Since I just finished chapter 50 of this story, I wanted to pitch an idea that I've had floating about in my brain for a bit. Also I'd appreciate any ideas you have for book names for this and for the my hero fic since I never gave it a real name :/
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When he opened his eyes, he didn't expect to be contained in darkness. He tried to move around but felt restrained, like he was being held in a small space. Where am I? He asked the system. [You are inside an egg, hurry up and hatch already!!] An egg? Though he knew that he might not always come back as a human, he didn't think that it would be so soon after the mess he'd left behind in the last world.
He tried to move around some more but the shell of the egg didn't give him much room to wiggle around in. He could feel small claws on the ends on his fingers though so he started to try and crack the egg open. As he did he could hear voices outside the egg, they spoke a guttural strange language. Despite the traveling he did in his first life, and in the last one, he still couldn't make heads or tails of this new one.
CRACK
He'd finally cracked the egg! The voices quieted outside but he didn't notice as he started to force his way out of the egg, and then. . . he was out. The air felt cold on his skin, the light was warm but not overwhelmingly bright so it didn't bother him as much as the cold did. Hey can you buy a translation skill? I don't have my magic yet so I need something to know what's going on. [Hmph, what's wrong with learning it the normal way.] The system scoffed as it bought the skill and the large being in front of him spoke.
"Ahh, welcome to the land of the living young one." A deep voice said as he looked up and as large reptilian humanoid walked over to him, "Do not startled the childling, or I will have you removed." A softer voiced warned but the large creature waved her off. "He will not startle, he the first to hatch. He will be strong in the years to come, I can see it." The male said as he crouched down to look at me.
I stared into his eyes as he observed me thinking. I took the time to observe this strange creature as well. He was massive, almost as big as AFO when he finally came out of that damn test tube, but his skin looked more like scales, his hands were large with two thumbs and two fingers. The most bizarre thing was the mouth and the legs, the legs were digitigrade and the mouth was made up of mandibles in stead of a lower jaw, though the upper was still there.
"He scrutinizes me just as I observe him." He rumbled as a more lithe adult walked over, a female judging from its smaller stature. "The other eggs will hatch soon, take him out so he does not disturb them." She said as the male raised a hand "First he shall be named. From now until you pass you shall bear the name, Xiro."
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At a year old Xiro already didn't like the San'Shyuum. Despite how other childlings and adults revered them for their 'wisdom' and 'holy' use of Forerunner technology, Xiro didn't see them as anything other than useless wastes of space. This sentiment had to be buried since the San'Shyuum or the 'prophets' as they were called, held plenty of sway in the Covenant.
Despite his dislike of them however, he still listened when they came to teach them things that the older Sangheili deemed below them. Xiro did like the Sangheili though since they were more straightforward, get strong, join the military and get honors. Simple enough to understand though he didn't like the ominous tone of the system quest this time around.
[System quest]
[Despite being revered as gods, the Forerunners were anything but. Discover their secrets and stop them at all costs.]
[Reward: Living, access to animus magic, MHA store will open once again, permanent anchor point.]
He knew about the Forerunner because of all the sermons that were shoved down their throats, but nothing about them sounded galaxy ending, at least no from anything HE had heard. He didn't have time to worry about that however as their small town near the sea would be getting an important visitor today, the Kaidon of the Vadam Keep would be inspecting them.
They lined up outside their house as the Kaidon and his retinue passed by, all of them wore ornate armor and carried spears, but he had noticed how they also had deactivated energy swords and plasma rifles attached to their bodies as well. The Kaidon himself was clad in golden armor, and marched at the front unafraid of attacks that may come. As he passed by all knelt as a sign off respect, not many Keeps held actual territory, and those that did were usually not the best when it came to caring for those under them. Vadam was different though as they encouraged them to grow stronger to better serve the keep, so everyone had no problem kneeling before the Kaidon, except for Xiro.
He stayed towards the back in the shadows to not be seen as he didn't kneel before those who he did not respect, well he did respect the Kaidon but he just didn't want to kneel. This did not go unnoticed however as the Kaidon glanced at him but said nothing, it did not matter to him if a childling did not kneel. It did matter to one of his charges however who noticed Xiro's lack of respect and felt rage. "YOU, WHY DO YOU NOT KNEEL FOR YOUR KAIDON?!" He demanded as he broke formation and marched over to Xiro.
The surrounding adult felt like strangling Xiro since they knew who this childling was, they also didn't try and speak since the Kaidon had stopped and was now watching things play out with interest. It wasn't everyday this specific childling erupted like this, he had never raised his voice in fact, so this was of particular interest to him
"I said, why do you not kneel?!" He demanded again as Xiro stared him down. Despite having the KAIDON HIMSELF behind him now watching, he felt no fear. "Why should I kneel? Just because you say so?" He asked as the other child felt like strangling him "You MUST kneel before the Kaidon, it is to show the respect that he deserves." He said indignantly as he stepped closer to Xiro as the other childlings gave them space not wanting to be thrown in with him.
"Had you asked politely I might have kneeled, but you arrogance will not bend my will." Xiro declared as the Kaidon snorted, he could see what he was doing instantly, he made no move to stop it however. "I challenge you, fight me!" The other child said as Xiro grinned, finally something fun to do.
A few adults tried to stop it since now it was getting out of hand, but the Kaidon held them back wanting to see if Xiro could back up with words since not many IF any would ever speak like that to someone from the main Keep. He wasn't disappointed either since Xiro thrashed the other childling.
The scuffle was brief and chaotic as they fought, but Xiro had won in the end. "Well done, childling. You fought well even if untrained." He rumbled as he walked over to the panting children. Xiro nodded but said nothing as he held out a hand to the other child, "You fight well, my name is Xiro. What is your name?" He asked as the Kaidon nodded, not only did he fight well but he held honor as well. As the other child took his hand and pulled himself up he felt a little bit of anger at Xiro's continued irreverence of the Kaidon but still answered, "My name is Thel, of house Vadam."
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Anyway that was a rough idea, tell me what you think! I won't start this story until I'm finished with My Hero, but I can start brainstorming more seriously if you'd like to see it as the next book. Anytime I get flashed of inspiration like that I'll try and share to get feedback since you guys have to read it. That's all!