Hendon Myre Mansion.
The next day, the trio were standing in the middle of the opulent garden menagerie. Gold plated roses, rare plants, and colourful trees surrounded the three. Jun and Chello were amazed at the varied wildlife before them, comparing the garden to the Northern Lights.
And, of course, Simon could care less. "Stupid plants."
"I hope your sleep was as great as mine." Magnus said while walking down the diamond-laced steps to his garden.
"Yes, yes it was!" Jun jumped.
She remembered the gold laced bed and actual bedsheets and a pillow; Jun has never had this kind of luxury before.
Chello looked away and sorrowfully remembered the royalty he once was. Before the fateful day, he was always drowning in luxury and women, and Magnus' home made him feel a little homesick.
"Yeah," Chello said, "It was nice.."
Magnus straightens out his robe and a busty yet slim Elven servant walked over, carrying a tray full of snacks.
"Please, lets all take a seat for some morning snacks, yes? You all have a long day ahead of you!" Magnus gestures the trio to sit with him at a nearby table at the patio. Jun and Chello gladly walked forward, but Simon stood there.
"What's wrong my boy?" Magnus asked.
Simon clenched his fists, and his face turned red, like he was about to explode. "Why the hell are you doing this? ...Sending me and these two strangers to some unknown place? And why are you treating them like some V.I.P. guests or something, they attacked me, and because of that, they sent me to Jail! It was the worst day of my life!" Simon yelled.
The servant, Magnus, Jun and Chello looked at him at complete amazement. Magnus was completely flabbergasted and is at a loss for words. "I...Simon! These are guests we have here, and we need them! I am appalled at your behaviour mister!"
"Yeah, well why don't you have your other goons or shady looking people do the Job for them? Hell i'd rather take Ash to go with me than these idiots! Your so stupid Dad!" Simon harshly replied.
Jun stood up, but Chello grabbed her sleeve, while shaking his head. "uh yeah thats a baaad idea Jun" However she shrugged him off.
"Hey you! You little brat, don't talk to your father that way!" Jun yelled.
Simon threw his hands up. "OH now the little princess here is in this too! I don't have to take this, i'm out of here." and he sprints off into the house.
Jun was about to chase after him when Magnus said to let it go. "You'll have to excuse my son, he can be very irrational sometimes. It was my fault, I should have raised him better." He stares down into his cup of tea.
Jun sat down. "Yeah, well good thing you called it off, I was about to give him a piece of my mind!... or so they say." Chello face palmed.
Magnus looked up. "He wasn't like this before. At least, not some time ago. Before, he was the complete opposite of what he is acting like now."
Chello snickered. "I find that hard to believe..."
Magnus shook his head, "Alas it is true. Not to long ago, he was very bright and cheerful. Now, well... you know the rest."
Chello asked Magnus what made him change, but Magnus gave Chello a blank look. "I don't know, honestly. I treated him right, I sheltered him properly, gave him food and clothes. However I did notice a change in his behavior after I sent him on this one mission..."
Simons room.
"Stupid...strangers..." Simon was repeatedly punching his pillow into oblivion. "None of this wouldn't have happened if you showed up!" He threw his pillow across the room, landing in a pile of nearby clothes which were scattered. "I don't want to be a part of his business..."
A long time ago.
A youthful Magnus, fit and ready, walked across an empty hallway to a room, which had the word "Simon" on it. He knocked on the door. "Simon are you up? Your gonna miss breakfast!" He opens the door and sees a young Simon getting ready.
"Yeah, just wait, lemme get dressed!"
The two walked into their kitchen, which was barely stocked. The two were living in Hendon Myre like a normal citizen, middle class. Magnus had yet to start his climb to the top of the merchant empire, and Simon was about to start 9th grade.
Magnus looked outside the window which encompassed an amazing sight- the Hendon Myre mansion. "See that my boy? We will have that soon. We will live there soon."
"You tell me that every day, Dad." He eats a spoonful of cereal. "Frankly, at this rate, we might never get to even set foot in that mansion!"
"Hah, whats this negativity im getting from you boy? Remember, we are the Magnus'! We can do anything!"
Simon lifts up his wooden spoon. "Thats right! We can!" He smiles.
Magnus sits down. "Okay, today for our order of business, we are overseeing a business transaction today, and I want you to finally see one."
Simon looked up. "A...business transaction?"
"Yes! A business transaction!" Magnus looked up. "I've been doing my work for some time and frankly, I haven't one of those days where you get to see your old man in action! ...Whats it called..a..." He fumbles for the words.
"A take your son to work day?"
"Yes that's right! Come on, finish your food, and lets go. Your finally of age, and you can now take head of the family business.
"This was to be my worst day of my life." Simon recalled. "The day I chose to become a slayer."
"I was young back then, but everything seems peaceful, so quiet. My life was great back then... mostly because I din't know about my dads work. Everything changed that day when I met her."
Magnus stepped out of his car, and Simon did the same. They both were in front of an old house that looked unkempt.
"What are we doing here, Dad?"
"Just a business thing. Hey, why don't you swing around back to the backyard and play there? I heard there's a cute girl there."
"I'm like 14 dad...i'm not a little kid anymore."
Just as Simon entered the backyard, he realized he forgot his wallet in the car. As he turned back, he noticed that his dad was now standing with two big huge thugs. "What...What is Dad doing with those guys?" The thugs kicks the door open and a scream rings out, and Magnus enters along with the thugs. He was no longer able to see him, but when he turned around he saw a girl the same age as Simon look into his eyes.
"Yikes!" Simon jumps. "You..you scared me!"
The girl was almost the same height, but was fit and tan, and had a long ponytail. Her face was small but attractive, and her green eyes were very beautiful. However the clothing she was wearing was really worn out.
The girl looked away in sorrow. She spoke in a small voice. "Your dad...he's one of those thugs right?" Simon looked around. The backward was really worn out, the fences were falling apart, the grass was dead, it was a scene of grey. All that stood out was a swingset that was still functional. Simon was getting creeped out a bit.
"A..thug? No, he's no thug, he's just...my dad."
The girl looked away again. "so..you don't know what he does? ...all this time?"
"No...why? He just goes to work and comes back home...but he tells me he works at a shop."
A scream rung out of the house again.
present day.
A knock interrupted Simon's thoughts. The door opens and it turns out to be one of Magnus' servants. "Master Magnus wishes to speak with you. He also sends his apologies."
Magnus sighed. "Well, in any case, I've prepared some supplies for you to help you for your journey."
He points to a table nearby. On top of the table lay new equipment for the three to use for their travels. The table laid host to a new set of clothing and weaponry, as well as food and general supplies for adventuring. Jun received a new pair of custom made Izukone Mythril gauntlets and leg protectors.
"This fits perfectly!" She said. "Wait...if this is custom made...how did you get the exact requirements?"
Magnus looked away. "Oh nothing...it was a lucky guess." He chuckled.
"WHAT?!" she yelled.
Chello recieved a pair of handguns labled "Mizore .44"
"Whoa, these guns are high tech!" Chello exclaimed. "How did you get these?"
Magnus spun around. "Ah I see you have an eye for rare parts and guns I see. Nothing less than I had expected from one of royal birth."
Jun still stood in the backround yelling at Magnus. "Hey! How did you measure me? DID YOU DO IT WHILE I WAS SLEEPING?"
Simon descended the steps. Everyone notices this, and falls silent.
"What the hell is everyone looking at me for?" Simon said.
Simon looked at the table like it was another Tuesday morning. He grabed the gear and equipped it with ease and dexterity, like he had been used to it.
"I've also arranged bags filled with Loton HP potions and food to last you a week." Magnus said. "It's not as elegant and gourmet like the food from yesterday, but I hope it will last. I've also arranged two horses and a carriage to take you to Sky Tower."
He points to a simple wooden carriage- a roofless carriage that usually used by farmers to transport harvest. Jun and Chello jumped.
Magnus wished them luck as Jun and Chello and Simon boarded. Simon took the front, while Jun and Chello sat in the back organizing their gear. And off they went, into the Lorien forest, on the way to Sky Tower.
2 hours later
"Simon! Slow the cart down! Your going way too fast!" Jun yelled.
Simon noticed he doze off in the journey, while still in control of the cart.
"HUH WHAT- I'm awake!" he yelled.
Chello hung on to the side for dear life. The cart was approaching near 40 miles per hour, which is quite fast for a horse-pulled carriage. Then, a bump on a road. The cart flung sideways, spilling supplies and making the horses run away. The trio were flung in the air from the cart and crash landed on grass and dirt. The cart was destroyed. The horses ran away in the wake of the destruction.
Jun got up. "You...you IDIOT! Look what you did!"
Simon got up and dusted off his clothes, "Me? How was that MY fault? Your the one who was yelling at me, I couldn't concentrate! At least I could drive that cart!"
Chello sat up and rubbed his head. "Ow...Man, that hurt.."
Jun replied, "I can't believe I got stuck with you. We lost the cart, our supplies are scattered, and our horses are gone."
"I never wanted you in my team anyway! You all would just get in my way anyway!" Simon stormed off into the forest.
Jun yelled, "HEY, GET BACK HERE! YOU HAVE TO CLEAN UP!" Jun was going to follow when Chello interrupted.
"Jun, its fine, let him walk. He's just a kid, not worth it. Come on, lets clean up." He got up.
Jun stomped the floor and put her hands on her hips.
Simon went about with his sword in the forest slashing down trees and destroying the grass.
"I dont...Need...them!"
Countless trees fell victim to Simon's rage.
He looked at another tree.
"Think i'm stupid huh..."
He raised his sword, but as he was about to slash, he heard a growling sound behind him. He turned around.
The Minotaur snorted loudly at Simon. The Minotaur was roughly five times taller than Simon, covered in scars, rings, and battered armor. To make matters worse, the Minotaur sported a massive axe that looked like it could cleave through a tree like a hot knife though butter. In a loud booming voice, the Minotaur spoke.
"I am the great forest beast Krieger. You have been destroying my home. You cleave my trees and destroy my grass. Why do you do this?"
Simon was completely petrified. He has never faced anything of his size before. The Minotaur continued to speak.
"Why do you not answer me? I DEMAND AN ANSWER!"
The loud Minotaur's voice boomed through the forest.
At the fallen wagon, the two adventurers were still cleaning up the mess left behind by Simon. Jun was furiously cleaning up the spilled potions while Chello was re-gathering the scatted supplies.
"I cannot believe that air-head!" Jun yelled as she picked up a potion. "He just left us to clean up after him! He's like a child! Ugh!"
Jun furiously kicks a potion away into the forest.
"Hey! We need that Jun!" Chello exclaims. "I know your mad, but we can't be starting off our journey like this!"
Chello drops a light shoulder piece and walks over to the direction where Jun kicked the potion. Jun stomps the floor and resumes to clean up the mess, scooping up Loton HP potions and magic flowers. As Chello is walking in the forest to find the HP potion that Jun kicked into the forest, he notices a faint red glimmer in the bush.
"Ah, there you are. Quite a distance."
As he reaches over, he notices marks in the tree and looks up. Then, one after another, he notices fallen trees and busted grass, as if a massive storm happened through the forest.
"Simon…"
Jun was almost done putting the spare armor parts together when she notices Chello running back with a worried look on his face.
"Jun, you have to see this!"
The duo follows the trail of debris and markings hoping to find the lost-child Simon. Chello whistles.
"Jeeze, Simon was really angry huh?" Chello said, noting the destruction of nature.
"That is no excuse for destroying nature, that idiot." Jun said while clenching her fist. "I'm going to have a word with him." Jun finished. And the two continued, following the wreckage.
Simon is still standing at the same spot. Finally he has the courage to speak.
"Great forest beast, I-I was angry…and I have destroyed the forest in anger…I-I'm sorry."
Suddenly the great beast roared and Simon was thrown off balance by the roar.
Jun and Chello stopped in their tracks on hearing the great roar.
"Did you hear that Jun?" Chello said.
"Of course I did…" Jun replied. "It came from that way…I'm betting Simon is there.."
"Oh…that's not good then.." Chello sighed.
The great beast roared again.
"That is no reason to destroy my home, human! You will pay with your life!"
The great beast lifted its axe above its head, and Simon just sat in terror at the axe. Simon could not move any part of his body at all, as the sword weighed down on him behind his axe. He knew it was there to protect him, but for some reason, he could not bring about the strength to move and unsheathe the sword, for the sight before him was too hard to believe. Then, the axe swung down. Simon closed his eyes.
-BANG-
A bullet whizzes through their air to hit the axe coming down at Simon.
"Nice shot!" Jun says.
Both the beast and Simon look at the direction of the shot.
"Jun! Chello!" Yells Simon. He gets up and rushes over to them.
"I hate you so much right now," Says Jun, "But I can't do this whole mission without you."
Chello taps both of them.
"Yeah, kiss and makeup later guys, look in front of you! We have a bigger problem!" Chello says.
The great beast roars and stomps his feet.
"What, are these your friends?"
Jun replies, "Great beast, please excuse my friend here, he was angry at us!"
"That is not good enough! He must pay for destroying my home! My territory!" And with a great roar, he split the earth with his axe, with the split coming towards the trio. All three jumped away in time before the split hits them.
Jun takes out her bronzed gauntlets and put them on. "I'm sorry then, great beast. I have to protect him."
Chello reloads his revolvers. "I don't have anything against nature… but I don't have much of a choice here."
Simon, with renewed hope and faith in his new friends, finally unsheathes his massive sword.
"Alright you big beast. I'm not playing around anymore." He points the sword at the beast. "Lets do this."