Inside the castle, I was standing in the courtyard, my gaze fixed on the horizon, trying to hide the frustration that was consuming me. My face, as always, was serious, perhaps even a little dissatisfied, but I knew that no one would dare question it. At the time, I must have been around thirteen or fourteen, and the delicate, androgynous appearance I displayed only reinforced the idea that I was still just a child, although I knew that, inside, I was far beyond that.
My dark hair fell over my face, and the slight breeze that passed through made me feel the weight of my own body. The hunting suit I was wearing fit my body well, although the clothes were a little baggy, which made me look thinner than I really was. A leather belt was attached to my waist, but my hand and face, pale as the moon, made me almost translucent to the sight of others. Dark eyes and hair, in contrast to my whitish skin, gave me the look of someone fragile - perhaps even ill, if the others dared to look closely.
- Why can't Benta come? - I asked, my voice sounding more unsure and irritated than I would have liked. A pang of anger came over me, but I knew I shouldn't show it too much. I always felt like I was being pushed into something I didn't want, something that didn't make sense to me.
Rillen was there, next to me, and his eyes were calm as he checked the carriage that was waiting for us. He sighed before answering me, as if he was already tired of the conversation.
- Because she can't look after you all the time. You need to start school, meet other boys your age. - His voice was soft, as always, but there was a seriousness to it that I couldn't ignore.
He pointed to the two men standing nearby. I took a closer look at them. The first thing I noticed was the man in heavy armor.
- "This is Doug," Rillen said, gesturing to the tall, stocky man, whose leather armor looked heavy enough to crush anyone under its weight. He carried a large axe on his back, and his posture looked like that of a man used to battle. A wild man, no doubt, but I knew his loyalty was unquestionable.
Then Rillen indicated the man next to Doug.
- And this is Rammal. - Rammal was Doug's opposite in every respect. Short, but with a cunning presence, his eyes were like sharp blades, observing everything and everyone. He had a simple dagger at his waist, but the look in his eyes said that he was far more dangerous than any weapon he carried. It was an eerie feeling, as if he was always ahead, always calculating.
Rillen turned to me and continued, his voice firmer now.
- They will both be your escorts. They will take you to school and bring you back every day. The course for the nobility doesn't take long. Choose the subjects that interest you.
I knew it was all part of my father's plan. He always had a bigger vision than me, always thinking of something beyond the obvious. What about me? I wasn't just his son; we were allies, colleagues. What he wanted from me now, I wasn't sure, but I knew that my true strength should be saved for when it was really needed. I didn't want to let him down.
New Moon City, with its busy streets and vibrant markets, was the most important commercial center in the region. The school was always open for applications, as long as there was enough to pay the fees. And, of course, I had the money. The annual fees were 100 gold coins, a considerable sum, but my father didn't hesitate to send me there. I remembered well what he had said: "You need more than combat training. You need life experience."
The thought of going to school, which I saw more as a prison disguised as an education, didn't appeal to me. But I knew there was something more behind it. After all, my father was sending me to the course just a month after I had become a warrior commander. That could only mean that he believed I was ready for more, much more. And although it was hard to admit, I knew he was right. There was a reason for all this.
Few people within my family knew about this decision, but those who did were trustworthy, and they had all agreed to it. It was clear to them that I had reached the limit of what I could learn on my own. I had already hunted various animals in the forest and had experience on the battlefield, but somehow that wasn't enough. I didn't know exactly what was in store for me, but my father was right about one thing: I needed this experience to become a master fighter.
I was ready. But part of me still wondered if I really was.
Once, he even took down a wild boar - and, look, the creature was fury in the flesh. Its huge teeth and muscles appeared to be made of pure strength, but in the end, he knew exactly what to do to bring it down. Of course, he hadn't done it ostentatiously. Discretion was necessary, and he did it the right way, as he always did when it came to keeping up appearances.
But at that moment, seeing the difficult expression on my face, Rillen smiled with that calm that only he possessed, knowing exactly what to say to tempt me.
- The school has unique teachers and courses. There are lots of books there, you can learn lots of new things. They'll teach you what money can pay for, and I'm willing to open my vault for you. - His voice was soft, but the promise was clear. The idea of learning more, of expanding my horizons, something that had always appealed to me, was tempting.
When I heard that, my expression softened. I knew he was serious. And, nodding, I got into the carriage and closed the door, without looking back.
The two veteran warriors, Doug and Rammal, looked at each other for a moment, a smile exchanged between them, before climbing onto their horses. With a shake of their heads, they moved on.
- If only we had a father like yours. - I murmured, more to myself, watching the scene.
The carriage moved slowly, and the surrounding landscape changed as we moved away from the castle. When I grew up within those walls, the "City of the New Moon" was a place I had always imagined to be grand, a center of knowledge and culture. I saw it as a beacon of possibilities, a land where everything I needed to learn could be found. I knew it would take about two hours to get there, after all, my father's castle was in an isolated region, far away from the city.
We passed through the dirt roads, and soon the carriage entered a different, busier road. Before long, the city I had always dreamed of seeing was right in front of me. But to my surprise, I felt a deep disappointment.
The streets were full of people, but nothing seemed to be as I had imagined. Everyone wore dull gray linen and dirt seemed to dominate the atmosphere. There was a strange smell in the air and the street was filthy. Some shopkeepers shouted for attention, offering fruit, wooden toys and vegetables, while mostly women checked out the goods holding wicker baskets.
It was then that I noticed something. The people around me were all wearing shades of gray, except for me. My clothes, dark brown with a vest of silver buttons on the chest, seemed to shine amid the uniform gray of the population. For a moment, I stood there, watching the passers-by, and it took me a while to remember the reason for the difference.
Yes, of course, I knew that. In one of the law books my father had made me read, it was very clear: only nobles could wear colored clothes. If anyone was caught breaking this rule, the punishment would be severe - an offense so serious that it could result in the death penalty.
I felt a discomfort growing inside me, a sense of separation, as if my presence there was a silent violation. My gaze passed quickly over the surrounding faces, and it was impossible to ignore the gulf that was opening up between us. Me, with my clothes and status, and all those who could barely sustain a look of curiosity or surprise.