Chapter 1: Ch01: What is Power?
In a world of mana, people who are able to use it are respected and revered. People who can't are thrown away or used. I'm Luthor, one of the "trash" who can't use mana. Well don't need to pity me, it's as they say, people with defect in one thing tend to to be strong in another. For me, its a strong heart and a curious brain. Being alone has made me highly adaptive to situations. Turning 12 this year, I lost my parents in a monster raid 3 years ago. Since then I have learnt to live with myself and the only thing that has been my companion during this loneliness was the different books left behind by my parents. My life was pretty ordinary, till that day.
It was just another day, I woke up around 10 a.m. ( well no parents to say wake-up early anyways).
I have learned to cook meals that range from basic to pretty advanced. Cooking generally brought some amount of clarity to my brain, like how its simple in its process that you just have to get the ingredients right and the steps right to make delightful food.
I was lost in the process, and after sometime as my muscle memory kicked in. I started day dreaming , mostly on the question I have been thinking lately.
'what is the recipe for power? no most importantly how it will even taste like? will it be satisfaction or feel of superiority or will it also have the same taste of loneliness?'
'Hmm considering my most immediate goal of surviving isn't it all about finding money enough to buy food and shelter? that's still wrong, what if I get suddenly attacked?'
'Well let's don't jinx it'
By this time the food was ready , it took the food directly in the cooking utensil to the dining table and ate it directly from the vessel. Afterwards I spent the day loitering in the sofa reading books and doing some minor workout to maintain basic body shape.
By night , I decided to go out to buy some basic supplies for food and other amenities. There was a shop near the end of my house's street.
I reached there by walking, the night was quiet and there was no lights except the street lights and shop light. Reaching there, I was going through the supplies from my "to Buy" list when the voice was heard
"Fast, quickly take all the money you have in the shop right now. Don't try anything funny, I may have cut open you and take it for myself."
The Old shop-owner was really scared and was about to take the money when
"Tinnnnnnnnn"
A small decorative jar that was near me had fallen because of getting touched by my jacket and the robber was on high alert.
He gathered mana to the size of 5 inch blade and sticking it near the man's neck shouted
"Whoever you are , come out from the other side of the aisle, or else I will kill this old man here and considering the only witness to be present, if I was not caught who do you think the bureau will suspect"
Well he was right, If this turns into a murder scene I may be called to questioning and even may be put in jail for a crime I didn't commit. I didn't want unnecessary contact with authorities.
Holding my hands up in a position to show no hostility, I walked towards him and stood before him. Then without removing his hand from the shop-owner's throat he asked me to take all the money present in the cashier's drawer and put it in the robber's bag.
As I was doing that, creating a blade using his other hand he put it to my neck. Using the former hand, using the blunt side of his arm , knocked out the shop-owner.
My mind was racing, thinking possibilities.
'Can I tackle him?, nope he was at least twice my size. He can throw me like a pair of rags if he wanted. What are my advantages ? well the same, I'm half his size. Shit I can't find a way to get out of this. At least I think he may knock me out and leave me I hope'
Suddenly he shouted,
"I can see you outside the shop, Just fu**king get in with your hands up or I will put a hole in this guy's head"
'amateur...how can he just decide the person outside is from the bureau. For all I know it could be some tramp who saw a chance with knocked out shop-owner and thought he could have a splurge of the shop after we left. This must have been first job or he must be too dumb and didn't get caught before. The former was more realistic.'
The guy outside came in through the door
"I'm just passing by, I didn't see anything and I will forget what happened here"
Then when the robber moved to check the outside , while was still in his arm. The other guy winked at me.
'Don't tell me, this guy is actually from the bureau. Okay, now that's something I can use...'
And I started thinking about a plan...
After 4-5 seconds the guy satisfied no one else was around, turned to the other guy. At the same time I winked at the bureau official and started talking
"Hey you must be feeling great now right?"
the robber was like "what did you say?"
" I'm saying you must feel pretty great now right? Considering you got money by knocking out a old man who can't even pick a stick to beat you and then getting a hostage half your size to terrorize some drifter in the streets. Must have been too poor to even earn to eat, to go this low. What you parents were poor or .. wait maybe you didn't have any . Let me guess, your parents must have died in some lowly ditch side of the streets right"
And he lost it, the robber was fuming so much you can see the steam coming out of his ears. He shouted
"Kid, even if I go to jail or get executed , I don't care I'm gonna butcher you into pieces and feed it to the goblins in the forest"
And I did it, the one super move that can be used against any men. The move to win in any bar fights or street fights. Yes , I did that...
I hit him in the nuts. Straight on it with my hindlegs.
Considering he's already mentally disturbed , he dropped me for a split second and that's all I needed as I rolled to the side
And after putting some distance I turned to see, only to be surprised to find that the bureau official was already on the guy and has pressed him to the ground
"Cease your acts, I'm from the bureau and now you're under arrest on charges of stealing, manslaughter and blackmail"
'Well all's well that end's well aye...'
Then as he was calling other bureau officials, I went into the shop to take a water bottle. Sprinkled some water on the shop-owner. After checking that he was alright, I went to the front of the store.
The bureau seemed to be waiting for me, Once I came in his view
" Kid that was one of the most coolest and dumbest idea I have ever seen, You have to either be a genius or batshit crazy to come up with that"
"Haha ... Funny how both those traits normally come together or confused"
"So what's your name and how where you caught in that ordeal" He took out a notebook to write it.
"Well So I'm Luthor , I live in a house down the street. I came to buy some supplies and got caught in that shit"
As I stopped speaking , the bureau official stopped writing and was looking at me like I'm a ghost.
"Yo, Old man want something to eat or drink, you slept with your eyes open"
"Huh.. Ha ..haha....hahahahahahahahahaha"
' I'm scared now, should I run now. I don't know. No maybe slowly moving back would be good, No sudden movements.'
Suddenly he stopped laughing and told,
"Kid want to join the Luxor Academy?"
'What? what's he spewing, I mean who doesn't want to that's one of the best academies in the Raustole continent. But one must be rich enough to pay for materials needed for the academy'
His assistant who came after call and was observing our conversation was also startled, he was looking at the other guy open-mouthed. I stared at him, he stared back. This staring contest went for another 5 seconds.
"You're serious?"
"I'm"
"But how can I go? I don't have money enough to pay for resources and books."
"You don't have to think about that, I will sponsor you"
'What , why... I mean who the f*ck are you'
Of course I didn't voice my thoughts directly, I asked
"Why, What do you get out of it?"
He thought for a second
"Consider this an investment, you will join the support group class there. Once you come out of it, help people in the continent to fight against the monsters."
'Hmm is he that altruistic'
"what are you , a sa...."
'Wait a minute , did he just say support class. Does that mean he knows I can't use mana.'
"Who the fu*ck are you", I shouted
He was clearly annoyed, he replied
" First, watch your mouth I'm way older than you. Second, I'm Revy Finch the commissioner of the county of East Raustole. Thirdly, I can't tell you everything But you can say I knew your parents and I'm kind of indebted to them. Finally, I'm giving you a chance of your lifetime it's your choice to take it or not"
'Well shit, know my parents huh... what should I do then...'
"How do I believe you?"
" I have the power to kill you, dismember you and even get away with it, But I'm offering you a chance to go to a prestigious academy. So you can give me the benefit of doubt"
'Hmm true enough'
" Hey old man, will I get strong there?"
"what type of dumb question is that, of course"
" I'm in"
"Hmm okay cool, So I believe you have around 6 months till your thirteenth birthday. In that time I will train you with basics needed to clear the entrance"
"Okay done"
'Let's see what you teach me then'
" So meet me in the County Police Station tomorrow"
"Should I bring anything"
"Yeah bring a set of gym wear, If you have any."
then I left from there thinking,
'what the hell just happened'
----------------------------------< 3-rd person POV >----------------------------------------------------
We see the two bureau officials in the street after Luthor leaves. The assistant turns to commissioner and asks
"Why are you going this much for a kid you just met and who are his parents?"
The commissioner took a cigar and lighted it and puffing a smoke asked
"Do you know his last name?"
"what??"
"Yes his last name, didn't you observe he never mentioned his surname."
"Isn't that because he doesn't have one, I mean not everyone has it"
" what gets in your mind when you think of his white hair and dark black eyes? and let me make it more easy for you, what if I say that his last name is 'Cunningham' "
The assistant was visibly confused for sometime.... and suddenly everything dawned on him. Whatever words he had got stuck in his throat. He was sweating unconsciously and knees nearly buckled. He slowly took a sip of water calming his nerves and sat down. The comissioner was thinking
'Show me what lies beyond this age of discrimination. Show me whether you're worthy of the surname, Luthor Cunningham'
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
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