The Reality

UNKNOWN LOCATION

A male figure draped in a long silver cloak with a metal and golden crested septer in his hands moved along a dark and narrow hall way. Before his eyes stood a fifteen feet black cedar dorr guarded by two fierce looking canine brutes. Their eyes locked on him and one snorted. 

"State your business! His gruff voice came and the figure whose face had been hidden gave a little smirk. He took off the hood and both guards gasped in terror. 

"Forgive us! They bowed and quickly opened the gate without another word. The figure smiled and moved into a large room. Tetrahedral walls and pillars which rose up 25 feet high to the unreachable ceilings. The air was dark and so was the room. At the centre, a throne, held high up by a podium and a few stairs could be seen and on it, a figure dressed in black and whose face could not be seen. 

The figure dressed in a cloak gave a gentle bow. 

"What is it you want Arne? A hoarse voice echoed over the room and Arne the one with a scepter lifted his head with that never ending smirk on his face. 

"Oh, nothing much great one, however I come bearing rather great news. One I believe would tingle your darkness's ears. News far beyond reach that only I your humble servant could find"

"Speak already! The voice thundered and Arne gave a gentle raise of the brow. He stood aright, both hands on his scepter. 

"The Knight Sir Caes, leader of the silver brotherhood. I found out from my undying loyal sources that he would be at Chiming Rock valley in a few days"

"So? Do you keep his schedule for him?

"Oh, no no sire but as I did know that vulgar Knight has been such a pain to your evilness's plans so I sought after this. Chiming Rock valley dwells at the outskirts of the Sky barrier where it is at its weakest"

"Do you suggest we rid ourselves of him then? Are you a fool?! The voice thundered this time more angrier. 

"That cursed Caes would give you hell even if you fought him in the domains much worse the outskirts of the Sky barrier. He is tenacious. It is for that reason I hate him"

"Oh but that is not all your darkness. I found out something of more interest. The Knight Caes….is weak and dying"

Arne said with a sly grin and for the first time since he came in the dark figure's eyes widened and then an obscene grin crept to the dark figure's face as it clasped both hands together and sat back. 

"I'm listening Arne"

CHIMING ROCK VALLEY

AZEL

"251…..252….253….

For the past few days I had been training even extra hard ahead of the Knight's guard recruitment exercise. Push ups, sits ups, back twists, sprints and sword combat skills. I had also tried different spiritual exercises to unlock my soul stone like I had seen in some old books I borrowed from the sage old Owe. They didn't work though and I hadn't gotten my soul stone yet but all the same I would do what I could to impress the Knights and secure a slot in the recruitment. The knights recruitment usually involved two phases. First the physical tests and then the displays. The physical tests involved a range of activities and we'd have to show the elite knights how much our bodies could handle and then the displays involved showcasing one's soul stone prowess. Those who did poorly in the physical fitness could still be considered if they had amazing soul stones but I couldn't say much about the other way round. Either way, I would make it happen. Someway. Somehow. 

A mirad of images flashed through my mind along with a sudden splitting headache. I gripped at my temple. 

"Kiya!! The voice tore though my thoughts. 

The woman running, looking over her shoulders in dread but her face was….her face was blank. My heart palpitated hard and it synchronized with hers. It felt like I could feel her heart beat. 

What was this?

The sounds of hurried footsteps hit my ears and it felt like my spirit was pulled back to reality. 

"Hey! Azel! Azel! 

That was Freya's piercing voice calling out and I sighed. What did she want now?

"Azel!

"Freya, I'm a bit busy you know"

"Ugh" She scoffed. 

"Okay then. I just thought to let you know the elite knights were already here at Chiming Rock but if you're too busy then…..

"They're already here! I screeched and slipped off the rock I was standing earlier crashing face flat to the ground but then I couldn't feel a thing. I jerked up.. 

"They're here?

"You're not deaf right? They're at the fields outside the village. I'm going to change first and register. You should hurry before the place becomes a sheep barn"

Freya said with a snort, turned and moved away, lifting her dress to avoid getting thistles on it. 

I didn't know how to feel at the moment. Excited? Exhilarated? The elites were here? It was a little earlier than I thought but they were really here? I picked up my shirt, my wooden sword and dashed off to the house. This was my chance. My opportunity. 

To become a knight. 

I sprinted through the market nearly crashing into a lady carrying a cart of eggs. 

"Watch where you're running rascal!

"Sorry!!! I screamed back as I ran but then I stopped dead in my tracks few minutes later and nearly froze when I finally got to the fields. My mouth dropped. It was flooded with people! Even Gerret was there. Gerret was the village's black sheep and a complete troublemaker. He found pleasure in crushing those weaker than him like me. He was a terror while growing up especially at school. 

"Next! I heard a voice snort and I could tell it was coming from the roll calling stand but I couldn't see a thing. 

"Tch. You came. I didn't expect less from a suicidal idiot" That was…Hannes. 

I turned to see Hannes draped in an outfit that actually made him seem like some responsible lad. He gave a crooked smile. I smiled back and we clasped hands. 

"Let's do our best" 

"Tch. Good luck Azel. You'll need lots of it and a miracle too"

I snorted and at that point I remembered my mum's words. 

'Never sit around waiting for a miracle, be a miracle instead'

I'll make that miracle happen. 

The registration continued till it was almost my turn. A lot of the others were probably already been tested by now on the other side. 

"Next! A crude voice fired and I scurried to the front. 

"Name! The knight snorted and I flinched. He looked so lanky and worn out like he hadn't slept in two weeks. He wasn't dressed in armour though but I recognized him. He was Philip Gustavus. The knight with a thousand eyes. He could see farther than any living being in the planet. His sight could transcend from one realm to another in a second. I couldn't believe the elite knights were really in our village. I had heard so much about him, his signature look was his braided moustache and his one eye soul stone but I never expected him to look so...

"You have a name or not lad? Make up your bloody mind. I don't have all the time in the world" He snapped and I flinched. I remember. He was also known for his awful temper.

"Azel….Azel Tord"

He wrote it down, twisting at his beard with one finger. 

"Soul stone" 

"Em…I don't have one"

I saw him pause and look up at me. 

"You sporting with me lad?

I gasped.

"No…sir …I..I really wasn't born with one"

I saw him scoff, drop his inker and sit back. 

"You take the Knight's guard as some game eh? 

"No…

"You got no soul stone then what the hell you doing here lad? This some sick joke? He snapped and I flinched. I lowered my eyes in embarrassment as I could already hear some snickers from behind. 

He sat up again and looked at me. 

"Never have I heard of someone who happened to be born without a soul stone but if you mean what you say lad then you don't need to be here, now do you? So what you doing here? You trying to meet expectations of society which says the most honorable line of profession for 15 year old is being a knight guard? I agree with that but if you have no soul stone as you say, how do you expect to make that happen except you just swimming in your delusion. Why do you want to be part of the Knight's guard? Fame? Money? Some twisted reason? Whatever it may be, without a soul stone you might as well jump down a cliff. Get running lad. This ain't the place for you. Next!

He slammed the desk and I felt my morale crumble to the ground. 

It felt like a knife had been run through my chest. 

I was rejected? Even before I got to prove myself? I looked around and I could see some others snickering. I saw Hannes. He simply gave me a I told you so face. I couldn't read Freya's expression but maybe she was probably making fun of me too. I couldn't tell what it was. My face went red and I felt my eyes glistening with tears. 

"Get out of the way turd" Gerret pushed me asides. I couldn't counter it so I fell, my face kissing the soil. It attracted more laughter and Sir Philip only shook his head. I looked at Gerret who gave a smug face. He clenched his fist and I couldn't help but feel intimidated. I was so pathetic. 

The tears came out before I could stop them. I felt like like trash. Maybe that was what I was. 

I saw a hand stretch out to me. I looked up and saw Freya with that unreadable look on her face. She wanted to help. That doubled my embarrassment. She was always helping me. Since we were kids. Sticking to me like glue like I was some helpless piece of shit. I hated it. She must be happy seeing me this way right, at her mercy. 

I slapped at her hand and got up by myself. 

"I don't need your help Freya" I spat with venom and marched away before she could react. I don't know why but I

felt guilty afterwards. Non of this was her fault. I just felt so pained and frustrated. I let the tears flow freely as I walked away.