An Old Enemy
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Hourglass News
April 3, 17UE
Today is the day of the funeral of Magnus Leo, son of Alexander Leo. As the enemy casket is placed into the ground, we all pray for the son of the Lions lives a prosperous second life. As a gold-rank adventurer, Magnus entered a 3-plane S.T.A. a few days ago. In that S.T.A. was when misfortune struck. The S.T.A. mutated, similar to the event a few years ago. While the Magic Association's personnel came as fast as possible to reverse the mutation using their new invention, it was too late. As described by one of his teammates at the time,
"He held the line of monsters to allow us to leave..."
May we commemorate this heroic and courageous act, and keep Magnus in our hearts. For it may be the only time the Lion has ever cried.
...
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[Doherty POV]
"He's catching on to you..."
"Maltalor?"
"..."
Taking the silence as an answer, I grit my teeth as I delve back into many old memories. Maltalor Brelloom, a true madman who seeks the power that didn't belong to him, the power of those people. Before the formation of Euqolia, the continent could only be described as chaos. Wars, conflicts, monsters. They were all there. It all started long ago before I ever met Krast, Earnest, or Kliffith.
*Flashback*
"Ma! Pa! Let me help you!"
"Ok, Ok, you can help your Ma and Pa. You just need to put these seeds in the holes Pa makes, ok?"
"Yeah!"
...
"Raus, it's time to go to bed."
"I don't want to, Ma, I like the feeling of the wind going up this mountain."
Fuuuuuu
Looking down the mountain, seeing the endless forest, feeling the upward wind flowing through my hair. I look up to the sky and see the countless stars in the night sky.
"Dear, it's getting dark, there will be monsters soon."
"Ma, why do we live here alone?"
Looking behind me, I see Ma making an odd expression, one that I never saw before.
"We aren't very liked so we live here to... just relax."
"It's ok Ma, I like you and Pa a lot!"
...
"Pa, what are you doing?"
"Praying my little one."
"To who?"
"The God of Earth. Upon this mountain, there once lived a group of powerful people. They never harmed, never waged war, and never bothered with the outside world. They use their minds instead of their bodies. Those recognized by them are said to no longer be a part of the outside world. Away from conflict. I hope that praying to their God will help with our peace as well."
"That sounds good, Pa!"
"Of course it does."
...
"Waaa Waaa! Waaa!"
"Raus, this is your baby brother, Riol."
"Doherty, my brother?"
"Yep."
...
Fuuuuu
"Ga ga Wa!"
"Riol! It's amazing right? The mountain is beautiful, the wind is amazing, the smell is... wait what is this smell? Ma! Pa!"
Running down the mountain to an open clearing, I see all that's left of my home. An inferno. Ashes and debris, nothing else.
"MA! PA!"
I wanted to run in there and find my parents but with Doherty, I couldn't risk his life. After one moment of panic, I see the fire magically disappear. Running inside, despite my efforts I couldn't find them. Searching through every room, I found nothing. They were gone.
...
A few days later, through despair and sorrow, I found myself killing for the first time to provide for my brother. Seeing the ignorant smile on my baby brother's sleeping face was the only thing that kept me in the world.
Walking outside and feeling the wind blow through my hair, warm tears flow down my face. Walking to the shine my father always prayed at, I drop to my knees and pray.
"Ma, Pa, I miss you."
Clack!
Seeing the shine itself crack and break before me, I feel the sorrow of being unwanted. That night, I never slept.
...
For the next few months, I found myself returning to pray every day. Perhaps due to not knowing what else to do. Perhaps trying to find my own worth. One day the shrine was no more, only a small book in its place. It had no title. Just a simple leather book.
Opening it up, I saw my parent's writing.
:::
Raus, once you find this, we will be no more. If you're reading this, that means you are strong, you've grown up and you can take care of your brother. This book is something that we must protect, it's perhaps the reason for our deaths. I have trained you over the past years to be strong. You can go down the mountain with your brother and experience the world. I was naive to think that exciting ourselves to a mountain would fix our problems. Don't be hung down by this responsibility, live your life as you wish, just keep the book in mind.
Your Pa,
Ober Doherty
:::
"..ey....hey...Hey, DOHERTY!!"
Hearing Kliffith's cry, I wake up from my daydream.
'I haven't delved that deep in a very long time.'
"What were we talking about?"
"Maltalor."
"Maltalor! Didn't we kill him?!!"
Hearing that name once again, I felt my anger reemerge. Smashing my fist into the table in front of me, I get up with eyes of rage.
"We did maybe one of those artifacts he carried could've resurrected him."
"No! That can't be! Was all I did to average Riol for naught?!!"
"I-"
"F*CK! After all this suffering, HE WON'T STAY DEAD!!!"
"ACK! Raus!"
SPLASH! Clack clack.
Feeling the burning sensation as hot coffee flows from my face to my clothes, I snap out of my rage as I see Kiliffith clearly being pressed down my aura. I sit down. Taking a deep breath, the aura goes away.
"Raus, I don't know for sure if it's Maltalor. But tracking each of the artifacts, they have slowly disappeared one after another. We can use it to our advantage."
From his pocket, I see Kliffith pull out a small orb. Putting it in my hand, I knowingly squeeze it as it turns into a large hammer.
"I sourced that one using a favour I had. It will give us the best chance to cut this problem at its roots. They will have to come to us."
"Do you have contact with the others?"
"I have but it will take at least two weeks for the message to reach everyone. Although those who are closer may arrive in only a few days."
"Alright, as prepared as usual Kliffith. I pray to the God of Earth that it isn't Maltalor."
"Why, of course."
With that, we smile at each other and I chug the rest of the coffee in my hand. Perhaps
"Kliffith, I'll need a new hammer."
"Don't you have one already?"
Seeing him pointing at the hammer in my hand, I shack my head with a smile. Releasing my grip off the hammer, it reverts back to its orb form. Placing it in my pocket, I stand up.
"I'm not worthy to use one of their creations."
"Well, suit yourself. The hammer will be done in a few days."
As Kliffith shook his head, I towards the door. With one foot out of the doorframe, I look back inside.
"Remember, I go by Doherty now."
"Of course, Doherty."
Hearing Kliffith's teasing voice, I simply shack my head and go to look for a shower.
...
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Name: Raus Doherty
Race: Half-Giant
Age: 54
Official Titles: 5-star Steel Craftsman, 4-star Gold Adventurer
Titles: Averger, Protector of The Book, Teacher
Stats:???
Skills
Gigantification(Racial): Allows users to increase the size of their bodies, transforming them into a giant. Acquiring a giant's strength.
Bloodlust: Apply pressure in an area in the form of bloodlust. Increases as more living things are killed while having killing intent and Bloodlust active. Also, increases sensitivity to bloodlust and killing intent toward the user.
...
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