“From Kelston, we will embark on a series of smaller campaigns against the entrenched demi humans that occupy much of the Kelston Great Wood with the ultimate goal of cutting a path all the way through and establishing ourselves on the other side.”
The High Commander continued his speech, going on about the difficulties that they would all face and overcome in the name of the emperor. Rane had tuned it out. There was something wrong. He felt it, approaching rapidly. He didn’t know if it was close or far, but he knew that it was powerful.
“Ah, and I forgot to add. Our family head, Marquess of Auryck, has found time in his busy schedule to inspect the troops and see us all off. You may find his presence stifling, but as long as you do not drop to your knees, he should not be disappointed in you all.”
It began to spread throughout the formation as they all began to feel the same presence. Rane should have felt relieved that he was in no immediate danger as he had thought before, but it didn’t seem that way. He saw a few shuffling their feet. One asked a tally flanking the formation to be dismissed to go to the latrines. He was denied.
The feeling of an invisible hand pressing down on their shoulders only became stronger as it seemed an eternity, but a small regiment of riders arrived to the stage. There was no question as to which was Marquess Aethelwulf. He did not stand much taller than his son, but seemed to dwarf him anyways. His steps were calm and assured, yet it seemed that each one was capable of sending him all the way across the stage in an instant. His golden eyes contrasting the skin of his face, which was darker than his son and daughter. He wore an ornate blue cloak over a black military uniform with golden patches detailing his accolades. The details couldn’t be made out; it was as if the Marquess was a piece of metal straight out of the forge, producing a small, distorting haze around himself.
He spoke, causing many to flinch and avert their gaze, “what a fine bunch you have produced this year. High Tally Cloud can be proud of you all. It seems…” His eyes darted quickly around the crowd. “About 95% classient.”
He gathered himself and began to speak once more, “my son will have finished giving you what you need from the ceremony, the briefing, and the encouragement. I am here for a different reason. I wish to see the mettle of those who will represent my lands.”
At that, he seemed to be ten feet tall, yet still standing the same height on the stage. When his eyes swept across the crowd this time, they seemed to lock with everyone able to look at him. Rane’s black eyes locked with the golden irises of the Marquess.
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And it was at that moment Rane’s ambition was challenged… And it was found lacking. His ambition was the dream of a child. He would cull ferulls, fight demis, and even kill other men. This was different. It was crushing, like the air inside his lungs had been seized. If he faced such a monster in combat, Rane knew what he would do. He would run. He would hide. He would hope that he was not seen as worthy enough to warrant attention. But it seemed that here, among his peers, he had been seen. Perhaps he was overestimating himself, and underestimating the Marquess. For one like that, he could see them all at once whether he locked eyes or was facing the opposite direction.
Rane closed his eyes tightly, taking breaths quickly in an attempt to calm himself. Beside him, Puddles stood still, looking at the stage with gritted teeth. Elsewhere in the crowd, Ben had braced himself as if he were looking directly into the sun, but he looked on still.
With a loud and exaggerated clap of his hands, his presence collapsed back in on itself. “Well,” he declared, “we really do have a fine group here. And a few with much potential. I will be looking forward to hearing of your future accolades.”
Rane was still concentrating on his breathing as the Marquess turned to depart. It seemed he truly was a busy man, as he got immediately back onto his horse, then turned it back into the trail back towards Auryck, his small group of mostly ceremonial guards following closely behind.
Rane was only able to fully control his breathing once he could no longer feel the man’s presence.
There were murmurs of awe, looks of shock, and hearts of turmoil left in the wake of the Marquess’ visit. They were dismissed shortly after, and would depart in the morning.
“To the caf?” asked Puddles, “not much to pack.”
“Nah, I’m gonna take a walk,” Rane responded. He set off, making his way out of the crowd rapidly before ducking off into the woods. Soon, he was at the site of his ambient training, splashing cold water into his face. His heart was racing again as he tried to forget the feeling of inferiority he faced. He could avoid it, but it lingered still.
The flowing water of the creek was quick to regain its calm, and Rane was left looking at his own reflection, his once pale skin having taken a slightly darker tone from his days in the sun. He thought for the first time in a while of his home in Auryck, his mother, and Staal. He wasn’t homesick yet, but it was settling in. He hadn’t seen them in a few months, and it could be years before he was back in Auryck. Looking back, he wished he had given a more proper goodbye.
In the morning, he would go back. Back to Kelston. When he had decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, he hadn’t meant quite so literally, and he now wondered just how closely he would follow that path. Maybe his mother had been right to worry. In this world, there were monsters.