(Warning. This chapter may contain subjects that are unsuitable for children or make some people uncomfortable. Read at your own discretion.)
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Running through a forest is a small bipedal creature with blue scales. It stood at 2 feet tall, is very skinny and is carrying an orange gemstone.
"COME OUT LITTLE KOBOLD! IF YOU DO, I WILL SPARE YOU IF YOU GIVE ME BACK WHAT'S MINE!" a loud booming voice, speaking in draconic, shouted through the forest.
The Kobold clutched the gem closely and saw a river not far away. It waited for a bit and ran towards the river.
As it got closer it could feel an emotion their kind hadn't felt in a long time. Hope. The hope of escaping their Dragon Overlord and their wrathful ways.
As the kobold got closer a boom was heard to its left as it turned and saw the dragon, standing taller than the trees. Its dark red scales, long curved horns, sharp teeth and piercing eyes.
As the kobold stared in fear it saw fire starting to flow from its mouth.
The dragon noticed the kobold and ran after it.
The kobold doubled their effort to reach the river.
"YOU WON'T GET AWAY ALIVE!" the dragon shouted as it breathed fire towards the kobold.
'Brother get away now' were the kobold's last thoughts before it was engulfed in fire.
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A similar-looking but smaller kobold carrying a small sack was running on the other side of the mountain.
It turned as it heard a loud roar.
"Rin I am sorry but thank you," It said before disappearing into the trees.
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On the outskirts of a swamp, several animals could be seen eating throughout it. In one secluded spot, a single rabbit could be seen.
In the brush not far a young Lizardman could be seen aiming a bow and arrow at the rabbit.
"ARAKI! DADS BACK!" a younger voice came from behind startling the lizardman
he then let go of their arrow and missed and the rabbit ran away.
"Rou! I was hunting. Dad can wait a few minutes," Araki said, annoyed about losing his hunt because of his little brother.
"Yeah but not when he gets back 2 weeks early and is injured!" Rou said
Araki turned in shock and started running back to the village leaving his brother behind.
As he got closer he could see his father with his leg bandaged up.
"Dad!" Araki said as he hugged his father, Rirki.
After a few seconds, screams could be heard from the nearby village.
As they turned they could see a Red dragon, the dragon that promised to protect them, destroying the village.
"No..." Rirki said.
The dragon turned toward them and shouted "WHERE IS THAT KOBOLD!"
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(warning child abuse/harm ahead)
*bam* *bam* *smack* *bam*
Repeated punches and kicks were delivered to a small child lying down in a field with several girls of the same age.
His golden brown hair was dirtied by blood and mud, and his skinny body was covered in old bruises that hadn't yet healed from the last beating.
"You're too weak."
"You're skinny."
"What made you think you could have one of us as a mate."
Their words cut deep into the child's mind as he suffered their abuse.
Adults never stop this or help the young cub. They simply turn a blind eye to what the young are doing.
When they stopped beating him and left he stayed there unmoving.
After a few minutes, he started to slowly crawl into the tall grass hoping to hide better.
As he did you could see a lion's tail coming from his back and lion ears on his head.
This 7-year-old lion Beastman has been beaten up over and over by those who see him as weak and any interaction with any female is taken as him trying to flirt with them even when he responds to them or just walks nearby. That or they just beat him up for the fun of it.
As he lays in the tall grass he starts to cry and wishes that he could just sink into the shadows and hide.
He stays like that late into the night and eventually cries himself to sleep.
Little does this lion cub know something has been waiting to grant his wish, but at what cost...
~~~~~~~~
In the forest, 2 people could be seen running.
A human woman, clearly pregnant and a young boy with green skin and small tucks protruding from the lower jaw.
"Mom, what's wrong? Why do we have to leave? We are safe so long as dad is chief right?" the half-orc said.
"Orin your father has been missing for days now. We have to leave. I am not sure but he might be dead." she said with a tear running down her face.
Fear showed on his face.
His father being a high-ranking member of the tribe meant he could keep his pregnant human wife and half-human son safe. He was the only thing keeping both of them alive.
They had been wanting to leave for months but Orin's father, Abarok, was the son of the chief. Even if Abarok's father didn't care about his son's choices, he wouldn't just let his son leave or disappear with his family without repercussions.
If his father is missing the other Orcs won't waste a second to kill them or use them as pleasure toys.
"Ok Mom... but what if you are wrong?" Orin asked
She let another tear fall and said "I have a meeting place set up for this situation. If he is still alive we will know in a few days."
They continued running from the camp but just as it was about to leave their sight Orin turned back and saw the banner. A torn Black flag with a red bloody handprint at the center.
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(warning child abuse/harm ahead)
on the edge of a forest, a young boy with snow-white hair is running away from a giant black wolf that is chasing after him.
The boy is screaming for help as he sees his older siblings sitting on some logs in front of him. They don't move and some are laughing at him and how scared and worthless he is.
Tears fall from the boy's face as he suddenly trips over a tree root and falls.
He tries to get back up but the wolf catches up to him and pins him down.
through tears, the boy meekly said "Please Father, show mercy."
the wolf doesn't respond but instead lowers its head to look the boy in the eyes and growls.
Even if the boy couldn't understand what the wolf wanted to say he got the message 'You are nothing. It would have been better if you weren't born. You are nothing but a waste of food and space.'
The wolf suddenly bit down on the boy's arm and body and thrashed him around. After a few seconds, the giant wolf dropped the boy and walked off toward the boy's siblings. Later as the boy lay on the ground he heard a voice.
"Ark? What happened?!" an older man said as he walked over after noticing the boy lying on the ground.
"Grand...father," Ark said holding back tears.
Scared about the condition his grandson was in, he, despite his older appearance was still as fit as a 20-year-old, picked him up and started to carry him to his home.
"Was it your siblings this time?" he asked
Ark shook his head.
"Your father?"
Ark didn't move, just said, "Don't say anything, please. It only makes it worse."
"Ark this is not ok. I did not raise your father to act like this. I will talk to him about you staying with me from now on. Is that ok?" the old man asked
the boy looked up at his grandfather and started to cry while clutching his grandfather's clothes. Thankful for having just one good person in his life.
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Second Academy of the Rumia Kingdom:
"Well them Miss Amanda Arrow. Everything seems to be in order. I would like to welcome you as a teacher at our academy." a tall woman with short black hair said while reading a few papers.
"Thank you, Headmaster. It is an honour working for one of Rumia's top Academies." another woman with long red hair and tanned skin said.
"Of course. Your first class will begin in 2 weeks I hope you will be prepared by then." the headmaster said while handing Amanda some papers.
"Of course, I already have a few lessons planned," Amanda said with a smile of excitement.
The headmaster smiled but her face lowered a bit "It is good to see you so energetic. Though I do have to apologize for disappointing you, but you will be teaching in classes 1-10 this year."
"...Um, forgive me but I don't see the problem." Amanda said
the headmaster coughed "Yes, well class 1-10 is the lowest-ranking class we have this year. It only consists of the few commoners that somehow managed to pass the test."
Amanda looked shocked "Um madam, forgive me for speaking my mind but the social class of the students shouldn't affect the student's class. From what I have heard about the other academies, ability and skill are what determine the class. Is it different here?"
A vein on the headmaster bulged and she said "No. This academy follows the same system as the other schools. It's just that the noble students are the only ones who show promise or talent. The commoners who attend, overestimate their own abilities."
Realization hit Amanda "Oh I see. Please forgive me, headmaster. I wasn't aware of that fact. My apologies."
The headmaster waved their hand and said "It's alright just don't make the same mistake again. Alright?"
Amanda nodded and said "Of course. Now if there is nothing else I will take my leave and prepare for my class."
The headmaster waived her off and Amanda left.
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In the hallway, Amanda was breathing heavily.y
"what the hell I thought those were just some rumours but this school really is based on social class," she said to herself.
'I have to find a way to change it back to the way it used to me' she decided and walked off, determined to figure out how long this school has been like this and if she can reverse it.
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~Authors Note~
This marks the end of the first main ark of my book I hope you enjoyed it so far.
I have big plans for the future of this book and I hope you will follow along with me for this ride.