"Hey, Felix. Who's the lass? A new recruit?"

The young man relaxing on the sofa asked as we entered the reception area of the Shield. He had obsidian black hair and caramel-colored skin.

He stretched out his tall and lean frame and his coffee-brown eyes gazed at us. He had the same Deathwalker uniform as Felix, only he had a single stripe on his sleeve.

I only glanced at the Deathwalker before taking in the sight of the modern reception area.

This is not the first time I have seen a reception area. We had something similar to it in my previous world.

It's called an antechamber and the concept of a reception area is not an alien concept, I always encountered them in the inns during my travels as a knight.

So this is a modern antechamber or should I say, a reception room.

It is a fairly big room and rather comfy. The white walls brighten up the room along with the light panels in the ceiling.

A pearl-white reception counter with a computer monitor was situated at the end of the room. It had the insignia of the Pendragons embossed on it.

A comfortable sofa set along with a coffee table was placed in the middle. The young man was relaxing on the bigger sofa.

There are two similar-looking sliding doors, one behind the counter and the other to the side, opposite the Deathwalker relaxing on the sofa.

Quite unexpected for a fortress.

Felix stifled a laugh, "Damien. The lass with me is a guy."

Damien almost fell off the couch in surprise, "No way.", he looked at me closely, "He's too good-looking to be a guy."

"What's your name kid? And why are you here? The Shield doesn't usually allow visitors.", he inquired, genuinely confused by my appearance.

Felix cleared his throat, "Damien. This is Mordred Pendragon."

"You mean the Failed Prince?!", the Deathwalker fell off the sofa this time. His face then paled when he realized the words he spoke.

"Please forgive me, your Highness. It slipped out of my mouth.", he hastily rose and bowed his head.

My eyebrows furrowed. Is that what I am known as outside the Dawn Palace?

I am quite used to having a terrible reputation, I was a villainous knight after all. But already having a bad reputation on the first day of waking up into a second life?

Even I must admit that it is pretty concerning.

I gave a small smile, "It's fine. I was expecting something like this."

It appears my words made things more awkward.

"So what are you doing here, your Highness?", Damien asked, looking sheepish.

"He is going to be a Deathwalker like us.", Felix answered for me.

"Seriously?", Damien was shocked, "What did he do to be sent here?"

It was my turn to be surprised, "You haven't heard the news?"

The beatdown of the three heirs was a hot topic and the news agencies were having a field day with it, much to the annoyance of the High King.

Almost the entire Kingdom knows about the incident.

Felix explained to me, "The Shield usually doesn't receive news from the mainland. It is to ensure that we are not distracted by the happenings of the outside. Our only concern is to battle the horrors of the Tear."

"And what is news to the dead?", Damien gave a dry chuckle, "Our only sources of news are messages with our loved ones and the recruits the Shield receives."

"So what did you do, you Highness?", the Deathwalker asked, his eyes twinkling with curiosity.

"Can I answer that?", Felix asked me. I just shrugged, "Suit yourself."

With a satisfied grin, "Mordred is sentenced to serve three years in the Shield for brutally beating up the heirs of House Sleveria, House Lear, and House Orvis.

Damien whistled, "Whoa. That's big. I am surprised that you are not executed."

He gave me a concerned look, "Although execution is much better than being a Deathwalker."

My already plummeting confidence has hit an all-time low and is going even lower.

"Just how bad is it to be a Deathwalker?", I asked nervously.

Damien's and Felix's eyes darkened suddenly and the atmosphere felt suffocating.

"The path we walk is a dark one, your Highness. Sometimes we wonder if we are the monsters.", the former said in a grave tone.

The previous dread descended on me, "What do you mean by that?"

"You'll soon find out."

"Stop it, Damien. You are scaring him, he's still a kid.", Felix placed a hand on my shoulder and frowned.

The disturbing mood suddenly lifted when Damien brought his smile back.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"My apologies, your Highness. A few bad memories surfaced in my mind. I hope you forgive me.", he said, bowing his head.

I was surprised by this shift of demeanor, "It's fine. Also just call me Mordred."

"Very well, Mordred. I am Damien Fray. It is an honor to meet you.", he introduced himself. We shook hands and he gestured to a door to the side.

"You'll have to undergo processing before entering Necropolis.", he smiled, "Welcome to the Shield, Mordred Pendragon. I wish you luck and also hope that you survive."

"Thanks for the cheerful welcome.", Felix rolled his eyes and led me to the door, "Let's get out of here before he starts scaring you again."

"Honestly, you are a bad receptionist.", he looked back at Damien.

The Deathwalker just shrugged, "You're right but unfortunately I got this shift."

He nodded, "See you on the battlefield, Felix."

Felix nodded back, "Same to you as well."

He then smiled at me as the door slid open, "Let's get you processed, Mordred."

I gulped, "I don't like the sound of that."

"Relax. It's just registering you as a Deathwalker in the Shield's system and providing you with the uniform and equipment.", Felix reassured me.

Feeling a bit relieved, I followed him into the corridor that stretched out in front of us. It had white walls and light panels on the ceiling. A grey carpet stretched out the entire length of the corridor and it was very soft and comfortable to walk on.

We soon reached another sliding door, it opened revealing a huge white room containing many cylindrical pods, each the size of a tall person.

There seem to be about fifty of them and they take up most of the room. Behind the pods are what appear to be two massive doors without handles.

A long table on which are several monitors and buttons seems to be the control center for the pods, along with a few rolling chairs for the ones operating them.

What appears to be rows of white lockers were behind the chairs.

"Welcome to the processing room.", Felix turned around and looked at me, "Alright then, strip."

I blinked, "I'm sorry?"

He sighed and elaborated, "Take off your clothes."

"Yeah, I know that. Why?", I asked, instinctively holding onto my winter coat, I didn't even realize I had it on, such was the dread I was feeling.

"Unless you want to be disabled for life, take off your clothes and get in one of the pods.", Felix said.

"I assure you, it is not anything weird. This is standard procedure for every new Deathwalker. Even I went through this, so I can understand your reaction."

I looked at him warily, "So no funny stuff?"

He shook his head, "No funny stuff. Goodness, just what were you thinking I would do?"

"You don't want to know.", I said as I took off my winter jacket.

"Are you really a thirteen-year-old?", Felix wondered aloud. He then shrugged, "If you're the shy kind, I can turn around and close my eyes until you enter the pod."

"No, It's fine. I don't have anything to hide", I said and began to take off my clothes.

Soon my clothes were folded neatly on the table and I stood stark naked in front of Felix who was shocked by my appearance.

I can understand his reaction.

Despite the exercises and physical training this world's Mordred underwent in the past, his body was, well...

Delicate.

As expected from the diet he was having for all those years. One cannot gain and develop muscles with just exercise, a balanced diet with lots of essential nutrients is necessary.

My body is skinny but with some muscle development. Faint scars could be seen on my fair skin, the results of previous Mordred pushing his weak body beyond the limits and years of bullying.

"Didn't know even royalty can experience hunger.", Felkix said and he became further shocked when I removed my glove, revealing the terrible hole in my hand.

I gave a bitter smile, "The weak do not have the right to live comfortably in this world."

He gave me a solemn look, "Must've been hard for you."

His eyes wandered downward, specifically to my 'sword'.

And what a mighty sword it is. Even I was surprised when I first saw it in my bathroom.

Felix whistled, "Very impressive, Mordred. You will be very popular with the ladies."

I frowned, "I'm thirteen."

He grinned, "Not in a few years."

I sighed, "Shall we continue?"

"Ah yes!", Felix moved to the table and sat down in front of the monitors, "Please enter a pod."

I walked to the nearest one and its side slid open. I entered it and it closed behind me. It is spacious inside and designed to not be claustrophobic.

"Can you hear me, Mordred? There's a button which you can use to speak", Felix's crisp voice sounded from the speakers inside the capsule.

I pushed the button and spoke, "Loud and clear, Felix."

"Cool. Now this is a simple procedure. The pod will scan you and mark your whole body with an ardor signature that will only be unique to you. Think of it as your own Deathwalker mark that can be used to recognize you. With that, you'll be a certified Deathwalker in the Shield.", Felix explained.

"Just relax your body. This will only take a few minutes."

"Understood.", I replied and relaxed as the pod buzzed to life, lighting up the inside.

I gulped. I have no idea what this bizarre contraption is doing. I am literally exposed and at the mercy of this machine.

A metallic voice spoke and a thin beam of blue light ran over me, taking in all the details of my body. It scanned me for a minute before blinking out with a click.

My skin tingled as a wave of ardor washed over me. I can feel it seeping on my skin, like a second skin on my body.

The side opened and I stepped out, feeling as if I was baptized in some way.

Felix was waiting for me, a fresh set of Deathwalker uniform neatly folded in his hands.

"That was weird.", I remarked as I put on my boxer shorts. I pointed to the pods, "So usually the recruits arrive in groups right?"

"Yeah."

"And the group is mixed, like guys and girls?"

"Ah.", Felix understood what I was meant to say.

"Since you're wondering. We have another processing room identical to this. The female recruits are sent there along with a veteran female Deathwalker."

"And for the really shy ones, they can take off their clothes in the pods.", Felix shook his head, "But if you ask me, changing in the pod is a serious hassle."

With a smile, he offered the uniform to me, "There you are Mordred, you are now one of us, a Deathwalker."

My fingers hovered over the uniform, a hurricane of emotions swirled in me and I was unsure of what I should feel

I shook myself and steeled my mind. This is my new reality and there is no escaping it. Like it or not, I must accept it.

With a bitter smile, I accepted my new uniform and identity.