~ ADY ~
"Don't fail us tonight," I warned the newbie before leaving.
We were discussing a mission at my pal's house. Living in the outskirt, being an orphan, we don't have much choice but to steal. I'm the third oldest in this group, we were youths who have no choice but to feed ourselves with the money we stole.
However, recently there are fewer gadgets, accessories to steal. One of us needed a lot of money as his brother needed medicine to survive. And I have a lot of kids to feed.
Hence, we will be stealing from the houses this time. Trespassing and stealing.
The government who was supposed to bring us to the orphanage before threw us in the slum. As the oldest that time, I gathered the other kids with me and I became their oldest brother. To survive, I started to steal food for us.
Then I met another thief who was watching me and invited me to join them. Of course, I joined, there are 8 kids I'm feeding and we were starving with no shelter!
They provided us with one room for a shelter, nothing but newspapers to sleep in, and one bathroom that leaks. We accepted it, as long as we can sleep without worrying about the cold at night or getting wet in the rain.
From stealing food to things in the past 3 years, I managed to buy a small house outside the outskirt, with one bathroom that is clean enough not to have leaks. I also managed to buy us clothes and blankets to share.
I started to get the hang of it. Only I steal while the others, I didn't let them and supported them to go to public school. I was hoping they would get to graduate and have a legal job and follow their dreams.
I already gave up mine a long time ago when we got thrown out. And my only wish is for my siblings to accomplish their dreams despite our circumstances.
I went home seeing my siblings smiles as they eat snacks. The youngest one welcome me, "Brother! I got an A+!" I brushed her head, "Great job!"
She ran holding her paper with a mark of A+ and kept it in her bag. I went towards the fridge, it's almost empty.
The oldest sister tap my shoulder, she took care of the kids at home hence, she's like their mother. "Our rations will last for tomorrow. Our siblings help me sell some candies and stuff we made, but it might only add our ration for another day."
I sighed and hold her hand, I stared at her with sorry eyes, "Thanks, Nana. If the mission tonight is a success, it'll give us a lot of money. Hang on..." I stroked her head.
I just need this mission to be successful, we will have enough money for a year if ever.
I didn't know it would change our lives...
When the evening came, I left and the mission started. We went to the Japanese's empty house. The people who lived there went on vacation last week and since this is a big house in an exclusive village, we are sure this is a big time.
We found a hole somewhere in the village enough for us to crawl inside without the guards knowing. For a week, we've been scouting at night and know where our exit routes and when the guards are changing shifts.
We successfully trespassed, stole money, open a safe, and stole tons of jewels! It's a big-time for sure! However, just as we are about to leave, I found a secret passage behind a big painting.
"Give this to the leader, I'll see what's inside first." I gave my loots to the newbie and he ran outside to do what I said.
I pushed the secret door and it opened. I went in without knowing anything. Then another door was inside, I opened it by pushing it. There's no key and just a wall that can be pushed.
I reached the end and the last door, I was stunned by what I saw. It's a torture cell!
There's a kid inside too! I ran towards him and freed him. He was weak so I carried him out. He has a lot of wounds by whips and he stinks. Probably because he hasn't bathed for a long time and he pissed everywhere as he was chained.
"Ahh!" Something in the chain pokes me but I still tried to release him from the chains.
I ignored the smell and brought him out. My companions were dumbstruck by what they had seen. However, we must leave. We ran and ran and left the exclusive village. It was a successful raid!
My companions helped me brought the kid to my house and let Nana take care of him. I went to the meeting after.
"Ady, the house we raid is dangerous. Since you took the boy who they tortured for whatever reason, they will look for us for sure." The leader stated in a serious tone.
I know it was that house dangerous. But I didn't know there's deeper to it. "What should we do? I don't plan on giving up the child, you know we are orphans and I can't let a child go back like that."
"I know, that is why we must all leave tonight." The leader declared.
We were stunned. He started to distribute the money, the jewels to all of us including him. "Bring your family far from here. This money is enough to survive for how many years. Change your names and so on, since we don't have birth certificates and they didn't see our faces, the chances of escaping are high."
"Don't look back and just leave." That's the last thing we heard before we ever see each other again. We went home on our own and I ran away with my siblings plus the kid we took.
We left everything there and only brought money, jewelry, and the things that can know who we are such as papers. Fortunately, we only have few things and the jewels and money are the ones that make this trip heavy.
We continue running, traveling, and reached a mountain. The kid I took didn't know how to speak at first, he was too young, he looks like seven. While traveling, the kids taught him a lot and he started to speak and open up. He's a bastard child and he was tortured by his father every day.
When we reached a mountain, our life became stable. The kids went to school again and we changed names. Nana and I acted like parents to the children and fake our ages. We told the people we were from the other mountain that almost died from landslides and so on. Fortunately, the villagers bought it.
They gave us new names and we started to live there, and I became a farmer. I bought a plot enough for us to plant and that became our income and food. The money and jewels were hidden by Nana for an emergency fund and the kids' expenses. And most of all, the kid we took smiles every day.
A month passed and we live happily... Until I died... I was poisoned from the chain trap when I released the kid that time... That's why every day I lost energy and became weaker. I ignored it at first but I didn't know it would kill me.
My family cried for me... And I couldn't cry for myself... I was planning to live happily and start a new life, by making dreams. Now that we are safe and enough food to survive every day... As also a kid... I want to have dreams...
But now... I guess I can't... My purpose was done... And I wasn't satisfied! I have money to seek help from the hospital! I wanted to live too! I sacrificed a lot so why can't God gave me a chance to find my dream!
But he did... A light shined next to me and I followed it... I was given another chance to go back... A chance to live... A chance to wish for myself... I took that chance and won the race!
[Congratulations to Player Ady! First Place!]
....
~ ENCHATRIX STADIUM~
[Congratulations to all players here who got accepted!] A bubble in a cheery voice spoke.
[Everyone has a question in their mind, let us explain what we can explain!] Another bubble in a monotone stated.
The players were dumbfounded but listened adequately. And the bubbles started to explain.
[We are an Enchantrix! A magical being that gives chances to souls who died unjustly! The race is just a test for personality and determination!]
[The real deal starts after being accepted. Winning the game will give you advantage rewards for the new path that was given to you! And winning the game will automatically make you accepted!]
[Even if you didn't win, if the systems, us, giving you enough votes, you can still pass and be accepted! Though, that rarely happens this is the first a lot of players got accepted!]
[This batch is delicious! ---I mean, great!]
Liliana held Kiera and Kiera just tapped her hand, Liliana let go only to hold onto Ady. Kiera shook her head.
Kiera asked, "What about the wish you promise? It wasn't on the race? And what do we get from being accepted?"
A bubble shook its bubble, [Nope! Being an official player will give you a chance to wish! That is why being accepted means you'll be an official player! Yehey!]
"So, even if we didn't win in the race, we can still have a wish!" Ady announced.
[Yes! Yes! But don't worry, those who won the race will have yummy rewards!]
[Well, then, us, systems, will be in your care! Congratulations on being an official player!]
Kiera frowned, "Wait! I'm curious about the race! Is there a chance we can watch it and know who the players are? We do deserve to know who we socialized back there."
The players nodded and agreed. The systems stared at each other as this is the first time a player requested like this.
Suddenly, a beautiful lady with an octopus black hairstyled and mint green dragon-like eyes spawn from the air. She stated, "Let them watch. It's not against the rule to let a player watched the game they joined."
The players were stunned by her extraordinary beauty that they gulped. Seeing the systems obeyed, they know they shouldn't mess with her.
The systems glittered and from the screen, with a confusing look as to why their master is here, still, they followed her order. They watch the race. There are 45 players with name on it. The names for the numbers are written on one of the screens and they know who they are. Even though they watch the race, it only feels like watching a science convention movie.
The systems excluded important information and even the players' thoughts. After watching, the Enchantress asked, "Satisfied?"
Kiera clenched her fist, "I didn't win third place. Mango should be here instead of me!"
The Enchantress shook her head, "The egg won't know who completed the puzzle, only know who's tail it touched."
"It isn't fair! I'm not supposed to be the third place! Whoever completed the puzzle should be the one who wins not someone else's tails!" Kiera keeps protesting that some of the systems frowned, "So you want to give your place to her then? You will lose your rights to be here."
Kiera firmly stated, "I'm giving the rights back to its owner. Mango should be in the third place."
The Enchantress chuckled, "You keep your place, child. The egg chose your tail and that is not something we can change. However, we will take some of your votes and give them to her instead." She flicked her fingers and told the systems, "Ask another system for Mango, go find him from the substitute batch."
"Have fun~" Then, she left.
[KIERA: 11/11]
[KIERA: 7/11]
[MANGO: 3/11]
[MANGO: 7/11]
[MANGO: PASSED]
[Mango have arrived]
Kiera was delighted to see Mango and didn't care about her points. The players were dumbfounded and before they could react, the systems started to go towards each of them. And a new bubble system went to Mango.
Then, they were suddenly eaten by the systems.
Players:
∑ (= 口 = ノ) ノ
(ꏿ﹏ꏿ;)
(ʘдʘ╬)
END OF ARC 1
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KircheLeaf
Arc 1: Enchantrix Race!
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~END of CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO~