The Baker's Children

Prequel

500 Years Ago

Benjamin Farmer was known throughout the kingdom as the most average person in all the lands. He didn't excel at anything, though try as he might to take up a profession. Benjamin's parents, who worked the farms of King Leopold I knew from very early on that their son would grow up to be average. He picked apples in the orchard, but was neither the fastest nor the slowest picker of his siblings. He planted seeds, but his plants never grew to be bigger or smaller than the other children's. He was just mediocre, and all the workers knew it. As Benjamin grew, he tried his hands at all sorts of occupations. As a fisherman, he didn't catch enough fish to make a living. As apprentice to a blacksmith, his shields were never special enough to sell to the traveling knights. Even selling pottery was a bad job for him because he could never dazzle the customers enough to make sells. After trying every profession in the entire kingdom, Benjamin set to traveling the woods alone. He would survive off nature.

Two days into this new venture, Benjamin discovered that he was always slightly hungry and always very bored. Seven days of hiking found him in the view of a large, looming castle that cast shadows all around it. Benjamin, not being the brightest, decided to trek to the castle and ask to stay for the night, as the wind was picking up and the night had grown cold. The doors to the castle opened as Benjamin approached, and he entered curiously, eyes on the large statues that lined the halls. "Hello?" He called out. The stone walls were gray and domineering. The torches on the walls made the tiniest thing look large. The castle would have made anyone run for the hills, but not Benjamin, which is, perhaps, where his true strength lied. "I need a place to rest for the night, if that's okay with you." His voice reverberated all around him. Eventually, he came to two rooms. One was filled with lavish furniture, while the other was perfectly ordinary. Benjamin chose the latter. He had the best sleep he had ever had in his entire life and decided to stay another night in the castle. When the second day came to an end, Benjamin thought he would stay a third night. He had yet to meet the castle's owner. On that third night, loud thunder woke Benjamin from his dreaming. A dark figure stood in the corner and as lightning flashed, Benjamin saw gold scales and reptilian eyes. He quickly rose from the bed, but was forced back down by a mysterious force. The figure loomed over him.

"What brings you here to the Dark Castle?" A high pitched growl left the creature's thin lips. Benjamin trembled.

"I-I thought I might rest for three nights."

"No, no, dearie. What really brings you here?" The monster asked. Benjamin somehow understood.

"I want to be better than average. I want to be the best at- anything, anything at all. I'll give the one that helps me anything." The creature placed a clawed hand upon its jaw, thinking. A laugh from it jolted Benjamin's entire body.

"That, I can do for you. You'll be the best baker in all the lands. Everyone will want to partake in the food that you have created- but, there is one condition." Benjamin couldn't believe his ears. His dreams might finally become realized. No more would he be embarrassed at his own mediocrity. He would make his parents proud. "After you pass, for many generations, the children that come from your line will be cursed. Do we have a deal?" That shocked Benjamin, who found himself suddenly able to stand.

"I'm not sure," He admitted.

"You have to be special to get what you want in this world. Think of the change you'll make when you have the love of the kingdom." The imp enticed. Benjamin found himself fighting with two parts of himself, but ultimately, gave into his darker side and accepted the deal. Before he died, he would find a way to become immortal. He felt clever in out tricking the trickster.

From that moment on, Benjamin – now Benjamin Baker- lived a very good life. He ended up cooking for the king and his royal court and was loved by all in the kingdom. As time passed, his hair turned white, his fingers ached, and his back arched. Benjamin was turning into an old man. It made him worry. In his success, he had forgotten all about the imp's deal. He soon left his family in search of the castle where he had gained his powers. It took him twelve days to find it again. The doors opened as they did for him when he was much younger. The reptile man was waiting for him. He looked exactly the same, though Benjamin had aged significantly. "I'd like to make another deal." Benjamin croaked, his voice tired and worn. That same high pitched giggle that had haunted his dreams for years met his ears.

"You don't have anything I want, dearie."

"Turn my clock back. Make me young again. I'll give you anything" He begged, clutching his twisted cane. If only he had more time, he could outsmart this dark magician.

"You've already cheated life more than the average human, don't you think? You've had your fun. Time to die." He grinned.

"No, no. I want to live."

"I hope success was all it was cracked up to be. Enjoy watching your offspring suffer from the Underworld." And with those words, Benjamin Baker took his last breath. He crumbled to a heap on the stone floor, ash and bone mixing until the Dark One made him disappear completely. That was the last any had heard of Benjamin Baker and with his death came the death of his childrens' talent, as well, for they suddenly found themselves very, very average.