User:Chadarian/Mesmer

	Chadlock					10% 30% 60%
	He looks tired and worn, but there is something about his eyes that gives the impression of barely restrained violence. I grew up poor, living on little and owning less. My family shared a small apartment with another family, but since it was usually crowded I spent most of my youth out in the streets; they were like my second home. Living wasn't easy, but I used brute force to get my way. Sure, I could be quite the bully, but I still had friends, of a sort. We banded together for survival. Some of us didn't want to be home more than necessary, others were simply lonely. The girl Terry was one of the former. She actually had it pretty good at home, but couldn't keep her fingers in check. Got her out of some trouble a couple of times, I did. We kids played and got into scuffles together, sometimes with each other. I played hard and dirty, but then everyone did. I was hard to beat though. Some said I was as fierce as a disciple of Balthazar. Maybe that was why the gang felt sort of centered around me, because a strong bully is at still strong and could perhaps be relied upon for protection? Anyway, we also nicked food occasionally (Terry's fingers came in handy there). Not that I could bring any home, my mum wouldn't allow the family to sink that low. You worked hard and thanked the Gods for what you had and got. Gods, I swear she lived on her pride. Once some of my friends found a purse lying in the street and were going to spend some of the money by going to the circus. We had tried to sneak in there before but the guards found us. I tried to take the purse from them, but they outnumbered me and I got away with a bleeding nose. Knowing I couldn't ask mum for any money I sat down in an alley, my anger seething. That was when I met Master Cranberry. An old man came walking down the deserted alley where I sat in the shadows. I figured that if I snatched his purse I would have some money for the circus. I sprang from my hiding place, snatched the purse and nearly got to the alley mouth a hundred feet away before everything went black. When I came to I was lying in a narrow bed in a small attic, with some linen wrapped around a head that hurt something terrible. I also remeber it smell faintly of tin for some reason. To-be-Master Cranberry was sitting at his table with a mug of steaming hot tea. He always liked his tea so hot you could just barely drink it. My first instinct was to flee, despite my throbbing head, but I couldn't move more than my head. It was as if I was held down by invisible bonds. In my panic I tried to talk my way out, not something I was used to. 'I'm terribly sorry I bumped into you, sir.' the words rushed out of my mouth. 'Only, I was hurrying to get home because-' 'Shut it.' Cranberry said, and I felt my lips snap together on their own. He just stared at me for a while, and when he finally spoke it was in a low, matter-of-fact tone of voice. 'You've got a gift, you know.' After a moments pause he continued. 'I know you youngsters are pretty quick on your feet, but the speed you moved with was not ordinary. You tried to steal from me and you'll pay for it by becoming my apprentice. You'll do as I say or I'll drag you to the Seraph, and believe me I can do that easily. I might even teach you a thing or two.' From that day on I played less with my friends and spent more time doing chores and running errands for Master Cranberry. He was harsh but cared for me, in his own way. In time my fear of being turned over changed into fear of disappointing him. He took an interest in me like no one ever had before and taught me how to channel my powers. At first I only managed to do it when I was angry, and he had some nasty ways to get me angry. Eventually I managed to do magic when calm, but it always came the easiest to me when in a state of anger. I kept my it all secret from my mum. She would only think I was getting thoughts above my station. Time passed. We got older and found out how hard it was to make a living for yourself. Some of us, myself included, took what jobs we could and continued being poor, but it brought safety. Others tried to fight their way out by joining the Seraph or becoming criminals. My sister did the former. Those who didn't die we lost contact with, and now Quinn and Terry are the only ones I still know from our former gang of youngsters. What little I earned and could spare I gave to old Master Cranberry. Although he always said I showed great promise my powers grew slowly since I had to earn a living for both of us as well. Now I don't have to; he passed away in his sleep not long ago. His home got new occupants and his possessions were sold or thrown away, but I managed to grab a few books. My sister and I spent a lot of time working. I got up in the early mornings and she in the afternoon for her night shift, so we saw little of each other despite living together. Since I was used to get my way with force I rarely treated people nice unless I had to, and she often scolded me for that. Seeing each other as little as possible lowered the risk of us having a row. It felt best that way. She didn't return from patrol one day. When I got the news I just sat in our room, staring at her empty bed opposite mine, feeling empty. As the chock lifted the emptiness filled with sorrow, but it was mixed with anger. Why does life has to be so harsh? My sister was due another promotion soon; she was getting somewhere! And now she's dead. I'm tired of living like this! I'm going to find my sister, give her a proper burial and then I'll... do something! I can improve my powers on my own now, so I'll use magic to carve myself a new future. I'll make up for my lack of gold with power, power to decide my own fate! This is MY story!