Rise of the Overlord

Prelude

I never once said how lucky we are, NEVER. As my parents say, " we are the most unluckiest and cursed family in all of tiera!" But I never said I was unlucky when I had my son. Oh, how I loved my son, but sometimes the world can be cruel.

In some backwater village near the Kazar mountains, where my only family lives, we are riddled with bad luck from lack of money to being outcasts from our supposed curse. But my son is not cursed.

Sure times are tough, even in winter, but the idea to even abandon my child to the weather is cruel and heartless. I worked hard for so long to support such a young child. He's not even three, but he still needs me.

Till this morning , as grey as it was yesterday, some men came to my home. One is wearing an overcoat of fine furs, while the other older man is wearing some leather garments. The one in fur is no doubt the damn debt collector. Considering his young age, he's spoiled like a brat.

" Good morning my dear lady and may I offer my saddest condolences for the...situation you are placed in." The Debt collector said as he looks into a hovel I call home. With dry wood planks acting like walls, straw rooftops and hardly any flooring of wood planks .

" you see your late umm partner forgot to pay off a rather troublesome debt to my employers." With a mischievous smile the debt collector looks over me and says " and it's nearly a hundred gold pieces that you now owe to my employer.

My heart nearly dropped to the floor because after hearing such a large amount of money I was speechless. I could cover about a tenth of it but the rest? It could take a lifetime for me! My face drained of colour when the debt collector looks over me again with such impurity it hurts my soul.

" so where did your partner leave the money and we'll be on our way" he said as his...friend edges his hand toward what I could only guess is a dagger. Panicked I looked to the jar that's holding my money...till my eyes land on my son.

" please give me time good sir, I have hardly anything to support my child
..please show mercy." I said to them who have eyes of disinterest. Till the older man said after keeping his silence for so long " we either take your money...or your son works it off"

I was stunned with fear when he figured out I had a son, what else could it mean with a little boy behind me. The Debt collector on the other hand looks disgusted at the thought...at least about the child and not something else.

" no please he's just a child!" I begged to deaf ears. The Debt collector on the other hand said " what's the point of taking her kid? There's no money involved with scrawny kid's like him." Of course his mind is set on the money.

But the older man replied, in a rather cold tone " he may not look it but think about the Labor demand these days. Surely he can do some jobs for us for a time...who knows we may even forget about your partners debt."

I was appaled about these terrible prospects...but I have no chance in fighting this. I slowly walked back to my child, gently hugging him as I slowly think about what to do. But the gentleman walked in with little care whatsoever.

" so miss what will it be? Working off the debt...or letting the boy work it off for you? " the debt collector said in a tone filled with venom. Till my son looked me in the eyes and I knew I will regret it...if not be damned for all eternity.

" if I send my son away to work for you...will he be treated fairly or atleast have some decency to live?" I asked back towards them. The older man replied with a hint of warmth " he's too young for now but he'll start working in a few months from now. Don't worry if the jobs are good he should be back to you in a few short years. Three if your lucky."

Luck is never on my side...or my entire family for that matter. But If I could give him the strength, some decent luck I think he will do great things. I can just see it in his eyes, those dark red eyes of his. His future is out beyond the Kazar range, he'll maybe the gods will give him some kind of luck to make a good living.

I agreed to letting him go to work, dangerous as it sounds he might get stronger and smarter when he returns. I told them his name was Eric son of stefen the coward. Before he left I gave my son the family heirloom.

A necklace made of leather but with a small obsidian piece bearing a star of silver lining. I gave him good wishes and prayed he return to me.

Of course as months drew by and slowly turning into years. I heard little from him but in a sense of guilt I stashed some money away as his inheritance incase I passed too soon.

Sadly as those three years were up I still haven't heard from, not even after the forth...or the fifth year since he was gone. But by the seventh spring since he was gone I saw him with the now older guard , like he promised Eric returned to me. If not for my crimson fever I would've seen my son grow up to be a man.

So I knew I pass away too soon but within a few days after he returned he told me stories of his little adventures, some bad others memorable. Till I closed my eyes for the last time. Seeing his eyes full of years...gave me a silent prayer that our family misfortunes will be over soon.