1 The path
Keep moving!
It was night. The snow fell in Tero like usual. Nothing new, except the young man's foot echoing the sleeping street. He kicked the snow furiously.
Keep moving!
Chanting those words under his breath, he repeated.
Adrian moved through the snow dragging his injured leg. He clenched his teeth in pain but didn't dare to express any sound as it would alert them.
' Bless that fool! ' He laughed inwardly. Nevertheless, he moved forward like he always does.
After a while, he reached the edge of the town. The surrounding forest was covered by white snow. Moonlight shines upon the falling snow reflecting the dots of light causing him to slow down.
The scene was breathtaking but he didn't have any time to be amazed by it.
He lifted his cloak, and a sudden shadow covered his face and hair. That will give him the impression of a beggar. His clothes were dirty with a trail of black spots.
It smelled like shit but he can't express those thoughts. Adrian sighed the most formed around his breath.
He turned around. ' Look like they decided not to follow me. ' His gaze turned cold for a brief moment before falling into normal.
He dragged his foot through the snow. " When will this stop? " He asked himself.
As Adrian walked in the snow, his mind drifted into the future where he would be free to live.
After walking for a while in the forest, he stopped in front of the small tent. It was covered in snow. No one would notice such a small tent on the edge of the forest but he did. Because it was his home.
Walking toward the small tent, Adrian brushed off the snow from the tiny roof. " Ouch! "
Adrian took back his hand quickly. His hand was struck by a splinter. It was a large one. He can feel the hardwood under the skin.
" Great. " He smiled lightly. " Another fool's luck. "
He opened the small door and entered the tent. His hands trembled slightly due to the cold. He can not conceal his body nature.
Inside was dark as the moonlight was blocked by the wood and snow. Adrian run through around him with his hands, this time slowly. He didn't want to hurt himself again.
Soon he found the lantern. Closing his eyes, he focused a bit of energy that was inside his body. Unlike others, Adrain's energy was scattered across.
That was because he had not awakened his core or rune yet. Even a child with a core could kill him with ease.
Long minutes had passed and eyes opened.
" Fire. " Adrian said.
A spark lit up around the tip of his finger causing the lantern to flicker with light and warm. The flickering lantern cast gentle shadows around him.
The tent was small so one lantern was enough to light up the whole place. Adrian wiped the sweat off his face. He smiled.
He took off the heavy clothes. And changed to fresh clothes. Although he didn't have any money to buy new clothes, he can find that thing in the trash bin.
He sat on the wet wooden floor, stretching his leg but stopped by a wall. The room was small for him. He can only move around two or three steps.
Lantern was placed on the ceiling. The cold entered the tent but dry leaves and animal furs would keep him warm. At least that is what he hoped. You can die in the cold.
Adrain looked at his hand and took out a slightly large splinter. Blood coming out of the wound so he quickly sucked it. Tasting iron in his mouth, he began to think about his next step.
" Tomorrow is my birthday. " He murmured. " 18. I will be an adult. "
Being an adult is special in this Empire because every man must awaken their core or rune. Well, that is Emperor's' original plan but people can pay to awaken their child.
From there, adults would learn something about energy and they will serve in the military for 3 years.
Adrian sighed deeply. He will have to walk the path of a soldier. He didn't have any choice.
Not wanting to be trampled on this world, there are two ways. One is to become strong until no one dares to step on you. Another is to turn into dog shit, something no one would want to step on.
Adrian was the latter one. Well, not close but he tried to be. Since birth, he acted like dog shit but people always tried to step on him.
His hand brushed past the swollen wound on his arm. It hurt but he was used to it. Nevertheless, it hurt.
' I will go to the awaken centre and try to awaken my core. They would not dare to stop Emperor's order. ' He hoped that.
' From there, I will enter the school that will teach me how to use my core. Then I will make my way into the military. '
That was the basic plan for his life. Adrian rubbed his hands bringing the heat to his cold hands. He smiled.
His eyes got heavier and then it closed.
***
The sun wheel turns around, and a brief snow melted but that was it. Adrain got up from his sleep.
It was probably 5 AM. He can't be sure of that because he didn't have anything to measure but the sun. But he was certain that it was 5 AM.
Stretching his body, he began to do some basic exercises. He had to take care of his health. That was a top priority for people like him. No one would care for Adrain if he died in the forest.
After all that, he took off his sleeping clothes and wore his usual clothes. The smell of shit had faded away but he can feel the faint of it.
Unable to make a difference he walked toward the town.
Tero is the name of this town. People from all over would gather here to trade. It was a fairly large town in the Empire. Many of the goods would pass through the town and reach the capital.
So the influence of this town holds second in the Empire.
He arrived at the edge of the town.
There was no large wall that covered the town. Some would say why doesn't the monster would come to attack this town?
That was because of the First Emperor.
The empire was born from his idea so he created this place as the wealthiest place in the Empire second only to the capital.
But the balance existed in this world. The town also had people like Adrain who was born from the scumbag.
So the large wall that protected the town was placed far away from the town. The monsters were cleaned by the blade of the Emperor.
So the trash can live in the forest.
That is why Adrain dare to live in the forest.
Tero needed an image of wealth. And they got it due to the First Emperor.
Adrain walked through the street. This was the edge of the town so only trash would be seen. Not the literal trash but people.
They are searching through the trash bin. Adrain would also join with them but today was different.
He arrived at the awaken centre. There are no people yet but he can feel his heart beating wild.
" That is it. From here I can walk the path toward freedom. "
