"Should we go hunting after school?", asked Rasmus
"I don't know. I should list down what I should do when we get to the Capital," answered Fredrik with an excited look on his face.
"Yes, I think you should, too. You finally get to explore life outside of this place, Rik."
Fredrik continued walking, ignoring his brother's statement. Rasmus looked concerned and started walking faster to catch up with his brother. He had worries He then placed his hand on his head.
"Fredrik. It's fine. I've also had my doubts about it. But I trust Mother and Father. You have to also. Nothing bad is going to happen, alright?"
Fredrik, with doubt still on his mind, grew a little bit at ease. He knew he could trust his brother. He has trusted him with many things- his homework, his little secrets, and most importantly, his life. Fredrik kicked a small stone as he was walking. He dragged his feet along the sand. He looked around him. Irindal city. Small houses and structures made of Phyrosia's sand bricks. All of them looked similar, some smaller, some bigger; others had designs, patterns, and unique structures, but these were reserved for the higher-class citizens. But as a whole, it looked uniform. None of the buildings stood out too much from another, none of them being unique. Fredrik thought to himself, how much more different would it be on the Capital Planet? Different people, a variety of building sizes, new and bizarre technology and species.
He wanted to know. He needed to know; he wanted to see the Universe and experience things. But deep in his mind, something bad was about to happen. Fredrik stopped walking and looked at the scorching hot sun, sweat forming on his brow. Rasmus grabbed him by the shoulder and looked into his eyes.
"Let's go hunting after school, we will get a huge catch. What do you say?", asked Rasmus excitedly, expecting his brother to react in the same manner.
Fredrik looked down and around. He then pondered with his brother, just standing on the walkway, the people just passing by them.
"I don't know, I guess?"
"I'll show you a good spot where you can see the stars clearly and even the other solar systems."
Fredrik's eyes lit up; all remaining doubt and thoughts were cast out. He had always wanted to see the solar systems in clear view and had asked his brother multiple times over time to show him the spot.
"Really? You'll finally bring me there this time? I can't wait! I can guess all the solar systems that can be seen from Phyrosia- there's Olduel, Xenrar, Seayy-"
"And The Half, yes, yes. I know. You've talked about it loads of times, little brother. But once you see it, you will be in awe. So, let's hunt and then gaze at the stars after school alright?", said Rasmus, ruffling his little brother's hair.
"Alright!", shouted Fredrik, gleefully skipping and running towards his school.
Rasmus chuckled. He then followed suit.
"Where do you think you're going?", asked a voice from behind.
Rasmus felt palms on his back, it felt heavy and hostile.
"Wh-"
Rasmus fell to the ground. He was pushed, his face landing first onto the sand path. His face sank deeply into the sand, leaving an imprint.
PWAH!
"Fucking asshole!"
"AHAHAHAHA! How do you always let your guard down Mussy boy?"
Rasmus stayed silent. He was lying down with his face still slightly in the sand. He grasped onto some sand as he laid down, slowly getting up.
"Take it easy on him, Maustafr. Are you alright Mus?"
"Yeah, I'm al- "
"Right!"
Rasmus threw the sand at Maustafr, a boy of Rasmus' age who had black curly hair, a plump face and a short, bulbous nose.
"Argh! I got some sand in my eyes!", shouted the boy, placing his hands on his face, trying to rub off the sand off of himself.
"And you too, should stop giving the enemy a chance."
Maustafr and the boys next to him smiled, then they started to laugh. Rasmus smiled and went along with them, laughing. The crowd around them ignored the commotion and instead went along with their day, as if they were used to this daily occurrence. The boy to Maustafr's left, a boy with short, black, straight hair, a long, sharp nose, a chiseled face, and brown skin, came towards Rasmus, extending a hand in greeting. Rasmus extended his arms, accepting the hug and embracing the boy. He could feel the Xherpa's (a desert sheep that inhabits Phyrosia) woolen clothing rustling against his skin. Rasmus looked at this boy's eyes and smiled. He then placed his right hand on his shoulder, feeling the soft yet prickly wool of the Xherpa.
"How are you, Kyrien? Doing alright? How's your Mother?", asked Rasmus in a rather soft and concerned voice.
"She's doing well, Mus. Thankfully, her condition has stabilised," answered Kyrien.
"That's good, my brother," said Rasmus, feeling Kyrien's shoulder. It was hard and he could feel his shoulder bone.
"Have you been eating much Kiri?", asked Rasmus with a concerned look on his face.
"That's what I've been telling him Mus," said the boy on Maustafr's right with a buzz cut and , who came to embrace Rasmus.
"Aradyn. How've you been, brother?", asked Rasmus as he took in Aradyn's embrace.
"All good, brother. How's your family?", asked Aradyn with a soft voice.
"They're doing well. We will be heading to the Capital Planet on the day of the ceremony," said Rasmus.
"The Capital Planet?", asked Maustafr, clearing his face of the sand.
"What's the occasion? You're missing the ceremony and going to the Capital without us?", said Maustafr with an annoyed voice, walking towards Rasmus and putting him in a headlock. He then formed a fist and rubbed it against Rasmus's head.
"Argh! Ah! Stop! My parents want me to go there."
"To the Capital Planet? What for?", asked Kyrien.
Rasmus got himself out of Maustafr's headlock and adjusted his collar. He then wiped the sand off his clothes from top to bottom and then looked at his friends. He sighed and thought for a second.
"See, that's the thing. I don't even know why we're going there and on ceremony day," said Rasmus in a confused voice.
Rasmus folded his arms and let out a sigh. He then looked at his friends, whom he had known his entire life, and shared his struggles and joys with. He reminisced about when they would get in trouble, go for absurd hunts in the desert for a species that was only rumored to exist. He had doubts about going to the Capital Planet. He was comfortable and satisfied with his life on Phyrosia, albeit a humble and simple one. He did not have any ambition or dreams of exploring the Universe, other species. He was only interested in hunting and on Phyrosia.
"I see. When will you be back?", asked Aradyn.
"I'll be gone for a long time. But I will be back," answered Rasmus.
"Don't worry about us, Mus, if anything, we can meet at the Capital City one day. Aradyn and I plan to go there for University. We will surely meet," said Kyrien.
"You guys, too? All while I'm stuck here in this shitty place. All because I was born to a farmer," said Maustafr in a whiny voice.
Everyone looked at Maustafr with unease. They knew it was his fate to inherit. To be a farmer and feed the people of Irindal. Such a fate was of duty and honor. But it came with a price—the price of freedom.
"Well, whatever. It's not like I ever wanted to get out of this shit hole of a city. It's not like I hate doing farm work every day," said Maustafr in a soft, gloomy voice, looking at his friends.
His friends just looked at him. Yet they were avoiding his eye contact. No word or sound came out of their mouths. They wanted to help him, to get him out of his miserable life, but what could they do? They were children, helpless children who did not have everything figured out for themselves.
"Well, I'm sure you can visit us for a holiday. We can make that happen, right?", asked Aradyn in a nervous voice.
Maustafr looked at him in confusion, his eyes widening, his left brow raised. It was as if he had seen a ghost.
"You fucking idiot! You think I can do such a thing? I am a farmer. The one that provides for the people of this city. The one that makes sure people like you don't go hungry. The one that makes sure this city still stands. That is what my Father would say to me—every day," said Maustafr in an angry voice, clenching his fists.
Rasmus and the others just looked at him. They wanted to comfort him, but they were unsure of how to do so. Maustafr was an emotional person and an unstable one at that. They just stared at him, as they had done so whenever Maustafr would get emotional. They just let him collect himself as they always have. But Rasmus was thinking to himself that he was tired. Tired of Maustafr's self pity and whining. Tired that he would not find a way to deal with it himself. He walked up towards Maustafr's face, looking him straight into his eyes. He then slapped him hard with his right hand, causing Maustafr to spit out and back off, almost falling from the sheer strength of the slap. Maustafr's eyes grew red with rage, and he looked like he wanted to kill Rasmus. He walked towards Rasmus with heavy, ravaged steps. Aradyn and Kyrien were in shock. They had never expected this to happen; they had never expected Rasmus, a rather rational, calm person, to slap Maustafr. Aradyn went towards Maustafr, grabbing his arms and restraining him. Kyrien did the same for Rasmus.
"Why aren't you doing anything about it? You hate your life so much, yet you skulk and whine, not doing a single thing," asked Rasmus in a raised voice.
Maustafr's face grew redder. He was angry. But Rasmus was right. He skulked and whined constantly to his friends, but he did nothing about it. He would tell himself and the others that it was his duty and honor to become a farmer. But he was lying to himself. He was not honorable, nor did he care for duty. He wanted what everyone had. A choice. Or at least more choices than he ever will have. He was brought into this world with a fate already determined before he could let out a breath. Maustafr hated it.
"If you don't want to be a farmer, then what do you want to be? Do something about it. We are tired of you being a bitch," said Rasmus angrily. It was all the pent-up frustration and anger he had towards Maustafr coming out. He had to let it out.
"You have a choice, Maustafr. You do. You have until ceremony day. Join me before the feast in the Hidden Keep or stay and become the thing you hate the most," said Rasmus, getting himself out of Kyrien's restrain and walking away as he did so.
Maustafr's anger slowly faded. He was given an opportunity. His face slowly turned back to its normal color and he thought to himself. This may be his only opportunity. He knew he had to take it.
As Rasmus was about twenty steps away from his friends, he added, "The offer extends to both of you as well Kiri, Ara."
The three of them looked at Rasmus. They knew they had a huge decision to make. One that would change their lives.
Irindal Centre School
"Can anyone tell me the founding father of the great Zance race and empire?" Fredrik ignored the question. The warm and humid feeling of the classroom did not bother him as it had done so on any other day. Instead, he looked out of the window and at the sky. The convenience of it was amazing. He could not see the stars or the other planets, but he imagined where they would be. The Sairtaryan Guiding star, on the north, Terrenza close, on the West and further east, Dernamycus. Home of the Clan Baude. The rulers of the Esterais solar system. Fredrik dreamed of what life would be like, how he would navigate through it, the people, the different foods and the wildlife that are on those planets. But worry not, he said to himself as he smiled, for they will be leaving for the Capital Planet and that is where their adventure truly starts.
"SMACK!"
A loud, whip-like noise disrupted Fredrik's daydreaming and he immediately turned to the sound. It was Master Surol, holding his long wooden ruler against his table. Surol would often use this to discipline his students- a tool for fear and obedience. Fredrik's heart raced, he grit his teeth and looked at his teacher and took a gulp. He wanted to ask it, but he was afraid of the consequences.
"So, what is it, Mr Yurgen?", asked Surol in a straight, stern voice, his eyes looking dead, piercing straight into Fredrik's soul.
"Uh. Um. I think," muttered Fredrik, sweat drooping down his forehead as he looked around the classroom. His classmates were looking at him intently, curious as to what Surol the "Cruel" would do to him.
As Fredrik struggled to figure out what was being asked, a boy in front of him had been writing. He then turned around and showed the Teldevice, rapidly pointing at the rather large Teldevice. Fredrik read it and the answer instantly came to mind.
"Piotr Zance. It was Piotr Zance who founded the great Zance race and Empire, Master Surol."
"And who owns dominion over us and which planet do they reside in?"
"Clan Oderein of the Planet Terrenza."
"And who owns dominion over them, what planet do they reside in and what solar system?"
"Clan Baude, for they reside in Dernamycus, and they rule over the Esterais."
"Wrong. Clan Baude resides in Airndranidus. They have since their inception. Clan Tyr, which was wiped out eighteen years ago, resided in the now desolate and destroyed Dernamycus," said Master Surol, with an annoyed voice, tapping his wooden ruler on Fredrik's table as he did so.
"Yes, you are right, forgive me, Master Surol," Fredrik said in a nervous, shaky voice, his hands shaking wildly underneath the table.
"Now, who owns dominion over Clan Baude, what planet do they reside in and what solar system?"
"C-Clan Lyngard. They reside in the Capital Planet, Quazark and they rule in the Calathar solar system."
"And who rules over us all? Who is our great leader and Emperor King of our great Zance Empire?"
Fredrik got up, his steel-worn-out chair scraping the sand brick floors and making an ear-shrieking sound, causing everybody except Master Surol to cover their ears and cringe. Fredrik brought his right arm up, straightening his hand and placing his palm over his heart. He then brought his left arm up, forming a fist and looked straight ahead with a confident and straight face.
"Our great Emperor King! The holy and just. The one who rules the nine and delivers progress and prosperity! Fourteenth of his name, born in the year of the Yigel and coronated in the year of the Kyndd. The "Peacemaker" King Uduard! All hail, King Uduard!"
"All hail King Uduard!", said everyone else in the classroom, following Fredrik's gesture.
"All hail King Uduard.", said Master Surol.
After about what seemed to be an eternity, Master Surol walked away from Fredrik's desk, his strides wide and intimidating. As he reached the Telboard, he turned around, facing his students. He then walked towards his table. It was huge, the length of the Telboard behind him, about five meters. He then placed his long ruler on the desk and stared at his students with those dark grey dead eyes. He then placed both his hands on the desk.
"As you all know. It is Reaping Day in three. Your mothers, sisters, or someone close to you and cared about might be picked. You may cry for days, months, years or maybe never stop crying at all. But. This is all for duty. Your loved ones are upholding their duty as citizens of the Great Zance Empire. A good and just cause. Sacrifices must be made so that we as a species, we as Gilarans can survive. All hail, King Uduard."
"All hail, King Uduard."
The students sat down again on their chairs, with Master Surol continuing his lesson. The boy in front of Fredrik looked behind and stared at him.
"You owe me," whispered the boy before turning back quickly so as not to get caught.
"Yeah, I owe you Siri. Thanks for saving me there," whispered Fredrik back.
Syryen smiled and got to taking notes on his Teldevice. Fredrik looked outside the window again and thought to himself how much there was waiting for him. How excited he was to go with his brother later and how very excited he is to go to the Capital Planet. Books, yes he could find ancient books. He had to make sure to bring a bunch of PPDs(Preservation Pod Device) if he encountered anything interesting and worth studying. He smirked and then looked at the large Telboard. He had to focus up, just for these few days at least and then he will be gone.
"You'll be going to the Capital Planet?", asked Syryen in shock, almost spitting his Xilathal stew out of his mouth.
"Yes"
"When are you coming back?"
"I'm not sure yet, but I'll be going to school there."
Syryen took a scoop of his stew and shoved it into his mouth, taking three bites and letting it flush down. He was excited. His eyes gleamed at the thought of his best friend going to the Capital Planet. Syryen then burped loudly, causing Fredrik to look in disgust.
"Can I get a souvenir, Rik? Please, I promise to give you all the drymelon candies I have," asked Syryen with a puppy-like look on his face.
Fredrik sighed and looked at his best friend.
"Siri, you know I hate drymelon."
"I know. Alright, what can I give you? I will give you anything, please."
Fredrik thought to himself hard and well. He needed something that will help him document his life in the Capital Planet. That's when it came to him. That Syryen could provide exactly for.
"Siri, you are rich."
"Yes, I am."
"Your Father has lots of rich people stuff."
"Yes, he does," answered Syryen, dragging his sentence, as if he knew he was not going to like what was going to be requested by his friend.
"And your Father does have something to store items. Lots of it."
"You couldn't be asking about his PPDs are you?"
Fredrik gave an awkward smile, his eyes squinting as he did so. Syryen looked at him and gave out a huge sigh. It was impossible. Although his Father did have the PPDs, it was secured with multiple layers of security and fail-safes. Getting through it would be impossible. He had heard his father implement lethal traps, and for good reason. He was a high-ranking official in the Irindal City Council and he had often used his PPDs to store important objects and data. But Syryen needed to find a way, because what he wanted from Fredrik was important to him.
"Alright. I will find a way."
Fredrik smiled as his friend said those words. All of his important findings, from the Capital could be preserved and he felt as if he were a Grand Explorer. One day, he told himself, he would explore beyond Esterais, beyond Calathar and New Galean and find something and make a name for himself. That is the life that he wanted. A life of adventure, knowledge and recognition. To be known for something no one else has. History books will remember him, students will study him and scientists will use him.
"Hello, Rik? Rik? Rik!"
Fredrik snapped out of his delusions and came back to reality. He looked at Syryen, who looked at him with concern. Everyone around them just giggled amongst themselves; they knew Fredrik to be a constant daydreamer and would often drift off into his fantasies. It has led to some awkward and mostly innocent outcomes, but Syryen grew concerned. His friend has been having these daydreaming episodes for quite some time. For a year. He feared something was happening to his friend.
"Oh, sorry, Siri. What were you saying?"
"Are. You alright?"
"Yes, I'm alright."
Syryen did not look convinced as he gave a confused look to Fredrik. But, what was he to do. No one was getting harmed, Fredrik did not show any symptoms during or after his daydreaming episodes and he acted normally afterwards. He was still Fredrik. No matter, Syryen thought to himself, bringing his arms up as he let go of his utensil. He then looked at Fredrik straight in the eyes.
"I need a photograph of Syr Boros Thorn, the Grand Duelist of The Emperor King's Guard."
"Syr Boros Thorn? You mean, the greatest living fighter?", asked Fredrik, as he spilled some of his food on the table.
"Y-yes. I've always been a fan of the Guard. You know that. Syr Boros especially. He was my inspiration to join the Guard."
Fredrik shook his head rapidly. It was impossible. Getting to the Pryde was impossible. It was highly secured. The only way for Fredrik to potentially get Syr Boros' autograph would be when King Uduard steps out of his home- for political meetings, events and during leisure time. But even then, would Syr Boros even give him his signature? He did not know the man, other than him being from the best Guard clan, the Thorns and him being the best current fighter, with rumors of him only losing once in his over five thousand battles.
"Why don't you get Syr Audreld Lyons' autograph? Isn't your Father close to the Baudes?", asked Fredrik, hoping to get himself out of the impossible task given by his friend.
"Syr Audreld Lyons is a nobody and he's from an unknown clan, Rik. Nobody cares for a Guard's signature from a small clan. Let alone, one by an amateur."
Syryen was right. Nobody would care for Syr Lyon's signature. It would carry very little value or recognition if any. He knew this because many of the male students in the school idolise the Guard and want to join them in the coming of their age. Many of them admired Syr Boros. His skill, strength, feats and most importantly, his honor have made him rightfully famous and loved.
Fredrik thought to himself for a few seconds, looking down at the table. It was going to be hard. But not impossible. And, if Syryen does not deliver, he would not have to do it. But he was hoping. Highly hoping that Syryen would. He wanted that PPD. He would give almost anything for it. He looked at Syryen.
"I'll do it. You get me the PPDs and I'll get you your autograph."
"Deal."
Fredrik and Syryen shook hands firmly and continued eating their lunch. They did not have much time left. They had another grueling five hours of school left.