A Boring Life

Zeglis, a small town in the Nork Empire. Even though this town is blessed with good natural resources, greedy nobles don't use the resources for the development of the town. Instead, they sell the resources and live a very luxurious life. While townspeople are starving, they are eating steaks.

In this town, alleyways are especially dangerous. There are thieves, killers, and kidnappers in alleyways. Our hero, Han Alfred is one of those people. Be it killing a noble spy, stealing some jewels, or pickpocketing purses, Alfred would do all of them to survive. He was a sixteen-year-old Orphan, trying to survive in this harsh environment. He had no idea who his parents were, or who he was. He didn't even know what his name meant. He only had one goal in life: to survive to see tomorrow.

He had friends in here, but they wouldn't stay by his side for too long. They would either die due to starvation or end their lives. He would bury the starved ones, and steal the coins from the ones who killed themselves. According to Alfred, killing yourself is the lowest thing you can do. People who don't strive to live weren't worthy of respect he thought.

The sun still didn't rise, but Alfred was already awake. Not that he could sleep with comfort in alleyways. He checked the marketplace, but there was nothing. Naturally, there were still a couple of hours until the market opens.

''Morning Al, or whatever the fucking time it is. Got a smoke?"

Alfred heard a voice coming from his back. The voice belonged to his most trusted friend in alleyways, Chief Thief of these parts, Craig. Although Craig was at least ten years older than Alfred, they get along pretty well since both are skillful individuals. According to Alfred, if Craig had been born into a normal family, he could have been a spy for the Empire.

"It still isn't morning, and you want to smoke? You are a hopeless cause man." Said Alfred with a cheerful tone, while giving his lighter to Craig. Craig said 'Shut up', then lit his Cigarette. They were talking about regular stuff, nothing special. After a while, Craig made his tone serious and said:

"Hey Al, later this morning Nork royal family will be passin' through Zeglis. They are celebrating the prince awakening his Soul or some shit. Y'know, since he turned sixteen last month. That reminded me, do you have a Soul or somethin'? You must be the same age as Prince Nork."

"Don't talk like a stupid bum C," said Alfred, and continued. "Good-for-nothing people like us don't get those fancy Soul shit. Anyway, continue with your stuff."

"Damn man, okay, don't get pissed off at me. Anyway, they will be passin' through here as I said. There will be other royal families as well. So I thought, maybe the two of us can go there and steal some gems. You won't find this many nobles in one place again! What do ya say?"

Alfred thought for a while. If they were successful enough, he could get out of this shithole. But it came with a great risk. Security would be tight, they couldn't steal gems like they were doing a walk in a park.

"Fuck it," said Alfred. "Let's do this shit. Now or never."

"Nice. The plan is very simple. I will distract some of the guards, and then you will steal some gems. It would be good if you could even kidnap someone, but don't bother. It will be risky as hell. We will meet here again. I'm leaving, have some stuff to do. Come here when you hear the cheers of the crowd. Later Al."

Alfred still had some questions about the ceremony, but Craig vanished into the shadows before he could ask more about it. 'No can do' he said and went to the tavern to learn something about this ceremony.

--Six Hours Earlier--

"Omina, have you finished your studies yet?" A gentle voice was heard on the door. Omina turned his head and looked there, it was none other than his mother. When she entered, Omina was playing Piano, and looking through some books.

"Yes mother, I have. I was practicing piano and looking through books about Souls." Said Omina with a bored voice. It was natural for the Nork family to have talented individuals, however, Omina was a diamond among other jewels. He had a talent for everything. Be it studies, instruments, politics, wars, or duels. He was only ten years old when he beat a Soul user that was in the army. He accomplished this with nothing but a sharp stone.

Because of his success and his parents' wealth, he accomplished everything he ever admired for. Life was getting very boring for him. The only thing he had hope left for was his Soul's awakening, which would happen tomorrow. However, Omina was sure that this would get boring sooner or later.

"Very good my sweet Omina. Now get your sleep, tomorrow we will hold a ceremony in Zeglis for your sixteenth birthday! Oh god, you are growing very fast! I still can remember when you were so small!"

Omina blushed. His mother kissed him goodnight and went back to attend his work. Omina was very curious. What would his Soul look like? Would he get a God Soul or a Soldier Soul? It had to be God-tier, everything he accomplished in his life was showing that. Omina thought that thinking didn't have any use, so he went to sleep.

"Wake up."

It was pitch black. Omina couldn't see anything. He was hearing a mysterious voice. It sounded like a silent melody, yet felt very threatening.

"Wake up I said." Omina managed to wake up the second time the voice asked him. He was seeing his reflection.

"Do you know who I am?" asked his reflection with a bored tone.

"If I have to guess, you are my Soul. I didn't need you to wake me up or greet me like this. I already knew I would get a Soul, I am a Nork."

"Of course, you are a Nork, If you weren't a Nork I wouldn't choose you to be my host. I am your Soul, correct, but I am no ordinary Soul."

The Soul started to change its colors rapidly. Omina knew Soul's color resembled its type. But a Soul with changing colors? That was unheard of. Surprised, Omina asked:

"Forgive my rudeness, I should have known my limits. May I ask what or who you are, Sir Soul?"

"At least you aren't hot-blooded like the last girl I worked with. People call me multiple words; The Destroyer, The Annihilator, King of Souls. But in your world, I have one known name."

Hearing this, Omina figured out the answer. He couldn't hide his excitement and started to laugh. To be chosen by such a strong Soul, he could be the king of the world! Not only the world, but he could also be the king of Legions!

Seeing Omina's excitement, Soul asked him:

"You already know who I am, don't you?

"Of course I do. You are Extend."

--Six hours Later--

Alfred entered the tavern. It was full of beer smell and drunkards. One of the drunkards started walking towards Alfred. Without the patience to hear what he has to ask, Alfred smashed the Drunkard's face to a near table. Everybody talking realized who he was, and stopped talking.

"Hey, isn't he Alfred?", "Alfred? Hold on, you mean 'the' Alfred?" "Commander-in-chief of Thieves Guild?"

People were whispering about him, but Alfred didn't care about any of that. He sat in front of the bartender, ordered an ale, and started talking.

"Sorry for causing a lil' trouble old man. I don't have time for what he had to say, so I dealt with him quickly. Anyway, I came here to hear about the Ceremony that will happen in a couple of hours."

The bartender already got used to all this stuff happening when Alfred is in his tavern. He knew him for a long time, he would always cause a little trouble. But, he didn't get angered with Alfred one time. He was scary, he had status in the underworld, he had done multiple jobs for him in the past, but most important of all, being an old man, he just couldn't bring himself to hold a grudge against this young guy.

"Of course son. What did ya need specifically?"

"The time, the importance, members attending it, tightness of security."

"Heh, up to no good again are ya? Well anyway, Im not your pa. The ceremony will happen at 8 o'clock, which is," the Bartender looked at his watch and returned to talking. "twenty minutes from now on. Better get going, heh. Anyway, Prince Omina Nork turned sixteen today. He is a very popular name among royals, a diamond among jewels. He will awaken his Soul or something, I don't know about this Soul stuff. Royals will attend the ceremony, but most of the Nork family will be absent. They will celebrate Prince Nork in the castle when they are having a feast. Security will be very tight, I know I said I'm not your pa but don't try something funny. You will leave your head there if you go."

"Thanks, old man," said Alfred, putting a few silvers on the table. "And by that, I mean thanks for everything you have done." Alfred left the tavern. He already could hear the cheering of the crowd, meaning it was time to go to the meeting spot. Alfred started to whistle with his hands in his pocket. His clothes were torn and dirty, he had only two silvers and a knife left in his pocket. 'Such is life' he thought. He was getting bored of this life. Kill to live, steal to live, hurt to live. He was going to end this miserable life today, either with a good or a bad ending.

"Took you a while Al." Said Craig. He was waiting for Alfred to come. "Why do you seem depressed? What, are you going through your 'I wanna die' phase?"

'Shut up' said Alfred. "Let's get this shit going".