“Amazing!” A group of children screamed out as Kato scored.
A young athletic boy ran to pick up a wooden ball from the goal line. He had long, straight black hair and an angular face. His skin was a warm tan color with eyes to match. The group had been playing in the shade of the giant Vala tree in the middle of Farvel. The entire town had gathered for the arrival of the Hydrian merchants on the first of every month, and the atmosphere was alight with anticipation. Kato loved when the merchants visited because he and his best friend Rena would be able to admire the Hydrian guardsmen that accompanied them. Since the first time they’d seen the luxurious black and gold armor of the Hydrians when they were younger, it had become their pastime to pretend to be Hydrian soldiers themselves.
“Nice play!” A young girl said.
“Thanks, Rena!” Kato beamed with delight.
Rena approached him and gave him a firm pat on the back and a toothy smile. Rena and Kato had been living with Kato’s grandparents for the past couple of years after Rena’s parents left two years ago. Rena is a cute and charming young girl with wavy black hair and a slightly lighter skin tone than Kato. Her eyes are a mesmerizing golden amber; Kato had never seen anyone with the same color eyes in Farvel, even among the foreign travelers and Hydrians who came to town.
“When do you think the merchants will arrive?” Rena asked in impatience. “It’s almost mid-sun, and usually, the merchants are supposed to arrive at first light.”
“It is strange.” Kato pondered. “The merchants are the kind to be first to arrive when there are goods to barter or taxes to collect.” He chuckled heartily. “I’m sure they’ll be here soon. Last time there were more guards than usual, so maybe this time, we will get to see a centurion!” He smiled excitedly.
“Yeah, that would be so amazing!” Rena cheered.
Off to the side, the town elder stared down the main avenue. His calm elderly features slowly morphed into a look of concern as the growing sound of hundreds of armored footsteps marching in unison could be heard in the distance.
The excited bustling stopped, and parents began calling their children toward them as the sound grew increasingly loud. Slowly, an armored legion became visible at the end of the road. At the front rode a dark figure clad in full plate atop a large horse. His black cape and skull helmet with gold accent were both terrifying and awe-inspiring to Kato and Rena.
“What’s a Captain doing here!?” A townsperson exclaimed.
“The Selection isn’t supposed to happen for another five years! It’s too early!” Another voice let out as many hushed discussions ensued throughout the town center.
“Quiet!” Kato’s grandfather yelled. “I will get to the bottom of this! Do not panic!”
His shout quieted the townspeople, and the one-armed elderly man stood steadily before the crowd facing the oncoming soldiers. The captain, a colossal man, and his soldiers slowly came to a stop at the entryway to the town center. He silently raised an armored clenched fist, and the well-organized legion behind him performed a military salute and stomped heavily on the ground. The cold metallic boom was the only sound heard throughout Farvel. A palpable silence settled over the crowd. The Captain rode forward away from the ranks of the soldiers and stopped in front of Kato’s grandfather. Behind the golden skull helm, a pair of cold blue eyes peered distastefully down towards the crippled town elder that stood in front of the crowd.
“I hope you’ve had pleasant travels, my lord!” The elder rasped as he raised his singular arm and smacked his clenched fist onto his chest, mimicking the salute while giving a slight bow. “May I enquire as to why someone as distinguished as yourself has made such a long journey to our town?” He said imploringly.
“I am not here to entertain the antics of an Unselected.” The armored giant spat. “His Holiness, the Fifth Precept, has decreed the Selection is to take place posthaste in all cities, villages, and towns within his domain.”
The elder trembled slightly in anger but calmly returned his arm to rest by his side with a clenched fist.
“When we yielded to the Empire fifteen years ago, we were promised that the Selection would only happen once every ten years. The people -” Kato’s grandfather pleaded.
“The people,” the Captain interrupted, growling. “Will do as they are told.”
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
He then urged his horse to trot past the elder, signaling an end to the conversation. He continued forward until his large horse came to a stop an arm's length from the crowd. He reached up and removed his skull helm with both hands under the trembling watchful eyes of the townsfolk. He had a serious face, proud nose, square jaw, and graying, long, dark hair that spoke of an extensive career. However, his age did little to detract from the imposing aura his sizable presence gave and the chill people felt when they looked into his icy blue eyes.
“Denizens! “Hear the decree of his Holiness the 5th Precept, servant of Hydrian!” He shouted as his magically enhanced voice boomed out. “The Selection will begin tomorrow at first light. All children ten summers and above must be in attendance. Individuals found in violation of these conditions will face severe consequences.”
He paused and slowly looked across the square while his words sunk into the crowd.
“Rejoice, children!” He exclaimed. “Some of you will be blessed and rise above your lowly roots. All prospects who pass will become full-fledged conscripts and receive new life under the glory of Hydrian!”
After finishing the announcement, the Captain turned his massive steed around and made his way back toward the soldiers, who quickly opened a path in their formation.
“Return to camp!” He ordered as the wall of armored Hydrians closed behind him. The soldiers saluted and stamped down as they smoothly turned around and started marching back from where they came. The eyes of the children were full of naive excitement, while the eyes of the adults were full of despair. Nonetheless, all eyes remained transfixed on the distancing armored silhouettes, the sounds of marching slowly fading in the distance. Several muffled sobs could be heard throughout the crowd, paired with an odd mixture of excited murmuring. The town elder stood frozen in the same position where the Captain had passed him by.
“Grandpa!” Kato yelled.
“Grandpa Kan!” Rena called out.
The sound of the children’s voices returned Kan to his senses.
“Grandpa, is what that captain said true? I thought you told us that the Selection wouldn't happen for a long time and that you would tell us about it when the time was right.” Kato asked in a light questioning tone.
Elder Kan faced the two bright-eyed children and sighed as he dreaded the conversation to come.
“Later…” He sighed. “Grandpa has some things to do, so go home to Grandma for now, and I’ll explain everything when I get there. Alright?”
“Okay!” The children said in unison before hurriedly turning around and returning home.
Later that day, when elder Kan returned, he was confronted by his wife and two very curious children who had been sword-fighting with sticks in the living room. He walked up to his wife and looked down at the two kids.
“I know that you both enjoy playing as soldiers and mages. However, the Selection is no game. There is a chance that one or both of you will not be selected. I want you both to know you will always have a home here regardless of the outcome and that by no circumstances are you to disagree with the results of the Selection.” Kan said in a very serious manner.
“What happens during the Selection then, Grandpa?” Kato asked.
“Yeah, why can’t we disagree with the results Grandpa Kan?” Rena continued.
Elder Kan looked towards his wife, Saki, as he struggled to find the right words to dissuade the children from doing anything that could get them killed.
“There are some things in life that you cannot change, and Selection is one of those things. I need you both to be on your best behavior. Follow the instructions, accept the results, and come home to us after. Understood?” He continued.
“Yes, Grandpa! Can we go out and play some more Bruiseball before dinner?” The two children implied wantingly.
“Of course, be sure to come home before the last light. Grandma and I will make dinner now.” Kan replied.
“Okay!” They cheered.
Kato and Rena ran out the front door excitedly, not forgetting to bring the wooden bruise ball with them.
Saki turned to face Kan. The earlier sweet smile she wore for the children was now warped into a look of worry and fear.
“Why are they doing the Selection now? It’s only been a few years since what happened to Kani and Soto. The children don’t know the true face of the empire, and I don’t know if I can survive losing either one of them!” She sobbed.
Kan reached his arm around his elderly wife and pulled her to his chest.
“There is nothing we can do, my magpie. The Hydrians are already suspicious that this place might be the base of the revolutionaries. If we give them any reason, they will wipe our people from existence.” He sighed begrudgingly.
“I know. I just can’t understand why now.” Saki continued to sob.
“I believe the Hydrians have started a new war with the Alam Kingdom. The merchant caravans have had an increase in guards for the past couple of months, and I have heard whispers that tensions were rising.” Kan paused. “They might be looking to build up their army for the coming conflicts.”
“What if we just hid the children away, said they were ill, or that they went missing.” Saki sniffled.
“You know they would burn everyone alive if they believed we were hiding any of the children from potentially receiving Hydrians love. They would massacre us as heathens instead of treating us with disdain and disgust as they do now.” Kan stroked her head placatingly.
Saki continued to cry into his chest for a while longer before moving away while sniffling.
“You’re right.” She sighed. “I’ll start preparing dinner now. The children are going to be hungry.” She gave a forced smile to Kan, the trail of her tears still visible on her face as she walked into the kitchen.