Beginners Luck: Intro

Fluke awoke into his world like any other human being: as a young adolescent, clothed in a long sleeved white shirt, and brown pants. Looking around he saw that he wasn't alone, he was near a small fire at the center of what appeared to be a small village. Sitting up on his arms he looked around, and no one seemed to be bothered by the sudden appearance of a young man. Pushing himself onto his elbows he looked to see that he was on a reed mat, at the foot of the mat was a pair of boots. Feeling the chill of the morning air suddenly, Fluke hurried and put the boots on his feet, then turned to warm his hands on the fire. Though there was no apparent signs of danger, Fluke felt like his body was on high alert. Beyond the simple stone and log houses, was a ring of hills encompassing the village. A simple dirt road ran through the village and ended at the fire that he sat next to. No one was about their business yet, for the sun had not yet fully dispelled the night.

Fluke got up searching for a purpose, but found no one to help him, and no clues as how to proceed. So he did the only thing that came to his mind: start yelling.

"HELLO?!" An echo could be heard rebounding off the hills. That's when the first signs of life could be heard: and they carried the distinct aura of frustration. A clatter of items and door springing open revealed a tall muscular being. As he walked closer Fluke could see that this person's face was fully concealed behind a pearl white mask. This person strode right up to the fire ring and folded his arms.

"You are early." A gruff elderly mans voice came from behind the mask. They stared at each other for a long awkward moment.

"I'm.. Sorry?" is all Fluke could conjure up to say. Fluke looked at the tall being and the mask that he wore. The mask had a multicolor sheen to it when the light reflected just right. The forehead of the mask had a symbol in black that resembled an hour glass, his left cheek had a book with a quill, and his right cheek a shield. The mouth and eye holes were nothing but flat rectangles of darkness.

"I am the Librarian. I am the chief around here amongst other titles. But when new arrivals come early, it is a sure sign that something is different in our little world. What is your name?" He unfolded his arms and looked the young man up and down.

"Uh... Fluke. Though I could not tell you why that's my name." Fluke felt awkward under the constant gaze from the masked man, fidgeting with his hands and twisting his toe in the cold compacted dirt. The man let out a noise that sounded like an intrigued growl.

"Hmmm. Fluke you say? Now... That is curious. And I bet you have no clue what to do... right Fluke?" The man crouched down to get at the boys level.

The young man furrowed his brow at that question, but the man was right.

"Yeah. I have no clue what I am to do. That's why I called out.... Sorry again you must have been sleeping. " Fluke felt his face grow hotter still with this scrutiny.

The Librarian nodded, "I was sleeping... But if something has changed, that means a culling is on its way. Come with me Fluke. I will answer questions and teach you as much as I can about where you are, and what is coming."

The man strode off behind Fluke, and as Fluke turned to follow, he noticed a trail that cut its way up the hills behind the village. Doors opened from the houses, and various men began to go about tasks. A pair of men dressed in leather clothes holding bows and arrows left in the opposite direction looking to start their day hunting. A stocky bearded man with apron and blackened goggles began to stoke the fire on a furnace and arranging his tools. Yet another man grabbed a fishing pole and left not long after the pair of hunters. Something was off. Fluke thought hard at what it could be. Then he realized it, there wasn't a woman to be seen. And on top of that, not one child could be found. The absence of women and children, and the lack of noise and play set Fluke's anxiety ablaze. The Librarian's voice broke his train of thought and disrupting his concentration.

"The beings that you see are but a hollow reflection of what our people used to be. Humans once great and powerful reduced to this... The people you see are not sentient. You and I have been awoken from a deep slumber, but only at the appropriate time, all according to an invisible unwavering schedule. We are but cattle in this universe now. This pocket dimension, this rift in space, this... prison... has all we could ever need to exist and live abundant lives. However, we cannot reproduce... And we can never leave...."

Despite his age the old man climbed the trail without taking a moment to breath or pause for rest. Fluke felt his lungs tighten and his legs burn as he worked to keep pace to hear everything this sage had to offer. On a flatter switch-back Fluke pushed himself to jog to get right behind the old man.

"This place is cultivated so that our overlords beyond the vail can go on living and conquering the stars. And occasionally they come and kill us for sport... for practice... and sometimes as a rite of passage. I have fought many times throughout the years, and through those fights I have grown strong and powerful in my own way, but I fear I must've breached a barrier, which will garner us... unwanted attention."

The Librarian paused and turned around to face Fluke. The mask looked minimally expressive, but with the faint downward curves on his eyes and mouth, the man looked almost... sorrowful. Fluke caught his breath examining this man with mask markings of a scholar but the body build of a warrior. The hair on his broad forearms showed flecks of grey, and scars could be seen from battles not too long ago.