《Warlock》 I Remember When Everything was dark, despite how that sounds it was quite comfortable for him, he laid with his back on a soft mattress, tightly wrapped in wool and enjoying the little rocking movement his crib made, he was calmed by his mothers melodious voice, she hummed a calm tune as she took care of the boiling soup just by his side, the warmth of the fire filled the small place, he heard the door open, the sound of wood hitting agaisnt wood as the thuds of his steps filled the house. ???: [Hey!] She hushed ???: S-Sorry... how is he? He heard his mother lean by his side on the cribs soflty caressing his cheek with her finger, then picking him up gently, she bringed him towards the men, when the boy opened his eyes he was face to face with an wide eyed strange thing, he felt his heart clench and he filled his lungs with air, cryign out a loud and desperate shriek, his mother pulled him closer to her body and soothed him, the two looked at eaxh oher as he stopped crying, the man and the woman laughed, hers a soft and calm giggle and his a low and husky chuckle. ???: [Dont be scared of him sweeheart... daddy may be big and ugly but hes not gonna hurt you.] She laughed. ???: [Come on domt tell him this...] He chuckled aswell. As she layed him down on the crib once more he started to drift off to sleep, he could see their faves looking down on him with loving gazes, everything slowly faded to darkness as the warm wool embraced him once more, the little boy went to sleep listening to his mothers sweet lullaby. ???: [Goodnight Leif...] She said, soflty touching his cheek. Winter had come and gone, many times, he stood by his mt9her side as she cut the potatoes in tiny pieces, putting them with the lamb and dumping it into the boiling pot. Leif: [Mama... mama is it ready?] ???: [Leif, what did i tell you about being patient?] Leif: [Sorry mama...] He stood around for some time, coming around to inspect his mothers cooking from time to time, he found a cool looking bug under the chopped wood, then went to cheek if the potatoes where done, he hit a dead bird with a stick then circles around his mother as she took a spoon and scooped some soup, putting it on a small wood bowl, she put the lid in and tied a rope around it, lowering it down for the small boy to pick it up. ???: [Now, be carefull, its hot on the bottom and i dont want you to spill anything.] Leif carefully took the rope and walked out of the house. Leif: [Bye mama!] ???: [Be carefull Leif!] Leif: [Yes mama!] The boy excitedly replied as he walked on the dirt road, he hummed a little tune as he skipped but shortly stopped, afraid of letting his fathers food drop, resorting to a fast paced walking, passing by the village he saw the other kids around, three boys and two girls, one of them, the older boy, called out to him. ???: [Hey Leif! Wanna play?] Leif: [No i gotta take my papas food to him] The other kids callout to him and wave their hands as he passed throught, steeping through the forest up a small hill, taking care to not trip in any roots like his papa taught him, the boy carefully held the rope as the wood bowl shaked from side to side, all the way up a pasture, he stopped to watch the horses run around with each other but quickly went back to the taks, he ended up finding his father napping under a tree, his sheep grazing, Leif came up to him and set the bowl of food down. Leif: [Papa!] His father jolted up suddenly, looking at the boy and lett out a half grunt half sigh. ???: [Dont wake me up that way boy, i tought i told you this.] Leif giggled, he took the bowl to his father who oppened it. ???: [Ugh.. Soup? In this weather? Whats Lya thinking...] Leif: [Mama said she put more lamb in it.] His father started eating and the boy sat by his side, he watched intently as his father ate, then watched the sheep pace around grazing, a soft warm breeze passed by, he looked up his father whos eyes lingered on the pasture and on the forests. ???: [Can you believe that this was all left by my father Leif?] Leif: [Papas papa?] His father chuckled. Marco: [Youre Leif Crows, im Marco Crows, my father was Gareth Crows, he left this all for me once he died.] The boy hled on to the tought, with his finger on his miuth he looked around silently as he tought. Leif: [Papa.] Marco: [Mm?] Leif: [Why are called crows?] Marco: [Its called a surname boy, so that everyone knows that Leif Crows is the son of Marco Crows.] He passed his calloused hand over the boys hair, looking down at him with a smile, the sky was a golden honeyed color as he walked down the hill back home, jumping over the roots of the trees, pretending to be a swift horse or an agile cat, he played a little with the other boys, but afraid his mother would be mad if he was late he didnt stick for long, walking away from the village he made his way quickly back home. Despite the violent winds bringing snow and the thick mist that couldnt allow him to see much he could still see the silhouettes of their heads much above the wall, he could see his mothers hair flying wildly in the wind, he sat quietly in the snow, clutching his father sword, by this time he couldnt cry anymore, maybe because of the winds or the cold drying up his eyes, or maybe he already cried everything he could. Leif: [Pa.. papa... mama....] His gaze still and unmoving on the dark shadows on the top of the wall, there where many others, women, men, the old and the young, the mercenaries had soent a long time making sure their heads would stick to the spears even after they had rotted. Leif had to villages up, as if there was a unseen force making he do so, despite how much he wanted to stay there and freeze and rott like his mama and papa, he walked around the snowy village, there wasnt anyone there, as he walked, feeling the cutting wind on his face, feeling such a prfound and utter loneliness he had never felt before. ???: [--swear to god that bitch bit my dick!!] Leif stopped to watch them as they laughed, loud and abnoxious guttural laughs, his fingers digged into the leather sheath of the sword. The mercenaries had stayed around for almost two weeks after they massacred the village, taking all the food to stay the winter rather then facing it by themselves, they felt specailly lucky to find beer and wine among the food. ???: [Erickson you son of a fucking bitch! Did you take my fucking boots again!]This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Erickson: [Oh shit! Sorry boss- umm hey boss, that kid is there again] ???: [What kid? oh, that one, i tought hed be dead by now, have you assholes been giving the kid food??] They haven''t, but Leif wastn stupid, he would wait until they would all be either asleep or in alcoholic comas before shoovng himself throught a small hole in the ground and sneaking inside the hut where they kept the food, never taking too much, just enough to not die. Leif couldnt bare the sight of the dirty men, he knew they werent dirty like his father, who was always working on the soil and threading mud, these men where dirty because they lived dirty lives. ???: [Ugh... this creepy fucking kid...] Erickson: [Yeah... look at those eyes..] Leifs fingers digged into the swords hilt until he felt like his nails where about to split, he felt the steely tang of blood on his mouth as he bit down on his lower lip. Erickson: [Fuck off kid!] He threw a rock, hitting the little boy on his forhead, a dribble of blood oozed down to his eye, making his rub it to see, the other mercenaries laughed and picked up rocks aswell, despite his rage Leif turned his back as the rocks rained down, running into the forest. Leif quickly sprinted down without paying attention to the roots, jumping througgt the trunks until he couldn''t her their voices, he stoped and looked around, trying to situate himself, he walked around for a while until he found it, the little hole under a tree where he had been hiding, he crawled in there and hugged his own legs, despite the cloak his mother hed given him the could was a lot to bare, strangely, throught these days the only thing wich seeemed to bring him warmth was his fathers sword, the long and heavy sword his father had revieved from his father and before from his father, everytime the night begun to fall he would hug the sword against his own body as hard as he could, no matter how much he wanted to cry the tears just wouldn''t fall. Winter had ended, the boy walked out of his hole, he had grown skinnier and lethargic over the time, he walked throught the forest once more, feeling the soft wamrth of the sunlight, clutching the sword close this his body, he was hungry, hungry enough to steal from the mercenaries in the daylight, but when he reached the village he couldn''t find them, there was no one, the desolate view filled his core with dread, he ran around a bit, searching for anyone, a single wixked soul left, but there was no one, when he reached the hut where they kept the food the door was wide open, and it was empty, nothing inside not a single grain of rice left, they had taken everything and the boy wasnt strong enough to scream, he just feel to his knees, soflty mumbling. Leif: [Ma... ma...] After sometime he managed to step up, gathering as much strenght as he could to make a step after step, he just needed to keep going, but why? what hope did he have? he continued stepping, slowly but stepping, step after step, it didnt matter if he was hungry, weak, tired. He remembered, at times when father had enough fish, animals and vegetables he would put everything in a carriage and take it all to the closest city, Cithra, just a few kilometers away from there, could he walk all the way there? if he could what would he do? would they help him? it didn''t matter he just needed to keep on walking, and so he did, step after step he made it put of the forest, he walked up and down many hills before finding himself in what seemed to be the plains, but there was no grass or any plant, just mud, so much mud, the sky was grayed thanks to the dozens of fires that had been lit, the smell of urine made his nose wrinkle but he was glad. The screams of men and women, horses and even chicken, he was in some kind of enormous camp, mayeb these where soldiers of some kind, he steped around on the mud, clutching the sword tightly, he smelled food, meat to be precise, looking at the nearest campfire he saw a muddy and fat man with the human equivalent of a pigs face, he had two pieces of chicken pierced by small wooden sticks over the fire, Leif felt his stomach tighten snd churn, he kept there, staring at the man, he tought that maybe he would turn away or forget about the chicken for enough time for him to quickly sweep at least one piece of it, but those hopes where quickly stepped on when the pig faced man started to eat the still hot chicken while making voracious sounds. After he was done he turned to the boy and smiled, his eight or nine remaining teeth gleamed yellow with grease. ???: [You want it rat?] Leif shook his head yes, the pigfaced man took the bones with the few strips of meat on it and threw them at him. Leif struggled to catch them, almost falling face first into the mud, but he managed to and helf tightly to the still warm and greasy bones, nibbling on the bone to strip all the meat he could, once he was finished he was still hungry, remembering how his father used to do he put the bones in his mouth and but down as hars as he could, the hard crunches and snaps as he broke the bone apart with his teeth, chewing on in as hard as he could, then swallowed. Pigface laughed a sickly wheeze at the sight. ???: [Pathetic, simply pathetic...] ???: [Sebb! Are you feeding the dogs again?? You pighead bastard what did i tell-] From the tent around came a strong and ugly woman, with a flattened nose, recessed chin but strong jaw, she looked down at the little boy curiously. ???: [Well that aint no damn mutt...] She approached the little boy, reaching to cup his chin with her calloused hand and pull his chin up, looking down with discontent. ???: [You an orphan boy?] When Leif didnt answer she just continued. ???: [Well even if you werent, parent who let their kids get this dirty arent really parents, im Madehlia.] The boy stayed silent once more. Sebb: [You little rat! Dont you ignore mam-] Madehlia: [Shut your goddam mouth and go to work already you useless pigheaded bastard!] Despite being almost two times the womans size he retreated like a scaredy cat and ran away quickly. Almost a week had passed, Madehlia had let him stay around, offered a chicken strip a day and a warm campfire to sleep by, Leif had already grown accustomed to the odor of excrement and urine, the loud noises all day and the nights hed pass around the greasy Pigheaded man, despite having his conpany and the evetual other orphans who would comr and go, the women of all ages who came to the camp to be bedwarmers for cheap bronze bits, and the men that would at times come to spend the night at Madehlia''s tent. Sebb: [Hey rat!] The pighead called out as he approached. Sebb: [The commanded said where gonna clash with the enemy troops by tomorrow, i want you to clean and sharpen my sword.] Sebb threw the sheathed longsword at the boy, he managed to hold it despite its weight. Leif: [Yes.] Leif left, holding the two swords, he will do it, pighead despite his looks had a little value for honor and always payed a couple bits of copper when Leif did what he was told, Leif skipped around the muddy territory he already knew, avoiding the trenches and the drunken mercenaries, he stepped quickly over to the forge are where many people sharpened their sword and axes, there were many lines of men waiting to sharpen their own tools, the imminent battle had everyone in their toes. ???: [Aye kid.] Leif looked at the not much older blonde boy who stood by his side, he was taller, with a smirk, he held a sword sheathed on his hip. ???: [Something in my face kid] Leif: [If im a kid then so are you...] ???: [Thats what youd think, but you habent killed, and you habent felt the warmth between a womans legs.] Leif felt angered at his useless boasts but didnt do anything, resorting to simply turning around. Hilt: [Oh dont ignore me please... Im Hilt... you are?] Leif: [Leif.] Hilt: [Leif, tell me how old are you?] Leif: [11?] Hilt: [I am 14, almost a made man, what do you think of the coming battle?] Leif: [I dont know, i just dont want to die.] Hilt smiled as they both stood in the line. Hilt: [Wise decision, i dont want to het killed either, i will still fight tought, wanna know why?] Leif didnt respond. Hilt: [For the money Leif, the money! Sweet copper pieces, Commander Persworth said each individual to survive will recieve 8 copper pieces and a piece more for each pair of ears you bring to the army of Pallaccia.] Leif: [Ears?] Hilt: [Its a way to show how many people youve killed.] Leif tought a little, he didnt want to kill anyome, and really didnt want to chop off any ears, but the idea of having atleast 8 copper pieces was tempting to say the least, he wanted to eat more then chicken strips everyday, he wanted to sleep on a bed again, and wanted to take a bath. Hilt: [Tempting is not?] Leif was finally allows to use the grinder, sitting on the stool and taking out Sebb''s longsword out of its sheath, he stepped on the rolling pedal and begun to sharpen the sword, stopping time and time to swipe off the bits of rust from the blade, after about 15 minutes he got up and stepped away, allowomg Hilt to sharpen his blades. As Leif walked away Hilt called out to him. Hilt: [See you later kid!] Leif walked back to the fireplace where found Sebb laying on the trunk sleeping soundly, his fat belly going up and down. Leif: [Sebb.] The man kept sleeping. Leif: [Sebb!] Pighead jolted up, and rubbed his eyes then wiped the drool from his mouth. Sebb: [Took ya long enough rat!] Sebb took the longsword off its sheath and inspected it. Sebb: [Eh, itll work, ill chop off some ears with this baby.] Leif reach his palm up towards Sebb. Sebb: [Heh. Smart rat.] The pigfaced man reached his hand on his pocket and took out a copper piece, throwing it at the boy. Leif held tightly to the piece, putting it on his pocket along with the others Sebb had given him, for now he had 6 copper pieces, he didnt need to spend them now, as long as Madehlia gives him chicken strips every night and as long as she allows him to spend the nights cloee to her fireplace he could save. But why was he doing this? The boy asked himself, he had no reason to live, to suffer this much, to be hungry and tired and dirty, he should just end it, maybe if he did he could hear his mothers voice and feels his fathers rough hand caressing his head, but he didnt cry, instead as night fell he held his fathers sword tightly to his body, falling asleep. In the next morning when he woke up the camp was even louder then normal, men had jumped on their horses, swords where being sharpened, he could see that even the women and children had disappeared, when he got up he saw Madehlia walking awway, her entire tent had disappeared, he approached her as she hopped on a carriage. Madehlia: [Oh, its you.... boy, you shoudl vanish, disappear, run for the hills as fast as you can.] Leif: [W-what? whats happening?] Madehlia: [The army underestimated the enemies numbers, there are a a lot more soldiers then they tought there would be, they said the Commander retreated and that the enemy will be here by sunfall.] How Does War Sound Even in his panicked state he managed to sneak up on a carriage. Holding tightly to his sword for comfort, the sound of wheels turning on the ground gave him a bit of soothing, Leif didnt think hed be this afraid of war, but he was, borderline terrified, it was war who took his parents away from him and it was war that made him suffer this much, he felt a prickle on his lef eye but quickly rubbed his hand over it. Suddenly the carriage had stopped, not even 30 minutes after it begun moving, there was no way they where far enough from the enemy troops, he felt his chest tighten as he hear the sounds of hooves clopping on the dirt, thankfully no one could see under the tent on the back of the carriage. ???: [Stop the carriage old man!] A commanding voice sounded. ???: [Do as the boss says and i wont have to cut your tongue off old geezer!] A sharper, annoying voice followed. ???: [Yuuh.] A loud, nasal and slightly choked voice boomed. Three people, three different ones, and they are about to open the carriage to steal the old man, what will they do when the see me here? Leif asked himself. ???: [Sherpe, go check the back and Boon go with him.] Sherpe: [Yes boss!] Boon: [Yuuh!] Leif gritted his teeth and clutched the sword harder, he heard their steps coming cloaer once the both of them stepped down from their horses, quickly and panicked Leif unsheathed his sword, holding the handle with all his might, he heard one of the men open the lid of the carriage, the boy screamed pushing the sword up with everything he had, he felt something warm coat his hand, arms and head, he couldn''t bear to look up, gritting his teeth and closing his eyes, feelling ss the edge of his blade slid up against soemthing hard and unyielding, he pushed again and again until there was nothing to push it back in. Boon: [Uhh... uhhh.... Sherpe? Nuuuh! Nuuuuuhh!!!] He heard the nasal voice once more looking up to see a tall, fat man with a flattened forhead and nose crying with blood covering his face and hands, on his arms a skinny and tall looking man with buckteeth and a big curved nose, his throat teared apart violently, blood gurgling and squirt from the red and blue meat, exposed to the bone of his neck, the fat man cried and wiped the blood off his face. Boon: [Bruhhh! Big bruuhhh!!] Leif felt a prickling sensation all over his body, he could barely hokd his sword and felt lightheaded, he had just killed a man, hundreds of different toughts rushed into his mind, but all of the sudden he could only focus on one thing, his ears. ???: [Sherpe! Boon! Whats happening??] The man with the commanding voice screamed out, Boon looked around. Boon: [Cap''n... Bruh... bruhh....] Boon looked up at Leif and veins popped across his forhead. Boon: [Yooouuu!] Leif''s blood ran cold as he saw the huge man grab the mace he let fall on the ground to hold his brother, thankfully he managed to jump away as Boon destroyed the back of the carriage with a powerful swing, Leif looked back as he left the sheath of his sword behind, faling with his back against the hard soil, he almost fainted when his head knocked against the dirt, but the vision of Boon shattering his head like he did with the carriage allowed him to ignore the pain easily.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ???: [What the..] Leif looked back to see an older man in a horse, he had a strong nose and a stubble of beard, almost handsome. ???: [Boon get him!] Boon: [Yuhh!] The giant replied quickly dashing forward despite his size, smacking the floor with his mace as Leif managed to jump under the carriage, he saw the man jump down from his horse and thinking quickly sticked his sword out, shanking it deep into the mans foot, he heard him curse and fall as he crawled to the other side of the carriage. ???: [Boon! Get the fucker already!] Boon circled around the carriage but Leif had already crawled from under it, thankfully the man had no armor other then a chestplate, Leif made his sword cut down the best he could, diving in the crook of Boons right arm, he almost let it fall from his grasp but quickly held it firmly again. Boon: [Uuuuhhh..... Ouchieee!] Boon managed to swing his massive mace with just his left arm, Leif felt the wind of the attack against his fave as he fell on his back against the floor, turning around and crawling under the carriage again, from under there none of the adults could really get a hold of him, specially Boon, he managed to cut the giants left ankle horizontally from under there, he heard him scream out another time, this time Leif stayed there for a few seconds, huffing to catch his breath and hearing out for the man, despite Boons screams and threats making it hard, he could hear someone step up into the carriage, he heard for the faint sounds of steps just above him, the captain, he had vanished and Leif couldnt see his feet anymore, he heard carefully, ignoring Boons muttering, he could hear the captains breath just above him, a dribble of blood oozed from one of the cracks of the carriage. Leif knew what the man was trying to do, he would wait until Leif tried to crawl out from unde the carriage to kill him, but Leif wouldn''t do that, he layed on hi back under the carriage looking up at the cracks, squinting until he caught a glimpse of the mans foot, Leif held his sword up, silently hooking it on the crack, then with all the strength in his body he pushed up, all he heard was a scream of pain and a stream of blood oozing down his blade, the captain swore as much as he could before pulling his foot off the sword, with that Leif made a crawl for it, as fast as he could, getting out from under there and jumping to his feet as fast as he could. ???: [Goddam rat! Fuck!] The captain face was sweaty and twisted in pain, Boon tried to do something to sooth his captains pain, but what can a huge man like him do? ???: [Get him already Boon! God fucking dammit!] Boon circled around the carriage once more, holding his made with his left hand, he stood in front of Leif, just now the boy could see how much taller the man was, he heavily swinged down the mace towards the boy, not as quick or a strong but enough so that Leif wouldnt even think of not dodging it, Leif made a risky move, steeping close to Boon, shanking his sword forward and shoving it as far as he could under the mans chestplate, they stood there for a second before Boon let go of his mace, throwing up a great amount of blood, his gruff and ugly face twisting in pain. Boon: [Guuh... guhhh...] The man tried to breath, Leif gritted his teeth and pulled the sword out the moved it in again, making the man throw up more blood, they stood there for a couple of seconds as the light faded away from the giants eyes, he fell, but in the process trapping Leif under him, there they layed, Leif under a huge and heavy bleeding corpse, he tried to move, but Boons body just didnt allow it, then he saw it. ???: [Heh... hehehe..... atleast this fucker was usefulll before dying...] The captain limped over, using his sword as a cane to approach the two, in his fave a smirk as he mocked the dead man. ???: [Now little rat, its just the two of us.... You gave me a trouble i wont lie... mostly because i just insist in getting the most stupid mercenaries known to man, but still.... ill giv you the glory...] Leif gritted his teeth as he tried his best to get out but Boons body was a great prison, he looked up once more to see the sharp tip of a sword right above his eye. ???: [Ready to die?] Leif felt something burning come up his throat, he huffed and puffed, sweating with tears prickling on the corners of his eyes. ???: [Hehehe.... just kidding... no one is....] His mouth and throat where burning up, as if someone had poured hot coal on it, hed felt like he was about to throw up, the imahe of his mothers and fathers heads spiked on spears on the top of a wall, his heart was beating wild on his chest. ???: [Well... lets get to it.] The burning grew andd grew to his entire body, the prickling sensation building up and covering his skin, tears streaming down his face, he huffed more and more, how much more until the fat fucks body moved? I dont want to die, the captain lifet his sword up, then with a grunt it dived down, but instead of crying Leif felt soemthing comign out of his throat like a mass of blazing energy. Leif: [[H¨¢RT]] Everything blowed up, he felt Boons body be lifted up by the force of the explosion, the captian was nowhere, Leif inhaled and exhaled, as he got up he could see a blue flame dacing over the carriages wood, he looked over up on the road to find the captains body scattered across the dirt, he couldnt find anything that seemed to be Boon but was pretty sure the meat and organs covreinf the side of the road used to be him, the confirmation was the half charred head of the giat rolling down from a small hil just above the rest of the "body". Leif stepped around to find a man hiding behind a tree nearby, it was the old man who owned the carriage. Leif: [Umm...] The man looked at the body in shock that slowly turned into relief. ???: [Wa- Warlock!] The man jumped to hold tightly to the boys legs, repeaing the word while cried, the boy confused just let him, when he stopped and sat on the road, Leif just remembered a single thing, their ears, he took his sword from the road, there was a faint glint on the base of the blade, two symbols he didn''t know glowed softly but quickly stopped, he ignored it just like he ignored the exlosion that just happened, stepping over to the burned up head of the giant man, he tried his best to chop off his ears without messing it up, when he did it he shoved them on the right pocked of his pants, then he went to Sherpe, laying on the back of the carriage, he cut off his big and round ears aswell, wondering if bigger ears payed more, when he starting to walk towards the captain the old man interrupted him. ???: [Mister Warlock, thats Captain Zerk Oos, you should cut off his head and take it with you... I''d bet Commander Persworth would pay atleast 30 copper pieces for a enemy captain.] Leif found the idea pleasing, doing his best to cut off the soft neck of the man, when explosion happened his neck was turned into a paste inside, but Leif managed, holding the head by the hair, the old man gladly allowed him to sit on the back of the carriage, and the both of them made their to the next camp. A Heads Price This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. War With Warlocks This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Invading Force This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. A Powerful Warrior The battleground roared, men screamed and yelled all around, the smell of iron and mud could overwhelm most people, their troops held the position behind a small hill, the objective was to take over an enemy fortress. For the past 4 or 5 months the camp had made its way up the Cithroam continent, the weather slowly growing colder and drier, the landscape transformed from large plains, long hills and forests to the more mountainous and muddy north, for a long time now they have been in search of the enemy rebellion leader, each time they tought they where growing close he disappeared once more, this grueling rat chase throught the continent had slowly drived commander Geralt a bit mad, even Leif who had trouble understanding others could see that almost everything made him angrier with each day that passed. Leif rested his head against the trunk of the tree, sitting on one of the branches almost 5 meters off the ground, with the training he has endured for the past months he could easily jump up without using any runes, purely by controlling his inner magic he could jump up there, if he used the help of the lesser spirits he could jump almost twice the height, but doing multiple things at once correctly was difficult, most of the times he tried he just blasted off the ground and ended up with his back hitting the floor. Someone approached by horse, the morning sun was begenning to work its way throught the leaves, Leif looked down to see the same brooding old man that always came his way when the commander ordered so. Leif: [Brott.] The man looked up at the branches, the boy looked down at him. Brott: [Child, the commander has requested your presence.] The man turned his horse around and begun to trot away. Leif: [Does he want me to save his butt again?] Leif shouted at the man but he didnt even turn his back, the boy snickered at his own quip as he hopped down from the branch. Ever since the training begun commander Geralt had been making the boy prove himself in battle, "testing his training" as he said, but to Leif it seemed more like he only needed him to prove himself when their army was in trouble of any sort. He walked among the trail leading to the camp behind the hill, he never liked to be near it, prefering to sleep away in the woods to avoid the terrible smells and the loud noises the soldiers made, who knew men could smell even worse then the horses, once he crossed the muddy paths of the camp he entered the commanders tent, inside he could see the familiar rugged faces, Bowen and Brott talked while pointing routes on the map set on the table before them, sadly Rigge wasnt present, after taking a arrow to the neck during a invasion he layed in bed for half a day before diying, Leif never knew much of him but he felt a bit sad for Bowen who was his great friend, once the boy stepped forward the commander turned to him. Geralt: [Crows, good you came.] Leif: [What do you need me for?] Geralt: [We have tried to seize this fortress for the past 2 weeks, its right in the middle of our supply lines and just far enough into the mountains where the only place to attack it from behind is dropping from a cliff.] Leif: [You want me to jump in the walls?] Geralt: [Indeed, we plan on an all out attack by the middle of the day, you will climb up the east of the wall, the plan is for you to make enough of a distraction for us to destroy de frontal gate with a battering ram, can you do that?] Leif: [So im just the distraction? Can i jump out anytime?] Geralt: [If you think youre in danger then yes, jump out, but try and give us as much time as you can.] Leif: [Can do, and what about the payment?] The boy aaked with a grim, the commander simply sighed. Geralt: [3 iron pieces.] Leif: [4 iron pieces.] Geralt: [3 iron pieces and 15 coppers.] Leif: [25 coppers.] Geralt: [15. coppers.] Leif: [Tsk... fine 3 irons and 15 coppers.] As he turned around to leave the tent, the general stopped him. Geralt: [Thank you for your work Leif, without you we have to take much more drastic measure to win, youre saving many lives.] Leif: [As if i care about that...] He said as he left, once out he walked away from the camp, into the forest, the rocky terrain among the grass and roots crackling beneath his feet as he stepped in, he had at least a few hour before the attack and didnt want to waste any of his energy, he stoped, looking up at the same branch he was sat on before, over 3 times taller then him, he closed his eyes for a second, feeling the warmth in his legs, the blood running throught his veins, filled with energy, clenching his jaw and squatting slightly, by kicking the ground the boy projected himself into the air, grabbing on to the branch and lifting himself up, he sat down and pushed his back against the trunk. A short nap was more then enough for him to conserve his energy, he had already eaten earlier and wouldnt have problems keeping up during his invasion, he closed his eyes and drifted into a shallow sleep, his sword sheathed and dangling from his hip, he enjoyed the soft wind passing through the leaves and branches, after an hour or so he opened his eyes once more, turning to the side he dropped from the branch and his feet pounded into the dirt, the time should be about now, he walked back into the camp, reaching there he could clearly see the soldiers preparing themselves for war, the commander sat on a reddish brown mare, Brott and Bowen by his side, once the commander catched sight of the boy he resorted to a simple nod, a message Leif understood very well, quickly the boy made his way through the forest, heading to the east in wich the forest grew clser to the enemy fortress. After only a couple of minutes of wallking he reached a wide river that ran down the hill, on the other side there where only a couple of meters of barren terrain until the wall of the fortress begun, he walkeed up to the edge of the river, seeing if he could spot any guards or enemy soldiers around, once he saw the fort was barely guarded from the east, he closed his eyes for a second focusing his body''s heat on the legs, taking a few steps back and running back to the edge of the river, with a powerful push the boy soared over the river, clearing almost 6 meters with a single jump the boy landed on the muddy terrain on the other side, quickly he ran up to the wooden wall of he fortress, pushing his back against it and crouching down, he closed his eyes and heard all he could, the sounds of talking, laughing, and screaming coming from inside the fort, he stood up and looking to the top of the wall made out of tree trunks. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Closing his eyes the boy felt the vital energy flwoing throught his veins, exhaling, feeling his core and the beating of his heart. Leif: [[Kehir]] Kel, meaning lesser, and Khir, meaning to fly, the boy''s body slowly begun to float up, with his boots against the wall the boy quickly ran up the tree trunk, once he finally reached the top he jumped, soaring throught the air, looking down he could clearly see all of the fort, it was slightly bugger then their camp behind the hill, with three main crude buildings and many tents, the walkway built out of planks along the wall had little to no guards, he could see 3 on the east, 5 at south and 2 on the west walkway, he dropped down on two of the guards on the east while they talked, taking their lives before they could even scream out, cutting the first man''s throat and then spearing the tip of his sword into the other''s neck. As he ran along the walkway the third guard fumbled his sword out of its sheath, the man on the chest, as the blade pierced his lung the man let out a barely audible and choked scream, he fell as the boy took the sword out of his chest, feeling his ribs scrape across the sides of the blade. Leif had learned a great trick to use during battles, even though he could barely use ¨ªlHy for 3 entire seconds, he found that it used up only a tiny speck of his energy, meaning he would use it multiple times in a row, even if the rune only worked for a few instants it was enough to slice throught a mans arm like butter, being specialy useful to attack ungarded enemies or those who relied on their heavy armors. After just a few seconds the boy was running towards the north walkway while one of the guards sounded the horn. ???: [Enemy!! Enemy attack!!] The boy swinged his sword on the first guard, the runes engraved on the base of his blade emanated a soft glow as it sliced through the mans axe and with it his throat, the mans head fell back, hanging on to a small piece of meat and skin, blood spraying out of his arteries and veins all over the walkway, the horn continued to sound as Leif looked over the edge of the wall, a flood of warriors ran to the gate of the fortress, he could see commander Geralt sat on his horse, Brott and Bowen by his side as he commanded over 50 men to carry a battering ram up the small hill. When he turned around he could see the enemy warriors climbing up the stairs to the walkway, the 2 other guards that stood on the north side of the wall ran over to him with their blades in hand, the first man sliced down with his blade, wich was easily dodged by Leif, shoving his blade into the mans stomach, the sword reinforced with ¨ªlHy speared through the leather and chainmail like butter, upon pulling it out the boy''s hand was covered by a torrent of blood spilling out from the mans insides, diving forward towards the second guard, the man roared as he bringed down his axe, Leif swinged his sword to meet the crook between the metal blade and the wooden hilt, using the runes just before they met he sliced through the wood, making the blade go flying, but he didnt stop, forcong the slice forward the boy opened a hole in the mans ungarded neck. Just then he heard something, someone stepping up into the walkway, two powerful thuds, as if it was a bear stepping, he turned to see a massive man, with dirty blonde hair and a same colored goatee, the man was almost twice the boys size, he was used to feeling small in comparison to others but this was the first time he had ever been so dwarfed before, not only that but the man also emanated a powerful aura of vital energy, Leif could sense his strength easily, this man was probably the strongest warrior he had ever seen. ???: [Secure the gate!! Prepare the spears and the arrows!!] The man shouted orders and the others followed, he turned to the boy with a smile. ???: [Dont bother with this one, he''s mine.] Leif prepared himself, this wasnt the kind of battle he would usually take, if he was in disadvantage or overwhelmed he would usually run away and avoid the enemy by any means, he looked over the wall again, the battering ram was now begenning to smash against the gate, the strength of several men being used to bring it down, just a couple minutes more and the battle would have been decided, the proce for this danger was 3 iron pieces and a few copper ones, was this enough to make him put himself in such danger? As he thinked the man stepped forward, now with a long axe in his hand, he smiled pointing the tip of the axe towards the boy. ???: [Tell me kid, should you be really on the battlefield? I dont like killin kids ya know?] Leif ignored the man, simply lifting his sword to guard himself. ???: [Heheh... great then, lets get on with this...] With surprising speed the man dashed forward, bringing down his axe, the boy managed to jump to the left but the attack was quickly followed by a horizontal cut of the axe, Leif jumped over the slice and kicked it down, swinging his sword towards the mans face, the blade was stoped by his hand, the boy quickly jumped away. ???: [Heheheh.... good... very good boy.... tell me your name.] Leif huffed, despite the short encounter he felt his heart tighten, he came close to dying quite a lot of times by now, but every second he spent next to this man felt like sharp needles where piercing his skin, Leif never saw himself as the prey but this man was a true predator. Leif: [Im Leif... Crows...] Thoren: [Thoren Galdr, its good to meet you, Leif.] Unripe Fruit No matter how much the army of men wanted to circle around and watch the battle they could not, their commander screamed orders just as much as he swinged his axe, with both terrifying strenght and speed, Leif felt a little frustrated he couldn''t make the man focus on the duel but he also felt like there weren''t many that could, with each dodge and counter attack the boy felt as if his luck was slowly running out, even if he used ¨¬lHy he felt as if he couldn''t pierce the mans deep enough and it didn''t matter how deep the man brushed it off as it was a simple scratch. Thoren: [Bahahahah! Come on little crow, put more strenght in those swings!] The bear of a man roared while destroying their surroundings with his powerful smashes, Leif folded back to dodge a horizontal slash towards his face, quickly swinging his blade into the mans thigh, as the man swinged his sword upwards from bellow the boy, Leif jumped to the side, more sweat dripping down from his brow with each close call, he felt the breeze of the mans attacks and with each second they spent the boy growed more sure that Thoren knew how to use some kind magical enhancement, there no way a normal man could move like this, there had been many months since the boy had begun his training as a Warlock and he could rival most others on the battlefield, but this man, Leif felt as if he was being toyed with, as if Thoren could end the battle any time with a powerful chop that would break his head in half with ease. Thoren: [BAHAHAHAH!! YOURE BEGENNING TO PICK UP LITTLE CROW!!] Leif: [SHUT THE FUCK UP!] They shouted at each other as Leif tried to catch his breath, huffing and wiping the sweat off his eyes, how much time did he spend fighting this man? minutes? hours? mere seconds? God damn it he wanted to jump off that wall right there and then, but if it was too soon they would lose, then he wouldn''t be getting paid anything, he peeked over the wall once more, the gate now had a dent on it from the many rams it suffered, shields pointed up to protect them from any arrows and spears. Thoren: [Cmon little crow, gettin tired?] Lief: [I told you to shut the fuck up!] Thoren: [So feisty! BAHAHAH!!] Leif dashed forward, the man protected himself from the boys swings with the blade of his long axe, all while laughing, quickly holding close to the blade he pushed it towards the boy, who quickly ducked, the man let the wood hilt slide over his palm until it was almost on the tip, bringing it down towards the boy with tremendous power, Leif tought quickly, holding his sword above his head and closing his eyes. Leif: [[Dh¨¢kh!]] His sword emitted a faint but solid feeling for barely a second, but the mans tremendous chop kicked the blade back up, releasing sparks into the air, the boy quickly pushed himself up holding tightly to the axes hilt. Leif: [[Sh¨¢r!]] As he spoke the rune he felt the hard wood between his fingers crumble and snap, with it he felt his heart clench aswell as his throat, a terrible pain he had only felt once before, speaking too much, he stepped back a little coughing and struggling to breath as if choking in his own spit, he felt tear swell on his eyes, Thoren stepped back aswell, his eyes wide and a grin on his face. Thoren: [Heh... Warlock huh?] Leif held his throat as he coughed, looking up at the man as he stepped back a little more. Thoren: [Well I have a hell of a spell for ya!] The giant man stepped forward, letting his right foot back and opening his arms, Leif knew immediately what was about to happen, pulling himself up he jumped, the mans leg swinged toward the boy as he jumped, his shin hitting the boy feet and sending him soaring through the air, Leif felt the wind hitting his entire body with force, the ground seemed to circle around his vision, slowly he stopped going up, feeling the force of the wind hit his back he knew he was falling, he tried to look down but he had no idea how to, or even where down was, he seemed to fall for an eternity, faling and faling, he felt his lungs fill up and his hear clench with his chest tightening, he could hear the screams of war, seeming louder and louder, all until he felt a powerful hit against back and everything went black. He woke up to someone''s voice and a smack on his face, he slowly opened his eyes, for a couple of seconds everything was blurry and dark, then he felt a terrible pain on his back. Leif: [U-ugh..] He looked up to the person above him, the same rugged faced and graying old man he''s used to seeing. Leif: [Brott.] Brott: [Dont talk child, you''re wounded.] Leif: [Ugh... y-yeah...] Brott watched the boy lay there for a couple minutes, grunting with pain every couple of seconds, he had landed on a small hut on the back do the fortress, close to the east wall, thankfully it was used to stack hay for the horses, he felt a terrible pression on his ribs and his beck was pounding with pain, after almost half an hour Leif felt enough courage to let Brott help him up, he carried him around and into a small hut, it was small, but it was empty, no one else, no soldiers or anything, Brott layed him into a mattress of hay, he felt the pressure against his back as it were sharp knives piercing his muscles. Brott: [The commander allowed you to have this hut for yourself, for your actions today.] Leif: [Our great commander...] When Brott left the boy fell asleep again, everything went dark, later into the day he woke up, once more feeling his entire body painfully tensed, the pain on his ribs was still terrible but more endurable, when he looked to the side of his bed he saw the commander sitting on a chair cutting off the peel from a apple. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Leif: [Co-commander...?] Geralt: [So you''re up... here boy eat...] The man took small bits of the apple and fed to the boy, he couldnt even turn his neck without terrible pain coming down his back, chewing the apple and swallowing. Leif: [Thanks...] Geralt: [You''re gonna stay on this bed for now, got yourself really hurt there...] Leif: [That guy was... fucking terrifying...] The commander fed the boy another bite of the apple. Geralt: [Thoren Galdr, enemy commander.... hero of war, betrayed the Pallaccian Empire and joined the Cithroam rebellion...] Leif: [Okayy....] Geralt: [You should''ve ran away as soon as you saw him, I know you could feel how dangerous he was...] Leif: [I... want... the money..] Commander Geralt sighed. Geralt: [You won''t get the money if you die, boy...] Lief didn''t respond. Geralt: [Why didn''t you run? You''re not the kind to put yourself in risk anyways...] Leif: [If I did, you guys wouldn''t have won...] Geralt looked the boy in the eyes, sighed once more and reached inside the sack tied to the belt in his waist, taking out something and placing it on the boys palm, he got up from his chair and walked out of the hut, the boy stayed silent for a little, he reached his hand closer to his face, it was a metal he had never seen before, it looked like a iron piece, but the sigil was different, instead of a anvil there where two swords crossed, the piece was also shiny and clear, like new iron. Leif: [What... what''s this..] But he was hurting too much to care, he slowly fell asleep again, after what semmed to be years in that bed he woke up, his body was terribly sore and his mouth dry, but the pain that prevented him from moving was gone, slowly and grunting he got up, it was dark out, but slowly he could see the sun rise, once he was up he saw a small mirror on the wall, he took a few steps forward he pulled his shirt up, turning around he could see it clearly despite it being dark in his hut, the pale skin of his back was now a mix of dark purples and yellows, his shoulders, his waist, bruises and scratches, he put his shirt back on. Sitting on the edge of his bed, reflecting on the past few months to ease out the soreness, he was being paid atleast 15 copper pieces once every couple of weeks to help with the war, he still couldn''t take that many baths but he enjoued the few he did get, he wished he could buy better clothes, atleast something made of leather, but he didnt have enough pieces, saving up for food didnt let him, after clutching for his sword and feeling the empty sheath he panicked a little, he got up once more, looking around in he finally saw the sword behind the open door, quickly taking it and sheathing it, he walked out of the hut, outside was calm surprisingly, not much noise but the eventual talking here and there. The sun rised over the fortresses east wall, he walked on the dirty trails between the huts and tents, walking up the walkway to the north wall, he sat on the floor and pushed his back against the wall, feeling the soft brush agaisnt his dirty face and tangled hair, the soreness on his back slowly went away as he sat there, the morning sun on his face was nice. Hilt: [Lief.] He was a little surprised, opening his eyes he saw the tall blonde boy, walking up the stairs. Hilt: [I thought you where suppose to stay on the bed for atleast a few days...] Leif: [As if.] The boy chuckled as he stood by the Leif. Hilt: [The commander wants to keep you safe you know...] Leif: [I dont do everything the old man says you know?] Hilt: [Yet you ended up fighting some real dangerous guy...] Leif: [Oh.. yeah... what happened to him?] Hilt: [He ended up surrendering.. They got him chained up against a tree.] Leif: [Hilt, do you know what this is?] He reached up and showed the different piece of metal, Hilt looked down and his green eyes went wide. Hilt: [W-where.. where did you get that...?] Leif: [The commander gave me.] Hilt: [He did... well, im jealous... thats a silver piece.] Leif: [Is it worth more then a iron piece?] Hilt: [Well if a iron piece is worth 100 coppers, a silver is worth about 50 irons...] Leifs eyes went wide. Leif: [W-what... 50?] The blonde laughed a bit. Hilt: [I guess this really was worth it huh?] After they talked for a few minutes Leif left, after a few minutes of walking he finally found him, the huge man was chained into the trunk of a tree, three chains bound his wrists together, one around his neck, another one around his chest and another on his shoulders. Leif: [Bear man.] He looked up with his dark green eyes through his bushy golden eyebrows, letting out a deep chuckle. Thoren: [Little crow...] Leif sat before the man. Leif: [Why... did you let me go..?] Thoren: [Let you go? Hahaha... I didnt let you go little crow, did you forget that i kicked you?] Leif: [Dont fuck with me, im weaker then you but im not stupid, if you wanted to actuslly kick me i wouldn''t be alive now.] Thoren chuckled once more. Thoren: [Youre smart, little crow, smart and strong, but youre young, how young are you?] Lief: [Im supposed to turn 13 soon.] Thoren: [Heheh.... 13 huh? That just makes me less excited to kill you.] Leif: [Because you dont like killing kids, youve said that.] Thoren: [That and you, little crow, are not ready yet... youre a unripe fruit...] Simple Messages It had been almost two months since they took over an abandoned tower just where the mountainous terrain of Cithroam stopped, just about where the nation of Hasgart ended, as the winter crept in and the landscape slowly begun to turn white Leif asked questions about Hasgart, Bowen was from there and had a lot of stories about his difficult beginnings, Hasgart is a nation covered in snow for almost half the year, a land of warriors and conquerors as he stated. Bowen: [In Hasgart you dont eat if csnt fight for your food.] Leif: [Even the women?] Bowen chuckled at the boy. Bowen: [Especially the women. What''s the point of a woman if shes not strong enough to birth a healthy child?] The tall blonde man told him of war Hasgart had been waging on Pallaccia for last hundreds of years, no matter how much territory they take, how many warriors they kill or how much food they destroy, the Hasgartians seem to not care, they keep on fighting, and when they cant fight they retreat even deeper into their gelid and mountainous territory, to the point where growing food would be a huge challenge. The army had build a makeshift fortress around the tower, stacking solid blocks and rocks around and making the rest of the wall out of wood, sadly even when making huts and litting fires the men seemed to stack themselves with pelts and furs to stop the cold, thankfully Leif was allowed to share a hut with Bowen, Brott and Hilt, by the side of the tower in wich the commander stayed in, the tower had two floors, the bigger first floor, where they kept their provisions and other stock, and the smaller top one where the commander lived and where they held their meetings. This was hard for Leif, he didnt like the winter, the snow made him sick and cold didnt help in the slightest, the location of the castle wasnt the best aswell, most of the times it was almost 20 minutes to reach the closest patch of forest, Leif didnt like stayinf away from the forest, if he didnt sleep next to a tree for more then a week hed start having dreams, dreams about roots and dirt. The boy woke up, it was dark out still, he got up, putting on his boots as he got up, he took his pelt cover as he walked out of the hut, he liked watching the moon out despite how chilling the night felt as he walked away from the makeshift walls, his boots crunching in the small layer of snow beneath his feet, it was then he felt something, watching him, he looked around, but he saw nothing and heard nothing, closing his eyes he tried to feel for the flow, feeling the energy pour out of everything around him, he felt a great warm and raw force pulse around him through the air coming from the northwest, opening his eyws the boy saw him again. It had been almost 3 months since he last saw the man, last time was during the beggening of the march towards the abandoned castle, Laymen stood there, bare chest with a red leather vest, big leather trousers and big boots, almost as if he couldn''t feel the cold winter air. Leif: [Long time no see...] Laymen: [Indeed.] Leif: [Where have you been?] Laymen: [Pallaccia, although its bothersome a Warlock has a duty to the Academy.] Leif: [And why did you come back?] Laymen: [Dont be like that little Leif, after all im still your teacher.] Leif: [If you have nothing to tell me then im going back.] Once Leif turned back Laymen''s tone seemed to change. Laymen: [Something bad is happening Leif.] Leif turned to him. Laymen: [Dark forces gather south of here, the rebellion seems to be meddling with blasphemous magic, things seem to be growing dangerous as times goes on.] Leif: [You... wont be able to teach me for some time then?] Laymen: [Sadly, Leif your talent is great, and i would much enjoy seeing you grow, but my duties as a Walock lie with the interests of the Academy.] Leif looked down. Laymen: [Thats why i came here one last time boy, to ask you a simple question.] The boy looked up once more with interest. Laymen: [Tell me, Leif, do you wish to study more?] Leif didnt even have to think for a second. Leif: [Yes.] The man smiled at him. Laymen: [Then tell me, do you wish to study at the Pallaccian Academy of Runic Studies?] Leif''s mind raced with toughts, the Academy was in Pallaccia right? He would go there? He never tought he would end up being a actual fully realized Warlock, but the idea was too tempting, soecially since he would finally stop needing to fight in the wars. Leif: [Yes..] Laymen semmed to be proud of his choice, the man closed his eyes, extending his right arm to the side. Laymen: [[S¨®mmus.]] Energy seemed to gather around his hand, a blue glow brighter then the moons light, materialize slowly into an object, a long, thin and twisted staff, it seemed to be made out of a strange metal, or atleast clothes in it, radiating blue and black with a small shining blue rock on the tip, he held the staff and it gowed with force, magic semmed to flow around, leaving their runes in the air, the man wrote on the air using the tip of his staff, a series of runes floated into the air. Laymen: [[Tell¨¢ Irb Pallaccia, Yh¨¦.]] The energy seemed to solidify around him, growing thicker and stronger, all until it shot up into the sky, throigh the clouds, flying with extreme speed towards the West. Leif: [What... what was that rune?] Laymen: [A message, to Pallaccia.] Leif: [You told them i accepted?] Laymen: [Indeed, now, little Leif, you should go rest.] And so he did, he didnt see where Laymen went, he simply went to his cabin, he was sleepier then he tought he was, in the morning Bowen and Brott where already gone but sitting calmly outside of the hut, chipping away at a piece of woods with a knife was Hilt. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Hilt: [Mornin..] Leif: [Hey.] Hilt: [Leif, tell me, that one tall bald guy is your master am i right?] Leif: [You know Laymen?] Hilt: [Well i saw him earlier today, hes a Warlock huh?] Leif: [Uh... Yeah, what was he doing here earlier?] Hilt: [I dont know exactly what but he was talking to the commander.] Leif was a bit confused, what exactly does Laymen has to do with the commander? He never tought the two them had ever really talked. Hilt: [Hey, Leif, you think i got what it takes to be a Warlock?] Leif: [Why?] Hilt: [I dont know, maybe i should find myself a master like you did... I bet in a year or so id be a better Warlock then you.] Leif chuckled. Leif: [Not in a century.] The boys heard a few heavy steps coming towards them. Brott: [Boy, the commander wants you.] The two of them looked at eachother and Hilt smiled. Hilt: [Boy means you dummy.] Brott follwed the man into the tower, thick walls made out of stone, inside was warm, the first floor filled to the brim with boxes and sacks, the two of them walked throught them to reach the stairs, walking up and knocking on the door. Geralt: [Brott?] Brott: [Yes.] Geralt: [Good, come in.] When Brott opened the door the commander was sitting, writting something down on his desk. Geralt: [Leif.] Leif: [Yeah?] Geralt: [Youre going to New Pallac.] Leif: [Huh.. me?] Geralt: [Indeed you.] Leif: [Only me? You want me to walk there?] The commander sighed. Geralt: [No, you''ll be hanving company, they are already on their way, what i want to tell you is... from now on youll not be under my command any longer.] Leif: [W-why?] Geralt: [Technically, boy, youre my soldier, a commander has no need for a soldier who is thousands of kilometers away.] Leif: [But.. what am i gonna do..?] Geralt: [Relax, youll be under the orders of a different commander, the conpany coming this way are her liutenant and assistant.] Leif: [A new one?] Geralt: [Her name is Allera Maelstrom, a strong woman, we fought together in many war across the years, she said she was contacted by the Academy and they asked her to offer you a hand, consider yourself lucky.] Leif stood there in silence for a second, thinking. Leif: [And when is this conpany getting here?] Geralt: [Id say a bit more then a week, specially since Allera herself was already in Cithii.] Leif: [I see, well great then.] Geralt: [Good, that was everything soldier, dismissed.] Leif and Brott turned to leave but just before walking out he stoped. Leif: [Thank you for everything commander.] Geralt: [You were a good soldier, Leif, dismissed.] The boy followed Brott outside of the tower. Brott: [You did well boy, the commander is proud of you.] Leif looked up at him. Leif: [You think so?] Brott: [The commander had a child before you.] Brott sat down on the chair Hilt had been sat before. Brott: [A boy, and a wife, hes a noble man froma good family, but when i met him they where already dead by long, he never talks about them.] Leif sat by his side, trying to imagine the commanders wife and his son. Brott: [Hes very proud of you, when your master came around to relay the massage from the Academy he was very exited... in his own way, he thinks youll be a grea man one day, boy.] Leif spent the next few days around the fort, he eventually came around to helping Hilt with the tasks to keep the fort fixed, despite not needing to, even tho he was a little too confident a times Hilt was good company and a great friend for him, specially since most others around where grown men and Hilt was only a few years older. One day he woke up, the sun was slowly rising and the snowflakes danced in the morning wind, as Leif waked near the tower to piss he saw something, a few horses and a carriage, slowly coming up, just then the commander walked out of the tower, followed by Bowen and Brott. Geralt: [Ah, Leif, youre awake.] Leif: [Are those them?] Geralt: [Probably, one the guards just told me.] The four of them got up on their horses and made their way down the hill they where in towards the caravan, the soldiers on the fort came around just to be safe. Geralt: [Halt! I am General Geralt Perswort, state your purpose.] The caravan went silent for a second, no one spoke a word, then the door of the carriage was kicked open by someone, oit of it stumbled a young man dressed with a fine green overall, leather pants and fancy leather boots, he had short brown hair, a stubble of beard and looked weirdly like the commander. Geralt: [For the sake of-] ???: [BROTHER!!!] The young man screamed out, stumbling around towards the commander. ???: [Oh my dear, dear brother, how have i missed you!] Geralt jumped off his horse and the man hugged him. Geralt: [Are you drunk Gregory?] Gregory: [No! Absolutely not! What...] The man stumbed away and vomited on the snow. Gregory: [Preposterous thought brother!] He said as he wiped his mouth. ???: [I apologize for Sr.Persworth, i shouldnt have allowed him to take his canteen with him for this trip.] Said a young woman who stepped out of the carriage aswell, she was tall for a girl, about Leif''s age, maybe a little older, long, strainght and lucious black hair with thin and sharp shaped blue eyes the likes of wich Leif had never seen before, maybe they looked a bit like Rigge''s but he was almost sure Rigge''s where actually closed. Gregory: [Inconceivable lady Katlyn! I am NOT a man that is easily swayed by alcohol!] He said with vomit still on the corners of his mouth. Sommerhall He couldnt get his eyes off of Katlyn and he was pretty sure she had noticed, while the men united on the second floor to discuss things the both of them, and Brott, stayed on the first floor waiting, the room was completely silent, Leif sat on top of a wood box, Katlyn sat on a stool and Brott stood between them silently, when Leif glanced at her sometimes hed catch her looking at him aswell but she''d always quickly glance away, fiddling with the frills on her skirt. They heard the door to the second floor open and a few men step out and down the stairs, Bowen and Gregory. Gregory: [So you are the Warlock boy being tranfered to General Allera huh?] Leif didnt respond, only looking at the. men. Gregory: [Dont wanna talk huh? Thats fine, butthink twice before giving Master Allera this attitude boy.] Bowen: [You guys are leaving tomorrow, the commander will provide a good amount of provisions for the travel.] Gregory: [You heard the man boy, pack up your belongings and get ready, tomorrow we travel.] The afternoon rolled by, Leif was sat in the stool in front of their hut, clutching his sword tightly, when Katlyn stepped around. Katlyn: [Uhh.. Leif right? Dont you need to pack your things?] Leif looked up at her through his messy and dirty bangs. Leif: [I... already did.] Katlyn looked at the dirty boy up and down, the only thing on his where the beaten up brown leather pants, the dirty white wool shirt, the black leather cloak, the brown leather boots and the long sheather sword he clutched. Katlyn: [Would... wouldn''t have to take a bath?] Leif: [Theres nowhere to take a bath around here, theres a lake around but with this cold youre just asking to freeze.] Katlyn stopped a little and seemed to think a bit. Katlyn: [I see... well, could you pick up a bucket and bring me some water?] Leif did as she asked, picked up a bucket and walked about 15 minutes to reach the almost frozen but still running river deep in the white forest, walking back up the hill and into the fort, he found Katlyn again, she had made a fire when he arrived sitting on a stool with a couple wool towels on her shoulder. Katlyn: [Ah, youre back, come here.] He gave her the bucket and she held it over the fire for a few minutes. Katlyn: [Just enough so its warm.] He stood around looking at her eyes as she focused on the task. Katlyn: [Now take off your shirt.] Leif tought he had misheard her for a second so he just stood there a little, awkwardly. Katlyn: [Come on!] He did as he was told, pulling up his shirt and throwing it on the ground, he shriveled from the cold, the boy was skinny but toned from the training and battles he went throught, his skin pale as snow and peppered occasionally with scars, mostly small ones from surface cuts and small stabs, Katlyn took the towel and downed it on the bucket of warm water, she stepped closer to the boy. Katlyn: [Turn around.] Leif did so aswell and she begun to run the towel on his skin, the warmth of the towel against his skin was much better then the cold, but the girls furious scrubbs begun to hurt in a few seconds, she ordered him to turn around again and begun to wipe his face and neck, downing the towel in the water again and wiping his chest and arms, she made sure all dirt was off the boy, using her figers to take the dirt off his face with care, then she made him down his head in the bucket, using her fingers to rub the dirt off his scalp and hair, she made sure he was clean with a quick wipe of a second wet towel, before she gave him another to dry hinself, and so he did as she took a small bag from a the first floor. Ketlyn: [Now sit here.] She pointed at the stool, he sat and she pulled out a few bottles of what seemed to be oil and a white hairbrush. Leif: [Whats that for?] Katlyn: [You have long hair for a man, ill need to brush it to prevent knots and dirt build up.] And so she did, forcefully, even with his hair lathered in oil she had to fight away the knots on it, pulling at it with all her strenght, Leif did his best to stay still as she did so but this had to be some new kind of torture, thankfully it lestated for only a couple of minutes. Katlyn: [Your hair is really pretty.] She said as she runned her fingers throught it, it was a first for Leif, he had been complimented before, despite how rare, but being complimented by Bowen or Hilt never felt this good, not even slightly, he felt a ceirtain warmth wash over his cheeks as he sat there, she squated over by his side smiling but once she looked at his face her smile went down, givign way to a soft blush. Leif: [Y-youre... umm... from New Pallac, right?]Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Katlyn stood up and sat on a tree stump around. Katlyn: [Uh.. yeah..] Leif: [Is... umm... everyone in New Pallac like... that..?] Katlyn: [Like what?] Leif: [You know, with thin eyes?] He gestured at his eyes, she giggled a bit. Katlyn: [No, no... its because my mom is from Kirthia, there this kind of eyes are common, theyre called monolids.] Leif: [Monolids?] Katlyn: [Yeah, mono as in singular, so its a singular eyelid.] Leif: [Oh.] They both sat there for some time, talking and getting to know eachother more, when night fell they said goodbye and each went to their own huts, on the next morning he would finally begin his journey to New Pallac, his journey to become a real Warlock, when the morning sunshine broke through the huts window he was already up, sitting on the edge of his bed with his sword on his hands, Hilt almost falling out of his bed, Brott sleeping silent with his hands over his chest and Bowen filling the hut with his snores. He walked once he heard Gregory talking, despite having a somewhat deep voice he was so loud he could wake the entire camp up, Gregory, Katlyn and the commander talked right in front of the castle, when the boy stepped towards then Gregory turned towards him. Gregory: [Ah! Leif boy, an early bird i see!] Geralt: [Leif, youre... clean..?] And he was, his hair was free of knots and dirt and so was his face. Katlyn: [I made him take a bath, otherwise people in New Pallac would think hes some kind of homeless person, even tho id like to change his clothes aswell....] Geralt: [Very well... youre ready then?] Leif nodded. Geralt: [Good, then youre good to go.] Leif got on the carriage with Katlyn and Gregory, inside was spacious, more then he thought it would be, with plush seats, pillows and thick blankets, the cold seemed to almost disappear inside, Gregory laid on his back on the cushion and Katlyn sat on the other with him, when the carriage started moving he felt his heart miss a beat, it finally begun, he exchanged looks with Katlyn wich resulted in both of them glancing away quickly, when the carriage begun to make its way down he heard someone call out to him outside, with Katlyn''s help he managed to pull up the window, outside, on the top of the hill where Bowen and Hilt screaming out his name while Brott and the commander silently looking down, he smiled, waving them goodbye. The day passed on, the most bored he had ever felt while traveling, usually hed go by horse wich was much more entertaining, despite Gregory loudly snoring after stuffing his face with alcohol Katlyn''s presence was still worse, he tried his best to not look at her but even her smell made him way to conscious of her, when night came down they would stop and wake up Gregory, uniting with the guards around a campfire to eat and then sleep in the carriage once more, the way to Cithii was calm, thanks to Pallaccian enforcers who would patrol once in a while there where no such things as bandits or criminals, they traveled for about 5 days, an almost straight line west of the Hasgartian territory. Cithii was a portuary city, the closest point to Kirthia in Cithroam, used by lots of Pallaccians, armies, merchants and even officials from the Empire, it was easy to know when they arrived because the sound of the weels turning on the polished streets of rock was very different from the dirt roads, eventually they stopped, and Gregory woke up, wiping his eyes and with drool on the corner of his mouth, opening the door he saw he was inside some kind of fortress, but it wasnt kind of fortress he had ever seen, there was a wall, and a gate, but there where no towers or any kind of defense, now that he looked at it there really wasnt any defense at all, just some guards patrolling by at times. Katlyn: [Ah, finally, its been so long.] Leif: [Where are we?] Gregory: [This, boy, is Sommerhall, owned by Miss Allera.] Leif: [Sommerhall? Like a fortress?] Katlyn: [Its more like... a mansion, its were all of Mrs.Maelstrom''s soldiers and messengers stay.] The three of them walked throught the hall, there where two main houses, a huge one where all of the warriors stayed, it was mostly a mess, with many rooms where up to 10 men stayed to sleep, training camps and food halls, the second was the private sectors for Allera herself and those she deemed fit to live there, they entered her office, a long hall with a long table. ???: [Youve arrived.] A woman spoke on the end of the table, she was built strong, with dark chocolate skin peppered by scars, even some on her face, she had a mane of kinky black hair with some streaks of white and gray, she wore a red leather vest and a cape made out of a Rocky Lions pelt, with its head biting down onto her right shoulder and its dark grey mane flowing behind her head and to her left shoulder, Katlyn and Gregory bowed their heads. Gregory: [Miss Allera.] Katlyn: [Miss Allera.] They spoke together. Allera: [Sit down the two of you.] They did as she ordered and Leif was now the only one standing. Allera: [Youre the child, your name?] Leif: [Leif Crows.] Allera: [Crows, youre a Warlock as they say.] Leif: [I am learning, yes.] Allera: [The Academy told me you whdre under Laymen Draggur, is such truth?] Leif: [Yes.] She closed her eyes for a second, getting up, she stepped around the tabel with purposeful strides. Allera: [Come.] Once he begun to follow her Katlyn and Gregory got up. Allera: [Did i tell either of you to stand up?] They both sat down once more, Leif and Allera walked out of the office, they walked silently for almost 2 minutes before they arrived at the training camp, soldiers flooded all around, carrying weights and hitting eachother with wood swords, when everyone noticed Allera walking out they made way for the both of them to step forward, she picked two wood swords and threw one at the boy. Allera: [Now, you will show me if you are worth my time.] Leif sighed, taking off his cloak. Allera: [Someone take the boys cloak!] A man cam forward, Leif let the man with his cloak and sword, despite how hesitant he was to give it up, he gripped the hilt of the wood sword as he walked towards the sparring area, they both stepped into the bare arenous ground and looked at eachother. Allera: [You want this to be fair boy?] She asked, now without the Rocky Lion pelt over her shoulder he could see how broad and defined the woman was, Leif scoffed. Leif: [If you want this to be fair then throw away that sword and let me take a real one.] He quiped, the woman chuckled. Leif: [Atleast you know how tell when your enemy is stronger then you.] And she was stronger then him, probably stronger then Thoren, and he only survived his fight against the man because he wasnt fighting seriously. Allera: [Can we begin?] She asked, as smile playing on her wide lips. ???: [Cmon kid hit her hard!] Someone screamed from the audience of soldiers that had formed around them. ???: [Yeah cmon boy!!] He would, but the woman''s stance was solid and the boy wasnt any kind of duelist, in the war hed usually fight small groups of soldiers or guards, specially those who hadnt seen him coming, but Allera had her eyes sat on him, she knew every action he could take. They begun, circling around the dirt area, their eyes sat on eachother, Allera chuckled. Allera: [Can you reach me, with that sword of yours?] Leif ignored the woman and they continued to circle, he searched for openings in her form and she enjoyed the dance, but then he noticed, every 2 or 3 steps she limped a little, her left knee buckling just a little, he counted her step, 1, 2 and he jumped forward, swinging his sword exactly when she was about to limp, just then she firmed her left leg down and smiled, smacking the boys wood blade away with hers. Allera: [Good eye boy, better luck next time.] He steped back a few, gritting his teeth, she knew he was looking for a opening and faked a limp, despite his anger he was still thankfull she didn''t end the fight right then and there with a single smack on his head, he continued to circle with her, but he just couldnt stay there and do nothing, he knew if he didnt attack she would, and that she wouldn''t hold back on her assault, he had to do it, even if crudely his attack had to go, he stepped closer to her, her eyes narrowed and she gripped the wood sword. ???: [Cmon kid, give her hell!] They finally broke into a exchange of swings, Allera was as strong as Thoren but twice as nimble, her swings had power and he was able to dodge and block just quick enough to not get hurt, but he wasnt able to counter any of her swings, as soon as one attack ended another was already coming his way, every 3 swings she did he was only able to respond with one, the exchange ended when she kicked his stomach and made him fly a couple meters back, the boy vomited right there, holding his stomach tightly. Allera: [Ive seen enough.] She said as she turned her back on him, starting to walk away, the boy looked up at her through furrowed eyebrows, gritting his teeth he closed his eyes, imagining the energy flowing throught his body, he gripped the wood sword tightly, he directed the energy flowing throught his veins towards his legs, filling them with strenght and power, he launched himself towards her in a pounce, holding his wood sword back and planing to swing at her back, in less then a second he was less then 1 meter away from the woman, just then she turned, with extreme speed she swinged her sword at his hand knocking away the boys wood blade, she quickly held the boy throat and put him to the ground, he felt the dirt hit the back of his head and her fingers enclosing tightly around his neck, cutting away his breath, she held him there for a second, to the ground with one hand in his shoulder and the other on his throat, looking directly in his eyes, tears prickled in the corners of his eyes and his eyebrows arched as he felt his chest tighten, when she let go and got up the boy crawled away, coughing and weezing. Allera: [Ive had more then enough.] She looked at his and noticed him whimpering, his left hand closed around the right. Allera: [What is it child? Let me see your hand.] She ordered, he looked up at him, taking one hand away from the other he exposed the crooked and swolen little finger on his right hand, it had taken a dark red color and had twisted down, broken. Alllera: [One of you, get him to a medic.] She shouted at the spectating mass of soldiers around them. Leif: [No need.] She looked at the boy once more, he had now closed his eyes, focusing his energy into his finger he felt it crack back into place, when he opened his eyes once more his finger was still swolen and reddened but no longer broken. Leif: [Its still injured, but not broken.] She looked down at the boy for a second silently, then smiled. Glorious Empire This was the first time he had ever seen the sea, spending most of his life deep in the forests and mountains made it so, he walked along the dock along with everyone else, Allera had already got in to the Red Mountain, a giant ship, more then 40 meters long, built out of red wood with two floors above deck and three bellow, Allera had command over the top one along with the ships captain who was under her orders over 100 men where aboard most of Alleras soldiers stayed and those who wanted to follow her back to the mainland mostly came on the overcrowded smaller ships following the Red Mountain, when they boarded Leif begun to look around, after seeing the soldiers and workers going down under the deck he started to follow them, just to be stopped by Katlyn''s hand on his shoulder. Katlyn: [Where are you going?] Leif: [To my quarters?] Katlyn chuckled. Katlyn: [Youre not sleeping down there silly, cmon where staying on the second floor.] Leif followed her the stairs to the floor above the deck, it was big and spacious, handmaids walked up and down from Allera''s floor, according to Katlyn she was very picky about her rooms, there where four rooms on the second floor, the first two where already occupied by the Red Mountain''s captain''s men, Gregory took the third and by Katlyn''s words he would do one of three things all day: drink all day and vomit all around, throw loud and never ending parties and orgies, neither of them wanted to participate in any of those things, so the both of them took the last room, thankfully that one had two bed bunks, the last thing the both of them wanted was to sleep with the person they were the most conscious of. They passed the next few days quite quickly, while the sea movements made Leif a bit sick bow and then Katlyn was always there to offer him a couple medicinal plants he didnt know for him to chew on, some of them made his tongue really red, the two kids talked quite a lot for most of the day, even at night where they would talk until both of them where already passing out, every two or so days Allera would step dow from her private floor and take Leif to the deck for a quick duel with wood swords to "keep the both of them sharp" in her own words. Six days aboard the Red Mountain Leif was at on the ships bow, observing as the workers passed by from time to time, enjoying the soft salty breeze coming from the ocean, he closed his eyes but once he heard the chocked quacks of the Pearl Seagulls that gathered on the masts he opened them once more and looked up. ???: [Seems like where nearing land.] Leif looked up, a tall and broad brown skinned man stood close, he had sharp eyes and thick grizzled beard. Leif: [How do you know?] ???: [Pearls Seagulls are common around the south Kirthian islands, that and the fact we made a turn to stop on land less then a hour ago.] The man chuckled to himself. ???: [Loland Flemmer, pleased to meet you boy.] Leif: [Leif.] He said as he grasped the mans big and calloused hand. Leif: [Where are you from, Loland?] Loland: [Im from many places boy, many, but if youre asking where i was born, then were talking about the north of the Meshna Expanse.] Leif: [And where is that?] Loland: [To the north of Jirandal, on the south of Cithroam, its quite rare to meet another person from Cithroam in such a high class ship.] Leif: [You knew i was from Cithroam?] Loland: [No Pallaccian kid goes to Cithroam in the first place for them to come back.] Leif looked away into the sea. Loland: [Not to mention your eyes.] Leif: [My eyes?] Loland: [Me and you both, and every other person from Cithroam, we have different eyes from everyone else, dont you think so?] Leif looked up a the mans eyes, the man had small and thin eyes while Leif''s where bigger and fuller, the mans had deep black color whille Leif''s where a pale grey, but the both had the same defiant glint to them, the brave look of someone who wouldn''t go down without a fight, Leif chuckled.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Leif: [I guess so.] A day had passed and by sunrise they where already moored on the port of a merchant village by the south coast of Kirthia, Leif sat on the bow once more, it had become his favorite spot over the week, he watched the town''s people work on the harbor, men carried heavy cargo off ships, women prepared stalls and small tents to sell all kinds of food, children ran around throught the stone streets, outside of his short stay in Cithii, in wich he stayed most off inside Sommerhall, this was the first time he actually got a good look at a actual city, the only thing that came cose was the brief memories off his village, he hated those memories, the boy took the sword from his belt and hugged it to his chest, looking out a the streets and houses with melancholy in his eyes. Katlyn: [What are you looking at?] His heart jumped a little, he looked back at her, she had her long black hair down, looking at him with her gentle eyes. Leif: [Nothing.] He said as he looked away. Katyn: [Hmmmm...] She slowly stepped closer, and by his side, she pit her hands down on the bow and looked out into the city along with him. Katlyn: [Where gonna stay here for the rest of the day, captain Loland said he had already planned a trade with a Kirthian barom around here, and they also wanted to get some more provisions, i wouldnt be surprised if they stayed the whole day out trading and bargaining.] Leif didn''t respond, the girl glanced at his face and grew a little impacient. Katlyn: [Want to go take a walk around with me? Maybe buy some food?] Leif: [I dont have money.] He did, but since he was getting free meals everyday he wanted to save it, on his belt, along with his sword the boy kept a small leather sack where he kept his pieces, he had one silver piece, two iron pieces and a few coppers. Katlyn: [Dont worry, ill pay for you.] She said, looking at him with a smile on her lips. Leif: [Dont waste your pieces on me.] Katlyn: [Waste..?] She said with a confused expression. Katlyn : [Here.] She shoved her hand on her pocket then took out an iron piece, she forced his hand closer to her and tried to pry it open. Leif: [H-Hey! That''s an iron piece, you know?!] Katlyn: [What about it? Cmon take it.] By the end of it she managed to force him to grab it, and when he tried to give it back she ran away, laughing as she jumped down the steps to the docks, they both ran until she had to stop to catch her breath, the boy was used to and running long distances without getting tired, once he caught up to her he stopped and looked down at her a little worried. Leif: [Why did you do that?] Katlyn: [To have fun! Can''t you have fun?] As the sodt breeze passed throught memories of his old villaged flowed into his mind, but not the cold wiind or the heads on stakes but the wamr memories of himslrf running throught the fields, laughing with the other kids on the village, it had been a long time since he had the felt joy of a good memory, Katlyn looked up and noticed the gloom on his eyes, she reached over to grab his hand, but changed her mind and grasped his wrist soflty, he looked down into her eyes. Katlyn: [Come on!] She said with an enthusiastic tone before taking him all around the coastal city, she took him to buy all kinds of random food being sold in tents by random street merchants, despite the flow on the city apparently being slow since it was morning there was still quite a lot of people walking the streets, Leif made sure to keep an eye on those who kept their sharp eyes on Katlyn, he could sense a dangerous person like a trained hunting dog could smell prey. Katlyn: [Look! Try one of these.] She said, offering him some kind of roasted, skewered, very long, green fish. Leif: [What kind of swirly fish is this?] Katlyn: [It''s not a fish.] She responded, giggling. Katlyn: [It''s called a Green-Spiral Eel.] Leif: [Iil? It''s sick?] Their little adventure lasted for the rest of the day, up until the sun started to go down, they where sat on a hill, above the sea, they both stared off at the red and purple sky silently, enjoying the sound of the waves crashing against the rock bellow, Leif tried to steal a glance at Katlyn just to notice her glancing at him aswell, they both quickly averted their gazes, silence seemed to stretch between the two of them. Katlyn: Um... you... uh, Leif...] Leif turned to her finally seeing the reddish hue over her pale cheeks. Leif: [U-uh.. yeah..?] She turned her eyes to him aswell. ???: [What is this?] They both looked back with wide eyes, Gregory stood there, with his arms and slumped against a tree. Katlyn: [N-n-nothing! W-were where j-just about to go back to the ship!!] She quickly stammered, jumping up while wiping her skirt, she turned to look down at Leif, the red hue on her face had grown much more prominent. Katlyn: [R-right, Mr.Crows?] She asked with a nervous smile, Leif was confused. Leif: [Y-yeah..] He said getting up and following the both of them as they walked back to the ship, despite being a couple of steps behind Gregory and Katlyn, he could hear the two of them whispering too each other, even if just a couple of words.] Gregory: [...you told me...] Katlyn: [...nothing...] The three walked back to the Red Mountain, just in time as they had finished to load the provisions and the captain had already returned to set the ship on its way, strangely, for the rest of the travel Katlyn would act weird around him, she couldn''t speak more then a few words to him, everytime she saw him she''d look away and waltz oit of the room and when he''d finally come to their room to sleep she was already asleep every night. Thankfully the rest of the trip was quicker then the way there, 4 days and he woke up to the bells and cheers of the Pallaccians as they welcomed back one of their generals, when he walked over to the deck, draping his cloak over his shoulders once more he could already see Allera, Gregory and Katlyn waving at the crowd as they rode their horses by, followed by their soldiers, all marching in unison, he heard someone stepping closer to him and look back to the see the same grizzly brown old man as before. Loland: [Seems like this a goodbye boy.] Leif: [Maybe.] Loland reach over and patted the boys head. Loland: [Dont forget boy. This is THEIR glorious empire. Not ours.] Oh, Luxury Leif had never thought so many people could be in one place without anyone dying, the streets bustled with cheers, screams and claps, it was clear to the boy that Allera was some kind of hero to these people, but other than that there was only one thing he couldnt stop looking at, the gigantic building all around, almost as if there where castles and towers all over the streets, and not only that but it seemed that the farthest you went to taller and more complex these towers became, he noticed the streets where made entirely out of colorful polished bricks, there was no dirty or rocks around, Allera, Gregory and Katlyn slowly made their way up the streets, waving at the crowd that adored them. Leif: [So this is New Pallac...] Loland: [Looks like a whole ''nother world, don''t it?] The man responded with a chuckle. Leif: [It does, I didn''t even know castles could get this huge...] Loland: [Those aren''t castles boy, those are like... little houses stacked on top of eachother.] Leif was more than surprised, he thought this entire city was made out of castles from hundreds of noble people, but the thought that normal people could live along inside these enormous constructions was a bit baffling. ???: [Leif Crows?] The boy looked to the side and saw three people wearing the soldier unniform from Allera''s troops, red leather under polished black armor, the three where a huge tanned man with long square and thick brown beard and a shaved head, another man, shorter and more pale with longer black hair and a tall brown woman with tightly braid down hair, the man with the square beard seemed to be in charge. Leif: [Who''s asking?] The man with the square beard looked down at the brown woman, she looked up at him then stepped forward. ???: [Where Thern..] She gestured towards the pale man. ???: [Markus..] She gestured towards the man with the square beard. Mell: [And I am Mell.] Leif: [What do you want from me?] Mell: [We were ordered to escort you towards the home of General Allera.] He stepped down from the ship along with them, the four got on horses and begun to ride away through another path in the city, Leif looked back at the ship and saw the captain waving him goodbye, he waved back and followed the three soldiers, they knew well the paths throughout the city that wouldnt be crowed thanks to Allera''s arrival, Leif enjoyed the ride, memorizing the paths between buildings and the way towards there. Mell: [Following this path we should arrive there at least 15 minutes earlier than General Allera.] She said, looking back at the boy, he continued to look around, amazed at the sky-high castles and the polished streets. Leif: [How... was this city built?] This time it was Thern that looked back at him. Thern: [The entire city was mostly built by the Warlocks of the old times, tho the other workers helped a lot.] Leif: [The entire city was built by runic speaking..] He looked back at the castle like houses and the individual polished rocks that were assembled into colorful shapes and patterns, it should have been obvious to him, who had witnessed the capabilities of runic, that this would have been almost impossible to achieve without it. Leif: [Does New Pallac have a king? Or an Emperor?] Mell: [You could say so, but it''s more governed by a group, the chairs of New Pallac.] Leif: [Chairs?] Thern: [The chairs are the most important people in the Pallaccian Empire.] Mell: [The Emperor of New Pallac, the Archwarlock grand meister of the Pallaccian Academy, the head of the federation of merchants, the representative of Kirthia... They''re all important and have influence on the actions of New Pallac.] Leif: [I see...] Leif asked them some questions from time to time, but otherwise, the ride was quick and silent, by the end, when they finally arrived at Allera''s palac, there was no sight of her ir the giant crowd following her, the palace was massive, even with the black wall that circled all around it, he was still able to see the massive black pillars and the red roof. Mell: [There it is Sunfort.] The redwood gates opened, draging on the dirt, before the actual palace there where alteast 100 meters of gardens and plants, he could see three small gazebos in the garden, made with white painted wood and with redwood roofs, the four of them rode their horses through the dirt path right in the middle that led to the main entrance of the palace, a black stone flight of stairs that made it up to a giant pair of doors made out of redwood and with golden accents on the patterns, the four got down from their horses and made their ways up the stairs, Markus grasped the golden knocker and use it, giving the door three sounding knocks, the person who opened it was a older man, he had brown skin and a small scar over his thick lips, despite having some skin blemishes, short grey hair and wrinkles he looked quite conserved, he wore a formal black suit with a white undershirt and a black tie.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ???: [Markus, I see you''ve brought the boy mentioned in Master Allera''s letter.] Markus: [Yes.] The man in the suit looked at the boy. Kastro: [Its a pleasure, Mr.Crows, im Kastro the head butler of Sunfort.] Leif''s nose wrinkled at the "mister" added to his last name, Markus turned him. Markus: [That was it child.] He said, the three soldiers turned and begun to make their way down the stairs, Leif look down at their backs, then he turned to Kastro. Leif: [Am i gonna work here or what?] Kastro: [Of course not, your stay will be simply temporary, theres a month and a half left until the next academic year begins, Master Allera has allowed you to stay until then.] Leif: [I''m gonna stay here...] He felt his heart begin to pump a little, he never thought he''d even see a building like this even more live in one. Kastro: [Now please, Mr.Crows, follow me, I''ll prepare you a warm bath.] Leif enthusiastically followed him, a bath sound more then enjoyable, it had been more then a week since he took his last bath, if wiping yourself with a hot wet towel could even be considered a bath, he imagined what kind of luxurious bath he would take, maybe they had a lot of buckets, or even better one bucket big enough to sit in, and maybe they had a way to warm the water, the boy followed the butler up a long flight of stairs on the main hall of the palace, the handrail was made out a polished deep black wood and a enormous thick red carpet was draped over it that led all the way to the front door, when they reached the top they turned left and walked for a few minutes before turning right once more, then Kastro stopped right in front of a big pair of doors with a lot of golden patterns. Kastro: [Please wait for a second while I prepare the bath, Mr.Crows.] The man said, bowing his head and entering the washroom, closing the door behind him, Leif waited there for a few minutes until Kastro opened the door once more, when he did a cloud of steam seemed to seep off the openings. Kastro: [Please enter, Mr.Crows.] Leif walked in and Kastro walked behind him, the entire place seemed to exude this scent of flowers Leif had never smelled in his life. Kastro: [Please, allow me to take your clothes and replace them, as for your sword and other valuable ill keep them safely guarded.] Leif thought for a second, he could probably trust the man, but giving up his sword and sack of pieces felt like giving up part of his being, he ended up doing so, taking off his dirty and ragged clothes, the clothes he used for years ever since he left his village, then he unbundled his belt and gave the man his sword and his sack of pieces. Leif: [If these two disappear I''ll rip your throat open.] Kastro payed no attetion to the threat. Kastro: [Of course, I''ll not allow any other person near either of them, as for your clothes, would you prefer replacements or new ones.] The boy had never given much thought to his clothes, but he liked having a cloak, concealing his arms and weapons aswell as his figure, making dodging attacks way easier. Leif: [I dont care, just make sure to give me a cloak, a black one.] Kastro bowed and turned around to leave. Leif: [If anything is needed I''ll be leaving one of the maids at your disposal right outside.] Once the man left Leif turned back, before him a small corridor made out of polished yellow stone, the floor was slightly wet with the steam that poured from the well lit room to the right, when Leif got to see the room itself his eyes went a little wide, what they had wasn''t a bucket, it was made out of stone and filled to the brim with a green cloudy water with a nice smell, small flowers and strnage leafs floated on the surface, on the side of the stone thing there was a small white bar that was speckled with grounded leaves and spices, he grabbed and analyzed it for a second. Leif: [What the hell is this?] He turned around and walked back towards the door, poking his head out he noticed a maid standing by the door, she was short, with caramel skin and curly black hair, with her eyes closed and standing straight. Leif: [Hey.] She opened her eyes and turned to bow at him, Leif still didn''t understand why these people bowed at him so much, he just reached his hand out of the door and showed the strange white bar. Leif: [Whats this thing?] ???: [Thats soap, master.] Once again his nose wrinkled at the "master". Leif: [Whats it for?] ???: [You rub it against your skin to clean yourself, master.] Leif: [Ah! Thanks.] He closed the door before walking back to the room filled with steam and the floral scent, the boy stood over the tub and slowly downed his foot in, the water was warm and strangely thick, he checked for a while and then sat inside, the water hit his chest, that was probably one of the best feelings of his life, he stayed still inside for a few minutes before trying to use the soap bar, he tried to rub it over his forearm and noticed it made white foam and bubbled against the skin. Leif: [Wow...] After a few minutes he got up, close to the entrance Kastro had left a towel and a change of clothing, the boy dried his body with the wool cloth and then put on the clothes, he had a new pair of fine leather red boots, thick black leather trousers, a red linen button up shirt and a long thick cloak with the underside made of a black wolf''s pelt, he had never seen clothes of this quality before, even his captain preferred to wear simple and cost effective clothing, even the leather was more finely worked on then the rest he had seen, the cloak was something else aswell, the thick cloth was finely sewed with the wolf''s pelt and the fur was intact and well kept. He walked out and on the place of the caramel skinned maide from before stood Kastro, calmly and with his eyes closed, with a folded arm he had the boy''s sword, belt and leather pouch. Leif: [That was great, thanks Kastro.] Kastro: [At your disposal, Mr.Crows.] He said as he offered the boy his belongings, Leif took them and buckled the belt around his waist, fixing the sheathed sword tightly against the brown leather belt and tied his pouch of pieces to it aswell, just then they heard the sound of the gate being opened. Kastro: [It appears Master Allera has arrived, please, Mr.Crows, allow me.] The man said, bowing before turning away and leaving, Leif watched as the man left, he followed him for a bit after but stopped in front of a window, he pushed the glass up and pushed his head out, the gate had been swinged up and he could tell Allera, Gregory and Katlyn from the rest since they where in front, they where followed by the line of soldiers over 100 on horses and more then 200 at foot, not only that but there was also the crowd that for some reason followed them all the way from the beggening, once the gates begun to close some of the soldiers had to force the civilians away from it. Leif: [Pft...] He put his head back inside and closed the window once more, he walked all the way back to the stairway, looking down Kastro had made the maids and butlers make two lines in each side of the entrance door, and when Allera pushed them open with both hands he stepped up and bowed. Kastro: [Welcome home, Master Allera, it''s a pleasure to serve once more.] Allera: [Ah, Kastro! It''s a pleasure to be served my friend.] She said stepping closer and putting a hand over the mans shoulder, Katlyn and Gregory entered just behind her, Gregory quickly steped ahead and exclaimed. Gregory: [Good lord I need a bath, is my private chamber already prepared Kastro?] Kastro: [Yes, young master.] Katlyn: [And mine? I''m in desperate need of a cleanse aswell.] Kastro: [Of course.] Just then Allera spotted Leif leaning against the rail on top of the stairs. Allera: [Seems Markus has done his job.] Leif: [Square beard guy? Yeah.] Leif and Katlyn exchanged glances and then quickly glanced away. Allera: [It seems Kastro supplied with new clothes, well don''t too comfortable, you''ll have to wear something else thin night.] Leif: [Huh?] Gregory quickly went upstairs, passing by Leif and giving him a small tap on the shoulder, Allera started to step up just after followed by Katlyn. Allera: [I want him in formal clothes Kastro, listen up boy, we''re having a ball.] Ballad Of Stars He couldn''t get the point of these clothes, they were tight and uncomfortable, not only that but they also revealed too much of his body, of someone wanted to attack him they would know exactly where to stab and he would be left unprotected, leather wasn''t the best for protection but Leif was sure that if he poked to hard this cloth would be pierced by his finger. He was made by Kastro to wear a white button-up of fine linen and cotton, with a red vest with black embroidery and a black suit on top of it, weirdly tight black pants and polished black boots, everything was strangely filled with frills and little details, not only was it impractical but he could clearly see it was extremely expensive, he was more afraid then uncomfortable, afraid of accidentally ripping a hole through the cloth and be indebted for the rest of his life. He stepped out of the changing room after Kastro allowed him to breathe some air, but even out of the room, the mansion was so massive he''d have to walk for a couple minutes before being outside, as he walked around the silent corridors he saw two glass doors with black steel frames that led out to a small balcony, he pushed them open and stepped out. The cold wind of the night hit his face, the always loved the dark sky but somehow this day he wasn''t able to see the stars, seemingly blocked by both the clouds and the lights of the city, they beamed even above the walls of Sunfort, even during the night the entire city shined, he simply stood there leaning on the balconies steel frame, he heard someone stepping closer, a sharp clicking sound he had never heard before, turning around he saw Katlyn, standing near the glass doors, she wore a long and tight black dress, embroidered with black and deep violet threads, with long matching black gloves that stopped just bellow her shoulders along with the dress, leaving a window that exposed not only her shoulders but the pale skin of collarbone and upper chest aswell, bellow the knee the deep black dress tranformed into a cascade of white frills, she use black linen tights and polished black heels, on her neck there where three necklaces, a small and tight black one with the symbol of a crescent moon, another one bellow it made out of silver with a small sun and the last one made of gold showing off two crossed swords, Katlyn wore her long and lucious black hair down framing her face perfectly and accentuating even more her paleness. Leif stared at her for a few seconds before the girls face grew red. Katlyn: [S-stop staring so much...] She said, with a meek voice, just then the boy noticed he was staring at all, glancing away back to the dark sky. Leif: [Sorry...] He heard her stepping closer and saw her standing by his side, looking out into the sky. Leif: [So... what''s a ball?] She turned her head towards him. Katlyn: [It''s a... gathering... of sorts, people come around to eat, talk and dance to music.] Leif had listened to music before, at times bards would come around to the camps when they came closer to civilization, but he never really associated the soldiers drunken jumping with dancing. Leif: [How do I dance?] She stared at him for a second then smiled, stepping away from the balconies frame. Katlyn: [Come here, let me teach you.] He stepped towards her, she reached towards him and grabbed both of his arms, making him take position. Katlyn: [One of your hands holds my mine up and the other holds on my waist like this.] He did as she showed, pushing her back with his finger, and she he on to his tricep. Katlyn: [Keep your back straight, puff your chest out and your chin up.] He held on to his breath, trying his best to achieve the right position. Katlyn: [Then we start to dance, just take two steps to the right, one to the left then turn to the left.] He did as she said, holding her hand up he took two steps to the right, she followed his steps, then another step back. Katlyn: [Good, now turn.] The both of them turned, then repeated the same process, two steps to the right, one back then turning to the left, until she stepped on his right foot with her pointy heel, she giggled as Leif hopped away, holding tightly to his foot. Katlyn: [Sorry... sorry...] She said holding on to her aching stomach. Katlyn: [You stepped too fa-] Gregory: [Having fun, the two fo you?] The two teens looked over to the tall and fashionable man, standing proudly with a smirk on his face, Gregory wore a green and cream doublet embroidered with golden thread, over it a short green cloak and on his neck a frilly ruff, deep brown leather trousers and fine leather boots. Leif: [What are you even wearing?] Gregory chuckled. Gregory: [This, young Leif, is clothing typical of royalty.] Katlyn: [Really isnt...] The girl muttered to herself. Gregory: [Wait a second, boy.] Gregory called out, pointing at the sheathed sword tied to the boys belt. Gregory: [Youre not really taking that with you, are you?] Leif: [Why would i not?] Katlyn: [I was going to ask you the same thing Leif, you should leave it with Kastro during the ball.] Leif: [Wh-what? Why?] Gregory: [This a ball, young man, not a battle or a duel, if you really wish for a fight, use dance moves!]You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Leif: [Nothing youre saying makes sense at all.] Katlyn: [I agree.] In the end he was really forced to leave the sword with Kastro, the butler was incredibly hardworking that afternoon, even before Alleras arrival he had been busy working to organize the ball, Leif had passed by the kitchen earlier and the steam was pouring out of the main entrance, butlers and maids circled back and fourth by the ballroom and everything was ready by nightfall, but the ball itself was scheduled to begin at 8 pm, in about 30 minutes. Katlyn: [Want to practice some more?] The girl asked when Gregory walked away, Leif looked at her, a smile playing on her lips as she looked down at him, he wanted to but the truth is that he felt a bit embarrassed being that close to her at all. Leif: [S-sure..] The two of them tried once and again, stepping around in the corridors, from time to time they''d step on eachothers feet and giggle, Katlyn taught the boy how to follow the rhythm by humming a tune while they stepped around, Leif was a fast learner and Katlyn was a good teacher, in a few minutes she was even able to teach the boy some less basic movements and when the guests begun to arrive their footwork was much better, they accompanied eachother towards the ballroom, on the south side of the mansion, they had to go down a flight of stairs to the second floor, the ballroom as incredibly spacious, to the south was a wall of decorated glasses leading into three balconies, the room had two long tables to the right and left wall, both filled to the brim with all kinds of food Leif had never seen before, but to be fair he had never seen a whole chicken before aswell so the only things he had really ate present was bread, lamb, fish, some of the vegetables and potatoes, but there all kinds of strnage things on those tables, red shelled animals that looked like big insects with pinching claws, plates little spotted eggs with intact shells, many bowls of strange porridge-like paste with lots of meat and vegetables, big baked bread things filled with vegetables or at times meat, the smell alone made Leif''s mouth water. When they got there some of the guests had already arrived, even being 10 minutes early, they could see Allera from the top of the stairs, she used the same Rocky Lion''s pelt cape she had on before, with the wolf''s maw seeming to dig into her right shoulder but this time instead of a wardrobe of thick black leather she had on a long red dress made of a blend of linen, wool and silk, embroidered with golden and black, the dress parted into three just on the middle of her thigh, one end on the middle and two on the sides that connected on the back, the end of the seemed to be finely sewn black roses made from leather and linen, the split panels of the dress exposed her well-defined thighs peppered with small scars, and Leif was surprised that a woman like that could wear high heels. The both of them stepped down, Katlyn put a hand on Leif''s shoulder for support, Allera seemed to be surrounded by three groups, Gregory and other who seemed to he followed by his tales of grandeur, a few people along with a old man with a long gray beard to match his long grey hair, wearing some kind of long grey cloack with golden epaulets and by last a couple, a woman with conserved pale skin and long deep black hair held back away from her face by a hair net amde with golden silk and silver beads, and a equally pale man with short hair and a goatee and few white streaks on the sides of his short hair, both of them had the sine kind of eyes as Katlyn, monolids as she said. As the two of them reached the end of the stairs the pale older woman approached. ???: [Katlyn, dear.] She said stepping closer with her arms open. Katlyn: [Mother..] The two hugged tightly, Katlyn''s mother rubbing the back of her head lovingly, behind them the man with the goatee approached. ???: [Little kitten.] Katlyn: [I told you to stop with that!] The man laughed as her stepped closer, with his hand on the back of both women, Katlyn turned her attention to Leif once more. Katlyn: [Ah! Leif, these are my mother and father.] ???: [Its a pleasure to meet you, young man.] The mother stepped forward, reaching her hand towards the boy, he took softly. ???: [Is this the boy you mentioned in your letter dear?] The father asked, she seemed to redden a little. Katlyn: [Ah... y-yes...] Miro: [It''s a pleasure to meet you then, young Leif, my name is Miro.] Karol: [And i am Karol.] Miro: [We were both surprised when, Katlyn told us she went with General Allera to contract a young Warlock from Cithroam.] Karol: [Indeed, i had never heard of a Warlock who had never even visited New Pallac, how has your first impressions of our city been?] Leif was a little overwhelmed by the attention, but managed to think of a response. Leif: [A little... overwhelming, i guess...] Miro: [I guess if I had never seen a building i''d be overwhelmed aswell.] The two of them laughed. Katlyn: [Mom! Dad! Can you give us some space.] Miro: [Space huh...?] The man said with a bit of a salty tone, Karol laughed at his reaction, grabbing on to his shoulder and pulling him away. Karol: [Come papa! You two kids have fun.] Once the two of them stepped away she turned her eyes to Leif. Katlyn: [Hungry?] She asked, with a smile, and he was, it was already night and the last time he had eaten was yesterday, despite how good he was at enduring hunger the time he spent with them, eating everyday, even twice a day had made him worse at it, they both kept themselves around the food tables as the guests kept on arriving, Katlyn force all kinds of different food in his mouth, different types of small birds, meat drowned in wine, she even made him try atleast a bite of each kind of pie around. ???: [My lady, allow me a dance?] They both looked back, a tall young man looked down at them both, with golden hair that curled at the tips, he had a strong chin and sunken cheeks, with blue eyes and thick eyebrows. Katlyn: [Ah, Mr.Denvor.] The young man bowed before her and reached a palm, she looked back at Leif as she took. Katlyn: [Ill be back in a second, alright?] Leif: [Uh... yeah..] The young man pulled the lady towards the middle of the room, where others had already begun to dance to the band''s tune, Leif watched them dance for a few seconds before stepping away, he walked towards the central balcony, before walking out he passed by Allera, she glanced down at the boy with a sharp eye. Allera: [If you don''t like it, boy, then do something about it.] She said before turning back to her guests, Leif was confused by her words but continued on his way, standing outside, with his back agaisnt the ledge for a minute, enjoying the soft breeze, his eyes occasionally drifted towards Katlyn and the man dance, Allera''s words playing again and again in his mind. Leif: [Do... something about it...] After a few minutes the song was over and the two parted ways, Leif watched as Katlyn glanced around, looking for him, a small smile appeared in his face, he walked back in, stepping towards Katlyn, he reached and took her hand. Katlyn: [What... what are y-] Leif: [Let''s dance?] A bright red hue grew into her pale cheeks, the boy took her silence as approval and pulled her to the center then into position. Katlyn: [L-leif... what ar-] He pulled her into the rhythm, their simple steps following the tune of the band. ""Upon a night, so clear, so bright, Beneath the heavens wide, Two figures danced in silver light, Where shadows softly hide."" The two followed the steps they had gone over before on the hallway, simple basics, two steps to the right, another one to the left then a turn, Leif closed his eyes, trusting his body to follow the pattern, he felt the energy course through his body, but this time he wasn''t alone, he felt the energy flowing throught Katlyn''s body aswell, with eaxh step he left a little bit of this energy behind, with each swing and each breath this energy seeped into the air. ""The stars above did hum and glow, Their whispers filled the air, As hands entwined, they moved below, A fated, fleeting pair."" Leif felt the energy flow through his core, opening his eyes once more, feeling the power surge all around him as Katlyn followed his lead withing the steps. Leif: [[Fh¨¬r.]] The energy pouring out of the couple compressed in mid-air, crystallizing into small specks of ice that flowed around them. ""Through winding steps, their souls entwined, A rhythm bold and true, Each spin, a thread by stars designed, The dance of old and new."" Leif could see others stop their movements and stare at them in amazement, but he didnt care, he only cared for the shining sparks being reflected into Katlyn''s eyes, the both of them twirled and seinged from side to side, staring deeply into eachothers eyes, the specks of ice floating around them seemed to materialize into pillars of light, each with its own shine and color. ""With steady grace, As constellations gazed, A silent world in awe embraced, By love''s eternal blaze."" Dinner For Two According to Katlyn, who was a year ahead of him, the entrance exam to the Academy consisted of two tests, one which evaluated the persons mind and knowledge and the other which evaluated their overall combat abilities, but since the exam changed every year, even having different organizers, she couldn''t tell for sure what he should be prepared for, for the past few weeks not only Katlyn but some of the maids who had studied taught the boy about the history of runes and Pallaccia itself, Allera''s giant library, wixh was kept in pristine conditions thanks to Kastro, was also of great help, with books ranging from mathematics, to history, to the basics of runic allowed to the general public by the Academy, every morning, afternoon and night Leif would make sure he''d spend atleast an hour reading all kinds of different books, he had learned how to read with commander Geralt but the reading sessions everyday took him away from the basics, Katlyn even gave him a little notebook and pencil to write down the words he didnt know to ask her their meanings. Not only was he focused on his studies but also on training, sword, body and runic, he''d spend atleast 2 hours everyday on the garden reciting the basic trainings Laymen had taught him, he''d train with Allera''s soldiers on the training grounds, lifting weights made of stone and wood for atleast an hour a day and by the end of the afternoon Allera herself awaited the boy in the training grounds for a duel, atleast 6 hours of the boys days where prepared for tuning his body and mind, every single day without fault, after a week Katlyn begun to worry about the boys well being. Katlyn: [I know the entrance exam is important, but if you overdo it, you''re just gonna end up exhausting yourself!] She said, standing over him as he sat on the lush green grass of the garden. Leif: [Dont worry about this, i''ve donde worse to my body.] Katlyn: [Nope! You''re coming with me today, where having a day off all this work!] Leif knew that when she had already made up her mind there was no fighting it, he just made sure to pick up his cloak on the way out, for some reason, despite it being a sunny morning, New Pallac''s summe seemed to be colder then most of Cithroam Leif had experienced, but in terms of coldness nothing beats the northern parts of Hasgart. Katlyn: [Come on!] She said boarding the carriage, one thing Leif never thought of seeing where carriages with no horses, apparently these where crafted by specialists in runic engraving, artifacts the were costly but also much faster and spared horses to work, only needing a person to direct it on the road, the two teens jumped in and Katlyn pulled to the side the sliding wood panel that closed the window to the driver of the carriage. Katlyn: [Please take us to the market.] ???: [Of course, Lady Katlyn.] She thanked the man and closed the slides the window close once more, turning back to sit down, when her knees touched Leif''s who was sitting across from her her cheeks seemed to grow a little pink, she silently pulled herself up on the seat and pushed her lower back as far a she could to make some space, the two teens seemed to be strangely aware of eachothers present for the past few weeks since the two danced on the ball, specially Katlyn, Leif noticed she was much jumpy and nervous around him, her glances where quicker and she seemed to seem even more stressed then usual. Leif: [Uh.. hey...] Her eyes jumped to him. Katlyn: [Y-yeah..?] He felt like something was stuck on his throat, something on the tip of tongue, but he just couldnt get what it was. Leif: [No... nothing...] The two sat across each other in silence for a few minutes, throwing occasional glances and peeks at one another, eventually the carriage stopped, the window slid open and the driver looked in. ???: [We have arrived, my lady.] The two stepped out of the carriage to the middle of a busy street, all different kinds of people walking everywhere, women and men, from children to the elderly, the main market street was a almost endlessly long street, wide enough for six carriages to pass side by side, with tents, booths and stalls that covered it, selling all kinds of things, from food and utensils to jewelery, clothes and accessories, Katlyn thanked the carriage driver and told him to wait for them. Katlyn: [I always like coming here!] They both stepped among the crowd, Leif noticed she always made sure to wear the least expensive clothes she could, with the most common cloths and no jewelry or accessories when they went out for any reason, wixh proved to be effective since despite her face being well-known by the public she usually was only recognized by three or four people, as if she ware to come out wearing her usual attire the entire street would stop to greet her, Leif would only manage to grasp the girls importance for New Pallac when he learned that her mother, Karol was the Kirthian head of relationships and occupied one of the chairs of the Pallaccian Council, to most her well being and confort in New Pallac meant a good relationship with Kirthia, she even had the nickname of "Kirthian Princess".The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Katlyn: [Hey what do you think of this?] She asked, holding out a necklace made out of silver strands twisted around with light brown threads. Leif: [Um... Its fine...] Katlyn didn''t respond, just pouted a little and went on to look at other accessories, Leif looked at the table where the necklaces, rings and earrings where being presented. Leif: [I think this one fits you better...] She looked back at him, on his right hand was a necklace, the band qade from thin black leather twisted around itself, holding on both sides of a rounded and polished blue quartz stone with white streaks running across the surface, she stared for a second a little surprised. Katlyn: [Eh... why?] Leif looked away for a second. Leif: [It''s... uh... the colors of your eyes...] The two seemed to stop there for a second, Katlyn''s eyes went wide and her cheeks reddened, a drop of sweat dripped down the boy''s nape, thinking he had said too much. Katlyn: [Oh.... I... I see...] She said, slowly picking the necklace from his hand, she put it sound her neck and looked at him. Katlyn: [Does... it look good...?] Leif: glanced away, scratching his head. Leif: [Y-yeah...] ???: [Ahhh... the youth...] They both look at the old lady who sat on the stool across from them with surprised wide eyes. Katlyn: [Ah! I apologize lady... I''m going to pay, of course...] The girls said putting the necklace down and reach into her bag, the old lady reach over and pushed the necklace onto her hands. ???: [Theres no need, little princess, you can take it...] Katlyn: [Wha... N-no! I insist!] ???: [You can insist all you want!] The old lady exclaimed, giggling at the girls attempts of reaching her bag. Leif: [Cmon then, shes giving us free things, be thankful.] He said, not understanding why she was trying to waste money. ???: [Yes, yes! Be thankful!] The two teens waved the old lady goodbye as the stepped away, Katlyn fiddled with the necklace around her neck hapilly, the two of them enjoyed the day, walking around and buying random strange food they found, she had slowly grown fond of showing off different food to Leif and forcing him to eat it, they returned to the same place when afternoon fell, the slid the carriages windows open to watch the sun turn the sky orange as it fell over the horizon, Leif would occasionally glance at her like always, but now most of the time he''d find her with a happy look on her face, fingers around the polished rock. ???: [We have arrived, my lady.] The driver said, his eyes peeking inside the carriage, the carriage had stopped just before the stairway that led to the main entrance to the mansion, but when Leif stepped down Katlyn didn''t follow him. Katlyn: [My parents sent me a messenger to ask if wanted to sleep at my house today, see you tomorrow Leif.] Leif: [See you tomorrow then.] The carriage turned and begun to move over to the gate of Sunfort. Katlyn: [Thanks for today!] She said, waving out of the carriages window, Leif waved back and stepped up the stairs, this time instead of Kastro the door was opened by one of the maids, he walked in, by that time Allera would be waiting for him on the training grounds for a duel, but she had left for another ball, so for today he had to train alone. ???: [Youre the Warlock boy mother has been taking care of?] He looked at the figure standing on the top of the stairs, a tall and slender young woman, she looked exactly like Allera but younger and more sophisticated, almost as if unlike Allera she had picked up books and pieces instead of axes and swords, she had dark brown skin, smooth and unblemished, that glistened a soft orange to the inside lantern''s light, she had a full head of thick and kinky black hair, full lips and high-set cheekbones, she had on necklaces, bracelets and rings, some of silver, most of gold, some even where encrusted with precious stones and gems, she looked down at the boy with sharp eyes. Leif: [Who are you?] ???: [Can''t you tell?] He could, she looked too much like Allera. Leif: [Her daughter?] Adelise: [Indeed, the name is Adelise, but you can call me me Lis.] Leif slowly made his way up the stairs, under her watchful gaze. Adelise: [Youre much younger then I thought you''d be.] Leif: [And how old did you think I''d be?] He asked, uninterested, exchanging sharp stares. Adelise: [Well, when heard of a young Warlock i thought youd be at least 17.] Leif: [Well, sorry to disappoint.] Adelise: [Oh please, you didn''t disappoint at all, in fact, it''s even more impressive to see such a talented young man.] For some reason, despite her compliments being seemingly genuine, she had this tone wich seemed to be permanently stuck in a mix of sarcasm and mockery, she stepped closer, being half a head taller then the boy and having a equally tall presence, he looked up at her, she looked down on him, and smiled. Adelise: [Would you like to have dinner with me?] Leif: [Huh..] The boy was taken by surprise, she then called for Kastro, ordering him to prepare one of the dinner tables for the both of them. Adelise: [Is there any dish you enjoy?] Leif: [Uh... lamb...] She sent Kastro off. Adelise: [Leif, isn''t it?] Leif: [Yes.] Adelise: [Tell me, are you planning on taking the PARS entrance exam?] Leif: [To the Academy? Yeah.] Adelise: [Delightful, I myself am on my third year along, a year above my mother prot¨¦g¨¦.] Leif: [Katlyn?] Addelise: [Indeed, the Kirthian Princess herself.] They both chuckled at the flashy nickname give to her by the masses. Adelise: [I heard you served as a soldiers for Geralt Persworth, is that true?] Leif: [The old man?] Adelise: [I traded with his plattoon many times but never got close to meeting him myself.] Leif: [You traded? You''re a trader?] Adelise: [Mother didn''t tell you, well, to be honest i''ve never trully been the apple of her eye, unlike my other brothers im no warrior, a merchant to be specific.] Leif: [Aren''t you way too young to be a merchant..?] Adelise: [You could say that, but i''ve always been good at using what my mother built to propel my career.] Kastro: [Master Addelise, Mr.Crows, dinner is ready and sat on the table.] Said the butler, the two followed him all the way to one of Alleras private dinner rooms, the table, smaller then the ones present at the ball but still quite long, was set with two plates, one of slow-cooked lamb and the other roasted, accompanied by potatoes, garlic, cooked vegetables and two wine bottles, the two sat on both ends, Kastro bowed and begun to serve their cups with wine and their plates with pieces of lamb and potatoes, Leif was starting to get used to eating so much for the past few days, for most of the time he ate at the most two meals he managed to scrape together, now he could easily eat three full meals a day, he ate so much everyday he felt as if he had grown not only vertically but horizontally aswell, thankfully the 6 hours of training everyday had been keeping his body on check. Adelise: [How has mother been treating you?] The woman asked, elegantly sipping on her wine cup, Leif simply grabbed the base and chugged down a cup. Leif: [Great...] Lis chuckled, she knew very well how her mother behaved, Allera had stopped being a nurturing mother figure when she was 8, on her mithers eyes if she was capable of speaking, walking and doing most things functionally then she had to take care of herself, because no one else would. Leif: [So... your mother told me you have your own house, why did you come here today?] The boy asked while chewing on the lamb and washing it down with wine, she looked at him with the same distrustful sharp gaze as before, tracing her finger over her cup. Adelise: [Let''s say i wanted to observe the boy who had both my mother''s and the Academy''s interest...] She took another sip. A Test Of Knowledge The carriage could only take him up to the main wall that separated the Academy grounds from the Citadel, the massive redwood main gate was wide open allowing the hundreds of teenagers to flow within, every year over 1000 kids tried to pass the entrance exam and from these less then 300 would actually pass, and across four years this number would slowly be thinned out to only less then 30 who would become Warlocks actually recognized by the Academy, the main road leading to the Academy''s main building stretched for over 5 kilometers, a straight road made out of sanded down rock, sometimes surrounded by forests and others by plains, at times even passing above small hills, despite it being a short walk, less then an hour for most, and just a bit more then 30 minutes for Leif who was already used to walking long distances, it proved to be a worthy challenge for lots of candidates for the exam who lived most of their lives without actually leaving their carriages. The massive tower of the Academy could be seen from the gate, but the closer he got the more he was bewildered by the mains construction, the seven other buildings around it wherent much to notice, despite each being a big as Allera''s palace the main tower left them in the shadow, quite literally, four massive towers wich bent and curled around eachother, thinning out on the tip, where they unified into a single tower, the entire thing was over 400 meters off the ground, each 100 meters there where plataforms wich where built oit of the main building, the lowest one being turned north, 100 meters from the ground, then the ones turned east and west, both 200 meters off the ground, and by last the one turned south, 300 meters off the ground, the entire thing was trully a monument of architectural and arcane mastery, the more Leif stared at it from a distance the less he believed in what he was seeing. By the end of this 30 minute walk Leif arrived at the main entrance, a stairway of very long steps, made from a pure white polished rock, that led to a solid plataform before the entrance to a building that stood before the main one, Leif wasn''t the first to arrive, infact he was the third, behind a very tall, muscular young man with tanned skin and short cropped black hair and a girl with chocolate skin, curved nose, blue eyes and a thick mane of curly blonde hair, the two seemed to be there for a couple of minutes before he arrived and after him another young man arrived before the candidates started to finally come in a groups, a tall young man with long almost platinum blonde hair and green eyes. ???: [Slow as a bug like always, Elsun.] ???: [You talk too much for someone who keeps on loosing, Ville.] The two first candidates bickered at eachother, as the groups begun to arrive and step up to the plataform the main entrance gate was opened, all of the present candidates turned their eyes on the figures in masks and white cloaks stepping out towards them, the figures, 7 of them, wearing smooth and plain white masks and cloaks, one of the figures stepped. ???: [Welcome, aspirants.] Said the cloaked figure, arms behind their back and chest puffed out. ???: [We are the overseers for the annual entrance exam of the Pallaccian Academy of Runic Studies.] Looking around Leif could clearly see he wasn''t the only one feeling the terrible pressure exuding from the 7 figures, most of the candidates seemed to be warry of their presence and some where outright afraid, it was almost suffocating, the figures made lines on each sides of the main entrance, the 7th main figure standing a few meters away, right in the center. ???: [Please, walk right in so that the first test may begin.] All of Leif''s instincts where telling him to not go there, to not walk between the two rows of powerful cloaked figures looking directly at them, but he did so, just after the candidate with the long blonde hair and green eyes, stepping closer to the masked figures, he walked right past the main figure, then among the two lines, it was almost as if they where focusing entirely on overpowering him with their energy, almost as if assaulting his with their presence, when he passed through he sighed, a few steps felt longer and more harsh then the whole walk over there, he continued to walk in, he found himself in a long and wide hall, looking back he saw that most of the other candidates where having lots of trouble walking through, some even had passed out right before the figures, after almost an hour over 50 candidates hadn''t managed to walk in when the main figure turned to the entrance. ???: [Seems like your time is over.] The door closed, leaving over a 1000 candidates on the waiting hall, thankfully it was a very large one where all of them fit easily, a single second after the door closed it opened, but when it did the outside was completely different, in fact, it wasn''t outside any longer, what the candidates saw on the other side was a classroom, long and wide, the room was organized like an auditorium, each row of seats and tables was one step down from the other and in front of them was the black board where all of the figures stood in a line, a murmur seemed to grow among the candidates, some wanting to know how that was made and others questioning if it was even possible, all of them fascinated, the candidates begun to pour into the massice room, each taking their own seat, once all of them had sat down the figures had begun moving, pulling stacks of papers from their cloaks they passed around by each row of seats, once all of them head the papers in hand the main figured stepped up to the podium. ???: [Now please, take your pencils and begin.] Leif skimmed through the first paper of the three presented to him, he could see that in every 2 or 3 questions there was one he could answer completely. "To use magic means to let its energy freely flow through the body. If the stream of energy within a body part is blocked for any reason, what will happen?"This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. A simple question he could easily answer from simple logic and the basics taught to him by his master Laymen. "Magic and emotion work within the same laws. What happens if destructive emotions are harnessed into positive runes?" Little by little the questions got more difficult and specific, by the second page most of them were almost entirely hypothetical that had no straight answer, those where the ones Leif hated the most. "How effective are runes and magic when the user has been overwhelmed by emotion?" Slowly, very slowly, Leif''s mind seemed to wonder away from that room. "You who has endured times of extreme stress, what drives you to push forward, what provides you with the strength and what is it that you fear losing the most?" He felt a cold wind hit his face, the snow breaking beneath his fingers, the hunger making his stomach growl, he crouched over the roots and dirt that hit him from the mercenaries eyes, as night slowly started to fall his presence was shrouded in shadows, he slowly crawled through the dirt and snow, keeping his gaze low so that he wouldn''t get even a glimpse of the heads, the boy slowly crawled towards the hut, he knew if he managed to get inside in time he''d have atleast 30 minutes to fill his mouth with as much food as he could before anyone would come to check on it, all the bread, grains and raw potatoes he could find and swallow. "You that has seen death and pain in person, what weights on your core, what scars do you carry?" The boy crawled through the mud, covered himself in leaves and dirt, hiding among the dead leaves, branches and roots, he waited for the enemy to start talking so that he could crawl closer without too much attention, holding the knife in his hand so tightly he could feel the rough leather grind against his palm, it had been almost a week since the last time he had ate and he knew if managed to cut alteast three pairs of ears he would be able to buy something to eat. "Some say the true power of a Warlock comes from the mastery over oneself, what is it that you fear that lives within your being?" He felt the mans rough and strong hands clasping against his windpipe, the man sat on the boys legs, preventing him from moving. ???: [You should''ve just given me what I wanted you little shit!! You didn''t have to die today!!] He felt his chest tighten and his eyes water as he did his best to fight against the man, he couldnt reach his sword and even if he could the mans legs where tightly holding it down, he felt his mind flutter and his consciousness begun to fade, saliva oozing out of his lips. Leif: [[H¨¢RT]] "There are things you cannot change, lives you cannot give back. Can you live with the things you''ve done?" Night had feel, a bead of cold sweat feel down his cheek, holding tightly to the rope with held the two tree trunks that made one of the towers pillars together, he tried his best to control his breathing, if they heard his huffing a single spear would be his downfall, gritting his teeth tightly around the knife in his mouth he felt the rough rope scraping away the skin from his fingers. ???: [You said she was the town''s leader daughter?] ???: [Yeah, when i left she was already pregnant, I''m pretty sure it''s mine.] ???: [And how are you feeling?] ???: [Great man! As soon as we kick these Pallaccian bastards off the land they stole im going right back to see my k-] The mans words where interrupted by a flood of blood pouring out of his mouth and nose, Leif''s knife digging deep into his throat opening wide, Leif quickly jumped over the window and pounced the the other guard, the man didn''t even have time to unsheathe his sword before Leif had opened his throat aswell, with a single swipe the hot blood squirted out of the mans veins, losing his balance the boy fell over, face first on the blood puddle on the floor. "Have you ever felt truly connected to someone?" He woke up from his nap, the sky outside was a fiery orange as the sun begun to set, he looked around but he couldn''t see his mother anywhere, he stepped around and took a stool, lifting it and waddling with it pver to the window, he got up on it and look out, he could see her on the field, sitting softly by a tree watching the sunset. Leif: [Mama...] He stepped down carefully and walked out into the small, stopping and turning around, he went back in and put on his boots, then walked out again, he walked over to the field and stepped closer to the tree his mother was leaned on. Leif: [Mama...] His mother turned around, a small teardrop on the corner of her left eye, Leif put his finger on his mouth, standing around, uneasy. Leif: [Mama... Crying...? Why..?] His mother smiled, wiping away the tear from her eye. Lya: [Come her sweetie...] He stepped closer and she pulled him on to her lap, soflty holding her arms under his, crossed around his chest, they both sat quietly fora few minutes. Leif: [Mama... why you always look there?] He pointed towards the sun, she held his hand soflty and directed it more towards the south. Lya: [I''m looking over there... because that''s where we came from, sweetie...] Leif: [Where is that?] Lya: [Its a far away country... very far...] Leif put his finger on his mouth again, thinking. Leif: [Where you a princess Mama?] His mother chuckled and tightened her embrace. Lya: [Uh-hu... Mommy was a princess, and youre my little prince.] "What would you do if you came to find that man once more?" His mother looked pretty even with her head poked on a spear, her rotten right eye had already fallen put if it''s socket and her teeth where punched oit before she was dead, but she still had the face of a dool, even her remaining eye shined with the same murky blue coloration, behind her head was his fathers, along with almost half of the village, even some of the kids and elders. ???: [Yeah thats the kid right there, Captain Griffin.] Griffin: [What a bother, didn''t i tell you fucks to kill everyone?] ???: [We think he must''ve hid or something, no one saw him anywhere.] Griffin: [Aaaahh... Whatever, let the shit live hell probably die of hunger in a week or less.] Leif slowly turned, his eyes where swolen and his throat irritated and sore, he couldnt feel his fingers in both his hands and feet, he turned his gaze to the main dressed in rough leather and iron pieces of armor, with icy blue eyes, dirty blonde hair and a stubble of brown beard, looking down at him on him with a gelid gaze, a gaze that didn''t care about him on the slightest, that didn''t see him as human even. Still standing on the podium the main cloaked figure seemed to have its eyes attracted to the boy, a glint coming from the shadows, analyzing the boys lifeless expression, his eyes with no soul a deep dark grey that exuded a cold, almost sharp determination, when the boy noticed he was staring directly at a empty desk, he didnt know how long he had been for there, his throat was a little dry, he looked around, most of the people around him seemed to be in the same kind of trance-like state, others seemed to be passed out, completely unconscious and slumped over in their desks and a even stranger there where a few others crying, some even acted manic, scratching themselves and mumbling to themselves, but when he looked better there where a few others who seemed to be conscious like him, he could spot 6 of them, 3 of wich where the ones who arrived around the same time as him, the two who arrived first, that called themselves Elsun and Ville, along with the tall one with the long blonde hair, but among them there where also a others, a pale girl with a mane of disheveled black hair sotting just bellow him, a tall boy with brown skin and a head of dreads tinted pink sitting on the other side of the room but on the same row and a pale silver haired girl sitting in the front row of the room, Leif simply sat there, a bit confused, where did the test go? he thinked to himself, maybe he had slept and they took it from him, if so, had he finished the test? he couldn''t even remember, all he could think about was the dreams he had a couple of seconds ago, like a jumbled mess in his mind. After about 30 or so minutes the main figure steped up to the podium once more. ???: [The time has ended, those who have finished the first test can direct themselves to the waiting room.] Leif got up, stepping back into the waiting room, once all the candidates who had finished had stepped out, wich seemed to be hundreds less then what first went in, the doors closed and a few seconds later they opened once more, now the outside was the same as before, the plataform leading into the path of stones that they had first walked through to get there. A Test Of Valor Two days after the test a messenger had appeared in the main gate of Sunfort, leaving after delivering a letter with the seal of the Academy addressed to Leif Crows, Allera set the letter down on the table, Leif and Katlyn stood on both sides looking down at it, the boy had never felt his heart race like this without being directly attacked by someone, with a small pocket knife she broke the seal pulling out a folded paper from inside. "To the Esteemed Candidate, We extend our heartfelt congratulations on successfully passing the first phase of the Pallaccian Academy of Runic Studies entrance exam. This accomplishment marks you as one of the few with the aptitude to tread the path of mastery over the arcane." Katlyn squeeled, a wave of relief washed over the boy who let put a sigh, his legs felt a little dormant. Allera: [Good, in less then a week you''ll be out of my hair, child.] Leif: [Ill say the same for you hag.] Allera: [What did yo-] Katlyn: [That great, isn''t it? If where lucky you''ll be on the same campus as me! It''s gonna be so much fun!] It took almost a week for the next one to arrive, the same messenger delivering a letter with the same seal, neither Allera nor Katlyn where home this time and Kastro made sure to hand Leif the letter without allowomg anyone to open it, he simply forced the seal until it broke, pulling the folded paper from inside. "To the Esteemed Candidate, Following your success in the first phase of Pallaccian Academy of Runic Studies entrance exam, you are now invited to take part in the second test. Please find yourself at the main gate of the Academy grounds at 6:00 in the morning, in exactly 3 days." He felt his chest tighten, buy this time not with apprehension, according to Katlyn the second test of the entrance exam was some sort of combat, the paper crumbled as he tighten his hand into a fist, not being able to contain the smile that forced itself on his face, for the next few days Leif made sure to train twice a much, everyday, asking for Kastro''s he managed to pack himself with essentials, things he wished he had when fighting in the war, three knives, one on the hip, other under the arm and the last on the back of his thigh, a small satchel of medicinal herbs and another one of food, a water pouch and even a flint stick to light a fire, not that he needed one, with a simple rune of fire he could light up everything, but making sure he had enough energy saved was the best move he could take, he didnt know the type of test he''d have to go throught but it was better to come prepared, he asked Kastro for the roughest leather and the best chainmail he could have and was even able the two best pieces for protection he had ever owned, two leather gauntlets coated with iron scales and a iron chestpiece that could be easily hid beneath his cloak. When time came he got up on the same carriage he had taken the last time, the drive to the Citadel was more then a hour long but it was enjoyable, driving along the cliffed coasts, feeling the fresh air flowing throught the open carriage window, he went over the plans he had made again and again, when the carriage stopped he saw himself a few meters from the closet main gate, the hundreds of candidates crowded right in front of it, despite there still being quite a lot of them there seemed to be much less then last time, about 400 less in Leif''s eyes, if the same happened less then 200 of them would actually be accepted, he stepped down and thanked the driver, stepping away from the carriage and standing around the crowd, after about 20 minutes of other carriages arriving and going the massive red gate was opened, standing there where the same cloaked figures as before. ???: [We are pleased with your presence, aspirants.] A murmur spread through the crowd of candidates. ???: [We ask that you follow us, towards the location of the next test, you will be given 10 minutes before we start.] The main figure took the spotlight once more. ???: [10 MINUTES!!?] The same tall and strong tan young man as before sounded, Elsun, the crowd erupted into dozens of different parallel conversations, what do we need 10 minutes for? Leif asked himself, if we where to walk the same path as before it could be done immediately and in less then 30 minutes. Leif: [Unless...] He came to a understanding, they were giving them 10 minutes to prepare because the walk would be towards another location, and probably much longer then 30 minutes, thankfully Leif was almost completely sure of himself in this, running and walking for long periods across long distances was one of his best skills, after the 10 minute wait the main figure spoke once more. ???: [I hope you have all prepare yourselves, aspirants, but first before we begin allow me to lay out the rules for this "walk".] The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. A silence overtook the crowd. ???: [There are 3 rules I want you all to be conscious off, First! All of those who fall 500 meters behind the first will be eliminated!] Once more a murmur overtook the crowd. ???: [Second! The last 50 to arrive will be eliminated!] The murmur seemed to grow louder. ???: [Third! ANY and ALL combat is completely allowed!] Leif could see a look of panic arise among the faces of the candidates, but he couldn''t bring himself to focus a surge of excitement flowed through his veins, he once more had to fight away a smile. ???: [If you have understood the rules, then please, follow us.] He said, turning around and beggening to walk, three of the figures stood behind as the rest begun to move, Leif made sure to be quick, following behind as the crowd passed throught the gate among panicked punches and and kicks, thankfully he had already seen this before, multiple times, the faces of civilians who have been faced with overwhelming violence, he pushed three or four people away from him and dashed in front of the masses before he could be consumed by their numbers, he looked back to see others still struggling to pass throught, some seemed to even engage in unnecessary fighting, then he felt something hit his cheek with force, the familiar sensation of a punch, not nearly the hardest punch he ever took but it was enough to make him stumble and almost lose his balance while running, he looked looked ahead but couldn''t find whoever punched him, he simply gathered himself and resumed running, he was stupid to look back when there where enemies in front of him aswell. The running and fighting didn''t last for long, in less then 20 minutes most of the candidates had already graded the fact that fighting would be less then useless, along with wasting their time they wasted their energy in nothing, the fact that the examiners wherent running either helped, it showed to them that they had barely begun, Leif wasn''t the first but he was one of the firsts on the path, there where atleast 30 others in front of him and hundreds behind him, but he could easily see who was at the front, and hear aswell, since the two, Elsun and Ville simply wouldn''t stop talking, or screaming, most of the time, when they arrived at the giant tower of the Academy the examiners stopped on their tracks, just then a tunnel opened throught the ground, dirt, rock and stone seemed to move on its own before them, Leif knew it was Runic but what kind of runic where they using to move so much material so easily? They continued the walk underground for a while, the ground was at times soft and brittle, breaking easily and due to the almost drop-like steep path Leif could hear people falling on eachoyher behind him, but he managed, treading the dirt and rocks on the way, when the drop ended after almost 20 minutes they had stopped right infront of a equally as steep climb, with equally treacherous footing, the boys fingers digged throught the dirt and mud all the way up for over 10 minutes, all along the way many feel and others rolled on top of eachother, he was the 12th to reach the top, dirty and sweaty, a sensation he was quite familiar with, he felt as if he had gone back to crawling in the muck once more, he clutched the leather of his swords sheath once more, a comfort he hadnt sought in a long time, he simply sat for a few minutes, right on the top of the tunnel he had climbed out of, catching his breath, but as others begun to arrive he got up and continued to walk right away, following the examiners who had now started to slowly jog. They passed throught the second gate of the Academy, the gate situated on the exact opposite of the main one of the Academy''s wall, a half as large but still huge gate made of the same red colored wood as the other, once passed it they begun to follow the dirt path that lead much far the he could actually see, towards hills and forests, 30 minutes after leaving Academy grounds Leif was begenning to doubt his decision to pack so much stuff with himself, that and the idea of wearing not only that much thick leather, chainmail and the thick cloak, almost two hours in they where passing throught a forest that sorround the path entirely, the examiners where almost completely running by then, he was among the same group throughout the entire course, the same crowd of 20 or so candidates who continued on the front for the entire course, and this group remained much the same, with the exception of 1 or 2 who had to stay behind, for the next 2 or so hours, Leif was already covered with sweat, he could feel the fabric of his clothing sticking to his skin but he fought on, most of the others seemed to be as tired and exhausted as he was and when he looked back the same could be seen, hundreds of candidates had been eliminated, it was easy to fall behind by then. Then Leif spotted someone staring at him, a tanned blonde boy who on his back carried a warhammer, he could feel it, the intent the boy had, and when he pulled the hammer and swinges it at Leif''s feet he was prepared, jumping it and dashing forward leaving the other teen behind. ???: [Hey you asshole!! Dont ignore me!!] Said the boy with the warhanmer deeply sinked in the dirt, but Leif paid no attention at all, in fact he was even glad, with that he hadn''t only passed one but three others with that quick sprint, by the next 2 or 3 hours they passed throught all kinds of terrain, plains, swamped lands, forests, sometimes the dirt path wasn''t even visible, and they either had to jump around through the roots of trees or tread through the dirty and muddy waters that blocked their path, they ran, for what seemed to be an eternity, at that point the cloaked figures where outright sprinting awah from them but, suddenly, they got faster, when Leif noticed they where using enhancements he managed to piece together something, this was the final stretch. He closed his eyes, imagining his energy flow from his core to his legs, when opening his eyes he could see he wasn''t the only one who had that idea, 6 others of the dozen he was along with in the front had pieced the same thing, and in front of him, sprinting full speed and using enhancements was the same bickering pair, screaming and shouting slurs at eachother, the small group whized through the air right behind the examiners, with speeds closet to that of a galloping horse then a normal human sprint, when he looked back he could see that others where using enhancements aswell but they either had started to slow or where overall not as efficient users, even more, Leif was impressed with the group he made part of, he expected some to be comparable to him of course but not so many, there where atleast 7 upfront and other groups close behind, there where way more people like him then he thought, the group dominated the next 30 minutes of running and by the end the examiners had aligned themselves in a straight line once more, now infront of a harbor, where a massive ship was docked, altought three of them where still missing. For the next 10 minutes other groups begun to arrive, and by the end the three remaining examiners had closed in. ???: [The first phase of the second test has ended, good work, remaining aspirants.] Said the main figure. ???: [Of the 600 who first arrived, 238 have been eliminated, and now the second phase of the test will commence!] They made the remaining candidates board the boat, what made this boat large wasn''t that it had many floors, or that it overall large, but it had a very long deck, with 30 seats for rowing on each side, the cloaked figures got on to the boat first, 4 standing in the bow and the rest on the back, the allowed each candidate to choose where they would sit and if they would sit at all, the first ones where the fiery couple, yelling at eachother that one could row harder then the other, dozens of others followed but not Leif, he simply stood on the middle along with hundreds of others, in the middle of the water, enjoying the sensation of the rowing and trying to ignore the screaming match in the front, he felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see the same blonde young man as before, looking at him with his soft green eyes. Kallun: [Hello there, i''m Kallun, you did great during the run.] Leif: [Ah, thank you, i''m Leif.] Kallun: [Leif, whare are you from?] Leif: [From a small village in Cithroam.] Kallun: [Cithroam... hmm...] They would talk with eachother a little during the rowing, after a couple of minutes they finally could see the small figure of a island in the horizon, slowly growing larger and larger as they approached, when they finally hit the shore, the main figure stepped forward once more. ???: [Now, i will explain the rules for the second phase of the test.] All of the candidates where silenced. ???: [Each and all of you will be given these...] He showed off a small grey rock with a rectangular shape. ???: [These are name stones! Each will have your own name engraved into it, and each will be tasked with taking atleast one stone! Those who come back with none other then their own, will be eliminated!] A Test Of Domination One by the candidates were given their own rocks, each engraved with their names, Leif ran his finger across the rough surface carved with his name, after all of them had their own stones the main figure stepped up and begun. ???: [Aspirants Amelia Carter, Nathan Hale, Rowan Fiske, Elara Monroe, Victor Sanders, Kira Langston, Dorian Vance, Selene Hart, Marcus Liddell, Iris Vaughn, begin!] The first batch was sent off, and as soon as they all jumped down and stepped onto the beach, fights erupted, and most ran away into the forest, but some stayed and began scrapping for an easy opportunity to get some stones, after 5 minutes the main figure stepped up once more. ???: [Aspirants Tobias Grant, Lily Winslow, Finn Roscoe, Edward Elsun, Ewan Kincaid, Tessa Morgan, Kallun Thorne, Zara Quinn, Theo Madds, Elise Dalton, begin!] Another batch was sent and amisdt them Kallum went, he was the first one to disappear, even thought others begun to fight before even getting down from the boat, and that included the tall and tan Elsun, who managed to take two stones before 5 minutes passed. ???: [Aspirants Damian Frost, Mira Caldwell, Ellaine Northwell, Leif Crows, Hugo Barnett, Lila Cross, Nyssa Draylin, Lyra Brooks, Seleena Ville, Calla Hayes, begin!] He jumped off as far as he could, and as soon as he felt his boots hit the sand, he dashed off towards the trees without even glancing towards anyone else, through the leaves and bushes, jumping over the roots of the trees and duxking away from the low branches, he could hear people shouting and screaming all around, something he was more then accustomed with, he dashed straight but as soon as he found a clearing in the forest he stopped, looking around for a second he smiled, he could see a obvious trap like this from a mile away, theres no way hed step into clear view, he dashed towards the right and didn''t look back, staying away from the islands center was the best way to stay safe anyway, and from what he could see the island was enormous, from a distand he could easily see two tall mountains that stood over the entire landscape and for a island to have even one single mountain it had to be huge. If Leif had seen correctly to the west of the island the forest seemed to extend over the mountains, that was the best place to be, there he could easily find a place to hide and make traps, he would make that his territory and everyone until he had enough stones to assure himself he had enough stones to pass easily, he set traps in atleast 100 meters all around his hideout, fake floors to cover holes and ropes hidden by leaves, he''d find some kind of hole to dig out and hide inside, he had no idea how long he''d have to stay there for so it would be even better to find so place to hunt and gather some stuff to eat, even if he had to stay a week in there he''d easily survive off a bunny and some fruits, a couple months back he could easily stay a whole week on a hungry stomach before having to eat something, after finding somewhere to safely drink water would be more then enough, the most difficult part would be actuslly finding anyone with that style of playing. He turned towards the West and closed his eyes imagining the energy fill his legs with its warmth as it flowed from his core, dashing through the trees and throught the branches, fast like the wind, taking care to not trip over the roots as he flied over them with eaxh step, in less then a hour he already had reached the best point he could find, foot of the second smaller mountain to the east of the huge one in the center of the island, he checked around, trying to find somewhere to stay, and he did, the best place possible he could find, a small concave space hid beneath layers of moss, leaves, dirt and rocks, and even better secured by the roots of a small tree with a thick and twisted trunk, it''s roots where thick and tightly grasped the dirt making the hideout even more hidden and secure, he looked up, the red light of the sky beamed throught the branches, the sun was begenning to set, he crawled inside, it was quite spacious to be fair, much better then what he thought a hole on the ground would be. He gathered a good amount of sticks and dry leaves, a couple handfuls, with a single swipe on the flint stick he had a small campfire going, he would have it there for a few minutes, having a fire lit in the night, even inside a hole like, specially while others where actively hunting him, he leaned back into the dirt taking out his sheathed sword and holding it tightly against his chest, after less then half an hour he kicked some dirt over the fire to set it off, tomorrow he''d spend the entire day doing what he needed to, but after all that running all he wanted was to rest, if he spent more energy then necessary he wouldn''t be able to fight back if anyone attacked, as the darkness begun to fill his mind, he tightly embraced his sword, pushing the sheathed blade against his chest, enjoying its warmth as he sliped into another dreamers night of sleep. Even before the first ray of sunlight pierced the clouds he was already up for more then an hour, he had easily memorized the trails he made as he explored the west side of the island, setting up quick traps all around, digging hole just deep enough so a leg would fit in and covering it with small branches and leaves, he could dig a whole filed of these in less then a hour, sadly he had no ropes so that was the best kind of trap he could make, after one and a half hours he finally found a way to drink water, a small creek that ran down the mountain, the best way to be completely sure he would be drinking the safest water he could was to walk up the stream until he found the source, he ran up the stream on the edge of the river, but then he felt a presence coming his way, he was barely able to duck down as a spear came his way, being aimed directly towards his head, the boy jumped back and positioned himself for a battle when a figure started to step out of the tree line, tall boy with no eyebrows, his long mane of dirty blonde hair held back by a bandana, in his hands a spear, it''s hild made of polished black wood, plated with engraved gold, Leif noticed that on the base of the spears blade was a small engraved rune, "F¨¬", meaning fast. ???: [I see, i see... you''re one quick bastard...] Leif quickly unsheathed his sword, preparing himself for a battle with a seemingly powerful enemy, the wild looking boy twirled the spear in his hands. ???: [I''ve been looking for someone to fight for the past day or so, I wanted to fight that big guy or that one blonde girl, but they both disappeared!!] In his mind, Leif thinked of every step he could take to defeat him, what should he do in this scenario where the enemy had the upper hand, with a spear he had a way longer range then him, but that was a very easy advantage to take away, he dashed towards the trees. ???: [H-hey!! Don''t run!!] The enemy followed him and Leif was actually surprised by his speed, the only reason he didn''t catch up to him was because he had to be more careful when carrying a weapon so long it would get caught in the branches, then Leif had finally reached the spot he had run to, a tiny clearing with the ground covered in sticks and leaves, Leif made sure to step on the right spots to fly throught the clearing and as soon as the stalker steped on the clearing his left leg went through the ground, he was immediately trapped in place, Leif turned around, stomping down with his left foot and pulling his right foot back as hard as he could, with a single kick that resonated a powerful crunch, blood squirted from the boy mouth, his upper lip had been torn open and one of his front teeth had flied out and the boy was out cold, Leif searched the boy throughly, until he found the small rock with his name on it on the left pocket of his red leather vest, "Theo Madds", the first rock he''d come to collect, and on the small satchel on his belt he had collected 3 other stones. He simply went on with the task he had before, following the creek up the mountain to find its source, after about 30 minute he finally reached it, a small clear pond that poured all the way into other bigger rivers down the river, when he got there it was a little past midday, he leaned in and tasted the water and when he felt it tasted pretty clear he chugged a good amount before turning down to the mountain, thankfully the creek didn''t even lead up to half of the mountain and going down took less then 20 minutes, he made sure to leave plenty of traps around as he traield back to his hideout, lots of small holes, he stayed on the lookout specially for small animals he could take with him and was lucky to find a small rat animal, after catching it a single twist of the neck he managed to kill it, back on his hideout he skinned it with one of the knives he had, lighting a fire with the flint stick he managed to roast the meat and that night he ate very well, saving most if the meat and burying the useless parts like bones, bad organs, skin and pelt.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. He was sure he already had enough to pass this test, but then he started to ponder on the tought he had started to wonder about right when the examiners explained the rules, it made no sense that such a prestigious academy would have such low standards for this test, a single rock was enough? It was clear to Leif that the rules explained where not the only there where, he didnt know exactly what they where but there was clearly a second test going on along with this one, a test to see wich of the candidates stood on top of the others, a test to separate those who will dominate this island, he drifted off to sleep clutching his sword once more, but was woken by a small yelp coming from out there, he quickly dashed out and checked the traps closer to his hideout, in there with both of her legs sinked into one of the bigger traps was a girl, he tried her best to squirm out but wasn''t able to do anything at all. ???: [P-please... don''t hurt me...] The girl looked up at Leif as he stepped out of the shadows, with big round green eyes, her skin was a dark caramel and her face covered in freckles, Leif didnt respond, simply reaching over his palm, the girl looked at it and stayed in silence for a few seconds. ???: [I... I... want to offer you a deal!] Leif: [A deal..?] ???: [Y-yeah! I''m working for a group... If you... let me go, i''ll tell all about them!] Leif: [Right.... go ahead...] Lyra: [First... tell me your name? I''m Lyra Brooks...] Leif: [Leif Crows, now tell me.] Lyra: [Its a group of 20 people, where all working for this guy named Kallun.] Leif recognized that name, the same tall, blonde, green eyes boy with a soft voice as before, the girl told him about where they where staying and at wich time they begin to move, who else was scouting like her and how many rock each of them had and even what weapons they had, after she was finished Leif just stepped past her. Lyra: [W-wait! You''re going now?] Leif simply turned to her and smiled, he dived into the darkness of the forest, he pulled the cloaks hood over his face. Leif: [It''s time to hunt.] He traveled all the way down to the humidity qart of the forest, southwest of the island, on the dark of the night, he stalked throught the forest, silently creeping and lurking around in search of the camp they had made, and when he found them, a large group of dozens of candidates sleeping around a large campire that made the whole clearing shine bright, he stalked them, all around, 15 of them where sleeping, the rest guarding around, Kallun himself was calmly resting with his back against a tree, for how relaxed they were Leif was sure they had to have collected enough stones to pass, all of them, but Leif had to be patient, he stalked around in the woods, he had learned to use his surroundings very well in the war, after a few minutes he was sure the group had made worst decision possible, a couple dozen meters right behind their camp there was a dozen small and big pits of tar mixed with mud, after a bit more then two hours he was ready, dashing out of the bushes and into the group. ???: [Fuck an attack!!!] ???: [Get up!!!] With the shouting most of them had already woken up, but by then 2 of the guards where already on the floor, Leif swiped the first legs and as he fel he was hit with a punch on the neck, the second recieved a blow from Leif''s sheathed sword right on the shoulder then a punch to the chin, when a few begun to rise Leif had already passed on to the next he didnt have to unsheathe his sword to make the next three fall, with only punches and kicks as they uselessly charged at him, just then he stopped right before Kallun, his eyes where still closed, he was awake but unbothered by Leif''s presence just in front of him, then he notice the others begin to rush at him, a dozen others who had finally gotten up, he dashed back into the woods, this time on the opposite side, the group followed him, with screams and shouts, each bringing their own weapons, Leif jumped over the rocks and roots, taking them all right into the place he wanted them to be. He jumped over the rope with ease, flying over the trap he had sat and quickly running away, but the others didn''t see it, their feet getting tangled up as they fell deep into the mud, their hands and knees sinked into it and simply refused to pull out no matter how much they tried to fight it off, Leif slowly stepped out of the bushes, in less then 20 minutes he had already searched their bodies, over 10 stones that easily, stepping around the puddle of struggling candidates he walked back into the clearing where the other 6 or so where lying on the floor, some unconscious and others groaning in pain, Kallun hadn''t lef the spot near the tree but once Leif came closer he stood up, lowoking at him once more Leif really noticed how smooth and spotless his skin was, and how clean and silky his golden hair was, how he managed to keep so clean after the past day was a mystery. Kallun: [Do you wish to cross swords, Leif?] His gloved hand rested on the fancy and decorated handguard on the hild of his sword. Leif: [Are you willing to pass your name stone without a fight?] Kallun: [Very well.] Leif watched silently as the man unsheathed his blade, he had never seen a blade like that, it was very long and even more thin, with a guard over his fingers, it was beautifully polished and pure silver, the took their positions, their blades slowly drifting towards eachother and as soon as they touched it seemed that hundreds of strikes happened in a single moment, sparks flied throught the air as their blades met again and again dozens of times faster then the eye could see. Leif: [[¨ªlHy.]] Kallun: [[D¨²r.]] The sharpened and the hardened blade met, creating a cloud of sparks flying off as the two edges crossed, a competition of strength as they pushed one against the other. Kallun: [You have recieved royal sword training, not what I expected from a Cithroan swordsman.] Leif: [Shut your mouth and fight!] They continued to swing at eachother, each furious attack being met with a powerful defense, but this time each attack had the strength to kill, little by little Leif found himself more frustrated, he didn''t expect a swordsman who was so powerful, Kallun was a fast and as powerful as him and had a similar capacity of enhancement, but the blonde had a much better technique and handled his sword with much more finesse, once a attack passed throught his defense, a small cut being made in Leif''s cheek he had already grown inpatient, holding out his palm in Kalluns direction. Leif: [[F¨¢r!]] The boy screamed out, a could of parks and flames erupted from his palm, engulfing everything in front of him and setting the tree and grass ablaze, jumping back a few meters he realized Kallun had managed to evade his attack by jumping on top of a branch of the tree he was leaned against and wich was now beggening to catch fire, although the white coat he threw away had been bruned. Kallun: [You have an exquisite amount of energy output, Leif.] Leif: [Tch...] He jumped down, sheathing his sword. Kallun: [Tell me, Leif, would you wish for a deal?] Leif: [You''re the second person to say those words to me just today.] Kallun: [I had imagined so.... But allow me to explain my plan, i imagine you have already begun to question the main ideas surrounding this test...] Leif: [It''s a test to rule out the best of the batch...] Kallun hummed in delight. Kallun: [Indeed, and it''s safe to assume the examiners are watching us at this exact time.] Leif: [But it''s difficult to tell exactly what they want us to do....] Kallun: [I would say it''s quite a simple matter, they''re examining our ability for combat, the name stones are merely a formality.] He had imagined that, the stones where simply a matter of allowing more candidates then the strongest to pass the test, they wanted to test them all around, not only their physical capabilities but their strategical thinking and their overall knowledge of combat. Kallun: [So what do you say, Leif, do you wish to join forces with me, and dominate this island?] Leif thought for a second, but after the blonde reached his hand, covered by a smooth white leather glove, his mind was made, even if Kallun could barely be considered trustworthy he was a powerful ally to consider in this test, he reached forward, the brown leather gauntlets meeting his white gloves. Kallun: [But for now, we should definitely get away from here...] ???: [Kallun you bastard! What are you doing shaking this bastards hand??] Yelled out one of the members of Kalluns group as he got up from the ground, the blonde simply looked at him and flashed a kind smile before dashing into the forest and disappearing into the shadows of the night, Leif took him all the way to the hideout he had back on the foot of the second mountain, helping him trail around all of the traps he had laid. Kallun: [I have to admit, you where much more prepared for this then i had first thought.] He said, looking down at Leif as he crawled into the concave space under the tree roots, a few seconds later the both of them where inside, once more his hideout had proven to be more spacious then it seemed, after Leif roasted the remaining meat he had kept the two slept for a few hours, replenishing the energy they had wasted with the earlier fight, and when the sun had started to rise they where both up, Leif was trully surprised someone could match not only his combat ability but his sleeping habits aswell, he made sure to show Kallun the small creek he had found and the both walked all the way up half the mountain to its fountain, after resting and having a few chugs of clear water they both had decided to make a bet. Leif: [Edward Elsun and Seleena Ville, those are the two who kept fighting for the entire test isn''t that so?] Kallun: [Indeed, i''m sure they are both the most combat prone and probably the ones who have to most amount of stones around, everywhere combat is you can find them and i''m sure if we find the people they''re around we''d be nicely rated by the examiners.] Leif: [I''m sure i''ll be able to collect quite a lot of stones then.] Kallun: [Hmmmmm... are you perhaps implying that i won''t?] Leif: [You''re putting words in my mouth.] Kallun: [I believe i''d be able to collect much more stones then you, to be honest.] Leif: [Not in a hundred centuries.] Kallun: [You trully wish for a competition, how childish.] Leif: [Oooh... I''m making you swallow those words.] Kallun: [Let''s see...] The two warriors positioned themselves on the edge leading down the mountain and dashed off full speed. Overwhelming Power For half of the day, the two stalked every person they came to find on the way, sadly, none of them were capable of taking the two, most of them wouldn''t be capable of taking even one of them, most of the times they attack and take out the candidate without them even realizing they''re being attacked, by the time they had finally reached the area they were headed towards they had collected many name stones, and at that point they had easily over 20 of them. Kallun: [They should be here, the front of the island, from the foot of the central mountain to the beach should the piece of land with the most people.] He said as he accompanied Leif with dashing through the woods towards the beach. Leif: [Once we reach the beach, we''ll scout all of the territory up to the central mountain until we find them.] Kallun: [Very well.] With each step a powerful impulse followed, the two practically flied through the trees and bushes, from behind the central mountain all the way to the beach, at least 50 kilometers in less than an hour, the two stood with their boots in the sand, looking around for any candidates, when they didnt find any they turned around and begun to run a straight line towards the mountain, directly through the forest, they first found a young boy slowly walking through the forest, with a single kick to the chest from Kallun and he had fallen with his ass on the mud, sadly he had only a single name stone wich the blonde ripped off his hands while the boy begged with a weezing voice, they continued to fly across the trees, next finding a tall boy with chocolate skin who wielded a warhammer, Kallun and Leif stopped, circling around the boy. ???: [Two on one then, huh?? Well, come at me!] Leif: [He''s mine.] With that, the blonde smiled and stepped back, Leif pounced on the young man, swinging his blade with swiftness at the hammer. Leif: [[¨ªlHy!]] With a single swing, the edge of his sword slied across the hammers head, splitting the iron apart as if it was butter, the young man was sent back by a kick to the gut, and with no weapon he had no other choice but to surrender and give up the three stones he had collected to the duo, continuing on their way they both begun to hear a loud fuss of yells and the sound of blades meeting deeper into the forest, they both looked at eachother, deciding to investigate from afar, they jumped up into the taller branches of the trees, slowly jumping from branch to branch as silently as they could, not that it was necessary since the sounds seemed to be getting louder and louder. Kallun: [There they are..] Said the blonde in an amused tone as he looked down at the clearing in front of them from up into the trees, on the clearing the bodies of unconscious candidates piled up, most had simply fainted or passed out but some seemed to be dead, Leif could only give his condolences to the families in his thoughts, imagina having your child go to a entrance exam and have them come back in a coffin, the combat between Elsun and Ville was the main attraction to their eyes, the freckled girl with a wild mane of curly blonde hair and the huge, tanned, musclebound young man engaged in a ferocious duel, she carried two long sabers and he swinged a huge battle axe, despite her many fast attacks the young man remained unrelenting with his slow and powerful attacks, despite her many swings she couldn''t get more then superficial cuts and despite his attacks being powerful enough to put her on the grave he just couldnt land one on the swift girl. Seleena ducked and jumped away from his axe, stricking with swift cuts, the girl had finesse with the sword was comparable to Kallun''s but faster then either him or Leif, despite her long and curved sabers stained with the young mans blood he sustained nothing more then a few dozen surface cuts that had stopped bleeding by then, he who carried a long and heavy battle axe, with a thick handle made of black wood and a round and thick blade made of a dark metal that despite initially being polished was now dirty and weathered to the point where some parts of the edge where chipped. Kallun: [They''re not hard to predict, if I must be honest.] Leif: [How long have they been fighting?] Kallun: [If we''re only now hearing it then they must have met not long ago, those two just can''t stay next to eachother without without breaking into a fight of some kind.] Their eye where led once more to the wild duel, specially the piles and piles of defeated candidates that Ville and Elsun had probably destroyed before passing on to eachother, the tall young man roared with everything in his lungs at eaxh swing of his axe, probably strong enough to bring down trees, Seleena also didnt leave a lot to be desired, like a lioness she striked again and again tirelessly, her sabers flying around like the sharp cutting wind of a tornado, to Leif the weirdest thing was how despite they both seemingly going at eachother with everything they had they still smiled and appeared to be having a great time in the duel. Leif: [Then let''s wait until one of the them is done.] Kallun: [I''m afraid that will be some time well wait.] Leif sat on the branch, pushing his back against the trunk and closing his eyes, for almost an hour they stayed up there, every couple of minutes they both check if the duel had ended and every time they''d be disappointed to see that the both were still fiercely attacking eachother, Lleif got up, standing on top of the branche and looking down on them with disdain. Kallun: [Are you sure it''s time?] Leif: [These two are never gonna stop are they?] Kallun: [They do have excellent stamina if i must say.] Leif: [Wich one are you taking?] Kallun: [Hmmm... What if i choose Miss Ville?]Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Leif: [Then the brute is mine.] The pair dived down from the trees, with their swords in hand, Leif entered swinging, driving the surprised young man to jump back and defend himself with his axe, Ville and Thorne begun their duel with slow and purpuseful attacks, showing off their abilities with the blade. Edward: [How very dare you!??] Seleena: [Thats low even for you Thorne, to disrupt a duel!] Kallun: [I''ll show my deepest apologies after i take your stones.] The two blondes dived into the forest, trading quick slashes at eachother, Leif and Edward didn''t stay behind for him it was easy to dodge the brutes attacks, his axe moved slowly but with tremendous power and he had no choice but to dodge, even thinking of blocking an attack was out of the list, specially since the few attacks Leif had thrown agaisnt the young mans blade proved he was capable of using D¨²r very effectively to counter Leif''s ¨ªlHy. Edward: [You''re skillfull with the sword, raggedy boy! Allow me to learn your name.] The man was surprisingly eloquent despite his appearance, the two stood ready, staring at eachother as they held their blades. Leif: [Leif Crows.] Edward: [Leif Crows.... hmmm... i dont remember any nobles with such name... well, little does it matter! Lets have a battle fit for true men!] Leif: [Fine, just stop blabbering.] For Leif it had always been difficult to fight enemies like the Elsun, huge muscle monsters who dont budge when you cut them, his skin was hard like steel and with enhancements he could move almost fast enough to give Leif some trouble, swinging his giant battle axe again and again, his resolve never seeming to faulter, Leif would duck under, jump over, step away and back but after a swing another one always came, his swings seemed to never trully pierce his defense, surface cuts at best, despite aiming at his weaknesses, shoulders, wrists and knees the young man proved himseld to be great at defending the parts that mattered, once more they found themselves at a stalemate. Edward: [Trully i am impressed, your swordsmanship is that of a well trained and experienced man, could i learn who was it that trained you, Mr.Crows.] Leif: [Don''t call me that!! Ugh... It was General Geralt...] Edward: [General... Geralt..... Geralt PERSWORTH!!??] Leif: [Yeah the old man.] Edward: [O-O-OLD MAN!!!??] Leif: [Arrg... Stop scream you dumbass... Youre messing up my ears.] Edward: [Ghghh.... to refer to the great General Geralt Persworth as "old man".... so tremendously disrespectful.....] With his face twisted in anger, tears pricking in his eyeas and snot running from his left nostril he charged towards Leif, a tremendously powerful swing of his battle axe, just quick enough the boy was able to duck down, the thick blade of the ace wizing just above his forhead and diving into the trunk of a tree with a thunderous crack, slowly the tree begun to fall over the both of them, thinking quickly Leif was able to dive and grab Edward''s satchel, dangling from his belt, Leif was pretty sure the young man with the intellect of a brick wall and the bravery of a angry lion woudlnt bother trying to hide his collected stones, with the satchel in hand he dived to the side, just a the tree came crashing down, and as a could of dust swallowed their visions Leif dashed to the trees, running away as fast as he could with the intent of finding Kallun, if he had already defeated Seleena they would both run away with the stones but if he hadn''t hed just team up with him to defeat her as quick as possible, he found his way back into the clearing and dived straight back into the forest again, following the path Kallun and Seleena had made, he dashed throight the woods, it was easy to hear Edward''s roars and yells but it would be hard for him to find Leif and Kallun if they where quick, as he dashed throught the trees he caught a glimpse, the young woman standing proudly, holding her two sabers, he didnt see Kallun at all so he just dashed right in, swinging his sword her way. Everything want dark for a split second, he felt a powerful blow against the back of his head, when he came back to his senses he had his face planted against the dirt and leaves, something heavy pushed him against the ground. Leif: [Uh... uhhh... w-what...] He felt his head get light, he couldnt breath so well. Kallun: [I apologize, Leif.] Seleena: [You really are a terrible bastard, Thorne.] He didnt get it, Kallun''s voice seemed to come from above him, he tried to turn his face, scraping against the dirt with his face, despite his vision being a bit blurred he could see the flowing blonde hair above him. Leif: [Ka-Kallun...] Kallun: [Truthfully, i apologize, its awful realy, i had to betray people much more then i thought i would.] He felt a hand firmly searching under his cloak, grabbing his leather satchel and pulling it away from him. Seleena: [Found it.] He was still a bit dizzy and weak as he felt the weight being lifted off his back, he looked up to see that Kallun and Seleena had turned their backs on him, he felt a wave of anger flow throught his body, forcing himself up and gritting his teeth. Leif: [K-Kallun.... you... you....] Kallun: [Leif.] He saw that the blonde turned to him, flashing a kind smile as he pulled his sword out of its sheath. Kalllun: [[S¨ªrf¨¦.]] A gust of wind seemes to blow out of the blondes sheath, flowing wildly around his blade like a hurricane. Kallun: [Go to sleep.] With a swing Leif went flying, it was as if he had been picked out of the ground for a few seconds, the he felt something hit his back and everything went dark, pure darkness, he didnt know for how long he was unconscious but when he did wake up the sky was blood red as the sun slowlg drifted down, in front of him a pale young woman with silky silver hair and piercing blue eyes looked down on him. ???: [Are you alright?] He didnt respond, his heart begun to beat heard on his chest, he quickly searched under his cloak, but the satchel he kept the stones in was gone. ???: [You have been sitting there foor a long time for what i can tell, youve been totaly searched.] He felt his chest heaving, his head getting llighter and his heart pounding in his chest, a cold sweat seemed to trickle down his forhead. Leif: [N-no... no... no...] He imagined the looks of disappointing coming fro everyone, Allera, Gregory, Geralt, Brott, Bowen, Hilt.... Katlyn... he fellt tears pricking in the corners of his eyes, struggling to catch his breath. ???: [Are you ok? Im sorry, if you need to i can le d you some of my stones...] The silver haired girl said with a serious tone as she looked down at him, but her words didnt reach him at all. Leif: [Ka-Kallun...] ???: [Kallun Thorne? The bastard?] The sight of Kallun looking back at him with that kind smile and those venomous eyes flashed throught his mind, filling him with hatred, a bruning sensation on his core, slowling growing stronger and hotter, taking full control of his heart, a terrible blistering hot sensation comign up his throat. Leif: [[H¨¢RT.]] In a couple minutes an entire chunk of the forest had been reduced to a hellscape of blazing hot flames, brinign with a bright blue color like the sky, another chunk had been completely frozen, down to the individual leaves of the trees. Leif: [You.... YOU TRAAITOOOR!!] The boy roared out, blue flames bursting from his body, his tears sizzled away into steam, all around the flames burning with hunger, consuming everything, except what was right in front of him, a fortress of ice wich had formed in just a second after his flames bursted with a powerful explosion of overwhelming power, he stepped aroibd aimlessly, looking for Kallun, he trusted his flames to find him, even if they had to burn the entire island to the ground until everything and everyone had turned into ash, he reach that treacherous blonde bastard even if he had to kill everything. In a flash a white silhouette appeared in front of him, a figure cloaked in white with a white mask, from the deep dark eye holes on the mask glinted two colors, from the light of Leif''s flames, ome green and the other a deep scarlet red. ???: [Leif Crows, you pass.] He felt a powerful blow on his stomach and in a second everything went black once more. First Kiss He threaded the mud, with each step he felt as if he was groing weaker, the only thing that made him continue threading through the empty battlefield, headfirst into the fog were the blue flames dancing across his body, slowly shifitng from his arems to his chest and over his eyes, making his vision blurry. Leif: [M-ma... ma...] He continues, step by step, his feet sinking into the mud, from the fog, shadowy figures seemed to rise from the earth, he maintained his resolve, walking towards them as they walked towards him, as they emerged from the fog Leif didnt raised his eyes from the ground. ???: [Bruuuhhh.... big bruuhh...] ???: [Tho.. those... P-Pallaccian... b-bastards..] He slowly looked up, the figures where twisted, darkened and mangled, he felt a deep sense of shame, a terrible panic swelling in his heart as he gaze at their rotten and torn apart faces, felling a sense of recognition. ???: [B-Bastard... ready... to... d-die...?] They raised their blades made of black iron, shifting like shadows, Leif reached to his own sword, but there was nothing there at all. Leif: [Pa.. papa..? Papa?!] The shadowy figures bringed down their swords, the shifting edges of the blades piercing his body, again and again as he screamed and cried, until his body was a mangled mess of blood and guts, the shadows seemed to take over his body, everything came to darkness, he opened his eyes once more to the complete depravation of his senses, he could see, hear, smell, touch, everything was pure darkness, he felt nothing, then from the darkness a pair of eyes opened to stare at him, inhuman eyes like deep void of nothing, then they sharpened, like a pair of cat eyes, a mixture of a deep scarlet red and sharp black pupils staring at him from the darkness. ???: [Child... Touched by the blue flames of hell.] He jolted up from his bed, his chest tightening, a scream exploding out of his throat and his body covered in a cold sweat, he looked around confused and scared, he realised he was in his room on Sunfort, he lowered his hand into his palms, rubbing his eyes. Kastro: [Mr.Crows!?] Shouted the man as he pushed the door open as as fast as he could. Leif: [Ah.. Kastro..] Kastro: [What happened?] Leif: [Ah.. no... its... this happens, when i sleep without my sword, for some reason.] The man''s eyes seemed to soften over the distressed boy. Leif: [How... long have i been asleep.] Kastro: [For 2 days, ever since the entrance exam was finiahed.] Leif''s expression darkened, he felt a discomfort in his chest knowing he had been eliminated. Kastro: [Master Allera gave me the order to tell her once you wake, are you well?] Leif: [Uhh... yeah, you can go.] Kastro left, closing the door behind him, Leif continued on his bed, he couldnt believe himself, not only he was betrayed and stabbed on the back by that wretched blonde, but he also got knocked out and lost the chance to collect any stones for a chance at passing the test, he ceirtainly got eliminated, Allera eould definitely beat him up once she got her hands on him. Katlyn: [Leif..?] He noticed the girl standing on the door to his room. Katlyn: [Are you ok?] She asked, stepping closer to his bed and stitting by his side. Katlyn: [Do your wounds hurt? Bandages itching?] Leif: [N-no its just... im a bit disappointed thats it.] Katlyn: [Disappointed? Why?] Leif: [Because... i tried.. so hard, but in the end..] Allera: [You where accepted dipshit.] The tall imposing woman stood on the same place as Katlyn was before, tall and imposing as always but without the Rocky Lion pelt over her shoulder. Leif: [W-what?] Allera: [They said you where accepted into the Academy.] She said, throwing a latter at him, he took it and opened, the seal had already been broken, pulling out the folded paper from inside. "To the Esteemed Candidate, We are honored to inform you that you have successfully passed entrance examination for the Pallaccian Academy of Runic Studies..."Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Leif: [I... passed?] Allera: [Seems like it.] Leif: [But... but i had no stones...] Katlyn: [The tests are not always what you think they are, you must have done something to catch their attention if you didn''t meet the tests requirements.] Leif: [I see..] He couldnt think of anything he could''ve done to make them interested, Allera silently walked away when Kastro entered the room once more. Kastro: [Now, Mr.Crows, its time we check your wounds to see if they''re healing nicely.] He stepped closer to the bed, Katlyn seemed to be surprised and her cheeks grew a little pink, she quickly got up and begun to step away. Katlyn: [Im going then, see you later.] Leif: [Huh.. wait, why?] He tried to ask but she was already out, closing the door behind her, Leif had been put in comfortable linen clothes, once he took them off he realized how much he had been hurt, his arms and chest where both covered in bandages, he was sore all around and coud barely move effectively, Kastro opened a drawer from the bedside cabinet, talking out a small bag and opening it. Kastro: [Its time we change your bandages, but first lets take care of these.] He said, taking out a small glass bottle and piece of cotton, he lathered the cotton with a reddish oil and slowly rubbed it on the boy''s cheek, Leif haddnt even noticed but his face was covered in tiny little cuts and scratches, he had no idea when he got them, and when Kastro unraveled the rolls of bandages covering his arms he realized most of his body was covered in those small cuts, some where still open, the butler took another piece if cotton, leathering it in a clear liquid that burned when in contact with the cuts. Leif: [W-what... the hell..] Kastro: [Please remain still.] He threw the two cotton pieces away inside his bag and pulled some more, rubbing another one with the reddish oil on the cuts, then pulling out some new bandages and rolling them tightly around his arms, once he was finished he passed on to Leif''s chest, taking out the bandahes crossed around each other, his chest was even more criss-crossed with cuts, bruises and scratches, after following the same pattern, cleaning the cuts, leathering them with the reddish oil and covering them with new bandages, he mad Leif pull his hair up to check his nape. Kastro: [Hmmm... its still quite bruised, maybe a week or so until it fully heals.] Leif felt a flash of anger cross his mind, that bastard Thorne, batrayed him, hit his nape so hard it bruised and covered his body in cuts and scratches, some time after Kastro had left he got up from his bed, shoving his feet into his boots and taking his sword wich rested on the wall by the door, he gave the sword a squeeze as he walked along the corridors of the pallace. Adelise: [You seem well.] He looked to find her standing outside on the balcony, watching the garden, she turned to him with the same kind but somewhat teasing smile. Adelise: [I had planned om visiting you, but only now my schedule allowed a break, so you''ve been accepted huh?] Leif: [Yeah, somehow.] He said, stepping on to the baclony alongside her. Adelise: [And why is that?] Leif: [Well, in the test i needed to take these stones, everyone was given one and you had to take atleast one other then yours.] Lis chuckled. Adelise: [Ah, the good old name stones.] Leif: [You know?] Adelise: [Of course, its not always the same but they are always there.] Leif: [I partnered with this guy, Kallun, but he stabbed my back and took my stones.] Adelise: [Kallun? Kallun Thorne?] Leif: [Uh... yeah.. you know him?] He looked at her with surprise. Adelise: [Well, not know him, we''ve talked. He''s the bastard son of the Second Prince.] He remembered some callling the blonde a bastard but in his mind they where simply cussing him out. Kastro: [Mr.Crows.] They both looked back to see the butler holding a letter, sealed with the Academy''s seal. Kastro: [This has just arrived.] Leif quickly took it and broke the seal, puling out the paper from inside. "To the Esteemed Student, We, the Pallaccian Academy of Runic Studies welcome you with a warm embrance. The acceptance cerimony to welcome both new and returning students will occur in the first day of the year..." He felt a wave of relief wash over his heart, he had really been accepted, he almost couldnt believe it. Adelise: [This is the first time i''ve seen you smile, i didnt know you could make a face like that.] He realised she was looking at him, and even less that a smile had crept on his face, he quickly looked away, trying to fix his fave and wondering if he looked weird. Adelise: [Aw c''mon dont look away...] As the night fell and he returned to his room Lastro was already waiting there to change his bandages. Leif: [You did this everyday i was asleep?] Kastro: [Its important to prevent infections and guarantee a quick healing.] Sadly for some reason Leif''s energy was depleted ever since he had woken up, he had no idea why, this had never happpened to him before, he couldnt even use healing or ¨ªlHy at all, he couldnt help but feel a little pathetic having to relly on others so heavily, once Kastro had finished changing his bandages and left he just sat on the egdge of his bed, looking out of the window into the darkness, he had more then a week before the next year started but he felt as if it was tomorrow, like always he felt a bit confused at the emotions he felt, none of wixh he was used to feeling at all, then someone knocked on his door. Katlyn: [Umm... Can i come in?] Leif: [Yeah.] She slowly pushed the door in, she seemed a little nervous, glancing away and back at him. Leif: [What is it?] Katlyn: [Can i sit with you?] Leif: [Sure.] She stepped closer and once she sat by his sid he could only notice two things, her smell, a sweet flowery scent and the necklace around her neck, the same polished blue stone that remembered him of the color of her eyes. Katlyn: [Allera said we''ve been invited to the Emperor¡¯s ball to celebrate the new year.] Leif: [The Emperor?] Katlyn: [I... um... wanted to ask you if... you.. would want to go.. with me?] He looked at her face as she glanced away, her cheeks and ears where red, he felt a strange flutter in his heart. Leif: [Sure..] Katlyn: [There was also something... i''d like you to do...] Leif: [What?] Katlyn: [Just... close your eyes first..] He didnt really understand why but he did as she ordered, everything was silent and he couldn''t see anything, he heard something shifting across his bed and felt her get closer, and closer, and closer, he could feel the heat from her body and his heart pumped harder and harder, then he felt some thing brush against his lips, a soft and quick touch for a little longer then a second, when he opened his eyes Katlyn had gotten up and had dashed for the door. Katlyn: [G-good night!] He got a glinpse of her red hot face as she closed the door, he could only imagine what he looked like himself, with how his heart was pulsing in his chest, all he could remember about where the crude stories the mercenaries and soldiers used to tell him about when they where drunk, he knew ehat had happened, a kiss, but he never even thought it would happen to him, this meant she liked him, right? Leif: [G-god...] He burried his face on his palms, he was so happy, he had no idea what liking a girl was meant to look like but he was almost completely sure he liked her aswell, he laid on his bed and turned off the light that iluminated his room by pulling the stone engraved with a light rune and putting it on the bedside cabinet, he laid on his bed, feeling the itch of the cratches and cuts on his body, strangely he felt at peace, a peaceful feeling he never really got the chance to feel, he squeeze the sheathed sword, laid under the covers by his side, closing his eyes and drifting into a dreamless sleep. Imperial Masquerade The yelling and screaming coming from the non-invited masses hit his ears as the carriage made its way to the entrance of the Imperial pallace, once it stopped he could really see how many people accumulated on the sides of the red carpet leading towards the open gate, guards everywhere making sure no one was to break in, he stepped down from the carriage, hearing someone call out his name he looked around and saw Katlyn, she waved at him with a smile on her face, she wore a long, flowing dress that tightened around her chest and left her arms and shoulders exposed, it had a deep blue color, streaks of light blue and shined with tiny white sparkles like stars, around her neck the same polished blue quartz he had given her. Katlyn: [Leif! C''mon!] He stepped towards her and when he got closer she put her arm around his,despite being a bit shorter then her when they met, for the past few months he had grown to the same height, he felt his hear jump a bit at the closeness but the smile in her face as they both walked towards the gate soothed his mind. ???: [Kirthian Princess!! Look here!!] ???: [Princess!!] They screamed at her as she passed, she waved at them with a smile, when they both reached the gate the guards allowed her to pass but one of them stood in front of him. ???: [Name?] Leif was a bit bothered by that but resorted to tightening his grip and looking calm. Leif: [Leif Crows.] The guard pressed a finger on his ear, where he seemed to have shoved a tiny stone. ???: [Leif Crows...] After a few seconds he stepped aside and allowed the boy to pass, Katlyn was waiting for him on the other side, she quickly resumed her armhugging as soon as she could, they both walked through the main path up to the entrance, her eyes roamed over the beautiful garden and the camps and lakes that surrounded the pallace, once they walked up the stone stairs a butler awaited on the entrance, the two large redwood doors open for all to enter. ???: [Madam, Sir, please take one...] The old man with a white moustache said offering them both masks, a one made from deep black hard wolf, resembling a wolf, with long ears and a furrowed snout, and the other made with a thin and light white material decorated with golden details, resembling a cat, with big sharp eyes and rounded ears, Leif took the cat one and offered to her as he took the wolf one for himself. Leif: [Here.] Katlyn: [Why that one?] Leif: [I dont have Kat on my name...] She smiled and took it, tying a not on the back of her head, fixing the mask over her face, she looked back at him. Katlyn: [So... do i look good?] Leif: [Yeah... i can still see your eyes.] Even behind the mask he could see her face reddening, she hurried in front and he followed suit, tying the mask behind his head and fixing it over his face, they both entered the pallace, another butler led them up a long flight of stairs and to the right, a short walk to the right they where lead down another flight of stairs to the ballroom of the Imperial pallace, as expected from such a prestigious place, the ballroom was a masterpiece of opulence and splendor, designed to awe everyone who entered, the indoor section, where the array of different food where displayed in three different tables, golden roasted meats, colorful platters of fruits and desserts, and intricately decorated pastries that looked like works of art, other smaller round tables around surrounded by chairs for the guests, butlers walked around bringing all kinds of different beverages, the ceiling stood high above, decorated with paintings and chandeliers, three large glass doors with golden frames led to the outside section where the guests enjoyed their time under the open sky, the floor composed of polished stone led to a large ledge that offered a beautiful view of the lake, shining with the reflection of the moon and the stars. Karol: [Katlyn, sweetie!] Called out the woman from one of the small round tables where she sat with her husband, the two smiled as they saw her, Leif and Katlyn walked down the stairs, stepping closer to her table, her mother got up and hugged her. Miro: [Kitten...] The man swallowed the two with his arms, once they separated she hit his shoulder. Katlyn: [Stop calling me that!] They both chuckled and turned their eyes to Leif. Karol: [It''s good to see you once more, young man.] Leif: [Of course ma''am.] He tried to be as respectful as possible, rendering to her in one of the only ways he had heard women be referred to that they didn''t involve cussing.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Miro: [I hope you''ve been taking care of yourself... and with how you act around my daughter.] Katlyn: [Dad!!] She pushed his shoulder as he laughed, taking Leif''s and pulling him away. Katlyn: [C''mon, let''s get out of here!] She pulled him away as her parents chuckled, throught the night they talked with a lot of people Leif had no idea who where, but who where apparently very important, nobles of kinds he didn''t even know about, then someone he knew arrived, with long silver hair tucked behind her long and fluffy ears, sharp blue eyes with slitted black pupils. Leif: [General Adellianna...] She glared at him, but once she noticed who it was, her gaze seemed to soften. Adellianna: [Ah, it''s you, boy.] Leif: [It''s good to see you once more.] Adellianna: [Have you passed the entrance exam?] Leif: [Ah, yes.] Adellianna: [Good, continue on like this, do not disappoint me, child.] Leif: [Yes, ma''am.] He responded as she stepped away, her sharp heels clicking against the floor. Katlyn: [You know General Silvers? I could never talk to her properly, she scares me a little.] Leif: [She was the one who told the Academy about my existence a long time ago.] Katlyn: [When you were a soldier?] Leif: [Yeah, when i worked for General Persworth.] ???: [Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen! A word from our Emperor, Allaster Von Pallaccia!] A voice sounded from the top of the flight of stairs, a butler stood by the side of the old man, with a crown of gold and adorned with jewels and gems of all colors, engraved dragons and lions, he had a long and thin golden beard and a half head of golden hair, his eyes where sulked and so where his cheeks, with long uncut nails. Allaster: [Honored guests, citizens and allies of our glorious Pallaccia, in this blessed night we unite to celebrate the passing of another year, to celebrate the victories and triumphs that shape this beautiful Empire, and to thank the spirits for another year of perils and conquests!] The hundreds of guests that stood on the room erupted into a ovation, then after a few seconds returned to their endeavors as the servants lifted the Emperor¡¯s chair off the ground and slowly mad their way down the stairs, on the bottom he was warmly welcomed by his three children, the first prince, a tall, imposing and handsome man with a thick golden beard, the second prince, younger and with finer features, and the third princess, a beautiful young woman with a mane of thick golden hair. ???: [Excuse me, miss.] They both turned to see the same young, tall and golden haired boy that had invited Katlyn to dance on Allera''s ball. Katlyn: [Mr.Denvor.] ???: [You look beautiful as always, Miss Himezawa, your parents have called you to discuss a private matter.] He spoke eloquently, she looked at Leif. Leif: [See you later?] She smiled. Katlyn: [See you later.] They both walked off, Denvor stood back for a second and glared at Leif, but quickly turned back to walk with Katlyn, the boy sighed, maybe he had attracted some bad attention, he turned aswell, his bladder was full, stepping closer to one of the butlers who stood next to the food table. Leif: [Where''s the bathroom?] ???: [Down the hall on the left of the stairs.] Under the main stairway there where two corridors on each side, the one on the right led to the kitchen the other led to the bathrooms, he made his way through the hall, passing through dozens of closed doors, every couple of meters a runic lamp illuminated the corridor, the noises and voices coming from the ball begun to fade away, after a few seconds moving he heard something he shouldn''t have. ???: [....like this and you''ll be meeting matriarch soon enough.] ???: [You people better not be lying to me...] ???: [Worry not, the light of the pale moon shines upon you, child.] He stopped suddenly and felt their attention be focused on him, then suddenly he felt one of the presences disappear, the remaining one stepped closer and revealed itself once it turned on the corridor, pale skin, long silky blonde hair, green eyes and a irritating smile. Kallum: [Leif.... it''s been a long time...] He felt a surge of anger hit him, he had the bastard right there, a single punch to the fave and his pretty little fave would''ve been ruined. Leif: [Kallum... a long time since you stabbed my back...] Kallum: [I hope you''re holding resentment against me, as i''ve said before, i trully did not wish to do such things.] Leif: [But you still did it didnt you?] Kallum: [Yes, but only as a way to attract attention to myself, and with how talented you are, i''m sure you had no problem passing the test afterwards.] Leif gritted his teeth, just a punch, just one, but even that would be enough to ruin the ball wouldn''t it? Leif: [You... two faced bas-] ???: [Ah, boys!] They two turned their eyes once they felt the overwhelmingly powerful pressure coming their way, as if their souls where being crushed by the old man with a long grey beard to match his hair, dressed with a beautiful decorated grey robe, the man had a strong nose and kind eyes, but the terrible pressure made the boys more afraid of the kind looking elder in front of them then if a evil spirit had incarnated from hell, then the pressure dissipated, they both felt as if a enormous pressure had been lifted off their heart, still Leif''s hand remained on the hilt of his sword. ???: [I apologize for my intrusion, but you two are both children who took the entrance exam to the Academy aren''t you?] Kallum: [Uhh.. Yes... could you be...] ???: [Oh, i''m no one young man, tonight i''m only here to celebrate...] Leif scratched the back of his head. Leif: [Whatever, out of my way...] He pushed Kallum out of the way and walked off, finally making his way to the bathroom, he relieved himself and walked to the washroom to wash his hands, a behaviour he had picked up because he liked the smell of flowers in his hands, the was assured that the bar of soap was the best invention of the Pallaccian Empire. ???: [Child.] Suddenly a strange darkness begun to consume the room, he felt a shiver come down his spine, he couldnt move at all, as if his limbs had been frozen all over, he could see shadows swallow his body, crawling up his arms and legs, then he felt something press against his cheeks, something sharp but not like a knife, a nail? ???: [The child with the blue flames.] A figure of darkness seemed to exposed itself, with eye shining like scalding hot melted gold, staring directly into his eyes with a predatory gaze, he still remained frozen, like his entire body had been locked away from his consciousness, he couldnt even breathe. ???: [We have our eyes on you as well, child.] Then, someone knocked on the door of the bathroom. Adelise: [Are you there, Leif?] The shadows seemed to dissipate, and on the next second everything was back to normal, he inhaled deeply, his lungs where crying out for air, holding his throat and huffing wildly, holding on the wall as his legs seemed to fail. Leif: [Y-yes...] He walked towards the door, wondering what the hell was even that, that was the same voice he heard talking to Kallum before, but why did that person appear to him, and calling him "child with the blue flames", how could they know of his blue rune? Leif: [Adelise..?] He pushed the bathroom door open and looked out for her, she was standing on the side of the door. Adelise: [I told you Lis lis fine, didn''t it?] Leif: [What do you want?] Adelise: [So mean... your little friends mother is looking for her.] Leif: [Katlyn?] Adelise: [Her mother told me she ran away while they were talking or something, have seen her?] He passed by her, walking away. Adelise: [H-hey!] He walked out of the corridor, turning to the right and walking up the stairs, he had an idea of where Katlyn would be, he walked all the way back to the pallace entrance and to the garden, he made his way through the paths among the flowers and bushes, then stepped on the grass, all the way to the edge of the lake by the right side of the pallace, where the she was sat, gazed at the stars reflecting on the lakes surface, hugging her legs closer to her body, Leif took his coat off, staying only his white linen shirt as he draped it over her shoulders, he sat by her side in silence, once he looked at her she glanced away, pulling his coat over her face. Leif: [What is it?] Katlyn: [It''s... it''s nothing...] They sat by eachother in silence for a few minutes, gazing at the water, then she slowly leaned over, with her head on his shoulder. Katlyn: [My... parents, they want me to get married to Mr.Denvor...] Leif: [That blonde guy?] Katlyn: [Y-yeah... they want me to marry him once i turn 16...] Leif: [Is that why you ran away?] Katlyn: [I mean... he''s nice... but married?] Leif: [Do you think your parents will force you?] Katlyn: [They wouldn''t but... i dont want to disappoint them, in the end it would be the best for the family, even if i don''t want it...] Leif: [Do you think they''d want you to think like that?] She remained silent, lifting her head from his shoulder, he felt a tug on his shirt, glancing I''m her direction he saw her staring at him, her cheeks slightly flushed, she leaned over to him more and more, omce he saw her closing her eyes he closed his aswell, slowly their lips met, soflty, he could feel the heat of her skin and the beating of her heart, synchronizing with his little by little.