It was a dark and stormy night, in the royal capital.
The cry of a baby could be heard from the castle.
"My king, I'm sorry but the queen is no more. She died shortly after giving birth" a maid said to the king who sat on his throne.
"I see. Bring me my son" he said as he clutched the arm of the throne in grief whiles trying to hold back his tears.
"Yes my king" the maid said and left.
"What is the mana affinity of the young prince " the king asked the royal mage.
"I'm sorry my king but it seems the young prince has no mana at all"
"You must have made a mistake. Check again" the king said as tears run down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry my king but I've made no such mistake".
"How can this be. I guess I have no choice, call me the captain of the knights" the king said to one of the knights.
"My king, you called for me" the captain said whiles on his knees.
"That's right, I would like you to carry out the execution of the young prince".
"But my king..." the captain said in shock.
"Are you trying to defy my commands"
"No my king, I would never"
"Someone who has no mana has no future as king. It would only be a curse for him to live".
"I see my king. You can always count on me".
The captain left the king's quarters with the young prince. He was about stabbing the young prince when he heard a voice, " Please wait".
" Who's there, show yourself".
"It's me Chadwick" the maid who reported the death of the prince to the king said as she showed herself.
"It's you lady Marie".
" I know you are doing this based on the King's orders but could you just listen to me".
"Go ahead lady Marie".
"Thank you Chadwick. This child is the only thing left of the late queen. It doesn't matter if he has no mana, killing him is like killing the late queen a second time. Just look at how innocent he is, it wasn't his fault he was born without any mana and so I beg you, for the sake of the late queen please spare his life" she said as she went down on her knees begging.
"I also feel the same lady Marie, but what am I to do with the child?"
"That's why I'm here, if you would agree I will run away with the young prince without the knowledge of anyone and you would do your part by reporting to the king the death of the prince".
"Alright then lady Marie, since we're all out of options I will agree. But you must leave immediately".
"Of course, I have already made preparations towards that".
Nine years later.
"Oh, you're back. How did it go today?" lady Marie said to a boy who just walked in.
"Another day of bad luck..." he replied with a sad and depressed tone.
"I'm sure tomorrow would be better" lady Marie said whiles putting on a smile to cheer the boy.
"It's the same thing you always say everyday"
"Don't tell me you are giving up already Troy"
"It isn't that mom. Sometimes I just wished things had been better for us. I don't like seeing you sad all the time and that's why I'm going to be a royal knight"
Lady Marie was startled at what he just said. She looked sad for a while and then said, "I'm looking forward to that day" whiles putting on a smile even though it was obvious she was only forcing it.
"Don't worry mom, when I become a royal knight I will never give you the chance to ever be sad" he said with a bright smile to cheer her.
The next morning, Troy set out to the forest to hunt.
"Mom! Mom!" Troy called out as he returned from the forest with two rabbits on his shoulder.
There was still no reply from his mom. Troy rushed in and found his mom lying on the floor. He got her water to drink and rushed to the town with the two rabbits he caught.
"Look kid, I can only give you three copper coins the most for the two" a man who sold meat said to him.
"Please sir, my mom is dying and I really need the money ..." Troy said as tears run down his cheeks with phlegm running out his nose.
"It's either you take the three copper coins or leave!" The man yelled at him.
"Please sir". Troy pleaded.
"You are driving away my customers kid". Troy took the three copper coins and left crying.
As he walked pass the town, people stared at him.
"Isn't that the cursed kid" someone said to another nearby.
"Isn't he the kid with no mana"
"He is nothing but bad luck ..."
People made comments as he walked by.
"What's the problem kid?" a man who seemed to be a traveller asked as he tapped Troy's shoulder.
Troy said nothing but stood there crying.
"What's your name kid?" the man asked.
Troy pushed the man's hand off his shoulder and run off.
"Who's that kid?" the man asked someone nearby.
"He lives at the entrance to the forest with his mom. It is said. he is cursed because he has no mana. It is best you stay away from them" the person said and walked away.
Troy heard a knock on the door. "Who on earth could be at our door" he said to himself as he got up from where his mom was lying and went to check who it was.
Troy tried closing the door upon seeing that it was the man who approached him earlier but the man used his hand to block the door.
"Listen to me kid, I don't care about what you say or do." he said as he walked in. He walked up to where Troy's mom was lying and knelt besides her.
He placed his palms on her chest and closed his eyes. Troy's mom started showing signs of severe pain.
"What are you doing to my mom?!!" Troy yelled at him.
"I'm done kid, your mom should be okay any moment from now." The man said as he got up and walked out.
"Troy, ..." his mom called out as she opened her eyes.
"Mom!" Troy cried out as he run to hug her as she sat up.
"I thought you were going to leave me all by myself. "
"I won't ever leave you." she said as she rubbed her hand around his hair as tears run down her cheeks.
Troy went to the town one evening to sell what he had caught for the day when some of the town kids stopped him.
"If it isn't Mr. Cursed guy." One of the kids mocked and they all burst out laughing.
"Do not touch him else he'll drain you of all your mana."
"He is a big loser. You are nothing but a burden to your poor mom."
"That's not true" Troy said with tears about to run down his cheeks.
"Are you calling us liars" one of them said as he threw a stone at Troy.The other kids also started to throw stones at him.
"You all just wait and see, some day I will be a royal knight and you all will be forced to respect me." Troy spoke with a bit of confidence as he wiped the tears off his face.
"Our little loser has dreams of becoming a royal knight. He has now been promoted from a little loser to an idiot."
Troy said nothing but only stood there blocking his face from the stones they threw at him.
"Hey! What do you kids think you are doing?" the voice of a grown up was heard and the other kids run away.
"Why does this voice sound familiar" Troy said to himself as he raised his head up and turned towards the direction the voice had come from.
" Are you alright kid?"
" Why did you bother helping me. It's not like I asked for it any way" Troy said trying to sound mean upon realising it was the man who healed his mom.
" Look kid, this attitude of yours will surely be the cause of your downfall." the man said as he grabbed Troy's right arm.
" What do you think you're doing?" Troy said whiles trying to break free.
" Who would want something to do with a dumbass like you? If I wanted you dead, I would have done so the very first time I met you and noone would care because you are a nobody."
Troy's facial expression changed to a sad one and he gave up trying to break free from the man's grip.
Troy gazed at the man in awe as he could no longer feel any pain.
" What just happened? All my pain has suddenly disappeared. How did you do it?" Troy said in total confusion.
"Listen to me kid, I promise you I will not think twice about killing you if you should tell anyone about this because it is only you and your mom who know about this power of mine and I wouldn't even hesitate doing it despite me being kind to you". The man said with all seriousness which caused a spark of fear in Troy.
"I.. I... promise I won't say a word about this to anyone. They wouldn't even listen to me, let alone believe me". Troy said trembling as he began to speak.
"Good, and it better does not happen else your mom would be the first to die" he said as he gave Troy a scary look.