Aerondor

Aerondor: The Rise of a Hero

   Aerondor, a vast kingdom in the heart of where now lays United Kingdoms was a beautiful kingdom. An empire with grassy hills, beautiful landscape and structures that looked like they could touch the clouds. But alas, with every rose has its thorns and the thorns in Aerondor were especially sharp. A crooked government that enforced Democracy just as much as it enforced Dictatorship. A land where the wealthy stayed wealthy by keeping down the poor. Where the poor mans vote amounted to nothing of a rich mans vote. A land ruled by a leader that had no intentions for the kingdom, only for his own gain. And there he sat, upon a throne that was held up just as much by lies as it was held up by gold. As you see people, the prettiest and most vibrant rose can have the sharpest thorns if you feel around hard enough. So let me take you on my journey on how I became a simple peasant to the leader of the land, and how I plucked those thorns off one by one.

The chickens clucked wildly as they were carted away by merchants. Not like it was audible to hear over the yelling of merchants trying to catch passers. "5 coins for a loaf of bread!" or "6 coins for a loaf of bread and an apple." The merchants were constantly trying to outdo each other until the prices drove them into the dirt and made them lose more than they gained. A backwards system I suppose, not like I had much to judge. I had barely any money to my name and I usually got by off donations or the occasional pick-pocket. The scum of the earth, the bottom of the barrel some may call it. I however, call it being screwed by the system. The system so many people in this kingdom so blindly neglect. Not like I could change much. So instead of dwelling on the inevitable I threw my hood up, pulled up my bandanna and began to walk in the crowd just like the sheep we were. Of course, this sheep never gave up on how I earned my money. The occasional bump into someone with the follow up of "My apologizes!" was all I needed to slip my hand into the pocket of my poor victims. Not like they would do any differently, I could never be bothered with the moral bullshit that was slammed onto me by the followers of God. I simply was another wanderer trying to get by on what terrible cards they were dealt with. As I left the tarp above me I was met with the brutal sun that felt like a scorching fire upon my skin. I cupped my hand over my eyes and looked down. Wrong move. To my luck I accidentally  bumped into a man that ended up sending us both falling back into a merchants cart. As my back hit the cart I heard the follow up of plates and other exquisite tabletop items crash to the floor. I winced and braced for the onslaught of cursing as I sat planning how I would run.

 But instead I was greeted with an "Are you alright?" and an extended hand from the merchant. I stayed frozen for a second at the surprising calmness from the man. 

"Oh come on, what are you going to just sit their in broken glass or are you going to get up?" he said with a laugh at his own joke.

Strange. I took his hand and he helped me up as I dusted off the glass and dust from my pants. His black hair glistened in the sunlight and his green eyes resembled emeralds. As I walked over to greet him more formerly I noticed something...the only clothing he was wearing was a potato sack loosely tied around himself. I looked up in utter confusion and slight terror before he extended his hand one more time. 

"Hey kiddo, the names Eric" he said with an overly amplified smile. "Drinks on me for all the problems I caused" He told me with a cheesy smile. 

I looked at him with a rather confused expression due to me being the one that set the domino effect of problems and the destruction of his dishes. Regardless, I accepted his offer because I saw it as a free meal. 

"Sure, lead the way big guy" I said giving him the same smile back as he hurried us through the tight corridors of the market.

 Sand and dust was constantly swept up in the air which made me cough repeatedly. An annoyance nonetheless of being outside the kingdom walls, but it was where I felt safest. Even with the countless merchants that had guards on standby merely due to my presence, I loved it here. I knew the location by the back of my hand while inside the walls I felt overwhelmed and lost. As I followed closely behind him he made attempts to break the awkward silence.