I sat in front of my mums grave and watched her grave with a lifeless eye. The healer said due to her already weak body, combined with the paralysing spell and the abuse made to her by her attackers caused her body to give up. She was already dead by the time she was brought in to the healer.
Under my constant urging, he casted few rank 2 healing spells. After seeing none of them working I accepted the harsh reality. Mum left me.
Strangely I didn't cry. No, it was more like I couldn't cry, no matter how much I tried. The healer said something about the police, but I ignored it as I took her body to bury it. I brought her to our new house, I laid her on the table, as I took the shovel out of the storage room.
I went to the small lawn in the back of the house and started digging. I dug a big hole and brought mother and laid her in there after I wrapped her up.
I was grateful that I at least had land to bury her. I covered up the hole after kissing her forehead. I never cried as I filled the hole up slowly. That was the last I saw of my mum.
I thought I would only have to face this situation in the future. But fate had other plans for me, just when we were starting to live.
I sat there for hours not knowing what to do. I remembered what mum told me before 'What would you do once I pass away or once I am healed? Will you live on your own, and mourn all your life? Or just live aimlessly? You need to find a goal other than me Ellis.'
'Should I report it to the officials and have them trialled for their crimes?' But I knew it better than anyone that it was all useless, from my life in the academy. Phil was the son of a noble. Him killing someone, who was from the slums, is not that big of a deal for the police and the empire, let alone his henchmen raping someone.
Revenge, I scoffed at that word. That is a word used only by the strong or ones in power. A weakling like me was not even worthy to use that word. I had no power left. Attempting to gather magi particle will take me at least 20 years, as now I have to work to buy food along with accumulating magi particles.
Having nothing left to do other than struggling to live in the same world as that bastard and that bitch, while they enjoyed themselves, I took a decision, to not live anymore.
I got up and exited the capital's gate, as the morning was soon breaking out. I walked along the small path leading towards one of the most majestic waterfalls in the empire. I reached the top of the waterfall and looked down at rocks being crushed by the water falling from 200 meters high. I closed my eyes as I thought 'Mum wait for me.' and jumped.
I felt the sensation of falling, but even after what it felt like few minutes I never reached the bottom. I slowly opened my eyes to see that I was surrounded by darkness.
I panicked seeing the darkness, I guess I must be dead by now. It is strange though that I died without experiencing any pain. I presume this must be the afterlife then. But where are the gods that are supposed to judge me? I wanted to talk to them. I wanted an answer from them for why they abandoned my mum.
I shouted, "Is anyone here?", but I soon realised I had no voice. Then I noticed something I should have way before. I had no body. If I don't have a body then what am I? I soon started panicking. Could I be raised as a ghost by evil magi? Like this all sorts of questions went through me.
"...p...r" I heard a whisper around me. I turned around to look from where it was coming from, and noticed it was coming from everywhere albeit it not being clear.
After a while, the whispering started to become clear and understandable.
"...po.r."
"...po.er"
"..power"
"..power?" I soon realised it wasn't a word but a question. And it seems to end with 'power?' What are the whisperings saying?
"Do you want Power?" Suddenly the whispering became clearer. It seemed strange as the whispering was made out of the voice of children's, teenagers, adults, old peoples, of both men and women. The whispering was enticing but scary.
I suddenly noticed what it asked me. I tried to reply "Yes!" as I remembered my mum, but realised I had no voice.
But soon the whispering stopped. After a while the whispering started but this time it asked me 'Do you want power that will make you worthy for revenge?'
I was soon taken aback in shock. It knows, whatever this thing is, it knows I want revenge. But I didn't care, and I attempted to say "Yes" but again no voice came out.
Soon the whispering died down. Then it came back as it asked, "What will you give in return for power?"
I shouted without even thinking twice "EVERYTHING."
The whisperers became quiet before it said, "Very well, you shall get as much as you give."
Suddenly there was a bright light... no it wasn't a bright light rather I was in white room. I noticed I had my body back and I could move and talk. But I didn't know what to do.
Soon the whispering came back as it said, "Test beginning in 3...2..1." I was confused at what was going on and I only saw the world in front of me twisting and turning, which made me dizzy, as I closed my eyes. After my dizziness faded I opened my eyes to witness a shocking scene. I was in a large colosseum, surrounded by few people, while the crowd of people in the seats were cheering.
"Ho..How?" I was confused, what was going on? Suddenly a screen similar to the communication device opened up before me to reveal few sentences.
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Main Mission- Survive for 10 minutes
Reward- 1 point
Failure- Death
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Side mission- Kill the Butcher
Reward- 10 points
Failure- None
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Mission starting in 2 minutes 12 seconds.
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I was beyond disbelief. Is this the test the whisperings said? I looked around as I ignored the ramblings of my mind screaming at the illogical things in front of me. I had a short dagger in my hand, while dressed in rags.
The people around me were similarly dressed in rags and a dagger. There were kids, weak old men and even women amongst the people gathered and waiting for the butcher.
The kids were crying as the women held them close and calmed them down. The old men were kneeling on the floor as if all hope was lost. The only men able enough to fight the so-called butcher were 4 people who seemed to be shivering as they held their dagger.
I thought 5 people including me with a dagger should be enough to take down whatever muscle bag that came out of the gat.
Soon 2 minutes were up, and a loud horn was blown. A large gate was opened.
I felt all the energy in my knees draining to the ground. This wasn't a butcher but more like a giant. He was 8 meters tall, composed of only flesh and muscles. He had a helmet on his head and held a giant cleaver in his hand. No wonder he was called the butcher.
I had no idea how to survive this monstrosity in front of me.