Bright light stabbed at my eyes as music invaded my ears. Jarring me awake just as it was designed to do. I groaned as loudly as possible before opening my eyes. Drowsily I sat up, taking in the details of my surroundings just like I had been trained to do. One could never be too sure if a dream wisp was hiding just out of plain sight as it fed. Extra lamps or tables dragged to the middle of the room was usually a good indication of their presence.
Rich red velvet sheets covered me in a large kings sized bed. Directly in front of me, across the room was a large stained glass window that I normally had set to a dull black color to keep the light out. However, it had currently changed to a clear white, allowing more than a little light to assault my form. Turning to my right, I could see the expensive silver plated dresser that I had purchased recently lean against a wall that was connected to a thick oak door leading to my bathroom. To my left was a door leading out of my room and next to it laid that offending crystal player, which I had bought on a whim, playing its awful classical music.
Everything seemed to be in order. I shifted under the covers until my feet left the bed and made contact with the creamy, white rug underneath. Reluctantly, I stood up to begin my day. I started to walk across the room to my bathroom, waving my hand as I did so at the ceiling to turn the lights on as I entered. The artificial light revealed a man in his mid-twenties. He had short, dark blonde hair that went well with his grey eyes. A stubble of a beard looked to be just beginning to grow made itself apparent across his chin. His cheekbones were defined though the rest of his face looked soft. It took me a second to remember that the man I was currently looking at was in fact myself through a mirror. I could only shake my head in self-mockery.
“I should learn not to drink so much if I can’t even remember my own face the morning after” I mumbled half-heartedly to myself. “Although, I doubt I’ll have the chance to drink so much again anyway. After all, even commanders posted in the most boring posts in existence were forbidden from drinking during their service.”
A timer appeared in the middle of the mirror obstructing my view.
-4 Hours 27 Minutes until inauguration-
“Today is going to be a long day” I groaned before turning to my shower.
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One hour later
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I looked over myself one last time in a mirror to convince myself that I was ready. My outfit was a standard legionary officer’s dress attire. The uniform coat was white with purple trimmings and golden buttons to symbolize my status as a noble. Similarly, a golden sash was clearly displayed to ensure that none could mistake me as a commoner. I lamented the fact that I couldn’t wear my robe. After all, a robe proclaimed one’s accomplishments to all.
For example, the more cunning negotiators wore blue robes to show that they were as smooth and cold as ice. While brown robes were the mark of craftsmen capable of creating great machines and devices. Of course, the shade of each color of the robe was important as well. The lighter the shade, the more respected the person. My own robe was darkish shade of purple that I’ve worn for most of my life. Truthfully, I felt strange without it. However, tradition dictated that no legionnaire regardless of rank were permitted to wear a robe unless they earned it in the field of battle. Finally satisfied, I turned away from the mirror and walked to my room’s door exiting into the hallway. Stopping at the doorway, I turned to take one last look around the room. I wouldn’t ever be returning. Even after I finished serving the next ten years in the legion; I would return to my own estate upon my return.
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“Whelp, time to spend the next decade wishing I had something interesting to do” I chuckled before turning to leave the room without sparing it any further thoughts.
The hallway I emerged into was the same blinding white color as the rest of the estate. Only in my own room could different colors be more readily seen.
‘I never was a fan of the color white’ I mused to myself as I began to walk down the hallway leisurely. I still had plenty of time before the ceremony began after all.
Great paned glass windows similar to the one in my room shined down relentlessly upon me as I journey to the entrance hall of my family's estate. Digital Painting covered the walls showing different members of my House. Emerging just ahead of me was a stairway leading down to the front door. The entrance hall was a simple stairway leading down into a small parlor with a single door leading outside. Unlike the rest of the doors in the estate, the front door was oval in shape with a painting hanging just above it. My father and mother were engaged in some kind of argument by the foot of the stairway, but quickly went silent as they saw me approach.
They were a middle aged couple of somewhat interesting appearance. My father could have been mistaken as an older brother of mine due to how similar we looked. The only discerning feature between us was our eye color. Unlike my grey eyes, he had piercing blue ones that always seemed to put me on edge. On the other hand, my mother was vastly different than me. She had bright yellow hair with vivid amber eyes. Both wore light purple robes that marked them as experienced nobles involved in the politics of the court. They locked eyes one last time before turning to face me. My father spoke first as was his nature.
“Ah, Orlando, I’m glad you could take time out of your busy schedule to come down here” His voice was as cold and rigid as ice “It’s not like we're going to the most important event to ever happen in recent memory for the House of Daggen as well as your future”
I winced under his patronizing tongue. Thankfully, my mother came to my rescue.
“I’m sure he just wanted to ensure he looked his best as to not embarrass the House” Her eyes scanned my appearance rapidly, making sure that I hadn’t missed anything. “He knows just how important today is for us”
She locked eyes with my father once more, but this time their eyes softened and my father sighed.
“Very well, I suppose your tardiness can be excused just this once” He looked back at me “Come! We need to give you a run down on what to expect”
He turned briskly to the large front door and walked towards it. The door gave a soft hissing sound as it unsealed and descended into the ground. A starry night sky greeted him as he stepped outside. Mother spared one last nervous look at me before joining him. I paused at the threshold to look up at the painting right above the door. A fierce looking man stared down at me adorned in the light-formed power armor of the emperor’s private guard. A blazing sword of fire was held tightly in both hands as he stood at attention. His helmet concealed his face from my sight. This painting could be found in almost every room of the estate. Under it was a name plate that proclaimed
[Dagoth Daggen, founder of House Daggen, slayer of Whisplord Telcoth the bane of the light and second cousin to Emperor Luminosity the Third.
May his name cut a swath through the darkness for all of eternity]
‘I hope I can be at least as half as great as him one day’
While musing this rare humble thought a timer appeared once more in front of me obscuring the painting.
-3 hours 18 minutes until inauguration-
‘Well, no sense wasting time with pointless thoughts’
I joined my family outside as the door behind me silently ascended sealing the estate once more.