The wind howled through the narrow streets of Rubenhold, the slums of the Ruben Dukedom, as Mark stumbled out of the street carrying a pitiful amount of food.
A bread seller nearby shouted, "And don't come back, you beggar!"
Mark's mind reeled as he staggered down the cobblestone path, the weight of his situation crushing his young shoulders. Just two days ago, he was in a warm house with a bed and a roof to sleep under, but suddenly everything changed.
His parents were both farmers and lived modestly from what little land they had, and 12 years ago they gave birth to Mark, bringing him into the world. They had everything a small family could ask for and more.
Unfortunately, while they were in town purchasing farming tools, they caught the attention of a noble. The noble, Viscount Robin, was a powerful man recognized in the dukedom as a brilliant warrior and prodigy of the sword. No one would dispute his word.
It had seemed that when his parents were purchasing the tools, his father was one gold coin short of being able to finish the purchase.
Viscount Robin noticed his parent's dilemma and sneered. "What a bunch of peasants! You obviously forgot the one gold coin intentionally, so that you wouldn't have to pay the merchant full price!"
Despite multiple attempts by his parents to disagree and prove their innocence, Viscount Robin decided they were thieves and committed a crime worthy of death.
Thus, they were executed at dawn the next day and their heads were put on public display for the town after the incident to deter other "criminals."
Guards came from the Viscount's mansion and seized his family's land, dragging Mark out and throwing him on the street.
Now, Mark wandered aimlessly through the slums, slowly chewing the bread he fought tooth and nail to get. He once had everything, and now he has nothing.
A group of teenagers with malicious intentions appeared on the corner of the street.
"If it isn't our little beggar!"
The teenagers walked towards Mark, who was beginning to tremble in fear. A red-headed teenager stepped forward.
"Well now, it seems like you managed to steal a bit of bread! Good for you."
When he saw the familiar yet unfamiliar face, Mark was shocked, disbelief written all over his face.
"Nate?"
His voice trembled as he started to get emotional.
The red-headed teenager sneered in disgust when he heard his name coming out of Mark's mouth.
Just as he was about to say something, he saw Mark slowly approaching him.
"W-why… are you doing this? I thought we were good friends."
Mark's voice choked as he stared at the boy.
He was Mark's best friend, their houses only meters apart. He had played with him since his parents moved into the house when he was only six years old at the time.
Nate wasn't just a friend to Mark, he was everything. They shared secrets together, bathed together, and did everything together as friends.
"Friends?"
Nate raised his head in surprise when he heard what Mark said.
"Sure, we used to be something. But look at you now-you have nothing. You're nothing but a street rat that begs for scraps, who will eventually die, contributing nothing to society."
Nate sneered.
"Me on the other hand? My parents were gifted your parents land by the Viscount to improve our farm. Now we're living like kings, I even have my own house!"
Mark was stunned. His parents land, what they worked decades to obtain, was given away just like that.
"But why? Why are you acting like I'm the enemy! I have nothing now. And you know it."
Nate and his group of lackeys laughed.
He performed a roundhouse kick to Mark's gut, immediately disabling Mark and sending him to the ground.
With tears running down his eyes, Mark's vision began to blur, and he began to throw up bile from his stomach, along with what pitiful amount of bread he just ate.
"Bam! How do you like that, Mark?"
Nate pinched Mark's ear and came close enough to prevent others from hearing.
"If you ever look at me and act like we're friends again, I'll kill you for real. No one would even notice you're gone. Consider me not killing you right now my last act of mercy."
He let go of his ear and dropped him onto the cobblestone pavement, making Nate's head bleed.
With his vision quickly darkening, Mark succumbed to unconsciousness and passed out on the street.
The group of teenagers began to leave now, seemingly going back to where they came from.
Meanwhile, a carriage could be seen coming down the road at a quick pace, not stopping for anything.
The carriage was coming even quicker now, and Mark was still lying flat on the cobblestone pavement. It was only a matter of time before impact.
"Halt!"
The carriage driver roared, and the horses pulling the carriage came to an abrupt stop.
"My lady, let me deal with the obstacle in the road, give me just a moment."
The lady in the carriage could be seen adjusting her makeup, indifferent to what's going on outside.
"Mm."
The driver got off the seat and began walking towards the unconscious Mark.
"Tsk. Another slum rat deciding to impede my Lady's carriage."
He kicked the body a few times and spat on it, then dragged him by the leg over to the side of the road.
The driver went back to the carriage and started to move once again.
"My Lady, it should only be a few more hours until we reach our destination."
The lady nodded without a care for what happened outside.
"Okay, thanks!"
…
3 hours later
After the harrowing experience Mark had just endured, a strange light occurred as he blacked out, and he was now in the dream dimension.
He could be seen running around with Nate, playing a game of tag.
"Got you!"
"No, I got you first!"
The two of them ran around together, playing for hours on end.
Until suddenly, his vision went black, and a warmth like being in his mother's embrace during childhood overcame him.
The warmth was comforting and beautiful. He wanted it to never end. But as all good things are, they don't last forever.
Eventually he opened his eyes, and an ethereal white light shone throughout his vision. Stretching out endlessly was the white light, and in the middle stood a platform surrounded by clouds.
On the platform, a being was sitting down. Towering over ten feet, his aura was spreading with unfathomable amounts of power. Draped in a magnificent white cloth of an undeniable divine quality, the being was equivalent to that of a god.
"H-hello? Who are you?"
Mark's voice trembled in the being's presence.
"Come child, don't be afraid. Sit by me."
Hearing the being's voice, Mark smiled and began to walk towards the platform.
Looking down, he could see a reflection of his face – it was nothing like what he was used to seeing in the slums. It was almost as if he was a perfect version of himself, molded in the most efficient way possible.
Mark knew he was in the presence of a great being and sat down.
The being suddenly opened his mouth.
"Welcome child, to my domain. This place is called the realm of desire. Those who have been wronged sometimes show up to this place."
The being smirked as he looked at Mark's confused face.
"Now child, what do you wish for? What do you desire?"
Suddenly, Mark's face lit up in frustration.
"What do you mean? Of course, I want my parents back!"
He began to cry, tears welling up on the sides of his face.
Mark knew that it probably wouldn't be possible, but it won't hurt to ask.
"Is it possible? Can you make them come back?"
The being sighed at Mark's words and understood what he was asking. Unfortunately, summoning a dead soul isn't possible without world intervention.
"Sadly no, it is not possible to bring back a soul from the dead in complete form. Of course, you could bring them back as summoned ghosts, but they won't be the same."
The being pitied Mark. He glanced at his expression, the tears flowing like a river down his face.
"I understand… Then, can I ask for something else?"
The being was surprised Mark could get over the fact his parents were long gone so quickly.
"Of course, ask away child."
Mark had a big, shit-eating grin on his face, like he was about to say something stupid.
"Give me infinite gold! And a system to make me powerful where I can buy anything I want!"
Shocked, the being didn't expect this answer. But of course, as any deity would do…
"Whew. Sure thing child, I'll grant your wish. But beware-there are consequences to wielding such formidable might. You may feel powerful at first, but you need to know you're only a frog in the well when it comes to true power."
Mark thought for a second to consider the beings reply.
"That's fine! I'll deal with the consequences myself. Now give me the gold!"
Laughing heartily, the being was interested in seeing what could come out of this wish.
"Very well. The system I grant you will act as your guide. Good luck Mark, and goodbye."
Mark's vision began to go black, and then he woke up.