Beginners Luck- Intro: 2

Fluke finally worked up the nerve to ask a question.

"Are we winning as a species?" Fluke asked it even though he knew that the answer wouldn't be the one he wanted.

"Winning?" The Librarian cocked his head and looked up at the sky.

"Define winning." The old man crossed his arms behind his back and looked down at the boy.

"Progressing? Growing? Gaining a foothold?" Fluke shook his head and shrugged hoping for but a sliver of a chance that there might be meaning in this existence, beyond the bleak picture that had been painted for him. He was mere minutes alive and already felt the desperation and uphill battle before them. His newfound teacher slowly shook his head and let out a deep sigh.

"I asked the man who became my mentor the same question, when I arrived at this gilded paradise... so I will tell you the same words he told me." Kneeling down to get on his level, Fluke finally saw the green eyes buried behind the mask, they pierced into his heart and the words that he uttered next reverberated deep into his soul.

"No, son. We cannot win. Can't you see? This barely corporeal dimension is the result of a devil in a playpen... Nothing is truly real here; many can only do want they are designed to do... Face this reality now boy: We are soulless puppets tormented for the sick pleasure for dimensional observers in this void of exploitation... Our hollow souls are trapped to be reincarnated or resurrected in the hell fires of interdimensional space. Awoken, grown, and culled.... Awoken, grown, and culled.... They are watching us now! But there just might be a way out. Given enough time, a god or goddess might find themselves trapped in here with us. For even the gods are bound to slip. As long as we continue forward... one day, something will change."

Fluke found himself holding his breath through these words and suddenly felt the need to take a deep breath.

"So, there are no gods here?" Fluke whispered his question in a tone of reverence and despair. The Librarian stood now and turned to continue his march up the hill. He called over his shoulder in reply.

"Not yet! But there is always a chance one will grace us with their boons and lead us to salvation." Hearing these words Fluke just had more questions than answers.

"How are we different then sir? What makes us special?" Fluke once again was jogging to keep up.

"There are a few of us in this world, beyond you and me and this island, that can grow, learn, and stumble on the path of power. They fear us, Fluke. Humanity was once powerful and terrible. So now our lives are trophies, and our power is harvested to make them stronger. This is our punishment; this is our penance for the sins of our forefathers. If the outsiders manage to kill my lieutenants, then the sky will turn red. Then they must cross a sea, arrive here and kill me for the final reward." The old man climbed up and over the crest of the hill and out of sight for a moment. Fluke took a deep breath and leaned on his legs, feeling the blood pounding in his heart and veins. He would find a way. He would not let despair define his existence. Fluke pushed once more and climbed the crest to see a plateau before him, and off a little ways two large stones that looked like perfect seats to rest on.

The Librarian continued speaking without turning back. "The outsiders gave us these masks long ago. My best guess is they got tired of the senseless, merciless slaughter of our kind, and wanted to have some semblance of resistance when they came to take everything from us. Soon you will see one. They rarely venture all the way here, but I think your arrival, and my newfound power is a sign that they will come here for us."

"What new power did you get?" Fluke gasped this question out trying to keep up without appearing weak or incapable.

"A third symbol appeared on my mask." He reached up and touched the ebony shield emblem on his cheek. "Each indicates an ability, talent, or quality that we can obtain. Without a mask, you cannot begin to even compete with the outsiders. Masks imbue you with speed, strength and power that most humans from the ancient times rarely achieved. Though to them, it is but another challenge that they seek to conquer when we gain these symbols. I am the first human to have three on their mask... ever. It was believed that our eyes, acting as the TWO windows to our souls, limited how much we could obtain. But it seems, with dedication and dumb luck we humans are capable of breaking any barrier that is set before us."

Fluke contemplated everything that he was hearing. "How do I get my mask?" The Librarian let out a short booming bark of a laugh.

"HA! Already so eager. Unfortunately boy: Violence is the answer. You must kill something stronger than you, and then imbue it with a material to strengthen it... What you choose will set your path before you and help identify the advancements you can make. But we have to make it through today before we even get a chance at setting your path or getting a mask." The Librarian continued his march, which left Fluke contemplating the danger that would be in his future.