Perceived Fate

An hour later, and Malum was sat around the old man’s outside campfire eating meat as they forever bickered. They were comparing their best and worst hunting stories, and it was mostly the old man talking.

“8 feet that bear was, and that was when he was on all fours! I’ve never seen anything like it, but with me, my old bow, and 6 shots, It was down for the count!”

Malum had heard about these six shots far more than six times.

“2 in the eyes, and 4 for each leg, a miracle that I continue to spread each day. Come my prophet and inform the masses of my divinity!”

With that the old man began attempting to stand, however the alcohol caused issues with the man’s balance, so Malum was forced to catch him before he fell.

“C’mon old man, can’t have the mighty hunter falling to death can we.”

The night began to rise to a peak as Malum dragged the old man to bed, he forever mumbled about his glorious past, but Malum knew the truth.

Behind his small giggles and false bravado, was a man who had lost far more to beasts than Malum could fathom. His parents, his wife, and then his three youngest children. One by one, 6 incidents of separate beast ambushes had slowly left the man alone in this cold world. The demonic wastes had caused the surroundings to be much richer in prey and yet also predators.

Although Malum called him worn down, or washed up, he also deeply respected his mentor and held his lessons in high regard. He was this villages chief hunter and for good reason. Those 6 shots were very impressive, and although Malum had done something similar in the morning that was when he was alone and under reduced pressure, not when the teammates were slowly being massacred under his watch.

Looking at the sleep talking man, Malum wouldn’t have guessed such a past from his appearance but then again the man did everything in his power to hide his past.

Leaving the man alone, Malum headed home for his Uncle. Whilst he wouldn’t mind him staying late with his mentor, he would mind if he didn’t show up at all.

The dead of night provided a soothing walk for Malum as the cold air gave his mind a small boost. He could take the time to reflect, but starring at the stars all he wanted to do was admire their beauty.

Many of the Gods Churches claimed the stars to be different things, some said they were lives of every being in the realm. The brighter they were the stronger they were, and when they faded, well, their story came to an end.

Others thought they were God’s eyes, forever looking down on the mortal plain.

Malum liked the idea that they were the eyes of the deceased because that would mean his parents could forever look down on him. He liked to think they would be happy with who he was, he had tried his best to make them proud.

Catching himself before he got too emotional, Malum walked back home in silence. Only looking at the stars again through the small cracks in his walls as he laid in bed.

Those very same cracks were the reason Malum woke up today. A blinding light seemed to miraculously find the very sliver to which directly pointed into his eyeballs.

Now awake, Malum did his morning routine and prepared himself for a far more boring day. Unlike the hunt yesterday, today was just basic education.

He had around 4 months left of lessons and Malum could not wait for them to end. He had to maintain an attendance of 70% or higher else he would automatically fail, how that was fair? Malum questioned that every day.

Sighing as he walked out the door, Malum simply had no choice. Alice (the alchemist girl) had already graduated 2 years ago and that marked the end of Malum trying at all. Now he just sat there and thought about training all day, usually whilst he held a squat under the desk.

Power was just so alluring, far more than a promise of an endless dawn to dusk lifestyle. Walking down the dirt road and Malums mind was searching for any excuse to not go. He didn’t hold any bad injury; he was feeling fine, and all of his relatives were already dead.

As a middle ground Malum decided to buy some bread on his way there. He was slightly hungry, and he needed to restock anyway. As he was always early, he had the time, so he walked towards the plume of smoke coming out a particular building.

The smell of fresh bread was truly otherworldly for Malums enhanced senses. He couldn’t help but swallow his saliva as he walked inside the building. The bread shop was always open and during the day it was the main hub of chatter in the village, it was obviously replaced by the tavern at night.

That meant loud chattering emanated from the place even as early as the crack of dawn. Malum checked his pockets and found 3 silvers and 5 bronzes. With that much he could buy around 3 and a half weeks of food, with the silver being worth a week and 5 bronzes being enough for half a week. The currency system was rock solid, with each copper being pegged to a load of bread.

There was issues with this, especially during poor harvests but there were solutions to these temporary issues, so the kingdom used it anyway.

Malum therefore placed a single copper on the countertop and asked for a single loaf of bread. Mrs Flora looked at him, and said, “Its two copper for you.”

Disbelief, disappointment, and some degree of astonishment was painted onto Malums face as he thought about how dumb this charade was. The laughter of the other bigots only caused Malums further anger as he pulled out another copper and placed it on the countertop.

It was only the single copper; the fight simply wasn’t worth it. He had dealt with this unfair pricing before and fought against it far more than once. All it tended to do was lead either to a fight, or to even higher prices.

So he sucked it up, and consolidated the event as further proof of the saying might is right. They had the numbers; they had the backing of the Mayor. At the end of the day Malum was an outsider and such could be treated poorly because people simply knew him less, that meant distrust and people could exploit that.

He took his bread from the smirking woman and sat just outside next to the shutter windows. He had the time, and since news only came from the Mayor then these town folks were the ones who would be discussing it.

After some further remarks about Malums apparent strangeness, they then talked about some more interesting topics.

“U heard about John’s ex-wife? Apparently she’s caught a demonic disease.”

“A demonic disease, I heard they are the most painful thing a ‘uman can experience. Lucky for us, they don’t spread. Poor woman, she was a pretty one too.”

Listening into a different conversation...

“Yu guys gunna sign up to that expeditiony thingy that the mayor put on the notice board. I ‘eard it’s on the ruins of a lost kingdom.”

“Nah, not my thing. I prefer me cutting wood, and drinkin alcohol.”

A lost kingdom, Malum could not help but wonder if it was perhaps his parents Kingdom. However that is also made little sense as his Uncle had described that there was no trace of it left behind so how could there be ruins?

“You heard in Stromard Village they finally had that bandit hanging. Heard it was 16 on the gallows, what a sight.”

“Wish I got to see that. Filthy bastards deserve more, its why you rough em up in jail beforehand.”

As that conversion continued into sadism, Malum waited another minute or two before he set off on his way to school. The bread had filled his stomach and now he was ready to learn.

An hour later, and Malum was ready to die. How could learning be so boring? Malum could swear he was an innately curious person and yet somehow Mr Mahogany manged to make his favourite subject of mathematics boring.

The issue was he would stray of topic on nonsensical rants about either his ex-wives, or about lost career as the Mayor. This village had two scholars, who had passed the Imperial Examination, and one of them was this clown whilst the other manged to secure the Mayor position. That left his teacher forever bitter, and he took it out on his students.

Ignoring the teacher as he went on a tangent Malum starred at the ceiling as he could not help but dream of a time where he controlled his own destiny. Where he could be truly free from anybody and anything.

His dreams came to a holt as he felt a small piece of wood ping off his head.

Malums eyes darted round the classroom to see who bothered him.

`Ah, it’s him` thought Malum as his eyes came across a sniggering group of boys all around the same age as him. A group of three, headed by someone Malum was all too familiar with, Eric.

3 years after they had parted the rodent had by some miracle ended up at the same village as Malum. That meant the second Malum had entered the village, his school life had been ruined by that bastards smear campaign.*

Malum had forgiven him before, as he had done to everyone before but now Malum had pledged to get some form of revenge. A broken bone was too harsh, but Malum reckoned he could find some form of revenge by the time he would leave this village and he could hardly wait.

The day continued ever more; the passing of time ever painfully slow in the miserable aura of Mr Mohagany.

Malum, sat at his desk, with his head in palm of his hand, was trying his best not to fall asleep. The teacher was the one who decided when the day ended so Malum could only hope that the chatterbox was tired.

Thankfully, just as Malums eyes were coming to a close he announced the end of the day.

“Thank the Gods.” Malum could not help but mutter as he picked up his bag and dashed out the door. Freedom had never tasted so sweet.

Usually he would go and check if hunting was an option but today was Saturday so that meant the weekend hunt would leave his old man out with his buddies.

With nothing else to do Malum decided to check out the notices he had heard about this morning. The town hall was home to the Mayor, and occasionally the kingdom would recruit willing people for odd jobs. It was also open to business’ and Nobles; these would then be placed on the notice board with a description and information on the pay.

The only thing they didn’t put up notices for were conscriptions, but Malum always avoided those vias his Uncles endless supply of money or through just running.

Walking there, Malum found the streets to be fairly empty. Usually he would see the occasional gardener or overhear some people chatting in their paper-thin-homes, but strangely all he could hear were the birds.

Coming to the village centre, Malum saw several people clambering around a metal armoured man on horseback. Malum could not help but think the words conscription which soured his day immensely.

It was just so much hassle. Malum quickly turned and ran home to find his Uncle, his afternoon and evening plans all but ruined.