The Unfortunate Protagonist

"I'd rather be eaten alive by rats than to receive a gift from a dead god." Blurted out by a moody Lyric. Her friends laughed, one of them replied, "You? I'm starting to believe that you're using reverse psychology on yourself so you'd get one later." Her and her companions headed towards a dome where would one or miraculously a few lucky people would get their own magical powers. Aged 15 teenagers are sent to the building at the end of the year each, and every year since many centuries ago. Lyric loathed that this day would come, she just wants to live a peaceful life in the countryside after planning a runaway from her noble household. After all most noble families send their children to marry other children either from nobility or even royalty, or they'd be sent to the battlefield. People of nobility, demi gods and people with long life spans tend to live in the capital, but Lyric and her family live in a town near the countryside to have a less chaotic life. They'd soon reach the entrance of the arena, Lyric paused and took a deep breath before entering. "Lyrica of the Artic Foxes family," Phillip, a close friend of hers called out in a mocking tone, "Walk faster would you?" Lyric shot a glare at him but still walked as slow as ever. They sat on the chairs placed for them all in the arena. "I hate this.." Lyric muttered under her breath. There were atleast three dozens of teenagers squabbling, talking about the benefits of being granted extraordinary powers. "shush..." A wizard walked out from the shadows, "As you may all know, it is time to reveal the lucky one or ones.. goodluck to you all!" He spoke and then it was pitch black. Colors of flames lit up parts of the dark arena slowly appeared from behind them. All of those started to dance and float in the air, as if it was panicking to find a person fitful for it, and then a bright blue one stopped infront of Lyrics face. "No..." she whispered. It glowed brighter infront of her and all she could see was white. The people in the arena vanished almost suddenly. Lyrica.. A bold and stern voice spoke out to her, but where was the source? She looked at every direction. "Why, why me? this is not what I've wanted." She whispered with a hoarse voice. You are very lucky The voice started to giggle. "Who are you?" She questioned the voice. I don't know how to reply to that question It started laughing uncontrollably, Lyric was starting to get creeped out by that. Anyways, take your gift and leave this realm at once when you're finished. "What..." The bright blue flame from before appeared infront of her, it was dancing. Go, take it. Lyric unconsciously let her arm out and opened the palm of her hand. Congratulations, Lyric of the Artic Foxes. You will be unbelievably strong, if you work hard to control it. Use it for your bad desires and you'll suffer greatly. Good bye and good day to you. Those were the last words she heard that she'll soon forget before she snapped back to reality. It was no longer pitch black nor was the surroundings white. The teenagers were looking at her and some were staring at the hooded figure. "Yup, she totally used reverse psychology on herself." Phillip whispered. "Well, congratulations to the both of you. The both of you will be sent to the capital, you will find your paths. I'll see the both of you in the capital after a week." The wizard congratulated Lyric and the mysterious one before going back to the dark. Lyric held back her tears and then looked at her friends, "What am I supposed to do now.." Later that evening "It seems that you've acquired The Gift.." Her mom, the lady of the house exclaimed. "Indeed, this is the third time our family has acquired magic granted by the divine one." Her father replies back with a proud tone. She couldn't talk, her eyes were flooded with tears she was holding back this entire time. "I'll be in my room..." She excused herself after dinner and avoided eye contact. "I don't want this, I don't want this stupid thing on my skin.." She pulled up her sleeve to see the gift. The gifts were given in forms of tattoos, they can be found in specific parts of the body. Waterfalls of tears soon escaped her eyes, a depressed look was plastered on her face. She looked awful, she wipes off the tears and the dried tears on her cheeks and lied down on her bed. "What ever it is, I hope I won't be sent to the front lines.. I hope I can be a greenhouse care giver or an alchemist instead..." She soon thinks about demi gods being granted by the gift. "Oh goodness.. they'd be monsters out in the field.." She laughed nervously. She then slowly drifts off to sleep. THREE DAYS BEFORE THE DEPARTURE "My love, my dear Lyrica... If u ever need help, you can find your brother in the capital somehow.." Her mother told her in her most comforting tone of voice to atleast relieve some of her daughter's nervousness. "I'll be fine mom.. I promise you," She then adds, "I'll stay sane during school aha.." Her mom then gives her a tight hug. "Sit tight during the journey okay? It takes less than four days to reach the capital in carriage." Her father gives her a pat on the head, "Goodluck kiddo." "Goodbye Lyric, we'll miss you, remember to send us letters or magic stuff to let us know that you're okay." One of her friend, Beca requested. She bids her parents and her friends farewell and then steps into a carriage. She sets her eyes upon the hooded figure who was sitting on the corner at the opposite side of her seat. The carriage started moving once she took a seat. "Hi, I'm Lyrica, I don't believe I've talked to you yet." She introduces herself to the one who was also granted a gift. "I'm Quinn.." The quiet hooded figure replied. "Nice to meet you Quinn, tell me- am I only one who finds this journey, really nerve wracking?" "No... I heard that there are bandits, goblins, orcs or even demons in the wilderness somewhere.." She says in a really scared voice. "Don't worry, I'm pretty sure that our escorts know the safe paths.. aha." She tries to comfort her but fails. "You don't sound very convincing," Quinn replied and then giggles softly. Halfway through the journey, the carriage comes to a stop. "My ladies, it appears that there is something blocking our paths.." One of the escorts said in a quiet voice. "What is it?" Lyric questions them very quietly. "It looks like a boulder... although I'm pretty sure that this road was clear. There is no sign of a landslide too." He answers with an afraid tone. "I believe, we need to take a detour from here, I am not getting a good feeling from this." The boulder started to move unexpectedly. "What.." It was a golem. "SECURE THE LADIES, IT'S COMMANDED BY A SHAMAN!" The escorted shouted out to his companions. "Find the source while we distract this monster!" Lyric and Quinn suddenly felt that they were helpless. All they heard were screams outside and something hitting the ground and the trees hard. The ground started to shake. It was coming near them. The carriage's roof was quickly torn apart from it's whole. Lyric and Quinn were trying to muffle their own screams. They had no idea what a golem is, they were never educated about magic or monsters so best they can do was stay as quiet as possible. Adrenaline was rushing in them, Lyric held out her hand and faced her palm against the golem's head, she felt something warm was pulsating on her hand but it disappeared. Suddenly a rock was thrown at the golem from a few meters away. "Stay back you magic controlled pebble!" A voice shouted from afar. The man who was brave enough to distract it unsheathes a sword as big as him, and then mutters a few words the girls couldn't understand and then, the sword started glowing uncontrollably, next time they knew that the golem was decapitated into halves. It was scary for both of the girls to experience that kind of horror, they started to tremble. Lyric knew that this sure will be a hell of a journey and life.