Growing Pains

Leo spent the next years of his life in a miserable state. Unwelcome in the village at night, barely tolerated by day, he scraped a meagre living doing dirty work no one else wanted to do. Boris, the innkeeper, took every opportunity available to make his life more difficult.

Leo learned that in this world, the only safety was in strength. If you were weak, anyone could do whatever they liked to you. It was only rarely that a guardsman or villager would intervene on his behalf.

The village children learned this quickly. Leo was often teased, bullied, and beaten by the others. Of the 16 other children tested, three were chosen. Alice, a young girl of 11, kept to herself in the temple grounds. She had been identified as possessing latent magical talent, and spent her days studying. Ren, a young lad of 15, trained with the guards daily due to his physical prowess. In a few years years, he would leave the village for town Mianna, and join one of the guilds. But the third chosen, Michael, was the worst of them.

Barely 12, he had been identified by the Guardian as a dual talent, able to use skills or magic, with an affinity for speed, he took every opportunity to lord over the untalented children. His status protected him from petty charges or general interference from the guards, and as such, he began by bullying anyone from a common family.

Leo was his favourite target. His "practice bouts" partner of choice would suffer anything from bruises to broken bones, and the partner never had a choice in the matter.

Leo, being 10, stood no chance against an ordinary person, let alone someone who had already received their markings and gained the Blessing of the Gods.

Leo remembered the day of marking. The Guardian pressed her hands on each of the talented children's backs, and a strange script infused itself on them. If one learned to read it, it would show their skills, strengths and statistics. What's more, this script would accumulate experience for them, which they could then use to improve themselves, growing more powerful.

Michael used this as an excuse to beat and harass Leo every day if he got the chance. Rather than take constant beatings, Leo would immediately head out of town to his fathers grave. He was careful not to be followed, and spent several days building himself a small shack there.

He talked to his fathers grave every evening, while the fireflies danced.

---Four Years Pass---

In the late evening, two teen boys could be seen a short distance outside the village. One stood, sneering and laughing, while the second lay in the dirt.

"Is that the best you can do? You couldn't even handle one hit." Michael laughed.

Leo lay on the ground, coughing, clutching his stomach.

"Get up."

"..."

"Get up or I will make you get up. I need to train, and you're the best punching bag around."

Leo coughed sourly as he stood on his feet, shaking and stumbling.

"Good. I need to train my strength some more, so don't be such a disappointment and try to make yourself useful," Michael said, condescendingly.

Leo's eyes hardened at his words. "Go to hell" he muttered under his breath. Michaels beatings were getting worse. At this rate, Michael would kill him. 'He hit me one time and I almost blacked out. I have to get out of here,' Leo thought.

"Good dog. Now hold still while I-"

"Enough!"

Michael's eyes widened in shock as he turned to see who had interrupted him. A tall, slim man in a loose robe, approached, his face indignant. His face was hidden behind a heavy cowl and hood. "How dare you abuse this young man. It is obvious he is not Blessed. But that does not give you the right to torture him!"

Michael sneered. "I'm stronger, and I need training. He's an orphan with no future. Who cares?"

The robed man pushed back his hood back, and removed his cowl. His eyes seemed to ignite with a steely fire, close cropped grey hair revealing his age. His face worn and lined, he appeared to be elderly, yet one could tell from his movements he was physically fit.

He spoke a strange word and gestured, and a bolt of grey light flew from his hands, striking Michael in the chest. Michael paled as he was sent sprawling, coughing up blood.

Leo, seeing Michael was no longer a threat, fell to his hands and knees, panting.

"Are you alright?" the robed man asked, approaching Leo. With another strange word, he touched Leo's shoulder, and a sudden warmth spread through him.

"What... What did you do?" Leo asked, shock on his face.

"A simple healing charm. Give it a few minutes and you'll be right as rain. My name is Alexis."

"I'm Leo."

"I'm headed into town, Leo. Why don't you come with me, young man? I could use a guide."

"I'm not welcome in town after nightfall, Master Alexis. I was heading home when Michael showed up."

"Ah." Alexis looked pensively. "Listen, Leo, I'll be in town for a few days. I won't be leaving until next week. If you like, come see me at the temple. I'd like to check up on you before I go, so please, come by."

Leo nodded.

"It's settled then"

As he began to walk off, Alexis turned to look at Michael lying on the ground and said, "Stop groaning. You'll recover in an hour or two."

When he turned back to address the young man Leo again, he was surprised to see the young man had already run off towards the woods.