Cale sat at the table with his parents, picking at his food. He had woken up only a few minutes ago, roused by his parents’ soft calls, but he still felt the weight of last night’s revelations pressing on him. Sleep had done little to soothe the unease bubbling inside him.
He glanced at his parents. They looked as though they hadn’t slept at all. His father’s face was lined with worry, dark circles under his eyes making him look older than Cale remembered. His mother seemed even worse. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her hands trembled slightly as she toyed with her fork. She hadn’t eaten a single bite of the meal before her, her gaze fixed downward as if the weight of her thoughts was too much to lift.
The silence was shattered by a sharp, commanding knock at the door.
Cale’s father froze, his eyes darting to his wife. She didn’t even look up, her face pale and her gaze fixed on her untouched food. The knock came again, louder this time, echoing through the small house. Without a word, his father pushed back his chair and stood, wiping his hands on his trousers. He hesitated, looking back at his wife, but she remained motionless.
Cale slipped quietly after his father, peeking around the corner as the door creaked open. Standing in the doorway was a man clad in dark, imposing armor, polished to a mirror sheen but devoid of any ornamentation. Every piece seemed designed for function, not beauty, and the helm completely obscured his face, leaving only a cold, lifeless silhouette. His presence seemed to suck the warmth out of the air.
“I came for Cale Durand,” the man said, his voice grave and monotone, each word deliberate and heavy.
Cale’s father swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as a thin sheen of sweat appeared on his brow. “Yes... he’s at the table, eating. Please, come in.” His voice was strained, barely above a whisper.
The man did not move.
Cale’s father turned back, and as he did, his eyes landed on Cale peeking around the corner. Caught, Cale stepped forward hesitantly, his small frame dwarfed by the towering figure in the doorway. The man’s helmet turned toward him, and though Cale couldn’t see his eyes, he felt the weight of the man’s gaze.
“Come, Cale Durand,” the man intoned.
Cale looked to his father, his eyes wide and unsure. Before his father could speak, the sound of hurried footsteps caught Cale’s attention. His mother rushed toward him, her arms wrapping around him tightly as a sob tore from her chest. The cry was raw, painful, and filled with a grief that Cale didn’t understand. Feeling his mother’s emotions overwhelm him, Cale began to cry too, his small hands clutching at her sleeves. His father joined them, wrapping his strong arms around both of them, holding them together as if trying to shield them from the world.
Their moment was interrupted by the heavy, deliberate steps of the armored man, who entered the house uninvited. His presence filled the room like a shadow, and Cale turned to look at him, his tear-streaked face trembling with fear.
“Cale Durand,” the man said again, his tone unyielding. “I am Commander Kaelthar, and I will be your escort to the facility where you will begin your training as a metal mage.”
Cale’s fear gave way to a spark of excitement at the man’s words. Training? A metal mage? This was what he’d always dreamed of, wasn’t it? To be special? To be just like Titan ?
The man extended a gauntleted hand toward Cale. The boy hesitated, looking back at his parents. His mother’s face was buried in his father’s chest, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. His father managed a weak, sad smile, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
'Why aren’t they happy for me?' Cale thought, puzzled and hurt. Still, he turned back to the armored man, his small hand trembling as he placed it in the cold, unyielding gauntlet.
Commander Kaelthar led him outside, his grip firm but not harsh. A simple black carriage waited for them, its surface gleaming under the faint morning light. The horses were massive and muscular, their coats dark as night, their breaths visible in the chilly air. Kaelthar opened the carriage door and gestured for Cale to climb inside.
Inside, three other children sat in silence. The first was a tall, lanky boy with unruly blond hair and sharp blue eyes. His expression was one of quiet defiance, his arms crossed as he leaned back against the seat. The second was a stocky boy with dark skin and a shaved head, his posture rigid and his hands clenched tightly in his lap. His eyes darted nervously to Cale as he entered. The third was a petite girl with fiery red hair tied into braids that fell over her shoulders. Freckles dotted her pale face, and though she tried to appear calm, her wide green eyes betrayed her fear.
Cale climbed in hesitantly, sitting down on the empty seat beside the red-haired girl. The door shut behind him with a finality that made his stomach twist. The carriage lurched forward, and as the house disappeared from view, Cale felt an ache in his chest. He pressed his face to the window, watching his home grow smaller and smaller until it was nothing more than a speck on the horizon.
“Where do you think we’re going?” the red-haired girl whispered, her voice trembling.
Cale turned to her and answered. “Commander Kaelthar said he will escort us to the facility where we will begin our training as metal mages.”
The blond boy snorted. “We know where we’re heading. She’s asking for the location of the facility.”
Cale looked at the girl, who offered a weak nod. “Then where are we heading?” Cale asked too.
The blond boy rolled his eyes. “We’re heading to the Forge of Dominion. A facility far north where there’s only ice and snow. There, we will begin our training.” His voice was edged with a mix of bitterness and resignation.
“Enough,” the stocky boy muttered, his voice low but firm.
The blond boy huffed, closing his eyes and muttering something under his breath before falling silent. The tension in the carriage was palpable, each child lost in their own thoughts.
Cale sat back, his thoughts a storm of confusion, fear, and a flicker of excitement. He didn’t know what awaited him, but deep down, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his life would never be the same again.
Cale looked around as the carriage rumbled through more villages, but no more children were picked up. The empty, quiet stops only heightened the tension in the air. Cale tried to focus on the scenery outside, hoping to distract himself from the knot tightening in his stomach.
Through the small window, he watched as Commander Kaelthar strode toward a modest house at the edge of the village. The commander’s movements were precise, almost mechanical, as if every step was calculated. His heavy boots crunched against the gravel path, and he raised a gauntleted hand to knock firmly on the wooden door. He waited a moment, his imposing silhouette framed against the setting sun, his armor catching the last golden rays of light. No one answered.
Cale leaned closer to the window, squinting to catch a glimpse of what might happen next. The door creaked open, but Cale couldn’t see if someone had answered or if it had been forced by some unseen force. Commander Kaelthar stepped inside, vanishing into the dim interior without hesitation, his confident stride giving no indication of concern.
Moments later, the house erupted in a deafening explosion.
The shockwave hit the carriage with a force that made its wooden frame groan. The horses reared up in alarm, their panicked whinnies cutting through the stunned silence. The driver tugged sharply at the reins, muttering soothing words to calm the terrified animals. Inside the carriage, chaos erupted. The girl screamed and clung to Cale, her small fingers digging into his arm. The two boys exchanged wide-eyed looks, their fear unspoken but evident. Cale’s heart pounded as they all crowded toward the small window to see what had happened.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The house was gone. Where it once stood, there was now only a smoldering pile of rubble. Smoke curled into the air, its dark tendrils reaching toward the sky like grasping hands. The flickering glow of dying embers illuminated the scene, casting eerie shadows that danced across the wreckage. For a moment, no one spoke. Then the tall, lanky blond boy broke the silence.
“Holy shit!” he said, his eyes wide and his voice trembling.
All eyes turned to the wreckage as it began to shift. A hush fell over the carriage, the children holding their breath as a portion of the debris slid to the side. Emerging from the ruins, his massive frame outlined against the rising smoke, was Commander Kaelthar. His armor, though dusted with ash, appeared untouched—pristine and unmarred. It was as if the explosion had been nothing more than a fleeting breeze.
The children stared in silence, as Kaelthar turned his helmeted head, scanning the wreckage with deliberate precision. Every movement exuded an unshakable sense of control, a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding him. The commander’s presence was commanding, almost otherworldly, and for a moment, Cale wondered if he was even human. After a moment of silent assessment, Kaelthar began to walk back toward the carriage, his heavy footsteps crunching over the broken remains of the house. Each step seemed deliberate, his confidence unshaken despite the destruction he had just emerged from. The children quickly ducked away from the window, scrambling back to their seats as if caught in some forbidden act.
“That was awesome,” Cale whispered. “Commander Kaelthar must be a metal mage or something. There’s no way he’d survive that otherwise.”
He was the only one to voice his thoughts, the others choosing to remain silent. Their expressions, however, betrayed a mixture of awe and fear.
The carriage jolted as the driver urged the horses forward, their hooves clattering against the dirt road. Outside, the landscape grew darker as night fell, the once-vibrant colors of the countryside fading into muted shades of gray and black. The faint hum of crickets began to rise, their song filling the silence left in the wake of the explosion. In the distance, the lights of a city began to twinkle, casting a faint glow against the darkening sky. The sight of the city brought a small measure of comfort to the children, though the tension in the air remained.
Cale’s thoughts lingered on Commander Kaelthar .The memory of the explosion replayed in Cale’s mind, each detail etched vividly into his thoughts. How had he survived? What kind of power did it take to walk away from such devastation unscathed? The questions churned in his mind, mingling with a growing sense of wonder.
“Will I ever be like him?” Cale whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. He imagined himself clad in dark armor, standing tall and unyielding like Commander Kaelthar. He pictured himself helping people, protecting them from harm, and inspiring the same awe and respect that Kaelthar commanded. The thought filled him with a quiet determination, a seed of hope that began to take root deep within his heart.
But alongside that hope was something darker. The explosion—the destruction—felt wrong, even terrifying. Why had the house been destroyed? Who had lived there, and what had happened to them? The questions gnawed at him, unsettling the excitement that had flickered moments before. As much as he admired the commander’s power, a part of him feared what it meant. What kind of person could emerge from that devastation so unscathed? Was that strength… or something else entirely?
The carriage rolled on, the lights of the city growing brighter. The children exchanged wary glances, but no one spoke. Cale sat back, his mind a storm of questions and emotions.
The carriage slowed as it moved through the empty streets of the small town. The windows were shut, and the children saw no one outside. The silence of the streets was eerie, broken only by the soft creak of the carriage wheels and the rhythmic clatter of the horses' hooves. As they approached their destination, an imposing building loomed into view, its iron gates tall and foreboding, framed by a high brick wall that stretched in both directions.
The gates opened on their own, the heavy iron groaning as they moved inward. The carriage continued forward, rolling into a barren courtyard lit by flickering lanterns mounted on the walls. The air felt colder here, the oppressive silence thickening as the carriage came to a halt.
The door to the carriage swung open without a sound, and Commander Kaelthar stood before it, his armor gleaming faintly in the dim light. His expression was unreadable behind his helmet, but his presence demanded attention, a living embodiment of control and authority.
“We will rest in this building tonight,” he said, his voice calm but unyielding. “Tomorrow, we will continue our journey.”
He said nothing more and stepped aside, waiting for the children to exit. The tall blond boy was the first to step out, his movements deliberate and almost defiant as he looked around the empty courtyard. His sharp blue eyes darted to the walls and gates, as if searching for weaknesses or exits. The stocky boy followed closely behind, his wary gaze scanning the surroundings with a quiet tension, his shoulders stiff as though bracing for something.
Cale rose from his seat, but before stepping out, his eyes drifted to the red-haired girl. She sat motionless, her small frame hunched over as she stared at her lap. Her hands were clenched tightly around the fabric of her dress, and her breaths came in shaky gasps.
“Are you alright?” Cale asked softly, his voice gentle as he leaned toward her.
The girl shook her head, her red braids trembling with the motion. “I miss Mommy and Daddy,” she said, her voice cracking as she wiped her nose with her sleeve. Tears gathered in her wide green eyes, spilling over as she cast her gaze downward.
Cale hesitated, his heart aching at her words. “I miss mine too,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch tentative but reassuring. “Come on. We’ll get through this together. I’ll stay with you.”
The girl looked up at him, her tear-streaked face hesitant but hopeful. After a moment, she nodded, sniffing as she wiped her cheeks. Cale gave her an encouraging smile and held out his hand. She took it, her small fingers clutching his tightly as they stepped out of the carriage together.
Commander Kaelthar stood silently, watching as the children gathered. Without a word, he turned and began walking toward the building’s entrance. The children followed him, their footsteps echoing faintly in the stillness.
The door to the building was heavy, made of dark wood reinforced with iron bands, and it creaked as it swung open to reveal a hallway lit by magical stones embedded in the ceiling and walls. The stones emitted a steady, bluish-white glow, casting soft light that illuminated every corner of the space.
The interior was stark and immaculate, the floors polished to a reflective shine and the walls bare except for the glowing stones that served as light fixtures. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant, cold and clinical. The emptiness of the place made it feel vast, and the sound of their steps seemed unnaturally loud in the quiet. The magical light cast elongated shadows, making the hallway feel both endless and oppressive.
Commander Kaelthar led them down the hallway without explanation, his steady pace forcing the children to hurry to keep up. Finally, they reached a door at the end of the hall. He pushed it open, revealing a small dormitory with several neatly made beds lined up in two rows. The room was sparse, with only the bare essentials—a bed, a blanket, and a small locker beside each mattress. The walls were devoid of decoration, painted a pale, sterile gray that seemed to sap any warmth from the room.
“The boys will sleep here,” Kaelthar said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “At the end of the hallway, there is a toilet. We will serve dinner soon. I will come and pick you up.” His words were brisk, almost mechanical, as if this routine had been repeated countless times before.
Cale glanced at the girl, who stood close beside him, her hand still gripping his. Her fingers tightened slightly as she looked at the beds, then back at him with wide, fearful eyes. “What about her?” Cale asked, looking up at the imposing figure.
Kaelthar turned his helmeted gaze toward the girl, who shrank back slightly under his scrutiny. For a moment, he said nothing, his head tilting as if assessing her. Finally, he gestured down the hall with a gauntleted hand. “She will have her own room,” he said simply, his tone devoid of emotion. “Follow me.”
The girl’s eyes filled with fresh tears, and she glanced at Cale, her lip trembling. “It’s okay,” Cale said softly, giving her a reassuring nod. “You’ll be alright. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Her lip quivered, but she nodded, her braids swaying slightly as she let go of his hand. Commander Kaelthar began walking again, his heavy boots echoing against the polished floor. The girl followed him reluctantly, her small frame looking even smaller next to his towering figure as they disappeared into the softly lit hallway.
Cale watched her go, a pang of worry twisting in his chest. He glanced back at the dormitory, where the blond boy had already claimed a bed and lay sprawled across it, arms crossed behind his head as he stared at the ceiling. The stocky boy sat on the edge of another bed, his posture stiff, his hands resting on his knees as he gazed blankly at the floor.
With a sigh, Cale chose a bed near the window and sat down. The mattress was stiff, and the blanket felt coarse beneath his fingers. He stared out into the courtyard, the iron gates barely visible in the distance. Despite the stillness of the night, his mind churned with unease. The image of the girl’s tearful face lingered in his thoughts, and he couldn’t shake the heavy feeling settling in his chest.
“I miss Mommy and Daddy,” her voice echoed in his mind.
The minutes stretched into what felt like hours as Cale lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The faint hum of distant footsteps echoed down the halls, but no one entered. He wondered about the girl, alone in her room, and what she might be feeling. He imagined her crying quietly, the fear of this strange place pressing down on her just as it did on him.
He closed his eyes as he thought of his parents, their faces and their voices clear in his heart. He remembered his mother’s warm embrace and his father’s steady hand on his shoulder. The ache in his chest grew sharper, and he swallowed hard, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill.
A faint knock at the dormitory door pulled him from his thoughts. Commander Kaelthar entered, his imposing figure silhouetted against the hallway light. “Dinner is ready. Follow me,” he said, his voice as unyielding as ever.
The children rose silently, their movements brisk as they followed him out of the dormitory. Cale walked next to the girl, who offered a small, hesitant smile when she saw him. The faint scent of food drifted through the air, though it did little to stir his appetite.