No Place For Heroes

Episode 1

The year was Z011, seventeen years after the end of the Great War, the sun pierced through the open window in the young boy's cozy room. It was small, and a bit tight to anyone's taste, however this sixteen year old slept happily wide spread in his bed, so peaceful, that he must have been noticeably tired from the previous day. His arms had several scratches with mud scattered all over his knees and palms. A small breeze sneaked through the crack in the window as the young man snored, it unbalanced the poorly shelved book he had near the wall above his head, tumbling it from its resting place. Quickly, it fell, BAM, it struck the boy right at the center of his head, "Ouch! Aw-ahg-ahg! That hurt..." He mumbled as he clenched his palms on his forehead holding the pain in. "Oww..." He exhaled, slowly bringing his breath to peace once the pain faded, he took a look at the beautiful day outside and continued "What a lovely day, sun is high, clear skies- Wait! Sun is high!?" he said, interrupting himself as he rushed to the window to take a better look. "Shit! I'm gonna be late!" He scurried around his room finding every bit of cloth he had available, put on his gear and headed out running.

"Damn it! My awakening spell didn't work again! JJ's definitely going to be mad! Worst of all, today's a practice day!" the young man said as he ran down the stairs, with a blue shirt on with simple white designs, a pair worn brown trousers, and a sheathed sword on his back. If I go all out until I get there, maybe I can still make it in time, he thought as he sped through the filthy streets of Barren, crowded with homeless wanderers begging for any spare change, thugs and criminals lurking in alleys, trying to find their mark. Women dressed in overly revealing clothes, either coming or going to their rented rooms at the inns, if they were so lucky, some would have to make do with the street walls and dirt, using the spots behind unemptied dumpsters as means of privacy, as if it gave them any. Stray dogs played their daily game of catch with the cats of the neighborhood, not without contributing to the smell of piss at every corner. However one could not be too sure if it were the dogs doing or the drunks of the night before, trying to find the most comfortable spot to take a leak. Nonetheless, Drake felt unaffected by the city's distasteful charm that day. Something special about that morning that had him focused when an elderly man called for his attention.

"Young Drake! Where are you going in such a hurry, my boy?" the elderly asked.

"Uh, me?" The boy stopped his sprint focusing on the elder, still running in place with his knees soaring high, "I was on my way to class at Full Blaze, Mr. Mirno."

"Such a fiery spirit, still training hard to become a seeker, I see. Could you help an old man with a small quest? I have this basket of freshly picked potatoes I need to get upstairs, but my back isn't what it used to be. It should be nothing for a Soon-to-be-seeker like you, boy."

Drake's silence hovered in the air for a second before he replied, "Uh-sure, that can be quick." Drake gathered his feet around the basket and collected his mind, a soft wave of blue shining light emerged from his eyes as his arms tried to lift an invisible boulder up, the basket full with potatoes began to levitate slowly, barely off the ground.

"Ah, lovely magic, boy. A bit higher and it should suffice."

"How- the- hell- did- you- even- get- the- basket- here!" stuttered Drake as he was barely able to levitate the weight of the basket with his Gravitar Magic, magic that could change the forces of gravity according to one's spirit and strength. "There!" He said once he could finish levitating the basket upstairs, gasping successively collecting his breath.

"Thank you very much young Drake, good luck with your class."

"It's my last one, gramps. Gotta run!" Because tomorrow I'll become a true Seeker! He thought as his haste to get to class returned.