Elric was born in the slums of the Holy Orenian Empire out of wedlock. All Elric knew of his birthparents was that his mother was a common wench in one of the underground brothels in the red light district, while his dad was one of her patrons, a sell sword of unknown renown. Neither knowing nor caring who his birthparents were, Elric was placed into one of the many understaffed and decrepit orphanages in the area under the state's custody.
Life in the orphanage was the pivotal moment in Elric's growth and the place that fostered his hunger for knowledge and power. Living in the underbelly of the Empire, it taught Elric harsh truths of the world and the unforgiving nature of the slums. It was a dog eat dog world where it was every person for themselves. Orphans pitted against each other to fight for morsels of food provided by the state, a rather paltry amount Elric admits. Through his guile and wit, he has learned the necessity of improving one's self against tremendous odds and even caught the attention of a vagrant scholar. A self-proclaimed "scholar" who taught him to read and write and parted with him knowledge that , playing a big part in his current world view. He also taught Elric and fostered his hunger for knowledge and questioning the status quo. It was rather obvious he held the imperial faith in disdain and contempt.
However, all good things come to an end. After his period of tutelage, Elric has began using his gift of literacy to the fullest extent. Now hoping to follow his mentors footsteps, he is trying to find more information on his mentor and to meet him again in better circumstances. While finding work as a herbalist, he treads forward with life in the slum.
After much digging, it was clear that the particular scholar was not from an "orthodox" source. It should have been clear from the knowledge he imparted, such as the trove of knowledge in poisons he taught disguised as "herblore" knowledge. Elric suspects him to be a follower in one of the unorthodox cults sprinkled throughout Middle Earth that had saw something promising in him, proceeding to plant the seed of something greater; hoping to nurture him. To what end Elric does not know, but holds him in favorable regard nonetheless.
Elric sat in a tent with his dear mentor, legs crossed. Across him drinking tea would be the person who has taken a shine for him, teaching him knowledge none would easily part with without recompense; a sickly man in a loose robe made out of coarse leather, ruddy brown as the earth beneath the tent. Elric's mentor staring at him impassively behind his raggedy and loose robes, his two dull grey orbs staring into his brown ones.
The atmosphere visibly tenses, Elric could feel the tension in his body build like an anvil weighing down on him. He could easily sense the gravitas within his gaze and presence. Sitting quietly in mute awe and slight reverence. Soon he speaks as Elric sat rigid.
A grandfatherly smile graced his face as he spoke.
"Elric, my boy.. today will be our final lesson. Alas, all good things has to come to an end. I have enjoyed teaching you. You have a bright mind and an even more cunning intellect."
His tone turns graver as he spoke, soon sporting a hateful scowl as he proceeds. The sheer vitriol and spite in his voice caused Elric to curl his toes inwards with a grimace, it was an open secret that both Elric and his mentor held Canonism in contempt and disbelief. His feelings on it clearly much stronger however judging by the look on his face.
"The empire think.. that the more they lock us down and isolate us.. it strips us of our power. That we are a dying breed."
"They're dead ******* wrong."
"We are just real selective on who we choose to call our brother, so the question is.. will you be ready?"
"You like to read right? I've got a good collection left just for you. I've just finished <The Human Animal>, it'll be in the rucksack."
The book in question, Elric saw being tossed into a rucksack behind him. It was almost uncanny, landing inside perfectly, almost as if it was guided by an invisible force. Looking underneath his robes, Elric noticed a strange symbol on his wrist. He did not know what it was, it might be the sun's trickery or his imagination but it pulsed with a tint of red as his mentor did so.
"Heed my words boy, a warriors deadliest weapon is his mind."
"If our fates align, we shall meet in very different circumstances. Keep your wits about you my boy.. and trust no one. My pilgrimage continues."
Elric's mentor soon left as he continued sitting in stunned silence. As Elric regained awareness, he came to a stark realization, jaw agape. The tent now empty, a far cry from how it looked even before his lesson today. All that's left was a bulky rucksack left infront of him. The contours of books clearly showing, almost as if bursting from the seams.
Making his way back to the orphanage, Elric decided to keep these books near and dear to him, for it was the only memoir left of his old friend and mentor.
He never knew this meeting would soon inadvertently change his life for the years to come.
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