Before the trials

It took Von about five days to reach the Capital, though the journey had been uneventful, it was plagued by reflexions and thoughts. His mother's death had left Von thinking, more like regretting being late, incredibly late. He couldn't help it of course, he was in the expedition, but still, he had been late and she had passed. Also, what would he tell Jochen? He had left in the middle of the night without any previous notice especially after how cryptic he had been. Could he tell him? He was his friend after all, but how can he be sure?. All of these thoughts and more had been going around Von's skull bouncing everywhere making him question and second guess everything so he shut them off and breathed in and out until he could his mind could be calm once more, and kept walking.

The massive cold walls of the impenetrable Capital greeted him with their shadow, his father had told him stories about the walls, how they had never been breached or how when you're on top you can see the world. Most of them were just tales of course, but the size, that weren't a tail at all. In the Capital nights arrived earlier because at some point when the sun reaches the horizon, the light no longer reaches inside thanks to the walls who cast a massive protective shadow on its citizens.

Von arrived at that exact moment when the sun hid behind the walls and proceeded to walk towards the entrance and showed his plaque at the military checkpoint before entering, they analyzed it and let him pass after. Security was even tighter than usual; there were more military patrols everywhere. Usually people don't leave the Capital since it has everything one could need, if you still did, you needed to ask for a permit, unless you were a military soldier and you just showed your plaque. Now, the checkpoint, which would usually be a little crowded was empty.

"A little late don't you think?" Said one of the soldiers as he returned Von's plaque

"I got called on short notice I'm afraid" Von replied as he accommodated his gear on his shoulder, the soldier looked at it and nodded to another

"We will check your bag" The soldier said

"I don't see why" Von said as he began to frown, annoyed, "My plaque is in order and I'm in a hurry"

"It will take but a minute, higher orders" The soldier replied in the same monotone voice as the other grabbed the bag from Von's shoulders and placed it on the ground, he began inspecting.

"This is a nice sword, very nice indeed" The soldier inspecting said, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the master-crafted sword Lion had made for Von.

"It is" Von said nonchalantly

"Everything is in order, you may pass"

"Thank you, may I ask why is the security so tight now?" Von asked

"You don't know? The king will give a speech in the upcoming weeks, they are reinforcing everything, we don't want a second fall do we?" One of the soldiers said as he took of his hat and wiped his brow, he chuckled at that last part

"No" Von said as he walked away

The dim-lit streets proved to be filled with people walking by, enjoying their evening as the warm night began to fall upon the city, Von kept walking towards the barracks, when called upon this is where you go. He stopped right at the entrance and breathed in and out and walked inside, there he was greeted once more by military men and the people at the reception who once more verified his plaque.

"You've been called for the pathwalker trials correct?" Asked the blonde receptionist,

"Yes," Von replied quickly

"Congratulations, must be an honor" The man said as he looked at Von with a faint smile,

"Yes.." Von said without reciprocating the gesture

"Up the stairs at the end of the hallway to your right, any of those rooms is yours, you can do as you please but tomorrow you must be here at seven PM is that clear?" Instructed the man as he signaled the stairs behind him

"All right" Von replied and grabbed his bag and went upstairs, this had been his first time upstairs since soldiers usually go downstairs or on the main floor due to their rank, but future path walkers weren't just soldiers.

As he reached the end of the hallway and turned to his right he saw another man, taller than him, short black hair, and a pair of glasses, he was fumbling with the door. His uniform was all uneven and loose and he was mumbling something,

"Ah... Come on you piece of.." He pushed once more and fell through the door with a loud 'Aahh!' Laughter could be heard afterwards. Von walked by and saw the man laughing on the floor, "damn, he's drunk as one can be, he can't even stand up" Von thought as he kept going looking for a room, he stopped in front of a door and decided this was it and opened it. No sooner did he open the door that two screams were heard, Von wide opened closed the door quickly as a man and a woman where on the floor screaming several insults at the 'fucking moron who had opened the door' Von hurried and went to another room and opened it thankfully empty and entered.

"Everyone is celebrating" he thought "having sex, or getting drunk or..., why am I not celebrating?" He asked himself before just dropping the bag on the floor and flopping into bed removing his boots only fast enough before sleep took him in.

Von woke up and after cleaning himself and putting on some clean military clothes he went downstairs, this time he used the more loose and fresh military clothes more appropriate for the warmer temperatures, this was a tucked in shirt with rolled sleeves, the overall green and brown pants and boots. As he walked downstairs with his hands on his pockets Von watched as the reception was full of people he reached the bottom of the stairs where he asked one of the guards

"What's going on?"

"New recruits, soulbinders" The guard responded without moving an inch of his position

"Why so many?" Von continued with the questions

"The new batch of pathwalkers aren't going to expeditions apparently"

"Is that so?"

"That's what they say at least, better to have more soulbinders in the army if you ask me, we win faster that way" the guard said as he looked at Von, he lowered his eyes to Von's right forearm "Soulbinder huh? no, future pathwalker, you came down the stairs"

"You have good eyes" Von said as he tapped the man's shoulder and left.

He began eyeing around seeing if she was there, had she come? Had she really chosen this? A part of Von would be glad to see her but another would be scared and sad. He kept looking and looking even tiptoeing sometimes to see more, and then he saw it. The fiery red locks that he had seen that first time, Allie.

As he began to walk towards her someone called behind him, he turned around to see a short brunette who was clearly out of breath, "Von Behertz?, soulbinder?"

"Yes, that's me, who are you?" Von replied in confusion

"You must come with me there are people waiting" the woman said as she grabbed his arm

"Who's waiting?" Von asked

Dumbfounded the woman took Von by the arm and walked him through various of the hallways of the barracks, along the way the woman kept saying things he couldn't listen to. Finally she stopped and opened two big doors that led to a huge dining room filled with several tables all with people sitting in them, Von saw both the couple and the tall man sitting in one talking, in the end of the room in a long table sat, several commanders, clan leaders

and the king.