Kael jolted awake from his restless slumber, covered in a cold sweat as he forcibly pushed away the lingering nightmares. His heart raced and his breathing was ragged as his mind still grappled with the image of his father that haunted his dreams.
Kael's eyes darted around the dimly lit cell where he found himself. It was cold and damp, the absence of windows leaving the space in a constant gloom. There was no hint of warmth or respite, just the oppressive, chilling atmosphere that seemed to seep into his very bones.
Kael tried to recall the events of the previous days, his memory hazy and fragmented. He had faint, wispy recollections of the testing ordeal, and a hazy, indistinct impression of an old man who had appeared out of nowhere. The memories were foggy and elusive, slipping through his fingers like strands of smoke.
As his attention shifted to his arms, he noticed that they were now swathed in bandages, carefully wrapped to cover the wounds and burns that were the result of the testing. His eyes then moved downward to a small plate laid beside his bed on the cold, hard floor. It contained a meager portion of food and a small cup of water.
Kael quickly scarfed down the small portion of food and water that had been left, his hunger and thirst driving him to consume it quickly.
Kael tensed up as the sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor and the cell door was abruptly opened. A man, dressed in flowing black robes and wearing a mask that resembled the face of an owl, suddenly appeared in the doorway.
The man's voice broke the silence, commanding and authoritative. "Follow me," he ordered, turning on his heel and walking away from the cell. His demeanour was firm and uncompromising, expecting Kael to obey and listen without question.
As Kael hesitated to obey the man's command, the once steady and calm air shifted, becoming dense and heavy. An unseen force settled over everything, and Kael felt an overwhelming sense of pressure on him, like a wolf closing its jaws around his throat. The man, sensing Kael's reluctance, slowly turned back, his gaze boring into the Kael with a silent warning.
The pressure in the air grew more intense as the man repeated his command, his voice now infused with something deeper. "Now," he spoke with an air of finality. This time, Kael felt a primal fear and obedience overtake him, and he found himself complying with the man's order, slowly moving forward and following the robed figure out of the cell.
They navigated through dark and dimly lit corridors, passing by cell after cell, all very much like Kael's. The air was thick with a sense of despair and foreboding, and a faint whisper of dread seemed to follow them, growing more faint as they moved closer to the outside. Finally, they reached the exit, and the man gestured for Kael to move through the doorway.
A strong scent of ash and stone assaulted Kael's nostrils as he stepped outdoors. The outside world was stark and intimidating, with numerous people standing and waiting, all of whom turned their gaze in his direction upon noticing his presence.
His guide, still clad in his flowing black robe and mask, led Kael toward the other robed figures waiting in the opening. Upon reaching the group, Kael saw a child stood beside each of them, standing silently, waiting for orders. The man joined the line and placed Kael beside him, silently gesturing for him to wait patiently.
As Kael stood beside his robed figure, watching the other children with a sense of trepidation, he observed that they seemed unfazed by their current situation. They stood in a stoic and composed manner, appearing to be older and more matured than him. Fear gripped Kael as he dared not speak up or ask any questions, feeling like an outsider among these silent children.
Kael took a moment to look around, his racing heart still pounding in his chest. His eyes took in the towering stone walls that seemed to encircle him, confining him within their imposing embrace. At the top of the walls, he noticed more robed figures, standing guard, their gazes fixed on whatever lay beyond the barrier.
As Kael became acquainted with his surroundings, his ears picked up the sound of banging and muffled sounds coming from somewhere in the distance. The familiar, yet melancholic sound of a smithy working reminded him of his father, and for a brief moment, a pang of pain and nostalgia pierced Kael's heart.
Suddenly, something fell from the towering walls, and Kael's heart skipped a beat as he was about to scream in alarm. But, to his surprise, the falling object came to a halt in the air, and hovered there instead of crashing to the ground.
Kael's eyes widened as he recognized the old man from the night before. He was soaring above them, observing everyone in the square from his elevated vantage point, his dark cloak billowing behind him. His face was fully visible, lacking the concealment of a mask, and his gaze was keen and penetrating.
His voice rang out like thunder accompanied by a feeling of oppression.
“Welcome, tainted. Twenty of you stand before me, but only one will leave here alive. That one will become the Amarah, the empire’s weapon, forged in pain and sharpened by death. You should feel honoured—many would kill for this chance. You will.
What lies ahead is power beyond your wildest dreams. But power is not given, it is earned. You will suffer, you will break, and most of you will fall. But that is the price of greatness.
The empire has chosen you for this gift. Prove yourselves worthy, or die forgotten.”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
Kael, caught in the grip of terror and despair, felt a wave of nausea and a strong urge to burst into tears, until his gaze connected with the old man's eerie, glowing eyes. The intensity of the man's stare suddenly fixed on him, pinning him in place.
The old man's voice rang out once more, stern and commanding. "You are all men now," he declared, his words directed to the entire group of children standing before him. Yet, as he spoke, Kael couldn't shake the feeling that the message was meant specifically for him. The weight of the old man's gaze seemed to intensify as his words hung in the air, “Do not disappoint me.”
As the old man took a step forward in the air and vanished, a wave of shock and disbelief washed over Kael. He stood there, rooted to the spot, unable to move as the children around him began to cry and some even attempted to flee. The sudden disappearance of the old man, along with the cries and panicked attempts of some children to escape, only added to the sense of disorientation and uncertainty that gripped Kael's heart.
As Kael watched other masked men grab their assigned children, his own guide leaned in and whispered to him, "You would do well not to run." The harsh command was accompanied by the sight of other children being beaten by their guides as punishment for attempting to escape. Fear coursed through Kael's veins, and he quickly nodded in acknowledgment, terrified of the consequences that would await him if he disobeyed.
Kael's guide spoke in a firm and authoritative tone, issuing a simple command. "Follow," he stated, leaving no room for disobedience. Without hesitation, Kael obeyed, his fear overriding any inclination to resist. He fell into step behind his guide, feeling a sense of resignation and dread as he walked with the masked figure.
As they reached a small opening, Kael's guide came to an abrupt halt. Before Kael could react, the man produced a small knife, causing Kael's internal panic to surge. However, to his surprise, the man twisted the blade and held it out towards him. “Take it.”
Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he slowly reached out to take the knife, his mind racing with thoughts and doubt about what might happen next. Would this be a test? Would he be punished for hesitating? But to his relief, as he closed his trembling fingers around the handle of the knife and held it firmly, he realized that this was not a trap. The knife felt cold and foreign in his hand.
The man's command cut through the silence, "Attack me," he demanded. Kael froze, his heart racing with fear. He was paralyzed, unable to bring himself to obey. His mind screamed at him to move, to do something, but his body betrayed him, locked in place by the weight of his terror.
Kael's hesitation proved to be his downfall as the man swiftly struck out, sending Kael crashing to the ground. He dropped the knife in his panicked state, feeling both humiliated and more terrified than ever before.
The man's voice rang out once more, cold and uncompromising. "Pick it up and attack. Or die," he repeated, his words leaving no room for negotiation. Kael's heart raced, his fear threatening to overwhelm him. He knew that defiance would likely mean death, and he slowly reached for the fallen knife, gripping it tightly in his trembling hand. With a deep breath, he struggled to gather his courage and stood up, eyes fixed on the man.
Kael lunged at the man with a mix of rage and desperation, his attacks fueled by a desperate urge to survive. But with a calculated grace, the man dodged and countered each of Kael's moves. Despite his efforts, Kael found himself unable to land a solid blow, and the man's condescending comment, "There it is," echoed in his ears, mocking his lack of skill and strength.
Kael's frustration and determination surged as he hit the ground, landing hard on his back. The man stood over him, his voice a low and uncompromising command, "Try harder." Frustration and anger welled up inside Kael as he got back on his feet, gripping the knife even tighter. He knew he had no choice but to try again, despite the odds stacked against him. Anger consumed him and he attacked once more with abandonment.
Kael's heart skipped a beat as the man suddenly switched from defense to offense. With a swift and deliberate strike, the man's blow landed squarely on Kael's nose, causing a sickening crunch. Kael's eyes watered profusely, whether from the impact or from tears, he couldn't tell. Pain shot through his face and his vision danced with a dizzying haze.
Kael's head throbbed with pain, and his vision was still hazy from the previous blow. Blood dripped incessantly from his injured nose, staining his face. The man's voice cut through his daze, giving him a stern admonishment, "Rule 2: never act on anger. Control every move." Despite his battered state, Kael clenched his teeth and lunged once more, channeling all his remaining willpower and focus into his attack.
Kael swung the blade with desperate abandon, only to have the man deflect his blow with practiced ease. The force of the deflection sent a jolting pain through Kael's arm, but before he could recover, a quick punch to his stomach sent him crashing to the ground. The impact left him gasping for breath, struggling to draw in air, his body racked with pain and shock.
The man towered over Kael, his eyes cold and unreadable. "Rule 5: pain is temporary. Weakness lingers. Endure," he repeated, his voice devoid of any sympathy or remorse. As Kael lay there, doubled over from the pain, gasps wracking his body, the man's words echoed through his ears, a cruel reminder that his suffering was not over.
Despite the pain and the difficulty in breathing, Kael summoned the willpower to stand up once more, driven by thoughts of his beloved family. The image of his father's kind smile, combined with memories of his brother's boisterous laughter and his mother's unwavering love, fueled a renewed determination within him. He gritted his teeth, wiping the blood from his face with the back of his hand, and faced the man, his eyes filled with a resolute fire.
The man regarded Kael with a small, satisfied nod, before issuing his next command. "Good. Rule 13: the mind commands, the body follows. Align both." His voice held a note of praise, but it was tinged with an undercurrent of caution. It was clear that even this small victory was just the beginning of a much longer and more gruelling battle.
With each failed attempt, Kael would pick himself up with a grim determination, driven by a burning desire to succeed. As the man continued to knock him down with each strike, Kael was relentless. Memories of his father's lifeless body fueled his resolve, pushing him to keep getting up, to keep fighting.
However after a series of exhausting and relentless attacks, Kael's body finally reached its limits. Unable to push through the pain and exhaustion any longer, he collapsed, succumbing to unconsciousness. The world around him faded into darkness as he lay there, his body battered and bruised but his spirit unbroken.
The masked man lifted the unconscious Kael from the ground, carefully carrying his battered and exhausted form. As he walked, his gaze lingered on the small man, taking in the determination and resilience he had displayed during their session. A subtle smile tugged at the corners of the man's mouth, hidden behind the mask. He knew that he had found a promising recruit in this young and spirited individual.