Chapter 8

I woke up feeling like I was floating on the clouds. It was comfy. As I opened my eyes an unfamiliar site entered my view. Then I rememberded everything that happened yesterday. With a groan I lifted my head up from the pillows. 'I really do hate mornings.' I thought to myself.

Looking around the room I slept in last night I noticed how extravagant it was. There was a chair in the corner, it had cushions on it looking to be made of cotton or silk, they were stuffed with some kind of feather as well. The chair itself was made to look esquiate. Then there was also a glass. It was a reflective glass so that I could look at myself. Next to that there was a small bucket with water in it so that I could clean myself. There was also a set of clothes on the chair.

Getting out of bed I went over to the chair to look at the clothes. On them was a note from Paul saying that they were for me to wear. They were drastically different to what I had worn previously. They were made out of a black silk or cotton but whatever it felt so light to touch. I took off the clothes I was wearing and changed into the new ones. The newer clothes fitted so much better as well. I felt like a new person, it was great. Then I made sure I had the medallion and my money and left to go find Paul.

After opening the door a different maid was standing outside of my room. She gave me a slight bow and indicated for me to follow her. As I did she led me back to the main hallway where I first met Paul. She then lightly knocked on the door that led to the room where I was supposed to find him.

"Come in." After opening the door for me the maid left to carry on with her other duties I assumed. Seeing me Paul's face lit up. He pulled out the chair next to himself showing me where to sit down. Once I had sat down I noticed the light breakfast in front of me. There wasn't much there but it looked really good. I picked up a bread roll and began to eat it as my uncle set out what he wanted to do today before we went to the army administration building.

He wanted to let me store my money that I had as I wouldn't need it in the army, then he wanted to get me some more newer clothes from a shop. After that then go to the building. Confused at the tasks we had to do even though I was only joining the army he explained it to me further. "We need to make a good impression on any officers there so that you get assigned to a better regiment once your training is over."

Once we had finished the food we set out. First we went to a bank to store my money. I was going to be using the same bank as Paul, this is because he said that they were trustworthy and that they have branch stores all over our kingdom and the other neighbouring kingdoms. The bank was called the black gold vault. We were not there long. There was only one problem though as I tried to give my black dragon coins to the bank attendant she refused and got a manger. Seeing what I was going to be depositing. They offered me a silver VIP status, which meant that I would get a five percent interest on all my funds stored in the bank.

After getting that we then went to the clothes shop there I just got measured so that they had my size for my clothes I wanted. Then I picked the material and the design as well as the colour that I wanted. I just decided to keep it easy and kept it all the same to the clothes I was wearing now just with slight differences in the fact that I wanted to have a dragon on it somewhere. Paul paid for it all, so that meant he paid fifty six gold dragons and nine silver dragons. It was expensive for just some clothes I thought but as I am not paying for them, it's not too bad I guess. He said that once the clothes were ready that they would be stored at his house until my training period is finished.

Next we went to the last place we had to go to, the place where I would leave him and continue on with my life in the army. After a short walk we arrived in the administration district. It didn't take me long to work out which building was the one for the army. Apart from the soldiers standing guard outside there was a massive statue of a hero wielding a sword. That sword was the black sword of one of the great clans. It was the last time it appeared in public. It was used at that time to slay an Asura, the strongest level of demon. The hero wasn't known by his name only by his title, the Slayer.

Just before I walked through the doors Paul, my uncle, stopped. "Adoh, here is where we must say goodbye. At least for now anyway, I wish you the best of luck in the battlefield. May Noikany bless your battles."

"Goodbye uncle Paul." As I walked away from him into the building I thought about all that had happened for me to get here. From the journey with Lars, to nearly being robbed and seeing death for the first time. Which didn't affect me as much as it probably should have. Then to meet my new found uncle and our day together.

Then I walked through the doors into the building. All I could think was that it looked impressive. There were massive pillars made of black stone. The floor was white in contrast to the walls and the pillars. I had a quick look around at a few signs telling me where various offices were from messages to recruitment. I followed directions to where I wanted to go, ending up at a much smaller hall. There was a wooden desk at the end and chairs lining both sides of the hall, but there was just one problem. I was the only one there.

I decided it would be best to go to the desk and see if I could find anyone there. My footsteps echoed around the room as I slowly walked to the desk. Once I had got there I saw that there was someone sitting in the chair asleep. I gave him a slight nudge to wake up. To my surprise as soon as I got within inches of him his eyes snapped open. My hand froze not knowing what to do. He looked up at my face with a frown. "Why are you here?"

"I am here to join up sir."

He looked at me and then laughed. "I am no sir kid, it is sergeant to you. You got it. If you want to join up sign here and here. Then walk over there." I did as he said as quickly as I could. Once I was standing where he told me to be. He muttered something under breath. Then another person walked through the door which I had come in the hall by. That person seeing me told me to follow them. I followed this new person round various hallways and through different rooms until I ended up in a room with lots of people like me. Then I heard a yell.

"Welcome to the army!"