《Descendants of the Divine》


 Chapter One

    "Papa tell us a story"


    The person who just spoke was a little girl who looked to be about eight years old, she was currently tucked in a bed with some bright floral designs on it, not too far away on another bed in the room was another little girl who looked exactly like she spoke up.


    "Yes papa tell us a story"


    "Mhmm.......What kind of story would you like to hear?"


    Their father was a man who stood at about six feet and seven inches, even while he was sitting on the side of the bed his height wasn''t something you could miss, his face couldn''t be seen clearly because all the lights in the room were off the only source of light was the moon outside and the little bit of light seeping coming from the door that was left slightly opened but it still cast a shadow on his face.


    "Anything!"


    "Yea anything!"


    At the prospect of hearing a story, both of the children got excited.


    They had already become a bit giddy and were twisting and turning in bed a little trying to suppress their excitement.


    Seeing the excitement written on the fact of his children he couldn''t help but smile at the affectionately but only for a second before he feigned confusion.


    "mhmm, I can''t really think of anything how about you tell me what you want to hear about an I''ll tell a story hmm?"


    Both the little girls stopped fidgeting around and started thinking seriously.


    "ahhhh I can''t think of anything, can you think of anything Anna?"


    "No, I can''t"


    "Then I guess you guys won''t be getting a story"


    After saying that the man got up off the bed, even though he could see the disappointment in eyes of his children he still didn''t change his mind, he really didn''t want to tell a story.


    "Why don''t you tell us about where you grew up"


    It wasn''t one of the two little girls who were still in bed that spoke, instead it was a teenage girl that looked no more than fifteen years old standing in the doorway looking at them, the light from the passage was still on so when she opens the door she could be seen clearly.


    Although she was still just a teenager she was incredibly beautiful her jet black curly hair was shoulder length, her caramel skin was absolutely flawless it didn''t have the slightest blemish on it, her eyes were bright brown that looked like they had been through countless lifetimes.


    "Why aren''t you in bed?"


    Hearing the question the teenage girl immediately started to pout and stomped her feet


    "Father can you not treat me like a child!? I''m already a hundred and eighty-four years old!"


    The man couldn''t help but laugh as he watched the actions of his daughter he found it very amusing.


    "Hahaha aren''t you still a child?"


    "hmph stop trying to change the topic!"


    The man still pretend as if he didn''t hear what she had just said.


    "Look at you, Look at you all grown up now"


    "Now you finally see- Dad!"


    "Dad!"This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    "Father"


    His children refused to fall for his tricks. So all he could do was give up with a sigh.


    "Why are you so curious about when I grew up all of a sudden?"


    Seeing their father finally giving up the twins sat up in their beds while the girl who was standing in the doorway got in bed with one of her sisters but her other sister was feeling lonely in he bed so she went over to the bed they were in.


    "I overheard a few teachers talking about it something called the ''Forgotten Era'' and I remembered that when It was my hundredth birthday and Uncle Kai came over in the night both of you started talking about your childhood and it sounded similar plus you never talk a where your from or even how old you are"


    The man didn''t say anything he just looked at his teenage daughter while inter all three of them looked back at him.


    After a few seconds, his expression slowly started to change into an innocent confused expression like he''d just been wronged, then he spoke.


    "Do I really look that old to you? like someone who would''ve lived through a time that was being called the ''Forgotten Era''?''


    All three of his children were left speechless for a moment before they answered in unison.


    ".........yes"


    "Hahahahaha.........Bastards.......ugh fine"


    When he said that the man stood up and walked up the bedroom door to close push it up.


    Looking at him clearly with the light that was coming from the passage, every move he made had and sense of refined elegance to it, his face could finally be seen thanks to the light from the passage, he was incredibly handsome with the same caramel complexion as his daughters but could be considered ruined there was a vertical cut over each of his eyes.


    His eyes themselves were also strange, unlike the bright brown eyes, his teenage daughter has, his eyes didn''t have any pupils or irises instead his eyes had an opaque color to it.


    Once he closed the door he sat on the empty bed smiling at his children.


    "Alright I''ll tell you a story of when I was younger, I''ll tell you about my ups, my downs, my disgrace, my glory, I''ll tell you everything without leaving anything out"


    His teenage daughter had started to get a little bit excited.


    "So where are you going to start from when you were a few hundred years old or a few thousand?"


    When the man heard this his expression froze before laughing


    "I forgot that was practically living in two different worlds now"


    "What do you mean?"


    With her father''s mysterious response she couldn''t help but blurt out her question.


    "Heh I''m going to start my story from when I was sixteen"


    Even though he looks extremely calm when he said this his daughter was incredibly surprised.


    "Weren''t you just a baby then papa?"


    One of the twins was the first to speak up while the other nodded her head to show her agreement with what her sister had just said.


    "That''s right father why would you start the story from you infancy?"


    His teenage daughter couldn''t help but also ask but all he father did was shake his head and his index finger.


    "Tsk tsk tsk"


    He hadn''t spoken all he did was shake his head and say ''tsk'' so she eventually had to speak up.


    "Father if you''re going to say something then explain already!"


    "What are you getting upset for can''t I build up suspense for my own story?"


    The three girls were left speechless.


    "Your generation has no appreciation for dramatic, when I was sixteen I looked slightly own than you Elisia and in terms of maturity your far ahead of where I was but that''s to be expected since your so much old than I was at the time"


    All three of the girls were left speechless again.


    "Father you must be joking, when the twins were sixteen they barely knew how to speak but when you were sixteen you were as physically developed as I am?"


    His teenage daughter, Elisia found what he was saying very hard to believe, she was a hundred and eighty-four years old but when her father was sixteen he had the physical development of a centenarian.


    "Believe It if you want but where I was born was a completely different place from where we are now, there''s no comparing the two but if not for you kids I would give all of this up in a heart been just go back there again"


    "Wow papa it must have been again there, why don''t all of us go back and visit as a family"


    All his children had a look of wonder in their eyes for their father to love somewhere this much it was clear to them that it must be an amazing place.


    "I would love to do that but that place no longer exist......"


    When he said that his voice had gotten a bit softer and his face had a pained look but due to the darkness of the room his children couldn''t see it but that look only lasted for a second or two.


    "Anyways stop interrupting the story or I''ll never be able to finish it...where was it?......yea sixteen.... mhmmm......So yea I was around during was your teacher called the ''Forgotten Era'', to be more precise I was born around the middle of that Era, it was an amazing time to be alive it was a time for the young!"


    His kids were even more excited now.


    "Wow papa it sounds amazing"


    "Yea father it really does"


    All the man did was laugh in response.


    "It wasn''t, it was horrible........but if you had the drive and know what you want then it was an amazing time to be alive, it wasn''t as heavily saturated with all the filters that existed today you could run amuck if you were clever enough to escape what would come after.... ahhh good times, oh yea it wasn''t called the ''Forgotten Era'', that''s just something that people came up with filter and water down the information over the past few millenniums. It was called the ''Era Of Kings''"


    "Era of Kings?...."


    "Yea but where should I start......"


    ................................

 Chapter Two

    [ Back then nothing was impossible you could rise up from the lowest of places and seize everything you desired but the hard part was keeping it, but things weren¡¯t as easy for us now as they are now mhmm I''m going to start from the day that started everything ]


    ...............


    A vast endless rocky desert, no matter which direction you chose there was nothing but endless rocks and sand.


    Avon was standing in the center of it all, this wasn''t the first time that he''d been here nor was it the second but no matter how many times he came here it was always the same.


    No sound, no wind, there wasn''t ever any signs of life anywhere in this place but this time was different there was a woman stand to his left with her hand stretched out to him.


    He''d been staring at her now for what felt like days now but he knew it''s been a few seconds, it''s always been like this like time had no authority here.


    She was wearing a white tunic with a gold open collar necklace in this place, without any wind, her black kinky curly hair and tunic were swaying ever so gently but that wasn''t what drew his attention it was the loving motherly smile that she had on her face.


    After few seconds he''d already placed his hand on hers, her hand were cool almost cold which was a welcome relief from the sun that had been beaming down on him like it had a vendetta against him before he knew it he was already in her embrace but she still had that smile while she patted his head.


    "Avon"


    He looked up at the woman slightly taken aback but she was still smiling.


    "Wake up you lazy bastard!"


    Still, her mouth didn''t move it was still the same smile as before but he could hear the voice as clear as day and it sounded very familiar.


    "Mo-"


    A splitting pain came from his side causing all the air to escape from his lungs leaving him unable to finish his sentence.


    The pain had dragged him out of his dream state and completely woke him up, what greeted him was the angry face of a short woman in a raggedy nightgown that beggars wouldn''t want.


    "Little bastard weren''t you supposed to get up early to go into the forest to get wood for the construction of the chiefs house mhmmmm"


    For the entire time, she was talking she hadn''t taken her foot off his side even applying pressure and twisting it while she spoke.


    "Ah, that was today? I forgot but I''ll get going right now"


    All he could do was feign ignorance and slip from under his mothers heil and run to the ''bathroom''.


    The house didn''t have a proper bathroom all that was there was a container with water and a shabby piece of fabric that could be used for privacy, in fact, their house didn''t really have any rooms it was just one rectangular space with each of them taking one of the corners as a bedroom.


    The beds were just two pieces of logs put together with some hay and other soft materials on it while they used giant tree leaves as covers, the kitchen had taken up another corner but all it consisted of was just fire coal on the ground surrounded by rocks with two pieces of wood sticking out of the ground vertically on opposite sides, as for a dining room table there was none.


    "Where do you think your going you lazy bastard! You''re not going to use the water that a fetched yesterday to wash the steps! When you get to the river you can wash up there!"


    Avon knew him mothers temper quite well so even though he towered over her standing at six foot two inches he had no choice but to change direction and to the ax leaning on the door hinge.


    "Where are you going?!"


    When she spoke her voice sounded like a deep growly.


    "To the forest...."


    "You haven¡¯t even washed off the step and do you plan to leave the bed that you pissed for me to clean!?"


    "Mom you know I sweat a lot wh-"


    "Get.It.Done.Now"


    Avon didn''t have much of a choice all he could do was turn back to pick up the hay and other stuff that made up his bed then pick up the ax from the doorway and go behind his house and spread it out.


    Behind the house was a small garden that had ground provisions, it was the same across the entire village, all the houses were made the same way except for the chiefs house and the temp, so although the description of their home made them sound poor they were in the same situation as everybody else.


    "Avon you really have to stop pissing the bed, it makes me look bad"


    Avon had just set out his bed on the ground and put some stones on it to stop it from blowing away when he heard a voice from the house next to his, the voice wasn''t all that loud but it was loud enough for him to hear.


    It was his childhood friend who had just spoken.


    "Come on Conr¨ª you know that''s not what happened!"


    Conr¨ª was the same age as Avon but he was slightly taller both boys were medium built with well-defined muscles but unlike Avon who grew out his hair and caught it up in one Conr¨ª''s hair was basically none existent.


    In term of skin tone, both boys were basically the same in fact everyone in the village basically had the same skin tone either slightly darker or slightly lighter.


    "Avon did you piss the bed again!"


    This time it was the lady to across from them but unlike when Conr¨ª spoke for only him to hear she didn''t she spoke for the whole village to hear.


    Avon froze for a second before forcefully turning his head to look at the lady.


    "Of course not auntie, it''s just that I sweat a lot-"


    "Of course he pissed his bed again! Oh, Alaric what sins have a committed to deserve a son who pisses his bed!"


    When his mother heard the neighbor she quickly chimed in to kick him while he was down and just like that all the women in the village started on him.


    "Come on Avon you can''t still be wetting the bed my daughters already seven and she stopped a long time ago"


    "Avon what''s wrong with you your already sixteen!"


    ............


    [ hahaha did you used to wet the bed and dad you grew up in a village? ]


    [ yea and who''s Conr¨ª? how comes he never comes to visit us? ]


    [ Grandma is kind of........uhmmm so that''s grandma huh ]


    His kids had started interrupting the story to ask questions or just to say whatever they liked but they didn''t forget to also take some jabs at him.


    [ So that''s why you always constantly bother us to pee before bed you don''t want your children to feel the SHAME you felt ]Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Their father was completely left speechless.


    [ Shut up! Do you want me to finish the story or not! ]


    The twins immediately stopped talking but his teenage daughter wasn''t going to let this chance slip past.


    [ Touchy Touchy Touchy why are you so touchy-feely dad, we''ve all wet the bed before........just not till we were teenagers ]


    The twins who were quite before immediately started laughing, their father couldn''t do anything about it all he could do was with a gloomy expression.


    [ That''s it stories over, go to bed ]


    When they heard that they all scrambled to grab their father who was already getting off the bed.


    [ Alright dad we won''t interrupt anymore! ]


    [ and the sarcasm? ]


    His attention was directed at his eldest daughter but contrary to what you might believe she didn''t immediately answer in fact she looked like she was making a life and death decision. To be sarcastic or not to be sarcastic?.


    [ I promise I will do it LESS ]


    He knew that she wouldn''t get a better offer from his daughter so all he could do was accept.


    [ Fine, where was I? Oh right sweating- ]


    [ Pissing ]


    Even though she had just promised she still didn''t let the opportunity slip by.


    When he heard that he immediately stared at her while she, in turn, lowered her head.


    [ sigh, this story is going to take longer than I thought ]


    -:-


    Once everyone had gotten tired of making fun of him, he and Conri left the village to go into the nameless forest behind it.


    "Ugh, what kind of sins did I commit to deserve this!?"


    On the entire journey, Avon had been complaining, it wasn''t the first time that everyone had decided to make him into a laughing stock but he still hadn''t gotten used to it.


    Conr¨ª could only force a smile while trying to soothe his friend.


    "It can''t be helped your already sixteen and yet you still haven''t undergone Alaric''s trail nor the naming ceremony, so of course they''re going to make fun of you by Alaric''s law your not man"


    Alaric is the name of one of the gods the villagers worship, the villagers believed that when Alaric was still a young god he and another young goddess ran away into these mountains to get away from their families, while they were in the mountains they had a son and a daughter.


    When their families found out they sent a massager to order their return but they didn¡¯t listen so, their families descend on the mortal world to take away their children while as punishment they sealed the powers of the two children they had and trapped them in the mortal world.


    If Alaric or the unknown goddess were to ever return to the mortal world their children and all their descendants would be killed erasing the entire lineage.


    The people of this village believe that they are Alaric¡¯s and that unknown goddess descendants.


    At the age of sixteen, all the children whether girl or boy are required to stay in the temple to pray, once their prayers were answered a symbol would form on their skin which would represent that you''re officially a man or woman.


    Shortly after that, you''d be given a new name that you would be known by for the rest of your life.


    "I know all that but it isn''t my fault, every time I go to the temp he doesn''t answer me"


    Just talking about it was making both of them feel exhausted.


    "Complaining about it won''t do anything, you just need to do over the trial.......where almost there go get ready"


    Before Avon could respond it started.


    "Hey Conr¨ª and the little kid are here"


    With just that one remark all the men and women stopped working and started teasing him.


    In terms of height, the women didn''t lose to the men at all the shortest woman in the village was five feet seven inches and that was his mother but no one dared to tease her about it because of her nasty temper.


    When it came to looks there was no comparing the men and the women very few of the men in the village could be considered average, everyone else would be considered handsome.


    As for the women they could topple empires, they were all stunning beauties when coupled with the fact that they all had the aura of a warrior as well as the markings they''d receive when they passed Alaric''s trial they were all beautiful.


    There were about forty or so men and women in the area with axes in their hands, about a hundred or so trees had already been cut down by them.


    "Hey kid come over here"


    The voice that called him didn''t have the happy go lucky tone that everyone else did so he immediately looked for the source.


    "Coming, Al-Amir"


    The person who called him was the village chiefs son as well as the strongest warrior in the village.


    Irregardless of age or gender from the moment they could walk every one in the village knew was taught how to fight, they didn¡¯t learn any particular techniques just how to make every single movement as deadly as possible.


    "Since you were the last one here and the rest of us were here before the sun rose. We''re going to go back to get something to eat, we only need about eight more trees you can manage that can''t you?"


    He might''ve phased it like a question but everyone knew it was an order.


    It wasn''t that Al-Amir and the others wanted to purposefully make things hard for him but until he passed Alarics trail he really was nothing but a child to everyone in the village.


    "Sure I will do my best"


    It wasn''t impossible for Avon to refused but he still chooses to accept it because if he started complained that it was too hard and he couldn''t do it he would be proving to everyone that he was a child who couldn''t handle a simple task of chopping down some trees.


    "Good, one you''re finished here get some rest we¡¯re going down the mountain to hunt for the festival"


    With that settled everyone turned around and left including Conr¨ª who just arrived with him, he looked especially happy waving Avon goodbye.


    Once everyone cleared out of the area Avon immediately started feeling depressed, the trees that were needed for the chiefs house were your ordinary trees.


    The trees in the forest like a lot of things in the surrounding mountains didn''t have names because the villagers didn''t put much importance on material things whether man-made or from nature unless it was related to Alaric it wasn''t important.


    The trees he needed to cut down might not be towering trees but they were thick it would take at least six of him to surround the trees.


    "Faster I start faster ill finish"


    Taking a few deep breaths he picked up the ax and got started.


    Bang


    Bang


    Bang


    The sound of the ax banging against the tree rang through the forest, it was the only thing that could be heard since there were no animals this close to the village.


    Avon eventually got into a rhythm and eventually got lost in what he was doing.


    In the blink of an eye, four hours had passed and two trees had already fallen.


    His breathing had become completely ragged his entire body was drenched in sweat a small pool of sweat was even formed around his feet.


    The muscles in his arms were pulsing like crazy, they hurt like hell too but he refused to stop he chose to walk over to the next tree with both his arms hanging from his shoulders like dead weight.


    [ Wow you sure are determined, if only you''ve channeled that determination into not pissing the bed. ]


    [ .... ]


    The man didn''t even nothing answering her he just continued the story.


    Avon had already gotten bad into his groove from before completely ignoring the protests of his muscles but unlike before this time after about thirty minutes, he lost consciousness.


    ............


    In his dream state


    He''d turned into a six-foot egg with his two feet protruding from the bottom of his shell and one arm from the side.


    There were no holes for his eyes he was just doing everything based on instinct.


    He was running around the slight dark forest with a spear in his hand for some unknown reason but he felt a sense of dread but the fact that he was an egg didn''t seem strange to him it felt normal.


    Even though he was still six foot tall, in the forest he still felt extremely tiny like a regular egg.


    Without any warning or any form of disturbance from the space around him two giant men appeared they were at least nine feet tall because he felt even smaller in front of them.


    Both of them were dress in full white from head to toe, their lips were deep unnatural red.


    At this time he''d already found a fallen tree to hide under but that didn''t help much the men seemed to be able to sense him so within seconds of him hiding they flipped over the tree like it was a piece of paper but they didn''t move to grab him instead,


    They started jumping up and down around him letting out some exaggerated laughs for no apparent reason.


    After a few seconds of that everything started to slow down and began to distort before it all disappeared, Avon was taking deep breaths like crazy he had no idea what was happening or how to stop it.


    As soon as he regained his composure something else happened a man started descending from the sky, Avon didn''t get a chance to see his face because before he knew it the man had already picked him up with one hand and ascended.


    In the middle of the sky, the man started waving his free hand in a circular motion and a black hole formed Avon didn''t get a chance to raise any objections before he knew they were above a city.


    Everything was happening so fast that it was getting harder and harder for him to process things.


    The buildings all looked strange to him, they were all many times larger than the largest house in the village, the top parts of the buildings all pointed up towards the sky with the topmost parts being extremely pointy.


    Observing the people below he''d never seen such strange looking people before, none of them looked like him they all looked like they spent most of their time indoors avoiding the sun and barely ever set foot outside.


    All of the people below looked extremely malnourished they weren''t even half his size and they were all dressed very strange they wore metal as clothing and those men who didn''t wear metal clothes were all dressed like women covered from head to toe.


    When he wanted to switch his attention to something else he felt his body descending and fast.


    The pointy top that was once far away was now getting closer and closer to him, in a few second he''d be dead but no matter how much he struggled he couldn''t move no matter how much he tried he couldn''t scream.


    But it didn''t seem like that was his fate a woman who looked just like the pale malnourished people below appeared out of thin air and gripped the man''s skull.


    When she did so a clear crisp cracking sound could be heard followed by blood pouring down his face, the woman just simply tossed the man aside before grabbing him by his hand.


    Looking at the difference in their skin tone he couldn''t help but smile.


    Everything changed again.


    This time he was standing in a pond surrounded by big luscious trees and colorful plants, all kinds of insects could be seen crawling around some of them he didn''t recognize.


    The woman who''d just saved him was sitting down on the outer edge of the pond staring at him.

 Chapter Three

    Avon wasn''t really sure what he should say to her so his gaze just kept on wandering around the area admiring the never before seen plant life.


    The water he was standing in was crystal clear so he could see all the fishes swimming around his feet.


    The animals that were wandering around didn''t pay any attention to him as if he didn''t exist.


    "This place is so beautiful, where are we?"


    But the woman didn''t respond she just continued to stare at him.


    One second


    Ten seconds


    Thirty seconds


    One minute


    The place had become a bit awkward because she didn''t have the slightest reaction to his question or his gaze.


    Short while late the pale woman finally moved she was using her index finger pointing downward.


    The woman finally moved so Avon so by reflex he looked down into the water.


    "What? I don''t see anything"


    It was still the same clear water as before nothing had changed.


    The instant he took his eyes off the water and looked back over to the woman two caramel hands burst through the surface of the water and grabbed his face and pulled him down into the water.


    ''''Not again!''''


    Avon didn''t hesitate before his face touched me the surface of the water he quick held his breath and closed his eyes.


    The feeling he was waiting for didn''t come, his skin didn''t feel wet at all this to him was nothing short of a miracle because he didn''t know how to swim.


    But when he opened his eyes he was stunned speechless, his heart started beating like crazy he wanted to find a way out but every move he made he felt himself sinking further.


    He was underwater!


    Although it didn''t feel or look like it, he knew he was underwater but this water didn''t look like it it was light blue in color and the fishes looked a lot bigger than what he was used to seeing.


    After a while, he stopped struggling because he started to feel comfortable.


    His vision was beginning to get a bit blurry and his consciousness was starting to get hazy but none of that matter because it felt incredibly comfortable especially when he looked at the rays of the sun breaking the surface of the water it felt very relaxing.


    ''What''s that?...''


    A shadow was approaching from a few meters out.


    In the blink of an eye, it was in front of his stroking his checks.


    It was the woman from the desert with the same smile as before, looking at her his consciousness began to clear up.


    He lips began moving but no sound could be heard, when he wanted to tell her that he couldn''t hear her she placed her index finger to his lips and shook her head.


    Her lips stopped moving but she was still smiling.


    After a few seconds, he finally heard a voice that sounded strange yet familiar to him.


    ''This is my voice?''


    --I want to give you a gift will you accept it?


    ''What are you talking about? Who are you?''


    -- The world is so big wouldn''t you like to see it all? or would you like to stay where you are?


    It might sound strange but Avon has never once in his life thought that there was anything beyond his village, no one ever spoke of anything beyond it so he just believed that there was nothing else.


    ''The world?''


    Although ''his voice'' hadn''t answered his question his interest was piqued he couldn''t help but wonder if the would that ''his voice'' spoke of was anything like what he saw in the visions.


    --It is even more beautiful than what you have seen


    It seemed like the woman who was in front of him cloud read his mind but that didn''t seem all that surprising.


    If she could use ''his voice'' to speak to him then why it seems strange that she could read his mind?


    --Will you accept my gift?


    Every time the woman moved her lips it would only be a few seconds later that he''d hear ''his voice''


    ''What kind of gift?''


    --Close your eyes


    Although he was starting to get a very painful headache from all the confusion that''s been happening as well as having a conversation with ''himself''.


    Despite that, he still closed his eyes.


    All sorts of images started flashing across his eyes things he''s never seen or imagined would''ve ever existed.


    Plants, people, animal, buildings etcetera


    Things he would''ve never imagined.


    He must''ve seen millions of different things yet still it felt like it only lasted a second before everything stopped.


    ''This is the world?''


    The woman nodded then he lips moved again.


    --Will accept my gift?


    Towards the woman, he didn''t feel any weariness, in fact, she felt familiar to him but still, he knew he didn''t know her and he didn''t know what the gift she was offering him was nor if any of this was just his delusions.


    ''I can''t accept something when I don''t know what it is''


    --It will not hurt you, it has always been apart of you, Mansa


    ''Mansa?''


    --That will be your new name from today


    ................


    It was after sunset and Avon still hadn''t returned from the forest although there were no dangerous animals that could kill him in the force his mother began to worry.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Al-Amir did Avon go to the forest today?"


    "yes aunty, he came in the morning, why?"


    "He isn''t back home as yet and he never misses lunch"


    "Alright I''ll go check if he''s still working"


    When Al-Amir came back to the forest Avon was on the ground sweating like crazy, his look was pale beyond belief.


    He ran up to Avon''s body but he hesitated a few times before he just picked him up and ran back to his father''s house.


    The villagers who saw him running with someone in his arms didn''t know what''s going so they followed behind him.


    "What''s going on?"


    "I don''t know Al-Amir is running with someone"


    While they followed behind him they were all discussing why he was carrying someone.


    Everyone in the village knew who Avon was because he was the only person who came of age yes still hadn''t passed Alaric trial but Al-Amir didn''t give them the chance to look at who he was carrying he was running too fast.


    "Father! Father!"


    Before he even entered Al-Amir began calling for his father.


    A old man who looked like he''d croak at any moment walked out of the house but that''s just how he looked he was as fit as a fiddle.


    "What?! What are you screaming for me for?!"


    When he saw the body in Al-Amir''s hand he immediately ran back inside the house and made up a bed for him to put Avon on.


    "What happened?"


    "I don''t know, we left him in the forest to cut down some trees, a little while ago his mother said that he hadn''t returned home as yet so I went back to the forest and found him like this"


    While he was explain to his father what happened he''d already placed Avon on the bed.


    "What happened to my son?! Where''s my son!?"


    Avon''s mother''s voice could be heard coming from the crowd as she forced her way inside.


    When she saw Avon lying down on the bed looking so pale she almost collapsed right there but someone from the crowd grabbed on to her to help her steady herself.


    "Al-Amir! What''s wrong with my son!?"


    Al-Amir really didn''t know what to say because he himself was really sure what happened he''d even started wonder if it was because he left him to cut down the trees by himself and he overexerted himself.


    "Aunty..."


    "All of you shut up he''s fine"


    Before Al-Amir could say anything he was interrupted by the chief who spoke in a nonchalant way like it was something that wasn''t important in the least.


    When everyone heard this they all stared blankly at the chief then at the pale Avon then back at the chief the process repeated itself another two times before everyone started to worry for the chiefs mental health.


    The chief didn''t give them a chance to voice their inner thoughts before he raised his hands in the air and shouted.


    "Arise I say!"


    Then slammed down his hand in Avon''s chest, the slap echoed throughout the whole room leaving everyone stunned.


    Avon woke up instantly drawing in a deep cold breath before screaming.


    "Ahh!!!!!!!!"


    Everyone stared blankly at the scene what was going on?


    While they were all stunned something happened that none of them noticed when Avon had just woken up his once dark brown eyes were a glowing deep ocean blue but only for a moment the instant he blinked they returned to normal.


    When his mother saw that he woke up she ran up and hugged him while crying tears of joy.


    "My son you''re okay, you''re okay"


    But none of that really registered with him what he really wanted to know was...


    WHO THE HELL SLAPPED HIM!!


    When he looked around at everyone they were all breathing sighs of relief while the chief had an idiotic grin on his face.


    He didn''t even bother to ask because he already knew who did it.


    "Come on mom why are you cry....am fine see?"


    While Avon spoke he started shifting his body around.


    "Shut up, what was wrong with you why did you have to scare me like that?"


    Avon didn''t really know what to say because he didn''t have the slightest clue of what was happening, he was just trying to comfort his mother.


    "Alright, Alright he''s fine everyone can go back to what you were doing before"


    The villagers wanted to say something or ask what was wrong with Avon but before they could the chief was already sending them home.


    "That includes you too Kaur"


    Even though the chief had mentioned her by name she didn''t really seem to care she just continued to hug her son while humming a lullaby.


    "Nothing was wrong with him. he was just sleeping, he might''ve been in a situation where he couldn''t breathe so he didn''t that''s all now go back he''ll stay here for the night"


    Kaur paused for a moment then continued humming.


    Avon could only force a smile.


    "Mom I really am fine I was just dreaming that''s all"


    She still didn''t move, the chief could only take a deep breath before playing his final card.


    "I want him to take Alarics Trial again"


    Both mother and son were stunned.


    "Don''t look so surprised I never said he''d never be able to take the trial again did I?"


    Kaur was the first to react.


    "You said you let us know when he can take it again but I thought you were just trying to comfort us"


    The chiefs face revealed a broad smile.


    "Exactly and now I''m letting you know so shooo"


    Kaur wasn''t known as one of the nicest women in the village, in fact, it was the opposite, her mouth spewed nothing but venom


    So with a well-known personality like that, it was a surprise that when the chief shooed her she didn''t get upset but smiled instead.


    "Alright, I''ll go back home, when I see you this time tomorrow you will be a man"


    When she was almost through the door she stopped and turned back to Avon, no traces of her smile could be found anymore.


    "Last time I said those words you came out as the same runt as before and even started pissing the bed.....If you fail again I no longer have a sun"


    After saying her piece she walked out without giving Avon any chance to reply.


    "I thought she never leave, that mother of yours even when she was a baby she had always been this way.....anyways kid what happened in your dream"


    Avon was slightly taken aback.


    "Why are you asking about my dream?"


    ".....Answer the damn question"


    Avon thought about it for a second, he couldn''t really think of any reason not to tell him so he recounted everything that happened in his dreams.


    ".......I see, how long have you been having those dreams"


    "Not long I guess before it was normally the same dream over and over again, I''m in endless wasteland"


    The chief didn''t say anything he just stared at him without moving. After a minute or so he got up and walked out of the room.


    "Let''s go, we''re going to the temple"


    Avon froze for a moment but only for a moment before he caught up with the chief.


    Alaric''s trial is something that is mandatory for everyone in the village once they reach the day of adulthood but if you fail you can try it again whenever you want but if the chief was to recommend that you retake the trial its considered as a good sign since the chief would be the one with the greatest awareness of Alaric.


    "Are you sure that now is a good time?"


    Even though he already had it in his mind to try the trail again he still wanted to make sure that this was real.


    "I already said it didn''t I"


    The chief said that without turning around to look at Avon.


    His head was slightly lowered like he was in deep thought.


    "Uhm chief......."


    Avon stopped walking.


    "Hmm what is it"


    Avon didn''t even bother responding instead choosing to point at the building he was standing in front of.


    The temple was built like a circle with a cone-like roof made out off leaves and small twigs, surround the outer layer of the temple were many different flowers some even growing on the outside of the temple.


    "Never mind that let''s go"


    Once again the chief just turned around and walked off with giving any explanation.


    The path they were walking on was the one leading behind the temple, normally the villages are only allowed to go there on their day of adulthood and never again after that but Avon was going there and he wasn''t even considered an adult.


    Avon wasn''t really sure what to expect or what it was like since no one has ever told him what it was like, simply tell him that he''ll know when it''s his turn.


    After walking for a little while they came upon a fork in the road, so the chief stopped and looked back at him completely serious.


    "Where would you like to go?"


    Avon was at a loss for words.


    [Hope you didn''t forget to wear your chastity belt this morning heheheh........]


    Ignored.


    ................


    "What do you mean by where would I like to go?"


    The chief was obviously annoyed by the question.


    "Do you always ask so many questions!? Just pick a damn path!"


    ''what''s he getting so upset for?''


    Avon thought for a second but couldn''t decide both paths so were pitch black he couldn''t see anything beyond the beginning of the path.


    "I don''t know..."


    The answer only seemed to turn his annoyance to anger.


    "Just pick one now!!"


    "Fine that one"


    Avon pointed at the path to the left.


    The chief just ignored him and walked off massaging his temple.


    The moment he stepped on the path the flowers slower ''woke up'' and started letting out a small glow, individually it didn''t seem like much but putting all of them and it was quite a site to see.


    When the flowers started ''waking up'' they all glowed with different colors, small bugs of different shapes, sizes, and colors started flying around.


    With the glow of the flowers, he could only see a very little of what was in front of his he still couldn''t see what was further away at the end of the path.


    The chief didn''t bother waiting for him he just continued walking without looking back, once the chief took a certain amount of steps the flowers behind him would ''go back to sleep''.


    When he stepped onto the path the same thing happened again the flowers ''woke up'' and once he took a few steps ahead the once behind him ''went back to sleep''.


    "Where is this and where are we going?"


    The chief didn''t react to the question at all he just continued walking like nothing at all was said to him.


    Avon wasn''t feeling anxious or worried but even so, that didn''t mean he doesn''t want to know where he''s going especially because as he continued to walk he felt like he was going uphill and he knew that there were no hills this close to the village.


    As he continued walking the hill started feeling like he was going up a small mountain it was taking way too long and it could feel the path getting more and more inclined.


    "Chief?"


    Ignored.


    Avon was at a loss for what to do because he still couldn''t see the end of the path even now.


    About an hour into the journey the path still felt like it was getting more inclined.


    The entire hour time going up he tried talking to the chief several times but got ignored every single time.


    It wasn''t until another two hours that he finally found out what was at the end of the path.

 Chapter Four

    Avon was completely stupefied by what he saw.


    When he came to the end of the path, without a doubt he was no longer in the village he was standing in a green grass plane.


    "Don''t fall behind..."


    Avon didn''t move off immediately he just stood there looking at the grass plane.


    This was his first time seeing something anything like this, if he knew what ocean was it would be the best comparison for this, an ocean of grass.


    After a while, he had to suppress his curiosity follow the chief and just like before he was completely ignored.


    As they continued to walk deeper into the graces land it started getting colder and colder, eventually, the ground was covered in snow even though he was freezing his ass off he momentarily forgot the cold and started admiring the falling snow.


    "Boy keep walking we don''t have a lot of time"


    Just like before the chief only spoke up in moments like these and nothing else afterward.


    Avon decided to just follow behind him without saying a word its not like he''d get any answers anyways.


    "We''re here"


    Directly in front of them was a huge structure, a huge stone tower in front and some giant statues that he couldn''t clearly see starting from the left and right side of the building forming a circle.


    Avon sixth feet stature wouldn''t be as large as one of the statue toes.


    "Stop staring and let''s go"


    When they were on the steps in front of the stone tower the once freezing cold complete vanished, there was no evidence that ever existed unless he looked back at the snow that was still falling behind them.


    The chief didn''t immediately go inside but turned to Avon and looked at him speaking very slowly like he was talking to a few month old child but despite his tone sounding bit condescending, his express showed that he was dead serious.


    "When we get inside just follow behind me do no stop or pick up anything, we do not have a lot of time left here so we have to be quick, do you understand?"


    Avon didn''t hesitate he started nodding.


    "I don''t need you to nod, yes or no?"


    "Yes chief I understand"


    The chief pushed the huge creaking stone doors, dusty and other small stones fell as he pushed.


    When he stepped inside only the sections of the floor that he stepped on glowed with an orange light and nothing else, Avon did as he promised and just followed behind the chief.


    Less than five minutes later he was outside of the stone tower and inside the circle formed by the giant statues.


    The chief walked up to the stone altar in the center of the circle and cupped his hands and dipped them in the stone basin and drank the water, he then kneeled down in front of the altar and began to pray.


    "Immortal mother, beacon in the dark, your humble servant requires your aid. Sustain him so he may exchange him childlike ignorance for wisdom. I plead this of you in your eternal light, O light in the heavens. Grace him with your eternal grace"


    At first, when he just started praying nothing happened but as the prayer continued the markings on his skin started glowing, his gray hair started returning to its original black color even his face looked like it aged a few years backward.


    After a few seconds of that, the eyes of each of the statues started glowing bright blue one after another.


    When all the eyes started glowing a few voice were heard all at once, young, old, male, female, the seven voices all blended perfectly with one another none overpowering the other.


    --Khan why have you come?


    It was only then that the glowing on the chief''s body stopped and he opened his eyes but still didn''t stand.


    "I brought a young man with me, the mother has visited him in his dream and offered him a gift..."


    The voices didn''t sound out again as if they were thinking.


    --What was the gift that she offered you?


    Avon was standing there completely expressionless, his mind was completely blank.


    How else was he supposed to react?


    The chief had to kick him on his leg to wake him up out of his dazed state.


    "I-I-I don''t know s-s-sh-she didn''t te-tell me"


    The voices once again went quiet.


    --Mhmm, what happened when you tried to pass your day of adulthood


    This time Avon was no longer in his dazed state so he answered almost immediately.


    "Nothing happened at all"


    This time when the voices went quite the voice of a child asked a question.


    --What did she call you?


    Avon thought for a second speaking his thoughts aloud.


    "What did she call me?........She didn''t - Mansa....."


    The moment he said the name a dry wind blew forcing Avon and the chief to cover their faces and close their eyes.


    When the wind subsided and the opened their eyes they were standing in the middle of a desert.


    Khan immediately got down on his knees and started praying again.


    Avon wasn''t the same he was already familiar with this place the only thing different was the seven statues giant statues that were still staring at him with their glowing eyes.


    --Mansa


    This time it wasn''t one of the seven voices that spoke but instead a familiar one ''his own voice''.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    When Avon looked up he saw the woman slowly descending from the sky with his signature smile.


    The voices simply said one word in greeting but it was filled with the utmost respect.


    --Mother


    When Khan heard the greeting and looked up at the woman who had just made contact with the ground he didn''t utter a single word his eyes just rolled over.


    He fainted.


    "Chief!"


    Avon ran over to him and started jerking his body trying to wake him up.


    --Khan is fine, he''s just sleep


    It was the voices that spoke up again, Avon didn''t believe right away instead he put his hand over the chief''s mouth to test if he was breathing only after he heard that did Avon get back up.


    --Have you thought about my gift?


    It was only now that Avon came to his senses and realize that the woman who he''d spoken to so casually previously before was the other god who''d fallen with Alaric, the mother.


    When he tried to kneel down and beg for forgiveness he felt two hands holding his upright.


    --There is no need.


    It was ''his voice''


    He had intended to just ignore it and still bow but no matter how hard he tried he couldn''t the hands held him firm in the end he could only give up.


    --What will be your answer?


    When this was brought back up the already glowing eyes of the statues glowed even brighter showing their interest.


    Avon didn''t know what to say he couldn''t turn her down because she was ''the mother'' as well as if he did this it would probably count as him becoming an adult but he didn''t know what it was so he was hesitant.


    --I will not harm you Mansa


    Avon looked deep into her eyes then took a deep breath.


    "I.....I accept"


    No reply came from the voices or ''his voice'' when he looked at ''the mother'' she was still smiling at him.


    When his eyes met hers he couldn''t look away he felt like he was trapped but not in a bad way it felt comfortable.


    A warm burning sensation was coming from his lower back coming up in two straight black lines on the left and right sides of his back which then branched off with a line running along each of his ribs, all the lines met in the center of his chest with only the points touching each other.


    Despite all of that he didn''t flinch he captivated by her eyes.


    [ I''m not really sure what happened after that but it was pretty much the last time I saw anyone in the village for a very long time, I didn''t even get a chance to say goodbye to them ]


    When Mansa spoke he looked a bit sad while speaking to his daughters so they didn''t say anything.


    .............


    When Mansa woke up his mind felt a bit groggy, his body didn''t have much strength in it so he didn''t bother trying to get up.


    The sun was in the middle of the skin and it was beaming down in his eyes, turning his head to take in his surroundings the place looked familiar but he knew this was his first time he''s been here.


    This place was singed-brown. He could see small little insects crawling around before burying themselves in the ground. The land was filled with hill but all of them had the same brown color and all of them looked barren.


    This place looked nothing short of a place you would come to die, a kill or be killed type of environment that lacked the basic necessities needed to sustain life.


    The only thing that looked like it didn''t mind this environment was the odd little tumbleweed that would roll by and force him to close his eyes because of the dust it was carrying with it and also the birds that were circling above him, their number just kept increasing.


    This was the place that he saw countless times in his dreams although there was some difference it was pretty much the same thing.


    ''How did I get here?''


    Mansa couldn''t remember anything after holding onto ''the mothers'' hand, everything after that was just blank.


    No matter how hard he tried to recall he couldn''t remember anything at all.


    --This was my promise to you.


    It was ''his voice'' again.


    "huh, promise?"


    His tone was filled with utmost respect, even though he was hearing ''his own voice'' he know that he was speaking to ''the mother'' but after saying that she didn''t say anything else to him.


    "Promise?.........What promise......."


    Mansa was trying hard to recall if ''the mother'' had ever made him any promises.


    ''The world is so big wouldn''t you like to see it all? or would you like to stay where you are?''


    After thinking for a few minutes that was the only thing that remembered a promise that he could remember.


    She told him that if he accepted her gift he''d be able to see the world, thinking of it that way this was her keeping her unofficial promise.


    It was around two hours later when his strength finally returned to him and finally stood back up.


    The birds above his head finally started to disburse after seeing him stand, they couldn''t speak but he could feel their disappointment.


    Mansa didn''t bother to observe his surroundings when he got up he just started walking in a random direction, he had no idea where he was going but he just wanted to leave.


    After staring at the same thing for over two hours as well as the burning hot sun added to the fact that he was dying of thirst, his head was killing him.


    While walking he started to observe the clothes that he was wearing, once again this was something that he had no memory of, he was wearing full body brown animal skin cloak with a hood that covered him from head to toe.


    Around his neck was a soft piece of cloth that was attached to the cloak, he was sure what it was for so he pulled it, it covered his entire face only leaving his eyes upward exposed.


    Although the outfit that he was wearing could be considered strange to him it wasn''t so out of the ordinary that he''d become fascinated with it what really held his attention was what he was wearing under the cloak.


    Underneath the cloak, he was wearing an open-collared necklace made of gold filled with black and blue jems, on each of his hands was a gold and blue wrist cuff that extended from his wrist almost reaching his elbow, his feet were no exceptions they were clad in gold greaves that extended all the way down to his instep.


    At least he was still wearing his loincloth.


    If it was anything other situation then he would''ve stopped and tried to think as hard as possible and try to take them off.


    Believe it or not, this was his first time really seeing jewelry of any sort and he really wanted to take them off but he didn''t have the time to stop and try it right now but most important they didn''t have any ways to take them off.


    [ how comes you don''t wear them now papa did you find a way to take them off? ]


    Mansa didn''t answer he just smiled and opened the wrist cuff of the long sleeve shirt he was wearing and slowly rolled it down to reveal the gold and blue wrist cuff.


    [ After that I honestly never tried to take them off, I honestly forgot about them... ]


    ............


    It''s been over four hours since Mansa started walking to try to leave this barren land but for the past four hours, it just felt like he''s been walking around in circles no matter how far he walked it was just the same thing.


    He felt tired, he was thirsty, he felt like he was being roasted alive. When he just started walking his back was straight he was full of youthful spirit.......but now his back was slouched and he was having a hard time taking another step forward but at least those birds from before came back to keep his company.


    At this point, he wasn''t even sure if it was just his mind playing tricks on him or if he was actually hearing something.


    For last minute or so he started hearing a distance muffled grinding sound that sounded like it was getting closer, as well as the wind, started picking up a little bit but he didn''t really pay much attention to that, the only thing on his mind right now was seeing grass and drinking water.


    After few minutes as well as the sound getting closer Mansa could no longer ignore it when he turned around what he saw shocked him.


    ¡°Oh shit!!


    Mansa turned around and with a surge of energy that seemed to come out of nowhere, he started running like his life depends on it........it depended on it.


    Behind was the sand had risen like it planned on taking over the earth it didn''t slow down at all, it only seemed to be getting stronger, as it raged on it started to cover the sky as if trying to shroud the desert in darkness.


    Rawr!!!


    A roar came from sandstorm that made his blood run cold he was scared out of his mind but that didn''t mean he''d slow down, in fact, the complete opposite happened, the energy he didn''t know he had before flowed like a reservoir.


    As the saying goes ''the impossible becomes possible when you''re in trouble''*


    The current situation that Mansa was in was the physical embodiment of that saying still no matter how hard he ran the sandstorm was only getting closer, the winds had already caused his clothes to start fluttering he could already feel the stinging pain from the sand on his skin.


    Rawr!!!


    "Shit!"


    At this point, Mansa was pretty sure that there was something else in the sand because that roar wasn''t from the sand it was from something else and based on how loud it is was he was pretty sure whatever was making the sound was huge.


    From his peripheral vision, he could make out a huge shadow in the sand and his curiosity got the better of him so he looked.


    Mansa instantly regretted it.


    In the sand was a giant worm-like creature that seemed to be devouring the sand, in its rows upon rows upon row of teeth but even with all that extra motivation he couldn''t run any faster if anything he was slowing down because the sand strong was so close he had to cover his eyes so he was instinctively slowing down trying to be careful without realizing it.


    Rawr!!!


    Mansa stopped and turned around staring at the beast with fear in his eyes, this roar, unlike the others, was like beast seeing its prey it was full of intimidation.


    ''I''m going to die, aren''t I?''


    Instantly his already slightly glowing blue eyes started glowing brighter but the giant creature didn''t seem to pay any heed to it and just dived down swallowing everything.


    Mansa vanished.

 Chapter Five

    Right, where he originally stood a slippery chunk of sand took his place but the giant creature paid no attention to it and continued devouring sand.


    Although the place where he found himself standing Impaired his vision he knew deep down where he was but chose to ignore it.


    He could feel sand between his toes so he didn''t worry about much although for the past few hours he hated it with every fiber of his being right now it provided a sense of comfort in his unfamiliar surroundings.


    After a few seconds, a rumbling sound started coming from all around him, the sand started receding being sucked further down to Alaric knows where and Mansa had absolutely no intention of going along with it so he jumped off the lump of sand that felt so comfortable a moment ago.


    When his feet landed on the ground he instantly stood up straight a chill ran down his spine.


    "Ahh...."


    He landed in water but the water didn''t really feel right it burned a bit but the sticky, slimy sensation really served to push him closer to the edge, the slimy liquid aside but what his feet came in contact with completely pushed him over the edge, warm and pulsing like a living creature.


    "No."


    Mansa didn''t want it to be what he was thinking, so he stumbled over to the closet wall although his eyes already adapted to the darkness he couldn''t see everything perfectly when he found a wall he placed his hands on it and gently rubbed it.


    "No..."


    The walls were soft and sticky kind of slippery just like the ¡®ground¡¯.


    "No...."


    As he continued to deny reality his voice started cracking while the pitch started getting higher.


    "No...."


    The walls started contracting and expanding and the liquid below his feet started rising; it started burning now.


    Turning his attention up ahead at the tunnel in front of him that seemed to be contracting and expanding rapidly followed by the sound of something being poured down.


    Mansa wasn''t stupid, he might deny reality but he most certainly wasn''t stupid, when the sound of the sand coming got closer he started punching the walls full force.


    Boom!


    Boom!!


    Boom!!!


    Although the walls didn¡¯t immediately break apart, Mansa who grew up in a village filled with warrior didn¡¯t give up he kept hitting because he knew he wasn''t by any means weak so when his fist connected with the walls they kept on dealing damage.


    Serious damage.


    After the fourth punch, the walls started bleeding while contracting and expanding rapidly but he didn''t have the slightest intention of stopping so get kept punching.


    It in this moment that he understood why the walls kept on contracting and expanding so much, all the sand that it previously swallowed was pushed towards the surface him included.


    "Argh!!!"


    Pui!


    Pui!!


    When the sand suddenly slapped him, some liquid went straight into his mouth, the fact that it burned a bit wasn''t all that bad its the fact that it so disgusting.


    Mansa closed his eyes trying his best to force himself to vomit but unfortunately, the cool breeze on his face forced him to relax.


    ''Wind?......Oh Alaric please no''


    When he opened his eyes and looked down, himself and a bunch of sand were falling from a pretty good distance in the air.


    Looking around at the giant creature which he¡¯s pretty sure is a giant worm with a lot of huge rows of teeth but that not really what caught his attention, it¡¯s the person sitting on top of its head looking out at him curiously.


    All that isn''t really important right now because he was falling but he couldn''t fly all he could he curled himself up and pray for the best.


    With a loud ''thud'' sound he landed on the ground, the only thing saving him was the sand that he landed on was already wet but he didn''t relax one bit he jumped up off the burning sand the moment he realized he was alive.


    "Oh thank you Alaric!!! Your servant is forever grateful!"


    Mansa felt like he had a fresh lease on life.


    "I don''t know who that Alaric fella you mentioned is but yer welcome"


    Mansa was surprised for a moment before remembering the person he saw on the ''worm'' he looked up.


    Coincidentally the moment he looked up and made eye contact, the person jumped down.


    "Ah"


    Surprised for a moment, he hurried to catch the falling person.


    "Thanks, lad now put meh down"


    The person was clearly uncomfortable being held in a damsel in distress position.


    When he put the person down and took a good look at him, Clad in dusty brown clothes and his face was wrapped in cloth with his eyes covered with goggles, his entire outfit blended in with the sand.


    When he unwrapped the cloth, a full head of white hair and beard was revealed but Mansa didn''t look down on him because of his age, the old men from the village were all old monsters.


    The old stranger looked at him from head to toe and smiled.


    "What''s yer name kid and what are yer doing all the way outch yer"Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    What caught Mansa off guard was that he and the old man spoke the same language although his accent was strange and pronounced some words horribly they spoke the same language.


    It was hard for him to contain his excitement.


    "My name is Mansa, ''the mother'' left me here"


    When the old man heard that his face showed a trace of sadness, even though the youth in front of him was big, his face showed that he¡¯s still young and for his mother to abandon him in the middle of the desert is despicable.


    "It okay kid, you can hitch a ride with me back to the city am sure a strong kid like yer self will have no problem finding work"


    Clearly confused by what the man had said. Why would he want to work? Still, he chose not to say anything because he really didn''t want to walk back to the city, the man had mentioned.


    "Okay, thank you"


    When Mansa said thank you he placed his right hand on his chest and slightly lowered his head.


    "No problem, let''s go.........Bubbles down"


    The old man said that the giant worm lowered itself onto the ground for them to get on.


    "Let''s go, kid"


    Mansa ran over and climbed on the giant worm, to his surprise its body wasn''t soft its hard like a stone.


    When he got on top of the giant worms head, he saw the old man holding some ropes with one hand and holding out a pair of glasses for him while gesturing for him to put them on with the other.


    Mansa put it on his face according to the old man instructions.


    "Heeyah"


    The only made that strange sound, and the worm started moving at full speed, it caught him off guard if it wasn''t for the old man holding onto him he would''ve fallen off.


    "Where are yer from?!!"


    Because the wind, as well as the sound of the worm devouring the sand the old man had to shout so Mansa, could hear him.


    "Mhmm it doesn''t really have a name but I''m from the mountain!"


    When the old man heard that he looked at Mansa, looked at desert then back to Mansa again.


    The way he said it made it sound like its somewhere right around the corner.


    "Have you ever heard of Alaric?!"


    [ Just a regular Jehovah witness aren''t you? ]


    Ignored.


    "No why?!"


    When Mansa heard that he seemed to get more enthusiastic.


    "Would you like to?!"


    The old man wasn''t really sure how to respond he could hear the excitement in Mansa''s voice but still.......


    The conversation between Mansa and the old man about Alaric lasted almost two hours, it couldn¡¯t even be described as a conversation more like a lecture.


    The thing that saved the old man''s ear was the city they were approaching, it structure stunned Mansa into silence, buildings weren¡¯t anything new to him but was the size and location that stunned him.


    In the lifeless desert, the city seemed like something that was taken out of a painting, it shouldn¡¯t be there.


    Big beautiful trees and colorful plants, crystal clear water. The city and the desert were complete opposites.


    ¡°Before we go into the city we gada leave my baby here at the stables!¡±


    No objection came from Mansa, his attention was still on the city.


    The stables was simply a giant ring type place with a lot of other worms there.


    A question he never really had in mind was finally answered, why were the worms eating the sand.


    Even though all the worms seem to look the same there were small differences like some of the hand slight purple color while the others were brown.


    The purple ones seemed like the females due to the attention they were getting from the brown ones, the thing they pooped out was wrapped in a thick substance, once removed there were thousands of small transparent crystals while the men pooped out solid blocks of hardened sand.


    All of was fascinating to Mansa but it still wasn''t as interesting as the city.


    When the people at the stables saw Mansa they all showed expressions of fear mixed with shock but mostly shock, the old man simply ignored them all and continued walking with Mansa.


    Being the nice person he is, Mansa raised his hand to wave to the few people that were scattered about but his expectations of them greeting him back wasn¡¯t met in fact something he would¡¯ve never expected happened.


    When they saw him smiling they were even more afraid, when he raised his hand to them it seemed like a monster was about to attack, every single one of them ran like their lives depended on it.


    ¡°uhmmm¡­¡­what just happened?¡±


    The only explanation Mansa could think of was that it had to do with cultural differences, maybe to them, his actions seemed threatening?.


    Seemly completely unaware of everything that just happened the old man looked around in confusion.


    ¡°What the hell, why¡¯d they all leave without saying anything!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not sure I waved to them and they ran off¡±


    The old man placed his hand under his chin, giving off the impression that he was in deep thought, so despite him dying to see what the inside of the city is like he didn¡¯t interrupt the old man.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because a yere skin color? After All folks round ere don¡¯t really see people that look like you plus you so big you probably look like a wild animal to them¡±


    The explanation brought a wry smile on Mansa¡¯s face he was happy to have gotten an explanation but the explanation made him feel a bit sour.


    ¡°That¡¯s their business, lemme show you the city¡±


    Nodding his head vigorously Mansa followed behind the old man.


    The city did not disappoint in the least.


    People of all different shapes and sizes wearing colorful clothes, the children playing, vendors shouting to attract customers attention to the different foods item and trinkets they had, though he didn¡¯t see anyone that looked like him at the moment it didn¡¯t matter to him.


    It¡¯s noisy, dirty but it almost filled with a sense of wonder that made him feel as if he¡¯s in a dream and it had a freeing sensation to it.


    Living in the village it was basically the same thing over and over again with same people but he didn¡¯t have a problem with any of it because that was all he knew but now that a whole new world has been placed before him everything before felt dull and pointless.


    Whenever someone saw Mansa they would try to run off without him realizing it or try to avoid his gaze, the looks on their faces were mirrors of the people in the stables, not everyone in the market had that reaction in fact very few did most of the people were busy with their own things.


    ¡°I gotta get sumn¡¯ done so ammo leave you somewhere yu can get sumn¡¯ to full ya up then I¡¯ll see about getting ya dat job okay?¡±


    Walking in front of Mansa the old man maneuvered the crowds with expert level precision, Mansa stuck close behind him trying his best not to get lost in admiring the city.


    Before long they arrived at a little shop with roughly eight dark brown tables inside with three chairs to each table.


    A few people scattered in the little shop roughly about twelve of them both men and women, unlike the people he saw a few moments ago these people were dressed similarly to the old man, the only difference was body type and size.


    ¡°Ya have any money?¡±


    ¡°Money? What¡¯s that?¡±


    He wasn¡¯t trying to play dumb to get a free meal or anything like that he really didn¡¯t know what the word meant since the system in the village was basically one of equivalent exchange or you just give what you have in excess with asking for anything.


    Taking a deep breath the old man sigh little bit annoyed and a little sympathetic.


    ¡°Grab any seat ya like¡±


    Mansa walked inside the shop and all eyes were on him but unlike the people before these people only looked over curiously before returning back to what they were doing, the old man walked up to the counter and spoke some words to the person while pointing at him and handing him a few pieces of green paper with some bronze and silver designs on it.


    When the conversation ended he walked back to Mansa.


    ¡°Their gonna give ya sumn¡¯ to eat and drink, Don¡¯t leave ere I¡¯ll be back later¡±


    Mansa smiles and nodded his head.


    ¡°You are a very kind old man, I¡¯m not familiar with this place as yet but I''m sure there aren¡¯t a lot of people that would help a person in need like myself, May the mother shower you in boundless blessings.¡±


    By the time he finished speaking he¡¯d already clasped his hands and even though he was seated he still bowed slightly.


    Forcing a smile the old man left and shortly after the food and drink arrived, This was his first time seeing something like that and he didn¡¯t have the slightest clue of what it was so he didn¡¯t dare eat it but chugged the drink like it was nothing.


    From being swallowed to getting caught up in educating someone about Alaric to getting absorbed into the majesty of the city, his thirst was completely forgotten until he saw the drink.


    After drinking it he immediately regretted it, it burned his throat like crazy and caused him to feel slightly dizzy but at the same time freer, it¡¯s one of those amazing annoying feelings.


    Closing his eyes tight and focusing he managed to finally regain a bit more like his normal self but only a little bit, the odd thing is he could feel a pair eyes staring at him without ever looking away.


    Whether it was the liquid he just drank that slowed down his mind, distorting everything or there''s actually someone staring at him, he couldn''t tell.


    Searching the shop he couldn¡¯t find anyone which made him suspicious but he still felt the eyes on him.


    ¡° Are you stupid? Do you want to die that badly!?¡±


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­..


    [ And that kids is how I met your mother ]


    ¡­¡­¡­¡­.

 Chapter Six

    Covered from head to toe in a dark blue robe with a few curling patterns on it, from what little of her face he''s able to see, it''s clear she¡¯s a stunning.


    But Mansa could only stare blankly after all he didn''t have the slightest clue about who she was or why she was speaking to him.


    ¡°huh?¡±


    The young lady stared at him in a daze because of his reaction before sizing him up, staring into his eyes for a few seconds before letting out a deep breath filled with mixed emotions.


    ¡°Come with me¡±


    Mansa remained seated.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry but I cannot, I''m waiting for someone¡±


    The young lady stared at him again this time like she was looking at an idiot, the anger and annoyance in her eye became harder to suppress the more she looked at him.


    This made Mansa even more confused.


    ¡°He couldn¡¯t be¡­..no but why¡­.¡±


    The young lady began mumbling under her breath.


    Shortly afterward while the young lady was still mumbling a few men dressed from head to toes in white, cover their face with a white half mask.


    When they entered they scanned the entire room before their eyes finally landed on Mansa.


    No words were spoken to each other, with a nod all five of them surrounded Mansa, the young lady was completely petrified when saw them no daring to say a work.


    ¡°Come with us now¡±


    Although this was his first time out in the world and he marveled at the tiniest thing he saw, he wasn¡¯t stupid so seeing all these men surrounding him at a glance he knew they didn¡¯t have good intentions.


    ¡°I cannot I¡¯m waiting for a friend¡±


    When these words were spoken everyone in the room either looked at him like he was an idiot or with pity but one thing was for sure none of them looked surprised.


    Mansa scanned everyone in the room before his eyes landed on the young lady revealing a small smile.


    This didn¡¯t escape the eyes of the white clothes men two of them walked behind her.


    He stood up from his seat without saying a word walking behind the man who led the way, the young lady could only grit her teeth and walk.


    Once outside the first thing Mansa saw was the old man who had been treating he so nice.


    Feeling his gaze the old man looked at him and smile no trace of shame, guilt or any other emotions that would show remorse.


    ¡°Sorry kid, it was just your bad luck¡±


    After saying that he collected some paper from one of the men and walked off.


    They were completely surrounded there were another eight men in front of them while another few were scattered on different buildings watching them.


    ¡°Hahaha, sorry kid you, not the first he¡¯s sold out, I doubt you¡¯re gonna be the last¡±


    The one who just spoke stretch his hand to pat Mansa shoulder, putting his size aside Mansa still looked like a sixteen-year-old kid.


    But what he did next was completely out of everyone¡¯s expectations, without turning he kicked the man who was patting his shoulder in his stomach sending him flying back.


    Before they could react he grabbed the young lady¡¯s hand, pressed down on his legs and springs forward, thrusting his right knee up into the face of the white clothes man directly in front of him.


    The mask on his face was completely shattered pieces of it lodged in his face, everything happened in an instant and before they could process what was happening Mansa used his body as a stepping stone to get on top of a nearby building.


    Without missing a beat he threw the girl over his shoulders and jumped to another building that ran in the same direction as the old man.


    It only took less than a millisecond after Mansa jumped buildings for the men in white to react, after getting rid of their initial shock, they started about a dozen of them started chasing his some in the streets some on top of buildings.


    The young lady was in a daze but when she noticed that he was going further away from the exit of the city she instantly woke up.


    ¡°Where are you going!? The exit is the other way! Turn idiot¡±


    Her voice no longer sounded as soothing instead it sounded like shrieks but considering the situation it¡¯s understandable.


    ¡°I am not the first but I will be the last¡±


    At first, she didn¡¯t understand what he was talking about but after a few seconds, she understood.


    ¡°You''re not the first but you¡¯ll be the last?....idiot save yourself before you think about saving others or at the very leave save me!¡±


    He completely ignored her and after another building hop or two, he finally stopped the old man walking without a care in the world.


    For someone as old as his as well as the nature of his jobs he¡¯d be a fool if he couldn¡¯t danger and when he looked back he saw eyes that resembled that of a predictor when it locked onto its prey.


    Instinctively his feet started to move as fast as they possibly could.


    The men in white that were chasing Mansa looked as calm as ever, most of the men that were following on the ground had been lost because they couldn¡¯t maneuver as easily as those above.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    After a few twist and turns the old man was at a dead end but before he could turn around the giant Mansa fell from the sky blocking his path.


    The old man''s face showed fear but when Mansa looked in his eyes it was more condescension even his tone was the same.


    ¡°Boy kid I¡¯ve met a lot of you over the years but¡­¡­.never one as stupid as you hahaha, is this your first time coming out into the world? In your next life try not to be so stupid¡±


    The contradictions made Mansa feel like he was planning something but he didn¡¯t have to wait to find out what he was planning.


    Shortly after he landed so did the men in white.


    ¡°Trust me, kid, it¡¯s better you go with them quietly, it hurts a lot less that way¡±


    Mansa didn¡¯t reply but he once again launched himself forward with an open palm slamming his head into the wall, even if the old man had nine lives he wouldn¡¯t have survived.


    Taking a deep breath Mansa took the young lady off his shoulder who was still in a daze and placed her on the ground.


    ¡°I do not know who you are nor what you want but I do not plan and going with you¡±


    While he¡¯d already raised his guard and before finishing his sentence he¡¯d already sprung forward covering the meter or so the distance between them.


    When he ran he ran in low and by the time the closest person to him was going to put up his guard Mansa was already within range.


    Thrusting up his elbow diagonally under the mans chin forcefully uprooting him from the ground, the elbow thrust was followed by a fist to the stomach sending him flying in the direction of his comrades.


    Before Mansa could make another move a vicious kick came from his right which Mansa welcomed with an elbow strike.


    A clear cracking sound could be heard followed by a blood-curdling scream when the leg bent in an unnatural ninety-degree angle.


    Once again he rushed forward performing a forward push kick but he didn¡¯t allow the man to go far before grabbing him by his collar and slamming him into the ground which he followed up with a backward spin kick that took down the man directly behind him.


    Swoosh


    A blue light flash past him followed up by a crackling sound that resembled lights instinctively he jumped back until he was beside the young lady again.


    Clap Clap Clap


    ¡°Wow, this is the first time I¡¯ve ever seen one of you managed to do this much damage to us in a city¡±


    A man in white that was clearly a superior stepped forward, his eyes were filled with greed from the time Mansa was fighting his cloak flew up many times revealing what was several pieces of gold that were underneath.


    Himself as well as a few of his comrades couldn¡¯t wait to get a hold of all that gold and find out where this kid got it from.


    Everything that he¡¯d just done only took a few seconds so it wasn¡¯t that the men in white took a while to react just that everything happened way too fast.


    ¡°But unfortunately If this goes on you¡¯ll make us look bad¡­...take aim¡±


    By this time all the men who¡¯d gotten lost along the way showed up so standing in front of them was nothing less than twenty men all aim metal cylinders at them.


    ¡°We have to run now!¡±


    The young lady finally came out of her daze and when she saw what was being aimed at them she became terrified but it was too late.


    ¡°Fire!¡±


    To Mansa, the sounds that followed sounded like roaring thunder and what shot out looked like lighting.


    Some were aimed at it while others were aimed at the girl.


    Mansa had no idea how to react with up fast they were approaching he could try to scale the builds and escape but if he did that he¡¯d have to abandon her and if he chose to grab her and then scale the building there wouldn¡¯t be enough time, no matter what he couldn¡¯t abandon her because in retrospect she was only trying to help him.


    With no other choice he bit the bullet and dashed in front the young lady who still slumped down on the ground, he used his body as a shield.


    The pain that came was far worse than what he could¡¯ve ever expected because what he expected them to fire they didn¡¯t.


    He expected them to fire something like lightning and that¡¯s what he prepared himself for although that did come what came after was unexpected.


    What they fired was indeed electricity but in the midst of all that were small grappling hooks that ripped through his skin lodging themselves firmly inside his skin.


    Mansa screamed like a pig that was being slaughtered with a really really dull knife.


    But something happened that caught a few of the men¡¯s attention, the back of the cloak had already been ripped apart or burn by the electricity so they could see the two black lines running up his back.


    ¡°Oh¡­...you and you keep firing on those black lines on his back¡±


    The man who had walked out earlier issued an order after noticing something was off.


    Although it was a little bit strange but for all they knew are cared it was just some strange tradition they had where he came from so that wasn¡¯t was caught their attention it was the fact that no matter how many grapplings or electric bullets hit that area it was completely undamaged.


    If the grappling hit that area full force they crush under the force of its own impact while the electric bullets would just fade out.


    The number of people that noticed it continuously grew in number and along with that came fear.


    One of the white clothe men had said earlier that this wasn¡¯t the first time the old man sold out someone to them but if those people had abilities how could they be captured without causing major damage to the city?


    And if they could cause major damage to the city why would these men in white attack them openly wouldn¡¯t it be simpler to just use a sneak attack to save the city from ruin?


    The answer, there must be something in the city that suppressed ability users but here this kid was who seemed like he was still able to use his ability so wouldn¡¯t that mean that whatever they used for suppression was starting to fail?


    Or was this kid just an oddity? Whatever it was they didn¡¯t plan on letting him leave here alive


    ¡°Tie him down!¡±


    Immediately the men who weren¡¯t firing at the back immediately ran forward with a little machine they then proceeded to tie the ropes of a few grappling to it and started whiling them in.


    Mansa was already on the verge of crying his eyes were filled with water, less than a weeks ago he was just a sixteen-year-old living with his mother and now here he was getting impaled, the change happened a bit too quickly.


    He had just started to bare with the pain when they started pulling on the hooks in his back dragging his backward.


    The young lady had been staring at his water-filled eyes the entire time, no one would be able to tell if she was conscious or not.


    No matter what he had to resist because if he went back it was only a question of when he and the young lady would die.


    ¡°Ughh!!.......ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!¡±


    He couldn¡¯t suppress it anymore the hooks were on the verge of ripping his skin apart.


    ¡°Pull harder!¡±


    They already come this far to get rid of a major oddity as well as a major payday they weren¡¯t going to give up now.


    ¡°Please, mother help!¡±


    Everyone was momentarily stunned¡­..


    He was calling for his mother¡­¡­


    All the men in white wanted to roll on the ground in a fit of laughter but still, they choose to keep their eyes on the prize.


    The young lady looked at him strangely despite his the situation they were in but instantly after she was stunned his already blue eyes started glowing.


    Without any warning a heavy pressure envelope the area forcing the men in white to drop to the ground everyone including the young lady felt like they were being crushed but it disappeared just as quickly as it came and when it left so did Mansa and the girl.


    What replaced them were two trees what was strange was that the exact area where the hooks were embedded in Mansa body was the exact same place they were in the trees.


    ¡°How¡¯s this possible?¡±


    ¡°Does he have two abilities?.....it looks like one of them is substitution?¡±


    All of them were stunned they were sure how to react, it was hard for them to contains the questions they had inside.


    ¡°If his ability is substitution then based on the trees he must be outside the city right? Let¡¯s go we can¡¯t let them get away!¡±


    When everyone was ready to run off the one who was clearly the leader spoke.


    ¡°All of you stop!! Look at the trees good have you ever see anything like it before around the city? I doubt there in the area anymore¡­¡­quickly collect as much of the blood as possible and let¡¯s go¡±


    The leader was aware of how strange his words sounded, how was it possible for someone to use their ability in the city much less the amount of power it would take to traverse the entire desert?


    Some of them ran forward and took out some viles and collected as much blood as possible shortly after the blood on the ground started to evaporate but no one was surprised by this.