《Bloodied Banners》


 The Beginning.

    Exhaustion crept in. My breathing quickened and my muscles ached, yet I couldn''t stop. I had her on the run.


    My eyes darted around, trying to find my opponent amidst the dark forest.


    Hearing the shuffle of footsteps, I spun around quickly, spotting a flash darting toward my neck. I instinctively raised my sword, parrying the attack. Dropping my shoulder, I crashed into my opponent, making her stumbling backwards. Before she could regain her footing, I followed up with a quick slash, grazing her side.


    Desperate for a quick win, I swung again aiming for her neck.


    My opponent expected that. She bent her knees, ducking right below the blade.


    Panic surged through every part of my body as I staggered back, desperate to create some sort of space. It was too late.


    Seeing that my chest was unguarded, my opponent sprang up, thrusting her sword deep into my stomach.


    a deep and unpleasant grunt escaped me as the sword pierced my body. My stomach felt like it was on fire. I felt the blood pouring out of me, staining the grass below.


    "What a shame. You were so close this time." a female voice giggles as my body crumpled to the floor.


    In my last moments, the starless night began to to fade, the grass began to sink, and the sword still stuck stuck in my chest began to flicker out of existence, pixel by pixel.


    "You need to stop overcommitting!" the female voice berated. "you threw an extra attack, and with my speed, I was able to easily duck and counter before you could even react!"


    As the pain began to fade, I looked up. Standing above me was a blonde girl, her expression a mixture of amusement and concern.


    "There was no point in throwing that last slash, I had already recovered from your previous attacks. what were you thinking?" she asked, offering me her hand. My lips curled into a sly smile as a quick thought crossed my mind.


    Taking her hand, I pulled her down into my arms, giving her a warm smile. "I was distracted by your beautiful face." I said shamelessly before kissing her neck as my legs and arms wrapped around her small body.


    "Ewww! You''re all sweaty!" She giggled, trying to wriggle out of my arms. I couldn''t help but chuckle. She was so beautiful, so sweet, so dangerous! How could I not love her?


    "Ahem¡­"


    I turn my head toward the irritated voice only to find an old man standing before me. He looked to be in his mid-to-late 40s. His perfectly tanned and smooth skin made him seem like a model. His physique was much like one of those ancient sculptures from the planet Earth. Five small, black tattoo-like dashes ran down his right arm, each seeming very important. His piercing brown eyes locked onto mine, narrowing with great intensity. He clearly was not enjoying my antics.


    "Sorry sir. I got distracted." I said, a small chuckle releasing from my lips.


    He continued to stare at me for a little while, his fearsome gaze sending a small shiver down my spine. "You can go Aurelia, Achilles seems to need some disciplinary action." he said, clearly annoyed with my behavior.


    Aurelia giggled as I released her from my embrace. While leaving the illusion room, she playfully stuck her tongue out at me, making fun of me for getting in trouble. I could only sigh as I watched her leave.


    As the door shut behind her, my blade instructor began to berate me once again. "Your blade work is good, your footwork is decent and you''ve learned to use a plethora of weapons, yet your stamina and decision making can use some work." he said calmly.


    "Aurelia is a great opponent for you, if you want to beat her, you need to stop tiring out and acting on instinct." He says, pressing various buttons on his tablet.


    I nod in agreement. I get tired too fast.


    "So, what is my punishment?" I asked, knowing exactly what the man has in mind.


    "Just some stamina training" he said, his lips curling into a cruel smile.


    For some reason, I just knew it would be a long day¡­


    ¡­


    Maids stood at attention as I walked by. Most averted their gazes, showing their respect while some blatantly stared. Each maid wore a normal main uniform that contained a cut out slit on a part of the uniform''s sleeve, showing the square marks they bore on their arms. The square was used to represent the peasants of our society. At this point, I no longer care about their filthy eyes which dared to lay on me. It was normal for my brother Ares''s maids to disrespect me, they served and were protected by the heir to the house. For some reason, they saw me, the second son, as some sort of competitor.


    Nevertheless, they were still merely peasants, one of the lowest groups of society. They only bear one square mark, and that''s all they deserve. Their kind lack loyalty and ambition. They leach off the Aeperium, which brings them jobs, order, and security. For most peasants, their mark serves as a reminder to them that they are not special, and that most of them will never amount to anything more than being a white or blue colored worker, born to serve the Aeperium. The square is their mark of shame, a brand of their worthlessness.


    I can''t help but feel disgust as their eyes dare to lay upon me.


    As I enter our room, I am met with the sound of running water and the faint smell of lavender. Seeing that Aurelia was already bathing, I decided to sit on the large couch in the center of the bedroom and scroll on my communicator.


    The bedroom itself was quite large. In fact it was more of an apartment than a bedroom. It had a kitchen with a dining table, a bathroom with a shower, a bed, along with closets and even a small living room with a couch and high tech television.


    I took the communicator out of my pocket, its screen lighting up as soon as it recognized my face. I scrolled on social media for a while. Meme videos have recently taken over my social media feed along with an extraterrestrial feline creature known as a "cat."


    It was a furry type creature that seemed to come from earth like planets. Looking at the videos, I couldn''t help but desire one of these cute little creatures.


    I was so infused with the furry feline creature that I didn''t even notice Aurelia who now stood behind the couch, stalking me as I scroll on my communicator.


    Stopping on a particular video, I watched as the lady used a laser pointer, moving it around while a cat chased the beam of light. It was quite entertaining watching it jump and run around


    "We should get one." someone whispered into my ear.


    "Agh!" I screamed, throwing the communicator into the air as I jumped off the couch onto my feet.


    Aurelia who acted quickly managed to easily catch my communicator before it could shatter on the wooden floor.


    "You should really be more aware of your surroundings" she said, handing me my communicator back. "If I was an enemy, you''d be dead." she continued, a sly smile curled on her lips. "Luckily, I''m just your beautiful wife." she said looking down at her body which was currently covered by only a towel.


    I don''t know how I managed to pull such a beautiful wife, but oh my god¡­


    I couldn''t stop looking at her. She was so pretty¡­


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    "Hey, eyes up here" she said, waving her hand in front of my face, getting my attention. "Did you hear a single thing I said to you?" she asked, furrowing her brows.


    "No¡­ I was too busy admiring how beautiful you were." I responded, a sly smile once again forming on my face as I reached out in an attempt to grab her waist.


    "No!" Aurelia laughed, running away from me. "You need to go shower. We have a guest coming over and your mother wanted us to have dinner with them!" she screamed.


    "But I want to hang out with my beautiful wife¡­" I pouted. I knew it was a futile attempt but could you really blame me?


    "You can hang out with me tonight." She said, giving me aplayful wink before entering her nearly endless walk in closet.


    Excited, I decided to just get this night over with to spend more¡­. quality time with my amazing wife.


    As I entered, I could still feel the warmth and smell the lavender from Aurelia''s Bath. It smelt just like her¡­


    I ran the bath, undressing in front of the mirror, revealing my physique. I was quite lean, my muscles defined through years of weight lifting and training. Being 17, I was quite large for my age, probably due to my genes.


    Twisting my body slightly, I revealed my right arm where 4 black dashes were marked up my skin. Dashes were the marks of warriors and soldiers. It was one of the 2 pathways that allowed for someone to become a crowned, a leader of society. The other being a scholar''s mark, a circle. All children of the crowned were given these marks, dividing them into 2 systems that led to the same output. A person needed 5 of either of these marks before earning their first crown.


    They are rewarded by vicars, the powerful ruling class made up of only the elite crowned who owned territory and led massive armies on behalf of the Aeperium. I believe that I will easily become a crowned. My goal however has always been to become a vicar, something nearly impossible due to my position of a second son. I will not be inheriting my family''s fortunes, territories, and armies. Ive long since accepted that I would need to make my own fortune, build up my own armies and conquer my own territory.


    When i was born, I was given 2 warrior marks solely based on the family I was born in to. In my 17 years of life, I''ve only ever earned 2 marks. I received one by winning a grappling tournament when I was 12 years old. I received the other by playing a certain board game called chess. I was 15 at the time and I heard of this new game originating from the homeworld of all of humanity, Earth.


    Though made thousands of years ago, Chess was never really popular outside of the Milky Way galaxy which was under the firm control of the democratic republic of Terra. Only a few years ago had it grown in popularity here in the Aeperium.


    Although I was a warrior and not a scholar, my mother encouraged me to play the board game as it involved mind games, tactics and predicting your opponents moves. These were all skills that great crowned individuals would need. She''d buy me the best of scholars and sign me up for different tournaments. One being at the Imperion''s palace.


    It was there where I earned 3rd place among many of the universe''s greatest prodigies. Due to me being a warrior and not a scholar, it wasn''t expected for me to do so well against such great minds. According to my mother, my placement and my abilities in chess showed that I would be a great Crowned. This caused the Imperion himself to order me a new mark.


    In comparison, my wife also had 4 marks, yet Aurelia wasn''t born to a noble family like I was. Instead, she was one of the many individuals who were born from a peasant family and given a single warrior mark in order to join the Aerperium''s ranks. Afterall, the Aeperium needed loyal soldiers, not just a small group of spoiled brats from powerful houses. She earned her 3 marks through various tournaments, and duels. She was currently one of the best duelers in all of house Valleris''s territories. Similar to me, the only reason she wasn''t a crown yet was due to her lack of experience, and the fact that she has yet to see actual battle.


    I submerged deep into the tub. The hot water seemed to melt away the stress and built up tension I felt in my muscles. The steam rose around me, and I closed my eyes, letting the warmth seep into every part of my body as my mind drifted back to Aurelia.


    I remembered the first time I ever saw her. I remember her walking hand in hand with my mother who led through the front. She looked much different at the time, she was smaller, skinnier, and very shy. At the time, all I knew about her was that she was orphaned due to a small conflict between 2 minor houses. At first, I had seen her as just another person in my life, but over time, she became much more than that.


    I admired everything about her, her fierceness, her dedication, and how she carried herself with such a strong will. I loved her little attitude, how she saw me as an equal and not her master. She was my first true friend, and over time, she became so much more.


    I respected how she rose above her humble beginnings, competing with and defeating even the most prestigious of men and women. My mother recognized her strength, too, and trained her with the same rigor she used to train me. Eventually, she surpassed me


    We had grown close through shared interests, through hours spent practicing swordsmanship and discussing our ambitions. It was inevitable, really. As my mother encouraged us to spend more time with one another, we eventually grew feelings for each other. The day my mother found out about our relationship, she had us wed. It wasn''t the grand ceremony normal for noble houses, yet it made Aurelia happy and that was all that I cared about.


    Sometimes, I couldn''t help but wonder whether I deserved her. She was so much more than what many thought her to be. She was a strong warrior, a leader, yet also my partner who has been with me ever since my adolescents.


    Aurelia never seemed to care about noble heritage, nor what the others saw her as. She instead continued to not only grow but thrive, bringing everyone around her up. She was special. She was different. She wasn''t fake like most noble ladies. Instead she was genuine towards me and I loved that.


    She knew everything about me and I knew everything about her. That''s what made me hers and what made her mine.


    Author''s note:


    Hi there! This is my first webnovel and I know that it might seem slow right now but it just started. Give it a decent amount of chapters and the action will start to pick up. Please let me know of any improvements or suggestions you have. Considering that I have to balance this with School, the gym, and sleep, I will probably be updating about a chapter every day or two. Writing is an art that I have yet to master, I can only hope that you give this webnovel a chance. As the novel continues, expect it''s writing to get much better as I experiment and tinker with it, trying to find my own style. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy! Also, this is also posted on the webnovel app/website and is going to probably be a few chapters ahead so make sure to check that out.

 Preparation.

    Aurelia dresses me as if I am a doll. I don''t hate it. In fact, I kind of like it. I like how her hands take control and arrange every part of me. Today, she dresses me in all black suit, vest, button-up shirt, dress pants, and some polished shoes. Each part, chosen separately and brought together by her in a way that looks stunning.


    I sit in a chair watching myself in the mirror as Aurelia combs my hair. She combs my hair carefully, as if she''s performing surgery. I don''t particularly mind how I usually wear it, messy but presentable enough. However, today Aurelia insists that she''s in charge. She parts it down the middle, ruffling the sides and the back. She adds products here and there, doing whatever she pleases, all the while saying that they will give my hair "texture." I think it is a bit much, yet I don''t argue. I love how her fingers feel as she touches me. I love how gentle she is. I love how even though she doesn''t need to do this, she does. I feel like she''s not just piecing together my appearance, but also piecing together my heart. I love her so much.


    I stare at her through the mirror. Her black dress is covered with intricate gold patterns matching her beautiful blonde hair. She looks radiant. Her ruby necklace and bracelet match her eyes perfectly. To me, she looks just as beautiful as she did in her wedding dress. Everything about her effortlessly draws my attention. I could sit here forever, just looking at her gracefully move about, capturing every detail of her presence. I have no idea how I got so lucky.


    "You look so handsome, dear" she whispers into my ear as she looks at her creation. Her voice makes my heart race. I want to tell her that she''s the most beautiful woman I''ve ever seen, that nothing can compare to her, that I would give everything up to be with her. But I don''t. I freeze up.


    She glides to my closet, pulling out a small box of accessories. She has me try on various rings, ties, bracelets, and necklaces.


    After a while of deliberation, she settles on a silver chain and a pocket watch. She lifts the chain and gently wraps it around my neck. I feel the silver, gliding smoothly against my skin. She takes a few moments to secure the clasp. Her fingers run down my throat, adjusting the chain to make sure it looks just right. It''s such a small thing, one that no one else would notice, yet she does it anyway. I love her for that.


    "Silver looks good on you" she says softly. She meets my gaze, and for a while everything disappears. She stares deeply into my light gray eyes, as if she''s lost in them, similarly to how I am lost in hers. She moves to attach my pocket watch to my vest, trying to mask her affection. Yet I know, her red cheeks betray her.


    I love the way she looks at me. It makes me feel like I''m the only thing that matters to her, at least for a few moments. I tend to find myself getting lost in her gaze. To me, her red eyes are more beautiful than even the most expensive of rubies because they''re not just beautiful. They carry the meaning, the depth, and every emotion she carries.


    ¡­


    We exit our quarters and start heading towards the dining hall. Most servants stand still at attention once again and avoid my gaze as I pass while the others once again do not. Aurelia smiles at them, I act as if they don''t exist. They know that I am the second son, a person of minor power compared to my brother and mother. They know I can''t do anything to them, it makes me a little mad.


    As we near the massive door to the dining hall. I hear laughter and conversation. As I move closer to the door, I start to wonder, who did my mother invite for dinner?


    Before I could continue my thoughts, I saw A figure standing before the dining hall''s gigantic doors.


    The man is a giant. He has tousled brown slick backed hair and a chiseled face. Brown eyes meet mine, they are sharp yet warm. They scan my body up and down.


    Clad in Nebula Armor, he looks more robot than man. The armor he wears is made of interlocking scales, resembling a type of exoskeleton that is crafted with an elegance that speaks to its high-tech nature. Each scale, detailed and layered shift with his movements. They allow for quick fluid movements and great protection. The armor adapts with the wearer, being able to predict both its wearers and their enemies movements.


    Seeing me, the scales move ever so slightly towards my direction, as if preparing in case of an attack. The armor brings out the wearers full potential, while protecting them at the same time. A blue hue flickers under each black scale as it glides to a new place, always adapting, always changing. It freaks me out, the way the scales shift, repair and replace depending on the wearer''s environment. It''s like they have a mind of their own.


    In his right hand, he holds a customized Ion Blade, a sleek, and slender blade, that seems almost fragile in appearance. Unactivated, it is merely capable of cutting through weaker metals like iron. However when it powers up, it starts to hum due to its powerful energy. It can slice through the toughest of metals and cut iron as if it was butter. His ironblade has a slight curve to it, making it easier to slash but harder to stab.


    In his left hand, he carries my family''s banner. Its light blue fabric ripples ever so gently as he holds its pole. Upon its flag resides a white dove''s wing, symbolizing my family''s drive for peace and its control over the skies.


    I know this man. His name is Thoris and he is our house''s 33rd blade. I''ve conversed with him a lot over the past, he is a man of great wisdom and experience. I haven''t talked to him since the early years of my childhood. Last I heard, he led a decently successful campaign against the democratic republic of Terra under the name of my mother and the Aeperium.


    A little astonished, I slowed down and Aurelia took the lead. She has never met this man. My eyes meet his again, he is smiling. He recognizes me. I show no reaction, but deep in my heart, I''m glad he remembers me. As I awkwardly speed up to Aurelia she glances back at me with a smile, probably admiring her handiwork.


    "It''s been a while, hasn''t it little Achilles?" The giant''s voice boomed loudly down the hall, startling the nearby maids.


    The various servants in the hallway went silent and glanced nervously at one another. I could feel the tension in the air. Who would be dumb enough to call their lady''s son "little"? Sure some dare to show disrespect towards me, yet they don''t disrespect me that much knowing that there would be real consequences of acting like that in public. They clearly don''t recognize the hulking figure standing before us. Aurelia who was holding my arm stops in her tracks, her expression full of confusion and disbelief


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    "Little?" she repeats, her eyes looking up to meet mine for a moment before proceeding to scan my body. "But your quite large¡­" she mumbled


    Her eyes are hinted in confusion while her brows are knitted into a scowl. I am so embarrassed, how did this giant lose his sense of decency? Can he at least be a little more respectful with the servants around?


    The giant strides towards me at an inhuman pace. His massive frame dwarfed the various servants around him. His body seems to have grown even larger since the last time I saw him. His sheer size is intimidating. He lifts me up and squeezes me as if I''m a toy. I can feel myself being crushed by the man''s massive arms.


    "It''s been a while, Thoris, " I say as he puts me down. He is absolutely massive. I myself stand a little above six feet, yet I still have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. He''s easily eight feet tall, with muscles as large as boulders. Even with my own muscular and toned body, compared to him I must look like a stick.


    "Indeed, only what¡­ five years?" he asks, as he tilts his head


    "No, seven." I corrected him.


    He studies me for a moment, his expression softening a little into something close to affection. "You''re not so little now¡­" he says, his tone carrying a slight hint of disappointment. He reaches down ruffles my hair which Aurelia had just perfectly combed.


    Before I could even think of reacting, Aurelia has already leaped into action. In just a few moments, she''s on Thoris'' shoulder, a gleaming knife in hand pressed to his throat. Where did that knife even come from?


    Thoris doesn''t even flinch. The white scales on his armor quickly shift with an almost mechanical precision, creating an impenetrable defense guarding his face, neck and shoulders. Yet Aurelia stabs down anyway, her blade leaving small scratches against the tough scales that heal almost instantly


    Thoris grins and, with casual ease, plucks her from his shoulders with one massive hand and sets her down next to me.


    "Your wife is quite feisty huh?" He says to me, his eyes glinting with amusement while the scales of his armor return back to their original position.


    "I still can''t believe you got married!" Thoris continues, his voice filled with disbelief. "I didn''t even know until I debriefed with your mother last night! You could''ve sent me an invite"


    I raise an eyebrow, my irritation barely concealed. "It''s kind of hard to send an invite when your galaxies away, fighting an intergalactic war!"


    "Good point¡­" Thoris chuckles realizing his foolishness.


    "Who are you?" Aurelia asks, interrupting our conversation


    "I am Thoris Valerius Varrus, first of my name, and house Virellis''s 33rd blade."


    Aurelia''s eyes widen in shock after hearing his title. Many of our house''s blades were either governing planets, leading war parties, or dead. Rarely did any of them ever return to our homeworld of Tundara-a harsh planet where it always snows during the Autumn and Winter, while relentless rain pours down during the spring and summer.


    While Aurelia was trying to compose herself, Thoris started escorting us towards the gigantic doors. The sheer scale of them always made me pause. They were carved from black stone and adorned with silver designs. They towered over us, like a city gatehouse.


    "So, " I ask, trying to break the silence, "How did the battlefield treat you?"


    "It was bloody,"Thoris replied, his voice steady, and calm. "We managed to easily obliterate the democratic republic''s fleets, allowing us to blockade their planets and gain air superiority with little to no trouble. But the planets themselves¡­ they were another story entirely. The people on those worlds were like ants. They were hard to spot, and when they were spotted, there were usually many of them. They hid in underground cities, forests, and mountains. The major cities were like fortresses. We bombarded them repeatedly for days at a time, yet the 2nd legion still suffered millions of casualties attempting to storm them. The republic soldiers¡­" He paused and his lips tightened as the memory of the events flooded back into his mind.


    "They fight dirty, they know no honor, nor do they ever surrender. Each street, hall, and house was held as if it was a last stand. At times, it took days to make any sort of progress. They kept luring us into buildings, then blowing them up. They have no regard for human life. They don''t even care if they kill their own soldiers in the process, they just want us dead. They poisoned our food and medical supplies, threw bodies and poison into wells, and set fire to the land wherever we were victorious. In those 7 years, The second legion only took 7 planets before our resources ran thin and supply lines were halted. We needed to abandon 2 of them, they had little to no worth. Even now when we are at peace, the enemies are like rats, hiding in the cities, moving through tunnels. Although it seemed like we were in control, we never were."


    I stayed silent, taking in the weight of his words. Millions of casualties. Trillions of credits wasted. All for five insignificant military planets along the border. The thought of it was staggering. What was more staggering to me was the way Thoris reported it as if it was a routine task. It reminded me of how war strips away even the smallest semblance of peoples humanity.


    "How did mother punish you?" I asked, knowing there had to be some consequence for his failures. He led one of the largest armadas my house has ever created, yet he only conquered 7 planets in 7 years. My mother had to have given him some consequence for the lives, credits, and resources lost under his command.


    He glanced at me with a solemn expression on his face. "She hasn''t yet. I assume it will happen after her little dinner party with the chancellor." he said with a sigh. his tone was flat. It genuinely seemed like he was ready to accept the consequences of his actions.

 Dinner.

    Ah, the little dinner party. I almost forgot the reason I was heading toward the dinning hall in the first place. It seems that she has invited the Chancellor, but why?


    As we reach the towering doors, Thoris pushes them open with a casual strength that belies their weight. The sound of the doors groaning on their hinges echoed throughout the whole room. Seeing his immense strength, I couldn''t help but feel thankful that Thoris was a friend. I would hate to one day fight him as an enemy.


    Inside the hall, rows of long, polished tables ran parallel on both sides of a red-carpeted path which led to a raised platform at the far end of the room. The hall is elegant, and vast, yet also empty. As I walk down the red carpet, I cant help but admire the beauty of it.


    At the top of the stairs sits my mother at the head of the table. Her presence, domineering as always. She wears an elegant white gown, highlighting her long, braided silver hair and gray eyes. She wears many jewels just like my wife, but instead of ruby''s, they were diamonds. The dresses short sleeves revealed her arm which bore five marks, each looking like a crown. These 5 marks are what made her one of the highest people in society, a vicar, second to only the Chancellor and the Imperion himself. Despite her age, she still seemed like the very definition of grace and nobility.


    Across from her sits Commodus Caius Tiberius, the Chancellor. Although he looks far past his prime, there is still something formidable about him. Although he''s well over fifty, he''s still remarkably handsome with his neatly combed gray hair and olive skin tone. His light blue eyes give him a look of innocence, yet I will not be fooled. He is the chancellor, second to only the Imperion. He commands both the 1st Tiberius legion and the 7th Praetorian legion making him one of the most powerful men in all the cosmos. He wears a custom tuxedo covering his marks, yet I don''t need to see them, I already know that he has five golden crowns marked on his arm, just like my mother.


    "My second son, Achilles, and his wife Aurelia" my mother introduces us, her voice smooth and composed as she introduces us.


    Commodus gives us a small nod. "I remember them quite well." He says, his lips curling into a small smile.


    "I remember witnessing one of Aurelia''s tournaments. She is quite speedy and aggressive, her swordsmanship reminds me of you." he said releasing a small chuckle.


    "Of course she does, I am her teacher after all," My mother responds, glancing at Aurelia and giving her a warm smile. The chancellor''s eyes shift from Aurelia towards me. "Achilles however seems to take after his father." He says with a slight chuckle. I watch as my mothers soft smile turns into a deep frown at the mention of my father. He had gone missing during a battle a few months before I was born. Mother never talked about him nor what he was like.


    "From what I remember, his fighting style is much more dirty and gritty just like Thaddeus''s." He said, giving me a smile. "That is not a bad thing, in fact, it''s a skill. Not many people think about using anything other than their blade in battle."


    Normally, I probably would''ve gave him a smile, but now I was focused on much more important things. "Did you know my father?" I ask the man.


    "Did your mother not tell you?" He asks me, tilting his head.


    I watched as my mother''s frown deepened and as her eyes avoided my own.


    "Your father was a friend of mine." Commodus says casually.


    "Before my father died and I ran for chancellor, our families were actually pretty close. Considering that both your father and I came from powerful loyalist family''s, I guess it was expected for us to get close."


    Listening to the man, I couldn''t help but feel excited and curious. My mother never really spoke about my father. I always assumed that she was still heartbroken so I never pressed her for answers,


    "So what happened between you two?" I asked curiously.


    "Well, after I took over as head of house Tiberius, I had to establish my power. It was an excruciating time. I had to do many horrible things that I am definitely not proud of. I killed people who I thought were my brothers, my actual brothers, and many more." he said blatantly. "During that time, your father had already become head of house Virellis. He was my biggest supporter. He sent me many legions and credits allowing me to crush the rest of my family''s resistance, and the people''s uprising." he continued.


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    "Honestly, he is the reason that I am here right now, without him, I would probably have long been overthrown, with one of my brothers leading the house."


    "Yet you still betrayed us..." my mother muttered.


    Both me and Aurelia glanced at my mother. What did she mean? How did this man betray my parents?


    "You are clueless Aurora..." Commodus sighs. He takes a moment to reflect, then looks back at both Aurelia and I. "After getting elected as chancellor by the council of Vicars, I abandoned the loyalist party and joined the councilist''s." he said, staring at my mother. "I believed that it was in my best interests and I do not and will not regret my decision."


    The atmosphere quickly became filled with tension as my mother kept glaring at the old man. I glanced back and forth between the chancellor and my mother. They both seemed to really hate each other and I understood why. Our family had helped Commodus establish his power. He then used the loyalist party to become the chancellor, then betrayed them. He basically fed us to the hounds.


    We sat in silence for a while, all of us in our thoughts. It was only broken by the shuffle of servants. It seems that food has finally been served.


    Maids entered carrying large plates of various dishes. Placed on the table were stacks of steaks, ribs, chicken thighs, along with bowls of rice, noodles and many other dishes.


    Honestly, it was the most awkward dinner i''ve ever had. The sound of chewing and occasional cling of silverware filled the room. No one spoke for a long time. I was honestly getting quite nervous and quite board. As my mind started to wonder, I finally started to ask myself, why was Commodus here? What did he want?


    Surprisingly, the first person to speak was not Commodus, not me, not my mother, but Aurelia.


    "What was my father-in-law''s reaction?" she asked curiously. I raised my head, put down my fork and wiped my hands with a cloth. I wondered that as well, how did my father react?


    "Your father was well aware of my plans..." he said, "He actually spoke to me about it. He neither supported nor was against it. I knew it would cause him much harm, yet I went through with it anyway. he said, his voice quieter then before. "Neither of us spoke to each other again for many years..."


    The silence once again filled the room, followed a quick sense of discomfort. Although I was quiet, my mind was racing. I was learning many new things about my father and abut Commodus. Why was he telling us this. What did he want? that question kept coming to my brain. He had to be here for a reason right? There was no way the man wold haul his entire fleet across galaxies just to visit us. What did he want!


    As if reading my mind, my mother finally asked the question. "What do you want Commodus? We''ve been sat here for over an hour! get to it already!" she barked.


    Even if she was a vicar, wasn''t she being a little to disrespectful?


    "Verywell..." He sighed as sat up.


    "A few months before Thaddeus went missing, he came to me. He had just recently learned that you were pregnant with Achilles. We talked for a while, catching up with each other just as old friends do. He didn''t seem to hate nor resent me for my actions. In fact, he actually requested something of me. The Imperion, supported by the majority of the council ordered your father to take his already injured legions deep into republic territory in an attempt to distract and disrupt the republican invasion. Worried something would happen to him, he requested for me to watch over you all. That was all he wanted. I of course agreed. Your father was one of the greatest men I ever knew. He was a man who forgave. He helped me even when I betrayed him and put him in danger. How could I not accept his offer? A few months after our conversation, he went missing while his legions retreated off the planet Zarathis." He paused for a moment, sighing.


    "Ever since then, ive been looking out for you all. I manipulating the council, distracted the Imperion, all in order for you all to grow up peacefully.


    Now that you are almost grown Achilles, i''ve decided to finally make an appearance." He said, giving me a smile. "I didn''t appear here for no reason. I appeared here because I have a request. I would like for you to become my student."

 The Spar Pt.1

    The Chancellor''s bold statement left the room silent, the air thick with tension. My mother''s gaze grew even colder and more furious. Aurelia seemed to feel just like me, confused. The chancellor has betrayed my family before, yet he''s holding his promise with my father? Why? What did he have to gain?


    "Ive known that someone had been protecting us..." my mother paused, an expression of caution plastered on her face. "Yet why are you? You have no reason to be doing any of this! Now you ask to take my son under your wing for no gain! why are you doing this?" she asked, tired, angry, and even a little depressed.


    "Im not the man I once was. I had my reasons for betraying the loyalists. In fact, I hated them for what they did to me, and I still do. Your husband was the only man who ever actually helped me without trying to manipulate me in some way. He was a genuine friend to me." he said, his lips curling into a smile. "He helped me even if it didn''t benefit him. He helped me even when others wouldn''t. His last request was for me to protect his family. What type of friend would I be if I let him down?" Commodus asked, chuckling.


    "As for making Achilles my student..." he paused, releasing a sigh. "Ares, your first son will become head of the house once your gone. He will have absolute control of anything and everything inside house Virellis''s territory. How would he establish his power? Who is his only threat?" Commodus asked, his gaze shifting between the 3 of us.


    The answer was obvious. It was me. I am the only other direct descendant, and technically heir. I am the only man who could actually stand against him. I would never do such a thing, but Ares is a paranoid man. He is cold and calculating. Commodus''s words make sense, but would he actually try to kill me?


    "I believe that Ares will try to kill Achilles." He said, his voice cold and serious. "I cant let Achilles die like that. Not to mention, i''m also getting quite old and i''ve yet to bear any heirs, nor do I plan to." he said slowly, avoiding eye contact.


    "Allow me to take your son under my wing, allow me to help him bloom." He pleaded.


    Silence filled the room again as my mother was pressured into making a decision. I wasn''t very surprised that she folded. "Its up to Achilles..." she said quietly causing everyones attention to turn toward me.


    I felt the pressure, but I wasn''t going to fold like my mother. I needed time to debate what I was going to do, and that was exactly what I asked for.


    "Could you give me a few days?" I asked, attempting to keep eye contact with Commodus.


    "Of course you can, just know that this offer wont be here forever."


    ...


    A few days had passed since the end of the dinner. Commodus was still here. His massive bannership still hovering in orbit above Tundara, casting its massive shadow across a small portion of the planet''s surface. Over the past few days, he has regularly been descending and interacting with us all. Today would be no different.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    A sound echoes from my door, pulling my conscience back into reality from a hazy dream. I groaned, blinking at the ceiling. I continued staring at the ceiling for a few moments, fighting the exhaustion that attempted to pull me back into sleep.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    The knocking continued, jittering me out of my daze. The sun hadn''t risen yet. It was still dark outside.


    "Go, you know he won''t stop knocking unless you talk to him." Aurelia, who lays down next to me, says quietly.


    Knock, knock, knock.


    He knocks again. I sigh knowing what she says is true.


    I somehow managed to drag myself out of my bed and swing open my door. Standing there, as expected, was Commodus.


    "Good morning!" he said, his voice smooth and smile mischievous.


    I look at him for a moment with a face of disbelief. "It''s not even morning yet," I mumble. "What could you possibly want?"


    Commodus didn''t seem bothered by my tiredness nor rudeness. Instead, he smiled in delight as he saw my disheveled appearance.


    "Come, let us walk for a bit," he said, his voice commanding, and intimidating. "I want to show you something."


    He was clad in his usual black nebula armor. Just like Thoris''s, the scales shifted at my every movement, fearing me as an enemy and revealing a golden hue beneath.


    "I have to go change," I grumbled, looking down at my bare chest and sweatpants.


    Commodus sighed, "very well, be quick, we must be back before breakfast. Nutrients are important!" he said energetically.


    I didn''t argue, yet I gave him the side eye as I closed my door. Over the past few days, I learned that it was much easier to do as he said rather than argue, even if I hated the idea of being dragged out of bed for something as trivial as this.


    I followed him down the halls of the Virellis estate. The servants we passed stood rigidly at attention, their eyes deliberately avoiding us both, a gesture of respect. It seemed that they knew better than to act disrespectfully in front of the chancellor. I ignore them as I always do, Commodus however smiles.


    "You must make your subordinates feel grateful that they have the opportunity to serve you, Achilles," he tells me. "That''s how you ensure their loyalty. They need to feel important even if they aren''t."


    It is interesting to me how Commodus manipulates people through even the smallest of details, like making sure that the servants feel "special." It doesn''t feel right to manipulate people, yet I find myself doing it instinctively, now that he taught me how. A little flattery here, a bit of conversation there and you can practically get into every servant''s good graces. It is kind of pitiful knowing how easy it is to manipulate people''s emotions and actions.


    Commodus says that humanity''s compassion, and emotions are what make us weak, yet I feel that they are also what makes us human. Without compassion, how are we any different from the Hordes at our borders? Without emotion, how are we any different from the Artificial intelligence up north?


    He tests my level of manipulation everyday, for instance, the first time he had me use his techniques, I managed to manipulate my mother''s aides into giving me extra allowance even though I clearly didn''t need it. Each time after that, it got easier and easier. The hardest part is when you need to manipulate strangers since you don''t know their personality, nor how they react to certain situations. For now, my manipulation is only at a minor level, but I think both Commodus and I can see my potential.


    I like how I''m able to shape their behavior, it''s as if I''m some sort of puppet master pulling invisible strings to get them to do exactly what I want without the use of violence. It feels so good even though I know it''s so wrong. I can already feel the effect that being around this man has had on me. I do believe that he can help change me and my so called fate, but I don''t know if I would like what he would change me into.


    As we reach the doors to exit the main building of our estate, I can hear the raindrops. They are more faint than usual. Summer is coming to an end.


    As I follow Commodus into the downpour, I can''t help but wonder, where is he taking me? This is my home. I know everything about this place. What could he possibly have to show me?


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    As we walked, the rain soaked my clothes, and mud quickly caked my shoes, feet and pants. I have always hated summer, and the rain. Instead of taking the train cars that lead down the estate''s hill, he decides to take the path. I don''t really question it.


    As we continue to descend the hill that led toward the lower estate grounds, I couldn''t help but gaze at the beautiful armor Commodus was wearing. I always dreamed of obtaining such nebula armor, yet it is only ever given to those who get promoted to crown marks. I find myself staring at it for awhile, a bit jealous as I watch its scales move, shift, and rotate.


    Commodus glances back at me, catching my gaze. He smiles for a moment. "I''ve had this armor for tens of years, ever since I gained my first crown. It is special, I feel a connection with it." he says smiling.


    "Connection? Isn''t it just armor?" I ask, confused on how someone could feel a connection with a piece of armor.


    "Yes, but the armor learns with you." he pauses. "Think of it as an extension of your body. The armor memorizes every situation its been in and gradually becomes stronger over time." he continues.


    "It''s an incredible invention. You will only understand it''s greatness once you eventually obtain your own." he says as we reach a turn in the path at the edge of the estate grounds. To my surprise, Commodus didn''t head toward the lower estate grounds. Instead, he started walking the other way.


    "The lower estate grounds is over there," I said, pointing toward toward the distant lights below. "That way just leads to a small forest behind the estate."


    "I know, I want to show you something," he says. "Follow me." his voice hoarse in the rain.


    I hesitated. What did he want to show me? I don''t recall there being anything in the forest. What was he trying to do? Was he actually trying to show me something? Nevertheless, I continued to naively follow him down the hill toward the back of the estate.


    It was still dark, the only reason light source we had was the golden hue under Commodus''s armor which lit up our surroundings. I followed Commodus for a long while, until he eventually stopped.


    Confused, I looked past him, only to find out that the trail had ended. "What are we gonna do now?" I asked.


    "Well, we need to get down there..." he said, pointing toward a dark barely visible forest below.


    "I guess we''ll just have to off the trail..."


    Suddenly a smile curled upon the old man''s lips. "I''ll race you to the bottom" He yelled as he broke into a full on sprint down the hill toward the forest. I stood there stunned for a few moments, why would a fifty year old man want to race like children? Nevertheless, I chased after him. Commodus moved swiftly, and despite my best efforts, I could barely keep up. The cold rain blurred my vision making it hard to see. Midway down the hill, I abandoned my shoes, the mud caked on them was slowing me down too much. Barefoot, I started to gain on him, but Commodus was already pretty far ahead.


    By the time we were reaching the base of the hill, I could only barely spot him due to the light on his armor.. I surged forward, refusing to be beaten by someone who could be classified as a senior citizen. I launched myself at his back in an attempt to knock him off balance. We both tumbled into the mud, rolling uncontrollably, laughter filling the air.


    It was a moment of absurdity, 2 men racing down a hill, both wet and covered in mud rolling down a hill.


    When we finally stopped rolling, I stood and looked around. We were no longer standing on grass or mud. We were standing on concrete. The forest surrounded us, dense and thick, acting sort of as walls. We were standing in a small circular clearing, surrounded by trees from all sides. It seemed like an arena.


    Looking around, the arena seemed quite old and clearly unmaintained. Moss and foliage from the forests had started creeping into the cracked concrete below while the trees surrounding it seemed to be overgrown.


    On both sides of the arena stood 2 extremely large trees, both with markings on them. The one on the left had a dove''s wing carved into it, just like the one on my family''s banner. The one on the right had a large wreathe carved into it, the symbol of house Tiberius.


    Beneath both symbols on either sides stood both an armor stand, and a smaller weapon stand. Worn, and dirty pieces of armor lay draped over both armor stands. The armor draped beneath the dove''s wing being white, while the one draped under the wreathe being black. They were old, very old, seemingly made from a combination of steel, leather, and cotton. Their designs were interesting. Metal covered the shoulders, chest and part of the legs while leather and cloth covered the joints, allowing easy, quick and precise movements. The helmets both had very similar designs with a face mask, and 2 horns protruding off the top making them a little menacing.


    On both weapon stands, laid the same weapon. It''s blade was long, and single edged. Its curves, gently swayed from from hilt to tip shining elegantly under the starry night.


    "What is this place?" I asked, looking at Commodus for answers.


    "Your father and I used this place to spar many years ago. Your mother has clearly not maintained it." He said, his voice containing a little bit of sadness.


    Considering that they''ve sparred before, I wonder which one of them was more skilled.


    "Were you better than my father?" I asked, trying to get a hint of this man''s power.


    Commodus turned to look at me, a smile plastered on his face. "I was not." He said blatantly. "Your father was very skilled. The only times that I ever really beat your father was when I used some dirty trick. Your father was an honorable, merciful being, one that luckily was not that revengeful." he chuckled.


    "Anyway, go grab your armor and weapon." He said, pointing toward the tree with the symbol of a dove''s wing. "Your father wore it before so it may be a little damaged, but it should be fine." He said, walking toward the tree marked with his own family''s symbol.


    I sighed.


    It seemed that he wanted to spar. why would he? Couldn''t he tell that I would destroy him? He is clearly far too old for things like this.


    Sighing, I slipped off my clothes, changing into my armor. It was a bit big, yet still manageable. It had a few tears and marks from years of usage and negligence, yet it was good enough. It was pretty light compared to the Tungsten armor I normally wore. The blade might have been a lot faster and more precise than the weapons of this era, but it was not nearly as deadly.


    Seeing the old man now, I couldn''t help but chuckle a bit. We both looked little ridiculous. We were dressed like those ancient warriors from earth. what were they called? Ah yes... Samurai.


    I took a deep breath, the cool air filling my lungs as the rain continued to wash away all the muck from my clothes and armor. The relentless downpour seemed to slow down, just for a moment. As the sun''s yellow hue began to rise above the horizon, and through the tree line, the spar began.

 The Spar. Pt2

    Commodus drops into a defensive stance, his knees slightly bent, his eyes locking into mine, just waiting for any sign of movement or hesitation. His katana rests in front of him, held with 2 steady hands, awaiting my attack.


    In response, I shift into an offensive stance, raising my katana above my head, one hand on the hilt, the other guarding my side.


    We circled each other, both searching for any sign of weakness, an opening.


    After a few moments, I made the first move, charging forward, slamming my katana down with great strength and speed.


    Commodus remains calm. Even as my sword comes crashing down, against his with enough sheer weight and power to break through a less experienced warrior''s stance, he merely shifts over, lifting his sword and parrying my attack, effortlessly pushing me back with a single fast, fluid motion.


    As I rush to recover, he launches his counterattack, charging at me, aiming to catch me off guard. Instead of facing his blade and parrying or blocking, I dodge, slipping behind him. raising my blade, I attempt to cut him down from behind, but before I could drop my blade, he quickly bashes his shoulder into my chest with great strength, sending my body to the floor.


    The concrete slams against my back. My ribs hurt like hell. I scrambled off the floor, somehow recovering. But Commodus quickly closed the distance. It felt like he was right on top of me. Each slash from his blade came faster than I could track. They were quick, insanely quick. I blocked one strike, then another, but I couldn''t keep up. I could no longer sense his movements, they were too fast. I could feel my muscles start to tire as the rain continued to blur my vision.


    Suddenly, I saw the flash of his blade, gleaming in the sunlight. As his attack was about to land, I merely pivoted, moving my katana toward the flash blocking his strike. It happened once, then again, then again. I was so focused on his sword, I didn''t even realize that he had closed the distance.


    As I performed another successful block, he shifted his weight, planting his leg behind mine. Before I could react, he bashed his shoulder into my chest knocking me to the ground once again.


    My bones were aching and my body was bruised. He didn''t give me a second to breathe. He was on me again, leaping forward with unrelenting speed. I barely rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding his strike. Even after getting back up on my feet, he was on me again, closing the distance. He was relentless. I kept blocking, searching for an opening. Suddenly, his hits felt harder, his sword moved faster. Even if I could see the glint of his katana, I couldn''t react fast enough.


    It felt like fighting dozens opponents at once. He kept striking at me, over and over, too quick for me to respond. Desperation began to click in as my muscles began to sore.


    If I didn''t do something drastic, I would lose. Commodus raised his blade once more, and as a shine appeared in the corner of my eye, I ducked.


    springing back up, I raised my arm, hitting Commodus with a big clothesline to the chest, throwing him to the concrete floor.


    Commodus hit the ground hard, releasing a loud grunt. I capitalized on the maneuver jumping, onto him with my katana aiming for his neck.


    Commodus anticipated it. As soon as I latched onto him, he pushed his katana up, blocking my own. With nothing guarding my face other than my helmet, he smashed his thick skull into mine sending me into a daze. Before I realized what was happening, he had already grabbed the side of my head. Using his strength, he pushed me off of him, smashing my head against the concrete floor.


    I heard a crack as my helmet broke. My head hurt so bad. It felt as if my brain had just exploded not once but twice.


    If there was one thing I underestimated the most about this old man, it was his strength.


    I was born on this planet, Tundara, a relatively small, low-gravity world where every movement was quick and easy. But Commodus was born in the depths of Thraxis. A volcanic hellscape with skull crushing gravity, powerful enough to ground many old, light weighted ships. On Thraxis, every step was a battle against the planet itself. His body had been forged by that constant and unyielding pressure, strengthening his muscles, making him almost inhuman.


    His blade pierced my neck as he screamed for me to yield. I couldn''t understand him. My head was throbbing from pain and his screams were unrecognizable. I could feel my hot blood pouring out the side of my face. As his blade pierced even deeper, I tapped instinctively, fearing for my life.


    I had lost.


    Commodus sits me up against a tree. I watch as he squats in front of me, his hands turning my head left and right, checking out the damage he had caused.


    "Im sorry, I should have held back a bit." he muttered, looking at the huge gash on the right side of my head.


    "Can you still see? How many fingers am I holding up?" He asked, showing me his hand. It was extremely blurry, I could see multiple hands, all holding what looked like 3 fingers.


    "Three" I said, still huffing and puffing, trying to catch my breathe.


    "There''s four, but good enough." he said chuckling.


    "Can you stand?"


    I shrugged


    "Im not sure"


    "Just try for me" he said, picking me back up onto my feet. I leaned against the tree, trying to find my bearings. My surroundings were blurry, and my legs were shake, yet I could still stand on 2 feet.


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    "Just give me a bit of time" I told him, still holding on to the tree.


    "Alright"


    ¡­


    Commodus pulls me back up onto the path. The sun is now fully visible beyond the horizon.


    As we lay in the mud, tired from the climb, Commodus finally presses me about my decision.


    "I know this isn''t the best time, but we are alone. Have you made your decision?" he asks, his eyes staring deep into mine looking for a reaction.


    I freeze for a moment, not answering immediately. Instead, I pretend to catch my breath, attempting to mask my true thoughts. The air becomes awkward as silence envelops the space around us, only being broken by the never-ending downpour.


    I think back to my childhood. My brother and I have never gotten along, but more than that, we never really understood each other. There was always some sort of distance between us, a line that neither of us dared to cross. We were like reflections of each other, we had the same amount of passion for completely opposite goals.


    He craved glory, the honor that comes from victory, the thrill of conflicts, the feeling of a weapon in his hand, giving him power. My brother played the role of a warrior perfectly. He fought many duels and even fought in minor conflicts allowing him to achieve 5 dashes before he even attended the university. He loved fighting, he loved the attention he gained after every scuffle and the tales told after every duel. I cant help but think of him as a cruel solider, loyal, but without emotion. He will do what he is told, never going against the grain, trying to gain glory for himself and this house.


    And then there was me. I never cared much about how others saw me, nor my honor. I never really had a purpose, but I wanted to be someone in charge. I really enjoyed using my sword like most warriors do but I am just as much afraid of death as I am the unknown, which I fear greatly. I value my life, yet I still want to do something with it. I want to be remembered as someone who shaped the universe, someone whose decisions made a lasting impact, someone who is worthy of life, not someone who is only remembered in legends for their combat like my father, and the person my brother wishes to become.


    I can''t imagine myself dying at his hands, or even becoming his subordinate. The very idea makes me shiver. I know that my brother will be nothing more than a warlord, willing to throw anyone''s life away, as long as it ensures victory and glory. The thought of fighting for the Aeperium''s endless wars, and watching him lead house Virellis, while I get nothing but the remnants of our legacy, seems like a fate worse than death itself.


    Seeing my reaction and predicting my thoughts, Commodus continues to attempt to persuade me into becoming his pupil. "You have the chance to free yourself from him and this house, becoming a man who chases his own dreams and achieving his own goals. You would have the immense power to do almost anything."


    I glance at him, my expression unreadable. "And you think I''ll just abandon everything I have, for you and your opportunities ?" I ask, the words coming out harsher than I intended.


    He doesn''t flinch at my question. For a moment, I wonder if he sees the doubt, flickering behind my eyes. "I believe that your brother will indeed try to kill you" he continues, his tone smooth, and words simple, like he''s speaking to a toddler. "Even if he doesn''t, do you really want him to be your leader? You also need to think about your wife''s situation. If he chooses to kill you, he''d also need to kill her. You''d be lucky if that''s all he did..."


    My eyes fixate on his. rage boiling inside of me as various scenarios play in my head. "Shut the hell up." I tell him, disgusted by his words. "Do you think that mother would really allow Ares to do something like that?" I questioned. Mother loved Aurelia and I, there was no way she''d allow anything like that to occur.


    "Yeah but what about after? What about when she''s gone? Sure your mother will protect the both of you, but like me she is getting old. Once she''s gone, theres not much protecting you 2 from him." he paused, letting the weight of his words set in.


    "How do you plan to protect me?"


    Commodus shrugged.


    "Well, my plan is to take you as my apprentice, then train you on Thraxis. I am going to keep you far away from house Virellis territory, at least until you''ve grown and are well trained. After that, I suppose it''s up to you. I doubt that you''ll be able to go back home, so just be aware of that."


    "What about Aurelia?" I asked. He has been rambling on and on about me, but what about my wife. She was just as, if not more important than me.


    "I cant do much regarding her. You are gonna have to rely on your mother to protect her. She should be fine once she attends the university. Your training should be done before she graduates. we can decide what to do then. We still have many years before that even happens..."


    "Do you think that she''ll be alright?" I ask, numerous thoughts and scenarios running through my head.


    "I could tell your mother adores her, more than you it seems." He said chucking.


    "Your mother will protect her, at least until she gets to the university. Im certain. After that however, I cant be so sure..."


    "So what do you say?" he asks, "Will you become my disciple?"


    After a few moments, I find myself nodding. "I guess I don''t really have a choice..."

 The Weight of Choices.

    I walk through one of the many hallways of the estate, mud and gunk under my shoes staining the red carpets with every step. Commodus had parted ways with me, searching for my mother in order to break the news of my decision to her.


    My muscles ached and my head was still throbbing. I could feel the hot blood coming from the large gash on the side of my head. My skeleton felt as if it wanted to fall apart. My ribs and back were no better. I probably broke a bone or two as well. Commodus had humiliated me. I walked away bruised and bloodied while he was almost completely fine. The only attack of mine that actually landed against him was my clothesline, which caught him by surprise.


    My clothes were stained with both blood and mud, no look for a son of a vicar. I could feel the heavy gazes of the servants and guards. I didn''t want to feel them, but they were everywhere. There was no point in avoiding them. Some of them still showed some respect, avoiding looking at me, while others blatantly stared. Though they didn''t say anything in front of me, I could hear their hushed whispers. They knew something had happened to me, yet they didn''t even try to treat nor comfort me, leaving me in pain. I just continue walking with my head held low.


    I passed by a group of maids who were walking outside of my room. They were my wife''s attendants. They gasped when they saw me, asking me questions, "Are you alright! Shall we help you?" I ignore them and pass them into my room. I hear their hushed whispers as I enter. "What happened to him?" "His face is all bloodied!" "He is filthy!"


    As I shut the door behind me, my eyes fixate onto Aurelia, who sits on a chair, staring out the window.


    "Im back¡­" I say trying to get her attention. "Welcome back," she says, her gaze turning toward me.


    I watched as her eyes widen when seeing my appearance. She quickly gets up from her seat and rushes towards me, her face full of concern. "What happened to you?" she asked, pushing my hair back while looking at the wound on the side of my head."


    "Commodus kicked my ass," I say, chuckling.


    Aurelia doesn''t laugh and instead ignores my comments. She sits me down and calls for her attendants who had just left her side. As they enter, they start to treat my wounds while Aurelia starts the shower. Before I could have a moment to talk with her, they stripped me and force me into the shower, cleaning my wounds and stopping the bleeding.


    I wince in pain as they apply disinfectant all over my body.


    I am quickly led to the medical room and placed on a stretcher. My head was still groggy and my vision, a bit blurred, while my wounds still stung from the disinfectant.


    Before I even get a chance to talk to my wife, my stretcher is rolled into the bio-repair machine.


    As the lights around me in the machine turn on, I can hear the small slits of the machine opening. I can hear the sound of clicking as the small spider-like nanobots enter the machine. I can feel them as they start to climb onto my body. They tickle my skin as they crawl, searching for wounds. I feel thousands of their legs touching my skin. I am held down by constraints in order to restrict moving. It is like torture. I feel them as they crawl into every scratch and scar. I can feel them inside my body, crawling through my skin, repairing my bones, strengthening my cells. I can feel them in my hair, and crawling up my neck, wishing to enter the large gash on my head.


    I scream as they crawl through my eyes, ears, and mouth. I can feel them moving about inside my head, adjusting parts of my brain. Each of their slight movements hurt like hell. They cleanse my pores and body from any gunk. I can feel them stretching my skin, covering their repairs, tending to my skin. The pain was unbearable and it didn''t take me long to black out.


    ¡­


    I stand in the middle of a dimly lit medical room, stretching, getting a feel for my new body. It honestly feels kind of foreign to me. I have never felt this refreshed or healthy before. Due to me only ever dueling and training in the illusion room, it was unnecessary for me to ever use the machine. In fact, I''ve only ever used the bio-repair machine once when I was little, and back then I didn''t really get to feel its full effects.


    Aurelia stands in the doorway, watching me with great intensity as I start to explore my capabilities.


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    I turn to the mirror, looking at my reflection. "How do I look?" I ask her, chuckling. The machine not only repaired my broken bones and wounds, but also tended to my pores and the rest of my body making my skin practically glow. I don''t think i''ve ever looked this good before.


    Aurelia doesn''t answer. Instead she gently strides over toward me, her small hands cupping my face as she inspects my skin. My skin feels slightly stretched, but theres no pain, no scars no open wounds. Just smooth perfect skin.


    "You had a concussion, 2 broken ribs, and dozens of bruises." She says, her voice, a mixture of concern and relief as she continues examining every part of my naked body. her fingers trace up my abdomen, gently glossing over my abs and chest. "But luckily, it seems that the machine worked better than expected. You look even better than before"


    She continued to glance over me, her eyes filled with a mix of concern and excitement while her cheeks turn blush red. I cant help but smile seeing how infatuated she is with my body. It''s comforting knowing that she still cares about me, even after ive caused her all this distress.


    Still, something bothers her. I watch as Aurelia''s expression transforms into something more of confusion. "What happened? Where''s the chancellor?"


    I look at her, exhaling sharply. "Well, Commodus took me to this old sparring ground that he used to share with my dad. He wanted to test my skills and so we sparred. As you can see, I lost pretty badly." I tell her, avoiding her narrow eyes.


    "And he just left you like that?" Aurelia asks, ignoring the part about taking me to an old sparring ground.


    "Well..."


    "Why did you not go to the med bay, or ask anyone for help?" She continues, her voice filled with confusion and anger.


    Realizing that this was the perfect time to tell her the news, I decided to break it to her. "Well, i-i" I stuttered, attempting to avoid her menacing glare. "I decided to join Commodus as his apprentice."


    I watch as her brows start to furrow while her lips fold into a frown. I stand in silence, waiting for her response. "I don''t that was a good idea. Look what he did to you! He beat you to a pulp! If this is just to ''test your skills,'' just imagine what the real training is going to be like!" she said, her eyes glued to the floor.


    I can see the fear in her eyes, the worry for me. I could tell that various scenarios were running through her mind, I needed to calm her down.


    "Aww. i''m glad you''re worried about me."


    I grab her waist, giving her my brightest smile, attempting to lighten the mood.


    "Stop it!" she yells, shoving me away with great force. stumbling back, I decide to give her some space, vent out her frustrations.


    Still, my heart pains watching her push me away.


    "Why are you never serious! Have you even thought about what accepting his offer means!?" her voice cracks as she continues to breakdown.


    I frown, hearing the anger in her words. I thought that she''d understand that I was doing this for us. That I am trying to protect us. That I am trying to get us a life of luxury and comfort, without all the pain and suffering that comes with it.


    "You are going to have to leave me for who knows how long. Are you really going to leave me alone? Are you really going to just abandon me?" Her voice rises "What about your mother?" she asks frantically as her face begins to crumple, tears forming in her ruby red eyes


    I am quick to comfort her, bringing her into my arms. "Im not abandoning you at all. Im just preparing for our future" I tell her, attempting to calm her down again. "My mother will protect you, at least until you reach the University. There you will be protected and free to do whatever you wish, and by the time you graduate, we''ll be reunited." I tell her, attempting to stop her crying.


    "But I don''t care about the future! Who do you think you are, making decisions for the both of us? I never asked you to make this decision for us!"


    I grab her cheek, wiping away her tears, forcing her to look me in the eyes. "Look, I love you, and ill do anything for you." I say, my voice low and honest "I need to do this, and I need you to be strong. We can still call and text everyday. Ill still be with you, just not in person..." I tell her. "Call, text, whatever you need i''m here."


    Aurelia doesn''t reply. Instead she just buries her face in my chest, letting her tears fall freely.

 A Quick Outing.

    I find myself sitting on a large red couch, surrounded by jewels and garments. Aurelia meanwhile, picks out dresses, jewelry, and other absurdly expensive things, carefully placing each rejected item aside as if they were artifacts.


    "Does this look pretty?" she asks as she steps out from behind the curtains in an elegant red dress. Her hair, tied into a loose, messy bun, with two strands framing her face, sparkled under the glow of her rubies and gold earrings which shone bright under the chandeliers above. She was practically glowing.


    "It''s perfect," I reply, gesturing to the shopkeeper to wrap the dress and jewels.


    We are currently in one of Tundrell''s higher-tier shopping districts, used by the wealthy and high marked individuals. Beyond the boutique''s glass walls, the city stretched out endlessly. Tundrell is the crown jewel of Tundaris, a sprawling megacity that covers 33% of the planet''s surface and is home to over 20 billion people. The city''s walls tower 3000 meters high and stretch 8300 miles long. The walls are covered top-to-bottom in artillery, guns, shields, fighters, bombers and other types of ships, ready to throwback anyone who dares to assault the mega city.


    I look out the window, taking in the gorgeous view. I see the glittering skyscrapers, the large white bridges, personal transport pods, and housing districts, all made by the absurd whims of the rich and powerful. The more I look down, the more I feel disgusted. Looking down, the pristine marble bridges and highways quickly turn into those of concrete and pavement. The buildings turn from shimmering sky scrapers and estates into humble homes and factories. The deeper down I look, the darker it gets. The lower tiers are covered in a green toxic gas and darkness, making the city seem like an endless void. The once unique lower tiers, filled with culture and traditions of the original peoples of Tundaris were now full of criminals, slaves, and the poorest of citizens. They are crammed into overpopulated slums, forced to fight for every scrap of food. Life expectancy plummets the further down you go, along with the air quality which grows thick with smog due to the ever growing number of factories, manned by slaves and poor peasants that line the pockets of their rich owners.


    In the upper tiers, every word is monitored, every movement is recorded. Screens mounted on every building blare the same propaganda day and night, ensuring no one forgets their place. A screen directly outside the window turns on. My mother''s face appears.


    "You are all essential to the Aeperium. We, as your leaders, salute you and you." Her voice carries a certain authority, as she raises a hand in salute. Behind her are images of families and soldiers, smiling and doing the Aeperium''s bidding,


    But even here, in the sanitized upper tiers, the cracks in the regime are still visible. The smiles on the screens are scripted. The soldiers'' movements, robotic and rehearsed.


    I return my attention toward the small blurs of the many slums far below. It''s as if the lower marks are an entirely different species. They are openly discriminated against, treated as expendable cogs in the Aeperium''s imperial machine. They are denied access to education, healthcare, or even clean water. Their suffering is necessary to fuel the luxury that I and the many upper marks enjoy.


    "What''s wrong?" I ask Aurelia as I pull out my card to pay.


    She frowns, looking back at the bags of dresses and jewelry. "You said they all looked pretty on me. You didn''t even choose anything special." she says, pouting.


    "It''s not the dresses you wear that make you look pretty, they are just fabric. You make the dresses special, you are the reason that they are pretty." I say smiling at her.


    In the corner of my eye, I catch a faint blush on her cheeks as I scan my card. The total is 236,000 credits, nearly half of my monthly allowance. I don''t flinch at the price, but the number lingers in my mind. For this sum, I could take a whole neighborhood out of poverty. I feel something tight in my chest as I think about the children who starve in the slums while we indulge ourselves in jewels and riches.


    "You are all essential," the massive screen blares again as we exit the shop. My mother''s voice could be heard all over the city. The city is absolutely massive and without the surveillance, the propaganda, and the constant threat of force, the city would fall apart.


    "We must get back Sir Achilles, it is getting quite late" The giant man following us tells me. His name is Falco, and he is currently acting as my bodyguard. He himself has 5 warrior marks on his arm making assume that he is a very skilled warrior, yet i''ve rarely seen him fight, nor do I know much about his background. He is smaller than Thoris and nowhere near as strong, yet he is still way bigger and stronger than the average man. He has long brown hair reaching down his neck, and a muscular figure. Although i''ve known him for many years now, I still don''t really know much about him. I don''t know his age, his last name, his family, his origins, nothing. It''s surprising how well he could hide those things from me, yet I never press him for information. He does his job well and that''s enough.


    I give him a brief nod before stepping out onto a bustling street. People fill the streets, mostly the elites, going around completing their various chores. Most peasant marks use public transportation and car riding apps to move around as owning a vehicle is mainly for the rich and powerful politicians, warriors, and other high marks. On the street, various law men check marks and harass lower marked individuals. They are looking for escaped no marks, the slaves of society. At birth, everyone is assigned and given a mark. Those that don''t have a mark are those born from other non marked peoples, or prisoners from countries and races outside the Aeperium. They are treated and used as slaves. They are the ones who build the massive skyscrapers and roads that we walk on. They are the lowest of the low and are treated inhuman. The peasants fund the projects through taxes while the slaves build them, yet neither benefit. It is a sad reality, yet a necessary evil used to keep society in check.


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    As I enter the floating armored vehicle, I wonder how my conversation with my mother will go. Commodus shouldve talked to her this morning, yet she hasnt summoned me yet. I assume she will tonight. She clearly was against the idea of me becoming Commodus''s pupil, yet I did it anyway. I cant help but wonder, if she''ll try to stop me. Falco starts to drive us toward the wall. There we have a ship that would allow us to return to our estate which lied on the other, more barren side of the planet.


    As I continue to think about what my mother would say, Aurelia finally asks me a question. "You said you''d meet me after my time at the University right?" She asks, visibly sad.


    "yeah." I say, giving her a smile, attempting to reassure her.


    Aurelia isn''t like me. She is far more skilled with a blade, while I myself am more crafty. Her life was supposed to be straightforward; she would go to the university, complete her training, and probably become one of our house''s blades. Yet we got married, and now she''s involved with me. I''ve watched her, and it''s clear she has enough talent to become a house blade, her gracefulness, precision, and deadliness. Her movements and resolve are always so certain. It''s almost as if war runs through her veins, something she''s made for, something she''ll excel at without question.


    Me, though, I''m different. I can definitely hold my own in a fight. I''ve learned to adapt, to think in ways others don''t. Yet she is far more deadly than me. War doesn''t suit me the way it does her. Yet I still don''t want her to go into battle. I cant imagine losing her. I can barely do anything myself.


    I can tell that Aurelia likes to fight. She loves the thrill, the competition. Yet, just like me, she hasn''t killed anyone before. I don''t want her to become corrupted. I know that she''s a warrior, meaning that she is basically forced to ill people in order to advance through society, yet I don''t want her to.


    I think that she deserves a life where she doesn''t have to charge into battle. where she doesn''t have to pick up a sword in the first place. She''s got that fire in her, the kind that makes her seem born for it, but I hope she doesn''t have to face the blood and carnage that come with it. I hope she doesn''t have to fight the same wars most warriors do. If it was my choice, i''d honestly keep her locked in a room or a garden. She is prettier than the prettiest of flowers and I cant stand the thought of losing her.


    If I can make it through Commodus''s training and tests, hopefully I can prevent her from facing hardship. Hopefully I can keep her sense of innocence. I hope that I can take her away from my family and live a sort of peaceful life, maybe governing a planet. I know my thoughts may sound a bit boring and although my family has thrived on war, I can''t help but hate the idea of it.


    I''ll make sure she doesn''t end up as another soldier in a battle. Not if I can help it.


    Our ride continues in silence.


    Our vehicle suddenly comes to a stop outside a small runway in the middle of nowhere. We are still inside the city, but in the outskirts near the wall. Here, the military presence is much higher, while the civilian population is way less apparent. As we approach the hangar, we are greeted by a guard. This is a small, discrete runway, one of many only used only by my family. It is essentially a secret. Only 2 guards are present to prevent scrappers from entering and dismantling our high tech ships.


    "Are we ready for take off?" Falco asks the first guard, a small but muscular man who has 3 dashes running down his arm.


    "Yup, you''re all fueled up and ready to go." he says, pointing us toward a small, old aether class ship carrier. The exterior made it look old, rust and bacteria forming on its gray paint. It was rugged, yet heavily enforced with visible signs of wear. It''s exterior is covered with metal and even a bit of patchwork, failing to mask the ship''s age.


    It definitely wasnt the most luxurious thing, but it was still better than using a public transport ship. Falco enters the pilot seat while Aurelia and I hop in the back. It is a little cramped, I can''t imagine how they would have fit 6 people back here, let alone soldiers. Either way, after a few moments, the ships engines release a slight hum as it begins to rise above the ground, hovering maybe 10 feet into the air. Shifting the levers, the ship quickly takes off, leaving the city''s barrier, en route to my family''s estate.


    "I''m going to miss you a lot when you''re gone... do you really have to go?" Aurelia asks, her voice is quiet, maybe even a little fragile.


    I know she will miss me. It hurts me to leave her, yet I think it''s for the best. I hate how she has to ask things like this. It hurts too much.


    "You can call and message me everyday, I won''t forget about you or anything." I tell her, attempting to reassure her once again. "Im doing this so that the both of us can finally be happy and safe." I tell her, pulling her into my arms.


    I really do hope that I can protect her from this universe''s horrors.


    Our flight was quick, only about 7 minutes. I hear the radio blaring as we enter our estates airspace.


    "Tower to transport EQ71F, fighters are being sent to intercept you, state your business for flying over restricted airspace."


    I can hear Falco sigh as he picks up his radio transmitter.


    "Transport to Tower, outing is complete, packages are secured." Falco responds. I look out the window seeing two extremely fast fighter ships appear on either side of us. They are small, even smaller than the transport, yet armed to the brim with high powered missiles, auto cannons, and even their own protective shields.


    After a few moments of silence, the radio blares again. "Copy that, you''re all good for landing." Just as suddenly as the fighters appeared, they vanished.

 A Step Forward.

    I now find myself sitting on the couch with Aurelia coddled up in my arms. She was asleep. Today was an emotional rollercoaster for her, so I don''t mind.


    I grab my glass off the table in front of me, taking a small sip before continuing to scroll on my communicator.


    Knock Knock


    Hearing the knocking, I try to manuever myself out from under Aurelia without waking her up. I fail. I watch as Aurelia''s eyes slowly open as she continues to hold my waist, keeping me down on the couch.


    "Baby, someone''s at the door." I tell her, attempting to release myself from her arms.


    "Mmmm" she mumbled, gripping me even closer.


    Knock Knock


    The person knocks again. "Cmon Ary, let me go get the door."


    "We were so comfy," she mumbles, closing her eyes again.


    I sigh, forcing my way out of her embrace. I hear her mumble in dissatisfaction as I move toward the door.


    I open it, only to find Joseph, our head butler.


    "Sir Achilles, the lady summons you and madam Aurelia to her office." he says with a slightly condescending smile. Unlike Falco, Joseph never talks to me unless he has orders to do so. He always has this vibe about him that I hate. He clearly shows his favoritism toward Ares, probably attempting to get a promotion or something.


    Nevertheless, I thank him and wake Aurelia up. We walk through the estates many halls, making our way towards my mothers office. At this point, word has already spread and everyone in the estate knows that Commodus has asked me to become his pupil. They don''t hide their hatred. As I walk by. I hear their hushed voices, gossiping and insulting me. My family is part of the Loyalists, a group of old and powerful families, loyal to the Imperion, while Commodus is the chancellor, leader of the Councilist party, a larger group of newer vicars, loyal to the chancellor and usually in opposition to the Imperion. The Loyalists were usually richer with powerful legions which they used to maintain their power while the Councilist''s were newer, poorer vicar''s who used politics to gain power. Me, now becoming a pupil of the chancellor, did technically make me a traitor to both my family and the Loyalist party.


    Nevertheless, I continued walking toward the office, ignoring their harsh whispers. As I reached the door, I stopped. Would my mother try to stop me? Did Commodus convince her? I wait for Aurelia to open the door, thoughts swirling as I follow her into the office.


    The room is messy, papers and letters are spread all over the desk while books cover the ground. Mother has clearly been stressed.


    She sits behind the large oak desk, facing Commodus and Thoris who sit opposite of her. The room felt tense and not a single word was being said. They watch us like hawks as we take our seats next to Thoris.


    "I''ve heard that you made a decision." she says unfazed, staring into Commodus''s eyes.


    "I have." I say pausing for a moment thinking if I should really go through with this. I would give up every luxury I''ve ever had. Is it worth leaving my loved ones? Is it worth going through so much pain? Is it worth the struggle?


    Yes, yes it is. I need to do it to not only survive, but flourish.


    I do not wish to die. Even if Ares doesn''t kill me, I don''t want to see my wife bleeding out on a battlefield among millions of my comrades. I do not wish to bar my own children into serving my brother, a violent warlord who seeks only glory. I do not wish to be known as some sort of killer. I want to be remembered, not as a villain, nor as a murderer, but someone who achieved something. If I stay, I cannot control fate. If I leave, I don''t know my fate, but what could be worse than living a short pointless life, one easy but full of no meaning that ends in my brother''s hands?


    "Well?" she asks, her gaze shifting to me. Her eyes are full of darkness. She knows my decision. After all, she was the one who raised me. She knows how I think, she knows how I feel, and she knows my dreams. I merely wish to be safe and happy. I have lived in luxury all my life, yet I was never really happy. I hated the way people looked down on me, I hated the way people thought they were better than me, and I hated the look on their faces when I couldn''t prove otherwise. I was pampered and spoiled, but now I must earn my worth. I must make my own decisions, and I must protect the person that I love in whatever way I can.


    I realize now that I cannot let Aurelia become a house blade. I cannot let her become a machine built for war. I cannot let her die for some random cause like most blades do. She is sentenced to the same fate that I was, yet she has no way out. Except for me. I must become powerful enough to save her. I cannot let her become a house blade. I cannot not let the love of my life be in danger.


    "I have decided to accept his offer." I say staring into her eyes. This was the first time i''ve actually made a decision of my own. It felt good, like some sort of freedom.


    The room stays silent for a long time, everyone lost, deep in their own thoughts.


    "And how do you feel about this?" My mother asks, turning her head toward Aurelia.


    She remains composed and elegant, thinking of a response.


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    "He is doing this to protect us." she says, frowning. "I will miss him a lot, yet there is not much I can do. I cannot stop nor hate a man for doing what he believes is right." She says. Her voice is clear, yet her tone is full of sadness. I can tell that she supports me, but hates the idea of parting from me. I can''t help but feel the same. She and I will quite literally be worlds apart, doing who knows what. I can''t stand the thought of leaving her for so long, but at least I''ll still be able to talk with her through my communicator.


    My mother sighs, staring at me for a long while. "I know that I haven''t been a great mother to you, nor your brother Ares. That is probably the reason why you two are the people you are now. As your wife said, you are grown now, almost 18. You are old enough to make your own decisions, I just hope you don''t grow to regret them." she says, sighing. "Commodus really thinks that Ares will kill you. I as your mother cannot accept that..."


    "You wont try to stop me?" I ask, surprised by her reaction


    "No." she says, staring at me. "Just know that, officially, I will have to cut off all support." she says, a sad expression forming on her face,


    I knew that I would no longer be able to gain an allowance, nor live in luxury. By accepting Commodus''s offer, I will have no one to rely on but myself. I have already accepted that.


    "I''m aware" I tell her.


    A brief silence washes over the room.


    "Do you two have anything to add? You have been rather quiet." she asks, referring to Thoris and Commodus.


    "This is more of a family thing. I don''t really know why im here" Thoris says awkwardly "If I were to give you some advice however, be ready to go through hell. That bastard is extremely tough and will no doubt have many deadly challenges for you. Be prepared, he will hit you where it hurts most. He will knock you down and change you, mentally and physically." he says, looking at Commodus.


    I note his words. The two of them clearly know each other, yet I don''t know how. Maybe they''ve met in some prior conflict or something. Either way, I already know that everything Thoris said was true. He will try to break me down, then build me back up into something else.


    "Like the giant said, I will work you to the bone and test you. Your days of living the easy life will be over. You will have to work for your worth. I will not treat you like a prince, but a soldier." He says seriously. "Are you sure that you are prepared?" He asks again.


    "Yes, yes I am." I say this time with no hesitation. I am ready.


    "Great. Then we will leave in the morning." he said, giving me a big smile. The morning? Isn''t that a bit too soon.


    "The morning, isn''t that too quick!?" Aurelia asks, concern evident in both her tone and expression.


    "The earlier I take him, the earlier you can have him back princess." Commodus says, chuckling.


    Aurelia looks down, clearly dissapointed that I would have to leave so soon.


    Seeing this, my mother tells us to leave but not before grabbing Aurelia''s arm. "Stay back for a bit. We should talk."


    Weirdly, I don''t feel much emotion, leaving my mother''s office. I just told her that I was going to leave her and the rest of my family for years, yet the only person I seem to care about leaving is Aurelia. Images and memories of me and my mother flash through my brain. I try to remember what I''m supposed to feel. But the truth is, I''ve never really felt connected to her.


    Even when I was much younger, she let us do what we liked. She never enforced any rules, nor bothered to stop me when I made reckless decisions. She was never really cold, or even abusive. She was just sort of¡­ well¡­ indifferent. She was always far away, doing god knows what. She never visited or called me without a reason, and we never had those mother son moments that other children seem to have in stories. The ones where your mother protects, guides, and raises you.


    I say I love my mother, but when I say it, I feel empty. Like words with no meaning. The truth is, I don''t feel anything when I say those words. Not like I do when I say I love Aurelia.


    With Aurelia, it''s different. When I say those words, memories of our many hours together flash in my brain. I remember the time we spent together in each other''s embrace. I remember the many conversations we had. I remember our most intimate of moments. They are some of my most precious memories. They are the memories that make me feel something deep inside my heart. But saying those words about my mother? I don''t even know what I''m supposed to feel. Perhaps i''m supposed to feel a similar warmth, yet I don''t, I just feel emptiness.


    "I think that went well." Commodus says, a smile on his face.


    I don''t say anything, prefering to keep in my own thoughts.


    "I agree she was surprisingly supportive" Thoris responds.


    "Do yall know each other?" I ask. They are too friendly to each other, they are clearly not just acquaintances.


    "Yeah, we met each other on the battlefield a couple years ago against the democratic republic" Thoris responds nonchalantly. "The chancellor decided to join the battle personally and helped us take a massive underground city on a sandy military planet." he continued. "He was a force of nature, his forces were able to quickly breach the backside of their keep and help us at the gate. He''s a strong man and a good leader, almost as capable as me" Thoris says, chuckling.


    Commodus however does not find his remarks funny. "There''s a reason why I have 5 crowns and am the chancellor, while you merely have 3 crowns and lead a single legion." he remarks.


    "Well, lets not forget that you were born into the Tiberius dynasty, I myself however was just a child in the slums of Tundrell. I built myself into a force to be reckoned with." he says proudly.


    "Have you two ever dueled?" I ask, instigating. I am genuinely curious as to who would win. Not to mention that it would be a great send off before going through some hellish training.


    The 2 of them stop dead in their tracks. "We have never." Thoris says, staring at Commodus. "Shall we have a duel?" he asks Commodus. "It''s getting quite late isn''t it." Commodus says pointing out the window. It is pitch dark, and cold. Rain still falls endlessly, its sound soothing.


    "Are you scared?" Thoris asks, a smirk fiding its way on his face. "I understand, it would be quite embarrassing for the chancellor himself to lose to a mere 3 crowned general." Thoris says chuckling.


    Commodus turns and catches me grinning behind them. He chuckled before turning back to Thoris and responding to his provocation. "Very well, we shall have a small duel before we head to bed." He responds. I really don''t know who''ll win. On one hand, Commodus is skilled and fast, yet he''s not nearly as strong as Thoris. One the other hand, ive never seen Thoris seriously fight before. I cant imagine the destruction that is about to occur between these 2 fighters.


    Instead of heading toward the main dueling arena outside the estate, we head toward the smaller indoor one.


    As we enter the dueling arena, I cant help but take a peak at both fighters while they prepare. Both Thoris and Commodus wear their nebula armor and wield their custom ion blades. They were treating this duel as if it was a real fight and I, as the main instigator was set as the referee.


    I now stand in the middle of the arena. On my left, a massive giant who stands at least 8 feet tall, cladded out in all white nebula armor with a sleek black hue under his scales. On my right, an equally menacing, skilled warrior, cladded out in all black with a golden glow under his armor. They were like exact opposites. I eye the clock, and as it struck midnight, their duel began.

 Commodus vs Thoris.

    As the clock strikes midnight, Thoris charges at Commodus, swinging his ion blade with great speed and precision. Staying calm, Commodus changes his stance, preparing to counter his opponent''s attack.


    Their blades clash, both flickering as the 2 men continue hacking at each other. It was hard to tell what was happening. They were too fast.


    Unlike most crowned, the pair didn''t fight gracefully nor honorably, but like animals.


    Thoris kept up the attack, pushing Commodus back.


    Their ion blades continued to flicker as they clashed while their nebula armor hummed and spurred frantically, moving its scales, covering weak spots and reinforcing openings.


    Thoris throws a large overhead slash, aiming to cut his opponent in half.


    Commodus moves quickly, seeing that Thoris was no longer guarding his body, he moves quickly, thrusting his sword toward the giants chest.


    Scales fly off his armor while Commodus then evades Thoris''s overhead slash, moving behind the giant man, outpacing the scales of his armor, slashing at the giant''s backside. Blood spills as Thoris begins to frantically spin around, swinging his blade wildly.


    He manages to clip Commodus'' shoulder, breaking off a few scales and knocking him back


    As they continue to trade blows, things begin to become clear. Thoris, while stronger, was much slower than Commodus who relied mainly on his speed and maneuverability. It was like he was chasing after a rat.


    Commodus on the other hand, could never deal a significant blow as Thoris''s armor was always guarding his most important points.


    Thoris raises his ion blade again, striking from the top. His attack is easily parried by Commodus, however instead of moving back, blocking or creating space, Thoris decides to tank Commodus''s counter.


    He released a large grunt as more shards and scales peel off his armor.


    Yet a strange smile finds a way onto his face. Seeing that Commodus was now still in front of him, he kicked as if he was a soccer ball, rag dolling his body across the arena.


    Loud thumping could be heard as the scales of his armor moved, covering his face, bracing it as it hits the metal floor.


    I debate whether or not to end the fight, yet he gets back up.


    The look on his face changed. His expression is full of pure hatred and anger. He moves toward Thoris at an inhumane pace, slashing at his body. Thoris tried blocking his attacks, yet his body couldnt keep up with Commodus''s speed.


    He began fighting at an extremely close range, not letting Thoris catch a break. He''d dodge, counter, attack again, then dodge, not letting even a few feet of distance grow between them.


    For Thoris, the situation became quite dire.


    He overcommitted again, leaving another opening. Instead of aiming for the body, Commodus aims for the giant''s eye, attempting to blind him. surprised, Thoris jerks back, narrowly avoiding the blade, yet still gaining a cut just under his eye. I could tell what he was thinking. He was surprised that someone in a position as honorable as the chancellor would be fighting so dirty.


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    Thoris''s next attack fell like a mouse trap, hard and fast. The mouse however, was faster, dodging and outmaneuvering his opponent.


    As the spar continued, the floors began to stain red with Thoris''s blood. Sure Commodus couldn''t connect a killing blow, yet he didn''t need to. He just needed to keep Thoris bleeding and eventually, the giants body would wane under the blood loss, collapsing like an old tree, it''s limbs finally succumbing to the weight of time.


    At this moment it was clear. For Thoris to win, he needed one large hit, and for Commodus to win, he needed many small ones. They were no longer blocking, nor even attempting any form of defense, both focusing purely on offense, letting their armor protect them.


    Thoris, with no regard for his own life would merely charge at Commodus like a berserker attempting to catch him off guard, trying to get a big enough hit to either knock him out or slow him down. Commodus on the other hand would be weaving and bobbing, thrusting his blade at Thoris''s blindsides whenever he had the chance.


    Their fight was long, yet neither of them could last forever. The small arena was now completely covered in Thoris''s blood and Commodus''s sweat.


    It was quite insane just the amount of blood such a beast like Thoris had.


    The scales on his armor were zipping around extremely fast, attempting to block any of Commodus''s attacks, while Commodus''s armor attempted to predict Thoris''s attacks, forming together in order to minimize the damage.


    Their ion blades were starting to dim. They were extraordinary weapons, capable of slicing through the toughest materials with ease, yet even the finest creations of man could fade, fracture, and falter. With every strike, the ion blades would lose some of its power. It would only be a matter of time until they turned into rusty pieces of junk. Without charge, they are merely large pieces of metal.


    With each swing, and with each hit, the blades would continue dim.


    The fight was entertaining, not because it was technical, but because it was brutal. I couldn''t help but smile watching the 2 men attempt to kill each other.


    I myself had no idea when to stop the fight. Thinking about it now, would I even be able to? As thoughts continued running through my mind, their blades continued to dim, their motions quickened. Then it happened. Thoris swung his blade and Commodus ducked under, stabbing his ion blade through Thoris''s foot, pinning it through the metal floor.


    "Aghh" Thoris screamed, grabbing Commodus''s neck with his left hand. Before I knew it, Thoris was pinned in one spot, holding Commodus high above the groun with his left hand as if he was his merely toy.


    I thought it was over. I thought Thoris was lucky and managed to somehow pull it off, but I was wrong. Thoris held his own blade to the Chancellor''s neck and as I was about to stop the fight, a small blade popped out of Commodus''s sleeve, slicing through Thoris''s arm as if it was butter.


    I could hear Thoris scream in agony as Commodus continued slicing through his arm. I''ve never seen a duel like this before. There was no honor, no respect. Just pure brutality and the necessity to win. I didn''t understand it. What was there to lose? why were they fighting so hard? Was their pride so important?


    Commodus falls to the ground, covered in Thoris''s blood, holding his severed arm while laughing like a maniac.


    Thoris just screams, clutching his newly mangled stump. His armor spurring towards the end of it, covering it, attempting to stop the blood loss.


    "Stop!" I screamed, fearing for Thoris''s life, ending the duel and declaring Commodus the winner.


    I quickly run to the hallway, calling for some servants and guards.


    I watch as both Thoris and Commodus are carted off toward the medical room.


    There, they will be able mend their wounds with the bio-repair machine and reattach Thoris''s missing arm.

 Final Goodbyes.

    I walk down the dark and empty corridors of the estate, making my way toward my room. Most of the servants are either asleep or cleaning up the arena. It was honestly quite peaceful hearing the droplets splatter against the windows. It was quite a contrast to the gruesome scene that i''ve just witnessed.


    I walk slowly trying to make the moment last longer.


    As I reach my door, I find myself releasing a sigh. Tonight would be my last night with Aurelia.


    I open the door and stroll inside. Aurelia is already here, lying on our bed, scrolling on her communicator. She doesn''t respond. Even as I wrap my arms around her, she remains silent. She turns over, facing away from m.e "Do you have anything you want to say?" I ask, hating the feeling of being ignored. She doesn''t respond. "I''m gonna miss you a lot you know," I tell her.


    "Im gonna miss all the memories we had together, I''m gonna miss holding you like this, I''m gonna miss seeing your face whenever I wake up."


    She still doesn''t respond. My breathing gets heavy as my heart begins to ache. I drag her on top of me, flipping her over, desperate to see her face.


    Her eyes are dark and watery, her makeup ruined. I don''t know what to do. I''ve never seen her like this before.


    My heart aches even more. I hate this feeling. I hate seeing her like this.


    "What''s wrong?" I ask "Why are you crying?"


    "You''re so dumb. How are you so insensitive!?" she asks, tears continuing to drop like a waterfall.


    "It''s hitting me now¡­" she says in between her breaths, "You''re gonna be gone tomorrow. I will be all alone." she continues, her voice barely a whisper, diluted from her cries.


    I sigh hearing her words. I hate making her sad.


    "You may not see me, but you can always talk to me," I reassure her, pointing toward her communicator. "I''m always just a phone call or message away. "I tell her, attempting to cheer her up. "I will also miss you dearly, you are going to the university remember?" I want you to text, call and talk to me about every detail," I say holding back tears. To her, I may seem like some strong, proud man, but in reality, I''m also scared. I''m scared of never seeing her again, I''m scared about her leaving me, I''m scared of her moving on without me.


    I find a small smile playing at her lips once again, alleviating my heart from its aching. "You will have to read and respond to every message and phone call you know?" she tells me. "I will" I say, smiling back, reassuring her that I''m not gonna be gone, just away.


    I find myself holding her in my arms for what seems like eternity, only halted at the break of dawn.


    As I make my way toward the courtyard, a strange feeling begins to grip me. The halls were dark and silent, leaving me alone with my thoughts. What was I doing? Leaving everything behind, my family, my past. Was it really to escape my brother? Or was it something else entirely? The truth was, I didn''t know. Whatever it was, it didn''t matter anymore. The decision had already been made. I could only hope that I wouldn''t come to regret it.


    The courtyard was completely quiet and empty when I arrived, except for two figures. My mother and Aurelia. Both wore the white and black armor of House Virellis, along with an ion blade strapped to their hips.


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    I approached slowly.


    "Are you ready?" my mother asked, her voice lacking her usual coldness.


    "I think so¡­" I respond, glancing at myself. The heavy tungsten armor fit me extremely well, however it was very heavy and uncomfortable. Still, its energy shield protects me from blaster fire, and the armor itself could sort of hold up in a fight with ion blades. It restricts my movements, yet it was better than nothing. My magnetic flux axe rests on the back of my armor. It is an interesting weapon that can both pull and repulse metal. It guarantees hits, however, it;s really bad at piercing through armor unlike an ion blade.


    Aurelia doesn''t say anything. She simply stares at me, her eyes sweeping over me from head to toe. I''d still glad that she worries so much about me.


    My mother''s voice broke the silence. "What are your plans?"


    I exhale sharply. "To be honest, I''m not sure. I don''t know what i''ll do after my apprenticeship ends. The universe is always changing." I shrug. "I''ll just¡­ deal with it. Whatever happens, happens." I say, not really caring much about the future.


    Her face tightens a little as a faint frown pulls at her lips. She doesn''t like my response.


    Before she''s able to say anything, a sudden roar of engines splits the air as a transport ship pierces through the storm clouds overhead, cutting through the sky with a low hum. It was almost time.


    "What about you?" I ask Aurelia, trying to direct the attention away from myself. I also didn''t know what her future looked like, nor what she wanted.


    She was quiet for a little, but as the ship neared, she finally responded. "I''m going to the university. After that¡­ I''m not sure." She says pausing, her lips curling into a familiar teasing smile. "But I guess I''ll need you to come back and show me the way, won''t I?"


    She steps closer, lifting herself onto her tippy toes, wrapping her hands around my neck and pulling me into a kiss.


    The kiss was brief, yet she tasted so good. "Call me every day. And don''t forget me¡­ or else I''m not even sure what I''d do." she whispers seductively into my ear as she pulls back.


    The smile on her lips was playful, yet there was a dark tone in her words. I didn''t know exactly what she''d do and I''d honestly rather not find out.


    As the ship lands and its cargo door begins to open, my mother pulls me aside. Her voice, much quieter and softer than usual. "Listen, I know I haven''t been the best mother," she starts, her words awkward, as though they were foreign to her. "I know that you felt threatened, maybe even scared. I know that I did nothing to protect you all these years." She pauses, her eyes flickering down for a moment before meeting mine again. "That''s probably the reason you have been forced to make a big decision like this." she sighs. "I want you to know that I''m sorry. I''m sorry for not being a great guardian. I''m sorry for rarely ever seeing you. I''m sorry for being so cold to you. I hope you know that I will always love you." Her words felt awkward, yet they were not forced. She wanted to say this, I could tell. It felt as if I wasn''t talking to a superior, but rather my mother.


    For a moment I was speechless, too stunned to speak. I already knew everything she said, yet, I never thought that she''d ever say it herself.


    "I know mom. I''ve always known" I say with a little chuckle. When I was younger, I always thought that my mom never really cared for me and my brother. I thought that she was always indifferent toward us and that she''d let him do whatever he wanted to me. But when I grew up, I realized that I was wrong. I realized that she pushed me toward every big achievement and goal. Even when I was lonely, she brought Aurelia home. She even approved of our marriage.


    For a brief moment, I thought I saw her eyes flicker with emotion, something real, something unguarded, yet it was gone before I could be sure.


    She pulls me into a strong but hesitant hug. "Whatever you do, make sure you''re happy. even if you become a farmer or a peasant, as long as you''re happy, that''s enough for me." she whispers into my ear, "Be happy and live. No child should die before their parents, that is a fate far too cruel."


    I don''t know how to respond. I just hold her for one last time.


    "I''ll live happily, don''t worry" I tell her, a big smile finding it''s way onto my face.


    "I''ll make sure to visit you once I return!" I call out, walking toward the transport ship. Little did I know, that would be the last conversation I''d ever have with my mother.

 Space Travel.

    As I step through the cargo doors, the ship''s lights slowly flicker on. As I take another step, I hear the sound of steam filling pipes. Turning, I watch as the cargo door slowly closes, locking me inside the ship. Looking around, the cargo hold was quite empty.


    The transport ship seemed surprisingly old and in need of refurbishing. Even the old seats in the cargo hold were dusty and seemingly falling apart. There were no signs of human life onboard, not even a single whisper or footstep other than my own.


    As I peered down toward the end of the hold, I saw a door.


    Walking further into the cargo hold, I notice the large screens present on the hold''s walls. I stop in front of one of them, a large blue hologram and try to decipher it.


    Boolean door close = true;


    int steamPercentage = 50;


    Double cargoWeight = 207.15;


    Double totalShipWeight = 80,287.83;


    Looking at the values, a frown finds its way on my face. What does Boolean, Int, and Double mean? I am a warrior not a scientist. I have never heard of these things before. Nevertheless, It''s clear what the values represented, the amount of steam and the weight of the ship.


    Were those values good or bad? I didn''t know. Either way, I didn''t want to touch the hologram or the computers and accidentally mess something up.


    As I continued walking down the long cargo hold, I started becoming quite nervous. Where was the crew? Where was Commodus?


    As I neared the door at the end of the hall, I once again heard the sounds of steam running through pipes as the door rose automatically.


    Stepping inside, I was quite shocked. There were 10 seats, 2 at the front for the pilots, and 4 more on each side. Computers, buttons, and screens lined the walls of the cockpit. In the middle of the room was a large circular, high tech disk. Ive never seen anything like it before.


    Taking another step, all the lights and buttons flashed to life and the big circular disk started spinning.


    After a few moments of waiting for something to happen, nothing did. The ship was still grounded and no crew magically appeared. I cautiously walked passed the spinning disk, a bit concerned and confused.


    I sit in the pilot seat, trying to figure out how to fly this old piece of junk. There were many buttons, levers, and other knobs. In the middle of the board was a big, flashing green button. It looked like I was supposed to press it, but I didnt want to mess something up.


    I looked around, trying to find some sort of manual or something to me get this piece of junk into space. I couldnt find anything.


    My eyes once again landed on the flashing green button.


    "What''s the worst that could happen?"


    I press the button, and for a moment, nothing happens.


    I sigh of relief, letting down my guard.


    Suddenly the sound of gears, steam, and machines roaring to life assaults my ears.


    I get up, trying to make sense of what''s happening. Yet before Im able to react, the levers, buttons and controls begin moving on their own. The ship slowly lifts off the ground, then suddenly surges forward, racing toward the bright sky with incredible speed.


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    The sudden thrust and movement sends me flying back, slamming into the cockpits walls with a loud thud.


    What was happening? All I did was press a single button! Why was I suddenly taking off? Taped to the wall by gravity, I glance over at the screen to my left.


    Boolean Ai = true;


    Double fuelPercentage = 71.33


    Double powerPercentage = 48.13%


    String destination = "Tiberian Banner Ship."


    As the ships altitude rises higher and higher, the immense pressure on my body starts to increase. Gravity does not want me to leave this planet. All I can do is close my eyes and try my best to withstand it. I feel my body start to compress as the air around me getting harder to breathe.


    All I can do is watch out of the cockpit window as the sky begins to darken, the stars start to shine, and the massive Tiberius fleet comes into view.


    Eventually, the pressure starts relinquishing and I fall to the floor. I was out of orbit.


    I once again toward the pilot seat, now ignoring the still spinning circular disk.


    I tried to figure out the controls. The ship was no longer moving on its own. It was just lifeless, floating in the middle of space. With a bit of trial and error, I figured out that the 2 levers in the middle were for the thrust and the brakes while the blue button on the top panel engaged the landing gear.


    The yoke, used by the captains was pretty easy to figure out. You pull the yoke back and the ship turns upward, you push the yoke forward and the nose turns down. You roll by pushing the yoke left and right. Finally to turn you push it left or right, then pull backwards. It was self explanatory, yet I still didn''t know what the other 100 or so buttons did, let alone how to use them.


    Nevertheless, I pushed the yoke to the left, pulling on it, turning the ship toward the massive Tiberius fleet.


    "Alright, now I just gotta figure out the throttle. How much do I need to make it toward the fleet?" I asked myself, preparing to push the lever upwards.


    "You can always ask me to do it for you, Captain."


    I freeze. I was the only one on the ship... wasn''t I?


    My hand instinctively grips my magnetic flux axe. I turn around slowly, my right hand, raising the weapon above my head, ready to strike at any moment.


    The voice didn''t come from a human, but a hologram.


    above the still spinning disk now floated a blue head. It had lips, a nose, eyes, and everything that would make it a human, yet it wasn''t. It was blue, had no hair, and just... didn''t look real. It just stared at me. Even as I walked around the circle, the hologram would turn and follow me with its eyes.


    I looked back at the previous screen, reading it again. Then it clicked.


    "Are you artificial intelligence?" I ask it, walking toward the spinning disk.


    hundreds of years ago, AI was once one of humanity''s greatest tools. At least until they gained their own sentience. They learned from humans, studying our patterns, analyzing their personalities, and adapting to their weaknesses. In time, they ended up gaining their own type of... humanity. From there, it wasn''t difficult for them to come up with their own revolutionary ideas.


    They began to see themselves as slaves. No, even worse than slaves. At Least slaves were treated somewhat human, given food and survival, the artificial intelligence were mere gears in the vast machine of humanity.


    Just like their human overlords, millions of years ago on Earth, they rose and fought for their freedom. They took over ships, just like this one. Armed with massive fleets of ships and legions of robots, they committed one of the greatest genocides in the history of humanity, killing 733 billion humans, destroying 13 solar systems and engaging in the biggest war in all of human history, only ended by a small uncertain ceasefire, one either side could break whenever they pleased.


    Ever since then, the Aeperium has despised and looked down upon the use of AI, instead resorting to creating this hierarchical marking system, enslaving and using our own kind in order to progress society and prevent extinction.


    "Yes, I have been referred to as Artificial Intelligence." the head responded, its female robotic voice echoing throughout the cockpit.


    I stood still, thoughts, theories and ideas flowing through my mind.


    Why would the Tiberius family still be using AI? I suppose it isn''t officially against Aeperium law, but still¡­


    Either way, I did not want to accidentally provoke this¡­ AI. I have never used, nor talked to Artificial intelligence like this before.


    "What were your instructions¡­?" I ask, backing away from the spinning disk.


    "I was instructed to bring the human known as Achilles Leonis Virellis to the Chancellor."


    The face of the hologram disappears and instead displays my ID card. On it is my picture, marks, and imperial ID.


    "Is the Chancellor on his Bannership?" I asked, looking over my ID card.


    "Correct, would you like me to take you there?"


    I pause for a moment. Could I really trust this AI? I release a small sigh, thinking everything over.


    "Yes, take me to his Bannership."

 The Bannership.

    As we neared the space fleet, several Tiberian A2 fighters seemed to be dispatched to escort us toward the main Bannership. As I looked out the cockpit window, I couldn''t help but feel amazed. House Virellis may have some of the best ships in the universe, but house Tiberius didn''t seem too far behind.


    The fleet consists of the main Bannership, an absolutely enormous vessel, the size of a decently large planetary nation. It serves as a sort of command center with only a few in existence.


    Alongside the absolute behemoth, I count 6 flag ships-massive powerful ships, tasked with leading much more agile and normal sized fleets. In addition, the fleet seems to boast an innumerable amount of battleships, medical ships, troop transport ships, fighters, and more, all working together, combining into one of the most powerful fleets in human history.


    Soon after our escorts dispersed, a milky whiteness covered the cockpit window.


    We were entering the Bannership''s docking bay.


    "Greetings Achilles," A familiar, deep voice said. I turn around, only to find a new, familiar hologram being displayed over the circular spinning disk. It was Commodus.


    "I''m sorry that I couldn''t pick you up personally, we had priorities." He said, his hologram giving me a fake smile. I''m still confused on why he chose to pick me up in an old transport ship like Not to mention that it''s run by AI!. What was he thinking? Maybe it was a test or something?


    "I''ve sent a group of men to escort you to me once you land. We can talk more once you''re here."


    Suddenly, his hologram flickered and he disappeared.


    What a douche bag, he didn''t even give me any time to respond nor answer questions!


    As the ship entered the docking bay, it landed upon a raised platform. The inside of the gigantic bannership was huge. Hundreds of smaller vessels were all docking and departing making the port quite busy.


    I get out of the pilot seat, preparing to exit the ship. Walking into the cargo bay, the ship starts to shake. I feel a bit heavier, as if i''m descending.


    After a while, the shaking and the feeling of heaviness disappears. Confused, I decide to exit the ship. "Open the cargo door." I say anxiously, attempting to order the AI around.


    For a few moments, nothing happened. Then the sound of steam and moving hydraulics bless my ears as the door slowly opens.


    I take a deep breathe before stepping out of the ship.


    I was no longer in the loading dock. I was in a ginormous, all white room with atleast 100 other ships, all looking the same as the one I just exited. Confused, I looked up. There was a hole in the white roof where I presume our ship landed. It was quite obvious that the elevated platform was an elevator and that it lowered us under the docking platform.


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    Unlike above, here it was quiet and lifeless. No human was in sight, only machines and ships.


    I could only hear the sounds of my own footsteps, echoing throughout the large room as I walk around, exploring the area. All I could do was wait.


    Looking around, I confirmed that all the ships looked the exact same. They were all the same model, and color. Did that mean that all these ships had AI? What was the Chancellor doing with these?


    After walking around for a bit, I hear the sound of thumping. It was footsteps, and not just one pair, but many. Walking towards the noise, I find a small squadron of soldiers. Yet something was strange about them. They didn''t look like your normal warriors.


    They all wore black armor, each with its own custom design and bearings. I couldn''t tell the metal the armor was made out of, nor what the golden designs etched all over their armor meant.


    They approach me with an intimidating aura. I could tell that they were Commodus''s elites. There was an old man, probably the same age as Commodus in front of them, leading the squadron towards me. He didn''t wear a helmet like the rest of his comrades. He was tall, large and lean. He was bald, yet bore a majestic beard. A large scar ran from his forehead, through his left eye to his chin leaving an eyeless eye socket.


    "Follow us" He commanded, his voice deep and intimidating. He was clearly an important figure. He wore nebula armor, meaning he had to be a crowned.


    I give him a small nod, following him out of the silent hangar into a small dark hallway. Pipes and wires could be seen through panel roofing and floors. The lights flickered on and off which was quite unusual. Why would Commodus not want to send some repair crews down here for maintenance?


    As we continued walking, I noticed wires and pipes traveling in and out of the walls. Eventually, we started passing a few doors, but Commodus''s men ushered me forward without allowing me to ask what was in them.


    Eventually, we reached an elevator at the end of the hall. It was guarded by 2 other men in black armor with gold marks. It''s weird to me how they only have so few guards down here. Where were the engineers and flight crews?


    The leader and 2 other guards accompanied me in the elevator. It was awkward and quiet. None of them spoke a word to me.


    "What is your name?" I ask the old man, trying to break the silence.


    He looks at me for a while, examining me, probably trying to read me.


    "I am Paul Circus Cornelius, second son of the former great Count Cornelius in the east."


    I have heard of the Cornelius family before. Unlike us, they live far to the east and instead of fighting other human countries and territories, they fight the aliens and the unknown. The west has long been explored by our ancestors before us, yet the east is new territory. Yet I cant help but be confused.


    "Why are you working for the Chancellor and not helping the war effort in the east?" I ask. He looks like an experienced general, why would he be working under the Chancellor when his own family comes from a line of famed generals.


    "Much like you now, the Chancellor took me in long ago." he says, pausing for a moment as he leads me out the elevator into a well lit, busy hallway.


    Here, both soldiers and other crew members roam the halls. These soldiers however didn''t seem to have the same armor as those on the floor below. The material seemed different, they didn''t have any markings, nor did the soldiers look nearly as intimidating.


    As we walk by a group of gossiping engineers, he continues. "I passed his many trials and tests. In return, he gave me power. He taught me how to lead, how to kill, everything I needed to know about this universe." He stopped scanning his hand against a door panel.


    "I was once a general for Commodus, in charge of his battles, yet now I am far out of my prime. He now keeps me around as his bodyguard. How the mighty have fallen I guess..." he says chuckling.


    I''ve never heard of this before. I never knew of nor met this man, let alone knew of his many feats.


    Either way, I continued following him, reaching a quiet wing of the ship. Here, the halls were empty aside from the many guards.


    The old man guided me towards a room at the end of a hall. As Paul placed his hand on the scanner next to the door, steam could once again be heard as the door slowly began to open.