SEO JI-HO
What's the essence of life really? I wondered to myself. Do we live just to play a certain role in life— I'm not talking about being a reaper, a human or demon, but being born, strong or weak, appealing or repulsive. Why should we be created only to be trampled by another. I hated it so much. I wasn't as naive as thinking we were born equal that was never possible, but wasn't there a way for a change? The weak slightly less weaker, and the ugly less repulsive.
Even someone determined to break this cycle usually fails to change it, it never happens. They end up spending their lives being subjected to one of those roles. Born to be weak and beneath someone. Why was someone looked down upon just because he didn't fit into certain criteria. This world itself it is hell. A cruel adjustable hell. I stood up from the wooden mat I had laid down, drowning in pain and in my endless worries.
It was the day I would finally become a full-fledged reaper, an elite group that carries on the will of the realm. All I saw where foolish individuals who were happy about dying and sacrificing themselves to defend the realm, "what a load of crap," I muttered aloud. Could I really blame them tho, everyone was a slave to something one way or another. And sadly, I was one of them. I took a look at myself from the large wooden mirror in my apartment, more like a wooden old shack.
A reaper identical to a human, pathetic. Even worse, I was born with white hair, as if I wasn't going through enough already. I once shaved everything off, when I was kid. Perhaps I thought it would never come back, foolish dreams.
Reapers never passed for human. A humaniod form—Green, blue, or red skin, markings etched into them, a symbol for each clan. I had none of it. I looked human, and in this world, that was worse than standing out.
A true reaper state, a form where they grew few inches taller and transforms into a bony skeletal figure. It was the Pinnacle of our race. Each time I tried it, it always came out wrong. I wasn't sure how to properly explain it, but it was like half of my human part merged with my other reaper half.
Since I couldn't perfect that form I mostly went about my day in my human form. Which would usually invite stares. After many years I might have gotten used to it, even for a little bit.
I wore a black robe which covered my entire body, tying my hair to the back, took a quick meal and I was ready to accept my fate to become a full-fledge reaper. If I was a little bit useful and scarce, just a little bit by carrying out missions. I was sure the nasty glares and retorts I got here and there would reduce. Taking a quick glance at the shack I lived, a wooden home. The roof were tattered, including the doors which had few holes that would allow you to see through.
The road to the Nekronis Corp was quite long, I would have covered some distance but I wasn't sure what dangerous and breath taking mission I would be requested to take, better I saved up my energy. Wasn't really excited neither was I sad, just wanted to leave this suffering world as soon as possible. I got occasional stares as I walked by.
"It's him," "the cursed child" I could hear the faint voices but I was sure they didn't care if I heard or not, "don't look at him," one said, isn't that a little to harsh I thought to myself. It started to increase more and more, "Fuck it."
I said, channeling mana across my body, I moved as fast as my legs could carry, covering a large distance in minutes, and lo, behold I was could see the corp far ahead, just barely in sight.
Getting there, I noticed I was late, maybe a little too late, the crowd was a little bit scanty than it usually is, probably a lot of the rookies had been assigned their missions and had gone through the portal. "There You are!" a voice spoke out admist the crowd. An old man with visible grey hair mixed with blacks. His face was wrinkled and he wasn't smiling as walked towards him in slow and quiet steps. "Old man Dong- su," I said, breaking out a cold sweat.
"You fool," he said angrily, signalling I bent a little bit to match his height, I knew what he was about to do but I bent anyway, "oww" I let out an exhausted yelp, "You don't have to pull my ear everytime You know," I shouted, glaring at him. "You fool, don't get fooled by your height kid. You're still the little bald headed brat," he said, despite the stern look he gave me, his lips curved up a little into a faint smile. I sighed "fine fine, I'm sorry," I said, putting my two hands together in the pleading stance. Park Dong-Su, the only man who had treated me with care, even this was an understatement he was truly the one reason I hadn't run mad in this little hell I appeared.
Lost in thoughts, I felt a sharp pain jolting to my brain, "oww" I replied, " Stop being fool and follow me in," he said, as he started moving quietly while I followed his pace. As we stepped foot inside the building it was finally time, having waited all my life for this, there was a faint hope I had maybe if I became a worthy reaper I would be accepted, but that dream would only be a dream, a nice, satisfactory dream.
I noticed the few stares from all over the places. "Look at him," "The flaw of our world," "What does Park Dong-su ssi see in him." I looked at the old man but he moved without a single emotion evident on his face, well I've gotten used to it by now might as well move on.
We reached the red altar and I was ordered to move along, there were 156 graduate ahead of me, I slowly waited for my turn. It was taking a little longer than I expected and I began to grow impatient. "Ohh it's You Ji-ho for a moment I didn't know You were there. Considering You don't have mana." He voice spoke out turning back to look at me. He shook his head, "No that's not right, Yours just can't be sensed right, like a defective." He shot me a sharp grin.
I looked at him dead pan, I wanted to say something but refrained, if it led to a commotion, I probably would be the one to blame. "Number 156" a loud voice called out, "ohh that's my cue," he said, increasing his pace. Before he moved any further he turned around glancing at me, "please do us a favour and don't come back will you?" It was a question but I was sure he knew I wouldn't answer, and with that he moved forward.
After a while a voice called out, "Number 157," My cue was finally here, I moved forward towards the alter I took a quick glance at the Old man, he held a warm smile seeing that, I found a new strength in me as I walked forward. "Seo-Ji-ho of...." He paused looking at my files, he cleared his throat then continued "Seo-Ji-ho of no-named blood please stretch out Your hand on the stone,"
I stretched my hands over a large stone that had several inscriptions etched into it. "Do You swear to observe all rules and commandments," "I do," I replied. "Do yo swear not to abuse your powers and not to forcefully take a human life," "I do," I said, after asking several questions and couple of I dos, he looked at me, his eyes stern almost as if it was piercing through my innermost soul.
"Please do not cause trouble and also, this is the first time a rare specimen as yourself will be taking a task like this," I was sure he intended to say something mean or blunt but stopped due to the masses, not that it mattered anyway. "Before you go," he said adjusting his stance and using his hand to signal I bent closer to him, then slowly he placed his hand around my head and pulled it closely, the moment our head touched. I felt a series of information flooding into my brain. After what had been like 10 or 15 seconds he stopped as the ritual was now complete. "Number 157," he paused then slowly spoke out again, "Seo Ji-ho good luck," and with that I stepped into the portal.