This can’t be how my story ends…

  Face down in the gutter of the slums of New Ardor. Paying the price for the friends that were chosen, not by the work of my hands. This city has never had love for me or my family. For generations we worked hard, kept to our creed and helped where we could. What did we get back in return?

  My father was found dead in a ditch a little over a month ago. Years prior his father had been found drowned in a tub. Before that his father had been found strung up to a scarecrow. Each had been a member of the Kinders, a protector agency dedicated to keeping the peace. Each kept their region safe using their wits and a whatever useless system granted ability was held by their lowborn families. The Kinders are an offshoot of the regional guard. They are less prestigious and their ranks are filled by the same ten families in each region.

  Each member is normally of average to above average intelligence but holds a lesser talent from the system. Anything other than minor talents were looked down upon by nobility or anyone who held or wanted to hold any type of position. Once you were gifted a talent through the system the level was locked for life. So anyone with a lesser talent will always have a lesser talent even if they learned new ways to use it.

  My family are the Ryders, we are the protectors born to die. Not one of us has survived our tour in the Kinders. Even with those odds I was determined to be the first one. I am… or was the youngest of three boys. Normally the oldest is nominated to join either the Guard or Kinders. Unfortunately Pavov, my oldest brother who is also one of the most skilled people I have personally seen, is betrothed to the daughter of a minor noble. Nobles don’t serve regardless of their talent. Micah, the next oldest, is mother’s favorite and as such before his passing a month ago dad had used his limited pull to secure him an apprenticeship with the scholar of that same noble family.

  So the duty fell to me to represent my family on the Kinders. Tomorrow was set to be my first day of training. This region has been my home for the entirety of my sixteen years. More specifically New Ardor, the runt of the Centrion region. It is ruled by King Julius, who has held the throne for over seventy years. Centrion is one of twenty regions on this planet ruled by Emperor Scolen the long lived. Ours is the one buffeted by the untamed lands. Those wilds are the tool of frustrated parents of disobedient children. “Children who misbehave feed the wilds and can cause a breakout” could be heard echoing throughout homes all throughout the region.

  The planet itself is wrought with dungeons, extra dimensional portals, roaming beasts and countless sapient races. Other than the Lizardmen, those shifty merchants, Ardor rarely sees any of the other races. This of course is unless they are running from something or stranded here by circumstance. Even then they are normally snapped up for the service of a noble family as their system talents are normally more potent than us humans.

  One of those amazing species is the reason that I find myself in this position… dying in a ditch.

  This….ah…this….

  Darnint, not again, said a frustrated male voice

  Forget this, I gotta pee.

  A large overweight orange tabby cat twitches its left ear from the arm of the faded and scratched brown leather recliner. It squeaks as a tan skinned, also overweight man maneuvers his way to his feet. With a strained grunt he stands nearly dropping his battered gray laptop. His tank top stood stained by days of dorito lunches and his green striped robe showing its age, with its faded colors it was almost unrecognizable. He quickly shifted it to cover sensitive areas. His groan garnered a look from the tabby before it went back to sleep.

  That’s exactly how I feel. I just can’t get this chapter down for some reason Alfred, he said, rubbing the cat's head as it purred from the attention.

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  He shuffled his way to the bathroom of his studio apartment. Flicking the light switch he could only shake his head as it blew out. That was his last lightbulb and the middle of the night was not the time to go to the grocery store in this neighborhood.

  Well as long as the toilet works right?

  Alfred yawned and shifted his body to turn away from the open door of the bathroom.

  You try writing a popular fantasy book.

  No response from the cat could be seen

  I know, I know I haven’t actually finished one yet. It's just hard, you know. I have a good feeling about this one though.

  Alfred stretches, clawing the recliner

  I know that I said that before, and I almost finished the last one. I only need a great final chapter. It’s going to hit me when I least expect it. Just watch Alfred.

  Alfred jumps down from the arm of the recliner and slowly strolls past its owner to his litter box.

  What do you know, you’re just a cat.

  Meow… the cat says as the flap to his litter box closes.

  That was mean, I’m sorry bro. I have so many plans for this character and world. It’s gonna be epic, once the readers on poster.com get a hold of this it’s going to skyrocket my career.

  Alfred walks past his owner rubbing his body on his leg as a sign of affection. A pat on his side let him know it was reciprocated.

  After that I can focus on finding the right woman.

  Alfred turned his head to look briefly back before continuing his stroll back to his resting spot.

  I know you told me about Sheila. Your constant scratching and tearing of her clothes made your thoughts crystal clear. How was I supposed to know that she would try to empty my bank accounts and was with two other guys that she did the same thing to? You have to admit she was hot though. Maybe once she is out of jail she’ll be in a better mind space.

  Alfred walks in a circle as he makes himself comfortable.

  Yeah Sue was great but we were both too young to make that work. I know you liked her but that was over fifteen years ago. How do you even remember her?

  Alfred yawns before laying his head on his front legs.

  I don’t want to talk about this anymore, I need to get this book finished. I’m going to stay up as long as I have to today to finish these first five chapters. Dante Mack will be the next great writing talent.

  Two hours later Alfred adjusts his positioning on Dante’s chest as the laptop he replaced lies on its side where it fell to the floor an hour and a half ago. It lay prone with a black screen. The t.v. fixed to the wall softly pulses with soft light as images of some syndicated show plays in the background.

  Hissssss.

  The hair on Alfred’s back raised and his claws were revealed as he was suddenly on all fours. His back arched as he faced the t.v.

  Oww.. Come on Alfred, we talked about this. Just kill the mouse, no need for the drama.

  Dante attempted to push the irritated cat off as Alfred’s claws were digging into his skin, drawing blood. This did not work as well as planned, instead of landing on the floor Alfred’s claws became stuck on Dante’s robe and he hung there unmoving.

  What in the…

  The pulsing light from the t.v. deepened encompassing the room blinding Dante as the warmth from the light engulfed him.