It's been 7 years since I lost my identity- almost 8 years, actually. Just a few more months and I'll be 10 years old.
After a certain point, I stopped thinking of this world as some other world. This is my world. I have even gotten used to the 26 month cycle. Yes- a year in this world consists of 26 months. I thought it would take longer because if I remember it right, this planet is placed at the end of its star system which I think is so much bigger than the solar system. Considering that it still only takes 26 months to complete a cycle as big as that would mean that this planet moves at an unimaginable speed.
While I do remember everything from my previous life, I barely remember anything about my family in this life. All I can remember is that I was born in a noble family, I had a few brothers and sisters and I barely remember how my mother and father looked. I don't even know if my mother is still alive. One thing I do know for sure is that we were attacked by raptors and rescued by barbarians when we were on our way to the kingdome of Centore.
Speaking of barbarians-
"Hey Nigga, the elders want to meet you."
"Here we go again. What's so special about him? He gets to meet the elders so often like he's meeting his uncles and aunts."
I've been living with the barbarians since when I was 2 years old. They don't see me as a stranger and neither do I.
The name they gave me still throws me off guard.
"There he goes, I bet he's plotting something absurd again." Said a jealous barbarian.
"Hey, don't be jealous like that." I replied, "Maybe the elders would treat you better if you had half of my looks. Unfortunately for you– you are so bald, the light bouncing off your head is blinding me."
"Wha…" The barbarian got gaslight, "But you just won't tell me how you got black hair, red eyes and all that. And when you did tell me how…"
"Nigga, I bet you didn't know…" another barbarian joined the conversation, "Mimro took that joke seriously. He thought of it as genuine advice and really tried to burn the edge of his hair "
A passerby of our age –about 10 years old– joined in. He placed his hand on the head of the bald guy who's jealous of me and said "Well. He tried to burn the edge of his hair but instead he ended up burning all of his hair. "
"Hahaha! Is that why you went bald all of a sudden?"
"Hahaaaa! You're such a genius bro!"
Homie did that for real? Maybe I can do more with this guy. How about making this guy prepare something extravagant?
Everyone was dying from laughter.
"Get Your hand off of my head!" The bald dude protested.
He was starting to get violent so I snuck out of that situation before things escalated. I headed to the elders hut. Don't let the word 'hut' deceive you as this 'hut' just happens to be about 2,000 Square feet.
I crossed the hut's main entrance, the elders chamber/room would need special permission but I happened to be more special than that. I slipped under the expensive curtain that looked like it would cost two kidneys, then I was met by the three elders on their throne-like seats which were placed side-by-side. There was also a fourth empty seat.
"How's going gramps?" I asked.
Just as two elders were about to greet me with a happy expression, the long crimson haired elder seated in the middle rose up.
"You stupid brat, how many times should I tell you not to call me 'gramps'! Can't you see how young and handsome I look!?" He protested.
He's right. He is good looking and he looks as if he's only 30 years old. The same can be said to the male elder to his left and the female elder to his right. Chronologically, they are so old that even they lost count of their age. They are a 'primordial'- ancients like those raptors. Primordials will wake up no matter how many times you kill them. Killing them once is near impossible in the first place. What's more scary is that there are quite a few primordials in this jungle.
"Don't be ridiculous." Said the female elder, "The three of us are older than the jungle in which we reside. It wouldn't hurt if our little ones called 'grandma' or 'grandpa'"
"You're right, grandma Zan-Ti." I remarked, "gramps has a lot to learn from you".
"Shut up, brat!" she barked back, "I ain't your grandma. I'm a young maiden!"
What…? Why is this hag so unpredictable? Hypocritical hag!
"But…"The male elder who was seated at the right side was about to say something. He always sounded weak and unsure.
"You're a young maiden now!?" Exclaimed the crimson haired elder, "Listen, Nigga. I swear on my eyepatch she's actually two years olde-"
Elder Zan-Ti (The female elder) started pulling the eyepatch elder's crimson hair to interrupt his speech.
"Shut uuuuup! Don't say another word or I'll tell that to the whole village!" She threatened Anzu –the eyepatched crimson hair elder.
"B-B-Brother…" Inzu –the male elder to the right stud up worryingly. But he didn't have the confidence to intervene.
Elder Inzu always lacked self esteem. He's the only person in this village with black hair other than me. This caused rumours that said that I'm of elder Inzu's lineage.
Why do they have to fight all the time?
—A FEW MOMENTS LATER—
"Okay, Zan-Ti. I understand so please just shut up." Said elder Anzu
"B-brother… please sto-" just as elder Inzu was about to say something-
"Why did you add the 'shut up' part to your apology? Are you trying to pick a fight with me, Anzu?" said Zan-Ti, interrupting Inzu once again.
This might go on forever. I need to stop them before my ears start bleeding from their nonsensical argument.
"How about I continue telling you that story from where I left off?" I interrupted.
"Ooooh." Elder Anzu stood up excitedly, "You mean the 'Hard-Metal-Alchemist' one?".
"I really like tha-" just as Inszu was about to say something-
"No." Said Elder Zan-Ti, interrupting Inzu again. "I want to hear the story of the man who sold the world."
"Aaaaaaaa! Shut your traaap!" Elder Anzu had enough, "Shut yo b*tch *ss up, you retarded f*ggot. I bet you get s*xually aroused whenever you wipe your a–"
"Brotheeeeer, please don't fight." Inzu got teary eyed.
"Keep quiet, Inzu!" replied Anzu, "She does nothing other than starting pointless arguments!"
"Oh yeah?" Zan-Ti said with a smirk, "arguing with me is pointless, because I knew I was wrong 10 minutes ago."
Aww man. Here we go again.
-THEY FOUGHT FOUGHT FOR ANOTHER 30 MINUTES-
"Now that all of you have calmed down, shall we please get to the point, elders?" I asked
"Ah. Yes" Elder Inzu replied. "we wanted to inform you that you will be assig-"
"Hoho! About that." Elder Anzu interrupted poor Inzu, "We have planned to assign you to guard the outer ring of the village. Every child who has the potential to become the village's leading guardian will be stationed at the inner ring for about one week at least once before reaching adulthood."
"Yes." Said elder Zan-Ti, "It's usually the village's inner ring, but you will be stationed at the outer ring of the village as your performance in everything far exceeds other kids in the village. Don't worry, we have decided to assign another promising young warrior to the same duty as you. Hope you'll get along."
That's only half true. These geezers and hag are up to something.
The reason why they are assigning me to the notorious outer ring might be because I'm the chosen one and they are about to put me through trials. The chosen one matter is only known to a few in the village.
They hid this matter from me so that I can experience a normal childhood. Jokes on them, I've known this since I was 2 years old. The few people who do know this secret are the elders, the current Leading guardian, Pak, Ghaf and… I forgot Mr. Broomstick's name- pretty sure he still has the physique of a wooden pencil.
No one doubts me about being a human. All barbarians except the elders are light skinned and have a dark brown hair color, the elders spread rumours saying I'm a direct descendant of Inzu and that's why my hair color is black and my skin isn't as bright as the barbarians. They even cast an illusion magic on me to make sure that I have a shadow, so that no one can know that I'm the chosen one.
I still had to be very careful. While barbarians and humans may look the same, they are genetically very different. I haven't gotten to the bottom of this matter yet but I know for sure that barbarians miss a few organs that humans have, but they do possess organs and hormones that humans don't.
Maybe I should get Ghaf to kidnap a death row prisoner for me. Dissecting a barbarian can provide me with a lot of helpful knowledge. There is definitely a reason behind why humans are dying to get their hands on a young barbarian for their organs.
Humans only aim for young barbarians because no way in hell will they be able to capture an adult barbarian. Well, encountering a human in this jungle is a 1 in 400 occurrence anyway.
***
The meeting with the elders just concluded and it obviously ended with a fight between elder Zan-Ti and elder Anzu. It got physical this time.
Man, I haven't eaten anything since yesterday. Imma go threaten Baldy to make some Earthian food.
It was almost sunset right now and I hadn't even eaten lunch yet. I stepped out of the elders hut just to find a big ruckus outside. Baldy –yes, the same Baldy who unintentionally became bald after following my "advice"-- was being beaten up by some other kid. I couldn't see who he was fighting with.
It's got to be someone strong from an influential family if he's able to dominate Baldy like that.
I couldn't see who it was. A big crowd of kids of my age were surrounding the scene, so I had to push my way in. Baldy was being devoured, he had no chance of winning. This other kid was too strong for him to handle.
I felt bad for Baldy. He might be bad at controlling his anger but he's a really good guy. I know him very well. He is never the first one to cause trouble, plus he hates unnecessary attention.
Besides, his father owns a lot of cattle. Having him owe me would be great.
Baldy was barely standing. Just as the other kid was about to land a punch on Baldy, I sent the kid flying sideways with a side kick to his face.
Thud!
"Are you okay Baldy?" I asked.
"Hah. You… you're gonna call me 'Baldy' even in a situation like this, Nigga?" He chuckled, "what would you do if I was the one at fault?" He asked, grasping for air. He was in no condition to crack jokes.
"I know you too well. You're not the type to cause trouble " I replied, "Hey you, get Baldy some water."
Hang in there, Baldy! I can see the future where I force you to make cheese, kebabs and all the good stuff.
"What makes you think you can ignore me after kicking me in the face?" The guy who I kicked was back for revenge, "Don't worry, I don't care about the bald guy anymore. I've always wanted to fight you, the one and only famous Nigga."
How can I ever say 'no' to a fight? This is where the fun begins.