Down with the Heroes

Prologue

Have you ever sat to yourself and wondered, “Just how far would I go to save humanity?” I’m guessing you probably haven’t. For the majority of my life, the aspect of this question never even crossed my mind! Of course, I’d do my damned best to save the world if it came down to it. But what I guess I’m asking is, what would you be willing to sacrifice to save humanity? I know, I know... before you call me some weirdo or anything of that sort, I want you to take the time and think about what you would do to save the world. How far would you go? What would you give up or sacrifice if it came down to it? Would you be willing to sacrifice your humanity itself if need be? Now now, enough of my monologue. I bet you’re dying to know how this question came to me and why in the hell I wrote what I did as the title on the front of my journal. So hold on tight and grab a snack as I take you on this crazy adventure about how I became the most wanted criminal in the world for killing a member of the heroes’ party.

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“Lea Mayfee!”

A round of applause erupted throughout the castle courtyard as a girl around my age stood up from her chair and walked up towards the stage. As she made her way up the few stairs, she stepped onto the stage and was handed what looked like a tied-up scroll and a small badge. With a bow towards the man who announced her name, she turned around and headed back towards her seat.

“Maxwell Nillow!”

Another round of applause erupted throughout the courtyard and yeah, yeah you get the idea. I’ve already been sitting here for fifteen minutes and let me tell you, they could’ve at least put some cushions or something on these chairs. When my name gets called I’m probably gonna have to waddle on up there cause my ass isn’t digging these chairs. And before you correct me for my foul language, save it. I’m not cut like the rest of these noble kids. I wasn’t raised with butlers and maids correcting me if I blink wrong like these guys. A grumpy but loving old lady with a well-worn wooden spoon raised me. Now, believe it or not, I’m decently studious and respectful towards people around me. It’s just a little difficult right now because the moment I get that piece of paper and that badge, I’m off to further training with the Heroes Army. And let me just tell you boy am I excited. If there’s one thing that never fails to pique my interest, it’s the Heroes. I mean, what’s there not to be amazed about? It’s a group of talented people whose whole life is dedicated to saving humanity and they do a damned good job at it. The stories and tales you hear about these Heroes are enough to convince an elder with both feet in his grave to pick up a sword and fight with them! Now don’t even get me started on their abilities and talents. I’ve been studying these guys for all my life and could tell you every small detail-

“Theo.”

-known by us common folk. Every hero has a different unique trait or skill that none other could replicate. Starting with the oldest of the heroes, the Wizard is the-

“Theo!”

-oldest and wisest member of the heroes. He has a long range of spells that he can cast without any incantations-

“Rotta!” The kid next to me whispered.

“What the hell do you want man? We’re supposed to be quiet during the ceremony. You’re gonna get both of us in trouble.” I whispered back.

I swear, people nowadays have no respect for rules.

Now knocked out of my monologue, I finally noticed the silence and the many pairs of eyes staring at me.

“Eh? Did I fart or something?” I took a quick whiff, but luckily I didn’t smell anything out of the ordinary.

“It’s your turn you rotta.” The snotty boy from earlier finally responded.

And that’s when I slowly turned my head towards the stage and noticed the very red and very angry-looking principal gritting his teeth and staring right at me. Have I mentioned that he isn’t the biggest fan of me?

“Shit.”

After a very quick walk full of apologies up to the stage, I pried my badge and paper out of the oh-so-happy principal’s hands and quickly made my way back down to my chair.

“Rotta.” Some kid muttered to me with a snicker as I walked back.

You’re probably wondering how I got so popular to receive a nickname known by the entirety of my graduating class. Well, it’s not as good of a nickname as you might think it is. It means rat. The stinky thieving rodent known as a rat. Why do I have this nickname you might ask? In comparison to the rest of the class, I came from a more common background that doesn’t have very hefty pockets like the rest of them. I worked any and every side job available just to save up enough money to stay in this class. And well for some reason the rest of the kids ain’t the biggest fan of that I guess. Gran had to retire a few years back as her body was slowing down. So for the entirety of my last four years of schooling, all of it came out of my pocket. Most kids of my same background barely make it past elementary due to funding problems.

To be honest, though, the nickname doesn’t bother me. Cause at the end of the day, I’m going off to the Heroes Army to train and work my way up to the top. I say this because although my grades were alright, my swordsmanship and athletics were near the top of the class. I mean, whilst the rest of the kids were off having their little parties and dinners I was in my gran’s basement staying in shape and practicing. Now I know real combat is different from practice at school or fighting with some random kids in my neighborhood, but I’d like to think I have a good head start in that field. I’d say the biggest downside I have though is that, unlike the noble kids, I’m a mundane. Meaning that I have no affinity for magic. Well, I wouldn’t say NO affinity for magic, as I can use the smallest bit of lightning magic and give you a small surprise static shock. Mundanes in this world are one in a million. Most mundanes are side effects from a birth defect or genetic mutation. My gran likes to say I’m a one in a billion though cause I have no defects or mutations, but that doesn’t make me feel any better. So I’ll always be a solid few leaps behind the noble snobs in magic, but a single foot ahead in swordsmanship. It’s difficult to not just take the easy road and give up, but I don’t have that choice. Gran is getting old and she won’t always be around to take care of me. She’s all the family that I have. My father abandoned my mother when she was pregnant and she died due to some illness she received after childbirth. So it’s tough, I won’t lie. One didn’t want me and the one who did didn’t make it. Now, I could sit here and mope and cry all day like I truly want to, but that won’t make Gran proud.

My monologue came to a halt as I noticed the rest of the kids stand up around me. Not wanting a repeat of the last incident, I quickly stood up with the rest of my class.

“Now graduates, friends, family, repeat after me.”

“It is through Lady Lux that I may see the light. It is through Lady Lux that I do not fear the night. It is through her highness that I will wield my sword and use my might. It is through her highness that I fear no evil and continue to fight. We are blessed.” Our principal spoke out.

Everyone in the vicinity of the courtyard silenced and repeated after the principal. You see, me personally, I’ve always found the whole chant thing kind of creepy and weird. It’s most definitely never been my thing. I do always say it though as it’s been said Lady Lux is the one responsible for the blessings upon the Heroes who just so happen to be the ones saving humanity. So maybe a few words now and then ain’t too bad.

“You are dismissed.” The principal announced.

With that, everyone began to get out of their chairs, but before they could get too far I had to make sure to make a statement. Standing on top of my chair, I took in a deep breath.

“Listen up all of you greasy hogs! You might have a few hefty pockets over me, but just wait! When I’m up at the top working with the Heroes, I’ll make sure to hire you all as my guards!” I yelled out to my former classmates.

And now it’s time to go. Jumping down from my chair I ran my happy tush out of the castle courtyard as fast as I could as I heard multiple pairs of footsteps behind me taking chase.

And now’s the part of the chase where I hear multiple angry uptight parents yelling at their kids for sprinting around in the castle courtyard.

With a loud laugh and a jump, I couldn’t be any happier. In only a few days I’d be off to training.

“Ahem.” A familiar strained voice called out to me.

Looking towards the voice, I felt all previous happy emotions retreat faster than the speed of Lady Lux herself.

“Oh... Hey Gran. Did you see me up there? You probably couldn’t cause it’s so far away and yknow... your eyes aren’t getting any better haha.” I chuckled sheepishly.

Oh, that was some poor choice of words. Why did those words come out? Couldn’t tell ya. Maybe it’s still some of the excitement and trash-talking from earlier. Oh god her eye twitched. Yup, I’m done. Say goodbye to my training as I now have a one-way ticket to the big palace in the sky.

Within a split second, I saw the wooden spoon through some unknown magic appear in her hand and with a big windup and a massive death flag appear before my eyes... she started coughing.

“Gran! Gran, are you alright?” I worriedly asked her.

“Bah, bah, don’t you worry about me. I’ve been through a whole lot worse than this.” She reassured me.

But I knew the real truth. Gran was sick. Like really sick. Old age plus sickness is a recipe for doom and I knew it. She knew it. And she knew that I knew it, but it was something that we both had a silent agreement on to not acknowledge. She reasoned that the moment she acknowledged it, she knew I’d drop out of training to take care of her. I’m sure she knew her exact remaining days but refused to tell me as she wanted me to live out my dreams. And I knew that nothing would come out of me staying behind. I couldn’t earn enough money to possibly find treatment through side jobs as medical expenses ain’t no joke and no real paying job would be willing to hire a scrappy kid whose only real skill is some decent handiwork with a sword, but has zero real fighting experience. The only route for me was the army and that was a risky road. It’d take a couple of months of being at the bottom just to make enough to begin any sort of treatment. That’s why I have to work toward the top. It’s the only way for someone like me. It just so happens that the heroes are also my interest in life so it all works out.

Noticing my change in mood, Gran quickly interjected.

“Now, for celebration purposes why don’t we bake you a nice cake.” She warmly told me.

And just like that, the mood was back up.

“Wait wait wait, like an actual cake? Like eggs, the sweet stuff, the whole shebang?” I hesitantly asked.

“It’s a special occasion. I’ve got just the ingredients and no one knows how to bake a cake like I do. Your mother used to love them to death. There was one time she met this man and she begged and begged me to teach her how to bake em and I told her-” She began to ramble as we began our trek home.

This was our daily routine and I cherished every minute of it. Besides the heroes, the one thing I loved to hear about was my mother. From Gran’s stories, I could tell she was an amazing person. Whenever Gran has some people over, I’ll always overhear her telling stories about her to the guests just like she does with me. I’ve only ever heard amazing stories and happy moments from the people who know our family as well as her. I wish I could’ve had the chance to meet her.

“She loved you with everything she had in her. Although she got sick she never once regretted it.” She muttered a bit quieter.

It was with that I felt a few unshed tears begin to well in my eyes.

It was about any minute now.

“Now your father on the other hand.” She griped out.

There it is.

“Good for nothing, asshole, womanizer-” She began to list off.

You can probably now see where I got my smart mouth from.

“But he was a strong man with a strong heart.” She ended.

Huh? That’s new. She usually never compliments my dad.

“And you’re a strong boy with a good heart who will do good things. The road will be tough, but I know deep down you will always make the right decision.” She finished.

Ahh, she must be beginning to get off her rocker.

“Alright, old lady it’s time we get you to bed. It’s almost sundown and it’s past your bedtime.”

“Bah! Old lady? I bet this old lady could still paint your rear blue if you keep it up!” She retorted.

“Besides! We’ve got a cake to make. And I don’t break my promises!” She finalized.

With that, the rest of the walk home was on the quiet side with only the sound of slight humming coming from Gran.

After a good maybe ten more minutes of walking, we finally made it home. Opening the front door, I walked inside and took off my shoes. Hearing a cough and noticing the lack of a person close behind me, I turned around to see Gran kneeling near the door coughing hard.

“Gran! Gran! Are you alright?” I asked her panickily.

It took her a few more coughs and a couple of deep breaths before she finally got the energy to respond.

“Alright, maybe I’m not as young as I used to be haha. Let me just take a seat real quick and catch my breath and then we’ll get a cookin’.” She joked out.

“It’s fine Gran. We can always make a cake some other time when I come back. It’s no biggie.” I tried to reassure her.

“No! We make it tonight.” She demanded.

With a gulp, I think I finally understood the message. Without thinking too hard about what implications there are behind the urgency, I quickly wiped off my hands.

“Now, turns out I’m a bit more tired than I thought I’d be, so what I’m going to do is explain how to do it to you and you’re gonna copy me step by step. We only have enough ingredients for one cake though, so you can’t mess up. You understand?” She spoke out.

“Sheesh. Couldn’t add any more pressure could ya?” I retorted.

“I’m also going to be writing this down so when the future comes and you have a wife and kids, you can make her this. I promise you she will love it.”

“Gran, I’m not interested in all that right now. I don’t think that kind of stuff is for me.” I blushed embarrassedly and responded.

“Bahaha! That’s the same thing your mother said!” She laughed back.

It took nearly an hour of correction, critiquing, and a few spoon-slapping for me to finally get the finished product.

“And would you look at that, you’re a natural. You honestly picked up on it a lot quicker than your mother. She took nearly two hours cause she was too busy stressing whether or not your father would like it.” Gran told me.

“Now let’s give her a try.”

We both took a bite at the same time and the moment the food hit our tongue, we both stopped.

It was as if heaven itself descended onto my tongue. It was now that I could see why those noble assholes went to their fancy parties and dinners.

“Woohoo! Next time we’ll have to bake up a chocolate cake. Now what one was your mother’s favorite.” She bellowed.

With a smile, I nodded and finished off my slice.

“Alright my boy, it’s time this young lady called it a night. Give me some love and I’ll be off to bed.”

Standing up I gave her a peck on the cheek and told her goodnight. It was a great way to end the night before quite possibly the most important day of my life. The feeling was almost bittersweet though as a small nagging feeling in my head kept reminding me that chances are, I will never get to bake that chocolate cake with her. With that, I blew out the candle in the kitchen and headed upstairs towards my room. Taking off my school clothes, I got in bed and laid on my back looking toward the ceiling.

Ignoring the negative thoughts from earlier for now, I began to imagine what the training would entail. Would a hero be there to initiate the training course? Would I see any of my old classmates in my group? Questions and thoughts continued to batter my brain and before you know it, I didn’t even notice my eyes close and slept a dream-filled sleep imagining what was to come ahead of me.