"Aaaahhh" George yelled as his body made sudden contact with the cold stone ground for the third time today. Holding his rough yet slender arms in front of his face, tanned from many long hours spent in the fields under the relentless sun, in an effort to protect himself from the voracious efforts of this vicious beast with teeth like daggers and rippling muscles underneath a fur as pitch black as a moonless night. "Cliff, call her offffff or so help me!!!"
"Boy please, what could you do. Just because you finally got your system does not mean you can get your britches all high and mighty." The large man that goes by the name Cliff said with a loud boisterous laugh nearly sounding as if he himself was a dog. "Alright Sunshine that is enough, give the poor boy some space" Cliff says in an authoritative tone followed by a whistle louder then the last one.
With one last attempt to lick George's face Sunshine leaps away from him and returns to her masters side sitting at attention.
"You know how much I dislike being tackled by her, Cliff!" George snapped as he stands up and brushes off his simple hemp shirt and pants. "She always gets my clothes in a mess and leaves slobber stains on everything! I mean Just LOOK at this!!" He yelled as he holds up the end of his shirt and points to the minuscule tear along the edge of the seam. "Do you even know how much effort it will take to make this shirt look as good as new again!"
With a giant grin on his face Cliff steps forward and wraps a gargantuan arm around the shoulders of the complaining boy. "Awe, Don't be Like that my boy! its just a tiny little scratch. My girl Sunshine did not mean nothin by it. Did ya girl?" He said looking at his giant dog sitting in the door frame. Which elicits the monstrosity of a hound to loll out her tongue and pant looking on in confusion. "See, She meant nothin by it! Now come with me we have a village to entertain!" He says as he begins to drag poor George along for the ride.
Being dragged from the dark confines of that cold stone room George squints and covers his eyes from the sudden brightness of the outside world. "Do I really have to do this Cliff? It has always seemed so unnecessary." He says as he rubs his eyes as they begin to adjust.
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"Yep! Now quit your whining we will be have to be quick if we want to get there before dark" Cliff responded while tightening his grip on his young charge. "Don't even think of running away boy. you know you won't get two steps before my Sunshine will have you flat on your face eatin a hearty meal of mud!" At the mention of her name the canine gives a toothy grin to George, or at least that is what it seemed like to him.
"Ugh fine... Lets get this over with..." George replied with a lowered head and sunken shoulders. He has waited for this day for years, ever since he was told about the System as all 14 year old children are. But he has dreaded what was to come after. This event that was destined to degrade his prestige... Well, His perceived prestige.
The trio headed away from the stone shack following the well maintained cobblestone road that snaked its way through the dense forest that surrounded them. The return trip was mostly silent as the two had nothing to talk about. Merely exchanging small talk about Cliff and Sunshines day and if she had caught any good prey.
After a few hours of walking they finally crested the top of a small hill and the sight of their destination filled their eyes. At the bottom of this grassy hill sat a valley which on all sides was surrounded by similar hills to the one they stood upon. Within this valley between the rolling green hills was a small town of very few families. From the center of the town's square there seemed to only be 30 or so houses of a medium size forming a ring around a large central manor.
Yet something was odd about this little town between the hills. There were vivid colors everywhere formed from various materials and in a myriad of shapes. They formed dragons and demons, mountains and rivers, even small bunny rabbits hopping among the clouds in the sky and around the town. Almost as soon as the Trio crested the top of the hill a sudden a cry rose from the town and the majestic display increased ten fold while music began to drift towards the top of the hill.
"Please... Please just kill me now Cliff. Or even better" George whispered with sullen eyes before quickly getting on his knees and pressing his head against the nose of Sunshine. "Just eat me now Sunshine. You can even tear up my clothes as much as you want after I am dead..."
"Pffft. Its not as bad as all that boy. Up you go" With a heave Cliff easily lifted George with one arm and slung him onto his shoulder. With that a laughing man, a souless boy and a confused dog made there way toward the town full of lights and music.