Factions (2)

Leo sat stunned for a moment. "I'm a resource to be used...?"

Alexis's face was carved of marble. "Each familia and member is a part of different factions. These factions war over magic stones, tradesmen, land, anything that can grant them an edge or more control. They also struggle to control or use new Blessed for their purposes."

"So they want to, what, recruit me?" Leo asked.

"Some do yes. A Blessed with unique abilities, high skill levels, they are a boon to any organization they join. Many factions actively seek them out to expand their members, their influence, and their power base.

"Others want the newly Blessed for a different reason."

Alexis paused for a moment, preparing his next words carefully. He wanted to stress the danger of the situation without causing Leo to panic. After a moment, he decided to simply be blunt with the young lad. "They will kidnap weak Blessed and use them as experience." Leo immediately froze. The silence stretched on unbearably, each crackle of the lit fireplace cutting through the air.

"I imagine Michael was assigned those two other men to collect you and bring you to his familia. There, they would have beaten you, tortured you for any information you have on your own familia, then auctioned off your death to the highest bidder. Killing another Blessed grants extraordinary amounts of experience for us.

"Each day, dozens of adventurers all over Aether go missing in the dungeons. Maybe one in fifty makes it out again. Out of a dozen who disappear, one in six were not killed by monsters alone.

"You need to stop treating this like a dream job or a game. If you don't, you will die."

Leo's face flushed at Alexis' words. 'Have I been treating this like a joke this whole time?' He had always imagined his life getting easier and safer if he became Blessed. How he would join the upper echelon of society. Yet, in the two days in town, he had been chased out of an inn, attacked by travelling companions, barely escaped being kidnapped, dragged out of the guild for a cold shower, and looked down on by almost everyone he met, despite his new status.

"You're still just a young lad of 14," Alexis said softly, the compassion on his face evident. "But the moment you took that blessing, you made the choice to join a dangerous game. One that many do not make it to the end of.

"What's more, no member of your familia contacted me on your behalf, nor did they seek you out. This is extremely dangerous, as it means you are currently alone and vulnerable.

"Take my advice. Join a faction, even temporarily as soon as you can. It will help prevent you from simply being collected by a high levelled enemy who will sell you on the underground market to the highest bidder, if they don't outright kill you." With that said, Alexis placed his hand on Leo's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Please, just think about it. And remember not to trust anyone without good cause."

"Even you?" Leo asked the question weakly, as if afraid of the answer he would get. He felt that Alexis had sincerely liked him. Living alone for these past few years, he had begun to feel a sense of safety and comfort with the man that he had lacked since his father's passing.

"Even me," Alexis muttered, as he walked out of the sitting room, entering his bedroom.

Leo sat quietly, alone. He knew he lacked the skills to be considered an asset to any faction. His ability with plants was practical, but by no means was it unique or even high grade. While he was an anomaly to humankind, any elf could perform the same effect on plantlife, with less effort, and any beastkin with elemental affinity could give the same results given time.

He pulled out the training contract again. Looking at it, his eyes lit up with passion.

'I will get stronger.'