Here I was swinging my sword again and again, following the masters movements, imitating them in unison with all the other disciples of the 3 form sword style. The air was hot and dry, as the sun stood high. Three long years i have now been practicing all morning the way of the sword, every since I have been brought to the city of Remus, capital of the Romad Kingdom.

Sometimes I miss the the rain, the cold weather, the snow, but then I remember countless hours of digging though the dirt, then the colour grey was all I knew. No smell, just the stench of smoke piecing my nose in the winter. The long and dark winter that froze one´s boday all the way to the bone. I used to be a worker in a small valley, deep in the mountains, for a local lord who had several hundred´s working all day to dig up metal and other oddities from the grounds. I was more of a slave, honestly. Being found somewhere close to the valley as a baby, i never though I´d ever leave that dammed place. Not until 3 years ago, when a caravan of trades cam to the village, as they always do in spring, once the snow wouldn´t block the way anymore.

My new life started back then, on the back of the carriage, carrying me through the melting snow into a world that that gained more colours with every day than I had ever seen before. I cried, such happiness filled me. One of the merchants saw me during the end of the trading week celebration, and decided to take over my contract. He just said.. he got a good feeling about me. Later he told me, that he wasn´t much of an merchant but rather a researcher, looking for relicts from the past. He wanted me to take on the sword, working for him as a protector for his family. As he had some ties with the nobility of the kingdom, he could afford his kind of lifestyle, traveling, collecting strange things and spending hours (and tons of gold for that matter) on them.

Once training was over, I went to the well cleaning of the dust and sweat. On the water surface I saw myself. In 3 Years I had changed alot. When I left the valley, I was about 14 years old, yet i hat already build quite some muscle from all the hard labour, but now I didnt look as bulky as before. The master told me, that I had the right muscles in the wrong places, and had me do alot of different exercises, had me stretch until I could lift my feet over my head. I was acutally quite fond of my body, as I felt my strengh in every part of it.

Well, most of the trainees here looked like that, so that wouldnt make me stand out very much. The one thing everyone here would notice though is my still a bit brighter skinn and my blue eyes and the nearly white hair. Up in the north blue eyes weren´t that rare, but my hair was unique even there.

Having finished cleaning myself I changed into my casual clothes and went through the city back to the house of Ansiedler, the reseacher, merchant or whatever you would want to call him. His house was one of the few made of stone, as most houses were made of clay. I was close to the port, on a small hill, together with most of the stones houses inhabited by the few who could affort them. There my afternoon of being though how to read among other stuff would be my task. It was rare of a servant, or guard to learn how to read and write, but uncle Ansiedler, as he liked to be called, thought it to be necesary, so I did as he said. He rescued me, gave me a life, so I did as he told me to. I was afraid, that upon failure I would be sent back, so my motivation was quite strong... still, reading was cleary not my strong point. Teaching me was his daughter Elea, who was slightly younger than me, which was in a way embarrasing. In return she asked me, to make it seem as a fair trade, I had to teach hear how to handle a sword.

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Women could join the 3 form swordstyle, but her father wouldnt let her. Archery was okay, but he didnt want her to quote, "touch these long, heavy, sharp things". So we had to keep that secret.

As I arrived in the courtyard things were different. there were several horses, along with a carriage filled with many bags and boxes. Uncle Ansiedler stood among some other servants carrying even more things, putting them on the cart.

Good, here you are Fynn, pack your things, we will leave in the morning. Master Alex told me you´re ready. Ready for what, Uncle Ansiedler I asked, slightly unsettled. Would he sent me back?

Ready to be the guard I hoped you to become. You´ll accompany us on our travels. I´ve put them of long enough. Oh and tell Elea to absolutely not bring that sword he´s hiding under her bed with. She won´t be needing that.

So much for keeping it secret, i sighted, which didn´t escape Uncle Ansiedler, as he told me laughing; " Did you really thing I wouldnt notice? I´m a father, I will always know".

So I told Elea, causing her to make a sour face, but she was still happy, going on the adventure she was waiting for. Heading for my room I was lost in thoughs. I didnt really want to leave this place. I like it here, I like knowing what´ll happen on the next day, the training, the studying.. every day had a set circle, repeating itself again and again. I feared the uncertainties to come. Most boys my age would give everything to go traveling like this, but I have seen the world during the 6 months it took the caravan to reach this city, and it was bad. A dark place. Suffering and pain was seen in many places. Not all were bad though, but I could always feel that something was always lurking in the dark, as if it was waiting to pour all it´s horror upon me, ending the happieness that I had found.

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so here´s the first chapter. I hope write at least one chapter a week, but this week I´ll release at least one more chapter, as Fynn´s journey is about to beginn.

Feedback is appreciated!