'This is the worst day of my life.'
My life has always been on the up.
My dad died fast but that was before I could care. Fortunately, he left my mother well off.
We had a house and enough money to feed my siblings and I until we were old enough to work.
I was a healthy kid. I was well-liked and handsome beyond belief.
I even got the chance to be a guard. Granting me strength and some wealth.
My life was amazing.
I, Jack Rim, man among men. Was living the perfect life.
Or at least that was until today.
The day I made a deal with the devil.
It may have tricked my friends, those dear to me. But I know what it truly is!
The moment they asked me to give it my sword, I had a bad feeling about the whole thing.
But I trusted them, my comrades. And gracefully placed my sword in its hand the moment they asked, as a good man would.
That's when it happened.
{SHRINK}
In that instant, I could feel the malice of a being far beyond anything I could imagine, enter my body.
The world around me warped.
Everything around me grew and grew and grew.
For the first time in my life, I saw eye to eye with James.
Now, believe me, I'm no wimp.
The entire time, no matter the pain or torment, I did not cry. I took it like a man and stood strong, even when the world started to fall apart around me.
"NOOOOOO, MARY IM SORRY"
______________________________
'Why, why did this have to happen to me?'
The ground was blurry and the air smelled of failure.
"Man are we lucky. I mean seriously, to have something like those of legends so close to town." James has completely fallen for that devil's trickery.
"Yes, I'm right with you. When I heard of fairies, imps, and these beasts of rumor, I never imagined I may see one myself. Perhaps we can create our own LEGEND!"
Foster was so smitten with the demon, just because it healed his wrist. He even chopped at random trees for no reason.
Why do they have to be so damn STUPID!
Can't they see this is all a trick? A ploy to lower their guard.
"I... I-I can't go back to town like this. I'll be a laughing stock! How will I ever get her heart like this!"
"Ahh, come on Jack, don't be so down. It's not so bad. Think about it this way, now when fighting your are a smaller target."
Foster is trying to trick me again, just like with my sword. But I won't fall for it!
"Y'know, you were probably just unlucky." James was just spouting nonsense at this point. But I decided to humor him.
"What does luck have to do with anything!"
James continued.
"Well, you probably just got unlucky. To me, it seemed random. If you give it more, it might make you stronger or say something like enlarge. Hell, you might even get bigger than before..."
All of a sudden, it felt like time stopped.
Every sound, every tree branch, and every blade of grass stopped moving. It was like something clicked inside of me.
As if destiny itself unfolded before me.
My path was clear, and my aim is true.
All I had to do was give it more. Then, anyone would drop themselves to my feet.
What if it didn't just make me bigger but handsomer or irresistible? Anything could happen.
Yes, this is it.
All I have to do is give it more.
No
I'll give it everything if that's what it takes!
______________________________
"Jack, hello. Jack you there!"
"Huh, yeah."
James was in front of me all of a sudden.
"You spaced out for a moment. you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. No, I'm better than fine, I'm the best I've ever been! thank you, James! Truly, without you who knows how long I would have suffered!"
"Oh, sure. You're... welcome?"
"Look, Jack, are you sure you are alright? You seem... out of it." There Foster goes again, asking stupid questions like always.
"I'm fine. I'm fine. Hey, let's hurry. I need to find out if Mrs. Cotter is still willing to pay for some firewood chopping!"
With that, I ran.
"C'mon, hurry!"
I ran faster than ever before. It was like I was free from a weight that had been tying me down my entire life.
"What got into him?"
"I have no idea."
"THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!"
_______________________________
As soon as I got back to the village, I went straight to the guard station to put up my stuff and took my leave for the day.
It appeared that I was the first back from patrol today.
No matter, I have important business to attend to.
As soon as I was dressed in casual clothes I left. Once outside, I saw James on the ground panting.
"What... haa the helllll..... are you running... for."
"We have to hurry. Get as much as we can for when we go tomorrow!" I replied as natural as air.
"What? Tomorrow?"
"No time. Gotta go!" And I ran to continue my journey.
"Huh, WAIT!"
____________
First I went to the Cotter's. Luckily the graceful miss's offer was still standing.
Like the wind, I went to the back gabbing their axe and chopping wood faster than I ever thought I could.
With the will of fate on my side, I could do anything!
In a matter of minutes, I cleared their entire lumber supplies. The feat was so impressive that the miss was crying tears of joy.
"All done. Impressive right? Got everything!"
"Yes... Impressive. It's all M-mulch. Even the pre-cut ones..."
"So about that payment?"
"I don't think I can..."
"Oh, do you need something else done? Let me inside and I'll see what-"
"NO No. no, I'll give it to you right now just please stay there!"
Just like that, I made a few more coins for offerings.
With my work done here, I hurried off to do any work I could find. I knocked on nearly every door in the village, looking for any spare coin they could offer.
Most didn't have work to offer beyond a couple of simple tasks, undeserving of reward. But a few had some, earning me a couple of extra coins or old trinkets.
_______________________
By the time I was done, night had fallen.
I returned home sore, but energetic.
Entering the house, I laid my eyes on my family. My siblings were setting the table while Mother was cooking something in the pot.
"You're just in time Mom's almost done, mind helping?" My younger sister was the first to greet me.
"Sorry, something important has come up. I'll be with you in half an hour."
"I don't- wait!"
I went to my room before they could rope me in.
Why yes, you did hear correctly. I said my room! That's the privilege of a Village guard!
As I am so great I get my own room while Mother and my siblings must share. Honestly, I would've left for my own house had there been enough. Unfortunately, there wasn't. Nor did I have enough money to build one.
Once in my room, I ran to my bed. Pulling out a small sack from under it.
52 coins!
The entirety of my savings plus 7 from my work today.
So 59 in total, is what I have to offer.
Yes, this has to be enough. I'm pretty sure Foster only gave it around five. So that gives me around 6 chances.
Tomorrow, I take my chance.
Tomorrow, I give it my all.
Tomorrow, I follow destiny!