Prologue
(Third person POV)
Thomas Dickson's life was a living hell. His mother unfortunately died during his birth. His father committed suicide when he was only 5 years old. When the local council learned of this, they gave him a choice. Either go to an orphanage, or be raised by his grandfather. When Thomas chose the second, he though he was going to be raised by a loving, caring grandfather. How wrong he was.
Harry Dickson, Thomas' grandfather, was a bit of a… how to put this delicately… well, let's just say that he ignored almost all child abuse laws. Thomas usually got new cuts and bruises every week. He never got the toys he wanted for Christmas, and he was told Santa wasn't real as soon as he moved in with Harry. School wasn't that great either. He was constantly bullied for being the small kid, the weakling of the school. The only comfort in his life was video gaming.
Despite his grandfather's neglect, Thomas managed to find out about and enjoy video games. How? His only friend, Lewis White, introduced him to video games almost as soon as they came out. The first one Thomas ever played was The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning. That was all it took to get him hooked. Over the next ten years Thomas became a bit of a hardcore gamer. Always going into games at the max difficulty level. Doing different challenge runs as soon as he was old enough to understand what a challenge run was. He even went as far as to complete the entire Dark Souls series, not including Bloodborne or Demon Souls. But despite all this, Thomas still played the Legend of Spyro games. He didn't know why, but he was addicted to them in the same way a drug addict is addicted to drugs. He would find out soon enough…
(Thomas Dickson's POV, age 16 and a half)
"Come on, I just killed that orc!"
"It wouldn't be Nemesis difficulty if he didn't come back!"
"I know, but it is still annoying!"
I'm playing Shadow of War right now, the most recent game added to Lewis' collection of video games. I'd finished the story about a week ago, and I was now trying to power through the Shadow War section of the game. Unfortunately, one specific orc, Hura Blood Storm, kept coming back from the dead and killing me. It was getting to the point where Hura made it almost impossible to proceed to the next stage of the Shadow War, and decapitating him to prevent his return was almost impossible, seeing as he was immune to arrows and thus immune to Shadow Striking him, which is a decapitation kill.
Concentrating hard now, I start attacking Hura's gang to build up might. Unfortunately, a spear found it's way into the back of my head, and shortly afterwards…
NO CHANCE!
…and I'm dead.
Throwing the controller down onto the cushion I'm sitting on, I let out a frustrated sigh.
"You do realise that you have the two-piece vengeance set bonus, right?"
And it was at that moment, that I realised, I could have set him ablaze with elven light by using my own health. Thus, is the folly of me…
"Thank you for making me feel stupid Lewis…"
"Only doing my job!"
Sometimes I wish I could punch Lewis in the face for his retorts, but I didn't want to lose the only friend I've ever had…
"Well, looking at the time, I'd better be going home."
"Aw, shucks. Well, see you tomorrow Thomas!"
I didn't even bother saying goodbye. We've been friends for long enough to know what we could and couldn't do around each other, and since Lewis doesn't really care about courtesy, a goodbye wasn't necessary. Well, I'd better get home before grandfather does, otherwise I'll be in for another beating…
(time skip)
Arriving at the door to my home, I quickly looked around for my grandfather's car. THANK GOODNESS! Not within sight or earshot. I quickly open the door to the house using the key under the garden gnome. (All hail whoever bought that garden gnome, because Grandfather hates it!)
Quickly making my way up to my bedroom, I accidentally trip up on the last flight of stairs and, unfortunately, break my nose. Again.
"Oowwww…"
Not the first time I've broken something. Hell, Grandfather has even shattered my leg bone once. When he took me to A&E he said that I fell down a three-story building, before paying the nurse to buy his story. Where does he even get his money from? But that is besides the point.
Opening my bedroom door, I quickly collapse onto my bed before opening my 3DS. A gift from Harry. Thankfully it still has The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon in it. My grandfather usually doesn't touch my stuff, but I wouldn't put stealing my things past him. Hell, I wouldn't put murder past him.
Turning on my 3DS, I pick up where I left off on DOTD…
(Time skip)
Just as the end cutscene finishes playing, I hear my grandfather's car pull up outside. Well, there goes any hope of getting a good night's sleep. I HOPED that Harry would be gone for the night, since he told me that he might be, but Grandfather loves giving me false hope…
(Short time skip)
"Thomas!"
Sighing, I realise that I forgot to lock the door behind me. Opening my bedroom door and heading downstairs, I brace for the worst…
WHACK! And, as expected, a burning pain appears in my left cheek.
"Dammit Grandfather, what-"
"I don't want to hear it. Go back to bed, NOW, before I feel like giving you another beating."
What?! You mean I might actually get a good sleep?! HELL YEAH… sorry, got a bit over excited there… where were we?
Heading upstairs and closing the bedroom door behind me, again, I immediately collapse onto my bed. Just as I close my eyes, wishing that I didn't have to deal with Harry soon, I notice a sort of… dark fire appear in front of me. I don't have time to register what is happening, as I quickly fall unconscious…