《Colossus' Dream》(8) Inadvertent legend.
Advertisement
POV Narrator:
The twelfth age began as the Colossus slept. Life was blooming on the continent once again, seemingly guided by a higher power. New species were born, and new cultures were created. The Colossus was woefully unaware of the chain of events that he had inadvertently triggered by his deep slumber. A new age was dawning, and a new sentient race was dominating the continent.
In a small village close to the ocean, lives a boy named Zohn. Only ten years old and a mere two meters tall, he's slightly short compared to kids his age, but his small stature harbours boundless ambition and dreams.
“When are the hunters coming back?” Zohn asks his mother, always prying for more information about the wondrous world outside their village. “Remember son, the hunters announced that they're exploring a new region, who knows when they'll return.” his mother replies kindly.
Staring aimlessly at the village gate, Zohn spots the returning hunters. “They're back!” he excitedly announces. He's a curious boy, and a chance for more wonderous tales of the outside world always excites him. “Zohn, don’t bother them. They're probably exhausted from their excursion, you’ll be able to hear all about their adventures at tonight’s annual feast.” his mother urges, trying to calm the excited boy.
Darkness gradually covers the horizon, as the sun disappears from the moonless sky. A large fire roars in the centre of the village, as the villagers prepare food for the night’s feast. Children are running around the bustling square, losing themselves in the festive air, except for Zohn. Zohn's impatiently waiting near the bonfire, close to the stage, waiting for the hunting party leader's speech.
Eventually, the villagers finish their meals and begin gathering near the bonfire. Bizag, the hunters' leader, walks up the stage. His broad frame glistens in the fire's light, a majestic beard adorning his face. His powerful voice commanding respect as he speaks, “Today, we successfully surveyed the eastern coast, past the mountains, and we've made some amazing discoveries.”. Every sentence that Bizag says fills Zohn with childlike wonder.
Advertisement
“As we roamed the beaches, we came across a moss-covered, granite formation half-buried in the sand. That alone wouldn't be interesting, but as we scaled the formation, we made a discovery.” Bizag continues, Zohn's heart rate increases. “Embedded, near the edge of the granite formation, a majestic spear made from gold and other strange and precious metals caught our attention,” Bizag says, his voice filled with excitement.
This information ignites a burning passion in the young Zohn. Some of the younger villagers' eyes start shining with ambition and others shout with excitement. Everyone desires the spear for themselves and Zohn was no different. Images of himself wielding the spear flow from his wild imagination.
“Now, before any of you start having wild dreams of becoming a hero or something ridiculous; let me add one last detail,” Bizag says, his eyes shining and a grin on his face. “We already tried pulling the spear out the granite, but it wouldn’t budge. No one was able to even scratch the spear and the granite formation is effectively unbreakable.” Bizag concludes in a solemn tone.
The villagers' wild ambitions grind to a sudden halt. “Maybe it’s because none of us is worthy enough to wield the spear?” a voice asks from the crowd of villagers. “You could be right, but if none of the hunting group's members is considered worthy, then no one stands a chance,” Bizag replies in ridicule.
Any desire for the strange spear disappears from the villagers' minds, but not Zohn's. “So you have to be worthy to wield the spear? That means that I still stand a chance. No one seems to still care about the spear, but that's their loss. I need to train. I'll become strong enough to wield the spear's might and prove my worthiness by pulling it from the granite! With the spear, no one will stand in the way of my goals and dreams,” Zohn naively decides, unrivalled determination radiating from his entire being.
Advertisement
The next day, in a secluded corner of the village, Zohn starts his training alone. He tightly grips a long stick with both hands, shakily attempting to teach himself. He didn’t ask for anyone’s help, fearing that, in some strange way, outside influence would make him unworthy of the spear. Many villagers, including Zohn, went to the spear’s location to try and pull it out, only to find their efforts in vain. This only reinforces Zohn’s previous assumption.
Years pass. Gradually, everyone lost interest in the spear, some forgetting that it even existed, except for the lone Zohn. Every day, he keeps on training, slowly improving his crudely self-taught skills. At the age of twenty, he joins the hunting group as one of their new members. With unrivalled skill, he beats down any competition, climbing his way to the top of the group's ranks. Alas, he still can’t pull the spear from the granite. It didn’t discourage him, it only strengthened his resolve to improve himself more.
At the age of thirty, Zohn is promoted as the leader of the hunting group. No monster can stand in the way of his unrivalled spear techniques, yet the spear wouldn't budge an inch. His determination gradually fades each year, but he continues practising every day. From nearby villages and cities, visitors hear tales of this mythical spear. Heroes and generals all try their luck, but the results surprise no one.
At the age of forty-five, stories of Zohn's strength and renown has spread throughout the continent. He never marries, choosing to rather spend his time solely focusing on his life's obsession. He never accepts any disciples either, despite the numerous students that seek his strength. It's always the same rejection, "If I'm not worthy enough to wield the spear, then my skills aren't worthy enough to be passed on.".
At the age of fifthy-five, Zohn leaves the hunting group. He decides to retire, building a small house on the granite formation, quietly watching over his beloved spear. A Long grey beard rests on his aged face, beautifully complementing his long, greying hair. Despite his age, nothing but pure muscle line every inch of his five-meter tall body. Zohn made peace with his life long obsession, contently watching over the spear as numerous people come and try their luck.
On the morning of his seventieth birthday, Zohn dutifully sweeps the granite formation next to the spear. Patches of green moss line the granite, providing some colour to its white facade. As Zohn sweeps, a tremor throws him off balance. He barely manages to jump off of the granite formation as it begins to lift itself out of the ground. Behind him, a looming shadow blots out the sun. A mixture of confusion and fear fills Zohn's mind as an unbelievable existence rises before his wide eyes.
Advertisement
Master of Learning (Color coded)
In a world where everyone is reincarnated when they die. Where classes are picked during reincarnation. The protagonist, Kite. Picks a class that none have picked in a very long time: “Master of Learning” The class sounds too good to be true but there is a very large and serious catch. Inspired by Re:Monster.
8 275The Birth of a God
The birth of a universe starts with the birth of its god, this god needs to understand the role it has, it needs to choose if he will interact with this universe or just watch as everything happens slowly.
8 159Gram Bloodfeast: Retired Warlock
Gram Bloodfeast was once one of the most powerful warlocks of his era. There was a time when he commanded armies of the undead, conquering anyone who he dared lay a path against. There was a time when whole rooms of people would go silent with insane, palpable fear at the mere mention of his name. There was a time when he was enemy number one, whole legions of skilled combatants storming his stronghold of ice and stone to take his head. There was a time when he decided, "I think I'm done." Gram Bloodfeast, is now retired, living in a cozy 2 bedroom suburban house. (Credit for the cover art goes to Phasmonyc) [Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge]
8 82Tales of Teleios
Born as a noble free-man, the only daughter of a lord, Arete of Syracuse was an ambitious young woman who would do anything to succeed her father's position. One day, her father was exposed of his secret movement attempted to overthrow the emperor... Tales of Teleios set in the ancient Greco-Roman. It is a very standard adventure, low fantasy, alternate historical story with common archetype and predictable storyline. It is a form of artistic expression. 🏳️🌈 LGBTQIA+ Content Tag 🙇 ESL Author 📖 A Very Brief Summary 📖 (Unavoidable Spoiler) This story is about Arete of Syracuse (the protagonist) who was on a journey to find a mysterious Teleios of Eretria. Travelling with her servant Matea, her maternal cousin Agave and a former hetaira named Pryne. Throughout their journey, they discovered the conspiracy behind the Emperor Nero's eugenic system. This story explores the topic of human advancement. Tracing the idea back to the Greco-Roman world, the idea of eugenicism started when humans attempted to achieve perfection through breeding enhancements. However, The Three Elders realised that they couldn't afford waiting on the natural process of evolution. Thus, they came out with the controversial idea of experimentation through the building up of monstrosities using different body parts of animals and attempting to achieve immortality through taking over the younger human bodies. Teleios means perfection, and the center of this story is about the journey of four very flawed characters: The protagonist, Arete was a skinny noble woman who was born premature and had amenorrhea. She was supposed to be drowned by the order of Emperor Claudius due to her imperfection. While Matea was born a perfect healthy person, but has had everything taken away from her. Agave who was born out of wedlock but was fortunate enough to be adopted into a noble family. And Pryne who was on her way to have a loving family but drifted instead throughout the world after making a decision that she deeply regretted and needed to overcome her sense of guilt along the way. The story will explore some of the most controversial topics which involved detestable ancient practices such as pedarastry, where as the Empress Sporus, being the victim of it, coping with her tragic experience through acceptance of the oppressor and her struggle for not being able to conceive. In summary, the topics were largely related to gender and sex. There will be violence and gore, as most of the fantasy works does. while the author here would like to inform the readers that this is not an erotica, nor it has any sentences that involve depiction of sexual activities. Therefore, this story is not for those who seek thrill on its sexual content. A dialogue of Empress Sporus: "The world itself abused us to a level unimaginable! Yet we have to learn to love the world! Simply to live! To make our life a little easier, a little happier. So what is wrong with that? Are you expecting me to go against the emperor when he is the one and only reason I became the empress?" Said Sporus.
8 321Coralie and the Stupid, Cursed Pendant
Coralie Hugh is doomed to have terrible luck around magical artifacts. When a cursed pendant makes its way to her father's shop, it drags her on a bizarre journey to confront her painful past. Now she must face an arrogant necromancer, a vengeful demon lord, and a small legion of reanimated oddballs in a creepy basement before she can find her way home.
8 185Erika's musings
Erika: "My name is Erika Tempest. I'm a beautiful and talented enchantress that is trying to rebuild her magic shop after it was destroyed by Ilomathians."
8 98