1 Chapter 1: Realization

Citizens are cutting leaves, picking up fruits & vegetables, some are gathering silk and cotton for the clothing of others, Wiping off their face while carrying bags of soil, miners going to the caverns for delicious gems, their faces look gloomy also feeling tired and some are about to pass out, while people watching these ''citizens'' do labor. You may think that this is a hardworking town, like no wonder it's bigger than most. These citizens who are working are doing it for free. They became slaves from the King and Queen's rule, in a twisted way. Many slaves were too weak and were killed on the job, they could've died by overworking which could also contain heart disease or lung dysfunction, heat strokes, or the Generals shot at them. It was a stressful time for all citizens since slave families were not doing the free labor and had to watch and provide for themselves and their loved ones. Only the Males were doing free labor.

Michael Truman is one of the most hardworking slaves of them all, he does every job once and correctly. He's a very nonchalant fellow and minded his business most of the time. Michael does whatever he wants as long as it's on the field. The town's agricultural business was declining and they needed a bunch of slaves to do the work in agriculture.

It was a sunny day where everything was hectic as per usual. He got up, grabbed his tools and letters from his parents & siblings, he read the letters one by one, then saved them under his bed in the bunker, and headed out into the field where people were upset and toiling . He's the only one who's smiling. A few hours go by, and as he is working he notices a dragon above him. The dragon kept flying back and forth as if it was looking down upon checking if they're working. Michael noticed that and like a curious child, he followed it into the eccentric rees.

"WAIT UP!" Michael yelled, trying to make the dragon slow down.

He'd never witnessed a dragon let alone considered that they even existed. The dragon flew faster through this strange forest. Michael started to run as fast as he could to catch up to the dragon. Short on breath, Michael stopped, feeling lightheaded, then passed out on the ground.

"Aye, Wake up!" yelled a distant voice.

"If you don't get up, we'll have to kill you," said another distant voice.

As this mysterious person said this statement, Michael quickly got up from his slumber and made it seem as if he wasn't sleeping. In this mysterious forest, the sky was in an orange-like hue, and the sun was still blazing as usual. Then, the tired general slapped him in the face.

"WAKE UP!" the angry general yelled.

"W-Where am I?" Michael asked in a worrisome tone.

"Where does it look like? You're in the forest," The angry general replied dumbfounded.

"Now why are you here in the woods?" said the tired general.

"I-I can't remember," Michael replied earnestly.

"LIAR!" yelled the angry general, who started beating him furiously.

"Alright that's enough now," said the tired general.

Michael started to bleed from his nose, bruises all over his body. Both Generals made him go back to the field where everyone was still working.

A few hours passed, and he realized that some of the workers were missing mysteriously. Michael bewildered, wondered if it was from the Generals. Michael, curious, walked up to the generals at their porch.

"I have a question," said Michael.

"What is it?" the angry general replied

"Have you guys killed anybody?" asked Michael immediately.

"Well I didn't," said the tired general.

"Nah, Not now anyway, but I will if you keep bothering me, son," said the angry general. Michael backed away cautiously, he then went to his bunker and tried to connect the dots.

"I see what's going on," Michael said. "This mysterious dragon is controlling this town for evil," Michael said confidently and triumphantly while talking to himself.

Michael wrote a letter and sent it to his parents, then they sent a letter back stating "We need a hero to help this city," which made Michael determined. He went outside, back to work and did his agriculture. A few hours later, still in the fields sweating. He figured out a plan.

The citizens already knew about the dragon before the slaves did, and they needed a hero.

"AYE!" yelled Michael to the 2 generals. "COME HERE!" Michael yelled again. The 2 generals walked up to him.

"What do you need Truman?" said the angry general.

"I want to switch jobs," answered Michael.

"Well where would you like to go?" said the tired general.

"I want to go to the caverns to mine," Michael stated.

"Why the hell would you want to go there, but if you're that set on going to a place like that then fine you may go," the tired general said. As soon as the general allowed him to go he went to his cabin to sign Michael up for the caverns. He came back with his tools.

"Alright, you're all set. You can go into the caverns. Don't die, you're the best slave we have" the chill general said.

"Thank you, sir," said Michael.

He went back to the bunker and packed up his tools. He grabbed other ones that he had, while putting on his hat. He Left to the caverns. Michael stayed there longer than he stayed in the fields. His body type grew twice the amount, he had more stamina, more agility and felt stronger, however most importantly he looked bulky and he looked scary.

When he was on break he would take a moment and honed his mind .

An old sage came up to him doing his zen at the end of the caverns, which turned out to be a cliff.

"Hey youngin," said the old man. Michael ignored him.

His personality changed slightly during his time in the mines. He used to be nonchalant about everything, and calm towards his field workers but after he found out and went into the mines, he felt the same but acted differently towards his peers.

"You better respect yo elders, young boy," said the old man again trying to get his attention and Michael still ignored him. The old man's fists balled and his teeth gritted as he gripped his walking stick

The old man swung at him with his stick. Michael jumped backwards and went into a stance, his body low and his fists out, preparing for a duel. The old man ran towards him, his stick swinging around his body , Michael dodged. Michael punched him in the chest then swung his right fist across the old man's face. The old man dropped. While getting back up, Michael ran back towards him trying to get a finishing blow. The old man tripped him. Punched him in the face twice and Michael was knocked unconscious.

"W-where am I," Michael said nostalgically after he woke up.

"You're still in the caverns, youngin," replied the old sage.

"Oh," Michael said looking stupid.

"The names Barack, what's your youngin?" said Barack the old sage.

"Names Michael. Michael Truman," said Michael.

"You're pretty rusty with your skills. All you've been doing is meditating?" said Barack.

"Yeah. I have been a slave all my life. I never had any chance to learn. I thought if I meditated and bulked up the pieces would come together but evidently now" replied Michael. Gesturing to his bruised jaw.

"Let me teach you!" said Barack excitedly.