Chapter 3: Start of a journey

Tuika was now in a carriage riding opposite of the grizzly soldier. "w-where are you taking me?" Tuika asked. he didn't exactly know anything besides his small village.

The grizzly man looked at Tuika. "we are going to the capital we are going to evaluate you and your sword, and don't worry about your transgression with the man you killed. He was a spy that was sent to try and take the sword he would have died today nevertheless."

Tuika went from scared to frightened, but something clicked in his head calming him down. he didn't like this feeling. "what do you mean by evaluate? Um Sir?"

"The names Towin, but you can call me Tow everyone does, and as to your question that is what happens when you get a divine weapon you and your weapon are going to be tested physical, mental, and magical." he said with a stern look

Tuika looked at the Tow and nodded he understood these weapons are very dangerous in the wrong hands. "so you aren't going to kill me?" he asked genuinely confused by the situation.

"no if you pass our tests you will be given a scholarship to the capitals school, and be given a education along with proper combat experience. if you can handle a hero's sword then you deserve the right to be treated as one in the future." Tow said with that same unnerving smile on his face, but at this point Tuika could tell that was his actual smile.

"u-um I." Tuika didn't have words to express what he was feeling so he just shut his mouth and looked out the window. this was going to be a long ride and he had never seen the world outside his village he was so excited, and yet very scared this was the start of a new journey for him. the scenes that they passed by wasn't something to interesting mainly a lot of farmland so far. it was still nice to travel he had never rode in a carriage it was a lot smoother then on horseback, but it was still uncomfortable since it had wooden benches.

"So Tuika I meant to ask early, but in our report you had white hair and purple eyes, but you have black hair and crimson eyes, why is that?" tow had asked as he put a cigar to his mouth.

" o-oh I think it was because of my skill... it's called evolution it changed me it seems." Tuika said not quite sure himself.

Tow seemed to nod in understandment. "I've never heard of this evolution skill, but I've seen enough skills changing physical appearance so it isn't to odd." he said lighting his cigar taking a puff. "Sit back and enjoy the ride young man it'll take us a few days to get there." Tow said relaxing in his seat.

Tuika nods and looks out the window again, but then something caught his eye. another carriage with a red haired girl styled into twin tails a small rose on the left side of her hair. cute round glasses sitting on her pale face, and beautiful light blue eyes behind those glasses. "Wow she's so pretty!" he exclaimed. then he heard laughter right beside him.

"ah you are at that age, she must be on her way to the capital to take the test as well maybe you'll see here there since you are at that age." tow said nudging him with a elbow as he moved back to his spot. "you are still young though so don't go breaking girls hearts you are quite the good looking fellow." he said with a wink.

Tuika smiled. "I'm not good with girls I get nervous and end up eating my own words." he said rubbing the back of his neck.

Tow laughted at his words. "Women are simple Tuika they like honest above everything and be a gentleman, but also be yourself. if a girl doesn't fall for you being you they aren't worth it."

Tuika looked at tow in a new light he may look like a rough and grizzly man, but he was a nice guy giving solid advice. "thank you tow I'll keep that in mind." he said with a wide smile.

as they traveled Tow and Tuika got to know each other Tow was one of the captains in the king's army he had surved for over ten years now. he was also married and had a daughter in the academy. Tuika told him about how he never knew his parents, and how the village raised him and treated him as one of there own. he explained how he never left the village, and was always helping out treating everyone as his own family. the days passed they made camp a few times with nothing out of the ordinary. they also did some sparring to teach Tuika some proper combat Tow didn't go easy on him either he'll have bruises for days.

Finally they arrived at the capital Tuika leaned out the window. it was amazing it was so big far bigger then any of the villages they passed on the way. the city was lined with stores and small stands. People crowded the streets either buying, or preforming some people were using instruments while others seemed to doing tricks with there magic.

"before we go to the academy, you have a meeting with the king." Tow said pulling Tuika in. " do you know proper edict?"

Tuika looked at Tow with a blank stare, and with a simple word it was obvious. "no."

Tow sighed as he rubbed his chin. "just don't be rude young man, well from what I've seen you seem to be well mannered so just be natural address him as your highness or my king." tow said explaining the proper procedure as the made there way to the palace.

they arrived to the castle entrance guards standing outside there carriage as the stepped out Tow seemed to have switch personalities as he stepped out his demeanor serious and he stood tall and proud. "at ease soldiers no need to be so serious all the time it's only a young boy." the guards seemed to relax slightly as the stepped through the doors. they walked the halls turning a few times before coming to another door. Tuika was expecting a throne room as the stepped through the door, but instead was now in a study.

"your highness I have brought the young man Tuika as you have instructed." Tow said giving a slight bow.

Behind the desk sat a tired looking older man his hair a light grey that was neatly combed back he had a pair of square glasses sitting at the end of his nose with tired eyes that matched his hair. "Ah Tow my old friend how many times have I asked you to address me as Ken." the king spoke standing up and walking towards Tow giving him a big hug with a smile on his face.

Tow smiled hugging the king back. "you ask me to every time, but I can not do that sir we may be old friends but I am still on duty."

Ken just shook his head smiling as he patted Tow on the shoulder before his gaze moved to Tuika. "so this is the young man you've spoken of in your reports." he said moving over to Tuika looking him up and down.

Tuika swallows the nervousness in his throat as he bowed. "yes your highness my name is Tuika Konoichi."

Ken for a second doesn't say anything." I see you tried to teach him edict, but there is no need for that young Tuika I am a king but I dislike people always addressing me as so, call me Ken and that's a order from your king. Even if I order this big oof to do it hell only do it if he's off duty. now take a seat and I'll have one of our maids bring us tea. it's time to discuss your place in our city as well as how you'll keep training with that sword of yours."

Tuika blinked in confusing before tow placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him gently towards the seats. "Do not worry so much he's a nice man and a great friend. He won't bite, well unless he's trying to see if you taste sweet." Tow chuckled as he sat down Ken giving him a playful slap to the back of his head as he walked by. Tuika sat down in the seat beside Tow not as nervous as before.

Ken sat down opposite of them. "Now usually I'd have meet you in my throne room and given you a speech, but I'm behind on work so we'll skip that part. Now we brought you here after learning you was given a piece of the Divine Spear. luckily Captain Tow here was in the area when the report was made. So your place in all this well it's quite simple we would like you to serve your country." Ken said stopping as he looked down at a piece of paper. Tuika's nerves instantly shot up at the thought of becoming a soldier. "But we won't force you this is your life after all. So we'd like to make you a proposal. if you don't want to join our ranks we'd at least like you to go to school to learn how to properly swing your sword, and teach you basic math, history, and magic." Ken said looking up at Tuika with a smile. Tuika knew what the king was doing he was saving him from a life in the military. "yes my K-ki..." he was stopped mid sentence with a soft glare from Ken. Tuika gulped and started again. "yes sir Ken I would like to go to school." he said correcting his sentence.

"Good lad, the entrance exam is just a few days away Tow will provide you with a place to stay until the exam. Even if you don't pass the first try Tow will train you until next year to try again." Ken said with a wide grin spread across his face.

Tow in the other hand gave a sigh because this was new information for him as well. "Yes your highness." he said nodding his head slightly.

Ken chuckled and stood up offering his hand towards Tuika. "Tuika while you are here in the capital I will treat you as one of my own children. I was informed you had not meet your parents nor did you have any family. So someone as young as you needs one treat Tow as a older brother or uncle. he may seem like a grumpy old man sometimes, but he'll treat you as his own too."

Tuika took Ken's hand with a smile. "Thank you Ken!" He said happier then he has ever been. This was a day like none other he meet a king was given a chance to better his life, and was told that he'd be treated as family. Tuika looked forward to the future that laid before him.