《Void Verse: A LitRPG Adventure of Sword, Sorcery, and Tentacles》 Prologue The Gate of R¡¯lyeh was sealed, Cthulhu inside; to sleep. It was an ending of a cosmic struggle, but it was also the beginning. Exerpt: The Old Ones: Lost Lore of the Cosmic. By HPL. I am the System, welcome to the Void Verse. There are many governing factors that dictate power within the worlds I visit. The reason I visit each universe is for me and me alone to know, but rest assured I am here to help. I¡¯ve entered your world, things are in motion and time is short. There are many things you need to know, things that may be keys to your success. Your people only get one chance to reject me, so now is that moment, the moment where time comes to a stop. I await a response. Will your world accept me as its benefactor? {{System waiting¡­.}} {{System initializing¡­}} {{System Boot up Complete.}} It seems my intervention has been accepted. Others have chosen for you, but fear not, you will not be left behind. We¡¯ve procrastinated enough, there is work to do. Beginning integration now. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. {{Integration in process¡­}} The following is the key to understanding terms and abbreviations within the world and system. Learn them, and your life will be much easier in the future. Full integration has begun. Now it is up to you. IR: Item Rank. BA: Base Ability Statistic. SL: Skill Level. AMP: Amplified Power. DEM: Defensive Efficacy Modifier. OEM: Offensive Efficacy Modifier. AEM: Ability Efficacy Modifier. UI: User Interface. AIM: Archon Interface Module. Universe Label: U1P1B1= Universe 1, Parallel 1, Branch 1 Now that we have broken the forth wall and you have been pulled into the Void Verse, know this. You are the true Benefactor in this story. Your patronage drives the system forward. Welcome and thank you. A special note from the Author. Howard Phillips(H.P.) Lovecraft created a universe that he wished to share, not only through his writings, but by lending it to others for their writings as well. While I borrow from his universe, I also take liberties to make it my own. You will find excerpts listed throughout the story. These are attributed to HPL, who is an allegory character that exists within the Void Verse. While some are truly from Lovecraft himself, many are from fictionalized works within the universe. {{Author: Chooloo. Mission: Connect to the world hub. Location: U1P1B1. Drop in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1¡­..}} {{Integration complete¡­Mission Starts Now.}} Chapter 1: Beginnings Cthulhu slept; dreamed; stirred. When you live in a world of dreams, strive to be the nightmare. Excerpt: Awakened. By HPL. If you live in a world of nightmares, it¡¯s best not to dream. These dreams can cause lasting damage, damage that can hound you back to reality. Last night Gideon had such a dream, one that refused to let his mind go. The young man woke in a sweat, the dream had pulled him into it''s world. He remembered very little of the dream upon awaking, but those few memories sent chills down his spine. The darkness had spoken to him, called his name. He had tried to run, but he sensed it knew him, knew where he lived. There was no escape. He tried to shake the fog from his head, denying the dream. He opened his eyes to an afternoon sun from high over head glaring into his shanty. The sun shone through the cracks of the ill-fitted lumber, bringing a light into his darkness. His head was still fuzzy from the dream, the grogginess not quite ready to release him. He rose from his pallet and looked through the cracks of the ill fitted boards. He hoped for clear skies and good weather today, but that wasn¡¯t the case. There was a light drizzle and clouds darkened parts of the sky. It¡¯s only a few gray clouds, maybe the storm will blow over. If not, I¡¯ll still need to find a way to eat, the stomach isn¡¯t taking the day off, he thought. His shanty was nestled in a corner on the rooftops where two warehouses met, one taller than the other. They formed an alley of sorts high up above the streets. At the end of this alley he had punched a hole through a wall into a crawlspace. This crawlspace was in the upper rafters of the smaller building, designed as part of the support structure for the roof. This nook had become his home, a place he had survived in for many years. With the addition of a piece of wood here and some sheet metal there, he had made a floor for the narrow alley to his hidden home. With a few more pieces still, he hid the face of the alley itself. He¡¯d lived in the favela over the years and built this shanty into the sanctuary it was today. Some said the lower districts of Rime weren¡¯t safe, but he disagreed, you just needed to know how to navigate them. Gideon knew his home, knew the places you shouldn¡¯t go. He worked his way out of the crawlspace and into the tight space of the alley, then he crawled through his little shanty¡¯s exit. He carefully shimmied the impromptu door aside and made his way out onto the rooftop. From here he could see how safe he truly was. The climb up to the roof was difficult. The narrow path made things tight and the jumps were treacherous. The larger boys couldn¡¯t hope to follow a much more agile scamp like him. His size allowed him to squeeze through places they couldn¡¯t go. This feature alone had saved him countless times over the years. He rubbed his head where he¡¯d bumped it while exiting his little shanty. Not for the first time in recent weeks he had thoughts about moving to a better location. Thoughts that he may have outgrown his home. He¡¯d always been small for his age, but had hit a growth spurt recently. He was becoming like the older boys. Maybe I¡¯m a little too big to live up here anymore? I need to look into other options soon, I think it is time to leave this part of the lower district. There are plenty of younger scamps that could use this place. Boys that need the safety it provides. He checked his head again for a bump. Finding none, he stretched and yawned, finally shaking off the last bit of sleep. The sounds of the market below pulled him back into this world, they were what told him he was truly awake. They provided a familiarity, an anchor of sorts to his home. They echoed oddly from the alley, but the echoing sounds were music to his ears. They were an invitation, a sign of opportunity, the sound of lots of people and busy streets. When you lived on the streets, you had to take advantage of any circumstance. A pocket to pick, a naive traveler to swindle, or even a sweet lady to charm. Gideon¡¯s thoughts raced as he looked around. I wonder what opportunities will present themselves today. Maybe I can charm my way into a coin or two, because I¡¯m done picking for sure after that drunk. He¡¯d nearly caught me. Gideon knew his clumsy fingers weren¡¯t suited to pick pocketing, but he¡¯d been starving. The man had chased him through the streets, but he knew them better than the drunk. He¡¯d lost him, but for a moment the man had gotten a hand on him. Gideon had bitten the man to get loose and quickly disappeared under the docks. Never again, he thought. He didn¡¯t know what the streets were going to bring his way, but he knew thievery wasn¡¯t on the list. He knew one thing, nothing was truer than the fact that the congested streets always provided. He stepped out into the open air of the rooftop, the thick smell of salt struck him. Damn, maybe the storm isn¡¯t going to miss us, because it smells like rain is in the air. He looked around carefully before stepping out of the shadows of the building. He saw the position of the sun. As I thought, it¡¯s nearly afternoon. I must¡¯ve slept the morning away. Oh well, I needed the rest after yesterday. He hoped the bullies stayed in their district today. He had a few bruises already and had no interest in collecting more. His thoughts turned to food and the other necessities of life. I better get moving, I don¡¯t want to go hungry. His stomach chose that moment to protest the lack of breakfast as if he weren¡¯t already thinking about it. ¡°Hush, I¡¯m working on it,¡± he told his stomach. He took off in a sprint toward the northern end of the building, the pitch of the roof slanted sharper until it became a sudden slide. He gained speed quickly as he slid down the roof. As he approached the edge he used his momentum to kick off of the rooftop. He soared over the gap to the adjacent rooftop, landing with a roll. He was above the bakery now and could smell a vague scent of bread. The smell was very faint. Mrs. Webster must have already went to the market. I¡¯ll have to find her if I hope to get some breakfast, maybe she¡¯ll have saved me a roll, he thought. The baker¡¯s wife had a soft spot for him and would sneak him a roll when there were extra, but the baker himself was another story. The man didn¡¯t like scamps in the slightest. One of the other boys had caused some trouble in the past. The Baker held them all responsible and he wasn¡¯t one to forgive easily. Gideon continued north along the connecting rooftops until he came to the small smithy. The building was built into the southern face of the hill on the north side of the favela. Brom¡¯s Bastion the sign read. It was a quaint little place, that by all accounts sold good quality wares. The smithy was partially built into the rock and dirt of a large hill. The road to the Poverty Gate looped above the backside of Brom¡¯s Bastion. The roof to the smithy merged into the wall that the road rested on. The design of the building helped the smithy retain heat, while shielding the rest of the city from the potential hazards of the forge. After a simple jump to the smithy roof, he was able to step out onto the road. He glanced north toward the gate and the guards manning it. The upper parts of the city were protected from those like him. I¡¯m going to get my access license, I¡¯ll make it up there someday and escape this place. I¡¯ll become an adventurer. The boy didn¡¯t dislike his home and had learned to accept his place in life, but he aspired to be more. To be strong, powerful; an adventurer. Unfortunately there was a large hurdle to overcome, he was a scamp. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Rime was a three tiered city; the lower districts, the walled city, and upper districts. The lower districts started at the water front where the docks dominated a large portion of this sector of the city. The second tier started above the bluffs, looking out over the lower districts and the ocean. This is where the gated community of Rime lived behind their giant walls, immune to the issues of the lower districts. The main gate onto the plains was here on the northwest portion of the city. Above the walls and the gate was the third tier of the city. On this tier he could see the mountain for which the city was named; Mount Rime. It dominated the northeast horizon. Part of that horizon consisted of three towers that reached high into the sky, they extended from the Academy of the Awakened built on the mountainside. Each tower represented one of the guild houses of the academy. The academy was the ultimate goal. He knew that the nobles and the Parliament of Rime were also in the upper reaches of the city, but the nobles and the Palace in the Clouds didn¡¯t concern him. The academy was all that mattered. He watched as a train traveled slowly up the mountainside to the next tier. He sighed and turned away from the gate and the academy beyond. He started down the hill, letting his mind drift into thoughts of adventure. He followed the road and returned back to market square, but this time he would visit at street level. Gideon was lost in thought as he walked down the road and around the front of the smithy shop. A voice startled him and brought him out of his reverie. ¡°Gideon my boy, you best not be messing up my tiles climbing around up there,¡± the man paused and scratched his beard, ¡°but I suspect you¡¯d let me know if you did,¡± the man sighed, ¡°and probably try to fix them as well.¡± Gideon turned to face the voice. ¡°Of course Master Brom. Everything looks good up there. You shouldn¡¯t need to replace any tiles before the storm season comes. But I told you this last week. Have you been stoking the fires a little too long old man? All that smoke is bad for you,¡± he said with a laugh. Brom was a very large man and couldn¡¯t fix his own roof without the risk of falling through it. Gideon had made fast friends with him when he was young, always getting caught climbing on the man¡¯s roof. At first the smith would yell at him, then one day he stopped yelling, soon after that he started talking about little things, stopping the boy when he passed by. He would ask the boy about his day; his plans. Then one day, the old smith asked Gideon to make some repairs on the roof for him. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I have a leak,¡± the smith had said.¡± I¡¯ll fashion the tiles and nails for you, then you climb up there and use them for the repair. Simple as that. There¡¯s a meal or two in it for you. It¡¯s a small job for one just such as you.¡± Gideon never liked his small size getting pointed out, but this small task formed a bond. The smith and his wife had taken to the boy and cared for him many times over the years when he was unable to provide for himself. They had supplied him with food and even scraps for his shelter. ¡°A wasted piece of sheet metal,¡± the smith would say. Gideon knew the smith had fashioned it for him, but never called the smith out on it. Charity was a sticky thing, once you gave to one boy, the rest of them would become like a pack of wolves smelling blood. Gideon learned to count his blessings, but that he was to never share in them. Sharing always resulted in loss. He was tired of losing. He knew the smith had unlocked his alpha and beta abilities. He even had a few skills and levels to go with each. He had been working for years on unlocking his gamma ability with no luck. The smith had told him once, that if he could unlock his gamma he was sure to get a convergence, the three primary abilities would form his delta ability. His class. Once he had a class, he¡¯d move from the lower districts and set up a shop in Rime proper, behind the safety of it¡¯s walls. Safety for his wife Sara, safety for the family he was resistant to start. After arguments with Mistress Sara he would always say to Gideon, ¡°How can I bring a child into this,¡± then he would gesture around him, pointing out the high poverty levels in the lower district. He knew by the way the smith treated him that Brom wanted children. It was a shame that coin is what prevented them from having a family, prevented Mistress Sara from being the mother she dearly wanted to be. He watched the smith shift things around as he prepped his forge. ¡°Master Brom, I bet you inhale that smoke on purpose! You do it just so Mistress Sara doesn¡¯t put you to work in the house after your day at the forge.¡± Gideon did a fake cough. ¡°Oh Sara, I can¡¯t breathe tonight, the forges you understand. Can you get me an ale?¡± He beamed a smile at the smith. The smith laughed at the boys pitiful performance. ¡°Off with you, you little scamp, I don¡¯t know why I put up with your theatrics,¡± he said sternly, ¡°and keep yourself out of trouble today, you here.¡± ¡°Scamp,¡± Gideon mumbled to himself, his smile faded. He hated that word, but even he used it. He knew that Brom didn¡¯t mean anything by it, it was a common term, but he hated being reminded of his station. One of the unfortunate. One of the cursed individuals who¡¯s first ability had never awakened. The world used scamp as slang for people like him. He was voidless, powerless, and unwanted. It was a common practice to abandon children for being voidless, having never awakened an alpha ability. The drain on a family was a lifetime of hardship. The person had no guiding path, even the System had rejected them. That child would never grow to be a productive member of society. It was thought to be a kindness to let the child be claimed by the System, they would just disappear while everyone looked the other way. He hated people thinking he could never be more than his handicap. I know I will find a path, I know I will awaken. I just know it, he thought. Until that day, he would walk the path he chose until a better one presented itself. With a slight frown he looked to Brom and solemnly and said, ¡°You put up with me because Mistress Sara told you too. It¡¯s the same reason you started talking to me all those years ago. As for trouble, you know I¡¯ll find it, I always do.¡± He waved to the smith as he walked off into the market. The smith groaned and mumbled to himself, ¡°Does he intend to get into trouble or avoid it?¡± Gideon laughed at the smith¡¯s mumblings as he walked away. He hadn¡¯t gotten very far before the sound of the bellows pierced the air with their rhythmic tune. As usual, the smith had work to do. Chapter 2 The Streets Gideon left the smithy and all the noise behind him. ¡°I probably should get some of my work done on the way to breakfast,¡± he muttered. He looked around to see what needed done. In his eyes, Rime was a beautiful city, even the lower districts and dockside. Not that he had ever seen the inside of the walled portion of Rime in the city proper, or the vast wealth of the upper districts. The favela was his home, and likely the poorest of the lower districts, but he liked it here. From here he could see beyond what the locals called Poverty Gate up above the smithy. The morning sun reflected off the marbled stone of the buildings of Rime Proper. He swore to himself for the thousandth time, he would get a license to gain access. It sure was pretty, the white marble jutted above the walls and created an almost blinding light. He could see the winding trade road that snaked along the walls, through the gate and down to the docks. The trade road was used to transport exports to the docks and to bring shipments up into the city. There was a dirt access road that intersected the trade road in the lower districts near the dock. The access road traveled out of the city to the outer districts of Rime. These were the farms, tanners and other businesses that weren¡¯t or couldn¡¯t be practiced within the city. He shielded his eyes and looked higher still, up where the wealthy merchants, politicians, and the nobles lived. The Palace in the Clouds and the Academy of the Awakened decorated the mountainside. The city was massive in size, but from this vantage point he was able to take it all in, a truly spectacular view. ¡°Beautiful,¡± he said. One day I¡¯m going to see the Upper Districts with my own two eyes. I¡¯ll walk their streets. His normal path should have been through the academy, the school that everyone attended for a period of time for training prior to adulthood. Some went to learn to gain control of their abilities, to learn to harness the power of the void safely. Others went for the full training term, with hopes of becoming an adventurer, a master tradesman, or crafter. That is, everyone except those like him; Scamps as some called them, or the Voidless, people with no alpha path, no future, one of the worthless and unwanted. These strictures are what made him who he was today, an abandoned child that has only known the streets. Life wasn¡¯t all bad he thought sardonically. He had a job, he was a street sweeper. He maintained a small portion of the lower district¡¯s streets and he did it with pride. His area within the favela was kept pristine. He worked for Captain Daniels, the highest ranking guardsmen in the lower districts. The captain took Gideon and others like him in under his wing and paid them a modest wage to keep their part of the city clean. Gideon could hear the captain in his head now as if he were standing right next to him. ¡°You only live in the slums if you choose to believe that way. Treat your home with the respect she deserves and she will provide for you. Appreciate her streets or they will take their pound of flesh.¡± Gideon didn¡¯t know about appreciating the streets, but he appreciated Captain Daniels. He knew he survived this long because of the captain¡¯s intervention. As for the rest, Gideon didn¡¯t fully understand what the captain was getting at. He figured if he didn¡¯t view his corner of Rime as the slums and helped keep his district clean, then he did his part. That¡¯s what the captain meant as far as he was concerned. He turned the corner and bumped into someone, which was shortly followed by a barely perceptible tug. He snatched the hand before it could pull away. A pair of vibrant blue eyes stared back at him, ¡°Oh it¡¯s you,¡± a female voice said. ¡°You don¡¯t even have a purse to steal,¡± she then looked down away from his eyes. ¡°Are you going to let me go, or are we going to hold hands all morning? You know most would buy me breakfast first, you¡¯re being awfully presumptuous,¡± she said. She looked up and the smirk on her face matched the sarcastic tone she gave him. ¡°Raya, good morning. Oh, uh, um yeah sorry,¡± he stuttered as he released her hand. Raya was a tiny wisp of a girl with fine dark brown hair, blue eyes that reflected like the ocean, and button like features to go along with her petite form. Gideon had known her for many years. Like him, she was voidless. She was younger by at least a season. Unlike him, there was real hope that her alpha ability could awaken. His finger tips still tingled where he had held her hand. Why do I feel funny? Why did I like holding her hand? It did feel nice, he thought. He got stuck on that thought as he stared into her eyes, debating on taking her hand again. He did nothing and continued to stare like an idiot. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. ¡°You okay there Gideon? I don¡¯t know how you get by. If you have these brain farts all the time, it¡¯s going to catch up to you. One mistake and your caught.¡± She made a cutting motion across her neck. ¡°You should talk! I just caught you red handed. I¡¯ve told you to stop pick pocketing. It¡¯s going to get you into big trouble one of these days.¡± He tried to control his anger because this is a conversation that they have had several times. Raya wouldn¡¯t listen, and she would run off if he pressed too hard. Then it might be weeks before he saw her again. He didn¡¯t want that. ¡°There are so many ways for us to survive. Captain Daniels can help you¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want or need his help!¡± She said, interrupting Gideon. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to go on and on about the captain. He isn¡¯t my savior, nobody is. I survive just fine on my own.¡± Gideon knew this was a hopeless endeavor. Raya had a seeded distrust in men that grew and festered daily. He could see it becoming a burning hatred if it wasn¡¯t dealt with some day. He had a feeling some of the older boys gave her a hard time. She was pretty and had started gaining some of there attention in recent years. She even viewed good men like Captain Daniels the same as these other boys, all bad. This made helping her that much more difficult. ¡°Okay, no Captain Daniels. Is there anything I can help you with today. I have these few blocks to sweep this morning, but I find myself really busy. If you could maybe take care of my area, I could get paid by the captain and pass the coin to you?¡± She bit her lip in thought as she fidgeted, balancing from one foot to the other. ¡°You know, maybe your head isn¡¯t broken. How much you plan on skimming for all my hard work? People don¡¯t do things for me for free.¡± Gideon could see the anticipation in her posture, she wanted to take his offer but still had reservations. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what, I¡¯ll skim a penny for my work as the middle man, but if you¡¯re willing to hold my hand again sometime I might forget that I¡¯m owed a little off the top.¡± She blushed before she replied, ¡°I might have been wrong, you¡¯re heads still broken, but a penny sounds like a fair skim. I¡¯ll get started right away. I know where to find you to collect.¡± ¡°I was just joking about the holding hands anyway,¡± he said with more fervor than intended. Gideon sighed knowing his minor flirting had been discarded without even a second thought. Was he really joking? He didn¡¯t know because the words just slipped out. She sparked funny emotions in him and his thoughts weren¡¯t always his own when she was around. He realized what else she had just said. ¡°So you¡¯ll do it!¡± he asked excitedly. She had surprised him by accepting the job. ¡°That sounds good, make sure you do a good job. It was nice seeing you as always Raya, but I suppose I¡¯ll be seeing you again soon. Don¡¯t forget I owe you, so come find me.¡± Gideon realized this meant that Raya was going to come to his home. Come to see him. Sure it was to get coin, but still. They had never met up with each other before, not intentionally. In the past their interactions were casual encounters, things of pure coincidence. Sure, sometimes he had went to areas that he thought she might be. Always random, always in a street in the city. Never a personal visit. Maybe this was progress. ¡°I hope to see you again real soon,¡± he said quietly to himself. Gideon began to whistle as he walked away, leaving Raya to her work, or was it his work? Maybe it was a bridge to a new world? Today is already starting out as a good day. Lets see what else the streets bring, he thought. ¡°Plan B, How am I going to earn a few coins for a meal now? I should probably think things through before I give away my job?¡± he said, talking to himself. His stomach growled and reminded him again that it was upset about not having breakfast. Chapter 3 Docks of Rime The market was full of wonders. Gideon loved all the various things you could see and buy. Some said the lower sectors weren¡¯t as nice, but they had everything he needed and they were what he knew. Gideon considered what he wanted to look for in the market today. A loud bell began to ring, the clock-tower signaled the top of the hour and was playing its chime. He saw the Apostles of the Church of Yvaxaz, they had all begun prostrating to a small altar. The city allowed them these altars on the edge of market square for their worship at the bell. This wasn¡¯t the only god worshiped in the lower sectors, but Yvaxaz¡¯s apostles were the most fanatical and numerous. The guards of the city were Yvaxaz¡¯s largest group of worshipers. Gideon didn¡¯t know where he stood on gods. The Old Ones hadn¡¯t been seen in aeons. Then the new gods known as the Great Ones, or The pantheon of Man as others called them, were another tier of gods, one that walked the world. He thought they were likely men and women of great power, not gods. Why would gods serve man? Although there were stories. They say that Nyarlathotep would intervene on behalf of man. He was one of the Old Ones wasn¡¯t he? The final bell rang out from the clock tower and interrupted Gideons internal dialog. Gideon had shown his respects, sort of, but he now had things to do. He quickly moved on from the square. Gideon continued south through the market toward the docks, his eyes scanned for any opportunity that might present itself. Gideon preferred to beg and use his charm as another way to get by. Using charm was more suited to his personality and physical capabilities. His fingers had proved too clumsy to lend themselves well to being a pick pocket. Captain Daniels frowned upon the practice of thievery with his boys, so Gideon respected the man¡¯s wishes. Besides, he was a worse pick pocket than Raya, and that wasn¡¯t a very high bar. Beggars can¡¯t be choosers, and thieves need to choose wisely. Gideon followed the firm rule that he only stole as a last resort, and then only from travelers coming through the area, hence todays visit to the docks for a potential mark. The horizon was empty of ship masts however, the fishing barges having went out to see long before he awoke. There weren¡¯t any trade ships docked this morning, so a sea sick and unwitting traveler wasn¡¯t an option either. He took a deep breath, the smell of fish permeated the docks, blending with the smell of the salt from the sea. ¡°Well, charm it is, oh Prince of the Gutters¡± he said, laughing at his own joke. He approached the fish merchant Charlie. He was a nice man that like to personify a rough exterior, but Gideon¡¯s charisma had served him well in the past. He waited back away from the stall and watched as the man worked. He wanted to get a feel for Charlie''s mood today. Gideon knew if Charlie¡¯s stall was doing well, the man might be in a generous mood. He just had to play his cards right. He quietly watched as Charlie hawked his goods, yelling for anyone willing to listen. ¡°Freshest fish to be had today, trust me, you¡¯ll be having a tasty dinner tonight.¡± Gideon¡¯s sharp eyes saw that Charlie¡¯s small purse had some bulk to it this afternoon, so it looked like it had been a good day at the market for the fisherman. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. He made his decision and advanced on the fishmonger. ¡°Nobody wants your smelly fish!¡± Gideon said with a false malice. He smirked and waited for Charlie to see him as he came out of the shadows of another stall. When Charlie looked his way Gideon did the first thing that came to mind; he stuck out his tongue at the man. That will get his attention for sure, he thought. Charlie liked to play the game, liked to pretend to be resisting the boys charm. Gideon was up for a little acting if it meant a meal. The Hawker looked around, then back to Gideon. ¡°You there, get away from my stall. You¡¯re scaring away me customers with your filth and stench. Go take a bath, you smell worse than this fish!¡± Charlie shooed at Gideon. ¡°Leave me be.¡± The man tried to get back about his business, boasting about his fish again. Shouting his mantra over and over again as he attempted to ignore the scamp. I know he didn¡¯t just compare me to his stinky fish! Gideon put a hurt look on his face, playing on Charlie¡¯s softness. The man didn¡¯t like to offend anyone. He was a pleaser, an easy mark. ¡°My filth, how could you say such a thing to a little boy? You¡¯re scaring your customers away with your bad attitude and that filth in your hand. They know that isn¡¯t fresh mister!¡± Gideon smiled because he knew he had him. The look on Charlie¡¯s face told him everything he needed to know. He almost felt bad for the man, but continued his tirade. ¡°You know the boats haven¡¯t returned to the docks today, that¡¯s day old fish. The boats aren¡¯t due back until tonight, the docks are empty.¡± The fisherman looked his way again and threw the fish at him. ¡°Grrr! You know the names Charlie you little scamp, so stop acting like you don¡¯t know me. Now get before you actually cost me payin¡¯ customers.¡± The fisherman went along with the routine amicably. His faced twisted a little in an anger that surprised Gideon. ¡°Enough with the little boy routine, you ain¡¯t so little anymore.¡± Charlie yelled while trying to keep a smile from his face. ¡°Don¡¯t be stirring up more trouble than you can handle. You have a bad habit of it for sure.¡± Gideon picked up the fish and nodded Charlie¡¯s way. ¡°Thank you kindly. I do believe I was mistaken, this fish smells plenty fresh and will be fine dining indeed.¡± Charlie smiled at him and made a shooing motion without another word. Gideon skipped away with a smile on his face and his morning breakfast tucked into his sack. He glided north back through the market, searching for another sympathetic face. The scent of fresh baked bread began to fill his nostrils, drowning out the smell of the ever present fish. ¡°It smells like Mrs. Webster and her cart are somewhere nearby. Maybe she¡¯ll be feeling motherly today and I can get a muffin or a roll.¡± He thought back to the fisherman and his kindness. Charlie was married and Gideon believed they had a young whelp or two. When Gideon made extra coin begging or picking pockets, he would sneak a few coins into the mans stall to repay the kindness. The coin never equaled what he owed the man, but it was all the young boy was able to do. While he didn¡¯t know if karma was a real thing or not, he always figured it best to stay on the positive side of the scale. As he looked around the favela it occurred to him that in another life he may not have balanced things out nearly so well. Chapter 4: The Good Captain ¡­then there was Yvaxaz. The god of death, destruction and war. Yvaxaz became the favored spawn of Shub-Niggurath, the All Mother. While many of his features are vestigial in nature, the genealogy is undeniable. Aside from the lack of a Cyclopean presence, Yvaxaz, The Great Progenitor is made up of a primordial mass capable of amoeba like procreation. In times of great war he has been known to divide himself into several parts to create offspring. These offspring become his generals in his great crusade. Others call him Yvaxaz, The Keeper of R¡¯lyeh. He is the guardian over the gates to Cthulhu¡¯s resting place¡­ Excerpt: Awakened By HPL Gideon followed the bread smell, hunting for where Mrs. Webster had set up her cart. He jogged and skipped around the large market, kicking up dust as he went about. The heat of the day crept up on Gideon and he had built up a good sweat. As he moved about, he heard the usual shouts of merchants hawking their goods. He also heard the usual responses the Hawkers yelled to the urchins of the city. ¡°Get¡±, and ¡°Off with you¡±, and ¡°I got nothing for you today!¡± He politely smiled or gave a courteous nod or a ¡°Hello¡± to everyone that acknowledge him in anyway. Kill them with kindness he thought to himself, because you never know when they¡¯ll have a helping hand to offer. Better to be remembered as the kindly boy, not the thief or miscreant. ¡°You there! Gideon, come over here,¡± a mans voice said. Gideon turned and looked about for its origin. A man was walking toward him. He wore leathers with various metal plates blocking vital points. ¡°Are you behaving yourself or you up to no good today?¡± the man asked as he approached. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be cleaning up your blocks of the district. If you want slums I can find you some to move to.¡± ¡°Captain Daniels, how are you?¡± Gideon said, ¡°I am of course up to no good as I should be,¡± he continued, with a hint of as smile on his face. ¡°What else is there to do? I won¡¯t be adventuring any time soon¡­or ever.¡± He said, mumbling the last bit . ¡°As for the sweeping, I¡¯ve recruited Raya to sweep on my behalf. She needed the coin and well you know¡­¡± Gideon trailed off. Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. The captain smiled at this. ¡°Oh, that is wonderful news, there is hope for you yet. It is such a fickle world my boy, I know your ability will awaken when it¡¯s needed. Or maybe you want to stay a lazy scamp forever?¡± he said with a twinkle in his eye. ¡°Bah, I¡¯m just teasing. I was actually looking for you, and yes I understand with Raya. Don¡¯t be thinking there is extra pay coming your way because two of you are doing the job.¡± ¡°Of course not sir. What can I do for you today Captain Daniels,¡± Gideon said. Putting emphasis on ¡°Captain¡±. Captain Daniels is one of the guard captains for the city. From everything Gideon has heard, the captain has been offered promotions but has turned them down, choosing to stay the captain of the Rime¡¯s lower districts. The captain has helped him many times over the years and has been a father figure for many of the kids on the streets. They owed him everything, yet he has asked for nothing. ¡°I told you to call me, Oh never mind! I just wanted to check on you and make sure you hadn¡¯t been having any trouble with those nobleman¡¯s spoiled brats from the second district. I¡¯ve put some feelers out on trying to control them coming down here to bother you and the rest. Coin is it¡¯s own shield though, one that can be difficult to overcome.¡± The concerned look on his face was genuine and Gideon could appreciate that. Gideon had longed for a family, longed to be cared for. He had dreamed of it for as long as he could remember. He knew little boys should have a family, but never understood why he didn¡¯t. Life had harsh lessons for those like him. Captain Daniels was the closest thing he had to that, but with unspoken boundaries. Captain Daniels stepped toward him, ¡°I got something for you,¡± the captain said as he pulled half a loaf of bread from his bag. The smile on Gideon¡¯s face went from ear to ear at the sight of the bread. ¡°Sir! Thank you so much, I was just looking for the Webster cart. You know Mr. Webster doesn¡¯t like us scamps coming to the bakery, I hoped to find her and her cart in the market for fresh bread.¡± The captain laughed harshly, ¡°I can¡¯t imagine why,¡± the Captain said with a smirk. ¡°Well then it is a lucky thing for you, lucky that I found her early. Her bread was going fast today. You¡¯d have been lucky to get scraps. I bought a few loaves, so I¡¯m going to make my rounds and pass them out. Now off with you. Don¡¯t forget to cook that smelly fish you got from Charlie because it might be getting a bit ripe in this heat. Now behave yourself,¡± he said and walked off in pursuit of his other projects. Why does everyone keep telling me to be good, I don¡¯t cause that much trouble do I? There was lots of trouble out there for children like him, trouble that made scamps disappear. Captain Daniels had once asked Gideon why scamps didn¡¯t group together for protection. The captain didn¡¯t understand what too many mouths and not enough food could do to a street group. Gideon had never seen actual cannibalism, but he¡¯d seen a small group fall apart, torn apart from the inside when times were tight. He¡¯d also noticed that the small and weak would gradually disappear. He didn¡¯t like to think about what happened to those children. He shook his head clear. ¡°Onto more cheerful thoughts,¡± he said. ¡°Like cooking breakfast.¡± Chapter 5: Confrontations Gideon worked his way to the backside of the docks. He climbed over the railing and made his way to the beach. The heat stones that littered the shore were perfect for cooking his fish. He sat down and pulled out his skinning knife from his boot. ¡°This is definitely getting a little ripe,¡± he said. Should I risk eating this? It¡¯s still good isn¡¯t it? His stomach growled again. Can¡¯t be helped, I need to eat. He knew of other scamps that ate bad food, food from the rubbish heaps. These scamps would get violently sick and he never wanted that for himself. Gideon cleaned the fish quickly and filleted it. He rinsed the fillets and his knife in the salty water. He placed the fillets on one of the flat heat stones and was greeted with the sound of searing meat. The pungent smell had dissipated, and his nostrils were filled with the wonderful fragrance of breakfast. He cut off a couple small pieces to cook them faster. Unable to wait, he plopped a small piece into his watering mouth. ¡°So good,¡± he moaned quietly. He was so focused on his breakfast he didn¡¯t hear the old man sneak up on him. An old man stood before him, his crazed eyes were sunk deep in the sockets of his face. It¡¯s old man Hizel. He¡¯s probably hungry. ¡°Do you want some?¡± Gideon said. He gestured toward the cooking fish. ¡°I have plenty to share.¡± Hizel was a former priest for one god or another. He¡¯d lost his mind many years ago. Some say it was in his sleep to a dream, it had leeched his sanity away. Gideon normally avoided him when he could, but he didn¡¯t dislike the old man, he just found interacting with him awkward. He held out a few chunks of fish to the old man. Hizel began to chant loudly. ¡°Dream the dream of life, dream of your strife. Dream the dream of death, merge and take your breath. Dream the dream eternal!¡± Hizel gestured to the water and area around him. ¡°He is coming. The stars have told me, I see the map. It will be in our lifetime. His dream will wash over us all, washing away the burden of our minds. The deep ones will be the heralds of his call,¡± the old man said with a mad vigor. ¡°Going to be one of those days is it,¡± Gideon muttered as the old man walked away. Hizel took a few chunks of fish with him. Gideon watched as the old man went into the water and laid the fish on a stone altar that was barely above the tide. He spoke softly. From this distance Gideon could no longer hear him. He watched, lost in his thoughts. Hopefully he eats that, I¡¯d hate to waste perfectly good fish. A noise from behind caught Gideon¡¯s attention. ¡°What do we have here? A little runaway scamp,¡± the voiced said. Gideon turned to see Blake and his cronies Razor and Grifter. Great, the nobleman¡¯s son that the Captain had mentioned. Why does he like to come to the the favela to bully and lord over the scamps. There went my good day. Can¡¯t be helped I suppose. First I woke up late, then I got bad fish, and now this. Blake lead the group toward Gideon. He was dressed in a fine black coat and trousers. His loose black hair completed the picture of a raven turn flesh. A dark glint in his eye spoke of malice and ill intent. Razor walked a step behind him, her hair cropped short and bleached platinum. It framed her stern angular face well. Grifter brought up the rear, his features so plain you could never place where you¡¯d seen him before. Grifter walked with a relaxed confidence. Gideon didn¡¯t like him, his anxiety spiked when the young man was around. ¡°This is our beach little scamp. I thought we told you not to come here? Didn¡¯t we tell him?¡± Blake asked, looking to his friends. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°We sure did Blake,¡± Grifter said with a chuckle. Razor grunted her acknowledgment. ¡°I thought so,¡± Blake said. The three started to spread out and circle Gideon. ¡°Look guys, I think he is cooking us a little snack.¡± Blake looked disgusted as he eyed the food. ¡°We¡¯re not bottom feeders like you scamps. I wouldn¡¯t eat that if I were starving. We don¡¯t eat garbage. Do you really survive on this disgusting filth.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll eat it,¡± Grifter said suddenly from Gideons side. Grifter had slid into his blind spot in the blink of an eye. Damn, I got distracted by Blake and let my guard down. So stupid. Grifter snatched a fillet off the stone and took a bite. ¡°You know what Blake, you were right, this is garbage and tastes like dung.¡± he spit out the fish and tossed the fillet down the beach. ¡°How can you eat that?¡± Gideon was indecisive, frozen until that moment. The image of his food landing in the dirt brought a focus back into his eyes. He grabbed a handful of sand and tossed it into Blake¡¯s face. The rage flowed through him and came out in a scream. ¡°Why can¡¯t you just leave me be? I¡¯m not bothering anyone.¡± He spun toward Grifter, but the boy had vacated the space. He was blindsided as Razor¡¯s fist connected with his jaw from the opposite side; his vision swam. The world blurred as he was struck repeatedly. All Gideon could hear was the ringing in his ears and the maniacal laughter of Grifter as he cheered her on. ¡°Hold him up,¡± Blake directed. Gideon was lifted off the ground. He felt fingers placed under his chin. They guided his head up to look into the eyes of Blake. ¡°You scamps never learn. This is my city!¡± he shouted into Gideon¡¯s face. Gideon spit out the blood that was welling in his mouth, dousing Blake with blood and saliva. ¡°You dare! You¡¯ll pay for that. Let him go.¡± The two released Gideon and he fell to the ground. I feel so weak. I can¡¯t focus. I need to clear my head. Get it together Gideon! He was unable to do anything but stare up at Blake, far too weak to resist. He stared into the dark raging storm building in Blake¡¯s eyes. Gideon felt a heat building near him. Blake¡¯s arm burst into flames. ¡°You deserve this you filthy scamp. I¡¯m going to brand you like the animal that you are.¡± Blake, his hand engulfed in flame, struck out at Gideon with the intent to brand and maim him. On reflex, Gideon held up his arm to protect his face. The expected pain never came. Gideon looked up, not understanding. Glowing metal plates on his arm shielded him from the attack. The glowing plates were shaped like a shield, a shield that was made from energy that came from within him. Gideon stared at his arm in amazement. Everyone stared at his arm, shock on their faces. ¡°Well well, the scamp is growing up,¡± Razor said, a look of wonder on her face. Gideon saw words displayed before him. He felt a presence all around him. How had he never noticed it all before? {{Congratulations! Alpha Ability: Armor of the Protector awakened. Congratulations! Alpha Skill: Immovable Object unlocked. Alpha Skill Slots remaining: two. Welcome to the System, Welcome to the void!}} Chapter 6: Welcome to the System Nyarlathotep, ¡°The Shadow Piper¡± had collected followers like a pile of feces collects flies. The musical tones destroyed the minds of those in his entourage. The Shadowman¡¯s obsequious nature to the cyclopean Old Ones had come to an end, he had plans of his own. He delivered a new message today, he was done with the games of the other Elder Gods and now had a game of his own to play. The Rebel Shoggoth, the slave race that evolved and gained sentience, he had found their prison. The ¡°Builders of Worlds¡±, their massive black bodies were covered in a noxious slime, they slithered and rolled about as they left the prison. Teeth, eyes, tentacles, and claws jutted out in a horrific amalgamation of body parts. Nyarlathotep watched as the creatures fed on his followers, those that he had lead here to their deaths. Soon the Shoggoth would breed, transforming the mass gained from their meal into offspring. He would release chaos onto the universe. Now everyone would play his game. Excerpt: Awakened By HPL The message startled Gideon, he had heard of the system, but never experienced it himself. He smiled up at Blake, elation written clearly on his face. Gideon pushed back against Blake¡¯s assault, smashing the boy in the face with the shield of energy. The flames up the boys arms went out after he took the blow to the face. The others took a step back from Gideon, with looks of concern. Gideon stared daggers at Blake. ¡°You had enough or should I smash your face again?¡± Gideon glanced at his arm, the shield was still present. It doesn¡¯t look much like a shield does it? Why is the energy fading in and out. The shape is unstable? I hope I can hold it just a little longer. It may not look very impressive, but it seems to be keeping them back. He looked around and assessed the situation. He turned threateningly to Razor and Grifter. ¡°How about you two? You guys want a piece of me? Come on!¡± ¡°You¡¯re still a nothing. I¡¯ll cut you down to size,¡± Razor said. ¡°Blake, are we done with this scamp or you want to rough him up some more? I¡¯ll happily show him what real power is.¡± Gideon saw a look of worry cross her face. It was only there for a second, but it was definitely there. She is giving Blake an out. A way to save face. I bet she is ready to get out of here. Should I try to push her more? Gideon really wanted to ride the high of his awakening, but he also realized he was in trouble and maybe things could take a turn for the worse. He knew he really didn¡¯t understand his power yet, and he should bow out and do the smart thing, he meant to give them the out that she had so nicely provided. Instead he did what any hot headed youth might do and he said, ¡°Of course he¡¯s ready to go, he doesn¡¯t want smacked around again. I¡¯ll finally get to put him in his place.¡± Blake¡¯s face turned a vibrant shade of red, the flames began dancing up and down his arms again. He wiped the blood from his nose, the flames reflected a hatred in his eyes. A hatred that burned deeper than any flame ever could. It was in that moment Gideon realized he had made a mistake. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you. I¡¯ll burn your body to a charcoaled husk and use the coals to warm our hearth in the winter. You are Dead! De¡­¡± A voice came from up the beach. ¡°Now what is going on here I wonder?¡± Gideon turned toward the voice. He saw a man stepping down the stones leading to the beach front, it was Captain Daniels. ¡°I was out for a stroll and I heard some noise. At first I hoped for pirates so I could get a little work out in this morning.¡± Captain Daniels glanced Gideon¡¯s way, a momentary look of shock crossed his face. The look barely registered before it returned to the stern stoic face of an emotionless guard captain performing his duty. Gideon noticed that the flames Blake had summoned were dying down so he tried to release his armor as well. It took him a moment, but he figured it out. Once accomplished, it felt like an instinctual and simple process, like he¡¯d always known how. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ¡°Crap, it¡¯s Captain Daniels. It¡¯s time to go.¡± Razor said. She looked ready to run on a moments notice. Her lithe form was taught like a spring. However, Blake didn¡¯t take her hint or share her enthusiasm to run. ¡°Captain, this little scamp assaulted us. I demand you arrest him,¡± Blake said. The pompous nature of the boy didn¡¯t stop there and he continued. ¡°My father will hear of your failure. You can¡¯t even protect the nobility as they walk the dockside. Your incompetence allowed me to suffer these travesties.¡± ¡°Thats not true! He attacked me with his fire, I just defended myself.¡± The frustration on Gideon¡¯s face was plain. Tears flowed freely now that the stress of the moment had come to a head. Captain Daniels looked to Blake and stared for a time before he replied. ¡°So that is your statement, you were attacked and bested by a voidless scamp? Well, I guess that would be formerly voidless scamp now, wouldn¡¯t it? During the assault, the two of you awakened prodigies were beaten? Your academy enrollment is this year isn¡¯t it? I wonder what the Headmaster will think of future students not only deploying powers against a voidless, but then getting beaten. You may not make the final cut for enrollment.¡± Captain Daniels looked to Gideon. ¡°Well boy, I¡¯m going to have to take you in for questioning. It¡¯s a routine practice you understand?¡± Blake turned a shocked looked on the captain. ¡°Hold up captain. I never said I was filing charges or that we were beaten in anyway. Watch yourself, you shouldn¡¯t make up such falsehoods.¡± Blake shifted and pointed to Gideon. ¡°I just said that this trash attempted to attack us. He is obviously sick in the head and a danger to himself and others on the streets. Look at him! He is having a breakdown right now.¡± ¡®But¡­¡± Gideon stammered. The Captain shut him up with a single look, a look that said ¡°Not Now¡±. Gideon¡¯s survival instincts kicked in and he pivoted. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I was thinking, I¡¯m sorry Captain.¡± ¡°That apology belongs to me scamp,¡± Blake said, ¡°You offended me, not him.¡± ¡°If I hear you utter that one more time, wealthy father or not, we are going to have a problem. Now get on your way,¡± Captain Daniels said. He approached Gideon, ¡°As for you, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re going to have to come with me son. We¡¯ll discuss what you were thinking, and the mischief caused, but not now. We¡¯ll have a long conversation back at the barracks.¡± Gideon watched the two walk away. A sudden realization dawned on him. Grifter was gone. He must have disappeared when the captain arrived. Had the Captain seen him? Did he even notice that Grifter had been here at all? Gideon had never thought about it before, but was Grifter¡¯s plainness some part of his ability? He would pay more attention to it in the future. The captain motioned for him to follow. They started back toward the city. On the wind Gideon caught the slight whisper of the crazy old man. ¡°Dream the dream of life, dream of your strife. Dream the dream of death, merge and take your breath. Dream the dream eternal!¡± The captain stopped upon hearing the old man. Gideon thought he looked a bit irritated. The captain walked back toward the old man. ¡°Hizel! Get out of the water,¡± Captain Daniels yelled at the old man. The captain looked down at Gideon, ¡°That crazy old man is going to get himself killed someday, or worse, us.¡± Gideon and the captain traveled up through the docks and then into the market square near his favela district. The captain stopped suddenly, Gideon didn¡¯t understand why or what was going on. Then he saw one of the strangest sights. Raya sitting on a public bench like she was just any other person. ¡°Gideon, I need you to wait here for me. Do not move, do you understand?¡± He only nodded and the captain walked off. He watched as the captain slowly approached the bench and sat down on the opposite end. There was a brief interaction between the two and then the captain returned. The captain didn¡¯t say a word about the encounter and Gideon was left wondering what he had just witnessed. Chapter 7: Raya Watches The darkness calls, the mind reels, sanity wains. Ignore her, run. She is looking to breed. Excerpt: Progeny of the All Mother By HPL Raya did a slow walk through the streets as she inspected her work. Looking for any missed garbage. She had run the sweeper and polished the cobblestones and wanted to double check her work. The opportunity was appreciated and she didn¡¯t want to let Gideon down after the favor he¡¯d done for her. Raya played dumb in the moment, but she understood he was sacrificing his earnings for her. The memory of earlier brought a smile to her face, her hand subconsciously going to the spot he had held her wrist, touched her hand. Her trust for people didn¡¯t come easy, but Gideon was wearing on her. Breaking down walls slowly over the years. She¡¯d never caught him doing it, but suspected he is the one that would sneak into her sewer hideout, leaving bread and meats. Once, she had returned home to find a new blanket folded neatly on her pallet, a gift for Grand Awakening. The irony in her receiving a gift to celebrate the system wasn¡¯t lost on her. They celebrated when the System went live in the world and had awakened abilities in the populace. It was the day that she was forgotten, but someone remembered her, even if the System didn¡¯t. She sat on the bench enjoying the sun as she admired a job well done. The hope was that Captain Daniels agreed, otherwise he may give Gideon a hard time. She was startled from her thoughts when a shadow passed over her. Looking up she discovered and the captain was standing in her sun. Weird, it''s like thinking of him caused him to appear. He must be some kind of boogie man, she thought. She chuckled at her own thoughts as she looked to the captain. There was nowhere to run and not much point in trying. The captain could catch her if he really wanted to, so she relaxed and waited. The captain stood at the opposite end of the bench. He said nothing, just looked at her. He slowly placed a bread roll on the opposite end of the bench and quietly walked away. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered in a barely audible voice. It¡¯s the thought that counts and her appreciation was genuine. She knew Captain Daniels meant well and he worked with many of the children of the lower district. He gave so much of his own time and resources back to the children. She wasn¡¯t sure if the work they did was paid for by the city or by the captain himself, but the programs were surely the captain¡¯s ideas. I should try to find a way to trust the captain, he seems a good man. This thought brought her full circle back to Gideon. She would start with trusting him first. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. She slid down the bench and grabbed the bread after it¡¯s rich smells caused her belly to growl. She tore a small knot off and slowly ate it, savoring each bite. ¡°Yum, so good¡± she said, the enjoyment written on her face. She watched people walk by and listened to hawkers shouting their services. Raya was a people watcher, but from a distance, from the shadows. Sitting here in the open like a regular person felt odd to her. She didn¡¯t like it. Too open, too many angles for people to approach. She stood and started to head toward an alleyway, toward comfort. ¡°Well hello little mouse¡± a voice said, startling her. She turned abruptly toward the voice and met the shifting eyes of a nondescript boy. The smirk on his face was disarming. ¡°Grifter,¡± she said. She looked around, searching for the rest of his group. ¡°Where are the other two? Or are you going to hassle me by yourself?¡± ¡°Hassle? Since when do I hassle you? I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve ever troubled you little mouse. So don¡¯t be too upset with me.¡± ¡°Just because you do nothing when the others pick on me doesn¡¯t make you free of guilt. If you have two bad eggs and there is a third egg, the third egg is bad as well. Now get lost, I was having a good day, I don¡¯t want you to ruin it.¡± Her voice raising near the end. She turned and started marching away, not interested in what he had to say anymore. ¡°Tsk tsk, I thought you¡¯d want to know your boyfriend has been a naughty boy.¡± He said with a laugh. ¡°What!¡± she said as she turned, but he was gone. She grunted in annoyance. ¡°He creeps me out when he disappears like that. I wonder what is going on with Gideon.¡± She continued toward the alley, irritated that she had acknowledged Gideon as the boyfriend in her head so quickly. She would need to think more on what that meant later. For now, she had to figure out what was going on, what Grifter was talking about. In the alley, she scaled the walls to the rooftops. She hoped the better view would help her figure out what was going on, help her find Gideon. After a time she Spotted Captain Daniels as he lead Gideon on the far side of the market square. It was hard to determine from this distance, but the Captain did not look like the helpful and caring man that had given her bread a short while ago. He walked with a purpose now. Gideon followed behind the captain dragging his feet, an anxious expression on his face. ¡°Crap, what did he do? I hope Captain Daniels isn¡¯t punishing him for letting me do his work?¡± she said quietly. The guilt crept into her stomach as she watched them march into the City Guard¡¯s Compound. Before they entered into the compound, Gideon looked her way. She swore and stepped back into the shadows. Had he seen me? It sure felt like his eyes met mine, but how could they. He couldn¡¯t have known I was up here. After they disappeared inside, Raya decided it was time to go. It is time to get scarce until things return to normal. I have had enough of people for the day, maybe for the week. Raya could feel the chaos stirring. Big changes were coming and she didn¡¯t want to be around when they got here. She made her way back down to street level. From there she took a circular route to make sure she wasn¡¯t being followed, finally making her way back to the sewers. When chaos reigned, it was easier to endure from home. Chapter 8: A Sponsor They walked in silence through the the Market of the lower district. Gideon¡¯s anxiety continued to build as the time stretched on. Captain Daniels lead the way, a somber look on his face, a stride that showed determination. Gideon saw street friends and associates as they walked through the city, they sat watching him from the shadows. Most of them worked for the captain, one of his children as the city called us. They would never interfere with official guardsmen business, never try to save him. The gates to the City Guards Barracks for the lower district were just ahead. Gideon caught a wisp of brown hair, and maybe it was just his imagination, but he could have sworn the vibrant blue eyes as well. Then Raya slipped into the shadows and was gone. They were nearly to the barracks of Lower Rime and Gideon was trying to psych himself up to argue his case with the captain. They passed through the gate leading into the guard compound. Gideon was so lost in thought on how to clear himself, it was a long moment before he realized they had passed the barracks. Why hadn¡¯t they stopped he thought. ¡°Captain, I thought we were going to the barracks? I don¡¯t mind taking a tour of Rime, but my breakfast got cut short and I¡¯d like to give it another try.¡± Gideon tried to make light of the situation, he hoped the captain would play along. He had no such luck. ¡°Hush yourself boy, this isn¡¯t a conversation to be had in public.¡± Captain Daniels shook his head, ¡°I think¡­never you mind, later boy, just later.¡± The Captain stuttered. Multiple thoughts spilled out of his mouth at once. Gideon had never seen the captain so rattled, the lines on the captains face stood out and showed his age. Gideon had never noticed them before, the captain was always timeless. When had he aged? Realizing the seriousness of the situation Gideon went from afraid to terrified. How could a day that started so good turn so bad in a short time. They approached a small building in the back of the guard compound. Captain Daniels opened the door and stepped aside. He motioned for Gideon to enter. ¡°Lets go son, it¡¯s time we talked.¡± Gideon entered the building and the captain followed close behind. He pulled the door shut behind him. Gideon looked around the small room. There was very little in the room. A small wooden desk and chair were in the corner with a Magitek lamp sitting on top of the desk. A small pallet with a mattress sat in the opposite corner, its blankets were pristine and neatly folded. Gideon continued to look around and noticed there were very few personal items or affects in the room. A mannequin stood in the final corner and served as an armor stand. A set of guard armor hung on the mannequin, clean and polished. ¡°Captain, is this your room?¡± Gideon asked after noticing a stack of small sacks on a wall shelf. The same sacks that the captain used for the goody bags he handed out to the scamps of lower district. ¡°Yes son, this is where I live. It¡¯s not much, but it is all I need. What¡¯s important is the privacy in here and the private training yard out back.¡± He opened the narrow door between the bunk and desk, then presented the area beyond as though it were a prize. Gideon looked out the door and saw another mannequin, this one had strange arms that stuck out at odd angles. The captain followed Gideons eyes and said ¡°It¡¯s a magitek training dummy. As you attack, it absorbs the blows and channels the power of your attacks back in spinning strikes with the arms. It can be pretty tricky and very random. So it simulates fighting an unpredictable opponent. For training purposes, nothing is better than a real fight, but it works.¡± This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Gideon nodded his head at the captains words. ¡°Captain, but why are we here? I thought I was to be punished, or even jailed. I don¡¯t know what, but not this, not going to your home. Whatever this is, it¡¯s not what I expected?¡± ¡°Son, what this is is a celebration,¡± the captain said, a smile on his face. The stress seemed to wash away from the captain¡¯s face in that one sentence. ¡°I knew you would awaken, I could sense the void in you. I never gave up on you. Never doubted. Today is the first day of your life. The world will be different, a new experience. That is what this is Gideon. We need to get your training started. You are way behind and have a very short time before the Academy¡¯s enrollment. We need to have you ready.¡± ¡°What!? I¡¯m not attending the academy. I can¡¯t, I mean I don¡¯t. No I can¡¯t go,¡± Gideon stuttered. Captain Daniels laughed, ¡°Calm down son, you can and you will, with my help. I¡¯m going to train you and I¡¯m going to sponsor you. Son, I don¡¯t get a lot of success stories down here in the lower districts. You can¡¯t expect me to not go all in and back you? I need this, your fellow scamps need this. They need to know it is possible. Your story will show them a new narrative. One of a scamp rising from obscurity. It¡¯s a story of real hope my boy!¡±¡± ¡°But captain, you heard Blake and the others earlier, I am nothing and worth nothing. Even with an awakening I am not their equal. I can¡¯t change where I come from. I¡¯ll always be a nothing to everyone because that is what the System decided, they will remember where I come from. That I was voidless without a path in life.¡± ¡°Boy you can¡¯t be voidless, the void has awakened in you and given you a path. The hardships you suffered were necessary. The path the void is going to direct you down required as much. I don¡¯t know what that path is, but I¡¯m going to make sure you¡¯re ready. I¡¯ve heard enough of this nonsense and self doubt, lets get to work.¡± Gideon looked into the captains eyes. For a brief moment he saw something, he saw the System. He thought back to the fight with Blake when the system had awakened his path, presented itself to him. ¡°Thank you Captain Daniels, I see your point. I¡¯ll get stronger so my status as an awakened can¡¯t be denied. I¡¯ll show everyone that scamps aren¡¯t less, that we are just different. I¡¯ll do my best to make you proud.¡± The captain stared for a long moment. The silence was a tension in the air. That tension was broken by a single tear that ran down the captain¡¯s face. ¡°I told you to call me¡­Oh forget it. More important than all that son, have fun and live your best life now. Be whatever it is you want to be. Do whatever it is you have dreamed of doing. The only thing I ask in return is that you set a good example for the other boys. They feel there is nothing in this world for them, we are going to show them the truth. Now let¡¯s get to work,¡± Captain Daniels said with a sigh.