The world is large, far larger than anyone even knows... This isn't due to the size, really, but rather the danger. It's everywhere. From massive dragons, to destructive oceans, and everything in between. But nothing... nothing is more deadly than a person. Be they human, orc, elf or otherwise anything with sentience is to be feared above all...
That is what the old man said that day... My first real lesson, of many to come...
...
Alder breathed hard, trying to catch his breath. He felt rather defeated as he looked up into the sky, so far away. It seemed all the further due to the fact he was in a pit hundreds of feet deep.
He moved his eyes downward and noted the old man standing ten feet or so away. His archenemy, along with his most valued teacher. For that was his role.. He wasn't there to be his friend, nor try to.
Any bond that the two shared was that of master and disciple, of obligation to teach and obligation to learn. The old man made no show of kindness then nor would he ever...
The day had started strange, with a bloody massacre by the hands of the old man, and ended with them running at full speed through the woods to emerge on a small clearing with this pit in it...
The old man threw him in, and he fell, thinking he was going to die, but he didn't. He hit the hard soil and bounced off, somehow unharmed... The old man had laughed at his screams on the way down... the bastard.
Then the bearded man introduced himself as 'Master' and nothing more... His name perhaps too significant or insignificant.. Alder wasn't sure which..
The Old man had said something then, as he stood out of the dirt, "Half the day you will attempt to escape out of here, past me... The other half you will learn of the world and of yourself..."
Then the old bastard hit Alder hard, and kept coming at him until he was forced to fight back... If you could call it that. Master was
Fast, and more than anything skilled. Alder didn't know anything about fighting and it showed in the sloppiness of his punches and footwork.
It was like a lion picking on it's prey... And Alder despised every second of it. It went on till well in the afternoon and then abruptly the Master had stopped and turned, moving to a small cave in the pit and disappearing within.
That was when the lessons began. Long lectures of various races, of politics of various kingdoms, the types of flora and fauna in different biomes, and most importantly it seemed: Magic and Combat...
He would go on and on about various types of magic he knew about, what different mage's weaknesses were and then explain how to kill a man in various ways. Of course, he explained what mana beasts were, and every single one seemed terribly dangerous to Alder as he listened intently.
The lectures were rarely the same and much of the time hard to follow, but he did repeat the same sayings day in and day out: "Anything with sentience is to be fear above all..." and he would say something strange, "Do you fear me boy? Am I strong?"
Alder thought it was an odd question the first time but I quickly learned that the Master was expecting a specific answer: "no."
"That is right... I am weak compared to others, there is a lot I can't do in my powerlessness... I am a B tier Mage. There are many tiers higher than mine, and each one much more powerful. Not to mention the various powerhouses in the adventurer's guild or hidden powers throughout the world..."
This sent a shiver down Arlo's spine every time. He found it truly frightening that anyone could be more powerful than his master, let alone a lot of someones.
And then the days blurred, and he fell into a steady rhythm of fighting and learning...
...
"You've failed... The boy has escaped with me. The next time you see him you won't be able to do anything about him.
See you soon...
J.S.M"
The wisdom stroked his beard anxiously. He cast down the letter in his hand angrily but made sure to put it on his desk. It was far too important to lose.
He sat down and rubbed his head. The year has been anything but pleasant, with constant searches and worry. He was far too old for such anxiety and a part of him was glad it was over, but a deeper part of himself knew that it really wasn't...
Change was coming..
That was what his experience told him. He wasn't sure what kind but knowing the scant details about the book and J.S.M it couldn't be good for any of the powers in the kingdom...
Not to mention the slaughter...
All the royal guards dead, brutally killed. At first they thought by beasts or monsters, but the Mages guild and the scholars guild knew better. It was him... the rogue arch mage.
He sighed and breathed deeply before he stood, moving towards the door. He had to call a meeting with his superiors. Long had he ignored calling them up to give them any news, but it could wait no longer...
He had failed, and would have to take the blow to his reputation for it... He would have to call on the superiors, and their many resources...
...
A woman rode on horseback steadily. She moved with a small smile on her face, knowing full well she was returning.
Her adventurer's gear and armor sat snug on her body, comfortable, as she kept an eye on the woods. Familiar... She had played in the very same woods as a child.
Her and her brother... The puny child. He was weak, always was. soft... She had always been strong and sure of herself. To much disdain from her family and friends.. A noble woman was supposed to be gentle and kind, not strong and fierce.
So she left..
And became an adventurer.
She would have loathed her ancestral home if it weren't for the fact she had left a boy there, someone she left for her brother to look after. It had been enough time that he would have matured enough for her to take him to the adventurer's guild for his first trial..
Her horse trodden over a familiar bridge then down a small side path that winded off towards a large estate. She dismounted at the gate and two guards immediately opened it.
They knew who she was, and more so knew better than to ask her what she wanted. Both of them had received black eyes from her at one point or another... she had no patience for semantics and niceties, of codes of conduct... bull shit stuff...
She strode casually into the mansion and called for her brother, but was greeted by the butler. She was led by the man, with much passive aggressive disdain from him, to the study where her brother was reading.
"Where is he?" She asked as she burst into the room. He seemed taken aback as he cocked his head, asking, "Welcome Helda... long time no see, now what do you mean he?"
"You know who I'm talking about. The boy, Alder, I left to stay with you last year.." she looked around the room, ever the fine estate.
There was an unnerving silence and she turned, her brother's face was white. "What? Did he die or something? Catch the plague? Speak."
"Umm... about that boy... I..." he went on to explain how he thought he was an imposter using her name to get access to their family. He had sent him off with a cut off hand..."
Her fury built and built and in a flash she was on him. The smile she had entered with turned to a rage filled scowl.
"Helda no.. I'm sorry! He is but a peasant boy I am a noble!.."
"Weak... You have always been weak. That boy was much more than you..." she said. She drew a knife with a deft hand, and slammed her brother's hand on the table. He whimpered like a baby and pleaded but she put the 'Earl' in his place with a hard chop.
His hand fell from his arm as she cut it off. His screams filled the air. She stepped back, sheathing her blade before she turned. "Oh.. and if I find he has died... well, just because we are blood doesn't mean I won't kill you..."
She was out the door in seconds. The guards were in the house, having heard the screams, but they parted way for her. They knew better... and now her brother did too..
She just hoped that he was alright, that the streets hadn't killed him... They were very like to have...