The evening's orange sun set as a tired boy trudged along the long road home. A hard day's work stole too much from his body, and his hands were still raw from hauling fish from Tyron port. He was not having a great day. Yet, Corvus smiled. Hard work in the boats meant money earned, which meant a good meal at the end of the day. It could still be a good day.
The sound of wheels grating on road gravel alerted Corvus as he stepped to the right. Loud laughter passed Corvus as a nobleman's carriage blew his long, dark locs aside. A bell rang on the side of the vehicle, and the coach driver pulled the coach to a stop.
Corvus's smile dropped.
White doors marked with elite craftsmanship were slammed open. Coming out red-faced with alcohol, wearing the finest clothes Corvus had ever seen, were three drunks. Tyron was a popular port town for fishing and export, yet there were very few aristocrats who would go the long way to the great forest. Other than failures.
Corvus bowed accordingly. "Good evening, Milords."
The blonde noble of short-parted hair pointed at Corvus with slim fingers. "Aahaha, look! A burnt man!" The richest of the trio slurred. His dark-haired, green-jacketed sidekick chuckled beside him as the red-coated one tried to convince him to go back to the carriage. As usual, the tired boy smiled and bowed.
The boy paid them no mind. Nobles visit the island of Jobalkia with little experience of multiculturalism. But as Jobalkia was the land of treasure and glory, the greatest of the greatest from every corner of the world came in droves; such diversity of skin and culture had become a norm. However, someone as dark as Corvus was still a rare sight. I am probably the first dark-skinned man they have seen. I better get back before the porridge gets cold.
Corvus continued walking as they whispered like chattering girls. He was used to getting looks, but these men's eyes weighed heavily on his back. He needed to get back home fast.
"Boy, stay."
Like flint sparking, Corvus heard fire ignite behind him. "Are you from Beredel?" The blonde asked while he played with his fire spell. "No. Too dark."
"Lands…below the sands."
"Ooh, a savage of the jungle!" Like children, they excited each other. Feigning a giggle, Corvus took a step back.
Feet flew off the ground as a ball of fire knocked Corvus metres away.
"ARGGH!" Patting his burning shirt and jacket, a kick to the body rolled the tired boy on the grass, extinguishing the rest of the fire.
"I said, 'Stay.'" The blonde's smile turned wicked. His hand was burning red to magma on his blue gloves. Another ball of fire formed from the air above his palm. "I heard Southerners were tough. That their skin was made of obsidian." A hand pushed Corvus off the ground as the nobles' fire melted the grass where he fell. "Want to test, men? Hahaha!" The hyenas shrieked over each other, and the Black boy evaded the second fireball. The noble's laughter was cut short.
"Milords. Let's calm ourselves." Bent forward like a beast, close to the ground, the boy hunched as if his chest hurt. "We all have a home to get to. I don't want to make this worse than it needs to be." Corvus focused on their sobering movements. The sidekicks pulled out their steel. Good swords, worthy enough to be in a knight's hands; useless in theirs. Could they even use Aura?
The green-jacketed guard shouted. "You are speaking to Lord Alendo! A great mage invited to Everforge!! Hush your mouth before you speak any more disrespect!"
Corvus smiled. The day may end well.
The dark-skinned man straightened. Cracking his back and shoulders, he seemed a foot taller. Muscle bulged from tighter clothes. Gleaming smile on his aloof face, he sauntered forward.
"Lord Alendo: blonde hair, brown eyes." Hands in brown leather breeches, Corvus's relaxed pace unnerved the three nobles. Swords rattled as they stood guard with slivers of aura around their blades.
"H-H-HALT! STAY RIGHT THERE!"
"'A penchant for blue gloves.' A tired mind misses a lot. Luckily, fortune came my way in the form of a big mouth."
Corvus was in reach.
"STAY AWAY, SAVAGE!!" Green jacket lunged with a blade blazing with a light blue aura. I leaned away. An inch away from my throat was his sword. But my right boot kicked his jaw to the sky. Teeth scattered into the night sky. My leg fell, and a front kick to the sternum threw the green-jacketed noble into a tree. The trunk's wood exploded into chunks of debris as a dead body flopped down.
"Se-SEF!" The dead man's red-coated friend screamed. The mage was expressionless, staring a thousand miles away. Everforge invited you, and you have never seen a dead body before?
"Fire mage, second circle." With his hands warm, Corvus walked on. "An insecure man who drinks his ineptitude away. Accompanied by two other failures."
The last sidekick's lousy slash missed my right arm. A slice down at the dark man face was evaded by a spin kick to the chest.
Resting on a blade stuck in the ground, the sidekick's tears fell while blood spilt from a wincing mouth. "Please...I'm begging-"
"Sorry, Milord."
A resplendent purple aura flared from Corvus's right boot. The earth crumbled around his right foot. "Should have chosen better mates." Rising like a rocket, his quick jabbing kick tore through the air. A rush of wind splattered blood from a face of mush.
Corvus winced from the smell of fresh pee dripping from the terrified blonde.
"GET AWAY!!"
Iridescent feathers of violet glow between Corvus' fingers and intercepted every one of Alendo's hastily chucked fireballs. One great leap, and Corvus soared. Twenty metres were crossed in an instant. An explosion of air followed him later. The dark-skinned man's knee landed in Alendo's diaphragm. Unable to shout a spell, a hidden knife stabbed the empty air
*Crack*
It's been months since Corvus first felt a body slump within his hands. He felt sentimental. He felt out of shape. He felt hungry.
Corvus laid the dead down, checking for anything that could help. Keys clinked. "Yes…"
Corvus ran up the road to the waiting; a shivering coach driver stared at the late-night killer from the corner of his eye.
"Relax, my good man. I only kill those whose death is required."
The killer opened the carriage door, finding the prize unguarded on a seat. Keys unlocked the metal chest. Its golden light nearly blinded Corvus. Brown eyes blinked, adapting to the beautiful glow. It was not the gold, silver or gems that illuminated the carriage, but a single apple. Corvus was already invigorated by just its light. Imagine if…
Corvus gobbled the sweeter-than-sweet fruit. Thousands of gold slushing in his mouth, such splendour was indescribable. Every meal from now on would feel dry and boring. From the soles of his calloused feet to his coily-black locs, his body was filled with amazing warmth. Corvus' soul expanded, and the world contracted. Lightning buzzed in his mind as connections were created.
Finally, mana essence exploded from his skin, and Corvus' world returned to normal.
"Woah…" He said between heavy breaths, sweating on the carriage seats.
POP!
NAME:
Corvus
AGE: 20
TITLE:
The Black Bird's Herald
(Guardian of the Great Forest)
Rank: Seed
2nd grade core
Vitality: 16
SENSES: 22
STRENGTH: 14
AGILITY: 22
INTELLIGENCE: 20
MANA CAPACITY: 16
Skill(s):
Talon (Lv.07)
Mana armour (lv.15)
Wings (Lv.07)
feathers (Lv.08)
Murder of Crows (Lv.12)
Way of the Shadows (Lv.23)
Pugilism (Lv.32)
Runes (Lv.14)
"Can we…" Corvus thought of a map.
Pop!
"Greatest day ever."
Corvus jumped out of the carriage with a smile to his cheeks. Aura flowed, and mana essence sparkled around his back, spreading wide as they took shape.
Driver, take the rest of the gold in there. But if you tell…"
The driver cowered, " I won't, sir. I promise! I'm out of this terrible island!" Whipping the reins, the driver rushed away, leaving Corvus in the dust.
On the tree branches, an inquisitive creature cawed.
"YOU'RE LATE!" A raven swooped down, landing on Corvus' shoulder. "You're late – what happened to your shirt!?" The raven squawked loudly in the night.
"I was tired." Corvus yawned. "But I won't be sleeping much today. We have to pack."
The raven twisted its head until it noticed a dead noble by the roadside. "Are we really going? For real!? FINALLY!" Caws of joy echo on the empty road.
Wings of indigo mana flapped, and grass waved.
"Let's rush home. We have much to pack." A flap of great violet wings shot Corvus into the sky.