Ethan 'The Freak'

[West Blue, Year 1498,Hillcrest Village]

Hillcrest village is a rather isolated village with only around 200 people living in it. The village is surrounded by huge mountains that make it impossible to reach there from south and east by ordinary means. At the west side of this village in a small forest called 'Howling Woods' a kid around 6 years old can be seen doing various exercises from running to pushups for hours with a determined look in his face. This kid has rather good features with his long black hair, green eyes and his charming face. This kid is called...

''Ethan, you are pushing yourself way too hard... again.'' I am awakened from my trance-like training state by a familiar nagging voice. I look towards my right to see a 4 meter-long orange fox lying in the grass and watching me with bored eyes. This is not a strange sight to me however since he is my best and only friend, grumble. I gave him this name because his voice sounds like a grumble when he talks to me. I can understand him and other animals perfectly unlike other people for some strange reason. Maybe the same reason as me seeing various weird dreams like a pervert talking skeleton singing songs or people that can slash mountains with a wave of their swords? I also learned my training method from my dreams, The marine in my dreams were training like that so i tried to imitate them when i was 4. My body couldn't quiete handle it though so i toned it down to match my needs.

I don't know if it is because of these strange dreams or for another reason I matured extremely fast. I learned things such as walking,reading and writing much earlier than kids my age. They used to call me 'The Genius'. But it didn't take long for my title to change from 'The Genius' to 'The Freak' after they learned of my weird dreams and 'my control over animals.' They think that i can control animals at will and they are scared I might be able to do the same to them one day. I can't do that however i can only speak to them, listening to me or not is completely up to them.

''Ethan, wake up!'' Grumbles,grumble in an annoyed fashion.

''Eh...Sorry. Did you just ask me something?'' I somehow forget what he asked me when I was deep in thoughts. I do that sometimes. His ears twitch in annoyance before he answers:

''Sigh, you do this everytime. Lost in your thoughts, always training. Why do you train so hard anyway?''

''This era is about to change... I need to be ready for it.'' I answer with a mature voice that shouldn't belong my age.

''... Did you see this in your dreams too?'' He asks in a doubtful voice.

''Yeah.'' I answer in a determined voice. I don't blame him for doubting my dreams, I feel blessed he doesn't think I am mad like the rest of the town. I don't doubt my dreams anymore though. I have compared my dreams with the books I have read untill now and realised some things in books match perfectly with my dreams such as country and people names. At first I thought this might be coincidal but when my dreams kept proving themselves over and over again I stopped doubting them. I just see them as a gift now.

'' Do you want to visit golden when you finish your training?'' Golden is Grumble's son. Grumble is rather lazy and laid back but he is a good father, unlike mine who has gone to do some pirate stuff appearently. My mother has died after a few days from my birth. My only remaining relative is my big brother Robert. As for what kind of person he is... He is the nicest person i have ever seen. He is nice to everyone regardless of their gender or personality. He is a kind of person that can sacrifice himself to help someone he doesn't even know. Even if a person is unjust towards him he can just smile and forgive them the next moment. With my father's and my bad reputation he is actually the only reason I am not attacked by villagers. He is somewhat naive and I feel he is sometimes too good for his own good, but I love him anyway.

'' I am finished the training for today, but it is getting late so I will visit golden later. If I am late brother will nag at me again'' I reply with a happy tone. Just thinking about my brother is enough to put me in a good mood.

''I see, I shall accompany you to village, then I will go back to check on golden.''

We walked for a few minutes before I see a rock flying towards my face. I easily caught it however I knew my good mood is about to be gone when I see a bunch of child between 7-12 years old crowding in front of me.

''Hey,look. It is the freak and his monster.'' ''Stay away from us you little demon!'' I just look at them passively before turning around to go from another path.

''ROAR!'' Grumble has other thoughts it seems as he let's out a fierce roar and slowly walk towards them with an intimidating look.

An 11 year old boy drops to the ground on his bottom,looking pale like he just lost his soul while a 4 meter fox is closing on him.

''Y-You, w-what are you doing? Call your Monster back.'' He screams towards me with a shaken voice. It might have been amusing to watch this kid scare himself to death however...

''Grumble, forget it. Lets go.''

He grumbles something before following me to use another path, clearly dissatisfied with my decision.

''I was not about to kill them you know, they just need a little 'discipline' from this Fox. Why are you so tolerant with them? Letting them taunt you like that,hmph!''

''I am one day leave this shitty village and explore the world... but my brother will probably stay here. I don't want to cause him any trouble. They can't hurt me anyway, so just let them go.''

We exit the forest after a few minutes of walking, then it takes us around 10 more minutes to pass through the village to arrive in our house. Villagers us weird looks but no one bothers me unlike last time.

'Knock,Knock' I knock the door 2 times before my brother opens the door. And there he is... with his short black hair and brown eyes along with his trademark smile that looks stupid yet heartwarming at the same time.

''Look who's here~ I am surprised you are not late~'' He teases me before giving me a hug. I only feel like a normal kid when I am with my brother. ''I'm back'' I answer him while burying my head in his chest. He is only 15 years old, but I feel like there is nothing he can't solve in this world. I feel reassured just being beside him. He releases me and turns toward my friend. ''Oh, grumble is with you too, I see. He's in for a treat then~ Come inside, diner is alred-''

His voice is interrupted by a scream that would put an end to my uneventful life.

''P-Pirates are coming!''