Aelric awoke, and it was quiet, as it usually was after his mother died a few months ago. He got up and got dressed. He wore a button up shirt and a brown, leather vest over it. He grabbed his pocket watch, coated with a paint of silver, his initials carved into it, above his initial, was his father’s, he always felt disappointed in his father after he left when Aelric was 12 years old. He walked outside of his room and walked to his pantry and observed it. It was empty. He sighed and walked to the front door and grabbed his bag of copper coins, and gently inserted it into his pocket on his leather vest and left his home. The birds chirped, and the sun rose from the hills a few miles away.

  In Aelric’s hometown, Oakenhaven, which is primarily a trading town in the nation of Eldenus. Aelric lived on the outskirts of Oakenhaven as all farmers usually did. Aelric had noticed the crops he had planted were fully grown. He could keep them in his shed behind the house and sell them the next day.

  Aelric wasn’t surprised by the fact that the streets of Oakenhaven were filled with wagons, carried by horses. He walked onto the sidewalk, and walked to the market, and went in. The shopkeeper looked at him, and waved, not really smiling. Aelric nodded. Aelric’s family was never really accepted ever since his great-grandfather went to fight.

  His great-grandfather went to fight a rebellion against the Eldenus government and came back. His wife, and newborn son left while he was fighting. But even then, his wife and son were disgraced to the town since it wasn’t acceptable to fight in a war if you were from the town. Aelric’s great-grandfather ended up dead after kids threw rocks at him when he was aged.

  One of the old taboos of Oakenhaven, before it united under the rule of Eldenus, which unfortunately stuck with the town. Fighting in wars was strictly prohibited due to some reason, that not even the elderly folk knew of. Aelric always knew it was some stupid rule, but what could he do? He was always taxed,

  Since then, Aelric was never accepted. Nobody really cared about him, so he just minded his own business. Aelric grabbed a few canned foods of tuna and took a loaf of bread. He walked to the back of the store and bought a few metal cans of milk. He went to the shopkeeper and paid him. “18 copper coins.” The shopkeeper said. “Isn’t this just 10 copper coins?” Aelric asked, “Why is it 18 copper coins?” “You know why. Pay up.” The shopkeeper replied. Aelric sighed and set 18 copper coins on the counter. “Thanks.” The shopkeeper said. Aelric left the store, pushing the doors. Aelric noticed that across the street, that there was a military sign-up with 2 people stationing it. Idiots. He thought.

  Good luck trying to recruit anyone here. He crossed the street. People shoved into him, pushing him in front of the military sign-up booth. “Ah, hello! I assume you’re here to sign up?” A woman asked. Her steel armor with four golden stripes across the chest plate indicated that she was a captain of the Eldenus army. “I am Captain Valeria and this is Private Bright.” She said, Aelric nodded, standing there, shaking a little. Aelric hadn’t ever been good at confrontation. “N-nice to meet you. I’m Aelric.” He spoke. “Nice to meet you, but are you here to sign up?” Captain Valeria asked. Aelric stood there awkwardly. “Hey, are you doing it or not?” Private Bright asked. Aelric, not able to process anything said “Yes.” He soon realized his grave mistake. He was already a pariah in Oakenhaven, this would just make his situation worse. “N-no, I me-” He said before Captain Valeria cut him off. “Okay, great. Sign this paper, and you're in.” Captain Valeria said. She moved a piece of paper, with some text on it, but his vision was too blurry from the panic.

  Aelric gulped, not processing why his body was doing this and signed it. “Okay, now, go to the Green Dragon Inn, we will be there soon since you’re the only one that signed up here.” Captain Valeria said, grinning. “Surprisingly.” Private Bright muttered under his breath. Captain Valeria lightly slapped Private Bright. “Quiet.” She muttered and continued to smile. Aelric nodded and felt dread. He walked to the Green Dragon Inn, shaking all over. Word got around fast as people kept a small distance away from him. He walked to the Green Dragon Inn, and sat down, waiting for them.

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  Hours seemingly passed, as people who passed him by glared at him. “Just like his disappointing great-grandfather.” Someone said, “He’s trying to continue his disappointing heritage…” Someone else said. Aelric, deep down, regretted his decision. The two soldiers arrived. “Ah, I was afraid you would’ve run off somewhere, very well. Well, let’s go to Fort Talos, where you’ll receive training, okay?” Captain Valeria said. Aelric nodded and stood up and boarded the wagon. He sat and looked around. The people around him were very disappointed. The wagon took off slowly and rode up a hill. Aelric looked back at the town as he went down the other side of the hill, seemingly disappearing.

  “I suppose I should explain our mission, Aelric." Captain Valeria said, "You will go to Fort Talos for training, and complete the 7-week-course there, where you will be officially amongst the ranks of soldiers in there. If you graduate the course, then we will explain more details, but all you need to know about our enemy is that he has come from below the Underworld, and took over a body 36 years ago, he went into hiding until recently. Of course, you'll get more information if you graduate the bootcamp training." She stated.

  Aelric thought to himself. "And this supposed guy's name?" Aelric asked. "His name is Tormund." Captain Valeria replied. "Never heard of him. How did he even obtain a hold of a body?" Aelric asked. "Don't know. I can always ask Sylas. He's one of the best soldiers I know." Captain Valeria said. "Oh, well, if I were to face this guy, would I even have a chance?" Aelric asked once more. "No." Captain Valeria responded. "So, I think I would die, so why should I fight?"

  “Well, wouldn't you want to protect your loved ones, Aelric?” Captain Valeria said. "Oh, well, all the relatives I know I have are dead..." Aelric said. He knew he didn’t have to join the Eldenus military, but he honestly felt pressured to join. What even pressured him to join? Maybe he’ll be treated better than he was in his hometown. Maybe Fort Talos is fine. He thought to himself. He sighed and looked at the clouds. “You’ll be fine.” Private Bright said. After an hour of traveling, they made their way to Fort Talos.

  The walls surrounding the fortress were made of stone, lined with men in light armor, wielding bows, with a bundle of arrows on their back. The wooden gates, lined with reinforced steel, opened for their wagon. “Captain Valeria and Private Bright have arrived!” An archer on the wall shouted. A soldier in steel armor, his chestplate striped with two lines of gold. A corporal. “Sylas has requested to see you. He says it’s urgent.” The corporal said. “Thank you. I’ll be there.” Captain Valeria said, “Private Bright, show Aelric to the training grounds. Make sure he’s familiar with a sword before training tomorrow, he’ll need it.”

  She pulled the wagon to a stop and then hitched the leash onto a post. “Now, I’ll go talk to Sylas.” Captain Valeria said. “Come on, Aelric.” Private Bright said in a serious tone. He didn’t seem all that excited, but he showed me to the field. There stood a dummy. Private Bright handed Aelric a sword. “I will teach you the basics on how to use the sword, so you don’t look like a fool.” Private Bright said. “Okay.” I said, nodding slowly. “Now, hold the handle, and get into a stance like this.” Private Bright said, while slowly positioning himself into a stance.

  Aelric mimicked his movement. “Good, good.” He said, “Now, swing the sword at the dummy.” Aelric swung the sword at the dummy. It sliced through the torso of the dummy, as the hay that stuffed the dummy was exposed. “It’s not the best, but you’ll get better at it over time." Private Bright responded. “Now, try this stance.” He positioned himself into a defensive stance, Aelric mimicked his movements. “Use your sword to block my attacks.” Private Bright said. “Yes, sir.” Aelric replied. Private Bright grabbed a wooden sword and swung it at Aelric. Aelric swiftly blocked it. “Great, great. You’re better at this than attacking. Nevertheless, it still needs to be trained.” Private Bright said and then swung at him. Aelric blocked it again, and then Private Bright swung multiple times at him as he blocked all incoming attacks. “Okay, okay, it’s okay, but it won’t leave you alive on the battlefield. I give it a D+, and your attack a D-.” Private Bright said. "Let’s try all those again until I rank them a C."

  That was a D+? It felt so quick to him, but perhaps that man, Private Bright was holding back. Over the course of a few hours, Aelric and Private Bright trained.

  Aelric was exhausted. Private Bright seemed dazed. “Jeez, you haven’t gotten much better, but your instructor can deal with you tomorrow.” Private Bright said, seemingly bored, “Now, I’ll show you to the Trainee Barracks.” Aelric followed Private Bright to the Trainee Barracks. He walked inside, there seemed to be about 16 bunk beds. So, there were 31 trainees, excluding himself. “Your instructor, will of course, give you all the information you need to know tomorrow."

  Aelric approached the bed in the right corner, and laid down, and wrapped himself under the blanket. He took deep breaths as he felt drowsy, and eventually his eyes became heavy, as he finally dozed off to sleep.