The Beginning

It was right outside the door of the Solstice Room where Eo realized he didn't want to be the side character of some other protagonist's story.

The Stone Reader announced, "The patterns of the rocks bestow us with the gift of the future. A savior has emerged, and it is one that will give us hope in the face of disaster."

No one doubted the Stone Reader. Not because the Stone Reader had high social status or was above the law, but because the Stone Reader was always right.

"Stone Reader", cried one of the council members, "Who is this 'savior'? And what is that person like?"

The Stone Reader only nodded slowly and peered back into the circle of rocks.

"Interesting." The Stone Reader mused. "Very interesting indeed."

"What have you found, O wise Stone Reader?"

"This savior appears to be a young male. A teen, perhaps?"

"Please tell us more, O great Stone Reader!"

"Born of fire and ice. Two great essences are mixed together and a shining symbol is born. Yes, he will have many supporters in this dire time, and will work harder than most to accomplish his purpose."

One of the faction bosses raised an eyebrow.

"This sounds oddly like the One Thousand Year's prophecy, which predicted a 'savior' to come in one thousand years… are you sure you're not plagiarizing from previous Stone Readers?"

The current Stone Reader smiled. "About the One Thousand Years prophecy: how long ago was that?"

The boss' eyes widened. "R-roughly one thousand years ago… but you can't be serious, right? The dates are pretty vague…"

A council member stroked her chin.

"To think that the savior would come in my lifetime…"

One of the Honorary Elders stood up.

"HAH! Hogwash! The savior didn't come in my 97 years of living; why would he come now?!"

"But the Stone Reader is never wrong…"

"Dear, the Stone Reader's 'savior' is probably different from the One Thousand Year's 'savior'."

The Stone Reader turned its head to the elder.

"They're the same."

"Bah!" The Honorary Elder slammed herself back into her chair.

"According to the old prophecy, we still don't know whether or not the savior will win their final battle!"

Eo slowly got up and crept away.

(Great, we're gonna get some sort of savior to pull us out of this mess?)

Eo grit his teeth.

(What was the point of all this training if I was gonna sit back and relax anyways?)

Eo was much farther away at this point. He sighed and leaned against a wall.

(If this was a novel I'd be the sidekick.)

Eo laughed at himself.

(Nevermind, I'd probably be a background character.)

Suddenly a thought leapt into Eo's mind.

(What if I try becoming the protagonist?)

Eo started wondering. Protagonists chosen by fate one thousand years prior to their birth were undoubtedly going to be more overpowered, right? Plus, he had heard the details through the door. Born with two essences??? People were naturally born with an affinity to one. Having two were extremely rare, and having this special treatment seemed quite fitting for a savior predicted to balance the fate of the world on their life. In fact, Eo was wondering why the savior didn't have three. That would definitely separate him from the rest of humanity. Maybe he didn't because he couldn't help but be "only" human, almost as if it was some sort of lame joke.

Eo stretched his limbs and got up. He was about to return to his room when all of a sudden another thought struck him.

Protagonists, no matter how powerful they were, would always face some sort of greater opponent. Even at their peak strength, they would always need to use up all their power to defeat a final boss many tens or hundreds of times more powerful than they. The bosses always lost, because they were too foolish, or too dumb, or just too preoccupied with talking about their own greatness that they always got pushed over a cliff or something.

Eo knew he wasn't like that. If only he could obtain that raw power, perhaps… Eo thought,

(Perhaps we won't need a savior.)

Eo smiled. He walked down the hall from where he came from, passing the Solstice Room door.

(I don't want to be the side character of some other protagonist's story.)