(Self Notes)

[Shadow]

\Mirror/

"speaking"

'thinking'

*action*

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The next morning I was ready to start doing something productive, I bounded through the house, a new training regime scheduled. After all with Hidden From Machina I have nothing to fear! But alas, Fate had different plans for me. My Mother was standing in front of the door in a very menacing manner, how perplexing! "Ah, Son, I have been waiting for you." 'Sounds ominous' my Soul Interface was beeping obnoxiously in my pocket. *sigh* "Why, what's going on?" I ask. "Since your obviously so serious about becoming an Adventurer, I called a friend... Someone who can help you get stronger." I paused, my parents had been acting pretty odd over the past year, treating me as if I'm much older, I was reasonably sure I hadn't slipped up and mentioned my past life or anything.

(I wish you luck) [Yeah you're gonna need it], I scowl skyward, the Soul Interface beeps again. "Really Mother? Who is this friend? Also I'm pretty sure my training is fine as it is!" "Hon, ready now, no need to worry, he's a fine young man!" I frown, is she already going senile? I sense a presence behind me, a pair or familiarly slim arms tie my hands together. I'm blind folded and thrown over Mother's shoulders. The binding is tough, expertly done, my Father no doubt has mastered the art of double knotting. It seems they are in cahoots, lulling me into a sense of false security! I suddenly feel drowsy, I had wondered why my breakfast had tasted funny. I soon end up in lala land.

I wake up with a gritty mouth, feeling like shit already. I find I'm in some kinda campsite no longer tied up, I stand shakily. I vow wrath on my cruel parents, zoning out, "You cute ain't ya!" I shriek, jumping backwards and landing on my ass, I look around frantically searching for the voice, "Up here kid." I look up, hanging upside down, like a vampire bat is a middle aged man, he had tanned skin, grayish black hair and aquamarine eyes he resembles mother quite a lot, no doubt also a half Targual. "I'm yer Uncle Stew, an gonna ye teach ya to be a proper Adventurer. Yer friend came too." he said gesturing, carrying an armload of firewood is Rorry. He drops his wood. Hah! And smiles at me "Hey Chris! I heard you decided to take your training to a new level, so I asked to come too!" his voice oozes respect, I roll my eyes. It takes me a while to process my Uncles garbled works, Stew huh? One thing I hadn't originally been aware of was my parent's names, I hadn't bothered asking, I refer to them as Mother and Father after all, and I was never around when their names were called. Steve Crash and Lucy Crash are the names of my parents. They are well respected. Of course my Fathers real name is unknown, he'd had to change it after all, and had opted to take my Mothers family name instead.

Uncle Stew leaped from the branch doing a backflip and landing gracefully. [Dayum] Myself and Rorry stare blankly at him for a moment, he waves a waterskin in my face "Here, yer probably thirsty!" I thank him before taking a swig, the water was fresh and cool, and there wasn't any funny taste. "Awright lads getcha asses in gear we got some training to do!" I grimace, I can only imagine the hellish shit this weird dude can put us through. He hands us some black rods, then asks us to personalize them, I drip some blood on it. Again, I'm not sure what the hell is up with all the Goddamn blood. I cry out dropped flat on the ground, I hear Rorry curse and fall at my side, the device is stupidly heavy, "Naw get up lads! Also, I'll be taking yer SI's." I rise painfully and dig out my Soul Interface, reading the messages in passing.

--

Your stats, skill, and overall effectiveness has been greatly reduced against this opponent.

-Cursed by the Skies (Passive)-

You have annoyed the God of Skies Hadrian for scowling at his domain.

-Birds don't like you.

-Birds will go out of their way to annoy you.

-Birds are likely to drop fecal matter upon your head.

--

Your hands have been bound by an expert double knotter. You are unable to use said limbs.

--

You will soon fall asleep.

*sigh*

Stew takes our Soul Interfaces, I also hand him my Storage Void for safekeeping, worried something might happen to it. The training was pretty normal at first having us run around doing parkour with the weird weight rods on us. He slowly upped the weight throughout and we soon grew tired, It got pretty late too. We returned to camp and he taught us the basic of surviving in the wilderness, told a few stories of his adventuring days and some embarrassing things about my parents. We soon sank into a relaxed stupor.

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Thanks for reading, if you can point out any inconsistencies or typos I would appreciate it.