The tent’s door swayed lightly with the morning breeze. The sound of footsteps, blacksmiths tirelessly hammering away, hushed conversations and officials shouting orders surrounded the tent, waking the people resting inside.
Aegon snatched his pillow from under his head and put it over his face, seemingly trying to dampen the noise.
It wasn’t enough.
“Ugh, it’s always so early, let me sleep dammit!” Throwing the pillow on the ground, the young man laid in bed with hate filled eyes for a while before finally sitting up.
On the other end of the tent he saw Roy sleeping peacefully.
“Fuck, even sleeping?” He couldn't help but feel annoyed by the unfairness of the world while looking at his friend.
Roy’s face was peaceful with a light smile gracing his lips, no trace of saliva could be seen trailing the side of his face and he obviously didn't snort.
Looking at his pillow on the ground, Aegon finally found the motivation to get up.
In one smooth movement, Aegon reached for the pillow and threw it straight towards Roy’s face with such force it sent his head reeling backwards, afterwards, in what seemed like slow motion, the pillow fell to reveal Roy’s face, his now open eyes staring directly into Aegon’s own.
“Get up, everyone is waiting for you.” Aegon turned his head and headed for the tent’s door, passing by many empty beds on his way out, but as he reached for the tent’s flap a hand grasped it from outside.
“AEGON, ROY, WE HAVE THIRTY MINUTES TO BE ON CAMP….” Anna started screaming to wake them up even before entering their tent but, as she lifted the flap, a hand appeared from behind it to cover her mouth.
“Is that so?” Roy, who was sitting on his bed with a neutral expression, turned towards them as he heard Anna’s words.
“30 minutes is it?” Roy met Aegon’s eyes once again, silently reaching towards his sword on the ground.
…
Thirty minutes later, and in Aegon’s case, a sore ass later too, a group composed of the dozens of youths who had escorted the caravan was gathered in a semicircle, gazing at the wooden door of one of the wagons.
Creeeeak
The wooden door opened, revealing the same old man who had received Aegon’s group on the first day.
They didn't get a clear look back then because of their nervousness but now, under the false sense of security a crowd offered, Aegon really looked at the old figure standing before him.
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An arched back, half clouded eyes, wrinkles, a balding head with hair only on the sides, all the signs of his advanced age were clearly visible and yet the old man still emanated respect in Aegon’s eyes.
The old man finally lifted his eyes from the floorboards of the wagon to gaze at the crowd gathered before him.
Dozens of faces full of dreams and aspirations looked up at him, though those same faces smiled more and had a deeper wonder of the world just a few weeks prior.
[Ah, it’s a pity, it’s always a pity.]
“Good morning.” His raspy voice broke through the silence.
“GOOD MORNING.” The group echoed.
“There’s not much to say, we managed to finish the mission, all of you did great.”
The group became a bit restless at the simplicity of it all.
“I know why you are looking at me like that, it's annoying. I will distribute the certificates soon enough.”
“Before that.” He took a brief pause to gather his thoughts. “I want to talk about who will not receive the certificate.”
A small commotion arose among some of the youths while others' faces turned somber.
“They won’t receive it because they aren’t alive. I can't believe I had to explain this, how can you be this dumb? Or are you just self-centered?”
The commotion quickly quieted down, shades of red coming across the cheeks of several members of the audience.
“Maybe both.”
He took another moment to gather himself. “I know it’s hard, seeing people die, especially those closest to us. It won’t get easier, you just get better at dealing with it.”
Lifting his eyes from the crowd, he peered through one of the massive windows to look at the clear sky outside.
“And with the way things are going, you won't have any choice but to get better at it.”
Shifting his gaze back to the youths in front of him, he could already see weariness and fear in the eyes of the more astute ones.
“Anyways, if I can leave you with a piece of advice. Do not lose yourself to grief, life goes on. You might think you failed because you couldn't save them and guess what? You would be right.”
Hearing this, some became downcast while others frowned looking at the old man.
“But.” He said strongly. “Wallowing in self despair and hiding behind your grief won't change anything. Be better, be stronger so that others can rely on you, be stronger so that you don't fail again.”
Silence permeated the scene, the gazes still fixed on his body were now a bit more alive, even if that liveliness came out of hatred or spite for his words.
“With that said, it seems we are finished here, make a line and someone will distribute your certificates.” He was already turning back but he stopped in his tracks and continued. “I hope you are grown enough to not make a fuss.” And, with those parting words, he resumed his walk towards an unseen corner of the carriage while, at the same time, a black clothed man with only his eyes visible came out with a stack of papers in his hand.
Anna felt chills all over her body and sweat on her back almost as soon as she saw the figure dressed in black.
[Should I just not get the certificate? It’s just one mission, I can always do another…. Yeah, I’ll do that.] As she was turning around to head to her tent, an arm took her by the shoulder and pulled her towards the forming line.
“Wake up Anna, you don't want to be here all day do you?” Aegon’s brutish manner woke her from her inner musings.
Seeing Aegon's confused face, she couldn't muster the courage to tell him she was afraid of the black clothed figure, because she was even more afraid of Aegon's inevitable nagging if he found out.
And so, the fear of others knowing that she was afraid guided her choice.
[The black clothed man it is.]