"My mother was a warrior. She trained all day and fought against all kinds of things. She enjoyed it, and she always said she would one day die fighting. I trained hard to stop it from happening, but my efforts had the opposite effect... One day, I woke up and my house was in flames. I ran down the stairs and saw my mother fighting hundreds of people with swords and spears. My father quickly picked me up and ran to the forest.
"..."
"When I was seven, my mother died. Not of age, not of a disease, not of an accident. She died at the hands of people, people who I never thought would try to hurt her. I became lost, sad, and hopeless. I felt like there wasn't a meaning to live anymore, but I wasn't angry yet"
"... After the shock from what happened passed, I looked at my dad, I asked why he didn't help her. I asked why did he run when his wife was being murdered. And he said 'I couldn't save her so I ran' He didn't even try to do something"
I could see the hatred and anger in Evan's eyes.
"Then I asked him 'Why aren't you angry? Why are you so calm?' and I will never forget what he said 'The people who killed your mom aren't bad. They were just scared. It wasn't their fault' He said"
Evan's anger turned into disgust.
"I looked at his eyes and held my urge to vomit 'How could my mother even get close to this thing' I thought. I couldn't live in the same space as that piece of shit anymore and just after I opened the door, my father said 'Even if you get revenge for her, it won't change anything, she will stay dead no matter what you do and your mother wouldn't want you to kill people like them'"
"..."
"Surprisingly, I agreed with the piece of shit words. He was right, it won't change anything. She was gone and there was nothing I could do about it"
"So you spared them?"
"Hahahahahahahahahaha!... Of course not. I killed them ALL. Every single one of them was turned into pieces"
"So... you are telling me I should get revenge?"
"Not exactly. Every single day, I still miss her. I wish I could tell her that I am okay. I wish I could show her how strong I became. And I wish I could see her again. And maybe someone I killed for revenge feels the same way right now"
"When you get revenge, someone always pays a price. Just be sure that that price won't hunt you down for the rest of your life"
His words didn't make much sense but I still engraved them deep inside my head.
*Pa!* *Pa!* Evan slapped his cheeks and got up.
"Okay! Enough with the sad stuff. Let's play something, I made some poker cards the other day. Let me show you how to play" Then he started to walk to the temple.
I couldn't help but chuckle, how could someone like this... Well, whatever, let's just play and forget it. I smiled and ran towards the temple.
"You better not have any cards under the table this time!"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
One Year later...
"Alexander, shouldn't we go kill that stupid cat by now?"
"We can, but I am in no hurry. Rather than that, look! Checkmate!!!!!!! I won!!!!"
"What should I say? Congratulations? The score is 62523 for me and 1 for you now"
"Wasn't it you who said I was a hundred years too young to beat you?"
"That was to motivate you. But looking back now it seems like you didn't need that much motivation in the first place"
"Okay, arrange the board. I still have to pay back 62522 matches"
"No! Seriously, we need to get out. I feel like we spent too much time here, like eight months"
"Hahahaha! Evan, you are way off the right number"
"Seriously? up or down?"
"Up"
"One year?"
"Up"
"Two years?" His voice was getting lower as he answered.
"Up" I have to admit that I was having fun.
"T-Three years?"
"Up"
"F-F-Four?"
"Up"
"Oh god, you can't be serious. Tell me, how much time passed Alexander!"
"Five years since we fell from that hole on the roof"
"Oh, why didn't you tell me before!?"
"You never asked" I said raising my hands.
"So I am eighteen now?!"
"What do you think genius?" I said as I organized the pieces on the table.
"But why do you look like eighteen as well?
"I don't know, my body always grew strangely"
"Well, whatever... We need to get out, now!"
"Okay, okay. Sr.loser We can start packing up all the stuff then"
We went to the mini house we built with rocks from the temple and started to pack all the gold and games we borrowed from the dead bodies around.
After packing all the stuff, we went to the temple and entered the passage that lead to the black cat. We went there sometimes to see if it would leave in search of food but it never left. It didn't even move. It just stayed there, sleeping for five years.
"I know it's a bit late to ask about it but... What is with the tattoo on your arm Evan?"
"Oh, this?" He said raising his arm.
"It's a curse"
"A curse?"
"Yes, it's a really strong curse. It seems I was born with it. When my mother found me in the forest, it was already with me. Now it gives me strength"
"Cool"
[ Status updated ]
[ Name: Alexander ]
Age: 8
Level: 0
Exp: 800/70000
Race: High Human 82%
Titles: None
Mana: 0
--------------------------------
Vitality: 36
Strength: 32
Agility: 31
Attribute Points: 0
{+4 to all status because of the event and +2 because of the training}
My race finally revealed itself after six years. But I didn't know what the percentage meant or how to rise it.
I was thinking about it when we arrived.
(!) [ Warning! ]
(!) [ Level 5 creature detected! ]