2 Manticore

I don't have any choice but to accept the deal.

I have to join the freaking corps and sell my fucking life for just 1000 Golds. 

What a damn life.

I'm sitting here in our kitchen while my mother is preparing our dinner. As I stare at the blank white wall thinking that this might be the last night that I can see my family, probably the next time they will see me is when my lifeless body arrived here. Maybe this is a terrible idea, but fuck it, I have to save my father from those evil landlords, dammit. I have to do this.

My thoughts got interrupted when I heard my brother clear his throat to catch my attention.

I looked at Berc, who's looking at me.

Just like that, we got into staring contests until he gave up and broke the silence.

"I'm sorry. I should be the one who will join there"  I saw the sadness in his eyes. Somehow I realize that this is the other reason I should join that shit. I can't afford to lose my brother to that silly war. Maybe this isn't a bad idea after all. I breathed deeply and released it before I speak. 

"Don't be sorry. You're still 16, and we won't allow you to join that shitty war. Also, dad needs a strong helping hand to the farm."  I smiled at him.

"But you could die when you join those troops. We can't afford to lose you too," he said with a worried tone. I maybe don't have that luxurious life, but I'm blessed that I have this family. I can't wish for more.

"I think you forgot how strong I am, and also I have two abilities, so I think they're the ones who should fear me." I laughed like a maniac after saying that.

"Oh! Yeah, I almost forgot that you got into a fight with ogres, and you killed three of them by just using fathers' Flail. So the other ogres run whenever they saw you coming to the forest. You're the veritable monster, Wix."

He was bursting after saying that.

"Of course I'm the real deal" both of us were laughing, then we heard our mother silently crying in the corner. I stood up and hugged her. "Don't go, Wix. I'm sure your father will be fine where ever he is right now. Please, after what happened to your sister, I can't afford to lose you too" her eyes look so tired after crying the whole day, just like when Alicia died.

I remember that night we thought she's just playing outside, but we heard her screaming for help.

As we heard the scream, we rush outside and saw her in the hand of a Manticore. It's a monster with a red tiger's body, the face of a man with three rows of teeth, and almost uniquely, a scorpion tail covered in spines that can shot poison.

The Manticore already ate my sister's left arm. Her blood flows down. She was in pain.

I'm still very young. I don't know What I should do but cry; my mom is begging that monster to let Alicia go. My Father almost used all his mana to save her, but it's no use that monster is more potent than us. Until we can no longer hear Alicia's scream or even her voice, she's already dead. We saw her slowly getting eaten by the Manticore.

That Manticore escaped and never seen again. If ever I saw that fucking monster again, I'll surely kill it.

Tomorrow is the day that I'll be leaving home to join White Summit. I'm going to miss this house, and I'm going to miss everything here. Even the sounds of that annoying Gnomes, yeah, I get they're cute but sometimes irritating they think that they're the owner of this whole freaking farm.

Sometimes they got to pick first the fruits I harvested. I was annoyed so I talk to one of them, but Damm, he freaking cast a spell on me. He fucking turned my foot into a Jello, and I have that jello foot for a whole fucking month.

I wasn't able to do a thing. I even heard them giggling after seeing me in that condition. I hate them.

I hope I won't see any Gnomes at Leminitus Palace. I will freaking yeet em' out. 

After packing my stuff,  I went to the bathroom and just took a quick bath before going to bed, even though my mind won't let me sleep tonight and force me to overthink everything.

As I got out to the bathroom, I heard noises in my room. I'm hearing the Gnomes giggles.

Oh, no, no, no, not again. I almost tripped just to get to my room quickly. As I opened the door, I saw all the stuff that I packed are all on the floor. "Damm, you Annoying Gnomes!" my ears are already smoking out of anger.

I saw them standing at the window; they're hysterically cracking up. This gnome is getting on my nerves. "Okay, Wix, Breathe, this is your last night here, and you will never see these Gnomes again " I'm convincing myself to calm down. I picked up all my clothes and packed them up again.

Finally, I'm done. I stand up to close the window. I saw them outside the window and looking in my direction; they are probably waiting for me. One of them is holding an Apple. "What?" I asked. All of them walked towards me and handed me the Apple. I'm confused by their action.

"Sorry, we heard that you're leaving tomorrow. That apple is for peace offering for what we've done to you." Said the oldest Gnomes. I accepted the Apple. I think it's that bad to take an apple from them; besides, they steal it from the apple tree I planted.

"Okay, fine, just don't do any funny spell here, and please look for my family and friends." they all nodded as a response, and I smiled at them.

I think they aren't that bad, after all. I guess. Gnomes and other creatures want to let people know that we don't own everything in this world.