In the city Syhelume, there was a marketplace that was bustling even at the wee hours of the morning. currently, there was a commotion in the marketplace, a boy was weaving in and out of the stall stealing items while two guards were chasing him.
" That's the demon boy, isn't it?" a villager sighed.
"Why can't he just leave us alone"
"He's a demon he can't live without terrorizing people were just unlucky he was born here," said a villager replying to a question from his daughter.
'B******s' the boy who was Avon Taurson cursed each person who knew of his family's plight and still dared to call him a demon.
"Stop!" the first guard said.
"You are under arrest for the crime of thieving in Syhelume!" the second guard said.
The guards of Syhelume were unlike all those on the western side of the Claypostian Republic. The Syhelume guards were known for stubbornly sticking to their faith. Instead of the standardized leather cuirass and helms that most of the other city's guards wore the guards of Syhelume wore their traditional armor.
The two guards that were chasing Avon were recruits they were given menial tasks until they earned the iron armor and cape. they wore a leather helmet with a flap covering their necks for protection the helm also had a spike at the top. their body and armor were a thick leather vest and leather pants the vest left their arms easily maneuvered something important in their Viking weapon arts
Most guards of Syhelume wore an iron vest with the same leather pants but unlike the recruits, they had their iron arm bracelets and capes which meant they had proven themselves either by being noticed by the captain of the guards or they had directly won them in the coming of age tournament which had only one winner a year.
Almost all of the senior guards didn't wear helmets which always made their enemies feel like they were being taunted.
The weapons that the Viking guards used varied from guard to guard but every one of them knew how to use a sword and shield because they had to be able to form a shield wall a sacred art that was taught as soon as boys could hold a shield.
Since the Vikings didn't wear traditional armor instead of having their city lords coat of arms on their chest they wore them on their capes. The city lord of Syhelume was Claypostian as such the coat of arms was two leopard's heads on a red and purple shield.
Avon was turning sixteen in a few days he hadn't been able to learn a weapon properly he had just taught himself using his deceased father's weapon. The reason he was stealing was that thanks to his weird birthmark that was on his neck no one would allow him to come near them so because the food the city sent him and his mother every month was too little he had to rely on stealing.
'Ugh why won't they give up' he thought.
'well they won't follow me into the forest at least' he said in his mind while having a demonic look on his face.
Avon ran through the market with the guards catching up since they were a class above him of course. Classes were very important on the continent of Mearth they went from F-1 to S-10, F-1 was the worst of the worst if that was your rank you should hope to have a high potential.
Avon was at rank F-4 he had that rank for as long as he could remember he couldn't even progress a little but he didn't know why.
as Avon ran into the woods the guards behind him slowed down and eventually stopped.
"Damn that demon brat!" the first more round guard cursed while bending over and breathing heavily.
"Doesn't his witch mother live in there too!" the second guard a more fit and well-rounded person thought out loud.
The guards looked at the forest one more time before turning around and heading back to their barracks. They would rather their promotion be delayed than lose their lives.
Avon was currently walking towards his home with all the goods he had stolen.
"18, 19, 20... pretty small haul today," he said with a small frown appearing on his face.
"This food won't be enough for one meal let alone a whole week!" he exclaimed suddenly angry thinking about the man who had given him the tip about the large amount of unprotected food that was supposed to be in the market.
"Damn that Kraig!" he shouted out in anger realizing he had been swindled.
with the guards chasing Avon, Kraig and his men had been able to pickpocket most of the bystanders by blending in.
As Avon walked a small wooden cabin on the riverbank slowly came into view. Avon walked up to the cabin and opened the door.
"Mom I'm home!"