A world with no evil was a world I had always aspired to live in. However, with no evil there is no good. I had always understood this concept, but it felt as if the world I lived in now had no good in it at all.
Today was the day; the day where mother and father, along with I, were to be sold off to the Gleam family, not a notorious family but they were wealthy, nevertheless. This world contained many deities, whom of which had select words that they represented. That was how this world worked. From birth, most people had a randomly selected 'sub word' placed before their birth name. These words are placed upon the person based on how they are set to live their life, no person had ever lived a life that contradicted the word they were gifted at birth. Every sub word is derived from a select few general words, which determines which family you came from.
Then there's me, a lowly servant with no sub-word before my name. My impoverished, destitute parents didn't even have the decency to give me a name at all. This is how the world works, and I had no choice but to accept such a miserable fate. I had always loathed the gods; they had given such powerful words to lousy swines who mistreated those around them, with people like me at the bottom of the pile. We were viewed as less than human, stripped of dignity, and discarded by society.
"Hurry up kid, The caravans waiting on us." My father murmured with the same melancholic tone he's always had.
"I'm coming Dad." I replied. It's not like I have anything to take with me anyway, aside from a small loaf of bread and an extra set of rags.
See, in this region, the peasants resided here, waiting to be taken by powerful families as slaves. I didn't want that though; I would rather die than serve someone else, especially the Gleam family, who were known to be crueller than most.
The caravan was small, but it was enough to board me, my parents, and two more.
"Is that everyone?" The driver questioned.
"Yes, yes, it is." My father replied.
"Great, let's get on our way, shall we?"
The entire caravan nodded anxiously.
We then set off, I had no intention of fighting against it at this point, my life had always been miserable, I didn't expect that to change in the slightest. However, I couldn't be any more wrong than I was, as my entire life was about to change.
It had been half a day since we left our hometown, dusk had approached us, the beaming sun had died down, and the glistening moon had risen. I was the only one who was still awake in the caravan, the sound of owls hooting and the driver humming had filled my thoughts, it was a loud night to say the least. Would we be safe? That's all I could ask myself as I was riding to a fate, I didn't know the outcome of. That's right, I knew nothing at all. All I knew was that I was never going to be able to break this cycle of enslavement, and agonising pain I would endure, in all honesty, I was scared.
My father was holding my mother in his arms, they had a bond that was unbreakable; despite carrying the burden I am along with them, they were happy with what they had. If I had the choice to do so, I would turn back time and remove myself from the picture, as much as I hate to admit it, the undeniable truth is that I do those around me more harm than good. I don't know why I'm this way; it's just the way I have been my entire life.
The drivers humming had suddenly died down, and the hooting of the owls had also, which had aroused my suspicion. A flock of birds sprung out of the trees with desperation, cawing as they fled. The ashen clouds surrounded the edge of the forest at an alarming rate, as it began to rain, pouring out heavily.
"Run."
"Huh?"
"Run away, now." A soft but eerie voice whispered into my ear.
What the actual hell was going on?! I couldn't believe what was happening at all.
"Run away now."
I clutched my head in agony, as the voice rang into my ears, sending echoes through my brain. Did this voice intend to harm me? I wasn't certain.
"Run away. Run away. Run away. Run away. Run away." These words from the ominous lady had driven me to insanity.
As I looked around frantically, the entire carriage had suddenly woken up. Before I could sigh with relief the whole carriage was filled with screams and wails, as if they had been possessed by a demon of some sort, I had never been so fearful in my life. With utter desperation I leaped out of the caravan, landing beside one of the trees on the edge of the forest. The carriage took off, leaving me behind. I couldn't help but be scared of the situation I was in. Despite that, I ventured into the unknown forest, as it seemed to be my only option now.
A few hours had passed since I entered the forest, I didn't take into consideration just how large the forest might have been. Grazes and cuts were scattered all across my body from the number of bushes I had to run through. After I stopped moaning about how tired my legs were, I approached a lake in the distance. The water was reflecting the glint of the moon, I saw the croaking of frogs, the flapping of fish, the buzzing of fireflies; all sorts of creatures were roaming around in the lake. The trees surrounded the lake as if it were a monarch, protected by its noble guards. Midnight black flowers were scattered around the edge of the lake, flowing with the soft and subtle breeze, that glided across the landscape. A murder of crows laid their gaze upon me, watching my every move cautiously, sending shivers down my spine.
As I approached the lake, the lady darted her head up towards me, and pulled me in with the grip of her hand. I was fighting her off as she was attempting to drown me, I struggled and struggled and struggled and struggled, until I stopped struggling. The woman finally let go of me, and rose up from the water.
"O' Gods, grant this child the Blessing of Ozias, and grant him the Curse of Erebus. Thou has been forsaken, and Thou requires immediate guidance." The woman chanted daintily, holding her hands to the sky, her eyes closed, with a black rose in her hand, picked from the edge of the lake.
"Krraaak!!"
With one flash of lightning, I had lost all consciousness.