[What the hell happened?]
Upon opening my eyes I notice two people, a woman and a man
"Hes awake" The woman says.
"Who- who are you guys?"
The loud footsteps make my headache worse.
"Im Anne and this is my husband Hugo."
She's a middle aged woman with light blue hair in braids. Her Husband, not much taller than her, has dark hair and a long messy beard, and a few items I've never seen before on his belt.
"It's good to meet you!"
"Do you feel alright?"
My body aches as I slowly sit up on the bed.
"Ye–yea" I say, struggling.
"Where am I?"
"You are in the great dark sea"
His words catch me by surprise. "How did I end up here?"
"Hell if I know, son."
"We stumbled upon you fighting a kraken and we couldn't just leave you to die, so we decided to pick you up. Plus people pay a heavy price for a kraken like this one."
[So that's what that was in the water.]
[What happened to me? Since when did I become so strong? And.. that rage that uncontrollable rage I felt.]
"Are you alright?" She asks while handing me a glass of water.
"Yea, sorry" I say before drinking the water.
"I'm guessing you healed me?.. Thank you"
"Dont worry.. by the time I went to heal you, you had already recovered for the most part."
"I had already recovered?"
"Maybe the attacks did less than I thought they did."
"Maybe.. but those attacks would have killed any other person or at least left them bed-ridden for weeks."
"Then how am I…" Before I could finish the sentence I realized that all the pain was gone.
[How can this be?]
[Where is all of the pain I felt moments ago?]
A whisper exits my mouth. "The pain.. it's gone."
""huh?""
"Speak up son, we can't hear you."
"The pain is gone." I repeat, this time louder.
Hugo slaps my back and starts laughing. "Funny one!"
"You got at least another two to three days before you can even walk"
She pushes his hand away and scolds him. "Hes in pain why would you hit him?"
After a few seconds they realize that I didn't complain or budge after getting hit.
"Could it really be?"
"Son, did that hot hurt you?.. Not even a bit?"
"How?.. How did you heal so quickly?" Anne asks me, concerned.
With my head down I'm quick to respond. "I'm not sure.. it has never happened before."
Noticing the confusion on my face she slaps the back of my head in a friendly way.
"Arent you a lucky one?"
"The world knew not to give me such quick healing. Cause I would be doing the stupidest things ever."
They both start laughing. "Damn right." Hugo adds.
"Now come on, you can walk right? You must be hungry."
I totally forgot that I was hungry until they mentioned it.
As we walk towards some stairs I start to notice what seems like a lot of people talking and screaming.
The voices get louder the further down we go.
I look around and notice what must be ten to fourteen people, some eating, some drinking, some just talking and some doing all of those things.
After picking a table and sitting down Anne and Hugo leave me to go bring me some food.
A man taller and bigger than me and with a long beard looks at me.
I look back at him.
"Hey aren't you that kid we just saved?"
"Yea, that's me."
The man dragging his chair over sits down next to me.
"That's what I thought. .. But how are you up and walking so early?"
"To be honest, I'm not too sure."
"Ive seen men twice your size take a hit like that and be bed-ridden for weeks or even worse, die." He says with a serious expression.
"Thats what Anne and Hugo were telling me."
"First time I've healed this qui-"
[The fire!.. The only time something similar to this has happened was in that fire.]
[The voice…]
[The deal!]
— Should you accept, you shall be reborn powerful but, with an uncontrollable rage.
— And forever be a slave to the consequences.
"Wrath!" I say out loud without noticing.
"Huh? Are you alright?" The man asks.
"Y..yea"
"Whats your name?"
"I'm Balor. What about you?"
"Barret."
"Im gonna go get another drink, do you want one?"
"No thanks."
He stands up and leaves.
[He seems trustable.]
[But you never know.]
I freeze
[Wait.]
[Was he an orge?]
As I take a look around I realize there are demi-humans, humans, and ogres.
[I've never seen anyone other than humans before other than in books.]
[I thought it was rare for them to get together. Although I've heard of cities where they all live amongst each other.]
As I finish up thinking Anne and Hugo get back with some food and what seems like water.
They put the plate and glass in front of me and sit down.
"It's fish soup. Enjoy"
"Thank you guys."
They don't say anything as I eat.
"We never asked for your name."
"What is it?"
"It's Balor."
"Nice." Anne says
I put my elbows on the table.
"So Balor.. where are you from?"
"Im from the Leer kingdom."
"What?"
"The Leer kingdom? How the hell did you get all the way over here then?"
"Im not sure, I fell into a river, I'm pretty sure it was the great river! And then when I woke up I was in the middle of the ocean."
"The great river?!!" Anne slaps her hands on the table.
"That's impossible son or you would be dead." Hugo laughs.
"Thats what I also thought, but that's the only river near my kingdom, and I know I fell into one."
"I promise I'm not lying."
"You just keep impressing us." Anne says with a friendly tone.
"Well, you're a long way from home son."
"I-I know."
"Where are you guys headed?"
"We are going to a small port village in the Demon half." Anne answers
"The Demon half?"
My face widens.
"That reminds me."
"Why are there ogres and demi-humans along with humans here? I've read about it before but I wasn't sure if it was true."
"Why? Well because the only thing we care about is loot and riches."
"We don't let our differences separate us, we let our similarities bring us closer."
They both laugh.
After a few seconds they both calm down.
"What about your family?" Anne asks
"Do you have one?"
After a few seconds of silence she says again.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."
"No no, It's fine."
"N-no, I don't have one"
I bring my head down.
[Why am I lying to them? It's not like it matters.]
[But.. still.]
"Hey it's okay, you know I didn't have any family either."
A genuine smile shoots across her face.
"Thank you, I appreciate it."
Barret places his drink on the table and sits down.
"So what are we talking about?" He says with a big smile.
I can't help but break into a laugh. Anne and Hugo join in as well.
"?"
"Did I say something funny? Why are you guys laughing?"
After a bit the laughs die down.
"Have you guys met before?" Anne asks.
"Nope. Just met the fella a few minutes ago."
"Looks like you guys are getting along well so far, that's good."
Hugo takes a sip of his drink. "Where did you learn how to fight like that?"
"Not just anyone can take on a kraken and put up a fight, much less the one you put up."
The memories from the days and nights training by myself and everyone else rush in.
Scratching my head nervously I answer. "Nowhere really just teaching myself and watching others."
"You must be really talented then." Anne says smiling.
"Not really to be honest, but thank you."
My empty glass echoes as I place it down.
"So are you an adventurer?" Barret asks while taking a sip.
My head turns to look at him.
"Not really, I've always lived in the kingdom."
"What about you guys? Do you consider yourselves to be adventurers?"
"I don't think we are. Maybe once, when we first starter"
"We are pirates, same seas, same water, different loot." Barret answers.
"You guys don't get bored?"
Hugo lays back on his seat. "How could we? Everyday is a new adventure, everyday brings something new. New laughs, new loot, new views, new opponents, like you for example, something like this hasn't happened before ever. But I'm glad it did, because I got to meet a strong new fella."
They all let out a small smile.
""Thats true""
Hugo takes one last sip and stands up.
"Well I'm sorry but I gotta get back to work. We'll talk later."
"I should go as well. Farewell!"
"Have you ever been on a ship before?" Barret asks.
"No, I've never even seen one in person."
"How about a tour then?"
"Sure."