Doom Island, 3 Days Later
~William’s POV~
My name is William O’Stratus. I hail from Stratus Town on the Cumulus Islands, the sky islands of the 1st Sea.
For half a year, I’ve spent my life on the sea, armed with nothing but my trusty sword, wandering around and trying to find my purpose in this place.
And for the past 2 weeks, I’ve been trying to defeat Doom Island’s corrupted chief, Marua.
And Every. Single. Time.
I’ve failed, barely escaping with my life, and always with horrific injuries.
The residents who once looked at me with hope when I said I would help them now look at me as if I’m a fraud. And they’re not wrong.
I just want to help people in trouble, but I can’t. And every time I fail, my old man’s cruel words echo in my head.
“You’ll never be enough,” he says. “Just stay here and help work on the farm. You don’t have magic like your sister, nor are you smart like your brother. So stop swinging that sword and settle down!”
And every time, they hurt. Eventually, I ran away from home, setting out to prove my dad wrong.
And now I’m stuck here, trying and failing to fulfill a promise I can’t keep.
–
I walk out to the training yard, hoping to clear my mind.
WHAM!
Someone runs into me. We both fall over into the ground.
“Oh gods,” someone says. “I’m so sorry.”
I push myself up.
“I’m fine, don’t worry,” I respond.
I look at the kid I ran into. He has dark skin, black, messy hair with a streak of white, and is wearing normal training clothes. He would pass for a Savarian (no offense intended) if it wasn’t for his pale gray eyes. He looks my age.
“You okay?” asks the kid. I think his name is Pax.
“Yeah,” I respond as I begin to walk away. “I’m fine. And I’m pretty sure you know my name. Now if you will please excuse me-”
“Wait!” says Pax.
I freeze before I turn around. Might as well hear what he has to say.
“I can help you defeat Marua,” he says.
My eyes widen in shock at his bold statement.
“W-what?” I stutter.
End of Chapter VI