1 01. Karu

Once upon a time, there existed a God who was hailed as the king of Gods. In fear of his unfathomable power he was usserped and betrayed by his own kin. At the end of his life he said "You will soon regret giving me a reason to kill you all!"

That is the end of that story. Or was it? This God became a king in the fastest and mysterious ways in the history Gods. There was nothing known about him other than his great power and weirdly enough his passion for writing books.

They say one life is never enough to be a God, more so be above them. "The Tales Of A Hundred Lives", a book that was found written by the God himself. This book started from the beginning, at a time of the start of life, of a species known as humans.

*Flip

"At the beginning of humanity, a human of unparalleled power existed. He was known as the Hero, the Hero of humanity, Hero Karu!"

***

"Karu, it's time for breakfast!"

*Flip

"Coming Mom!"Karu closed his book and ran toward his mom.

"I told you to not run inside the house, now sit."

"Sorry mom..."

"Were you reading 'that' book again?"

Karu sat on his chair "Yes."

Karu, he was a child of unknown birth that I found in the forest. It has been three years since then. Karu was a special child. He was an intelligent child that she could admit is way smarter than herself.

At only seven months old, Karu was already able to speak a few words and was even able to walk. Not only after a little above a year old, Karu was already able to read when he stumbled upon the house's library. As I have never made him go outside, at only three years old he already acted like a seven to ten year old kid.

"You really like that book huh."

"Yep! It had my name on it so I am really interested in it."

Even if she has heard of it almost every day, she was always happy hearing Karu talk happily. "What part are you in now?"

While munching on his food, "On the part where hero Karu placed magic on his sword."

The woman gasped. In this world there existed two forces of power. Magic and sword, and it was an obvious and still fact that magic was the superior and sword was for the poor and always acted as human shields. 'Magic on a sword? That is impossible, if it was, the sword would not be looked down upon', "Magic on a sword?"

"Yep, he put magic on a sword and he called it an 'Aura Sword'. I wanna do that too. Can you teach me about it mom?!"

"Sorry I don't know how to." I don't know how to, as it didn't even exist. Putting magic on a sword is impossible, that's why swordsmanship has always been inferior to magic.

"Ok, i'll just try to learn it when I grow up." Karu has finished his meals and has gone straight back to the library. "I'll go back now."

"Ok." Karu has always said multiple weird things about the book he was reading. But this would all be normal, as books are not all true, and such, fiction existed. Though that is not the case for 'that' book, as the book Karu had always read...

*Flip

"..."

...the book has always just been one empty page. The creepiness dwelled the woman's body every time she remembers it never had anything in it, nor did he even flip the page more than once.

***

It has been 5 years since I took in Karu, and it is finally time to get him to school. I also think it is time for him to go out into the outside world. I've cooped him up far too long.

In the world, the poor starts studying at the age of 5 and the rich starts at 4. The poor end at the age of 12 and the rich end at the age of 18. It was an unfair length if you just think about it logically. The rich start earlier and learn more and far longer. While the poor only had a short time, and at the end had to start working to provide for his family.

'I pray for Karu's talent'. Karu had shown that he was never a normal child, but this could all just be because he had a problem and not because he was intelligent. But either way, she prayed everyday for Karu to have a talent in magic and not get off at using the sword like she did.

"Mom where are we going?" It was Karu's first time going out and as soon as he stepped outside of their door that she always saw her mom walk out from, she saw the beautiful forest she could only see through a dusted and dark window.

"To school. The place you always wanted to go to." She smiled brightly and stared at the child.

"First time going out and to school! This is the best day ever!" Karu was overjoyed. His entire body shook from just the thought.

From reading the same book for multiple years now, Karu had always wanted to go to the first place his 'Hero' went to, school. To him as a naive child, school was the greatest place on earth, where he could learn new knowledge and finally hold... a sword.

***

It's been hours since i've started but I still can't find enough talented people. I guess this year is also just useless.

"Ms. Mary, your next!" Mary, a former mercenary who retired after gaining a son. This is the last one, i'll get this over with fast.

"Nice to meet you." Bowing, as usual, lets get this over with-. I was surprised, without the total intervention of his mother, the kid bowed down. The woman already had her hands on top of the child's head, yet the child bowed fast resulting in the separation of the hand on his head. Is he a genius? 'I think i've gotten too tired, i'm over exaggerating now.'. It was just bowing, it was not rare for a kid to learn how to show respect, even at the commoners.

"Is there any talent you have observed from Karu."

"There is nothing particular other than I am positive he is smarter than his age". The woman was clearly shaking from nervousness. It's normal to be scared from your children's future, as it is your own.

"Come with me to the other room, Karu." The man stood up, and grabbed Karu's hand.

"Are we gonna test my magic at the orb?" A child knowing the testing orb? What is this nonsense. 'Just shut up, it's nothing.'. He probably heard it from his mother in one of his bedtime stories.

"Yes we are, now follow me. You come to Ms. Mary."

I entered the testing room and placed Karu's hand on the orb. The magic orb is a testong device for someone's magic talent. It had five stages represented by colors and its stages of possible magic. Green the lowest and signifies healing magic, Orange which signifies support magic, Blue which signifies defensive magic, Red which signifies attack magic, and lastly, Gold which signifies healing at the same time. The reason was that Green was just a simple healing of injuries but the final stage could even regrow lost limbs.

The orb glowed nothing. At this moment I could notice the sadness from the mothers eyes. It truly is unfortunate. Though the weird thing is, the child was still clearly happy and overjoyed. 'I guess he is just a child, he couldn't even understand his situation.'. "He could always pass the written exam and become a civil servant." I said joyfully. It was the last person, I might as well show some sincerity.

"It's ok Karu, magic isn't everything." I said so just to give some words to the child who does not know of anything yet. Though I probably should have done that to the mother. I really am tired today.

"It's ok, I like the sword better anyway." Said by the child blissfully.

The child clearly had the eyes of a great man. Sadly in this world, the sword can't reach the sky.

***

Mother is crying. "Mother you don't have to cry. I am not a failure cause I don't have talent in magic."

"FAILURE! I never said that! Where did you hear that word huh! Don't mind me, I was just a little sad, let's come back tomorrow for the practical exam." My mom yelled at me, and grabbed my shoulder. She ragged my body as she released her anger. 'Practical Exam, I can't wait!'

The next day came and I could still see my mother's sadness. She always had the same emotion for such a long period of time. My mother is still far from maturity and reality.

I have arrived at the school again. This time I won't just be sitting while waiting for my turn. Now I will be wielding the sword for the first time.

"Today we will test the physical capabilities for each child."

'Sword, sword, sword, I can't wait for my sword.'

"We will go through 4 different test. Many of you probably already know what the tests will be so let us begin with haste.".

"I won't be with you the entire time, just follow what the testers tell you, I know you can do it as you are the smartest kid ever!" My mother pinched my cheeks and I went. A parent could come in, but a payment was needed. My mom could have payed for it, but I insisted I could do it alone, she knew me enough to trust me.

The first test was punching on a wall. When the kids punched the wall it went deep leaving a fist mark. The wall didnt crack at all, and there was no way a child could punch through a wall. Through Hero Karu, those are probably magic infused slime.

Many children were called and I was even surprised some nobles where included. I lived in a small village just like Hero Karu, so I thought there will be no noble blood. I guess not everything in my life is the same as Hero Karu.

I recalled everything I needed to do to get the highest mark at punching the wall while waiting for my turn.

"Karu!"

It was finally my turn. I am sad that the sword was not the fiest but I couldn't help it, Hero Karu started here too. To cut the deepest I can with my limited stength and non existant magic to even form aura, all I could do was perfect my stance. I never knew how to, and all I could base it off was from what I read. But there is no way for me to replicate it. So I just remember the best principle to hit the strongest punch. Position at the right height and shove as fast as you can. And so I did.

"5 centimeters deep!"

Sad, I wasn't able to get what I wanted. The slime wall truly is something. The magic infused slime wall works as the perfect way to test strength. Unlike simple walls where you can shove your entire arm inside to deal as much damage the slime wall recieves impact and goes as deep as the strength you put in. If it was a simple wall I could have broken my arm to get a better score. But oh well, it's ok.

The second test was a jump test. I have no idea on how to this the way Hero Karu did as this was not part of the book. I hate that my life aint the same! It's making me think, so unfair.

The only thing I could think of is using a running stance. After some little observation on how they do the jumping, I would say... they truly are kids. They dont even know jumping isn't only on leg strength but also momentum.

I first sat on my two feet, I then extanded my left feet to my back, then I leaned forward and place my two hand at front. Then I ran, as soon as I reached the edge I jumped. I let my body as free as possible in the air then split my legs to move them forward and land perfectly. 'Oh no!', I wasn't succesful at my landing. Im tilting and only my thumbs are holding me to the ground. I need to regain my balance. 'I don't know what to do here! Ahhhh!'. I risked everything and just pushed my upper body forward.

"That was stressfull." I did it and I definitely did the furthest, well to the next round. I walked around the tester and I could definitely see the shock from his face. 'It's so fun seeing adults look like idiots.'.

The third test was a timed run and climb of a mountain. The way the test works is by getting a clibet. A special type of insect that loses a limb every minute after it is killed. When the insect is killed, for an unknown reason a leg is removed every minute. You have to carry a clibet and kill it to start your time. The clibet was as big as half a hand and has 20 legs so that means I have 20 minutes. 'I'll do it faster than Hero Karu and be the strongest ever!'

I was given a clibet and I could take a few minute of break before I start. But I don't need a break so I started. I placed the tibet in my mouth and took the stance for a miniscule speed increase that I don't need. 'It looks cool, you know.'. Before I even started I already saw three paths I could take. The right with the normal road. The middle where you could kind of climb up to. Lastly the left which kind of point less as it was steep. But I chose the left, it was only steep because in my size I can't climb it. That leaves me with nothing. Though a climb bigger rhan won't make me stop. I just had to jump and grab every time. 'I'll beat this with just my tenacity.'.

I started jumping at the rock I can jump normally to. I then stood still and then jumped. I grabbed the ledge and climbed myself up. I repeated this multiple times till I reached an impossible path. The middle and the left path is cery similar as to the point that you need to climb it. But the left was clearly faster as I could elevate more with needless looking for a place to put my feet at.

As I was climbing up I could see that no one took the left nor the middle path. 'They are all too dumb, hehehehe.'. Just cause a road existed, doesn't mean it's the best path. The road in the right took far longer to go up as it goes around half the mountain, but climbing it just leads you straight up.

After reching the impossible area my arms were too tired to continue. But I ignored it, as I can't continue on the left anymore, I need to go to the middle. That was my plan all along. And now only a few left and i'll reach the top.

***

"14 minutes, job well done young master Deruk." That was an impressive run, the young master is truly talented. His succession will bring a new beginning in our land.

...

"Another 14 minutes, amazing lady Sirel." If the young lady was a man, this land would have gotten a fierce battle for the position of heir.

Two talented children of the baron, I would say there is no one much more amazing than both of them. The past records was only 16 minutes and to break it by two people at the same year, this year is blessed. Now i'm too unmotivated to wait for the other children. A lot has probably already last all leg-.

"FINALLY DID IT!"

A kid yelled behind the mans back. The man was startled and looked behind him. A few steps behind was cliff that faced the entrance of the test. He closed his distance and saw a gray haired kid with a clibet in his mouth, his clothes were ragged and had sweat all over his body. The kid looked straight to his eyes and said.

"When can I hold a sword?"