UnderAge
Prologue: What a World!
Long ago, this world was ruled over by two races.
Humans who were strong of body and soul, and Monsters who were strong of magic.
One day war broke out between the two races.
Though the fighting lasted only a week, it was still a harsh one.
Many lives were lost on both sides.
The Humans, with their strong souls turned the fragile Monsters to dust at a single hateful touch.
But the Monsters had Human friends yet, and fought beside them.
On the third day of the war, a Monster swallowed their fallen Human friend's soul, and grew powerful like nothing seen before.
The Humans fighting the Monsters grew enraged at this, calling them evil.
It did not help them.
More allied Humans fell, and more Monsters became armies onto themselves.
Finally the King of the Monsters had enough of his people dying.
He called seven Human Mages to him, and asked for their souls.
With grim smiles he was given them.
In half a day all Mankind was subdued beneath the Kings might.
And yet throughout, not a drop of blood was spilled.
The next day, the Monster King had the Humans leaders brought to him.
When they arrived, he surprised them, falling to his knees and begging.
Why?
WHY!?
Had they been offended?
Had they need of land and no coin to pay for it?
Had their gods bid them do it?
Why, after ages of peaceful separation had the Humans attacked?
The Human Kings were taken aback.
Finally one seemed to gather himself, and accused,
"You really have to ask, beast, after gorging yourself on Human souls!"
The Monster King wept as he replied,
"They are alive, alive and free within me!
They are my friends, and gave themselves freely to end this slaughter."
The Human King who spoke's anger left like wind from a sail.
As one the Humans admitted, they had never known of the Monsters before this week.
They had sent their armies because they were scared of the Monsters appearance.
The Monster King could not believe what he'd heard.
He sent the Humans home in a stupor, and went to his advisors.
"These are the actions and mindedness of children." They said.
The King frowned, "If these are their leaders, we can't leave them be."
"Then we shall not." Said a voice, said the Queen.
The King asked, "What do you mean, my dear?"
The Queen smiled with mischief and cunning,
"If they are as children, why not treat them as babes?"
At first the King was confused, but the more he thought, the more he liked the sound of it.
"So it shall be." He told his advisors,
"From here forth, though keeping their rights as people, Humans will be children in the eyes of the law."
And it was made so.
Across the world Humans young and old were adopted by Monsters,
Rather than dungeons as they'd imagined, they were given plush bedrooms,
Rather than hard labor, they were expected to learn the written word, maths, and the arts,
Rather than brands, Magic clothes that allowed their Monster family to find them.
At first the humans hated the change, thinking it embarrassing revenge.
But the Monsters had endless patience,
They swept broken bowls,
They cooked good meals,
They gave privacy and courtesy,
And rather than punish them when they ran,
The Monsters brought them back, and showed their tearful fright at them having been gone.
The Humans soon grew to love their new families, helped along by them not splitting up existing ones.
While this went on the Monsters who'd swallowed souls had children,
These Monsters powerful of body, soul, and Magic.
Time passed.
Soon all Monsters that were had strong bodies and souls,
And the Human's situation became more entrenched,
Teens still kissed and dated,
Those over twenty drank and smoked herb, but only as much as their parents allowed,
Forty and up still married and had children of their own, but still had their parents change their nappies.
Ever since this has been the way of things,
Even into the modern age…