In a darkly room communication orbs started to shine. One after another glowed until five communication orbs emitted a faint light.
“How many are gathered?” A regal voice spoke.
“The holy light shines.” a soft voice responded.
“The sword awaits.” a study voice spoke.
“The shadow beacons.” A creepy voice whispered.
“The new dawn approaches.” A child’s voice answered.
“The object not retrieved, circumstances arose.” the soft voice said.
“Unforeseen or unforetold?” The creepy voice hushed.
“Gilles.” the regal voice responded with a sad tone.
“His death is required.” The creepy voice responded.
“No!” The regal voice responded harshly.
“It must be done, a new hand is ready.” the soft voice spoke.
“You know he will not return nor be convinced.” the sturdy voice said coldly.
“How can we betray his-”
““““We must.”””” The rest of the voices interrupted the regal voice at the same time.
“I then beg for no part in the plan.” the regal voice said with frustration and sadness.
“The boy and I shall handle it.” the creepy voice rasped.
“Yes!” an adolescent voice said cutely.
“The new hand must be loyal, his death must not be in vain.” the regal voice spoke again.
The communication orbs dimmed. The dark room returned to its eery silence.
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The sun shone lightly upon a man and a boy as their sweat glimmer in the sunlight and a cool breeze blew through the trees. The man and the boy spared and the sound of wood clashing reverberated throughout the forest.
“Good. You are ready.” Gilles said as he looked at Morgan who is out of breath and still in stance.
“Ready?” Morgan said in between breaths with a look of disbelief.
“You’re probably even slightly better than those your age. It's only because you’re against your old man that the gap feels huge.” Gilles laughed. “Too bad your talents for magic and archery was mediocre. I don’t even want to talk about your academics.” Gilles sighed.
Perhaps Morgan was a bit tick off at being insulted he started swinging at Gilles with impatience seemingly desperate for improvement.
Gilles easily pushed Morgan’s exhausted movements back. “Have patience, even your father was bad at swordsmanship in the beginning. I actually had less talent than you when I started.”
“No wonder swordsmanship ugly.” Morgan grinned.
Gilles grasped his heart and looked extremely sad. He mumbled to himself “I always thought it was cool.”
Morgan took this chance to attack again, ran towards Gilles and did a jumping attack taking advantage of Gilles still look at the ground dejected.
PAAH!
Morgan’s sword shattered and Gilles kicked Morgan away in the stomach. Morgan rolled on the ground in pain holding the broken sword.
“A hundred years too early to trick your old man.” Gilles smiled smugly.
Morgan forced himself up and walked towards a wooden long sword nearby to retrieve it.
“Enough” Gilles said noticing Morgan still wanted to spar. “Today is the last day of your training. I’m throwing you in Knight’s Academy I’m sure someone will pick you as their squire.”
“No.” Morgan simply shook his head.
“Be glad I trained you to be a squire. Trust me being a page is a lot worse. Trust me this is the best for you.” Gilles attempted to persuade Morgan.
“With Father.” Morgan said sternly.
“Father is planning to go somewhere very dangerous, you are much safer here.” Gilles said with sadness.
Morgan simply crossed his arms and turned his back to Gilles not willing to compromise or discuss further. Gilles tried his best to convince Morgan, but after a couple of hours Gilles voice became hoarse. Gilles was secretly glad to see Morgan’s rarely seen childish side, but he had to leave the boy someplace safe and somewhere Morgan can grow.
At this point Gilles noticing the sun reaching zenith We can’t be late to the appointment, mind as well reach there first then sort this out. Gilles then lifted up by the ankle ignoring the resentment in Morgan’s eyes.
Two guards stationed at the gate in front of the Knight’s Academy saw a man dragging a boy by the foot. The boy crossed his arms with disdain as he skid across the ground. The guard looked with both a sense of confusion and amusement as the man and the boy drew closer. The man said “Gilles. Appointment with headmaster.” then the guards immediately opened the gate and let the man in. The headmaster has already instructed them to swiftly let Gilles through swiftly. After the man went by the guards conversed with each other about the ridiculous sight.
In a beautiful looking room sat three people with various expressions. One happy, one frustrated, and one with deeply furrowed brows. The happy one was of course Gilles, the frustrated was Morgan, and the confused one was the pudgy headmaster. The headmaster may be overweight and could be described to be pig-ish looking, but the headmaster had a kind heart. He truly cared for the students of his academy and prioritized their wellbeing and happiness.
“Mister Gilles although happy to enroll your son, your son doesn’t seem to be too willing.” the headmaster said as he studied the boy. The boy was extremely dirty from being dragged all the way here and the chair so much so the once white chair was already caked brown. The headmaster coughed and continued “I can let the boy enroll but I can’t make the boy stay.”
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“Oh he will stay” Gilles said reassuringly and stared daggers at the Morgan. Morgan felt a deep chill down his spine. “Won't you my obedient son.”
“YES FATHER!” Morgan shouted. Morgan knew that look on Gilles, the look of when Gilles was going to give someone a heavy beating. Morgan weighed his options and thought he really couldn’t stay with his father forever and had to become independent at some point. He could only reluctantly agree. Perhaps learning here will help my own growth.
The headmaster was slightly shocked by the loud response and almost fell back on his chair. He whipped cold sweat off his forehead and stated. “Well that will be that then. I’ll get someone to show him to his new quarters.” the headmaster quickly shouted for his assistant who whisked Morgan away.
“Mister Gilles you have my most assurance I will take care of your son. But I cannot do anything to help you advance to a knight.” the headmaster said firmly, but he was quivering from fear.
“No need. Just make sure he is fed and feel free to discipline him.” Gilles said with a smile. “Then I’ll be on my way. If you ever need to contact me ask for me at Fat Maiden’s inn.” Gilles said before he quickly got up and left.
Only after the headmaster saw Gilles figure disappear before he sighed and relaxed in his chair. Who could he be, to be able to use the Emperor’s insignia and yet still dressed in commoner's clothing. Quite odd, quite odd indeed. The headmaster thought deeply, but cannot come up with an answer.
As the headmaster assistant showed Morgan to his quarter she explained to Morgan coldly “Showers are public and on the first floor. It uses water crystals which can be repowered at the Student’s Hearth building if needed. Any supplies you may need is also available there and you can drop off your equipment there for repairs. This is one of the male student dorm building specifically Deer’s Nest. Student’s Hearth is directly south of here, we just came from the main academy building from the south-east. The stables are north of the main building and other teaching facilities are west of the main building. Cafeteria and library are in the main building both are paid for in your tuition. The headmaster specifically instructed if you have issues report to me and not your direct teacher. Oh, your room number is 220 and here is your key.”
The assistant handed Morgan his key and sighed as she knew although on paper commoners and nobles are equal in the academy the noble teachers may not always deal with dispute between commoners and nobles fairly. Thus the headmaster took special consideration for Morgan to report directly to her. “Any questions?” the assistant asked impatiently.
“No clothes.” Morgan said embarrassingly.
“It’s all prepared for in your room. Your schedule should also be in there.” The assistant answered coldly before immediately walking back towards the main building not caring if Morgan had further questions.
Morgan could only dejectedly go to his room.
It was late at night when Gilles made it back to Fat Maiden’s. He quickly sat down and Hilda passed him a mug of beer and a letter.
“Letter for ya, from Trins. Calling in some favours aren’t ya.” Hilda said with a grin before speaking in a young maiden's voice. “Oh, the great and righteous Sir Gilles is calling for aid. Woe is he, the mighty has fallen.” Hilda then laughed shrewdly.
Shivers went down Gilles spines. Gilles drank before before speaking. “It’s not for me, it’s for my boy, don’t want him to get bullied by the nobles.” Gilles then quickly opened and scanned through the letter, before muttering “Morgan Trins, not too bad sounding.”
“Oh they made the lil’ lad a Trins? Aren’t ya something.” Hilda mused.
“Not a true Trins, only in name for now. You know Lord Trins, one has to hunt a epic beast before he’s considered a true Trins.” Gilles sighed.
The Trins were a respected house they were north of Elrantel and the closest house to the front tier. With the banner of a wall they proud themselves in guarding the Empire from beasts and strange creatures. Their house were small but extremely respected as all knights of the Trins house had killed at least one epic beast.
The wild beast rankings were simple it went goes from common, uncommon, rare, epic, legendary, and lastly divine. Common beast could be hunted by one average man, uncommon four, rare sixteen, epic sixty-four, legendary at least two-hundred, and divine was believed to be only huntable by the gods.
The western houses were known for being strong at hunting beasts because the western frontier were unclaimed land. Home to uncountable beasts and dangers. While the eastern houses were known for man versus man combat. They defend and push against the eastern barbarians whose savagery is only rivaled by their power. Although the Empire is a pseudo-theocracy that incorporates both a royal power and church power both are selected and obeys the Goddess. The main difference is the royal forces is mostly responsible for the western front and the Temple’s forces is responsible for the conversion of the eastern front. The royal forces would be described as servants of the Goddess while the Temple’s forces could be described as devout servants.
“Are ya staying in Elrantel? The academy ‘s close and Temple’s power is weak here.”
“No, I have to travel to the eastern ward. If I could convince The Hoard to help the tribes to weaken the temple forces perhaps there is still hope.”
“Ya going to ABANDON ya son!?” Hilda said with fury.
“I can’t bring him with me, I can only hope he will be strong enough to weather the storm.
“How is one ol’man going to convince The Horde?” Hilda said suppressing her anger.
“Elixir of Immortality.” Gilles whispered.
Hilda expression paled when she heard the words. Hilda knew that reason is enough for any ruler to move their armies. It was a carefully guarded secret of the Temple rumoured to be fake. However from the mouth of Gilles the existence of the elixir is definitely confirmed. Hilda thought it over before stating “the Goddess will not idle if The Horde invades.”
“The Goddess is weak, from my personal estimate her might will only be restored after millions of devouts die. If we wait any longer we might lose our reason to wait.” Gilles sighed deeply.
“Millions will die.” Hilda stated while shaking.
“We aren’t strong enough to stop the Goddess without lost. This is the only path left.” Gilles said bitterly as he clutched his fist so tight it drew blood from his palms. “I want my son’s ideals to be possible. I want the innocents to not suffer, but the only path for survival is bloody. I hope the future will know real peace and not just the calm before the storm.” Gilles tone became even more bitter and his eyes moistened. Gilles finished his beer and stood up. “I leave tomorrow.” he then put a sack of coins on the counter then looked at Hilda in the eyes then spoke “and my debt is paid.”
Hilda could only bite her lips bitterly and her eye moistened knowing that this will be the last time she will see Gilles.
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Few days later
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It was an ominous night that was cloudy without rain. The wind blew softly in the city of Elrantel. The streets were quieter than usual as an creepy old man with his entourage walked to Fat Maiden's inn.
Hilda was cleaning beer mugs when she saw a familiar old fragile man walking in. She immediately cringed and was displeased.
“Haven’t seen ya disgusting face in a few blue moons. Hoped I never had to.”
The sound of a cane strike the ground could be heard as the hunchback old man drew near.
“Circumstances allowed for our reunion.” a creepy voice resounded from the old man.
Hilda only narrowed her eyes in response.
“I am looking for our old friend Gilles, heard he’s been around.” The creepy man asked with a slight smile. The smile revealed his blackened teeth and his face sent shivers down Hilda’s spine.
“Never see-” Hilda wasn’t going to tell the creepy man where Gilles was going, but in her heart she hoped the creepy man could convince Gilles to stay. “- I’ll tell ya, if ya can convince him to stay, perhaps even roost here at Elrantel.”
The creepy man smiled and said “Oh, he’ll stay in the country alright.” then cackled with laughter. The laughter was short lived before he started suffering a coughing fit.
Hilda reluctantly told the creepy man that Gilles left for the east but not much else. She didn’t fully trust the creepy man, but she believed that the creepy man wouldn’t harm Gilles as he owed Gilles an unpayable favour. No matter how villainous or vile a man was each person has their own bottom line.
Soon after the creepy man left the inn and whispered some orders to his subjects waiting outside. Then the creepy man and his subjects quickly disappeared into the shadows.