The Knocks of time

The three onlookers all stood outside with their mouths wide open as the 4-month-year-old child set up and pulled the string on the wooden bow with immense precision.

'It feels like I haven't shot in years finally getting a bow in my hands.' Alexander grasping the string in between his fingers thought.

"How am I supposed to teach an archery prodigy anything about using a bow. Maybe I can get one of the other officers to teach him when we get back to the camp." Captain Collins thought watching the small boy sitting pulling back on the bowstring perfectly.

"Well, I think we have a special one here today." Gregor clapped aloud snapping everyone out of their momentary dazes.

"As expected of my nephew. Add the cost to my weapons order and I will pay the extra in a couple of days when I come to pick up the guild weapons." Cynthia started puffing out her chest even more than before.

"I guess we should start heading out it will be dark in a couple of hours and we still need to ride back to the encampment." Captain Collins said while lifting Alexander and his bow from the middle of the circle of weapons into his arms.

"Very well I will drop you both back off at the Administration building where I met the two of you. So, you two can make it back before night as we both know how many creatures roam in the dark."

Cynthia led Captain Collins and Alexander out of Gregor's shop back to the blue carriage. As they set off back to the Admins building.

"This is where I will see you both off as I have some matters, I put off today to be with my nephew. So, I will be the first to go." Cynthia explained while kissing Alexander on his forehead before leaving in her carriage.

'Why do I feel sad watching her leave. Maybe because this is the first thing anyone has ever got for me that didn't benefit someone else. This life may not be too bad after all.'

Captain Collins and Alexander set off back to the Northern Encampment on horseback. Alexander being placed back inside of Captain Collins's coat.

.

. An hour later

.

Back at the Northern Encampment

"Welcome back Captain. How was your day off with your son?" Stated a familiar bald man waiting by the main south gate.

"Major, what are you doing here?"

"I heard you ran into the Elvish Queen? Did she say anything to you?"

"No sir, she saved our lives as we were attacked by wolf creatures as there were too many for me to take on while protecting Alexander. Then she merely gave a couple of words before leaving back to their kingdom towards the east."

"Ah, I heard she beautiful beyond compare. Is that true?" The Major asked excitedly gleaming in the Captain's eyes.

'She wasn't all that now that I think about it the only mesmerizing part was her eyes that felt enteral.' Alexander thought back to their encounter with the Queen.

"I do not have a clue sir as she was wearing a veil over her face."

"Well, that is rather disappointing and by examining your bag there it seems you have spent quite a bit of money on the boy. Especially that bow the boy is carrying. Captain, you are not too proficient in handling the bow why did you choose this weapon for him?"

"I did not sir, he chose it himself."

"Chose it himself? How will he get to learn anything if he does not have the proper instruction? The only man in this camp that can shoot the bow masterfully is the Colonel."

'No one else uses a stupid bow and arrow in this camp? I guess when you can toss fireballs out of your hands like the Captain arrows aren't too appealing at that point. Why that scary old man from before his aura almost suffocated me the last time, we were in the same room together.

"I have been thinking about that sir. Do you think the Colonel will teach my son how to use the bow?"

"Maybe so, but it will come with a price. He will probably place you in the northernmost post station right outside the old base camp. Not too many men want to be stationed there after what happened all those years ago. If you ask to be stationed for a couple of weeks of every month, I am sure he will gladly accept."

"Thank you for the advice, sir. I will have a discussion with the Colonel about teaching my son another time. For now, we still have to go home and get the little situated."

"Very well, have a good day Captain."

After returning to the house Captain Collins bathed Alexander and made him dinner.

"We are a family you and me. I will try my best to teach you everything you need to know and how to defend yourself from all the terrible people in this world. I wish you could have met Charlottle she would have loved you. You will grow to know her as your mother she was a brave and beautiful woman. Your eyes reminded me of her the first time I saw you." Captain Collins said with a large smile on his face with tears rolling down his face watching his son munch on some bread.

After putting Alexander to bed Captain Collins head out of the small house.

'It is about time the man left he has been just crying this whole time. I had to pretend to be sleepy so he would come put me down. First, we need to find any papers that can tell me about the history of this world.'

Alexander rolled off the bed and began his search around the bedroom to find any books or papers he could get his tiny hands-on. 'What is that up there.' Alexander saw a large brown book that looked very dusty but was the only promising thing in this entire room that wasn't reported on the camp's facilities.

'Now how in the world am I going to get that book down from there? I may have to try climbing the chair and getting onto the desk.' The book was on top of the desk 1 meter off the floor across the room from Alexander.

'Well here goes nothing.'

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In a larger wooden building in the center of the camp

*Knock* *Knock*

"Captain Chris Collins asking for permission to enter sir?"

"Yes, come inside Captain. I have been expecting you." The voice of the Colonel was heard from inside.

Captain Collins entered into a large home where an older man with white hair was seen sitting behind his desk reading documents.

"Come sit down Captain. I heard that you had something to ask of me."

"Yes sir, I would like you to train Alexander how to master a bow and arrow. I know you are one of the few people in this entire continent who wield a bow and shield."

"You would be correct Captain, but why should I do this for your boy as I do not teach other soldiers my techniques with the bow?"

"Sir, I would be willing to serve time in the northernmost post station as the leading officer. In exchange, I would like for you to teach my son some of your knowledge."

"Well, Captain that does sound very good to me. We can do this you will serve 2 weeks of every month at the northern post, then you can spend the other 2 weeks here at the main camp. At the age of 6, I will start teaching your son some of my archery and hand-to-hand fighting techniques."

"Thank you, sir. When would you like me to start heading over to the northern post to man it?"

"You will start tomorrow night."

"Yes sir. I will be returning to my residence now Colonel."

"Very well."

Captain Collins exited the home walking back to his residence where his son was sleeping.

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Back in the Captain's home during that conversation

'Ah, I finally got to this stupid book. It better be worth all that stupid effort. Who would have guessed having small hands and feet would be this terrible.' Opening the large book Alexander started reading through the flipping through the pages. His eyes seemed to be glued to every word as he heard the front door to the home open and close. Alexander threw the book closed rolling off of the desk onto the chair then the floor. Crawling back to the edge of the bed where he pulled himself back onto his side where he pretended to be asleep.

*Creek*

The bedroom door opened for Captain Collins to enter as his eyes directly went to the sleeping individual in his bed. Slowly getting changed into sleeping clothes Captain Collins laid in bed next to the not so asleep Alexander.

"Well little guy I got you that archery teacher you will need, but I am going to have to start leaving you every once in a while, starting tomorrow. I am going to start being put on one of the most dangerous posts in our Kingdom, but don't worry I have something worth coming home to now. Besides, Ms. Evelyn will start coming over once I am gone and teaching you about all kinds of things." Captain Collins whispered to the sleeping Alexander.

As Alexander was listening to Captain Collins's words, he felt a little piece of his heart unmelt, but then fall apart again as he thought about all of the people that abandoned him and never stood beside him. 'From what I read the only reason the north is so deadly is due to the demon race being beyond the mountains. The demon race has been raging war on all of the other races for thousands of years, but from the reports I read on the desk, they have been dormant for the last 600 years. From what the book also said the tattoos have something to do with the magic of this world. This has something to do with that awakening ceremony where you call out then an animal comes to you then your souls' fuse. That is all that book could give me as most of the rest was just talking about how great the first royal family was.'

As Alexander pondered for a bit longer about the contents of the book and the world's situation he decided to go to sleep, and hopefully get some more information soon.

.

. The next morning

.

"Wake up little one. Ms. Evelyn is here to see you." Captain Collins said to the drowsy Alexander waking him up from his slumber.

"Hey, there little one. I heard today was going to be our first day together don't worry I will take great care of you."

"Thank you, Ms. Evelyn, once again. I have to go now to prepare my new unit for our departure tonight."

"No problem. Alexander and I will go see you before you leave."

Captain Collins grabs some papers from his desk then sets off into the camp. Leaving Alexander in Ms. Evelyn's arms.

"Well, it's just you and me. You haven't had breakfast yet so we can do that right now together. So, for breakfast, we have Northern Vine Snake and Eastern Ice Falcon eggs. The Northern Vine Snake is light green and usually weighs about 20 pounds. They are nasty predators as they are very patient pretending to be regular tree vines, but the way to tell if it is a snake or not is to look for the line under their bellies that red. The Eastern Ice Falcon, usually live alone with their children as they are very territorial and hunt in the night. These creatures usually don't pose much of a threat as they screech before diving at their prey to confuse them." Ms. Evelyn explained to Alexander in keen detail how to cook and catch the animals they ate.

.

. A couple of hours later

.

"I have to go now, Alexander. I look forward to seeing you when I get back. Take good care of him Ms. Evelyn teach him everything you know." Captain Collins said kissing Alexander on his forehead before departing on horseback leading a small unit of men.

Then months flew by and Alexander began walking and talking. At every meal, Ms. Evelyn and Alexander shared she would tell Alexander all about the creatures in the outside world and how to use them for various purposes. Alexander would always listen intensely when Ms. Evelyn would speak about huge and small creatures that could easily kill any unsuspecting man or a fast creature that would hunt their prey for days trapping them slowly. Whenever Captain Collins was home Alexander would have him read the large dusty book on his desk telling the history of the Kingdom of Galdos.

Soon the book was of no purpose so Captain Collins started bringing in more and more books for Alexander to start reading about the outside world history learning about the Barbarian race and People of the Water. This cycle continued for 6 more years when finally, Alexander arrived in front of the Colonel's door.

*Knock* *Knock*