It was the year 57 AGW. The fifth month was about to end and a gloomy overcast fell over the snowy city. Despite this you could still see the steam powered blimps flying above the city.
As I walked through the snowy streets of Erlosi, I couldn't help but feel the burn of exhaustion and cold as the outside air overtook my lungs.
Monti was behind me yelling to move faster. As these words drifted to my ears, I almost tripped with the 40 lbs of iron scrap I had on my back. Regardless, I kept pushing through.
My strawberry blonde hair was tightly packed into the hood of my jacket my cheeks were turning red from the cold and my lips were chapped.
As both time and vulgar comments pass, I finally made it to my destination. It was the little shop on the edge of town.
Looking at it from the outside it looked quite neat with a welcoming atmosphere. However, as I entered and dropped the scrap on the floor the inside screamed out telling you to run as fast as you could.
There was different materials everywhere from monster skulls to jagged metal. Everywhere you looked the once nice shop was now a nightmare you never wanted to have.
All of a sudden I hear a bubbly laugh from behind me as Monti enters through the doorway.
"What's your problem," I say to Monti. "Just because you have muscles of an ox doesn't mean I do. I'm only 13 I can't go that fast carrying all this stupid scrap."
"Oh Eros if all you do is complain, then you won't ever make it far in training those muscles. I looked at Monti with a side long glance and let a deep sigh escape from my lips. "You say that, but even if I didn't complain I doubt I could get muscles like you say."
I come from a small family, so far its just my dad, sister, and me left. We aren't exactly the richest family, but we make it by fairly well.
Regardless of this I have barely any meat on my bones. My dad says I got that gene from my mother, but I was only two when she passed away, so I only know her by pictures.
After dropping the scraps off in a pile for Monti, he gave me my pay and I started to head back to the house.
On the way, I stopped by the town market and collected some things for dinner: meat, vegetables, some bone broth, and finally a few different kinds of mushrooms; my sisters favorite.
In total it took about half of the money I just received, but this was no problem for me. I'm use to be the one getting food and paying parts of the bills at home.
Dad puts most of his money towards researching new types of artifacts and making sure my sister and I had good lives.
Once home, I'm greated by a bear hug from my little sister. Her name is Athena. Like me, she too got her name from Greek Mythology.
"Well, well, well" I say, "How are you sister, did you get your homework done for the day?"
Unlike me Athena is currently enrolled in daily school. She constantly comes home teaching me basic writing and math skills. I have thankfully gotten a hang of it all pretty quick and can now properly add, subtract, multiply, and divide in my head.
"It was as amazing as ever brother!! Today we were taught about the Great War and how 'The Great Powers' helped to bring an end to the 'Evil Ones'.
As she said this, I think to next month and my 14th birthday. It is that month, that I too will get my powers. Due to my bloodline, I am most likely to get a specialist power. For my father this means being able to have a photographic memory.
While I want to be like the 'Powerful Ones', whose powers fell into the miscellaneous category. Being a specialist also has its own benefits.
It means I can get a good job and live a stable life with my father and sister. Hopefully it will allow me to make more money, but other than that a nice calm life is okay with me.
"That's awesome Athena, which of the 'Powerful Ones' is your favorite?"
"Madam Time of course!!" exclaims my sister.
"The way she can maipulate space to make it seem like time itself is slowing down is so awesome!! I want to be like her in the future."
As I listen to my 10 year old sister talk so happily about her dreams, I start to feel a hint of sadness behind my eyes. It is very unlikey that someone of one bloodline will get powers related to a different category.
So for my sister, this dream is sadly just a dream. Regardless, I tell her how she would be an amazing hero and then leave her to go start dinner.
As I walk through the kitchen making dinner, I can't help but think of the Awakening Cermony and the power that will soon be waiting for me.