He Was the "God" of Good Fortune

Chapter One- He was the Dice of Good Fortune 1.0

Years and years ago, there was a boy that no one cared to know the name of, so he went by Ani--which is "Anonymous" in Hardanese. He had short blond hair and brown skin. His face was always covered by a mask, but no one cared. All they cared about was their own fortune.

----

Ten year old Ani.

"I'm going to become the Yamin* of Good Fortune!" Ani says as he stands in front of his class. "I want to help so many people! Especially the weak and helpless."

(*"god"; "Yamin" is plural and singular.)

"If you become the Yamin of Good Fortune, you'll be loved by everyone," one of his classmates says.

Ani smiles as he shakes his head. "I don't care about fame. I just want to help people. Everyone deserves to be helped."

"That's a very good goal..." Their teacher trails off.

"Ahote," Ani says. "Though, everyone calls me Ani."

"Yes, that's a very good goal, Ani," the teacher says. "I think you'll become a Yamin of Fortune. You seem like you have a very good heart. I hope you can help the humans and other beings when you get older."

"I will!" Ani says. "I won't stop until I become the Yamin of Good Fortune."

"Well, everyone, let's cheer Ani on," the teacher says.

The class claps and Ani bows as he smiles under his mask. Ani goes back over to his desk as one of his classmates goes to the front of the classroom.

"I want to be the Yamin of War," Tisimo says. "I want to help people fight their wars."

"That's dumb," a girl says. "If you're the Yamin of War, there will just always be war. Why would you want that?"

"It's not dumb," Ani says. "He can be whatever he wants to be. Humans will always war, and sometimes there will be ones who really need help. I hope Tisimo helps the ones that really need help. Every Yamin will be very useful, no matter what they do."

"Yeah, Leila," a boy mocks. "How could you say that outloud? We're all useful."

"It's alright," Ani says. "She was just voicing her opinion."

"And I see that my opinion was wrong now," Leila says. "Thanks, Ani."

"Mm-hm," Ani hums with a smile.

"Well, uh, yeah," Tisimo says. "I'm going to be the Yamin of War. And I'm going to help whoever I want to help. It all is going to depend on me."

"Well, we hope you use your powers for good, Tisimo," the teacher says.

"If you don't, Ani will just make everything better," a boy says and the class chuckles.

"I'm sure that's true," Ani says. "But I trust Tisimo's judgment. I just know he'll make the right decisions."

"I'll make whatever decisions I want," Tisimo grumbles as he sits down and another one of their classmates goes up to the front of the class.

"I want to be the next Yamin of Light!" The girl at the front of the classroom says.

----

"Ani, Ani, come play with us!" A girl yells from over by the swingset.

"Okay," Ani says as he goes over to her, but he hears the sound of someone yelling out of pain from behind him.

He stops, then he looks behind him but he sees no one.

"Ani!" The girl says.

"Uh, just hold on a second," Ani says with a wave as he starts to head over to the dark area of the schoolyard.

"Hello?" Ani asks as he walks behind the school building.

The sound of laughing bounces off the wall, as does the sound of someone crying. Ani gets over to where all the noise is coming from, then he sees a group of his classmates standing around Tisimo, who's crying.

"Hey," Ani says and everyone looks at him.

"A-Ani, what are you doing back here?" One of his classmates asks.

"Why are you hurting Tisimo?" Ani asks. "I don't remember him doing anything to deserve this. You know if you keep doing stuff like this you'll never be fit to become a good Yamin."

"What if we're never going to be fit?" A boy asks. "And Tisimo was asking for it. He wants to be the Yamin of War after all. He should know how to fight. And he should know what it feels like to be hurt."

"But that's not your place," Ani says as he puts his hand on his shoulder. "And don't worry, you are going to be fit if you stop doing stuff like this. It's not too late to change. I won't tell the teacher if you stop now. I'll give you guys a second chance, alright? You all should go and play."

"Okay, Ani," a girl says and the others nod.

"Oh, and maybe later, if you have trouble becoming a Yamin, I can help you," Ani says.

"Yeah," they say. "Thanks, Ani!"

"Mm-hm," Ani hums as he nods. He looks over at Tisimo, "Are you alright?"

Tisimo pushes him. "What kind of idiot rewards the bullies!? Don't you know I'm the one who's hurt!?"

"I'm sorry," Ani says. "I just didn't want to use violence. Violence doesn't teach anything. Here, how about I help you--"

"Don't touch me!" Tisimo says as he hits his hand away. "I don't need your pity like everyone else does! You just think you're so high and mighty and better than everyone else, but you're not. You may become the famous Yamin of "Good" Fortune later, but I curse you to become the worst Yamin to ever live!"

"But... What did I do?" Ani asks. "I-I just wanted to help..."

"You were born, that's what you did," Tisimo says. "I wish I never knew you. You're always stealing the spotlight but you're so basic. Don't ever talk to me again! I don't ever want to see your face--or that stupid mask of yours again. I bet no one would like you if they knew the face that was under that mask."

Tisimo walks past Ani, bumping his shoulder as he passes. Ani is left standing alone behind the school, alone with his racing thoughts; all he wanted to do was help someone, so why had he been berated like that?

Ani slowly walks back to the open schoolyard as Tisimo's words replay in his mind, they stab every nerve in his body.

"Ani, are you alright?" The girl from earlier asks.

"A-Ah, yes, I am," Ani says with a smile, the smile on his mask widens too.

Little did Ani know that that was the first of many fake smiles. Ahead of Ani is life full of hurt, pain, disappointment, and sorrow.