The eight birthday of a hero (And the dawn of first person)

All of my teachers, instructors and close friends had gathered.

Karfu was the wisest among them, an old orc who had been close friends with the tribes leader and advised him during the wars. He was more stocky by orc standards with a bald head and bushy white beard. An aura of repose surrounded him at all times and his patience was angelic. He never raised his voice towards me, even during the troublesome months when he tried to teach me math. I held a deep respect for him and wanted to prove myself worthy of his trust.

Ragash was the fiercest warrior and she had watched my growth in equal parts with pride and envy. She was tall and still held considerable muscle after a decade of malnutrition. Her body was covered in scars and red tribal tattoos that gave her a wild and fierce appearance, despite the shackles and collar. It had always been clear to me that she missed her true strength and was deeply ashamed of having survived the final battle of the Ironhide tribe. I for one was glad she lived. She trained me to be formidable and it gave me an opportunity to give her her life back.

Yahg, Surgha and Dura were my closest friends.

Yahg was even taller than me despite being only one year older and always wanted to test his strength against mine. It never went his way and he never cared. "If not for this damn curse I woulda beaten ya!", he often claimed after finding himself on his ass. When he wasn't fighting, he was remarkably kind hearted amd often told me stories about how pretty the sunset was above the mountains.

Surgha was different. He was born shortly after me, never challenged me to a fight and was always planning the revolution. He was slender, with ropey muscles and nobody could ever hear him coming when he snuck up on you to scare you. He was usually quiet, only speaking when he felt he had something to add to the conversation.

Dura was six months younger than me and the most beautiful orc I had ever seen. She had wide hips, a generous bust and long fiery red hair. What captivated me most though, was the sparkle in her eyes when she spoke about the freedom of our people. She was beloved by all and already a skilled healer. Without a doubt she would have been training to be a shaman by now if magic wasn't inhibited by her collar.

Dura noticed me staring at her and met my eyes with an amused smile, "See something you like?", she quietly mouthed. "Maybe", I mouthed back and winked at her. The deep voice of Karfu grabbed our attention, "Rhandrem, today is a great day. We have all worked hard to keep you hidden and safe until you are ready. Now you are a man and on this day I dare to hope. I believe in you, Champion of Drumdra.". It was weird to have this figure of authority speak to me with such reverence. I bowed my head, "Your trust honours me, Karfu, I will not disappoint you.". "I know.", he showed one of his rare, gentle smiles.