It's a Cruel World

'Well this sucks.' Its been three days and I've managed to knock on just about every door I can find with a familia crest and still no luck. Hell some of them I even did it twice. They weren't to happy I forgot they said no. So here I am nursing some bruises and trying to figure out how to fix this.

The first day I was optimistic since with so many gods around surely there wouldn't be enough adventurers for all of them. Yeah that went down the drain fast. Apparently Orario has everyone in the world come to it so there is never a shortage of young aspiring, and more importantly talented adventurers.

The second day I managed to get some answers on why I can't get a familia. Seems like most familia are very closed doors, well at least for humans. Humans are pretty average in just about everything in this world, which wouldn't you know it makes us boring. And what do the gods want Entertainment, Excitement, the Unknown. That means humans are out unless they have skills already or proof of something worthwhile. So as I got told "No one wants a runt with a stick!"

The third day was a shot in the dark since if I can't get through the adventurers then maybe I can get through a god. Great idea except they might be worse than than their followers. I tried talking to every god I could, but either couldn't get past their body guards or slapped down faster than I thought possible. Some of them even led me along with promises of if I helped them they would consider it, then slammed the door in my face. Jerks!

Well this is the fourth day and I'm running out of money. If I don't get a familia soon I might have to go back to Bertha and see if she'll take me for a while longer. I tried asking about a job but nobody wants to take in an unknown. The last resort is there, but that might be dangerous down the road.

I take a look at my bag containing the Pan'ku box and think. 'If I show my tattoo or the Pan'ku box I might be able to get enough interest for someone to give me a falna. However, if they don't take me that means my secrets are out there with someone I can't trust. Still if I can't get a falna then I can't get stronger. Nothing I do seems to affect either the Pan'ku box or my Shendu tattoo which means a familia blessing is my only hope, and I would bet good money a falna would reveal something. Wait maybe if I can convince them to give me a status at least temporarily then they should find something that will make them accept me permanently. Its a shot in the dark and risky, but it may be my only hope. Well lets make that my next plan and try to find a familia without that risk first'

Sighing to myself I go out and try to ask around if anyone is accepting familia members. No luck today either. There are familias accepting new members, however they all have requirements that I can't meet. Its either you already have a level with experience, a trade, or a rare skill. Oh yeah if your a special race with perks your swept off your feet with invitations. Lucky me that means if your not a human or a prum (which sounds like a hobbit to me). Guess some things really do cross world barriers. Unfortunately the newbie training hate is one of them, and its not like being a city worker will help. Well last resort it is, just hope this doesn't come back to bite me.

Okay it didn't 'come back' to bite me. It went ahead and bit me.

"Haha come on show off these skills of yours." Right now I am getting pummeled in a back alley by a couple of adventurers. Why? Apparently they don't take kindly to people 'boasting' about being able to get a skill with their first status update. Probably didn't help I had already tried this familia before and didn't mention skills.

*Bang* *Pow* *Smack*

'Damn this hurts!' I'm getting wailed on from multiple directions with three of them playing catch with me as the ball. The adrenaline is keeping me going but they're too fast to get away so my only hope is to ride it out and hope they give up soon.

"Yeah, he's skilled alright. About as skilled as a monkey!" a punch to the shoulder

"Ha! Yeah right. I've seen monkeys with more skill than this loser." a kick in the back

What little training I've done is keeping me upright but that won't last for lo...

*BAM!* I hit the ground as one of them decides he's tired of 'catch.'

"You know this was fun but its getting boring yeah. You said something about a tattoo as proof right well lets see it." He rips my shirt off displaying my Shendu tattoo.

"Wooo, we got something fancy here looks pretty costly to me. What do you guys think?"

"Yeah, probably cost a pretty penny to get that done."

"Check his pockets. If he can afford that he probably has plenty of cash."

"Nice!" They go to check my pockets, but I'm almost broke and I left most of what's left in the inn room in case of mugging.

"Damn, nothing but scraps. Where did all your money go pretty boy?"

"Bet he spent it all on that tattoo so he could sell that story of his."

"Probably right there so lets make sure he can't swindle some poor bloke with his story." He gets an evil grin on his face that makes fear shoot through my spine like an electric shock.

I try to run but there already on me. One presses me down so I can't fight. The other takes his hands and clamps my mouth shut. I try to bite him but can't. The last takes out a knife with a sadistic gleam in his eyes.

"Well this will teach you to be a proper adventurer if nothing else does." He keeps grinning as he slowly cuts a big cross across my chest, making sure to go all the way across the tattoo.

Do I get a sudden power burst? Does Shendu suddenly come to life and defend himself? Do I get that plot armor gift that saves the day with someone heroically rescuing me?

NO

All I get is agonizing pain lancing across my chest before it becomes too much and I pass out.