"The past does not exist to entertain one's hubris, but teach us lessons from our failures." Otter would hear this everyday from his Master. He never understood it when he was a child, but as he got older and became an adventurer. He began to see the meaning.
Otter's early life was hard to say the least. From the time he was born, his world was filled with hatred and death. He was born in a little town called Depressmen. It was a miserable place of poverty, crime, and death. His father was an abusive alcoholic, and his mother was a prostitute who was kicked out of the brothel she worked at after she got pregnant. For reasons beyond Otter they chose to get married and have a kid. Otter doesn't remember much before he was eight. What he does recall was his father beating his mother, his mother trying multiple times to kill his father, and one time his father and his father's friends took turns raping his mother.
When Otter was eight though his life changed forever. It was a cold winter day, and everyone was trapped in their homes due to a blizzard. Otter's mother and father had just gotten into yet another argument. This was nothing new for Otter, but today was different. Normally his father would leave to go drinking at the local bar, but due to the storm he couldn't leave the house. So, he instead went into his study to drink the day away. Otter's mother made the two of them lunch, and played her favorite game. Why does daddy hate us so much? She always used Otter as her personal therapist. Otter never said anything during this time. Even if he agreed with her, she'd still get mad at him and often beat him for being disrespectful.
Later that evening she entered his father's study. Something she never did, and Otter followed her standing in the doorway. Otter stood there, and watched as his mother viciously and mercilessly stabbed his father. He can remember with absolute clarity every detail of that moment. The way his mother's face wore a sadistic smile, as she brutalized his father. The way his father begged for her to stop. The look of fear and panic he had on his face. The tears that rolled down his desperate face. The way the blood pooled around his father's lifeless body. He remembered everything, and when the authorities asked him if he saw anything. He remembered he told them he saw nothing, and that he was asleep in his room cuddling with his mom.
Otter's mom was cleared of any wrongdoing, and as far as he knew. Nobody was ever charged with the crime of murdering his father.
"Huh…? What a weird and awful dream. Man, I haven't thought about that night in years…" Otter paused his train of thought when noticing his new surroundings.
He looked around, and tried to find Owl or Puppy. They were nowhere to be found. As he took a look at the town he was in, he noticed the familiar look and feel of it.
"You have to be shitting me." Otter said, realizing he was back home.
He was back in Depressmen. He could see the dilapidated church, Mrs. Tina's house with the collapsing roof, and the orphanage he'd grown up in from ten years old until he was fifteen. That's when he met Master Hades. Judging by Mrs. Tina's roof Otter guessed he was about twelve.
"I don't believe anything to traumatic happens here."
Almost as if to spite him, he sees his twelve years old self walking towards an old crumbling house. The reality of the situation he's about to experience hits him like a ton of bricks.
"No, please no, don't make me relive this. Why are you making me see this?"
"And who exactly do you think is making you see this? We're in your mind after all. So, it would be more accurate for you to ask yourself. Why are you making you relive this tragedy?" A voice Otter knew all too well said
Otter turned and standing beside him was his teacher. Master Hades, the man who taught Otter everything he knows about Necromancy. Master Hades was a tall man standing at a towering six foot eight. Otter never found proof, but Otter had a suspicion that he wasn't naturally that tall. He wore a long black robe with silver trim. Black moccasins and caring and thick wooden staff, that looked more like a club than a staff. He wore his black cowl over his head. It covered his stringy white pompadour hair, and the wrinkles of a long life. His sunken eyes looked like black voids, and his yellowing teeth reminded Otter of grain waiting to be harvested. He was exactly as Otter had remembered him. He couldn't deny it anymore, he was trapped in his own mind.
"How do I leave then?" Otter asked desperately
Master Hades looked at Otter then cackling, said "How the hell should I know?"
Otter and Hades in an instant were teleported inside the house. Otter had just watched his younger self enter. The inside was sparsely furnished, but cluttered with broken chunks from the ceiling, walls, and even glass from the windows. There were stairs that were supposed to lead to an upstairs, but years of neglect and wear caused the roof to partially collapse. The only two rooms that were usable were the kitchen and living room. The kitchen was small and consisted of a small table with two chairs, a stove for cooking, and a small counter for prepping food. The living room had two small cots, two chairs that looked ready to break at any moment, and a small table in between the chairs. An oil lamp nested on the table was the only source of light in the building. A little girl around four years of age sat at the dining table, and her grandpa sat in the chair closest to the one non broken window. He was reading a book about a man who was cursed with immortality. Otter was forced to read it by Hades years later.
A young Otter entered the home, as if he was meant to be there. The old man stood up to see who'd entered, and even smiled after seeing Otter there. Otter was wearing a tattered and stained white shirt, brown pants that were tattered and dirty. His moccasins had holes in them, and his hair was long and greasy. His eyes wore a tired expression, but deeper done was the pit of hatred. A pit that forms after years and years of suffering and fighting.
The Old man walked around the debris and chairs to greet Otter. Otter had closed the door behind him turning and walking towards the old man. He pulled the knife he'd hidden, and when there was no distance between them. He stabbed the old man in the stomach. The old man fell back grasping at the knife still sticking out of his gut. He tried to pull it out, but Otter jumped on top of him and ripped the knife out and stabbed him nine more times. Blood splattered everywhere with each stab. By the time Otter had finished he was soaked in the old man's blood. All the while the old man's granddaughter watched in shock from the dining table. She didn't move or speak. She wanted to scream, but the words were trapped in her throat. She just sat there and watched.
Otter sat on top of the old man for a few seconds looking down on the man whose life he just ended. Older Otter couldn't remember what was going through his head during that moment. Was it regret, joy, sorrow? Looking at his younger self he was pretty sure it was nothing. He wasn't thinking about anything, but money to buy some food. The younger Otter stood up and walked to the dining table. In the middle was a bowl that had all the old man's essentials. Otter reached for the coin purse, and after grabbing it turned and started to walk away. Just after his first step the little girl whispered just loud enough for Otter to hear.
"Why? Why did you kill my grandpa?"
Otter paused for a long moment then said "For the freedom to live another day." With that Otter left.
"Damn, you're one cold son of a bitch. What's that make that…your second kill?" Hades said, almost with a tone of being impressed.
"Shut up, I live with the guilt of that decision every day." Otter shot back
Hades gave a questioning look before asking "What about your first one? Who was it again? Ah yes, I remember…it was your own mother. If I'm not mistaken you used a knife for that murder as well. Man, you are one sick fuck."
Otter lost it at that, "Shut up! My mother was a monster, and deserved what she got. She would beat me until I could no longer stand. Until I could no longer speak, until I could no longer cry. I feel no guilt for finally ending the torture."
Hades threw his hands up in surrender, and changing the topic a bit asked "So, what did you spend the money on anyway?"
Otter looked at the ground and responded quietly "I got mugged on my way to buy some food. They took the money, and went hungry that night."
Unable to hold back his laughter Hades said "You killed someone and got nothing for it? That's hilarious!"
Otter walked through the door trying to escape Hades, but you can't escape your demons. Hades appeared next to him in an instant.
"So kid, what memory are we going to see next? Maybe another one of your murders? I mean you commit a lot more after this right?" Hades mocked
Otter sighed before responding "I don't remember you being this chatty back when you trained me. I also don't remember you being such a joker. Whatever, I didn't kill that many more. Only eight more…"
Hades cut him saying "Eight more isn't a lot to you? Eight murders over three years is most countries' definition of a serial killer."
"I hadn't killed any one for a year leading up to me meeting you." Otter retorted
Hades, baffled, responded "That's not the comeback you think it is. All you've really said is. Sure, I killed eight more people, but only for two years. So, it's fine, and somehow better."
Otter just rolled his eyes and waited silently for the next traumatizing memory.
He didn't have to wait long. Otter soon found himself outside the orphanage. In front of him was fifteen year old Otter sitting with his head to his knees. His clothes were ripped to pieces, and he hadn't eaten in days. He looked close to death. Older Otter remembered this moment, and could remember asking himself if this was it. After everything he'd survived, was he going to die? Otter knowing what happened next, turned around and walking up was Hades. He looked the same as the one standing next to him.
"Excuse me boy, but could you point me to an inn?" Hades asked
Otter looked up and spat "Fuck off old man, unless you're looking to hand over all your money."
Hades stared down at the young man coldly. "You couldn't kill or rob me even if you wanted to. Judging by the look of things, I'm not even sure you could stand. Weaklings should learn to respect their betters."
Otter glared daggers at the old necromancer, but he said nothing.
Hades took this as Otter admitting defeat and mocked "Is that all the fire you have? I'm disappointed, you were so spirited just a few moments ago. What happened?"
Otter continued to glare, but said nothing.
Hades stared deep into Otter's eyes. He saw that the fire was still there. He just didn't have the strength to speak. Still, that will to live, that fire of resilience was still there. Even stronger thanks to his provocation.
"Tell me boy, do you want to live? I can tell you can't speak, but nod your head or something."
Otter didn't hesitate, with all the strength he could muster he said "yes" then collapsed
When Otter woke up he was in a warm bed, his injuries were bandaged, and he was wearing new clean clothes.
"You know, for someone with the balls to pick a fight when they were barely even conscious. Your actual balls were quite underwhelming." Hades chuckled
Hades had brought him to an inn and cleaned him up and tended to his wounds.
Older Otter muttered, "I guess you were always an annoying bastard."
Manifestation Hades chuckled and responded "I am how you remember me."
Back to the memory Otter sat up and after a long stretch of silence asked "Why save me old man? You into boys or something perv?"
Hades smiled "Even if I was, you definitely aren't my type. Your body doesn't interest me much. Now as for the young lady working the counter. I'd love to have her for a night."
Otter annoyed said "Pervert"
Hades laughed at that. Calming down he said "I have a proposal for you. That's why I saved you. I'm looking to take on a protege, and they need to have two qualities. First, they have to have an unbreakable will. Second, they must be both comfortable and acquainted with death. I get the feeling you fit both."
Otter sat there, his instincts screamed to run, but where to? It wasn't like he could survive on the streets. If it hadn't been for Hades he'd have died. He definitely didn't trust Hades, but he didn't really have many options. To be honest he had no other options.
"Ok…but I have some questions before we move any further." Otter said firmly
Hades nodded his head, and waited for Otter to ask his questions.
Otter took a second to compose his thoughts, then spoke "First, what exactly are you wanting to teach me? Second, can you guarantee me food and water? Third, what happens to me if I can't pick up what you're teaching?"
Hades sat there chewing on the questions Otter asked. He was more than happy to answer all three questions, but he got the sense that there was a deeper question.
Clearing his throat Hades spoke "First, yes you will receive food, water, and a bed. Second, as long as you can be useful, even if you aren't the protege I've been searching for. I'll allow you to stay with me. Third, I am a Necromancer, and death researcher. My goal is to teach you both virtues. In this world anyone can learn any one type of magic. There are what's called general magic that anyone can learn regardless, and subclass magic that goes with your specific discipline. An example of this is Debuff magic can be a main discipline, but most learn it as a subclass of Necromancy. When support magic like Debuff is learned as a main, it is usually combined with Enhancement or Buffing magic. Does all that make sense? Do you have any questions?"
Otter couldn't believe his ears. He was going to learn magic, and he'd get his own bed, food that wasn't moldy or stolen, water whenever he was thirsty. He thought he might be dreaming, but he hadn't dreamt since he was ten. So, this had to be reality. He wasn't too fond of the idea of learning and being around death as a career, but it beat dying of hunger.
"Well, it's not like I have any better options, but when it comes to your research, I better not be used for testing. Also, what aspect of death are you studying anyway?"
Hades pretended to be upset he couldn't test on Otter. He followed it up by answering "All aspects, from immortality, to treating sicknesses, to how undead are made, and even why we die of things like old age. I'm not trying to do anything nefarious. Just want to understand life's greatest enemy…Death."
Otter had to admit, his research sounded interesting. He offered out his hand and Hades shook it, with that the two men came to an agreement.
The memory of Otter's master turned to him and asked. "Michael…"
Before Hades could continue Otter snapped at him. "Don't ever call me that name. It's Otter, and you of all people know that."
Hades looked at the ground for a spell. Looking up Hades wore a face of sadness. He hoped that his student would have found peace, but to his dismay he still hadn't.
"I know I'm only a projection of your master, but I still hold his hopes for you. You read his journal after he died, and you know what he wished for you. He wanted you to find peace."
Otter turned away and spat. "What peace is there to find? Everyone I've ever cared about either leaves me or dies. After everything I've done, and all the lives I've ruined, I don't deserve peace."
Hades reached a hand out, but quickly pulled it back. He tried to figure out what to say. How can he help Otter? He's only a memory of Otter's former master. Thus, he can only say what Otter believes his master would have said.
"Maybe you don't deserve forgiveness, but allow me to show you something."
Hades said shifting the world around them to a grassy field.
Otter looked around, realizing this was outside his body. He was seeing what was happening just outside his mind. Owl and Puppy were hunched over him. They were trying to wake him. The pure panic in their voices as they screamed for him to wake up.
"Please don't die Otter!" Puppy bellowed
"I'll never forgive you if you don't wake up!" Owl cried
Otter looked at his teammates distress, and turning to Hades asked "Why are you showing me this? Do you want me to see how I've hurt even more people? How they're lives would be better if they'd never met me? Well, mission accomplished, now I feel like an even bigger piece of shit. Thanks!"
Hades let out a long exasperated sigh before responding. "No you fool, I'm showing you that you may not think you're worth forgiving, but they don't care about that. They've accepted you for you, and I think we both know they're hiding some deep scars. Does that knowledge change the way you see them?"
Otter shook his head no, and Hades continued.
"Then stop feeling sorry for yourself. Wake up and be there for those girls. They need you, and you need them. Heal, redeem, and prosper together. I know you can do it. Not because you're my student, but because you're my son."
Otter couldn't hold back the pain and tears anymore. He let loose a flood of tears as he hugged his master. Hades reciprocated the hug and for a long time they stood there embracing each other. Hades when he'd been alive knew Otter held in a lot of pain. In his diary he wrote that his biggest regret was not telling Otter how much he cared about him. He always saw Otter as the son he never had.
After ten minutes of crying Otter recomposed, and gave his master a warm smile. For the first time in his life, he got to experience what it was like to have a parents' love. He thought back on all the times they worked together, and realized that no matter how many times Otter messed up. Hades never gave up on him. He might scold him, or make jokes about his failures. Still, he always helped Otter fix his mistakes. He didn't know it at the time, but Hades was showing him the love of a father.
Otter wiped the last of his tears, and before he returned to his companions he looked at Hades and said "It's time for me to go back, but I want to tell you something. Thanks for loving a foolish kid like me. I love you…Dad." Then with a flash of white light, he woke up surrounded by his friends.