Lee River woke up on the morning of his 8th birthday. After a long stretch and look outside the window on a beautiful spring day he jumped out of bed and went to what substituted as a bathroom. In reality, it was a small closet with minor modifications. He grabbed a bucket of water and used it to wash himself. He would need to refill the bucket later today by the stream.

With this done he put on some reasonably clean clothes and went down to see his mother and father who were already awake and in the kitchen. His mother was a pretty but thin woman. Though 28 she looked younger and had the look being frail but River knew if he made her mad she could appear anything but frail.

His father was medium height but built strongly due to his years of farm work. At first you would think him to be a fearsome man but his large care free smile was disarming and he treated everyone he met kindly.

“Happy Birthday Lee” his father said

“Happy Birthday sweetie” his mother said giving him a warm hug “today we'll be making one of your favorites; boar stew, but it won't be ready till tonight. For now have some eggs, they are already on the table and will be cold soon”.

Lee said “Thank you mom”. As he was sitting down to eat he asked “but boar isn't cheap, can we really afford it?”

His father on the other end of the table turned to him and said “You don't need to worry about such things, that's our job. Besides, we already bought it and now that is here I am really looking forward to it. If you don't want any then I'll eat it all myself” he said with a grin.

“No, I want some!” Lee said

“Then no more talk about money from you!” His father said ruffling his hair. “Now as it is your birthday I will take mercy on you and let you have all your chores off for today. If I here one peep about you asking if that is really okay then I plan to give you double the usual amount to do for a week and that is final”.

Lee didn't dare speak. He ate his breakfast and casually talked with his parents about things he did yesterday while not on the farm. They also told him about things they saw going into town. As soon as he was done he said “thank you mom, that was delicious. I'm going to go out and play now. I'll be back before dusk. Lee said while leaing the house.

His mother said to his father “that boy worries far too much for an 8 year old. I wish he could be like more kids his age and play instead of helping us here all the time”

His father said “I'm trying my best, but since those horses got sick and died last year it put us so far behind. I had to buy new ones and we can't afford any help. The debt is hard enough to pay back as it is. In half a year we will be even again I think”.

His mother said “I can help you more if you need me, you know that dear”

Hi father quickly said “No, you have enough on your plate as it is with everything you do around the house. Also those clothes you sew and sell are being more then helpful enough. I can't ask you to do anymore”. He got up and decided to begin his work day.

*****

Lee River played by the stream. It was his favorite spot and usually he wouldn't be bothered there by the boys who picked on him. He wasn't sure exactly why they hated him. He thought maybe it was just cause he was younger and smaller and there was nothing he could do about them picking on him accept try to away run faster than they could chase him.

Sadly, he didn't always get away and some days he had to make up excuses for the bruises to his parents. He didn't want to worry them. He knew they tried to hide it but he could tell they were worried about other grown up things and he didn't want them to have to be concerned with this problems too. If only he was stronger he could keep the bullies away and help his dad with the farm.

He then did something you had done every day for the past few year. He turned towards a tree in the woods and yelled “water attack” pointing his finger at the tree. Just like every other time before nothing happened. He wanted to be a wizard ever since the day those boy first beat him up but especially last year since his parent's horses died and they began to look thinner and more over worked.

He didn't know exactly how but he was sure if he was a wizard he could somehow fix everything for them. Wizards after all could do everything! Just like in the story his dad told him about the great wizard who fought off the demons. He could move mountains and turn day into night and even lift 10 ox all by himself!

He was sure a wizard could do all those things and more. He was determined to be one now and practiced every day during the past year. Sadly his practices if they can even be called that had yet to amount to anything.

Lee yelled again “water attack, water attack!” Again nothing happened. He tried it without looking at the tree and while jumping up and down. He tried focusing really hard on the tree or his finger and then focusing really hard on water. That reminded him he needed to pee.

After he peed he tried again to attack the tree with water. After a while he walked to the tree and saw not a single scratch was on the bark. What was he doing wrong?

“Nice water attack you stupid goat”. 2 older boys from other near by farms saw him and and were laughing. “You think just saying water attack over and over will let you cast water spells? Is your deadbeat father unable to feed you anything but rocks and now that's all you have for brains?”

Lee yelled back “my dad isn't a deadbeat and you don't know what you're talking about!”

“Talking back? I guess you do have rocks for brains after all” The 2 boys started to walk faster towards him. Just as Lee was turning to run another boy jumped out from behind a tree and grabbed him. He was the oldest and meanest one of all of them. Already 10 years old and 20 pounds bigger than River he had no chance to escape from his grip.

“Where are you going Lee? You think you can make fun of my friends and just run? Maybe I should show you how to do a real water attack!” He started to force Lee towards the steam. The other 2 boys were there by now and following the older ones lead. Together they pushed Lee in the fairly shallow stream. It was only 3 feet deep there but still up to River's chest.

Lee fell into the stream and dirtied his best clothes. Clothes his mother had spent a long time making for him. He felt he hit a rock with his arm. It was just a scratch and there was only a little blood but he ripped his shirt. The other boys laughed at him as he grabbed the bank of the stream. He had no choice but to grab there. He didn't dare try to swim across.

“You jerks, you ruined the clothes my mom made! Why don't try to pick on someone your own age!”

The 3 boys laughed and the oldest said “Oh, is the little baby going to cry for his mommy or deadbeat daddy?”

Lee in all his anger turned to the oldest boy and said “at least my dad isn't a drunk who can't hold a job like yours!” He never dared speak like that to the oldest boy till now. He knew it was a sore spot for him and usually he just tried to take his beatings quietly and move on with his day.

With his shirt being ruined that his mom worked so hard on and his dad insulted when he saw how hard his das was trying every day he simply couldn't help himself.

The 3 boys stopped laughing and the oldest one walked towards him and bended down, all the humor was gone from his eyes “what the hell did you say you little shit?”

The other boys stopped laughing and look scared for a moment. They were worried this would escalate too much now. One said “who cares what this turd says, just smack him around and lets go”.

The oldest boy ignored this and said “I am going to teach you a lesson about opening your mouth you useless piss ant”. He grabbed Lee's head and forced it under the water.

The other 2 boys looked on a bit concerned but didn't dare try to stop him. Lee struggled to get his head above water but he could only manage for a few short breaths before being pushed under again. He felt he may actually drown for a moment. He then heard a voice in the distance say “What the hell do you idiots think you're doing?”

Lee felt the pressure go off his head and he grabbed onto the bank for dear life breathing in air and coughing up water. He looked around to see who had spoken. It was a young kid about the same age and size and Lee but this kid had a look of confidence on his face Lee was not use to seeing.

“You know, you might actually kill someone like that. Do you think so little about your actions?” The kid had short dirty blond hair, green eyes and just a few freckles here and there. Lee had never seen this person before.

The old boy forgetting Lee for a moment walked towards the kid and said “I am in the middle of something right now, if you know what's best for you then you'll run away right now before I teach you a lesson too.”

The child just smiled and walked towards him “That's my line. You're going to leave that boy alone or I'm going to have to teach you a lesson you won't soon forget”.

With this the oldest boy charged this blond hair child. River watched on expecting the worst to happen. How could such a small kid do anything to older boy? Right as the distance was completely closed and the first punch was thrown the blond haired child grabbed the old boy's wrist and used the momentum to toss him to the ground.

This hurt the older boy but he was soon again up and taking another swing at this mysterious child. It was easily blocked and the block was followed through into an elbow into the stomach all in one smooth motion.

The child said “My dad doesn't want me to fight so I'd rather not beat all of you up. But if you keep attacking you won't give me much choice”.

The oldest boy clutched his stomach and said “You'll pay for this you little bug”. He ran in opposite direction his 2 friend running quickly behind.

Lee was still in the stream watching in shock. His mouth was slightly open and he was amazing by what he saw. How could someone who was so much smaller beat a bigger opponent? He had never seen anything like it in his life.

The blonde haired kid walked towards River and offered a hand up “Are you okay?” the child asked.

Lee took the hand and said “I'm fine, just a scratch. My shirt is what I'm worried about. What you did was amazing by the way. How did you learn to do that?”

The child spoke “Well my father taught me a lot about fighting. My uncle is one of the Zero provinces elite solders. My father was thinking about joining as well but decided to be a blacksmith instead. Still, he easily could have joined the elite corps just like my uncle. He is one of the strongest guys in the whole continent!

All Lee could say is “Wow, no wonder. If I could fight like that I don't think those guys would ever bother me again! Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot to ask your name”.

The short blond haired kid said “I hate my full name, so just call me Al”.

Lee said “Nice to meet you Al, I'm Lee”.

Al said “Well Lee it's nice to meet you too, my dad just moved into this town and I don't know anyone yet”.

Lee said “Well, I've lived here all my life and if you want I can show you around the place”.

Al smiled “That would be great, if you want I can teach you how to fight”.

Lee replied “Sure, that sounds great!” They talked more as they got to know each other. It was the first time in his life Lee felt he made a true friend.

As they continue to talk about their parents and their lives Lee asked “so what brings you out here?”

Al said “Well I am looking to get frogs. I brought a bag and any I find I plan to put in there and bring home so my mom can cook them”.

Lee was shocked “You eat frogs!”

Al said “Yeah, a lot of people eat frogs. It isn't that strange you know!” Al gave a huff and turned his head. Lee seeing that laughed and in return Al laughed.

After a while Al said “Well I only found a few and I am out of time. I need to get back now but I plan to come back tomorrow and look for some. If you are here we can look together. Then I can show you a little about fighting and you can tell me about some good spots to go”.

Lee agreed thinking this was a great idea. Al and him talked about a time to meet and then bid farewell. Lee figured he may as well start to head home too. It wasn't that late but he needed to change his shirt in any case.

Before he decided to go home he thought it would be nice to hunt for a frog or 2 to have ready for Al by tomorrow. He decided to take a quick walk into the woods where he has heard them croak before. He never walked into the woods too far before, but since he played by them so much he felt comfortable going fairly deeply into them today to have a look.

He found one frog and then after walking more deeply found another. The deeper he walked the more he heard. After walking intothe woods about half a mile he decided it was time to give up and turn back. Just as he started to take a few steps back he heard a large growl. He turned around to see giant cat walking towards him. It must have been well over 100 lbs. He didn't like the look it was giving him.

He tried to yell at it and threw rock on the ground to scare it away but that wasn't working. The large cat kept walking closer and drooling. Its eyes were fixed on him. Back in the stream he thought he might die. Now he felt sure of it. He turned to run in no specific direction screaming at the top of his lungs. The cat was much too fast. Before he made it more than a few feet he felt claws scratch his leg.

He fell sprawling to the ground in pain. As he hit the ground the top of his head struck a rock, blood flowed on the forest floor from his leg wound and the world with spinning now with the hit to his head. The cat turned towards River ready to finish off its prey.

Right before the cat could leap on him and get to his throat a water attack struck it knocking it backwards. It turned around enraged ready to took for the disturbance and deal with it. Another attack struck it causing the cat to fall hard to the ground. It quickly got up and ran deep into the woods away from the attacker.

River felt himself bleeding badly. His vision was turning blurry. He looked up to see a tall thin figure with a short white beard standing over him. It was the last thing he saw before passing out.

The old man standing over Lee sighed and said to himself “And here I thought I'd have a nice peaceful day to myself”.