my horror, there weren’t any more floors in this structure...and nowhere to hide. There was another clunk, I hung onto a railing for support as angst pulled me down into its depths. I calmed myself down with a deep breath, I regained my balance and narrowed my eyes at the stairs. Whatever there was downstairs, they were taking their time. I drew my daggers and clutched onto them tightly, it was kill or be killed. I was going to have to do this, or else...I’ll never get my chance.

“Grigag, look here, there’s stairs!” the throaty voice said, their voice was slightly higher.

What are these things doing here? They can’t be human, right? I thought of how loud their steps were.

“You’re right, Ukur,” the creature named Grigag responded as footsteps approached the base of the stairs.

I hid around the corner, this was my one and only option. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the creature; it was an orc, and following behind it...was a goblin? The nearest dungeon was one hundred miles away, how did they get here in the first place?

The orc grunted, “Stay here, Ukur.” The goblin named Ukur grunted in resignation.

I braced myself, ready for what was about to come. The orc managed to walk right past without noticing me, for a second, my body froze in reluctance, but I forced myself to move. Before the orc managed to turn around, I jumped up and struck both of my daggers into its back. The orc staggered back and yelped in pain, it seemed relatively weak, but still huge compared to a human. I pulled out my daggers and my instincts took over once again, I whirled around and stabbed the goblin as it screeched in pain and blood was squirted everywhere. The orc seemed to be taking one last stand, I got up and tried pulling out my daggers; one was stuck. The orc raised its giant axe, I jumped out of the way before it could slice the stairs and splinter the wood. Gasping from the impact from my back hitting the wall, I got on my feet and charged at the orc as a final attack. Before it could react, I sunk my dagger into the flesh around its upper chest, together, we collapsed as I was sprawled out on the floor next to it. My entire body was in pain, I took a relieved breath and made sure that the two monsters were slain; both seemed to be dead. Before I could do anything, my vision became hazy as I passed out from exhaustion.