Keep Your Chin (And Weapons) Up

by Maximus Xavier

Mindefew Valitrough was a young Sheikah when the renowned hunter Landnas explored the Aer Swamps. As he returned, he lured a Cloud Seregios from the mystic land. Eventually, Landnas slayed the beast and all cheered, except for Mindefew, as his entire family was crushed under the monster. Now, Mindefew must work low paying jobs to make money, at least until he meets a new friend.

Prologue: Mindefew

It's Landnas day again; a celebration of the hero Landnas, who, seven years ago, saved an entire city from the Cloud Seregios. They say how he carried a light bowgun, a sword, a shield, and an insect glaive that he crafted himself from the head of a Desert Seltas Queen and multiple Golden Hercudromes, only found in the Aer Swamps. They say this location is where multiple unknown breeds of flying wyverns reside, along with the Cloud Seregios.
Oh, how he leaped from the tallest building from our city of Uraglis and stood upon the twenty metre beast, allowing him to rip off the individual spikes of its neck. They say Landnas made it fall from fifty metres, right onto the park and impaling its left wing on a tree. They say how he slammed his Kinsect Herodran into the head, ripping it apart from the cerebellum. They say how they cheered for miles upon end, as the scream it released uprooted the nearby trees from the ground and how the people knew this meant Landnas defeated the beast. Oh, how he saved everyone in the city!
Almost everybody was saved that day. If only this were the case, I, Mindefew Valitrough, may actually have a family. I may actually be in a house that I could call my own. I may still be able to see my sister every day after her bow classes and hold her, saying how much I love her and how nothing can ever harm us. I may actually be able to say-.

"Mindefew! Quit sitting there and actually DO something for a change!" It was my boss, Restrow, who hated everything. He hated things that didn't work, things that worked too hard, things that moved, things that stayed still. The only thing he doesn't hate (besides himself) is his money. Oh, how he loves his money.
"Yes, boss," I reply solemnly. I get down upon my knees and carefully cut the Ignis Flores, as he calls them. Most of us just call them bomb flowers, or Hell Plants, as they're Hell to harvest without killing everyone. If not trimmed carefully from its interloping vine-like roots, the damn thing will explode in just five seconds. That may sound like plenty of time to move, but not when there are hundred in one field.

'I'm stuck here,' I'd often think to myself, 'in this horrible volcanic town of Rhenstow until I can pay for transportation for more profitable work opportunities. I'll just stay here another week, that's all.' I think this to myself every week, and I have for five years.