UKKO

OLYMPUS, THE AREA OF NOBILITY AND ROYALTY

There was coffee on his table the moment one of the crew members of the train saw his badge. A guard of Elysium, the crew’s eyes whispered between the lines.

I hate this. The guard wanted to say but he replied with a gentle grin.

Coffee hot filled with iron dust. The guard looked at the small ball of sugar cubes next to him. He wanted to feel the black coffee with it and he knew that it would make the iron stronger, burning his throat. On the next seat, there was a woman, dressed in her blue elegant gown with white threads around her sleeves and her little blonde girl being held tight into her arms.

The girl’s eyes looked at his soul and then at the ball with sugar cubes. Her mother replied with pressing her lips and a giggle as she moved her child closer to her.

His eyes turned to the ball and then to the little girl. His hand touched the iron bowl and gave it to the girl slowly. Her mother’s eyes snapped and her perky red lips tried to make a smile as she agreed with a nod and took the bowl for her daughter to devour.

‘’I do not drink coffee’’He lied giving the cup to the mother.

‘’Thank you so much'' she said with her flushed cheeks and saw the little girl devouring the sugar cubes like a horse.

Ukko fell from the train, only because he started a fight in which he was not in the wrong. He saw another guard trying to hit some people who looked uncomfortable. Ukko thought to do the right thing and stop the guard. First, he tried to talk to him. But he did not listen at all. He even ignored him as he saw his almost ruined uniform. So he punched him. His reward was falling from the train with a few bruises. But he also gave the guard broken teeth and nose with a groan and looked at his dirty clothes and hands. His entire body was hurting but just for a while. Placing his hand in his pocket Ukko took out his pocket watch to see the time. ''Not enough '' he whispered ''Go fuck yourself'' He yelled to them while the others threw some rocks.

''Are you alright?'' He asked the other people who got hit on after he was finally at the train station. They just nodded their heads and thanked him. One boy took a better look at him and smiled with his mouth wide open.

''You were amazing'' He said admiringly as his eyes lit up by just looking at his sigil, ignoring his dirty clothes.

''Wait''His mother gasped. ''Is your father a..''

Ukko laughed with pain and agreed before she could even finish her sentence. He walked away from them while people stared at him again.

Unfortunately for him, being a general, meant that everyone was treating them like heroes. And also that meant that everyone would recognize if you are a child of one. But Ukko did not like that. All the attention that he did not even deserve it.

If he were in Aztlan they would have treated him like a hero because he was after warlocks and criminals around Akhet. Treating him like a king because he works in a palace made him feel like a fake.

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He took a better look at the peaceful stores that were filled with enchanting clothes. The bells from the clock tower hurt his ears as one hour passed. He didn't realize that cars were ready to hit him. He let out a squeal and fell to the other side of the road, making his tight clothes scratch. Some girls giggled just looking at him. Ukko groaned. ''It could have been worse''He murmured.

He hated this area. Even if he had spent a few years of his childhood there, he preferred to be on Aztlan in his small apartment, to hear the loud sounds that were coming from the workshops, while his little sister was trying to learn how to bake, and not ruin the oven, rather than be in the upper class.

Even if his father was technically a noble, no matter how much he was trying; he never managed to fit in with the other nobles. Studying about each house, and talking with them about politics made him bored. He was always getting into trouble or in fights with them. Getting into the army was the best solution he had taken so he would not meet with them.

''There is a warlock'' Someone shouted from the other block. Ukko continued walking. If I go now, things will be complicated He thought.

If he could he would work back to the borders, but then again...

His sharp hazel eyes noticed a wild dog trying to attack a small boy, around the age of five. Ukko took a look at his pocket watch. He had to go for his shift in less than an hour and he was late. After that, he had to catch the train once more and return to Aztlan to tell his sister how terrible her school day was because her teacher would not let her sleep in the lessons.

''Not enough time'' He repeated and took off his dark glove and snapped his fingers towards the pitched black giant dog. The car close to them made sparks come out of the engine. One of those small lightning sparks hit the dog's fur making it run away from the boy with whimpers. The boy looked at Ukko who waved him a gentle hello and continued walking, closer to the shining palace which even if it was far away from him, everyone could see, shining like a star.No. It was shining as bright as the sun.

He let out a groan, thinking that he should have gone with the car just like the others, but he wanted to think about a few things about his own. He lifted his head and stared at the clouds. This one looks like a donkey, this is an ugly bird...why does it have two faces? He asked himself as he thought of each shape of the clouds. This one is like a bull. He stared at the two sharp clouds that were connected to the big one. Yes, it is a bull and. He turned his head to the left to see the one that was next to the bull. A lion. He hummed a melody and looked back to the road. He looked at the restaurants where people were chatting. Next to the restaurants, he noticed iron temples with the priests heading outside. ''Too flashy'' He mumbled as he could see the golden jewels around their fingers and necks while they were wearing their ciel cassocks and dark turtle necks.

''The warlocks are multiplying again'' A priest shouted around a crowd.

''The army'' Ukko could feel the priest's sharp tongue aiming at him.

'' Has done nothing except act like they are our saviors but fear not'' He made a dramatic pause.

''Because our true saviors, the Made Ones will return and save us from those deviants..''

Ukko yawned and looked at the badge he had with the shape of an ox. Usually, the guards from Olympus were wearing black or white outfits with golden knitted daffodil flowers around the end of the coats while the right to the left shoulder was the green, purple, and a few red threads, the flag of the kingdom fabricated with the golden deer at the center of it.

But he chose to remain with the light blue coat. The reason was simple: he didn't earn his position like the others. He never actually tried to be in this area or even took any special test. Again, he never wanted to be there but yet again he had one reason only.

A horn from a car shouted behind Ukko. He knew pretty well that was from the military. Even from behind, he could see the giant metallic machine whose smoke was getting out from the open engine. He took a step away from the road and saw a few of his partners, waving at him. ''Come on you will be late'' The driver said and the one that was sitting next to him opened the back door and made a nod.

Ukko sighed and walked inside. He could feel a strong pressure of pain hitting his entire body but he got used to it.

He did not want to be there but he knew pretty well that it would be another boring and peaceful day as he was guarding the safest place in Akhet.