Why me?

A cool and crisp breeze whipped across Weston's face, shifting his long dark brown hair to cover his face. The breeze and the smell of the forest around him brought back memories of his home, a small logging village up near the base of the black stone mountains. Weston's father was a lumberjack, just as his father before him, naturally Weston would follow in this tradition too. He thought of his mother's home cooked meals, many of which were considered the delicacy's of the village, he thought of his two little sister's and the wooden toys he carved for them. Weston was promptly ripped back into the present thanks to a nasty bump in the road causing him to fall off his seat in the horse cart he was shackled in. He has been travelling for nearly two weeks by now, hands bound and only allowed to walk when nature called. The men who have imprisoned Weston never talked, they hid their faces and only called themselves the Seekers, being from an isolated village who's only source of knowledge from the outside world is the merchant who came once every year, Weston had no idea what these Seekers are. Two weeks ago was Weston's 18th birthday, the age of adulthood and the age you get your divine blessing, the blessing is read by the local priest and is added to your registry. Unfortunately Weston was taken before his could be read and he had no idea what sort of blessing he had received. Being from a family of lumberjacks, he assumed it probably has something to do with axes or wood working just like his father and grandfather.

The third week of travelling has passed and Weston overheard the two men talk shortly, it was rare to hear anything from these Seekers so every word mattered to him. "We'll be arriving tomorrow" the man on the left said. "Send the pigeon, let them know we have a candidate" said the other man. Weston could hear some movement towards the front of the wagon cart, sounds of a bird could now be heard and the quick scribble of a pen on paper, the sounds of a bird's wings grew quieter until everything was back to normal. Weston thought to himself, "A candidate, but what for?" although he knew they wouldn't answer him, on the first three days, he tried all he could to get them to talk, but they wouldn't budge, not one single word except simple commands such as: "Eat", "Sleep", "Sit", and "Walk". These were all he ever heard up until now from these two men. He could tell that it was becoming dark and slowly he drifted to sleep, dreaming of the little village in the forest.

Weston awoke to the sounds of more carts and more horses, he could hear other people either whimpering or breathing deeply. He took a peek through the canvas flaps that completely covered the cart. He could see at least five other carts all identical to the one he was in following behind his. He sat back down and collected himself, today was the day they reach their destination. Weston ran the different scenarios all through his mind, wondering if they'll kill him as some sort of sacrifice or make him into a labor slave for some fat lazy noble. As the hours passed they finally stopped, the two men could be heard standing up and the shaking of the cart told Weston they had dismounted. A few seconds later blinding light filled the darkness he had been accustomed to for this long journey. "MOVE IT, OUT OF THE CARTS" a booming and commanding voice said, Weston felt compelled to comply, almost as if his body was moving on it's own. He slowly dismounted and landed on solid ground, allowing his eyes to adjust to the sunlight, he gathered his surroundings. There before him stands a magnificent and colossal stone masoned building. The building was decorated on the outside lavishly, the look of the building was breathtaking in it's own right! Weston knew he needed to look away and see if there was anything else around. Turning his head around his jaw dropped, he thought there could be no more than 5 carts behind him a few hours ago, but looking now there had to be more than 30 around him now, and it looked like even more were coming from the path. Before he had more time to look around his attention was caught by a person atop the walls of this stone building, clad in full armor with a stare that could kill. The booming voice from earlier started up again from the gates beneath the armor clad person. "WELCOME CANDIDATES!" He said taking a pause afterwards. "You have been brought to the mighty Mistwood Citadel, your stay here will determine whether or not you can continue the path that has been chosen for you." the man said as Confused voices muttered behind Weston, a few surprised gasps as if they knew of this place before coming here. His voice started up again.

"I'm sure you're all wondering why you're here, why we have taken you from your homes on your 18th birthday's without letting you know your blessings, well the reason for that is what I will tell you now. Listen well candidates! You have all received the blessing called, High Lord." He said as many gasps of confusion were heard from all around.

He started again "This blessing is undetectable by priests, and can only be detected by the parchment of fate located here in the Mistwood Citadel. We have known ever since your birth that you would receive this blessing and have patiently waited for it to awaken before taking you. Here you will be trained to control it. Some of you will not make it as the blessing will change you over the next two years. Prepare yourselves, for you are now in hell."