THE RANDOM WORD CHALLENGE

Chapter 5

Her words stuck in my thoughts, and I froze in my mess of thoughts, but the woman noticed that her words profoundly affected me, so she continued to speak.

“Don’t worry, boy. I can see you are as poor as it gets down here in The Entry Home Land, but I can also see something hidden behind your eyes like you are more than what you seem. I was just walking through the noble district four, and that thief came out of nowhere,” the lady put the back of her hand to her head and then turned it, feigning indignation.

“Sorry Ma’am, I just was in the right place at the right time to help, I guess,” I say while scratching at my side.

The damn sack was itchy, and getting knocked to the ground hadn’t helped. Maybe I’ll get a coin or two, whatever the people here used for currency, and I could get something to eat and wear. Just then, my stomach rumbled at the thought of food.

“Aren’t you just a Darling, but by the sounds your stomach says you’re starving! My name is Isabella Huntington, and I am a Duchess of the fifth noble level. I specialize as a Duelist, and I have a comfortable home with no husband. Would you like to come live with me, my little burlap sack boy?”

“Holy crap, this is amazing! You just got here, and now you have a home?! What crazy luck!” Elena finally piped up, but I ignored her.

Was this my big chance to jump ahead who knew how many levels? And all I had to do was go with this rich and beautiful woman? I didn’t think anymore before blurting out my answer.

“Yes, I would really enjoy that.”

“Oh my! Isn’t he so cute! So formal and in a burlap sack, just wait until we put some shoes on you. My daughter is going to love you! Follow us, young man, you have saved me a lot of hassle, and I shall reward you for your act. I think it’s destiny that we met like this.”

Wow, I just walked out after being homeless and got ran over by a thief. Now I’m no longer lost, and I might get something to cure my growling stomach. Beggars can’t be choosers, is how the saying goes, but I would pick this choice every time Destiny offered it to me! These blessings were turning out to be a real help, and did she just say, daughter?

This game was shaping up to be a good one!

I followed the group through seven security check stations as we passed through each level, and Miss Isabella let them scan her wrist each time. Each time, she put her palm up and pulled all the fingers in but left her pinky out. After the second station, I asked her why she was doing it.

“Why do they scan your hand?”

“Multiple things; if you go into your inventory and ask for HAND ACTIONS, there is a ten space wheel to store items to use. Your first slot will always have your AVATAR which is what I was doing by extending my pinky. You can activate these by holding up your fingers from pinky to index for one to five. Then you drop fingers to your palm until your hand is closed for six to ten.”

“She is right! You can do this to interact with objects or people. You can also put your other hand flat over the top of your hand, making the number slot to summon items,” Elena piped up beside my head.

“That’s really helpful, thank you. Can I ask you one question?” I asked Isabella as we passed into the fifth level.

“Of course child, what is it?”

“Why are you helping me?”

“You had every chance to take my bag and run. We would have had no idea you had it, just like the one who took it in the first place. The treasure inside this bag is worth a small kingdom, and you might not have known that, but that doesn’t change how you stepped forward. Even while I was angrily chasing the thief, you stepped in my path and politely gave me what I was looking for and asked nothing in return—you, who is in nothing but a burlap sack. I have faith you will become something this world has never seen. Like I said, destiny.”

I wasn’t in a place to be arguing, and I was just glad that I wasn’t looking for a place to sleep tonight, but it was nice to hear after the catastrophic lifetime I had just lived, though. As we walked, I tried to concentrate on Miss Isabella so I wouldn’t stop and gawk at all the fantastic things that were sliding past my vision. I’m pretty sure I saw a large slug selling something that looked like ice cream, among other incredible sights.

Soon we slowed down and walked up to a beautiful manor built with white brick and a red tile roof. The two-story building had a large balcony that wrapped around the house. There was a single iron gate that was surrounded by a three-meter tall red brick wall.

Once we got to the gate, one of the guards opened it up for us and ushered us through.

As we walked up to the porch, a girl that looked about four to five years older than me greeted us. The purple-haired girl got very excited when she saw Isabella.

“Mom, why did you bring home that walking sack of potatoes?”

The girl was tall for her age and had a curious look that said she wasn’t disgusted by me. She was charming, with a blue sundress on and white slippers. Her blue eyes blended with her purple hair, but she had pale skin. Not that it took away from her beauty.

“This young man rescued my bag from that man that grabbed it. Not before we chased him five levels down. This ‘bag of potatoes’ has done a great favor for us, and we shall repay him by giving him a home with us. Think of him as your little brother,” Miss Isabella explained and then turned to me, gesturing to the girl. “This lovely daughter of mine is Violet.”

“What’s your name?” Violet asked, tilting her head to the side.

“Ragmuffin. It’s ok, a lot was happening,” I mumble.

I see Violet’s face redden, and Miss Isabella screws up her expression to hide the smile I know she is holding back. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I said my name. Miss Isabella let out a cough.

“Well, I don’t think that name will do. What do you think, Honey?”

“I’m not really sure, but we can’t leave it like that. How would we ever take this boy out?” And at this point, both Miss Isabella and Violet started to laugh.

I smiled, thinking how nice it was to see a happy family that was so small. I believe there is only one name I should have for this round. Let’s stick it to Fate, so when I find him and his minions, I can tell him Marcus says, hey!

“Marcus,” I speak up loud enough to interrupt the two’s laughter.

“Really? Are you sure? Because I will change it right now, you will also take our last name. I have a CHANGE NAME PASS, but you can’t change it again after.”

“I’m sure. You say that destiny brought us all together. Well, I, Marcus Huntington, have a score to settle with Fate, and that is my destiny!” As I finished my little speech, the blinking star popped up again.