Humanity

(DISCLAIMER!!! FROM THIS CHAPTER ONWARDS THERE WILL BE NO FILTER ON OUR WRITING. THIS IS A TRIGGER WARNING FOR EVERYTHING. RAPE, PEDOPHILLIA, NECROPHILLIA, ZOOPHILLIA, GORE, GRAPHIC IMAGERY, ADULTERY. PROCEED WITH THE MOST CAUTION POSSIBLE.)

I paced the room, speculating my next move. Over the next month and a half, I'd need to upgrade myself. Improve in every way possible. The assassins taught me two things. I was weak and I wasn't ready.

I assessed my options, and thought back. 'I remember Roma saying something about magic. If magic is only to be used in the open, does it mean that the open is based around combat?'

If it was, I was in trouble. My combat ability was below bad. I had to put in the work. I had to put in the hours. Every day would be full of sweat and tire. 'I am going to work until there is nothing left to work on.'

My days in hiding went like this. Every morning I'd complete a total of 30 pushups, 30 squats, 30 situps, and a 5 minute plank. The first week was hell. It took me long periods to complete.

In the afternoon I'd venture out into the forest, and work on mobility. Kicking off trees, climbing them. Using the space around me as a whole, not just the floor. I'd also hunt animals, with a bow I found laying in the castle.

I worked on my accuracy, not only using my eyes, but my nose and my ears, to help me. I was forced to make arrows, they wouldn't spawn in. I gathered sticks at the end of the day and sharpened them, and used leaves to help the arrows glide.

And in the nights I would practice close combat. The wooden training dummy, though it hurt my fists to strike it, I would practice simple combinations. Using my knees, kicking, elbowing and even grappling.

Before sleep I would visualise opponents, and think of ways out. And then, I would sleep, to prepare myself, for another hell filled day.

'Its been a month in hiding. I haven't anybody, not even Roma. I wonder if they're doing alright. Especially the old guy.' I stepped out of the hidden room. Usually I was cautious, but not this time.

*SNAP*

I heard sticks breaking distantly. "This is where they said they saw him, right?" a voice spoke, hushed, but I could hear it. It was coming from the woods, not far from the castle. I slipped around the back of the castle.

'Were they looking for me?' I hadn't brought my bow, so I couldn't attack from far. If it came to it, close combat was the only option. Was it time to put my training to the test. What if I had made no improvement. It was all raw technique, none of it refined at all.

"You guys shouldn't be here." A voice called out. It sounded familiar, but from this distance I couldn't tell. 'The assassins?' I thought. " Go back to the village, before you get hurt."

All of the footsteps dissipated, including those of the familiar voices. Going back to the village. They should not have gone back to that village. An hour flew by and I was still in hiding. I had gotten restless.

I was expecting Roma to come visit me. I had been isolated for a whole month, because what? I was a "cursed child"? What could a young boy like me possibly had done?

I'd gotten tired of being in hiding. After a little training, It was decided. I'd go back to the village. The sun was coming down slowly. 'I'll come back up when the sun is down' I thought.

I went towards the wooden dummy and began practising moves. I wanted to get better with bow combat. 'Knock back the enemy then...' I threw out a side kick, causing the dummy to slide back, not far, but good enough. 'QUICK FIRE!' I rolled back while pulling out two arrows for my bow and shot them towards the dummy.

'Only one hit' I cursed. I realised it would take a lot of practice. I kept practising, rolling back. Sometimes i would roll too far back, others I wouldn't kick with enough power.

There was one try that stood out. It felt perfect, the initial combo into the kick lined up, and when my foot struck the wooden figure, it wasn't too hard or too soft. Just... right. The roll was smooth and clean, and when I drew the three arrow everything came into place. Bullseye. That's all I could say of the moment. I could see what was going to happen. If I let go of the arrows, all three would hit on target. But it was ruined by the wall since I rolled back too far.

I wanted to name the move. It was a childish thing to do but, I couldn't care. 'I'll think of a name later, lets go to the village now'

At the time I hadn't realised it, but I was talking to someone in my own head. I brushed it off and made my way out of the underground home I was in. My eyes were blinded by a bright orange light. 'Is the sun still setting?' I thought.

I got out of the base and drew closer. My breathing began to shorten and the air became polluted. 'What is this?' I thought. I began walking closer and closer to the source. As I came closer, noise started to fill my ears.

'Screaming? Laughing? Crying?' I thought harder. The source was coming from the direction of the village. I walked more until I was out of the forest completely.

Fire. A flame so devastating engulfed the village. It was a sight I could describe as pure panic. From where I was, I could see the whole sight with a birds eye view. 'What could have caused this?' I thought.

That's when I saw it. A flag pole raised up. White with a red compass star in the middle. It started to piece together. The village was being raided.