Skeleton King

As long as Bill can remember, he was in a small town by the sea—Weibin City.The city is very beautiful, and the roadside is full of bright flowers of various colors. They are also on the coast of the Netherlands, but unlike the port of Nice, they are in the southeast corner of the Pansy Empire, near the Forest of Warcraft.

But no matter how beautiful a place is, there are dark corners, not to mention that this is just an ordinary wealthy city.At the pier, under the bridge, and in the narrow streets, there are many helpless beggars. Bill and his companion, Ivan, are just such two inconspicuous little beggars.They wander the streets all day long, relying on the charity of well-meaning people to lead the way for foreigners and earn some food money.

Sometimes they are very hungry and really don't want to eat, so they also do some petty theft.

Even if they are caught, they will be beaten half to death at most, and then sent to prison for half a month.That's not bad, at least there's food in the prison, and there are fewer fleas than outside.

But after Bill got to know Ivan, he never went to prison again.Ivan was about five years older than Bill.

Probably, because Bill himself couldn't tell his birthday.

Of course, Ivan didn't take Bill in purely out of kindness - Ivan wanted to be the eldest brother at that time and establish his own power in Weibin City, but who would listen to a kid in his early ten years old?Even children younger than Ivan would only want to go to those big mercenary regiments, or hang out with their grown-up brothers.

But Bill, he had never found a backer before.

One day, he was attracted by the fragrant bread on the roadside, couldn't hold back, grabbed a piece of bread and ran away.The clerk in the bakery caught up with Bill within two steps. He was too young at that time, and after being caught, he was so scared that he dropped the bread to the ground.

Five black finger prints and a layer of light ash were left on the bread.

Bread, of course, is out of order.

The bakery clerk tried to hit him with a rolling pin.

Bill was so shivering that he couldn't even shout.He has never cried since he was a child. When he was discarded or beaten, he gritted his teeth and kept silent.His mother who was a prostitute once regretted it and went to the pier to find him, but was pulled away by a fellow prostitute. She pointed to Bill's numb brown eyes and said, "Like a wolf cub. If you give birth to such a child, you will raise him. He won't be grateful either."

His mother wiped the corners of her eyes with a rough handkerchief, and left cruelly.

When Bill told Ivan about this, Ivan laughed, "Why are you so stupid? Do you regret not holding her thigh and crying? She wants you, even if you are really a wolf cub, she will hold you You go back; she doesn't want you, you are just a little sheep, no matter how good you are, and how often you cry, she will throw you away sooner or later."

Bill didn't like Ivan's harsh words.But at least he knew that Ivan was really kind to him, so he didn't refute him, but just sulked himself.It's just that Bill didn't know at that time that Ivana was talking about himself. He clearly knew that Bill was a wolf cub, so he took him back and wanted to raise him.

When Bill and Ivan met, it was when Bill went to steal bread and was caught by the bakery clerk.

Just when Bill thought he was going to be beaten to death, a warm hand grabbed him and shouted at him, "Run!"

Ivan took Bill from the east to the west of Weibin City, and they didn't even know when they got rid of the bakery clerk.They didn't dare to look back at all, they were worried that when they looked back, they would be caught up.

Bill only knew how to hold the hand of the person in front of him tightly and run desperately. He felt that all the roads he had walked since he was born were not as long as that day.And the boy's brilliant blond hair that day was an indelible color in Bill's memory.

After Bill and Ivan were sure they were free from the pursuit, they collapsed on the street with their limbs spread.Ivan told Bill, "I've been watching you for a long time, and I think you have the qualifications to be my number one little brother. How about it? Do you want to follow me? You can think clearly, if you miss this village, there will be no such store."

Bill hated his mother's little sisters who smiled and touched his curly hair and said he was a beautiful child; of high above.

According to Ivan, Bill has a young master's heart, but no young master's life.

He hates to be inferior, to be looked down upon, and to be belittled.

Therefore, Bill agreed to become Ivan's younger brother that day, something he couldn't figure out.

After Bill followed Ivan, his life gradually became better, except that Ivan was beautiful and polite, and it was easier to beg for food.Also because Ivan found a job as a pie maker in the tavern, as long as they were willing to feed the horses of the guests in the tavern, they could live in the small house next to the stable.

Ivan raised Bill like a younger brother, and put him in a big wooden barrel to take a bath, "My God, little Bill, why are you so dirty, don't you ever take a bath?"

Bill was so tickled by Ivan that he couldn't care less about talking.What Bill didn't tell Ivan was that since he left his mother, he never took a bath. Even when he was with his mother, his mother didn't care about him most of the time. Not to mention taking a bath.But Bill saw that the third bucket of bath water that Ivan burned for him quickly became cloudy, so he was a little shy, so he didn't say anything.

Bill and Ivan were getting older, and Ivan had saved some money to invite the bard who often came to the tavern to drink and let him teach Bill how to read.

Not surprisingly, their lives will get better and better.

Little Bill went back to find the woman—his mother.He didn't want to go back to her, but he was a little curious, did she really live better without him?

She really is doing better.

This is the first time that Little Bill understands that evil people will not be rewarded with evil.

Without the burden of Bill, the woman with beautiful curly brown hair is already the most famous prostitute in Weibin City.When Bill saw her, her guest was a high-ranking magician from the Enchanted Isle.

To Bill's surprise, the woman didn't show disgust or disgust when she saw him, but hugged him affectionately and called his name.At that time, Bill didn't understand, but he was afraid of her changeability, so he hurried back to the tavern.

Many years later, Bill realized that when he went back again, that woman was rich enough that raising a child was no longer a burden to her.On the contrary, she has grown older and can no longer work as before, and she wants someone to rely on.Bill was raised so well by Ivan again, clean and tidy, and literate.

Bill never thought about seeing that woman again, but he actually met the senior magician from Magic Island again.His mother's original guest.

Outside Bill and Ivan's hut, he told Bill, "Your magic talent is good. Do you want to be a magician?" Bill was completely stunned by the pie from the sky, but the magician on the magic island thought he was Hesitating, without any intention of persuading, the arrogance of a magician is unimaginable to ordinary people, and he just said: "In 10 days, I will take a boat from the port of Nice to the magic island. If you want, come to the port of Nice to find me. "

After the magician from Magic Island left, it took a long time for Bill to come back to his senses. He was trembling with excitement, "Ivan, am I dreaming? Will I become a magician?" He looked at his hands and felt incredible.

Someday, he'll pick up a magic wand too.Like that senior magician, come without a trace, go without a trace.

Who doesn't know about Magic Island?Magic Island is the most beautiful place on this plane. Everyone on Magic Island doesn’t have to worry about hunger or severe cold. Will be the most powerful swordsman and magician.

However, Ivan's words quickly poured cold water on Little Bill's head, "But, how do you go to Port of Nice?"

Great joy, great worry, nothing more than this.

There are still two provinces between Weibin City and the Port of Nice, and it takes more than ten days to take a carriage.Besides, they couldn't afford to rent a carriage at all.How could noble, unsophisticated magicians think of the problems they were about to face.Bill never liked people thinking about his things, and he didn't like touching other people's things, especially Ivan's.

Unless he's starving.

But not being able to go to the magic island and not being able to become a magician was more unacceptable to Bill than death.

Bill hesitated for half the night, and quietly said to the sleeping Ivan: "Do you have dozens of silver coins?" He wanted to hire a carriage to go to the port of Nice.

It's not that Bill hasn't gone to his mother, but the magician has already left Weibin City.When his mother heard what he said, she just laughed and said that he was whimsical, let alone lend him money.

Bill asked again: "Did that magician lie to me?"

Ivan hugged the child unbearably, and patted him on the shoulder, "It's too late to hire a carriage now. Don't worry, there will be other ways."

Despite some disbelief, Little Bill soon fell asleep.After all, Ivan never lied to him, did he?

In his sleep, Little Bill was still unconsciously grabbing Ivan's already somewhat long blond hair.Unlike Bill Jr.'s short, curly brown hair, Ivan's was golden with only a few strands of brown.

The bard who taught Bill to read once said to Bill, "Your eldest brother—Ivan, is probably the illegitimate son of a nobleman."

Bill didn't believe it: "Why? Why did you say that about Ivan?" Bill didn't think the bard was speaking ill of Ivan.His own biological father is unknown, how many innocent children like them begging on the street?

Bill believes that the illegitimate son of a nobleman is also unattainable to him.

How could Ivan have a noble father or mother?

The bard has always been open-minded. He said: "Looking at your elder brother's hair, appearance, and temperament, he must be the son of a nobleman. With impure blond hair, he can only be a mixed blood of nobles and commoners. Look, except for the noble lord , who else has blond hair like that?"

Bill thought about it, indeed, there are so many people coming and going in the tavern every day, almost all of them have the same brown hair as him.

The bard took the opportunity to boast of his knowledge to Bill, "I have been to many places, only the nobles of the Pansy Empire have blond hair; the nobles of the Finger Empire are mostly red-haired. The Jowett family, although they have a large fief in the north, the nobles don't like to intermarry with their family, because their family has no background, and they have only been promoted from civilians in recent decades. Everyone in the Jowett family has brown hair .”

Bill opened his mouth in surprise.

Noticing Bill's adoring gaze, the bard became even more proud. He said, "If other nobles marry the Jowett family, their children will be like your elder brother, with impure blond hair. It will take several Generations before they will have a child with hair of pure gold."

Bill asked: "Then in our empire, the most noble people are all blond?"

The bard took a sip of the warm ale and said mysteriously, "No. Black hair is the most noble. According to legend, the members of the pansy royal family and the Finger royal family have black hair."

Little Bill wondered: "But I've seen people with black hair, and there are people in Weibin City. Is that also a royal family?"

The bard shook his head, "No. Only blond hair can't be polluted. Black hair can defeat them when they meet other colors. But anyone whose ancestors have intermarried with royal families, like the Neumann family of the Pansy Empire, and the Black of the Finger Empire. Family, their descendants all kept black hair.

The breeding ability of these noble lords is stronger than stallions, and there will always be a few black-haired children inexplicably appearing in the city.Their mothers always believed that they ate too much sesame when they were pregnant, and told their husbands so.Then at night, in the dead of night, they quietly carried their children to the baron's mansion, the viscount's mansion, and the earl's mansion.Maybe one day, someone will go to the palace. "

Little Bill was unconvinced: "Then Ivan might not be a child of a nobleman? Maybe it's just that his ancestors have noble blood?"

The bard said angrily: "Why can't you understand? Blonde hair can't be polluted. With your eldest brother's hair color, one of his parents must be a pure blood nobleman. As for his appearance and demeanor, as long as he walks and is still You have a small face with your chin raised every day, and you probably grew up in an aristocratic family. Otherwise, common people, hmph, why would common people think of teaching you how to read?!"

……

When Bill had just heard what the bard said, he felt that Ivan had become mysterious and extraordinary.

But the longer time passes, the faster this sense of mystery fades away.

How could Ivan be the illegitimate son of a nobleman?Bill felt that the bard must have made a mistake. Although the bard could read, write poetry, and had been to many places, he might be mistaken.If Ivan was really the illegitimate son of a nobleman and grew up in those beautiful mansions, why would he live with him in the hut next to the stable?

Until the third day after the magician from the magic island left Weibin City, Ivan was away from the tavern for half a day.When he came back again, he was wearing a soft sheepskin jacket, and handed the bag of gold coins to Little Bill, "I hired a boat for you, which is faster than a carriage, and you can reach the port of Nice in five days."

Bill looked at him in surprise.

Ivan knew that if he didn't make it clear, Bill would be terrified for several days. He said: "I went home. I swore I would never use his money again. But now there are only official ships on the coast of Weibin City Dock, they will sail only with the order of the lord of the city, so I have to go to him. Bill, go to the magic island, you will become a powerful magician."

Bill took the money bag happily. It turned out that Ivan was really the son of a nobleman, and that man was also the lord of Weibin City.Bill also envisioned a better life for him in the future.

He will study hard on the magic island and become the most powerful magician.

At that time, he will come back to find Ivan, and many noble houses will raise senior magicians.He no longer needs to spend Ivan's money, and he will become Ivan's biggest help.

……

On the day of going to sea, it was raining lightly, but Ivan was still worried about Bill and wanted to send him to the port of Nice.

The official ship of Weibin City is very strong, and the first officer and sailors on the ship are very experienced. Even if the rain became heavier later, they did not feel too much turbulence.Until they were approaching Port of Nice, Bill and Ivan felt dizzy one day just after dinner.

When Bill barely sat down next to Ivan in the cabin, a middle-aged sailor entered the cabin where they were with a gleaming dagger, "The lady of the city lord originally thought you were greedy for money, so she went back to the city lord." I didn’t expect you to be so courageous that you actually cultivated people and wanted to send them to Magic Island.”

The faces of Bill and Ivan turned pale instantly.

Because he was approaching Port of Nice, Bill couldn't help but tell Ivan a lot about his vision for a better life in the future, including that he wanted to help Ivan seize the dominance of the City Lord's Mansion in Weibin City.

Ivan listened with a smile every time, neither agreeing nor refuting.To him, Bill was still a child.

Because the sailors on board were all from the Lord's Mansion of Weibin City, Bill didn't avoid them on purpose.His words should have been heard by this hideous sailor.

The sailor spat at Ivan, "I don't know what's good or bad, the lady of the city lord wants to spare your life. However, magician, the future magician. Do you really want to overthrow the lady's family? The lady kindly took your mother , leaving her by my side to be a maid, how dare she shamelessly seduce the city lord?!"

Bill had never seen Ivan's face so ugly and gloomy.

There was great pain in Ivan's voice, but he managed to remain calm, "I've said it before. Mother was forced. She committed suicide because she felt sorry for Madam."

The sailor said mockingly: "Then you are very noble and have a strong backbone? Why did you come back when you said you don't care about the city lord's money? Madam is so kind, I believe your words."

Ivan remained silent.

Bill was even more cowardly, he didn't want to care about these things at all.He was just worried that he would never be able to go to the Magic Island again.

The more people worry about things, the more likely they will happen.The sailor said: "I can take you back to Weibin City and hand it over to Madam for trial. This child can't go to Magic Island now."

Bill kept shaking his head and murmured, "No. No."

Ivan was silent for a long time, and said, "What if I have to send him?"

The sailor has been exposed to the wind and sun at sea all year round, his face is as dry as an orange peel, and he smiles like a devil crawling out of the abyss, "Then you have to have other guarantees." What he said was more like It was the lullaby that the devil lulled the little devil to sleep, "I guarantee that you don't covet the title and property of the city lord. I think, you can only make such a guarantee after you die, right?"

Bill was so scared that he couldn't stop crying.

When he was abandoned by his mother, he didn't cry; when he was almost beaten to death for stealing, he didn't cry; Ivan, crying bitterly at the sailor.

He didn't want to live humblely like an ant.

The bard told him about this bizarre, magical and changeable, unimaginable vast plane, which he once thought did not belong to him.But, obviously, he has a chance.

He had the chance to be the protagonist of those legendary stories of bards.

Be loved and admired.

There was an irrepressible desire in his heart.

The sailors bribed the captain, and they stayed on board for another two days.The time agreed with the magician of the magic island is coming, and Bill dare not wait any longer.

Because he knew that no one would wait for him on purpose.

He said to the sailor: "I just want to go to the magic island, I just want to be a magician. I will not participate in the struggle for the rights of the nobles, that has nothing to do with me."

Beside Bill, Ivan looked unusually calm.

A long time ago, a sister who came to visit Bill's mother was entrusted to visit him. She told Ivan with a smile, "Don't love him too much. That child has no heart." Stopped, "Ivan, I have met many people, your brother's eyes...you are doing him a favor by giving him enough food..."

Some people, they say, are inherently evil.

but.

Ivan thought it was just because they never felt good.He wanted to tell Bill what was good, but unfortunately, the time left for him was too short.

Red flowers bloomed in the sea.

The bright dagger was handed to Bill by the sailor himself.Bill also used this dagger to tell the sailor that the affairs of these noble families had nothing to do with him as a beggar.

The bloody smell quickly dissipated along the sea water, and the red flower was quickly divided up by the giant sharks in the sea.

Ivan's last words on the deck before falling into the sea, "Bill, after death, people are unconscious. I won't remember you anymore. But you, you must forget me, so that you will live well .”

Bill went to the port of Nice as he wished, and the sailor didn't dare to kill him at all. In the eyes of the sailor, the magician of the magic island is omnipotent.If he was found to have killed the magic apprentice scheduled for Magic Island, he would surely die a miserable death.

Bill went to the magic island, but it was not the utopia he imagined, he just went from one hell to another.He left the magic island again.But he never returned to Weibin City, and he didn't even go to the sailor who had kidnapped them.

He kept telling himself that Ivan was just an insignificant passer-by in his life.

Until a long time later, he became a more hateful person than his teacher and the sailor who kidnapped them. He looked at the two teenagers who were locked in the magic tower by him and protected each other.

Only then did he think of Ivan.

He always thought he had forgotten him.

He was contracted by the Skeleton King to become a lich, and has almost eternal life.He walked to the end of the dead world, trying to find the boy who once held his hand and ran with him through the streets of his hometown, the only boy in his life who protected him behind him.

When he searched every corner of the dead world, he found that when his life just started, he had already found a companion to walk hand in hand.

But when he understood this truth, that person had already died.

In this world, in the world of the dead, that person no longer exists.