It was a normal Wednesday afternoon in the Emerald City. But unlike most days, today, the Emerald Garden was empty and devoid of activity. Only one person, Raiden Hampshire, was sitting in the garden alone.
He had been sitting there for hours, appreciating the beauty of the Emerald Garden for the last time. Raiden was a Caucasian male, with jet-black hair and beady black eyes. And It was his last day in Emerald City.
At the age of eleven, he came to the city to study at Emerald Garden, the most elite school for Aether Wielders on the continent. And now he is leaving this place at eighteen, as he has just graduated.
Sitting in the garden, a lot of things were going on in Raiden's head. One part of his brain was thinking, why hasn't he come to Emerald Garden more often? It was very beautiful and serene place. Perfect to have to sandwich while getting lost in thoughts.
In the past, many times he had taken a shortcut through the place and seen these hundred-year-old sculptures. Multiple times had seen the colorful flowers that were planted around the walking path. Yet he had never truly appreciated the beauty of the garden. But now as he was sitting and gandering, he truly wondered why he hadn't come to this place more often.
I wonder whether the beauty of this place is the reason why where everyone gets high here. Maybe consuming weed in the garden enhances its effect?
It was then he heard some giggles from his right, he saw a couple all over each other, barely hiding behind a bush. It is then he remembered why he didnt like to visit this place. This garden mostly is visited by horny couples and junkies. But now, as he was leaving the Emerald City forever, he couldnt help himself but visit this place for one last time.
It has been a wild ride for him. Ever since he awakened as an Aether Wielder on his 11th birthday, he has been staying in this city. As he came from a poor background, he didnt have money for books or lodging. If the school didnt provide them with uniforms free of charge, it would have been very difficult for him to even attend Emerald Garden. Things were so bad for him that he even had to resort to begging to make his end meets. But that was in the past.
His mother was also in his mind. It was truly a tragedy that she passed away when he was a kid, she used to talk to him about coming to this school. She was sure that he would become an Aether wielder like her and his father, and then he would come to this place to study.
But she died before he could get the results of the test. Hell, she was not even able to see him awakening his abilities. A day before yesterday he graduated from Emerald Garden, as one of the top students, he hoped that she would be happy to see him achieve her dreams…
Before even the results were announced, he believed that he would graduate top of his class. And even the government could see that as well. Which is why they sent him a job offer which he took gladly.
He was being deployed as an Inspector in Harmony Guards of his hometown. The pay was good, considering that he was only a Rank-7 Warrior. Also, as he was a top student, he got his preferential posting. After seven years of being away from his hometown, he was going back. And he is going back in uniform.
Although he had to report for duty in a week, he was leaving today. He figured that it wouldn't hurt to reach his station sooner. He could spend time looking for places to stay. Also, as he has taken the posting in his hometown, he wouldn't mind reminiscing while taking strolls in the small town…
As much as I like reminiscing, I need to head to the station. Otherwise, I might miss my train. With that, he got up, brushed his bottom, and started heading towards the exit.
Walking down the crowded streets of the Emerald Garden, he started reminiscing once again. The people of this city had not been very kind to him. He remembered one time when a few of his classmates beat the crap out of him in one of the alleys of Elm Street, just because he dare to talk to a noble lady. She came to talk to him, not the other way around.
That was a very rough night.
Before he could get lost in the stream of reminiscence, someone grabbed his arm. He turned around to meet with an old woman. With her small draconic eyes, a crooked and long nose, and a face full of wrinkles, an old woman stared at him with contempt. With mud and dirt covering most of her body, she stared at him as if they were judging his soul.
She gasped, and pointed at his head, "You.. You are.. Destiny has chosen you." She said in a creepy old voice.
He rolled his eyes, Oh, she is one of those. God, how foolish does she think I am to fall for such fall such an obvious scam?
With a yank, he freed his hand and started moving. He didn't have the patience or the time to deal with her. "Wait!," He heard her yell, but he didnt turn around and kept walking.
The old woman increased her speed and caught up to him, "Listen to me, boy." He didn't, "You are chosen by destiny." He sped up. And so did she, her old legs were barely able to keep up with him, "Wait, you need to hear this."
To end it once and for all, he stopped, turned, and yelled, "Hear what! Leave me alone, or I will file a complaint against you. The Harmony Guards won't be kind to you just because of your age."
"But you are the chosen one." He rolled his eyes again, took out the 10 shilling note, and gave it to her, "Take this and fuck off!"
The woman looked baffled, and then she started yelling, "I don't need money from a cursed one!"
Fed up, he placed the money back and started walking away. But the woman was not done. "Hear me punk! You are chosen by the destiny! You are cursed! You will be forced to do the bidding of the world! You hear me!!!"
People were looking at him, but he didnt care. He straight away got to his dorm to fetch his luggage, he had a train to catch.
What Raiden failed to notice was the woman when turned away from him, her draconic eyes turned purple. With a wicked smile on her face, she mumbled, "Found the fucker,"