George POV

Standing in an open field with a handful of other kids the same age as me. We all wanted to learn more in the art of combat so here we were with a farmer who was a veteran. Out of respect, we call the man instructor Trillian.

The air was filled with dirt as we had just finished a set of training, and the sun was also setting giving a dimly lit light that was slowly going down. Sweat drenched my face and my shirt which felt like it was tossed into the ocean.

“Okay, everyone! That will be the end of today's training, get home safely!” Announced instructor Trillian, as he himself started to head home to one of the many farms out here.

His training has been doing wonders for me! I can feel myself growing by the day!

“George!” I turned and saw my spirited friend Mara heading toward me, she was just as sweaty and exhausted as I was. Her auburn hair bounced as she ran toward me and her green eyes seemed to be bright, so bright.

“Mara! What's going on?” I asked, wiping sweat from my brow.

“Did you hear! The rebellion is over! Our brothers will be coming back from the war George!” Mara said, jumping in the air for joy.

My whole body lit up from the news.

My brother Alexander has been gone for over a year now to fight in the rebellion. Every day that passed by my mother and younger brother were always filled with worry, I always told them he was a warrior! We had no need to worry for him and even more when I went out there with him! But it seems that won't happen now.

He would send us letters when he had a chance and would talk about what he's been up to and how they had him stationed as backup.

So, it was so damn surprising when I heard rumors being spread of a man named Alexander who defeated two or maybe it was three nobles in single combat! And how he crashed a whole ship into other ships to end the siege!

I knew it was my brother.

Mara's brother was to return as well, I don't believe Alexander knew him but they both left around the same time. So of course she would be weeping for joy right now.

I hug Mara and start jumping in the air with her. “ our brothers are returning home Mara!” I say ecstatic

After settling down, Mara and I started walking back toward our farms.

My and Mara’s families' farms were next to each other, we were neighbors. My family fields became smaller because of Alexander's absence and it became hard to manage a larger field. That hardly matters as Alexander informed the military, he wants his payment sent to us.

“You're going to show your brother your moves once he returns George?” said Mara on my left, her green eyes looking at me curiously.

“Of course! I'm going to challenge him and see if he lives up to his stories.”

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Mara simply giggled.

Ever since I began hanging out with Mara life's been better. When my brother left everyone was sad and gloomy and to top it off my mothers had been out of it for a long time, ever since my father died. I felt alone and isolated, just simply doing my work out in the field with my brother and then going to training.

When Marra showed up wanting to learn the sword, I was surprised, and it made me want to work more harder in hopes of joining my brother. Over time she became better than everyone, even me. She helps me in training and it's all just way better when she's around.

I hope one day we can become something more than just friends, I like her truly do.

“I'm going to show my brother my moves as well, I'll show him the power of this young lady and I'll be the first to become a knight,” she said, her gaze sharp on the dirt floor.

Girls being warriors was not uncommon, But the title of knight was not one a lady could obtain.

“We will both become knights and slay anything that comes our way! Together Marra.” I say trying to lighten up the mood that has surrounded us.

“In time your skills will be seen by them” I point toward the capital and its giant walls that surround it. “And I know you will become a knight”

She laughs hard and wraps an arm around my neck pulling me into a hug “Yeah! You're right! And with your brother becoming a big name, he could probably get our names thrown around in there huh.”

Before I can answer she lets her arm fall from around my neck

“oh! This is me right here George, I'll see you later take care till then!” she pulls me into a hug before running off to a different dirt road that leads to her home.

I immediately began running toward my own house which was a few minutes off.

Arriving, I slammed the wooden door open, seeing my mother and brother eating at the small kitchen table, startling them both.

“George honey, you got to stop slamming the door op-”

“Alexanders heading back home Mom! The rebellion is over, and they are heading home!” I say to my mother cutting her off.

She took a second to take in what I said, and then, a smile came up to her face.

She was only in her late 30s yet had looked like she's aged so much since father died. She no longer had a joyful attitude. She was frail and had lost weight, her black hair tied up loosely in a bun. Bags under her eyes.

But in that moment when she smiled

I saw my old mother return for a second.

She sped walked toward me and hugged me tightly, hearing her whisper lightly only I couldn't make out what she said.

“This is the best news in a long time,” she said softly.

Once she let go of me, she asked me if I wanted to eat, simply telling her I was alright.

I turned to my younger brother sitting in one of the wooden chairs eating what my mom cooked up, and of course, a book in his hand as he ate.

“Hey, our brother is coming home, Ramsey, aren't you excited?” I questioned him as it seemed he had no care for the news I brought.

“Of course I am!” he says with a pout then going back to his book.

I only laughed as I informed my mom that I'd be heading to bed now.

“Goodnight George, oh and tomorrow we're heading to the capital to pick up some groceries.”

Entering my room, it was basic, we had bunk beds for me and Ramsey but since Alexander has been gone, he's been sleeping in his room, it seems I'll be having my roommate back soon. I tossed the clothes I'd been wearing into a corner of the room and put on a new pair of pants.

Laying in my bed I tried to calculate when Alexander would be back. Now since Hazel City is a bit far from here, I'll recon he should be back in under four weeks or under a month. Then again, I've never left my current Town so I would have no clue of how long traveling takes.

I look over to my chipped, dirty, beaten-up sword which was just for training as it was not even sharp enough to cut anything down.

I smiled as I closed my eyes.

Today was a wonderful day.