Arnimos laid on the cold stone staring up at the night sky, he could see stars hanging overhead. Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Orion, constellations that showed only here in Elysium. He stared up watching as the stars faintly glimmered in the night. He closed his eyes and listened to the world around him. He could hear the faint wound of the wind blowing over him and the silent chirp of insects.
For some reason not long after arriving home from speaking to Galtz his father had sent him out to get some experience on the battlefield, apparently some raiders from the Barrens had been hitting the outlying villages that supported the city. 2 dozen men set out from the city to a fortified manor that would act as their staging ground. Among these people were also Hilmas, Milhas and Ronja who Arnimos had recruited so he wouldn't be alone, he had wanted to get Filk-Kij but his job got in the way of that.
He glanced at the world around him. A handful of lanterns sat on the edge of this roof driving away shadows, below a team of men watched and patrolled the grounds. He glanced over to where the Gallorend, a species of Shalbross, which they had been riding, were tied up. They looked like "horses", some animal from the worlds of some Reborn. They stood on four legs and had strange metallic grey hides that shimmered in the light. On their necks they had crystals formed like a mane that pulsed faintly with purplish energy, their eyes were as dark as Night himself and their mouths split unnaturally wide to reveal jagged crystalline teeth that emitted a soft, unsettling hum. At the end of their legs were clawed hooves that allowed them to tackle even the roughest terrain. Gallorend were rare beasts though and, including the 2 dozen here, their city only had 130, enough for a company, more than most other cities, but still not many.
He heard echoing footsteps from the stairs, he glanced over and saw Ronja appear dressed in a simple uniform. She approached him and sat beside him.
"Whatcha doing out here all alone?" Ronja said. "Trying to get Night to take ya?"
"Just watching the stars," Arnimos said.
"Don't understand what people find so good about them," Ronja said. "They aren't even natural to Shale, some Reborn made them ages ago when they first crafted Elysium,"
"Maybe," Arnimos said. "Doesn't change that I find them beautiful,"
The two stayed in silence for a brief few moments.
"Why did you agree to come with me?" Arnimos said. "You didn't have to,"
"Trying to abandon me, Arnimos?" Ronja said. "And i thought you were a gentlemen,"
"Not like that," Arnimos said. "I mean, why did you agree to join this mission?"
"Because I wanted to," Ronja said. "Do I need another reason?"
"I suppose not," Arnimos said. "Just wanted to know,"
"What about you?" Ronja said. "Why did you choose to invite me?"
"Because you're someone I can trust," Arnimos said. "I know you've got my back,"
"Trying to butter me up now?" Ronja said. "You're quite the devilish man,"
"Is it working?" Arnimos said.
"Quite," Ronja said.
"Then I've done my job," Arnimos said.
The two remained in silence for many minutes more watching the stars overhead, Arnimos began to drift off to sleep as time kept passing until he fully faded into unconsciousness.
He awoke alone on the stone roof with the sun shining directly into his eyes, he shielded them with his hand as he sat up and looked around. He could see the men getting ready in the courtyard below and heard the bell ring once, a squad was departing towards the village on a normal patrol. He was supposed to be in it.
Arnimos shot up and rushed down from the roof where he encountered the leader of this group of soldiers, Lieutenant Kalis-Fijki. A tall Taniberas man who had served as a mercenary in many conflicts until taking up a position in their city's small military. Arnimos stopped as he saw the man.
"Prince," Kalis-Fijki said. "You are going to be late,"
"I'm sorry," Arnimos said.
"And I noticed you were not in your quarters during the night," Kalis-Fijki said.
"I was not," Arnimos said.
"That is a violation of regulation," Kalis-Fijki said. "I will speak to you later, arm up and ready for your patrol,"
Arnimos jogged past Kalis-Fijki and went to his private quarters, they were spacious and had nice living arrangements. As well in them were two things given to him by his father, a set of Fear-Made armor and a Fear-Made weapon. The weapon looked like a hammer crafted of pure silver, his father told him that it could strike man up to 3 dozen feet away and hit up to 5 men at once. The armor looked like a normal breastplate but as a Fear-Made piece of armor it was far more durable to conventional attack however, like all things, it could not stop Fear-Made weapons.
He slipped on the armor, which was far lighter than a breastplate of its size should be, and picked up the hammer, which was far heavier then something its size should be. He hoisted the hammer up and attached it to his hip. He rushed out of his room and down to the courtyard.
The other men on patrol were already in their armor and uniforms with their spears and sabers ready. Arnimos rushed over and hopped onto the back of his Gallorend and placed a hand on the reins. He felt a strange connection to the beast form as he grabbed them, it felt like their minds became closer. He patted it once on the side of its neck and went into formation. He was placed just behind the sergeant in command of the squad.
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"OPEN THE GATE!" The sergeant yelled.
The large reinforced gate on the manor swung open and the men rode out. As they got onto the path leading to the village they fanned out slightly, the main group had 6 riders, including Arnimos, and would head towards the village while the other two groups of 3 riders each would patrol and check the surrounding areas. As they rode fast towards the village Arnimos found himself fighting in his mind to keep the Gallorend controlled, it desired to run freely and quickly as fast as it could where it pleased and had to be cowed to be kept under control.
As they approached the village they slowed down to a trot and entered. The main road was lined with houses, a tavern, a church and a shop, in the center of town was a large bustling marketplace. The sergeant halted the riders and turned back to them.
"Split into groups of two and patrol the town," The sergeant said. "Help any townsfolk who need it,"
"Aye sir," The men said.
The sergeant looked towards Arnimos.
"You're coming with me, Prince," The sergeant said. "Now, Disperse!"
With that command they all split off around the town leaving the sergeant and Arnimos there at the entrance. The sergeant went over to a nearby post, dismounted and tied up his Gallorend.
"Prince," The sergeant said. "Leave your Gallorend here, we'll return for them later,"
"You can just call me Arnimos," Arnimos said.
"It is not befitting a man of your station," The sergeant said. "But if such is royal command then I shall,"
"And why do we leave our Gallorend here?" Arnimos said.
"We will have no need for them," The sergeant said. "Now with me, we can't wait up,"
Arnimos dismounted and tied up his Gallorend, the creature watched him with its dark eyes as he did so. He felt a strange shiver as he turned and followed after the sergeant. As they walked through the town people looked at them, mainly Arnimos with his unnatural armor and weapon. The sergeant walked until he arrived at the door to the church. He pushed them open and entered.
The inside had a single red carpet running up the center to an altar, pews lined each wall though all were empty. At the front stood an old Luxicon man in grey robes, he had a small obsidian skull hanging from his neck. A sign of the worshippers of Nexeithos, Personification of Religion.
"What are we-" Arnimos said.
The sergeant raised a hand to silence him.
"I have brought more helping hands for today," The sergeant said. "What do your people need?"
The old man spoke in a voice so quiet and frail one could believe that the wind may carry him away.
"We need to bring in the harvest, to build new fences," The old man said. "And to find a child which has gone missing, men say that Shalbross have taken her,"
"I understand," The sergeant said. "I shall have my men do what they can,"
"I thank you for your help, kind sir," The old man said. "May Nexeithos bless you,"
"And you," The sergeant said.
He then turned and left Arnimos following shortly behind.
"What was that?" Arnimos said. "We're here to fight bandits aren't we? Why aren't we hunting them?"
"It is hard to track men through the Barrens," The sergeant said. "We'll wait for them to show themselves and strike then,"
"So we'll be helping the townsfolk until then?" Arnimos said. "What will I be doing? Hunting the Shalbross who kidnapped a child?"
"You will be," The sergeant said. "Using that hammer to help lay fences,"
"Oh, this is gonna be..." Arnimos looked at the sergeant. "What?"
"That hammer's abilities will make it very easy to help lay fencing," The sergeant said. "So i'll have you and 2 others go and help farmers lay some more fences,"
"Wouldn't I be better to help with the Shalbross?" Arnimos said. "I mean I have the-"
"It is unlikely that it is Shalbross that have taken her," The sergeant said. "They are likely blaming anything on Shalbross, the child probably just got lost in some nearby woods and i'll just send some men to help search,"
"So instead I have to lay fences?" Arnimos said.
"A soldier must serve the people," The sergeant said.
Arnimos sighed, he had hoped to have something interesting happen.
"Where should I go then?" Arnimos said.
"I'll collect another group," The sergeant said. "Find some farmers who need help then send you off, so remain here for now,"
Arnimos sat on the steps to the church as the sergeant ran off. He looked around at the handful of people walking the streets and the carts packed with goods that ever so often passed through.
"You look quite sad," A voice said. "Were you hoping for something more?"
Arnimos glanced back and saw the old priest standing behind him, the old man took a seat next to Arnimos.
"You're the son of a Lord, aren't you?" The old man said. "Did you come seeking adventure?"
"I was sent here, I had hoped something interesting would happen," Arnimos said.
"I'm afraid most places are quite boring," The old man said. "Our neck of the woods is normally all quiet, without these bandits marauding about nothing would ever really happen in this town,"
"Does it ever get stale?" Arnimos said. "Having nothing to do?"
"You learn to live with it," The old man said. "Some are given a life packed with things but most get perhaps only one or two big events in their life,"
"What about the child?" Arnimos said. "Surely there must be Shalbross-"
"I'm afraid there has not been Shalbross here in generations," The old man said. "And I find it unlikely a roving group of them kidnapped a small child from our little village, she is likely just lost in the woods. She'll be found and everything will go back to normal,"
They sat on the church steps for a few minutes more until the sergeant came back with two more men then sent all three of them to a farm near the edge of town. It was a small farm with a house, a barn and a shed surrounded by fields of grown wheat. Many fences here were looking old and in need of repair. The farmer and his 3 sons helped the soldiers as they began their work.
Arnimos used his Fear-Made hammer, which destroyed conventional objects easily, to help remove each post and fix up the hole. Despite his Fear-Made weapon the work was still tiring as he bashed into the air again and again to help. After many hours of this this small farm with small fields around it had a new fence, the farmers offered the soldiers food which they accepted. They ate the meal, it tasted much better than the blander food that the soldiers typically quickly made and it was likely his hunger which made Arnimos like it. After enjoying a home-cooked meal the soldiers left, met up with the rest of their squad and headed back to the fortified manor.
Arnimos went to his quarters and took off the armor and placed the weapon down, he then collapsed onto his bed. He wanted so desperately to sleep. As he began to close his eyes his door swung open revealing Kalis-Fijki stood with a stern expression.
It was going to be a long night.