A Burning Village
*weng*
*sclink*
*vfoom*
*crackle* *crackle* *crackle*
*screams*
Screams echoed across the skies as a village burned to the ground in the bright amber of a blazing inferno. The people fled to the exits as fast as they could, as one would expect, but in this case something was different.
Instead of bodies trampling over each other to get out and what scant guards being present trying their best to quell the chaos, every one had there belongings packed and were already on there way out.
And this would seem strange to the normal passerby... that is of course if this fire was by accident!
However, the whole village knew who was behind the fire and why it was happening!
"These lowly mortals dare think they can sully the garments of the head patriarch of the esteemed Five Floating Flames sect by standing with 10 feet of his person!!! We are their only hope of defence from the Beasts of Ethra and they have the gale to show such a disservice!!!! Burn the lot of them to the ground!!!" A voice shouted over the masses!
Multiple figures, with anywhere between 1 and 4 bright floating balls of fire flying around them, flew out above the small backwater village, unleashing torrents worth of techniques upon the poorly constructed wooden houses and establishments.
"Ack!!! It burns!!!"
"Ahhhh!!!!"
"Uuuuaaaaahhhh!!!!!"
"Pleases have mercy upon us elders!!!"
The unfortunate few who couldn't leave fast enough screamed out in sweltering pain as the flames engulfed them and there homes!!!
Meanwhile in a small hut to the edges.
"*Pant!!!**Pant!!!* Dear, have you packed your things?!" A very lanky man with black hair and a beard asked in desperation as he dashed around the one room the building had!
"Yes dear." A woman with long red hair answered, equally as frantic. "Now lets hurry! We need to get to the Yellow Grass Village before they spot us!"
"Hm! Remember the boy." He huffed out as he grabbed the few bags of supplies they had.
"I have him. " The woman replied, grabbing up a bundle gently and holding it securely in her arms.
In the bundle laid a baby with black hair much like his father's. However, while he got his hair from his father, most of his facial features leaned closer to his mother's side. Also, unlike his father's emerald-green eyes, he had his mothers deep blue ones. Said eyes were blinking sleepily and within seconds, the child had bobbed himself back to sleep.
The parents took a moment to look at him in wonder! How one could even fall asleep in this madness was a mystery for the ages!
"*chuckle* Look at how peacefully he sleeps." The woman coddled, putting a finger under the boy's chin.
"Indeed. He may grow up to be a great man." The man replied, looking over her shoulder to see their son.
"Just like you." The woman said back to her husband lovingly. "Do you think he'll be good at wood cutting like you?"
"Hmm, or maybe he'll be good at cooking like you." he answered, embracing his wife in his arms.
"Lets see... That is of course if he survives this..." She said disheartened at their predicament.
"He'll live. We'll make sure of it!" The man reassured with resolve.
They let the embrace last for a single second longer, then donned cloaks and flipped the hoods over their heads to hide their faces.
They dashed out of their house, the fire now starting and moving fast as the sect members unleashed their unreasonable rage on the settlement, making short work of them like twigs before a flame!
*canter**canter**canter**canter**canter**canter**canter**canter*
A train of wagons with people swarming led out of the village, as fast as the horses dragging them could manage!
With a single nod in the other's direction, the two dashed out into the ordered chaos, falling in step with the wagons .
Then with a movement so fluid it could only be brought with practice, they placed their bundled up baby in a wagon and ducked to another exit!
"Do you think he'll be alright?" The woman asked in worry.
"Not to fear my love. If Astria wills it, we will be able to meet with him safely." The man replied confidently.
*that whistling sound a fire ball makes*
*scloom!!!*
Shortly after, a flaming ball of qi fell upon them and before they could react, they were set ablaze!!!
"Kill them all!!! They dare try to shirk responsibility for the high patriarch's mistreatment! Show them our might and burn the scum of this god blessed land to the ground!!!" The shouts from the sect leaders continued to chant as their techniques struck down those that ran.
***
Hours later, a lone wagon sped along a dirt road, the driver whipping the single horse dragging it near senseless!
"Heh! To think that I managed to get away with my life with Fuen The Unforgiving at the head!" The man thought himself to be lucky as he escaped with only the hair on his head singed! "I have to keep moving, least my life be jinx by Drion the god of Mischief..."
"Halt common mortal!" A voice shouted out above him, and he pulled the reigns so fast, he almost tipped himself off of the wagon!
From above, a man on a flying sword, wearing the red robs of the Five Floating Flames floated down to him! He had a single fire ball floating at his back, causing the man to shake with terror!
'Oh no! They found me!!!' He thought to himself in horror!
"For trying to abscond your punishment and dishonor or great head patriarch, you have been revoked your privilege to a quick and painless death!
"This lowly mortal humbly pleads for your mercy honored elder." The man instantly found himself on the ground, kowtowing enough to bury his head into the ground! "Had this one known that this would have brought your clan dishonor, I would have helped you to round up those that dared to run away from their rightful dues!"
"Save your squabbles for Astria worm." The cultivator replied with a sick smile on his face, qi reaching his hand in order to smite the figure before him!
"Halt! Which sect dares to use their techniques on the land of Seven Tea Leaves sect?!" Another voice called out, stopping the cultivator mid-strike!
"I, a member of the Five Floating Flames sect, dare to do so!" He replied with gusto.
A man soon presented himself from the bushes of the woods to the side of the road.
"I thought we had an agreement with your clan to never show your face in these lands." The man, garbed in a robe of a weird shade of green, said with venom in his voice.
"This man is an offender of our high patriarch! I refuse to let him live another second." The first cultivator shouted at the second.
"I care not for your sects problems. However, you may leave with a warning if you wish. But if you dare use a technique before me, Tren the Swift, then it will be your last!" Tren threatened, resting a hand on the handle of the sheathed blade at his side.
"*Tsk* I will retreat for now. But don't think I will forget this blight!" The first cultivator shouted out before flying away with his sword!
"T-thank you elder brother! This one is in your debt!" The wagon driver stuttered out a thanks reverently, now kowtowing to Tren the cultivator.
"Never mind common mortal. Are you you and your child going to the Roaring Planes Village?" He asked.
"... I-I'm sorry, my what elder brother?" the man asked in confusion.
"The child that lays in the back of your wagon." He replied, getting impatient.
"In the back of my... w-why yes! Yes we are Elder brother!" The man was still confused at what what he was talking about, but far be it from him to be the one to go against what the cultivator who just saved his life says!
"Then hurry up and get on with it, before I lose my patience!" He almost snapped at him.
"Y-yes elder brother! Right away!!!" the man replied, scurrying back on his wagon and continuing on his way.
'Sweet Astria! A baby that doesn't almost got me killed!!! I don't know what that crazy man thought he sensed, but it couldn't be a..."
*WAAA!!!* *WAAA!!!*
The man almost coughed blood as he heard crying in the back of his wagon. He dared not stop to check least his worst fears be confirmed, but to be safe, when he got to the entrance of the village and had to pay the fee of entry, he paid for two.
Upon reaching a house out of sight from the main roads, he parked and checked his wagon to find a child wrapped in an old animal skin, frantically turning around as f searching for something!
*creak*
"Hmm? Boris is that you?!" A rather plump woman in a worn out dress and an apron opened the door of the shabby house and greeted the man Boris.
"Hilda! Long time no see my lovely cousin! How have you been!" Boris greeted his cousin, embracing her in a tired hug.
"WAAA!!! WAAAA!!!" The child cried out, making it's presence known.
"What do you have here!" Hilda asked in surprise as she heard the noise.
"*gasp!* Boris Augustus Rengar! You dare bring a sniveling rat to my home!" She screamed out in rage!
'Relax cousin. I'm gonna throw that vile thing in the rubbish!" He said, his voice seething in displeasure.
"That child almost had me killed by Tren the Swift!" He complained in disbelief.
"You mean the Tren that felled a hundred men with just a swing of his blade?!" Hilda asked in shock.
"That same one! This child is cursed I tell ya!" He swore.
And just like that, the child was unceremoniously dumped into the bin and promptly forgotten by the two!
"Come now cousin, let get you something to eat!" Hilda said, comforting Boris.
"Yes Hilda, I have quite the tale for you."
Many saw what just happened, and just as many looked the other way. This isn't the first time a baby had been dumped into a dumpster.
Even though this is the case, one man broke rank and looked into the trash. What he saw shocked him!
In the heap, the child was playing with an old container, as if he wasn't just thrown away like the very trash he was sitting in!
At that sight, he thought a thought he never thought he would have thought! ()
'Maybe I can take care of him.' He thought to himself. He laughed at the thought then prepared to walk away, but couldn't find it in himself to leave him be.
'I hope I don't regret this...' the man thought to himself as he took the child up and brought him home with him.
And such is the start of this young lad's adventure.