The Origin of Sithis: Part 1
I grew up in the slums of Kaineng City, in the Wajjun Bazaar. My family, which consisted of my father, my mother, and myself, didn't have much money, but we made do. My father worked as a dock hand, he made just enough money to pay for food, rent, and protection from the the Am Fah. My parents couldn't afford to send me to school, but instead bought me books, and taught me to read from an early age. It wasn't a perfect life, but it was good enough for us, we were happy. Unfortunately, that wouldn't last forever.
One day, my mother and I were waiting for my father to get home from work, just
like every other day. My mother was using the last of the beef we had to make a
stew, with some vegetables she grew in a large planter in front of our little
apartment. I was sitting at what passed as our kitchen table, reading a book about
the canthan heros of old.
"I wonder what is taking your father so long to get home, he should have been
here by now," my mother said absentmindedly.
"Don't worry, he'll be home soon." I replied, never taking
my eyes of the book.
"I'm getting worried, I've heard talk that the Jade Brotherhood
might be making a move against the Am Fah. I just hope your father is able to stay
out of the crossfire..." I put my book down.
"Don't worry, Dad is good at not drawing attention to himself, I remember
a game of hide and seek we had last year, I looked for him for an hour, and never
found him!"
"I just hope he was careful." At that moment, the front door flew open and
my father ran into the house. I didn't realize something was wrong until he
threw the bolt on the door.
"Hurry, we need to leave!" he said, I could hear the panic in his voice.
"What? Why?" my mother asked.
"The Jade Brotherhood are attacking the Am Fah, they are killing anyone they
find, claiming we are all supporters of the Am Fah!" As he said that, there was
a pounding at the door. My father turned to us.
"It's too late, you have to hide!" I was totally confused, why would
the Jade Brotherhood want to hurt us? My mother sheaparded me into their bedroom,
and told me to hide under the bed.
"No matter what happens, stay under there. No matter what you hear."
"What about you and Dad?" I said through tears.
"We'll be alright, now get under there and stay quiet." As soon as I
was under the bed, I heard the front door crash open. There were the sounds of a
struggle, and my mother screamed. But I stayed under the bed. I didn't know
what else to do. I just covered my ears, closed my eyes, and tried to keep her
screams from ringing in my ears. I waited.
I lay hidden for what seemed like, days, weeks, but I know it couldn't have been more than a few hours. I could hear those sons of mantids sacking our apartment, taking what little we had. Silently I swore oaths of vengeance upon those responsible for this. When all was quiet I slid out from under the bed, and creeped into the kitchen. There, lying in pools of blood, were my parents. I turned away, tears welling up in my eyes, only to see a Jade Brotherhood Knight, sleeping in the very chair I had sat in reading only a few hours before. I could feel the hatred rising over my fear and sadness. There were a pair of ornate kamas sitting on the table next to him. I picked them up, looking at them, almost in a trance. Then I drove one of the blades into the "Knight's" chest. He awoke and glanced at the kama sticking out of his chest. He looked me in the eyes, and I could almost see his life draining away. I removed the blade, wiped it off on his cloths, and headed for the door. I was only 13 years old.
