Mercenaries of the Gods: Chronicle One - Stories

An Interrupted Lunch

These events happened some four-hundred seventy-one years past. During the previous three thousand four-hundred ninety-nine years my essence explored this world. A millennium I spent in the service of others. Another spent aimlessly wandering with an open eye, seeing and learning. Yet another spent in debauchery and insanity while still maintaining my vows to my dearest. Sadly, none of this got me closer to my beloved Ying Yue. Three-hundred thirty-six years prior to this, I joined the Guild. To this day some parts of me question why I didn't sign up a millennia ago for my might grew faster than I dreamed possible. Faster than even then my growth within the Magi Houses. I grew so powerful so fast, students from other schools attempted to make me their Master. While flattered, I declined. Within the Guild, power is ripe for the taking with few rules to hold one back. I took my fill and perhaps a bit more. Unknown to me, several others noticed my ever-growing power. 

It was early June. Returning victorious from a simple job, I walked through the Gobi Desert. A pack of wild Bactrian camels passed me as the wind picked up. The sun was bright, the day was serene, and my soul relaxed in the summer breeze. Eventually, hunger creeps up on me. I stop at large and flat rock, I sit and enjoy a snack of monkey brain gazpacho and my remaining hunk of cottage loaf. Finding cottage loaf near the Gobi Desert is a tale within itself, but one for another day. My eyes focus on my delectable food, and I dunk a small piece of bread in my amazing soup. Just as I put it in my mouth, I glance up suddenly to see a diminutive woman before me. She stood not but two feet tall with greasy orange hair falling over inch thick, mirrored sunglasses. Her bulbous nose hides her small mouth. Her skin color, or colors rather, are reminiscent of sliced black pudding. Around her was a tattered green robe that brushed the top of her simple, and well worn, rope sandals. She grips a small, crooked walking stick as her gaze moves over me, inspecting me for a reason I did not know. 

Remaining my polite self, I finish my bite of food then inquire "May I assist you madam?" 

With not a word she climbs up next to me. Her stick prods my side, and her eyes examine me closely. Under normal circumstances I would never allow such actions, but I felt this too strange to interrupt. Putting away my food seems to encourage her examination. Still silent, she climbs up me like a hill. Her stick lifts my lips to see my sharp, and pearly white, teeth. She spends a whole minute examining my ears. Her surprisingly powerful grip tugs upon my sturdy dreads more than once. Seemingly obsessed with my tusks, she runs her finger over almost every inch of them but, for a reason not fully understood even now, she does not touch my tusk ring. Most of my body is poked at least once by her stick, thought she is polite enough to spare the sensitive areas. Upon completion of her uninvited exam, she stands before me once again. Her sharp and raspy voice orders "Show me what you can do, yes!" 

A puzzled look covers my face. "Many things I can do. Elaborate please." 

"Use your base energy, yes!" Her eyes stay on me while her stick points to a rock formation. "Turn that to dust for me, yes!" 

Confused but intrigued, my arm raises and my palm point to the target. Without a word I unleash a medium wave of pure base energy. Sand flies as the wave sails over the desert striking the target. The stones yield to the wave and are reduced to sand. "Like that?" I state rather arrogantly. 

Her face changes to what I come to learn later is a smile. "You have skill, yes! And taught yourself, yes!" 

Nodding I confirm. "Yes, my knowledge does come from within. Admittedly, I trained with members of the Tiger School and the Turtle School for some time, but I was never a member." 

"You have much potential, yes!" Her small form walks over, and she grasps my finger with her tiny but powerful hand. "You come learn from me, yes! I make you much stronger, yes!"