In a world overflowing with magic in the country of Vanderkar, civilization had been built on an appreciation of one's ability to hone their talents and strength. However, centuries went by and the traditions that led to its great success were tainted and its initial purpose lost in time. Those with special privileges now sit at the top of society amassing its wealth and resources whilst scorning those at the bottom. Unknown to them all was the coming of a chain of events set to reform the nation they lived in.
In the south side of Vanderkar in a village called Padure lived a family of four, they were respected by locals and lived a peaceful and comfortable life. The eldest son, Tohgi, was a lover of nature and his sister, Willow, dreamt of becoming a musician. His
mother Wendy offered counselling and was well versed in alternative therapies, while his father Denver was a construction expert and dabbled in trade. Tohgi always accompanied his mother on errands to pick herbs and roots for her workshop since he was able to walk independently. By the age of twelve, he became an expert on the terrain and location of most plants in the part of the southern forest near Padure. One day, he was asked to pick up some herbs by his mother, upon finishing his task, he realised he was done much earlier than he expected and decided to explore deeper into the forest. Due to his excitement and a lack of awareness he strayed much deeper into the forest than he thought he would. He came across three bandits that were maliciously torturing a wild boar. Enraged by their actions he brazenly interrupted.
Tohgi: If you're going to kill it, you could do so without torturing and ganging up on a weaker animal.
Bandit 1: Do you know where you are and who you are talking to?
Tohgi: It doesn't matter
Bandit 1: You barely have any reiki, are you that eager to die a pointless death?
In this world, all living things are fuelled by spiritual energy, an energy that can be manipulated by those with high aptitude to perform magic. This spiritual energy is called Reiki.
Tohgi whispered and mumured inaudibly, after which he yelled at the bandits.
Tohgi: Just because you have a little more reiki than me doesn't mean you have the right to be a bully, you can either kill the animal or let it go
Bandit 1: or what?
Tohgi: Or you'd have to deal with me
Bandit 2: So you're ready to fight us, because of a pig?
The bandits laughed hysterically at the little kid that challenged them. One of the bandits appeared behind Tohgi.
Bandit 3: I don't go easy on anything... A pig or a child.
Tohgi: You should watch where you step in this forest, some plants can knock out wild beasts if potent enough
Bandit 3: huh?
The bandit fell to the ground shortly after that. The bandit had stepped into some plants with paralytic hairs.
Bandit 1: That sneaky little brat, he was murmuring earlier, he uses plant magic
Tohgi ran towards the territory of a spitting viper hoping to lure them into another trap, but the bandits were not underestimating him after his showing with the first bandit.
Bandit 1: Flame Magic: fire balls
The bandit began throwing fireballs randomly to smoke Tohgi out.
Tohgi: (Is he planning to burn down the entire forest?)
He continued throwing out fireballs watching for any movement to escape the flames or smoke.
Tohgi: Stop, stop, I surrender, I can't escape, you don't have to burn everything.
Bandit 1: I expected to enjoy myself a little, I am disappointed
Tohgi: What point is there in me struggling, you use fire magic and you're a chanter as well, I can't fight you.
Bandit 1: Smart kid, but boring
Tohgi: I did not expect idiots that tortures animals for fun to be chanters.
There are two types of Magic casters, chanters and readers. A reader as the name implies, reads spells from their grimoire to execute magic. A chanter memorises spells and either recites the whole spell or compresses the spell into a sentence, the latter
being more difficult and requiring more reiki. Those with little reiki are known to be readers to preserve their reiki.
Bandit 2: You really have a death wish kid
Tohgi: I am going to die either way right? (I can't outrun them, they move too fast, buy time and think of something) I might as well give you a piece of my mind before I do.
Bandit 1: I don't dislike that, it is a useful skill to know when you're outmatched. You can at least go out like a man.
An unknown voice bellowed from a distance "It is indeed a useful skill to have, but it is not one which should be used to forfeit your life". He approached the bandits and Tohgi carrying the boar that was being tortured. They all noticed an immense pressure coming from him leaving them in shock.
Tohgi: (Oi, Oi, how does a human even have this much reiki, is that possible? It feels suffocating just being next to him.)
Bandit 1: That insignia and uniform, what is an esteemed knight like you doing this far south
The bandit asked sarcastically.
Knight: well I kind of got lost on my way back from a mission and ended up in the southern forest. I could tell you what I was doing, but then I would have to make sure you kept it a secret, are you interested in knowing?
Bandit 1: Not at all sir
Knight: if you keep glaring at me like that you might actually hurt my feelings
The bandits immediately looked away from him.
Knight: I found this wild boar laying around, and decided to put it down, you don't mind that do you?
Bandits: Not at all
Knight: Alright then, since that's settled I would be on my way, or is there anything here I need to attend
to?
Bandit 1: nothing really, we were just on our merry way and also coincidentally got lost.
Knight: I see
The bandit whispered to Tohgi.
Bandit 1: Fate must be on your side kid.
The knight looked at the bandit as he spoke to Tohgi
Bandit 1: I would have loved to guide you home,
but I am sure Mr. Knight here is a much better companion, we hope to see you again.
Tohgi: I don't.
The bandits made their way back to their base with scorn and contempt leaving Tohgi with the knight
Knight: Uhhhmmm.. kid
Tohgi: Tohgi
Knight: huh?
Tohgi: The name is Tohgi, Tohgi Akura
Knight: I see... Tohgi? That is a weird name. Anyway, do you mind directing me? I wasn't joking about being lost, I came to the forest, but I don't know how to get out.
Tohgi: Huhhhhh??? (Wait! All the reiki he was emitting is suddenly gone almost like he has none at all, he is no ordinary person)
Tohgi: How does a Knight not know his way back home? How did you leave in the first place?
Knight: you don't have to be so harsh, it's not like I have ever been to the south (there was another bandit close to the pig, did he take him out?)
Tohgi: Follow me, I can lead you a city near my village and you can get on a wagon out of the city from there.
Tohgi and the knight walked out of the forest.
Knight: it is very unusual to see only two bandits together.
Tohgi: If you saw the pig you should have seen a third, what's your point?
Knight: Very straightforward I see (strange kid), did you knock him out?
Tohgi: Not really, he was careless enough to brush on a tree nettle, it contains toxins that can cause
paralysis.
Knight: (It is impossible for a person familiar with the forest to be that careless, so you lured him into a trap)
Tohgi: Come to think of it, I don't see any knights around here. I did not know what your insignia or garment meant, why is that?
Knight: Well, since we are being straight forward, there aren't any deployed knights in the south.
There was an awkward silence following the knight's statement. They continued walking as the knight attempted to gauge Tohgi's reaction to the revelation of the Order's bias towards the south.
END!