War Ignites

A few weeks passed by with not much but mass patrols on the outer reaches of the city. We aimlessly searched for the assailants. Then out of the blue one day we were all recalled early into the city, we all waited aimlessly as every squad was in attendance. The hushed conversations seeming louder due to the silence of it all and then as if lightning had struck the stage before a loud bang welcomed the squad captains onto the stage. Between them all stood the captain of the Royal Guard, who stood there with parchment held in front of them.

"On orders of the council, we are now at war. The nations of Branevos, Granar and Hargek have aligned together to form a coalition against us! Their goal, to free the Kingdom of Drelvor and its peoples there. It is your duty to protect this kingdom and its subjects, so I expect you all to show our great empires true worth. FOR THE GLORY OF THE EMPIRE! FOR THE GLORY OF THE EMPEROR!"

The crowd burst into a loud cheer, Phyora and Caleo turned to each other before quickly breaking into a cheer whilst Relund quickly raised his fist as high as possible. Meanwhile I stood there staring at my right hand clenched like a vice. Fear took over me for a split second, the chill shooting down my spine before I quickly joined in the eruption of noise and with that we were all dispersed. We all made our way back to our rooms before I was pulled over by our captain.

"Stavn, you've been recalled home." his hand on my shoulder holding a letter in his other. I took the letter and began reading it to myself, the gist of it was my father deemed it only right that I returned to help defend his lands.

"I suppose I've got no choice in this regard." proceeding to roll the letter back up and placing it in my pocket. I quickly moved towards my room to gather my things immediately before the captain coughed to gain my attention.

"You've got a choice there, not sure you're fellow comrades will look at you the same if you were to go live a pleasant life whilst they fight on the front." his arms folded across his chest. I could feel something within myself, my two choices clashing with steel, the grating feeling of the possibility that I'd never see Phyora, Caleo and Relund again.

I quickly waved from behind relieving myself from the captain, before heading back to my room. It had only been a few months and I had only just begun to feel entirely comfortable with my new friends, but I knew that I had to go home, if not then I would lose a perfect opportunity to prove my worth. I entered my room and began slowly to pack my things, whilst the others just watched.

"So this is it?" Caleo remarked using my voice. "This is where you leave us?" His feet hanging off the top bunk.

"I suppose it is Caleo." I tried my hardest to put on a smile to comfort them at least but I struggled to even conjure up that. "I'm to head home and on my way I hope to find some mages to help me start studying magic, so I must leave earlier to get ahead of schedule."

Caleo hopped off the top bunk and patted me on the back, "It won't be our last meeting, I'll tell you that." Before he grabbed his sword and walked away to begin practice. Phyora had been sat on her bed just watching what I was doing whilst Relund was preparing himself to join Caleo.

"Good luck." Phyora standing up and walking out the door to go get some food. As she did I finished packing and turned to Relund giving him a quick nod before leaving. I quickly made my way out of the Headquarters and started making my way through the school. Due to my nature I wasn't close to anyone really and kept to myself with the only exceptions being my roommates. Yet as I walked through I looked upon the faces of my comrades for this short period of time, and the sudden feeling of loss came over me. My face soured as I headed toward the exit before being stopped by a strange voice.

"Leaving so soon?" it was a females voice that I could tell, but I couldn't recognise who's. I started to move my head towards the person that stood before me. It was the person that I bumped into when I first arrived, her ash coloured hair slightly longer than before. Beside her was the man I fought in the arena, I hadn't realise that he'd been moved out of my squad and into another.

"I knew from the first time I saw you that you'd be a useless coward, ever since you bumped into me and scampered away." she crossed her arms, it felt as if her gaze on me was amassing weights to my body, and with each word a new weight was added. "I suppose it'd be good to be rid of the useless fodder anyways, though you would've been helpful as a meat shield." She laughed and began to walk away.

"She can be very unapologetic at times mate. Don't let it get to you." I quickly glanced over to the man who had stayed quiet this whole time. "Her name around here is Ash, her real name I don't know. From since I joined she's always been like that, its quite cute don't you think?" Him clearly blushing and doting over her.

"Okay. Well I better be leaving then." his idle loving quickly becoming something that actually scared me.

"I don't take you for a coward, you just return home to protect those you love, I would do the same." I sharply turned around confused as all hell.

"How'd you know I was heading home?" He held aloft the letter that I had been given, during the time Ash had barraged me with insults, he quickly grabbed the letter and began to read it without me even noticing. "Oh, well can you hand it back." He began to pass it to me before dragging me in closer and beginning to whisper in my ear. "I mean a coward should really be at home with other cowards.... just kidding! I'm Mak by the way. I've been watching you're development over the past few months yet you never tried to get out of that squad." Him beginning to laugh as he walked away. "How unambitious could one man be!"

I scampered off to begin my travel back home, as I left the school I took a deep breath as I began my long and troublesome journey.