Chapter 01 - Extraordinary Part 01

Another loud thud echoed through the living room. "Curse this table!" young Allen Bernard groaned in pain for again, this marked the forth time he stubbed his toe on the leg of the dark wooden coffee table this morning.

"Soon, I'm getting out of here and definitely won't be coming back... Well, hopefully I wouldn't need to."

The small house in between the two flower stores had been cleaned to perfection. Floors swept, cabinets dusted, furniture rearranged. All that was left was to return the key to the rightful owner. It was the 10th day of January, the day of the year where men and women would await stunning carriages in either dark purple, chartreuse, blue or crimson colours along with stallions dressed in caparisons decorated with gold silk. They originated from the four mighty kingdoms in which have united into one community after a tremendous war that occurred over six years ago. The war that startled the very town Allen had grown up in for said kingdoms were not that far from it. Rumors spread throughout time saying that it was one of the most gruesome wars in history. The way the sharpened iron swords tore the flesh off the cavalry was almost as if it were inevitable. True chaos, with buildings crumbling down into piles of rubble, mountains of debris scattered throughout the kingdoms, non of the rulers survived that particular night. Luckily the kingdom of Windsor was informed of the incident thus the king ordered his infantry to search out the area and bring back those who were injured. To they're surprise, they found the four young heirs to each throne and a princess. They were showered in blood, barely recognisable laying still on the dirt surrounded by dead men. Along with the other commoners, they were brought back to Windsor Kingdom for treatment. Once they've recovered, the king offered to rebuild the four fallen kingdoms out of generosity. Having been a close trade partners, it saddened him to see the heirs left throneless having to live with their privileges taken away.

They could have done so much, bring their kingdoms forth together, the king thought. He refused to let that hope slip away.

And as years passed, the four kingdoms were fully rebuilt thus, making the young heirs the new rulers of the kingdoms to this day.

However, the rules of the system are far different now. A huge wall had been built surrounding the four kingdoms like a fort. The rulers have also decided to open their gates once every year to send carriages to far towns that weren't associated with any kingdoms in order to collect more people who were willing to stay as their subjects. They've loosened the rules of the system to fit the subjetcs' needs. Food, clothing, money and a home would be provided to new people and families who chose to stay there. And to be ranked as one of the nobility wasn't as hard either. Work opportunities to serve their families and chosen kingdom were also available. These rulers have made it quite a harmonious place to raise a family -- also peacefully and easily -- and so that was what Allen chose to do. To live freely in a foreign kingdom of his choice.

It was almost 10 o'clock. He stepped out of his small place of residence and locked the door. Quickly, he made his way to the fountain, of course, after he returned his keys to his foster parent, Brannon Lewis. His contract with him was over as he was turning 17 this year. Whether he lived in the town or not, he was no longer able to receive any financial support from the man. Brannon said his farewell and once again, the boy hurried towards the big fountain.

"Quite a crowd," he thought to himself.

They were obviously waiting for the carriages as well, a few women were even crying their eyes out for the sake of bidding farewell. Ridiculous indeed. Though it did seem nice to have someone who was willing to do ridiculous things for him. There he stood alone, among the crowd with a bag in his hand. He'd learned to get used to it. People here never exactly liked him for something that occurred years ago.

"Guess some never learn to let go," he reminded himself. The awkward tension was still there. He felt as if a million beady eyes were silently judging his so called loneliness.

As he was taking in a deep breath to calm himself, he felt two thin arms slid onto his waist. The gentleness of them felt a bit ticklish. Instantly, he turned to face the widest smile he'd seen all week. Her eyes were squinted, cheeks blushed a light pink, her short brown hair tied neatly back into a small bun. She was Ellie Fanning, the only person in town to be proud to claim him as her friend.

"You didn't think I wouldn't be here, did you?"

"Partly yes, partly no."

"Be honest!" she shouted.

"I am!"

They shared a short laugh, it had been a while since they've seen each other. Allen understood how busy she'd been, with the sewing and the waitress thing. He didn't bother to drop by as he thought it might have interrupted her work.

"So, don't forget to write to me about your experience there, I'd love to stay updated." her hands moved to the back of her dress.

"Or you could just come with me right now. You don't exactly need to bring any luggage, nor sign any papers, just hop on a carriage!"

"It's not that simple," she almost stuttered, "but maybe I will some day."

Soon, two black horses galloped through town and ceased in front of them. Two men dressed in lavender attire dismounted from them and began calling out to people. Allen felt intimidated just by looking at them. The tall boots, the fancy accessories, the neatly combed hair... And of course, the long shining silver swords. Not to mention those scary glances they give you like you're some petty low-life. But maybe in their eyes, the townspeople indeed were low-lives. Their carriage was a dark purple resembling DragonScale Kingdom, one of the four kingdoms -- and the kingdom Allen had chosen to live in --

He bid farewell to Ellie for the last time, looking deep into her boysenberry eyes and stepped into the carriage along with a few other men. Not many boarded, Allen assumed it was because their town population had been decreasing lately. The men then climbed up the horses once again and made their way out of town. Plain grass lands rolled as far as the eye could see. Then they moved to lower grounds which consisted of thick forests.

For once, after years, the heaviness of his heart started to drop bit by bit as they got further from his hometown. He's never been this far from his so called home, and the fact that he won't be looking back any longer makes everything better. All the collective wounds built throughout the years could now be healed with the absence of witnesses from the past. At last, the hope for happiness is now in his grasp.