"But Roger, how did this world become so bad…"
"My Liege, it started with the Three-Kingdoms going to war with the Confederate Kingdoms. They rape and pillage every single year. The war is officially over but there is another war brewing under the surface. I died infiltrating the Mari Duchy of the Saint's Kingdom, which should be where we are at unless my corpse was moved."
"My Liege, I have seen how much fun you want to have but are you aware that in this world it is normal for every man to have killed at least one creature or man…"
"Roger, what do you mean? Don't people have people that protect them, like the police?"
"…"
"My Liege, there are guards in some villages and towns but large cities that do not have the economic backbone are often left defenseless by the nobility. Also, what are police?"
"Roger, you mean people have to investigate crimes on their own? What if something is stolen or someone gets in a fight?"
"Ah, my Liege, if someone is in a fight then they are responsible for the outcome. If it is a duel then nothing shall come of it, even death. If something is stolen and you cannot prove who took it then it is lost…"
"Roger, there is nobody that fights for justice in this world?"
"My Liege, people fight for justice by serving their Lord. It is common in this world to only focus on what the nobility needs as the nobility is what protects the weak commoners."
"What do you mean, Roger?"
"My Lord, maybe I could help clear this one up. When I was alive, I fought for the Viscount by serving Baron Jacobs. During my service, I helped many men and women by bringing them into the castle as servents. Most people in this world recognize that service is the safest place to be even though you could die or be abused."
"Randle, what abuse do the nobility do to the servants…"
"Oh, nothing too bad, sometimes Baron Jacobs would beat a whore until she was rid of his bastard son. Nothing too extreme as he rarely killed any of them. He only did that if they tried to deliver the baby to force him to protect them, but that only happened a few times."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Mommy, that is really bad, isn't it? It means that he killed babies that were in their mother's tummy."
"Yes baby, that is one of the worst things someone can do. Baby, I am so sorry. I am so, so, so, so sorry for you coming to this world."
Mary began to cry softly in her soul space. She had no idea that this world was so cruel. The one she thought God had created for Marvin was the one they were in, but it apparently isn't. Mary can't even help Marvin, and if Marvin can't get over killing then it would be the least of their worries.
"Baby, you have to be really strong okay! I want you to kill the deer like Roger said to, okay?"
"M-mommy? Why do you want me to hurt the deer? It didn't do anything wrong did it? Why would I hurt it?"
"Baby, if you hurt the deer then you will become stronger. If you are stronger then you don't have to worry about getting hurt by people as much, okay? Mommy is really scared for you baby. Mommy can't protect you, so you have to get as strong as possible."
"O-okay mommy, I understand…Roger, how do I hurt the deer to get stronger?"
"My Liege, we need to go outside, and I need you to use my dagger and poke it into the deer's neck okay?"
"My Liege, if you do it correctly then it won't cause it much pain."
"O-okay Roger…"
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Roger took the struggling deer outside and hung it from a tree by its back two legs. Then Roger took a piece of cloth and covered the deer's eyes.
Marvin sat inside the house thinking about what Roger and Randle told him. This world is nothing like from the stories, and his mom sounded so sad. She almost sounded like she was crying…
Marvin started to regret everything, he never wanted to be killing anything. When Marvin started to think about killing the deer, his hands got really cold and they started to hurt. Why does he have to do this…if something happens then it means it is his time right? Mommy always told him that she wouldn't be there one day and that he would have to be strong when he is a grown-up. Marvin just never thought it would be this soon.
"My Lord, Roger says that he is ready for you…"
"Thank you, Randle…"
Marvin proceeded to walk to the deer that appeared to be dead but, in his heart, he knew that it was alive.
*Why? Why? WHY?*
Marvin wanted to know why this world hated him and he wanted to know HOW EVERYTHING BECAME SO BAD? What happened, I was just at school with my classmates but now I am going to kill a living animal? What if I can't do this, would Roger and Randle turn on me too? What if I am not their Lord or Liege? Would they have ripped me apart like they did those guys…
*Wait…they killed those men for ME. They did that to protect me…
Roger was even going to kill that girl for me…
Why do they care for me so much?
What did I do to deserve this?
Why can't this world be filled with magic and fun?
Why am I the one that is doing this?
Why do they follow a little kid around? *
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Marvin began asking himself questions that had no business being asked by a 7-year-old boy. Alas, he needed to do it, as his life has been changed forever and this next step will put him on a path that can never be revoked.
As Marvin held Roger's dagger in his hand, he focused on the rough, leathery handle. He wondered how the deer felt. He realized that it probably felt like he did, being pulled to a strange place and being threatened with death constantly. It would be hard for anyone to deal with. The deer had a look on its face though. Even though it had a blindfold on, it seemed to know that it would not make it back to its family. But the reaction to that wasn't panic, it was calm. The deer felt soft under Marvin's left hand and even felt nice. Marvin began to feel calm and started to match his breathing with the deer. Then when the deer breathed out for its last time, Marvin shoved the dagger into its neck and quickly pulled the blade out.
Marvin dropped to the ground and began crying, blood pouring all over him.
The world itself called to Marvin and he felt that familiar sense of pure calm from the darkness.
He felt like he was in the snow again and he had been building a snowman for 2 hours. That feeling when your body is completely out of heat, was pulsing through Marvin.
*Ding* You have slain Lvl. 38 Storm Deer Fawn *Ding*
*Ding* Congratulations, you have reached Lvl. 29 *Ding*
*Ding* You are eligible for your first class *Ding*
*Ding*.....
*Ding*....
Marvin blanked out for a while and thought about the feeling he had inside of himself. He needed to know that everything would be okay, so he asked his mom.
"Mommy, am I bad for killing the baby deer?"
"NO, you are not bad, you had to kill the deer. Baby, it was a matter of life and death okay."
"Alright, mommy. I am going to go to bed."
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"Roger, the Lord did very good today."
"Yes, my Liege performed admirably."
"Roger, why did the Lord refer to this world as being different than the one he was used to?"
"I am not sure, but our Liege is very special to the world, can you feel the power that he holds?"
"Oh yes, our Lord will the one to rule over this world one day. His power is what allowed me to break through a Rank."
"Yup, our Liege can let even us monsters level and Rank up. Something that is impossible normally. I mean, monsters are strange you know, they all have Rank ranges and monsters are able to grow just by waiting around."
"Yea, I know what you mean, I have heard that even Dragons can't Rank up past their species cap. That's why True-Dragons are so powerful and respected by even drakes."
"Randle, do you think we have a cap?"
"I mean, our undead cap should be what we were in our life so….maybe?"
"But, Randle, my cap was Rank 1 in my previous life, and I feel stronger than that already…"
"That…is…amazing…"
"We must do everything to protect the Liege"
"Agreed, we must give everything to prevent the Lord from coming to harm. Do you think we should get more soldiers ranked up before leaving to another town?"
"Yes, that was what I was thinking, we need a guard unit for the Liege. We cannot lose him, there is something inside of me that will do anything to prevent that."
"Yes, I have it too Roger. I know how you feel…"
"It will be a long Reign; Long live the King…"
"Long live the King…"
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The world went dark as night come to pass, follow Marvin on the start of his adventure. This is the end of the Prolog/Introduction Volume.