'Some flee becouse they have no reason to stay others win becouse they have no reason to flee'
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When the sheets flew away Miko found himself in a huge green grass field. It was very wide but, at the same time, the forest that surrounded it made it seem rather small. The big trees were oddly familiar to Miko as he found himself in a fir forest. Dark shadows fell from the tall trees as the sun shined upon them.
Odd as it may seem no cow, sheep, pig or any other animal was to be seen. No living soul was there with Miko, tough it was Miko's luck. The silent air of the place was calm and still.
It was rather odd for Miko who lived in a bustling city but he found it relaxing, even if he could not relax in that moment. After all he was just reincarnated after what would be far more than traumatic for most people.
Meanwhile the storyteller written something about Miko that i should tell you about, from his personal record:
{Miko, died in november 2***. He was described all by those who knew him with the world "Overwelming". "Overwelming strenght", "Overwelming smartness" and "Overwelming aura" were often used to describe him. He was the very first man who was not shaken by death and has been reincarnated by me due to the primal order.}
Returning to Miko he was gently meditating in the middle of the grass field. He founded out about a misterious energy in the air and in his very own body, it was as if it was flowing trough the world itself but at the same time it stored inside living beings.
Loud footsteps could be heard from the forest, from something big. The wind was blowing trough the trees moving the grass in the open field. Miko's very own breaths who were calm and gentle. In all of those things that energy flowed smootly like water in a river.
What was it? Was it the energy of life? Could it be that Miko became able to sense it after death? Or was it something else? Well, only time could tell.
As for those loud footsteps they got even louder as something was drawing near. Suddently a green humanoid came fleeing from the forest with due haste. It was rather ugly and his many hair were clearly unattended by the time of his birth, that was not a stupid creature but as clever as it could be it was far too ugly and weak.
The moment he ran past Miko he moved his head away from him slightly. At the same time a boulder smashed trough the forest passing very near Miko's head without touching it while the green creature had totally lost his chances to make it out alive.
No one would have ever mourned the green one but still Miko said "May you rest in peace little one." Jumping back up the green creature tried his best to stay still. It was hard for him but he still didn't want to leave without a fight. Miko smiled slightly at the little one's resolution.
From the forest a big, and very fat, Ogre came out shouting. He could not talk properly and was rather stupid but his raw strenght was more than enought to make him a great threat. With one of the big hands he took a smaller tree and trying to uproot it he made the soil burst creating a cloud of stones, dirt and dust all around him.
From the cloud half of a smashed tree flew right above Miko. He could barely react this time. Miko bowed down in order to avoid the flying tree while another was already flying toward to him. He jumped left with all his strenght but he still got his right leg injured by a shard from the half-tree. Screaming he took his leg and made his best to make it stop bleeding. Meanwhile the green creature was charging at the Ogre with all of his strenght and desperation. It was not a bad tactic becouse the cloud was covering him, at least until the tree was launched at Miko.
The green creature found himself in front of the Ogre and stabbed his right ankle. The Ogre screamed punching the air and moving his arms without a proper tactic or objective. A cloud of dirt risen once again but the fight didn't stop. The Ogre tried to grab the little green creature with his great hands but the green creature stabbed his fingers with his proud stone knife. It seemed that the green creature could win but then the Ogre smashed the ground near him making the creature fall. The Ogre was blinded by the dust who had risen while the green creature tried to get up pushing trough his own limits.
Finding himself unable to get up the green creature crawled to the Ogre's left ankle stabbing it. The Ogre fell down screaming in the uprooted and caothic ground. The Ogre trown the dirt in the air again, taking roots in his hands this time and using them to try and stop the green creature from moving.
The Ogre suddently stopped. The green creature was lying on the ground breathless. The pain confused him while a small tear got down from his left eye. A small, silent one. He knew his life ended that day. He had many things he still wanted to do, many things he wanted to say. He did. But he could not anymore.
Uprooting another tree the Ogre was preparing to end his prey. He was laughing loudly while he bringed the tree over his head. The green creature could do nothing but watch the ugly Ogre laughing at him while enjoing the moment before killing him, something went wrong tough, a red thing resembling a shadow pierced the Ogre's head making him trepass in just a moment. The thing soon faded away, in a matter of seconds, leaving the green creature free to live a little longer. I can't tell if it was pity or not but in those last moment the green creature thanked his savior with his heart.
Breathing with difficulty and irregularly Miko was crawling to the green creature with a mix of hope and desperation. The feeling he felt toward the dying creature was one of utmost respect, will to help and something that only someone who went trough something similar (or worst) could feel.
When he reached the green creature's body it was too late. His wounds were deep and he had already stopped breathing. Miko paid him respect with a minute of silence.
He buried the brave one at the center of the grass field, on his hand-made grave was written:
{ Anonymous
Died after bravely facing an Ogre due to his grave injuries.
}
Even the storyteller paid him a gentle word of respect, who passed by like all things.
Miko had it hard to sleep that night. He knew there were Ogres, and maybe more, in the surrounding forest and he was right beside a grave. He felt uneasy. Rolled right and left over and over again. Then finally he managed to get some sleep.
The next day he woke up with a warm light shining on him and a gentle wind blowing. The grass moved with the wind as Miko slowly started to get up. It was a beatiful day.
Miko realized something thinking about what happened, something untold by the storyteller, and that something was how that world worked. It was clear that humans not only could not choose their abilities but even the number of abilities was casual, moreover there were beings who far surpassed humans even without skills. It was now clear to him that what will be of you in that world was decided at birth. A bad joke for someone who had rosed trough the ranks surpassing talent with effort despite being born at the bottom of the ladder only to get killed. The storyteller's role was to create the odds for a story to begin, this time the protagonist of that story had a bitter taste on his mouth.
Miko wondered if that was really that bad. Yes, as for him it was but could the revolution of Gillio happen in his old world? Luck was somewhat fair as it didn't take account of dinasties, royalty or nationality. He hated to admit it but that bitter taste on his mouth was more provoked by his memories than that the world being unfair.
Did it matter if it was fair? He was already playing the game so he had no time to waste in such things.
Devising a plan to escape that place Miko found himself with a major need: food and water. It was kind of obvious to think about it, if you had the time to. In that plain grass field there were no animals and no water.
With caution he moved inside the forest. The tall trees brought shadow beneath them and, as he gone deeper in, it got harder to see. He could not yet use his skills as he was not familiar with the concept and the situation around him seemed about to get dire but he had to push trough.
"If i go i can only hope that i make it to the other side if i stay i can only wait until i die in the inside" he said.
The dark and pitch path Miko walked was an irregolar one as he could not tell the direction he was going to. Overall he was moving toward Gillio, that he could not know.
Miko tried his best to go straight using the trees and the little bit he could see. He walked and walked and walked again. So long he could not tell how far he reached. His stomach was empty and his head was light. After a certain amount of time he forsaken sight switching to smell and hearing to perceive his surrindings. Walking he heard many sounds in the dark. Finally he heard it. Water, it was like a river. He ran over the sound with all his force.
A river ran trough the forest breaking the darkness in half. Miko jumped at it as his troath was drier than a desert. He drank the fresh and refreshing water who had a soft taste of iron and other things found in the water sold in your world like mineral salts. Fresh water was not the only benefit of the river as it gave Miko a brighter path. Miko, watching the forest with caution, followed that brighter path for about three hours.
A lake surrounded by another grass field presented to Miko. Watching from the dark roe deers could be seen as Miko slowly tried to use his first skill. A red bow-like formed in his hands shivering and shifting continuously. As Miko aimed toward his prey an arrow-like thing generated and then flew toward a roe deer. It killed him piercing his stomach, tough he was aiming for the head.
Miko managed to start a fore to roast the meat. He cutted off a piece, where you usually would put a saddle, and roasted it with caution and dedication. Small drop of bloody juice dripped while he cooked. It was tender with the meat still red in the inside while juice slowly moved down from the meat.
Tasty as it may be a meal always get better with hunger. Miko watched his leg. He had washed it but the injury needed to be attended to as soon as possible. It hurted really bad too.
Miko used some stiks and leaves to gain some time. He putted sticks to make the leg sustain more weight and remain still while he used the leaves as bandage. It hurted like hell.
"Still better than being friend zoned" Miko joked.
It was not long until Miko started moving again, the river had gotten smaller but it still provided water and some light.
Walking this far was a real hussle but at least he was alive. He got a bit faster since he eaten, too. It seemed Miko had it figured out. It really did.
To Miko surrender was never an option, he spent his previous life fighting against the odds and still reached the top. A man who made himself great. What a pitful joke it was to be admired for that. In the end all he did was run away, he ran forward to the top where he hoped he could stay in peace.
This time around however things were different, how could they not be. Miko didn't have the time to come up with a plan neither he had the informations. He just desperately pushed forward, hoping not to meet another monster.
Watching the big trees they clearly got smaller now the path got brighter too. Miko, for a brief moment, tough he was about to safely exit the forest.
Suddently an unfamiliar sound could be heard. From the dark bushes something big moved. Miko stopped. A giant beast with enlongated spur and talons, multicolored feathers, a snake-like tail and a large crest and comb. Miko got pale as he saw the Cockatrice emerging from the dark.
That monster was way beyond his capabilities at the moment. A short moment passed, silence fell. The eyes of the beast watched Miko with caution while the Cockatrice was getting closer. Miko looked around him slowly. At his left there was the river who ran fast trough the forest and at his right there were the bushes and trees of the forest.
The beast rotated his head watching Miko with his yellow eyes. The Cockatrice made a "Skreee?". Miko frozen again turning slowly toward the ominous beast. It was huge.
Meanwhile, in that same forest, princess Exar I of Ginnar was being escorted by six imperial knights and Vexo, his butler and personal advisor. Her long blond and straight hair added to her already gorgeous looks were a good enought reason to be escorted like that.
Vexo was riding a horse at Exar's left side while checking her every now and then. Vexo had his short gray hair adjusted in an elegant hairstyle who paired well with his clothes.
While Exar was riding on her palfrey she heard something from a bush nearby. Then another sound, this time a more distressful one, followed.
A knight fell on the ground screaming while the others surrounded the princess with their shield up in a hurry.
More sounds could be heard around them. Many sounds. Then something flied toward them.
A small sharp blade reached a knight's head without further notice.
Princess Exar I was scared. The sounds got more frequent. It was an ambush, she could do nothing as the knights fell to the assassins.
Exar finded herself alone when the assassins came out. Tens of them. She was surrounded when a creepy sound could be heard. It was high and penetrating like the screaming of a chicken-like creature but much bigger than a normal chicken.
"Retreat! Retreat! Cockatrice at eighty meters away!" One said.
"Snake, finish her off. We go." Said another before leaving.
The unarmed princess Exar I was facing unarmed a trained assassin now.
She took a long breath before riding his horse away. It was alright, Vexo was still by her side after all.
Following the river was the only way not to get lost in the depts of the forest. But, it was obvious, it was giving away her path too.
Exar was so focused on escaping alive that she could not think straight.
Turning back she could not belive her eyes. The assassin, Snake, was keeping up the pace with her palfrey.
Ability: Haste
Increase the target's speed using mana.
Exar hurried up trying to get overrun the assassin. Following the river she nearly reached the border of Gillio, who was openly hostile toward her and Ginnar.
Realizing that she was cornered she tried to enter the forest's depts but a blade reached her horse's neck.
She fell on the ground under her trusted horse. The assassin moved fast and got near her. Exar was desperate.
"V-Vexo... h-help..." She called to call for help.
The assassin laughted while placing his food near her. Something was off.
"Vexo! Why are you!?"
Vexo was watching from behind doing nothing. His eyes told what he did not.
The assassin watched her for a moment then stepped back.
"I can't. I have a sister and she is just like- cough." The assassin fell on the ground coughing blood. Vexo stabbed him in the back.
"Vexo... Why?" Exar asked.
"Why? Well, do you know about the ones behind the revolt of Gillio?" He told while smiling.
"What do you mean? The ones behind the revololt?"
"Yes, their leader promised me a good bargain."
"Vexo!?"
"This is the last bit of retribution i will get after raising you, little spoiled brat. Before taking your life i will take my time."
"So... It meant nothing to you? All the time spent together when i was a child..."
Vexo esitated. There was a doubt in his mind. He asked himself if that was really for the better. For him, it was.
"No, it did not mean anything. You were the lousy brat that i, the emperor's slave, was tasked to rise as a future heir. I felt... I felt nothing."
"You were like a father to me!"
"This has to be done. The ones who asked me to do this, the ones behind the revolt, are far too powerful for you to andle."
"Who are they? Why am i unable to andle them!?"
"Exar... They are not humans. They act only to defy the good ones and the only thing they enjoy is burning the world down. They have many faces yet they barely show any. Their power is to corrupt and bring chaos but they fear the disaster that come when nothingness reign." Vexo said trying to explain.
"Vexo! You made a pact with...!"
"Highter demon lord Ki'in'shar, bringer of war"