By the time the maids came to wake him, he’d already gotten through a morning workout in the room, bathed, and had a bit of time to continue his studies. The maids didn’t show any visible change in expression, but Galen could swear he saw annoyance in their eyes. At first they’d been surprised by how much of an early bird their new Champion was. Now they just seemed aggravated by it.

  No doubt they were unsettled by being unable to perform their normal duties. He found that rather amusing.

  The maids went about cleaning his room before helping him get ready for today’s trek into Ignis. As they worked, he found himself staring at the maids...

  No, he didn’t look at them in any sort of perverted way! He simply found himself gawking at their beauty….

  Again, not in that way.

  The beauty of the maids almost disturbed Galen. It wasn’t just them, however. He’d noticed in the months spent in this world that everyone he saw seemed to be beautiful and/or handsome. To an almost eerie degree.

  He didn’t think he himself looked too bad. Above average at best. However, compared to the people in this world? He was beginning to wonder if he was actually uglier than he’d initially believed.

  After finishing their cleaning, the maids showed Galen the clothes he’d be wearing. He immediately disliked the outfit. That feeling turned to hate after the maids did his hair, helped him put on the clothes, and he saw himself in the mirror.

  “I look so… gaudy…” Galen groaned.

  He wore a dark, long sleeved, buttoned shirt with red and gold embroidery. His pants were a gray color, and he wore polished black boots. He also wore a cape of crimson red, with the symbol of an eye shooting out bolts of lightning sown on it in gold.

  In his studies, he came to learn that the eye was the symbol of the religion of the Dominion. The religion was called Athurai, which derived from a combination of the Emperor’s first and last name. And the religion, of course, worshiped Athanasius Durai as their god. The eye was meant to symbolize the Emperor watching over and protecting his believers.

  Apparently.

  He didn’t like wearing clothes sown with the symbol of Athanasius’s religion. He really didn’t. Though, he was smart enough not to say anything to the maids, who plainly wore medallions with the Eye of Athanasius.

  After dressing, the maids led him down the castle towards the main entrance. There, he was met by Aleksi, who wore the robes he had when they’d first met. Aleksi looked at his outfit and smiled, “Now that is attire fitting a Champion.”

  Galen’s brow twitched, Is it just me or is Aleksi trying not to laugh?

  No doubt his mentor knew him enough by now to figure that he hated these clothes. He groaned, “This outfit is too… flashy. I’m going to attract a bunch of attention out there!”

  Aleksi raised a brow, “That’s kind of the point, lad. This tour we’re taking around Ignis is not only for you to start becoming acquainted with this world, but also so the people of the Dominion can see their new Champion.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Galen sulked, “doesn’t mean I have to like it…”

  He’d been hoping to be able to put on clothes that would allow him to blend in with the people and discreetly explore as though he were a traveler or a tourist. He’d get a much more honest view of the capital and its citizens that way. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible this time around.

  He sighed, “Well, at least I’ll finally get my first glimpse into the world I was dragged into…”

  “Yes… I suppose,” Aleksi said hesitantly.

  Galen raised a brow, but the man said nothing more. Rather, he turned his attention down a hallway and said, “Ah, your guard has arrived, honored Champion.”

  He turned to see a platoon of about fifteen armored guards. They wore shining, bright steel armor and carried halberds on their shoulders. At their side was a sheathed sword, and on their backs, a round steel shield. All of them wore helms that masked their features, and they all wore blue versions of his cape.

  They all saluted him in unison when they got close. The clattering of their armor echoed throughout the area. He felt rather awkward standing there, What am I supposed to do… salute back…?

  Rather than saluting back, he gave a firm nod. Aleksi smiled, though Galen couldn’t tell if he approved of his response or if his tutor was simply amused at his discomfort.

  “Well then,” Galen coughed to clear his throat, “shall we?”

  Aleksi nodded, “Very well! As you requested, Champion, I shall accompany you with your guard. Though I will not be your guide.”

  Aleksi seemed to almost grimace at saying that last part. Galen only caught it due to spending so much time with the man in the past few months.

  It took him a moment to register what his tutor had said.

  “You’re not?” Galen asked.

  Aleksi shook his head.

  “Then who is?”

  “That would be me, honored Champion!”

  A young man stepped forward from behind the platoon of guards. He seemed to be older than Galen by only a few years. He wore similar robes to Aleksi, only his were blue and gold colored. He was dark skinned, but his complexion was lighter than his mentor’s. His dark hair was wavy and curly, and his eyes were a dark gray color. He also wore a thick pair of reading glasses.

  For a moment, Galen thought he looked a bit like Aleksi. He’d have to ask his tutor about this guy later.

  “And you are…?” he asked.

  The young man bowed at the waist, “Oh, forgive me for my rudeness, chosen Champion! My name is Milton! I am a scribe who works in this castle! I will use my knowledge to serve as your tour guide to Ignis, the illustrious capital of Axis Mundi!”

  Milton? That’s a nerdy sounding name.

  It fit rather well considering Milton was a scribe.

  “Alright… Well, I hope you’re ready. I’ll probably have a lots of questions for you,” Galen warned.

  Milton gave another deep bow, “I will be honored to answer your questions and be of service to you, honored Champion.”

  Am I going to have to deal with this weird reverence all day? Kill me now… he mentally groaned.

  ***

  The first thing Galen noticed when the front gate opened and he stepped outside was the heat. It hit him like a wave, and his mood worsened as a result.

  “Something wrong, Champion?” Aleksi asked as he and the guard followed him out.

  “It’s nothing, just…” Galen wiped the sweat already forming on his brow, “I hate the heat.”

  He stared longingly back at the air conditioned castle.

  “Air conditioning is a marvel, isn’t it?”

  Galen turned to see it was Milton who spoke. The scribe smiled in the direction of the castle, patriotic pride shone in his eyes and straight posture.

  “I’ll say. I don’t know how people lived without it,” Galen gave Milton a questioning look, “and to be frank, I still can’t get over the fact that this world has something that modern. What other technology can I expect to find in the Dominion?”

  Milton smiled in a way that said, “If only you knew.”

  Out loud, he said, “You shall see. Come, let us get going. There is much to take in.”

  Galen followed Milton, Aleksi, and his guards as they led him towards Ignis.

  From his studies, he learned that Ignis was divided into three circles, each one separated by a massive wall that could be seen even from the castle, which was at the very center of the capital. Which meant, of course, that he was able to see them now.

  Galen couldn’t help but whistle at seeing the massive constructions. Milton noticed his reaction, and gave another proud smile, “Magnificent works of architecture, aren’t they?”

  “I suppose,” Galen frowned, “not sure how I feel about each Circle being separated as they are, though.”

  “I assure you, great Champion, that it is done with good reason,” Milton pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, “let me also assure you, neither Lord Athanasius, nor the Dominion, forgets or mistreats those in the lower Circles.”

  Galen eyed the scribe, “I would hope so.”

  As they walked towards one of the castle’s exit gates leading into the First Circle, Milton asked him, “Tell me, Champion. Has Aleksi gone over the three Circles with you yet?”

  Galen shrugged, “We’ve touched upon it, but we haven’t gotten into the details.”

  “In that case, might I use my knowledge to enlighten you?”

  “Go ahead.”

  And so Milton did.

  “The denizens of the Third,” Milton explained, “typically handle more labor focused work, such as construction and farming as examples.”

  So, the Third Circle was where the Dominion’s equivalent of the “lower class” resided. Noted, he thought.

  “And how are they treated compared to those of the other Circles?” Galen asked.

  “I swear in Athanasius’s sacred name, honored Champion,” Milton put a hand over his heart whilst raising the other, “the Holy Emperor and his Dominion hold those in the Third with the highest regard! For it is them who grows our food. It is them who constructs our homes. They are the backbone of the Dominion, and we treat them as such!”

  Galen nodded, deciding to take the scribe at his word.

  For now anyway, he thought, I’ll confirm for myself if that’s true later.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “The Second Circle,” Milton continued, “is where the middle class resides. The people here consist of those from the lower class who’ve stood out from among their peers. Either by accomplishing some great feat that most would think beyond them, or by distinguishing themselves as being a genius/prodigy in some regard. For you see, Lord Athanasius believes strongly in honing and pushing mankind’s latent potential to the utmost degree. Part of that process involves finding the rare prodigies that are occasionally born in the lower class, helping them to hone their talents, and genetically passing them on to the next generation.”

  Milton paused for dramatic effect before raising and spreading his arms in a theatrical fashion, “And here, the First Circle, the center of which this castle stands, is the culmination of that belief! This is where the nobility of the Dominion resides. Those whose ancestors were once elevated to the Second Circle, married, and had children who’d inherited the gifts of their parents. To qualify to become part of the First Circle, one has to be at least second generation from one in the Second Circle.”

  That essentially means it’s impossible for one born in the Third to ever be elevated to the First, Galen realized, though their children have the potential to become part of the nobility.

  As though in answer to his thoughts, Milton added, “As with anything there are exceptions. Those outliers, however, tend to be prodigies among prodigies. People who were born with talent and potential only seen once in several generations. These exceedingly rare individuals can be elevated straight to the First, even if they were born in the Third.”

  Galen took a moment to digest all the information. A thought crossed his mind, and he voiced it, “Well, if all that is true, then there must be an obscene amount of nobles living in the First Circle. What with new nobility constantly being elevated and whatnot.”

  Milton smiled, “Not necessarily, Champion.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Being part of the First or even the Second is not a permanent guarantee that one will always be in that upper class. Even the nobles of the Dominion are required to continually hone their talents and skills. At some point they are expected to either find a suitable partner, or have one arranged for them. To strengthen and enhance those genetics in their offspring even further. You may find it interesting to note that should one become lackadaisical in this pursuit, or otherwise have committed some major crime or offense, one could be demoted down a Circle. However such a punishment is uncommon. Most of the current nobility’s ancestry can be traced back to someone from the Second Circle, with the oldest lines tracing back to the First Champion’s reign.” Milton explained.

  After hearing all that, Galen realized with trepidation, it suddenly makes sense why the nobility in Ignis seemed to be almost inhumanly beautiful and intelligent…

  It was eugenics at its finest. People getting married, arranged or otherwise, and having kids. Not out of genuine affection and love, but to create the strongest, smartest, most talented, and most gifted offspring they could with the best genetics possible. To have someone in your bloodline become a part of the First meant that you and your family line would become part of the strongest and brightest in the entire Dominion.

  This system, this way of life, seemed to be ingrained into the culture of Ignis...

  Normally, he loved learning of other cultures. But this… this left him feeling uneasy.

  By now, they had arrived at the gates, which had massive statues of none other than Athanasius on either side of it. The statues were made double ended, so that there was a visage of the Emperor looking into the castle on one side, and another looking out into the First Circle on the other. Looking at the eyes of the statue, which held blue gemstones to mimic the supposed god’s own blue eyes, Galen felt a shiver run down his spine.

  It was probably just his imagination, but he could have sworn the statue’s eyes were actually looking at him…

  He shook the feeling off and broke eye contact with the statues.

  The guards by the gate gave a salute to him and his group, and the massive doors slowly opened, revealing the First Circle of Ignis.

  He was immediately impressed by the city. Though he wasn’t much of an architect, he could still see it was beautiful. Enough so that it almost made him not mind the sweltering heat. The buildings and architecture seemed to be a mixture of modern and medieval.

  Once they descended down the stairs and were firmly within the First Circle, Galen saw many more, smaller statues of Athanasius littered about. Given the Emperor was the god of the Dominion, he supposed that made sense. Though it made the ruler seem more narcissistic in his eyes.

  Scanning further, he could swear he saw televisions and speakers on various buildings giving news and updates to the people of the city. That alone was a major shock, as that was yet another piece of modern technology that was present in this world. Yet another mark left behind by his predecessor. He saw Milton give him yet another proud smile upon seeing his reaction.

  Just how much of Earth’s tech did the First Champion introduce here?! Galen thought with disbelief.

  He shook his head and tried to pay attention to the citizens, many of whom had noticed his group’s arrival and had stopped to point, gawk, and whisper among one another. He noticed that their clothing was similar to what those in the Middle East back on Earth wore. That is to say, robes that covered their bodies and protected their skin from the sun’s harsh rays. Which made sense given the climate of this Realm. The robes themselves were rather immaculate, and many people wore fancy looking jewelry as well.

  They are nobles, after all, Galen thought, I guess that fits.

  He also noticed, however, some of them wearing clothing that left little to the imagination. Much more akin to how people from Earth would dress in summer. Though those were few in number, thankfully. He flushed at seeing some of the women, and made it a point to avoid looking at them.

  Aleksi gestured for them all to march further into the city. The people made sure to give them more than enough space to pass, and Galen caught glimpses of them giving him looks of awe and admiration. That made him feel uncomfortable, so he distracted himself by looking around the city as they marched.

  There was enough medieval fantasy to make Ignis feel unique, but more than enough modernity mixed in that it made Galen feel homesick.

  His thoughts of home were interrupted as a shadow passed over them.

  He froze as the shadow passed, and looked up to see what it was.

  It was a boat… with wings? And propeller blades attached to the back?

  “Is that an airship?!” Galen couldn’t help but say aloud.

  “Hmm?” Milton paused before looking up, “ah! Yes it is. I’m surprised you know about those, Champion. Did you have them back in your world as well?”

  “Yeah,” Galen muttered, eyes wide and still locked on to the passing flying boat, “though airships were something that existed solely in fiction. I’m… surprised and confused to see you have them here.”

  “They have their purposes. Quite handy they are,” Milton explained, “the one you see now is probably in a test flight. Judging from the design, it looks to be an older model.”

  Galen rubbed his chin in thought. He almost didn’t want to ask the question on his mind, but curiosity won out.

  “Do… do you guys have…” he struggled to find the correct Durainese word.

  Giving up, he simply used the English word, “Planes?”

  Milton blinked in confusion. He looked to Aleksi, who shrugged in response.

  Galen flushed, “I mean… do you guys have machines that can fly, but the machines themselves resemble birds in flight?”

  Milton paused for a moment, thinking. Eventually, he raised a brow, “No? I don’t believe so?”

  “Huh… well never mind,” he said with a shake of his head.

  He returned his gaze at the now distant airship.

  I really am in another world… Galen thought.

  He had already accepted that as fact months ago, yet walking around Ignis was making it really sink in. Many of the people gawked with stars in their eyes and whispered as they passed, though none approached. Milton explained that today was meant for him to visit Ignis, not interact with its people. Something that had been announced to them beforehand. They would set up an event of some sort for people to formally meet him when the time came.

  The rest of the visit to Ignis was a blur. After a few hours of walking around, with Milton showing him the various shops, plazas, and other locations of note. Aleksi seemed to sense he was starting to feel tired and overwhelmed.

  Galen saw his tutor give Milton a look, and the scribe seemed to understand as he cleared his throat, “I think that’s good enough for the day. Many of the people have managed to get a glimpse of you, Champion, and we’ve managed to show you some locations of note. Let us return so that you may rest and recover.”

  Galen sighed and nodded thankfully. Some Champion I’m turning out to be, he thought, a bit disappointed with himself, getting overwhelmed by something like this.

  ***

  After returning to the castle, Milton had given him a smile, a bow, and said goodbye. His guard had simply given a firm nod and a salute before leaving. That left Aleksi to walk with Galen to his room.

  “You doing alright, lad?” Aleksi asked.

  Galen slowly exhaled, “Honestly? I’m mentally exhausted. The city was beautiful, amazingly so. And I was surprised by the level of technology you guys have here. Though, I wasn’t a big fan of how the nobles were looking at me like a savior.”

  Aleksi chuckled, “Keep in mind that, to them, you are. In their minds, the other Realms, though disconnected at the moment from Axis Mundi and Branlyn, pose a threat to their safety. And given the accomplishments of the First Champion, they have high expectations for you, lad.”

  Galen shook his head, “I don’t care about any of that. I’m just trying to get back home.”

  Aleksi nodded and smiled kindly, “I understand that. You’ll have to get used to it though. No telling how long you’ll be in Avani, but it’ll probably be for a long time.”

  He nodded. A moment of silence passed between the two before he said to Aleksi, “Hey. Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course, lad.”

  “Do you know Milton?”

  Aleksi was silent for a while before answering, “Well, I’ve worked here before you were summoned for some time. And more so now that I’ve been assigned as your tutor. Why do you ask?”

  Galen shrugged, “I thought he resembled you a bit, but I might’ve imagined it. That, and I noticed you shot him a couple of glances when we were walking around Ignis.”

  Once again, Aleksi was silent for a moment before responding with a jovial chuckle, “Well, he did take the spot of being your guide. I suppose I was a bit cross at that.”

  Galen raised a brow and snickered, “Really? I didn’t take you for the type to get offended by something like that.”

  Aleksi shrugged, “I can be rather competitive.”

  “As can I,” Galen grinned.

  Aleksi laughed, “I can’t wait to see that side of you when we start your combat training.”

  He raised his brows, “Really?! Are we starting on that soon?”

  “Yes, I believe you’ve got a firm enough grasp on the language. You wouldn’t be much of a Champion if all we did was have you sit your room and study. Athanasius wants you to be the next Champion, not a scholar. And besides, I know how antsy you’ve been to get some exercise in. I’ve noticed how intensely you did your own physical training to vent.”

  Galen flushed at that, but smiled regardless.

  It’s about damn time, he thought, his grin widening.

  As they neared his room, Aleksi asked him in a lowered voice, and in English no less, “Before we part ways for the day, lad, let me ask you. What do you think of the Dominion from your brief visit into Ignis?”

  Galen raised a brow at Aleksi switching to English. He figured his tutor had a purpose in doing so, so he responded in the same tongue and lowered volume, “There’s not much I can gleam from only one visit into the city. I like studying history and culture, you see. You can tell a lot about a ruler by looking at the state of the people they lead. Judging just from this one trip? Hmm…”

  He took a moment to think about it, “The Dominion doesn’t seem like a bad place. However, my opinion can be subject to change depending on what else I see and learn about.”

  Aleksi seemed to release a sigh of relief at that, “Good. That’s good, lad.”

  Before Galen could ask his tutor why he had asked that, he realized that they had reached his room.

  “Well, this is where we part ways for the day, lad.”

  Aleksi looked down both sides of the hallway before putting a hand on Galen’s shoulder, leaning in, and whispering into his ear in English, “I just want you to remember this, lad. Not everything is as it seems.”

  Galen’s eyes widened, but before he could question Aleksi, the man had smiled, gave him a firm but gentle squeeze on his shoulder, and left.

  He watched his tutor’s retreating back, a million questions running through his mind. He realized his heart had begun to race anxiously in his chest. What Aleksi said had startled him, for sure.

  As Galen entered his room, he made a mental note to keep what his mentor said in mind. He just hoped Aleksi hadn’t been alluding to anything bad. But just in case, he would keep his guard up.

  Is the Dominion hiding things from me? Galen thought.

  He figured the answer was “most likely.”

  His grandfather had tried to instill in him a healthy distrust of authority. Galen hadn’t trusted his own government, in his own country, in his own world. He wasn’t about to trust one of an entirely different world.

  Yet at the same time, as if to counter his grandfather’s influence, his father had taught him to respect those in authority, even if he disagreed with them. It made for quite the contradicting upbringing. With his Dad and Grandpa being essentially opposites, it made it hard for Galen to be a rebellious teenager and go against the authority figures of his life.

  If he rebelled against Andros, would he not then be going along with what his grandfather wanted? And if he rebelled against Nolan, then he’d be listening to his dad. Not that he was prone to being rebellious, mind you. It’s simply that the thought of what another teenager would do in his place, one more prone to having issues with authority, amused him.

  Galen locked his door, changed, and pulled out one of the history books that he had been studying. Just what are they hiding from me, I wonder?