《Regicide》


 Part 1

    In a village with tall walls, winter descends; gentle but firm. You sit on the side of a road. An empty bowl in hand, but you don''t possess the energy to beg. Hollow cheeks and sunken eyes tell the people out and about how long it¡¯s been since you¡¯ve eaten. So they pass by; either too unfortunate to help themselves, let alone another person, or just unwilling. You don¡¯t watch the faces moving by, choosing instead to look at your hands growing darker from the cold.


    Then a pair of boots stops in front of you. ¡°When¡¯s the last time you ate?¡± the voice belonging to the boots asks. You slowly shake your head. You don¡¯t know. ¡°Can you stand?¡± the boots ask again. A quick look to your short legs, exposed and numb in the cold air and shake your head again. Strong arms embrace you, lifting your small frame off the hard ground. Light as a feather you''re carried somewhere unknown. Having been so long since you¡¯ve felt a warm body, your eyes close.


    When they open, you¡¯re wrapped in a blanket, clean, unlike your clothes. A fireplace ablaze warms a cozy room. The pair of boots walk in and set a plate of stew and bread before you. ¡°It''s been a while since you''ve eaten, so only soft stuff for you. Otherwise, you might tear your stomach. And we wouldn''t want that now, would we?¡± A chuckle is met with silence. Skinny arms struggle to bring food to your mouth. You eat in silence watching the flames dance.


    ¡°Ready to get washed up?¡± Dinner is finished. You nod slowly. ¡°Good.¡± You¡¯re carried to another room. The tub of water sitting above a small kindling is the only furnishing. A whispered incantation and a gesture of the thumb and sparks flash, lighting a tiny fire under the tub. You¡¯re lowered into the warming water, and gentle hands wash away weeks of filth.


    Dressed in a shirt far too big for you. ¡°We''ll get you some proper clothes in the morning. For now, get some sleep.¡± The strong arms lay you in a soft bed, and wrap the blanket snug. ¡°Good night.¡± The door closes. Lying on a bed softer than anything you¡¯ve ever felt, freshly clean, and a belly full of food, sleep finds you quickly.


    Gentle hands rouse you from slumber, carrying you to the marketplace, protected from the early morning cold by the blanket you refused to let go of. Purchasing more form-fitting clothes, the return home passes by the spot where you were just last night.


    Days pass and you can stand again, always walking around with the blanket. Color has returned to your skin and an appetite for heavier food. Your caretaker laughs at your horrendous eating habits. ¡°You need the meat on your bones, not around your mouth,¡± the smile across the table often says and you often laugh.


    Spring comes and you¡¯re a healthy weight. Running around the house and the village, with a smile and the blanket in your hand. No longer a homeless little beggar, people greet you, responding to the recent light in your eyes. One day, out on franother errand with your caretaker, an announcer comes to the marketplace. ¡°All able bodies are to assist the Crown¡¯s Army in a hunt for a Drake! It will commence in five days time! Weapons and rarmorrrccc will be supplied for those without! By order of the Crown!¡±


    ¡°You know, I moved here to avoid things like this. But I guess nowhere¡¯s safe from the whims of our ruler.¡±


    The next day, you wake to the sound of wood clacking against wood. Dragging the blanket, you see your caretaker. Taking practice swings with a stick on a hastily made dummy. ¡°Did I wake you?¡± You nod. ¡°Sorry, just want to make sure I''m not too rusty.¡± With a strong slash, the dummy falls over. ¡°Though, I suppose a Drake would put up a better fight than this. Think you could do better?¡± You nod again.


    A stick lands at your feet and you ready the weapon. ¡°Lesson one: a good stance is everything.¡± A boot pushes your feet apart. ¡°Lesson two: always keep your sword between you and your opponent. Never let it go.¡± A quick incantation is said, vines sprout from the ground and wrap around your teacher¡¯s wrist and the stick. ¡°Lesson three: know where you''re going to swing.¡± The sticks collide, the lesson continues, and you acquire a taste for swordplay.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    But the days and the lessons pass by too quickly before your caretaker leaves into town. Your blanket makes a poor disguise as you follow. Hiding in the carriage intended for the hunters, concealing yourself under the seats next to some equipment. A total of five hunters pile in, unaware of their extra cargo. You overhear the voice of your caretaker. ¡°Okay, we stick together, corner the beast, and when the Crown¡¯s Army arrives we¡¯ll surround it and attack from the sides.¡±


    ¡°Easier said than done.¡±


    ¡°It''ll be fine, we''ve got a Caster with us.¡±


    ¡°Yeah? You ever fought a Drake before?¡±


    ¡°I never fought anything before. This is my first time out of the village.¡±


    ¡°Gods above.¡±


    ¡°Well, I''ve fought plenty of times. Stay close to me, and you''ll be fine.¡± The hunters, done with the pep talk fall silent as the Caster recites a long incantation. A strong wind pushes the carriage, propelling it to the Drake¡¯s lair.


    You¡¯ve been silent all this time but dust tickles your nose, and no longer able to hold it in you sneeze. A hunter pulls you from under the seat.


    ¡°What are you doing here?!¡±


    ¡°I reckon the kid wanted to see a Drake, amiright?¡± You nod.


    ¡°Please don''t encourage this behavior.¡±


    ¡°Should we turn around?¡±


    ¡°We don''t have time, the Crown¡¯s Army is expecting us. ¡®Sides the beast might leave soon and I sure as seven hells don''t feel like tracking it.¡± An angry finger points at you.


    ¡°You stay right here. Understand?¡± You nod. The sound of splintering wood bursts before your world starts to spin. The wagon rolls over twice before coming to a rest. You and the hunters stumble out the wreckage to come face-to-face with the sought after Drake. Razor sharp teeth greet you with a hideous snarl that shakes your bones. The hunters scramble to get into some semblance of formation.


    ¡°GET BEHIND ME!¡± a rapid incantation is shot off and a gust of wind pushes the Drake back. The hunters advance and you retreat to some bushes. Swords clang on shields to harass the ears of the large lizard. The horrid creature swings a massive tail narrowly dodged by the hunters.


    ¡°THAT WAS TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT!¡±


    ¡°KEEP TOGETHER! WE ALMOST HAVE IT CORNERED!¡± They continue to press the beast back, its scales rubbing against a large boulder. Its sharp claws dig into the rock to make an escape, foiled by a sword slicing through a tendon. A loud thud of the earth and the Drake falls on its back.


    ¡°WE CAN KILL IT NOW!¡±


    ¡°STAY BACK YOU FOOL!¡± But the fool rushes forward, eager to claim the glory of the kill. The Drake inhales and spews forth a torrent of flame that incinerates the young would-be hero. The scream of anguish is drowned out by the roaring fire. The Caster creates an air pocket to protect the remaining hunters. The river of flames glides harmlessly over the bubble, scorching the earth around it.


    With a hacking cough the Drake relents, struggling to stand up on its injured leg, it attempts to escape again. The hunters pursue it, their blades seeking weak points on the beast. A slice through its webbed wing and the Drake slams an arm into the hunter responsible. A stab to an ankle, the swing of a tail claims the lives of two hunters. The Caster stands alone against the monster.


    All the fire the Drake has to offer is split by blades of air. Flames are the only thing keeping the Caster at bay, and being nimble keeps the Drake from crushing its foe. A claw, too quick to dodge, tears through cheap armor. Blood spills onto the ground. You''re unable to hold in your gasp and the Drake hears it. Fear paralyzes you as the beast limps over. Its maw opens wide, jagged teeth and a slithering tongue are all you can see.


    ¡°HEY! YOUR FIGHT IS WITH ME!!!¡± A defiant voice yells beyond the horrific view you have. The Drake turns in time to see a gust of wind propel the Caster into an arc that plunges a sword into its throat. Only anchoring vines keep the Caster from slipping as the beast thrashes around, the opening in its neck getting wider. In a last act of violence, the Drake flings its slayer away. A sickening thud comes from the tree the Caster hits. The great lizard falls over to drown in its own blood. Free from the grasp of terror, you run as fast as your legs can manage. Tears well up in your eyes, your hands shake while trying to keep pressure on the large wound. A low incantation is said, vines sprout from the earth to dress the cut as best they can.


    ¡°Don''t worry, the Crown¡¯s army will be here soon. It''ll be okay. Just lift me up, will you?¡± You try, the weight is too much for your arms. ¡°It''s fine. It''s fine, this is enough. Don''t worry.¡± In the interest of saving strength, there are no more soothing words.


    The Caster, your caretaker, dies in your arms sometime after nightfall. The Crown¡¯s army didn''t come.


    You are alone, again.


    Part 1 End

 Part 2

    The sun rises but everything seems just as dark. Surrounded by the dead in an otherwise lively forest; you have no more tears to shed, unable to look away from the corpse on your lap.


    The sound of boots marching arrive, but the bodies that fill them isn¡¯t the Crown¡¯s Army. The armor is too cobbled together, there¡¯s no flag bearer, no formation in their numbers. Bandits. The group of rogues approaches, muttering to themselves about the scene of carnage.


    ¡°They killed a Drake?¡±


    ¡°That smell makes me sick.¡±


    ¡°Those are some nice boots!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s a kid doing here?¡±


    Soon you¡¯re surrounded, they all stop forming a circle around the epicenter of death. The bandits part to let someone walk through. With an air of authority, the leader approaches you.


    ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t something you see every day. A dead Drake and a little kid. Did you kill that monster, kid?¡± You don¡¯t answer. ¡°Didn¡¯t think so. Alright, let¡¯s get to it then before the Crown¡¯s army arrives and ruins all the fun.¡±


    The bandits spread out to start looting the dead. One reaches for the boots of the corpse you¡¯re holding; you push the hands away as best you can.


    ¡°Hey! Kid, your friends here? They¡¯re dead. And the dead don¡¯t need boots. They aren¡¯t walking anymore.¡± When the bandit reaches again, you grab ahold of your caretaker¡¯s sword. You¡¯re not much of a threat but the bandit backs up all the same. ¡°Easy kid, don¡¯t hurt yourself now.¡± You stand between the dead and the living, hoping the swarm of bandits is so easily deterred. None of them seem eager to fight a kid. The leader speaks up,


    ¡°Looks like we have a noble guardian. We better pack up.¡± Laughter ripples throughout the group. ¡°Don¡¯t make me hurt you, kid. You look like you got enough hurt in you for a lifetime.¡± You get into the stance you learned only days ago and put on the bravest face you can manage. ¡°Very well.¡± A long, chipped sword is drawn. You swing, miss and hit dirt. The sword is heavy in your hands as you lift again to strike nothing but air.


    ¡°Your form needs work and you¡¯re tired, have you eaten anything lately?¡± Anger spikes in you at the condescending tone. The sword gets close before meeting steel and getting flung from your hands. ¡°Good swing. Get a better grip and this might be a fight.¡± You grab the sword and take the advice to heart. You say the incantation you¡¯ve heard only twice and vines sprout from the ground to wrap around your hands.


    The bandits all gasp in awe and the leader smiles. ¡°Seems the noble guardian is a Caster. Now, this is interesting.¡± You swing with abandon to be blocked every time. You get close to hitting flesh once and you¡¯re met with a fist to your stomach.


    Crumbling to the ground in pain, your face hits the dirt hard. A boot placed on your back keeps you from getting up.


    ¡°Stop, kid.¡± You struggle some more. Tears of frustration sting your eyes. ¡°Enough.¡± More pressure pushes you down. ¡°I know you¡¯re hurting right now and you¡¯re young so it¡¯s hard to get perspective on this. But we didn¡¯t do this. That Drake didn¡¯t even do this.¡± The boot of the leader eases up. ¡°The Crown did this. People, good people like your friends are sent to their deaths on the whims of one person who wouldn¡¯t lift to help a finger to help them! That sound fair to you?¡± You shake your head. With your focus gone the vines have loosened on your hand.


    ¡°No. It¡¯s not. And because we disagree they label us outlaws, deserters, bandits. We aren¡¯t willing to surrender our lives at the whim of a tyrant, they want us dead and gone. Your friends here? They obeyed and still died.¡± The boot is removed from your back. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°When we die, it¡¯ll be on our terms, and that¡¯s good enough for this lot!¡± The group erupts with cheers. ¡°So what do you say, kid? You want to live a slave? Or die free?¡± A hand is extended in offer. You reach for the sword and with a flatly said incantation the blade moves out of your reach. It floats in the air and comes to land in the leader''s hand.


    ¡°Us Casters should stick together after all. What do you say?¡± You stand up and take the hand extended in peace. ¡°I¡¯ll teach and give you everything you need to survive. And you can leave anytime you wish. Sound fair?¡± You nod. ¡°Then let''s get to work.¡± The group gets back to looting. A hand on your shoulder, kneeling down to be at eye level with you. ¡°We¡¯ll bury them. They deserve at least that. But we need their gear. You understand?¡± You nod.


    The bandits loot what can be salvaged and bury the dead in shallow graves. You stand over the one that matters most to you.


    ¡°Anything you want to say?¡± the leader asks. You¡¯re silent. ¡°Come along kid, our hideout isn¡¯t far from here.¡±


    After a long walk, you arrive at their hideout, a cave in the side of a small mountain. The inside is lit with torches and shows signs of having been lived in for years. You¡¯re given a space to rest and you almost immediately collapse from exhaustion.


    When you wake your blanket covers you but it¡¯s covered in something.


    ¡°Those are scales from the Drake. It¡¯ll keep you a bit warmer and it¡¯s fireproof.¡± The voice of your latest caretaker explains. The blood-red scales weigh you down as you get up. ¡°Seemed only right you get something from this...ordeal. Now come along, time for some Casting lessons.¡± You follow your new teacher deeper into the cave, far from anyone else. A carved hole above provides the only light source.


    ¡°So, you know any other spells beside Nature¡¯s Embrace?¡± You recite the other incantation you heard, mumbling over the words. A weak gust of wind forms and dies quickly. ¡°Ahh, Tempest. First lesson about Casting: knowing the words is half the battle. The important thing is saying them with confidence, knowing what you want it to do.¡± Your teacher speaks an incantation and fire follows. ¡°It helps if you name it. Something that holds meaning to you. Me? I name them after something I fear.¡±


    The same incantation is said added with, ¡°House Fire.¡± The stream of fire that follows is bigger, hotter, more powerful. ¡°We¡¯re gonna practice with Tempest first until you have the words down pat.¡±


    Your lessons with Casting are as exhausting as the ones with the blade. Weeks turn to months to years and you¡¯re still with the bandits, your new family. Your blanket no longer drags on the floor when it¡¯s draped across your shoulders, serving more as armor these days.


    Resting after a raid, sounds of a fight rouse you from your sleep. Fights over trivial aren¡¯t that uncommon. You¡¯re about to lie back down when you hear someone yell, ¡°IT¡¯S THE CROWN¡¯S ARMY!¡± You spring to your feet and sure enough, you find soldiers flooding into your home.


    The chaos of combat coalesces around you as your family fights to repel the invaders. Sword in hand, you¡¯re about to engage with a small group of them when a blade flies through the air, slicing throats before turning to return to the Casters hand.


    ¡°Make them pay!¡± You make good on the order, utilizing sword and spell to take out the Crown¡¯s army. But for every three of theirs you cut down, one of yours get slain. You and the other Caster move to push them out of the cave. Those who don''t retreat are run through, charred, or slammed into the walls. You make it out of the cave to enter an ambush, soldiers kneel in formation with crossbows at the ready. ¡°CAPE!¡±


    That¡¯s enough for you to go on as you wrap your cape around you.


    ¡°Fire!¡± A commander shouts and indeed fire does come. A shouted incantation and flames come spilling out of the Caster, washing harmlessly over the Drake scales covering you. Through the inferno, you can hear the anguished screams of soldiers who dared to kill your family. When the fire subsides you pull back your cape to see the burnt remains of the invaders. The Caster turns to face you, with three crossbow bolts where they shouldn¡¯t be.


    ¡°Guess I wasn¡¯t fast enough.¡± A weak chuckle. You rush over. ¡°Least I died fighting. That¡¯s something they can¡¯t take-¡± a cough spills blood. ¡°That¡¯s not good is it?¡± You can hear the fighting dying down in the cave. ¡°Do me a favor, kid? Take care of whoever¡¯s left.¡± The last of your family, too few and injured gather around as another Caster dies in your hands.


    ¡°What are we gonna do now?¡± One of them asks. The answer burns into your mind immediately. You lay the Caster down and turn to face the remains of your family.


    ¡°We¡¯re going to destroy the crown,¡± you answer.


    Part 2 End