Sour Kraut

Tentem 29th, 1989 A.T. — After Trifecta. The morning sun filters through the Kraut family’s kitchen window, cutting across a pile of dirty dishes and an untouched breakfast. Upstairs, the rapid tapping of keys echoes through the small house. Amarillo Kraut— “Amar” to his family—has just graduated from the Magic Academy McAnt Sagetidus, where he spent more time playing Trunge than studying. So much so the Royal Capital University (RCU) offered him a full-ride scholarship and a starting spot as a Knimble. Amar, who has no interest in Trunge, does not contact them. If you're wondering why, his plan for the next year. In his own words: “Chill at home and do fuck all.” By Tentem, he’s made good on that promise. The only thing he’s mastered was the art of wasting time. Amy Kraut, his mother interrupts his morning computer session. Barging into his room. The room was clean other than his bed, which was messy. Amy interjects, “Me and your father think it’s time you got a job,” she calls out, her speech soft trying not to offend her son. “A what?” Amar replies, eyes fixed on his glowing screen. He doesn’t even turn around. Blanco Kraut’s patience—already stretched thin—snaps. “A job!” he bellows, appearing at the doorway. “And you better be quick about it, because I’m not letting you back in this house until you have one!” “No buts!” he adds before Amar can even open his mouth. Amar blinks, stunned. “But I didn’t even say anything…” he mutters. Pulled out of his chair and into the living room by his father, Amar was forced to listen to Blanco’s instructions. “Boy, I have told you time and time again, go find a fucking job.” He corrects sternly. “Give me a break old man.” Amar interrupts. He glares at him, before saying. “I have two sons and three rules in this house.” Taking a deep breath in before saying. “You know em’ well.” “Rule one; No babies, of any kind none of your creation none of mine” “Rule two; Don’t talk back to me or your mother.” “And most important. rule three; If you're not going to school get a Job.” Amar stands up, calling him out on his hypocrisy. “Pop, I though rule three was do your chores if your home.” Confused on why that childhood rule has changed so quickly. Blanco answers politely. “Well, I altered it slightly, now it’s get a job, any job I couldn’t care less about what it is just find something that pays you.” He pleads. “Whatever old man!” he says walking out of the house, no care in the world. Slamming the door in the process. Silence fills the house. Blanco stares at the front door now shut, jaw tight, thoughts heavy. He rubs his fingertips together—a nervous habit from too many sleepless nights. The guilt hits him like it always does, not because Amar is lazy, but because Blanco knows some of that stubbornness came from him. Amy rests her hand on his shoulder. “Don’t you think you were a bit harsh on the boy?” Blanco looks at her—her single white lock glinting among strands of light-blue hair—and the anger softens. “I love you, darlin’,” Now quickly shifting a low voice, “but that boy’s a damn fool. Seriously— the only thing he’s got going for him is how lucky he is.” His old eyes and sad expressions are mirrored into his mind. Trying to think about what to do next. Amy smiles faintly, trying to lighten the moment. “He act’s exactly like Gris.” Her voice calm and collected. “I just hope he doesn’t end up like her,” Blanco’s eyes dim at the name. “I love that boy to death—him and his brother both. If either of them went before me… I don’t know what I’d do.” He murmured. The home goes quiet again, only the sound of a faint radio in the distance. The wedding song of Blanco and Amy playing instinctively. Amy brushes her hand through his hair and says softly, “You seem tense. How about I help you relax before work? That’s no way to start the morning.” Blanco grins, sharp teeth catching the light. “That sounds brilliant, darlin’.” Amar Kraut walks along the road, passing through his suburban neighborhood, the homes look factory made, the scariest thing in that neighborhood must be the homeowner's association. It reeks of privilege and greed, making the whole place feel soulless. Amar, angered by his father's words, vents his frustration for the public to hear. "What the hell does he know.” His words convey his anger. “I can find a fucking job; it can’t be that hard.” He says confidently. “I bet he has no faith in me, you know says a lot bout’ yourself Pop!” his ego flourishing though his words. “Fucking dick.” He says, he stops his walk to sit at a bus stop. Amar ponders, not knowing the solution to his problems. Usually, he would find a way to weasel his way through with no repercussions. But this time is different, maybe the Midel heat was getting to him but coming up with an idea stumped him completely. "Dammit, why can’t I think of anything?” He says Irritated He spreads his arms out on the bus stop, looking at the advertisement taped on a bus sign. It reads “Midel needs you, apply for jobs at ‘StardomGovenmentJobs.gov’.” “I think I have my answer, I love being lucky.” He smirks. Amar travels to downtown Midel, the traffic was unbelievable, spending hours to reach his destination, passing through many streets and buildings before arriving at the Midel Federal Police Department. He stared at the building. For he knew if he didn’t get the job here, he had no idea where he would go. It was too late for him to register for classes, and even if he did, he would not be able to play Trunge for RCU. With a deep sigh and a gulp of fear, he entered the building. Inside, he approaches a desk clerk, her appearance professional, a pair of black glasses and dawning a police uniform, and her desk smelling of cleaning products. “So, I’m looking to en—” he began, only to be cut off “What’s your name?” The desk clerk responded. “Amarillo Kraut.” He answered, annoyed at being interrupted He stood as the clerk typed away. “Look I need a job, and I was wondering if I could talk to someone about it.” Saying awkward. “Kid, the Chief isn’t in right now. I have no clue what to do for you. Enlistment goes through him.” She replies sarcastically. Ironically, Chief Blanco Kraut. Walked in with a grin. “This is going to be a great day,” he remarked, not yet noticing Amar. He locks eyes with his prodigal son. “Amarillo Sydney Kraut! My office… NOW!” He explodes before walking toward his office. Shaking with fear, Amar ascended the stairs to his father’s office, fearing his life and his dignity. His long, spiky hair twitched nervously as he climbed. He opened the door to see his father standing in front of his desk. Blanco and Amar stared at each other. His office at that moment was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The two wait for one of them to break the silence. “Why are you in my office?” Blanco says angrily but speaks in a soft tone. He paused, waiting for Amar to reply. The sounds of telephones downstairs chimed; his heart raced on. Amar, a shocked grin on his face, said, “I was just trying to enlist. I mean, you need people… right?” Anxiously, he waited for a response. Blanco, now wearing a questioning look, said, “You…? Enlist…? What makes you think I would let that happen?” “This ain’t some cushy office job.” Saying disappointed and shaking his head. Amar grits his teeth, his father's disapproval, making it hard for him to hold back tears. “I have more trust in a monkey…” he stops himself. He holds his snide remarks and looks at his son. He sighs. “I reckon you couldn’t find anythin’.” he sympathizes with him. He pivots to his file cabinet, pulling at a form. “Fill this out and head over to Tast.” he offers. Handing him the form. The form’s headline reads “SAG Midel Branch Enlistment Form.” “What’s this for?” Amar, now questioning its contents. “That’s the Stardom Adventures Group. They uh— fight monsters.” Blanco, sounding unsure. “That sounds like some bullshit.” Amar, Skeptical of the form's legitimacy. “That bullshit is your only option.” He reprimands Kraut. Blanco smirks, coming up with an idea. “I’ll let you work here if you can rank up as an adventurer.” “Tch… sure, whatever. I’ll take the stupid job.” Amar, offended by his offer. Heads for the door. “Bitch…” he whispers under his breath. Amar lingered at the door for a moment, glancing back at his father. Blanco did not meet his eyes but simply watched him leave. Amar stepped out, a mix of defiance and nervous anticipation, feeling the weight of both fear and opportunity. Now sitting alone at his desk, Blanco picked up a photo of him and his sons, his gaze lingering on the young Amar. “That kid… let me make some calls,” he muttered softly. The woods of Tast were brutal, with hills and forests stretching forever. A quarter of an hour had passed, and Kraut begrudgingly explored the forest, looking for Tast Cave. Complaining along the way. “Why does he have to be an asshole all the time.” His fathers' words weigh him down. He paused, looking around. All he could see were massive mountains and identical trees. The clouds were all perfectly symmetrical, and that symmetry made him even more pissed off. “Where the fuck am I?” he muttered, hands on his hips. Kraut searched even more desperately through the almost-maze-like forest. The trees look the same, reminding him of the neighborhood he lives in. The many shrubs are the only thing that proves that Kraut’s not going in circles. Before he even knows it, he exits the path he was following and sees a huge rock formation which makes up Tast Cave. The rocks align in an upside-down ‘u’ to reveal the entrance of the cave. “I really hope this is the right place.” Amar being concerned that his hours of walking have gone to waste. He notices the area around it was barren, only having a few boulders surrounding. The trees line up in a half-circle formation around the entrance. “Now how can a building be in a mountain?” Questioning even more. “Eh, whatever. It doesn’t matter. I need this job so I can go home tonight.” Amar, realizing he doesn't care, continues. Before he can enter, he sees a boy standing in the entrance. He had dark grey hair with natural streaks of black resembling exclamation marks, no facial hair in sight, a green hoodie with a dark green collar, light blue pants, and shiny black work boots. With a smirk, he said, “Are you afraid.” The boy pulled out a curved sword — grip colored purple and black, hooked blade white and black. now realizing the yellow suspenders, dangled from his pants to his knees. “If you want to enter my cave, you must get past me, Sour Kraut.” His voice oozed with confidence. he radiated this unsettling aura, sounding like electric sparks smiling all the while. Kraut raised an eyebrow, shocked. His hair spiked up. He gritted his teeth. “WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE TALKING TO?!” Spit flew from his mouth, his words blowing the boys' hair back. He comes to his senses, decides to go into a fighting stance, putting his hand into his back pocket, making it seem like he was reaching for something in his pocket. One hand in front of his face, looking like a novice fighter. “Oh, I see a duel is what you want, I accept.” He boasts. “And just so you know, I don’t lose.” He grinned, revealing his spiky teeth. The boy looked down at his hook-shaped sword. “Oh, Amarillo, the lesser brother… you have no idea,” he said, grinning. His eyes glowed red, black sparks of electricity crackling around him. His sword glinted gold. Kraut, offended. “The hell did you call me…!?” He stared at the boy, shocked. “Who the hell are you?” The boy ripped off his hoodie, tossing it farther than expected, laughing manically, his senses heightened. “You don’t seem to understand. My name’s Johnathan Baxter Insanity — they call me Santi, number one adventurer.” “So don’t disappoint me, Sour Kraut! Show me you’re deserving of your name!” Santi radiated electric energy. running quickly around Amar, so fast he became a blur to him. His hair turned from dark grey to blonde, and his shirt burned into ash. His blur resembling a black cloud crackling with yellow sparks — no longer visible to the human eye. “Who the hell is this kid” Amar remarks starstruck as he has no concept on what is currently happening. “This is my ability (3.00×102), it converts any matter I control into energy.” The vibrations of his voice radiated through the mind of Amar. “You little bitch no one disrespects Amarillo Kraut.” The veins on his head and body become increasingly visible. The cloud attempts to engulf Kraut, slowly getting smaller from top to bottom. He was frantically thinking of how he would get out of this. Looking in all directions, his gaze is directed to the opening at the top. If he could jump high enough, he could get out. “I’m not the one to be fucked with!” He chirps, thinking; he’s outsmarted him. He takes a giant leap attempting to escape He gets enough height to get outside but not out before gravity took its course and made him fall back down. As a last ditch, he straightens his body and uses gravity to his advantage. “SKY DIVE” He yells out. Stomping Santi's clouded mess of matter; the stomp electrocutes him launching him onto his back swiftly recovering. Now feeling the weight of the situation, he awaits what happens next. “What the hell is this thing” Amar remarked, engulfed into the cloud of matter. Santi coming from the ground opens a portal engulfing Kraut inside. Amar, falling, accepts his fate, closes his eyes. “This is my truth. This is my will. This is excellence” Santi’s voice echoes into Kraut’s mind. Kraut goes unconscious.