2 The Sage

Two months after the battle a lot has happened. For example, the war is finally over. The war which has been going on for the past 30 years is finally over. The king has gotten a new concubine too. And it is said that the king has just accepted a sage into our country who is going to choose disciples to teach his art to.

And you know what? I am apparently going to the place where people will be chosen. That place is also known as the capital of The Empire, Salima. It was named after the first emperor of our country which there is some criticism about currently, since people want to move the capital somewhere else and not name the capital after the first emperor.

And now as I am walking down the streets of the capital I can't help but be amazed at its beauty. Well this was the beautiful part of the capital since it is close to the palace and wasn't the slums. The slums is in the complete opposite part of the city.

But enough about that. I just hope that I can go home soon since I am just going to be a guard at the castle because there wasn't enough personal. And well, I have heard some rumors about this sage. I heard he is a bit... quirky?

But oh well, right now I don't need to worry about that since I just need to guard those in the ceremony. I just need to guard the people coming to the ceremony of the sage choosing his disciples. Simple. And that is it.

I arrived at the palace gate. "Hello. I am one of the guards who had been sent to the ceremony." I said to the palace guard while saluting which gave me a nod from him.

He then looked deeply into my eyes. "Yes. I need identification?" The guard said and reached out his hand while his eyes were sparkling.

I took out my ID and gave it to him. He looked at the ID closely like he was memorizing it and then he smiled and put it into my hand and waved me goodbye as the gate opened.

As I walked inside I saw gardens and fountains and a lot more than that. It was filled with nature which made me smile a bit. It felt like I was home again. Except for the fountains of course.

I did the rest of the stuff I had to do to register and then I was sent into the room. Then I had to stand in the room for five hours until finally the sage and the candidates had appeared to be part of the ceremony. Horrible.

And when everyone had appeared the sage clapped a single time to get everyone's attention. "Hello everyone." The sage said with a slight smile on his face. "I have a small announcement today. Other than the children chosen by the nobles and emperor, all the people in this room have a chance to become a candidate."

The nobles immediately began whispering amongst each other. "No way." "Did I just hear him right? He wants a commoner to become one of his six new disciples?" "I, I think I must be having a nightmare. Haha." ...

They continued to whisper until they heard the sage quietly put his hands together for a millisecond, but the sound that came was booming. I had never heard such a loud noise in my life other than the earthquakes now and again.

"Enough." He said while having a cold look as his gaze swept over the nobles over. "I have said my words. Six people in this room will be chosen as my disciples. They can refuse if they want. But you guys probably will not refuse to be taught by me." The sage said and looked at the guards and maids in the room. "The only criteria, as already stated to the nobles, is that the people who can be chosen have to be between the ages of fifteen and eighteen years old."

After he said that he clapped again. This time white lights appeared suddenly out of the air and began floating towards some of us. They seemed to be quite attracted to some of us and while with others there weren't even any.

He then clapped again and the light disappeared. He had a wide grin on his face and said quietly, "Good, good." And then he looked us all over.

First he pointed at a blond boy with amazingly blue eyes. Then he pointed at a white haired girl with the same blue eyes. Then it was a black haired boy with green eyes. Then it was a brown haired maid with brown eyes. Then it was a red haired girl with brown eyes who had armor on. And then it was the white haired, green eyed me who got pointed at.

The sage then said, "You six are the disciples I've chosen. The rest of you can leave." He said while waving his hands, seemingly uncaring towards the others in the room.

And then the old white haired man ran down towards us filled with excitement. As he did I saw the expressions of the people around me.

The first who was pointed at looked arrogant and didn't care if we other saw. The second had cold eyes which could freeze anyone who looked into them. The third was calm and observing of the others. The fourth was completely nervous and didn't know what to do while the fifth had complete disbelief on her face. I was observing the others not even knowing why I was chosen.

When he came down from the stage and we had gathered closer to him, he smiled at us and said, "Hello, my name is Samuel. Now, I want everyone of you to introduce yourselves to each other. You are now going to be a family. So I don't want ANYONE to think of themselves as better than the other."

The first who got pointed at frowned but then he took a step forward. "Hello. My name is Luciel Caroline. The first prince of this country."

Then the white haired girl who had the same eyes as Luciel came forward and said coldly while not even looking at us. "Hello. My name is Maria Caroline." She only had her eyes on the sage.

Then the warrior girl came forward and saluted. "Sir. My name is Sasha Crimson."

Then the calm and observing boy from before came forward with a smile that made me shiver. "Hello. My name is Rudeus Lowborn." He then bowed.

Then the shivering girl from before came forward taking nervous glances at all of those around her including me. "Umm, ahh, uhh..." She kept shivering and couldn't say a word and then the sage went over and patted her shoulder.

"It is fine. Take your time. We will wait." He then took a step back with his kind smile. He doesn't look like a bad person.

"Th,thank you. So, uhh, my name is Lucia. I, I don't have a last name." She said and then she took a step back while blushing.

Then everyone looked at me which made me sigh. "Umm, mister sage. You said we could refuse right?" I asked him with a forced smile on my face and he looked shocked.

"Yes but... you would refuse?" He asked and I clenched my hands still smiling.

"I, I dont have the ability to choose. I have to go back to Julia. My friend died on the battlefield two months ago and she hasn't..." Right when I was about to continue I was stopped by the sage.

"I understand. But don't worry. Where is it that you live because we are going to travel for a bit so we can go to my home and train." I looked at him with wide eyes and then I smiled.

"Thank you Samuel. I live in a village without a name. It is to the south of the capital while being right in the middle between the border and capital." I said and bowed towards him.

"Yes, yes. Now why don't you tell us your name?" The sage said with a kind smile which made me convinced that he was a good person.

"Yes. My name is Kalum." It was at that moment that my crazy story began.