Chapter 1

Fire. It was everywhere, burning the trees, the houses, the ground… the very air itself. My flesh melted off of my bones, and my skin shriveled and turned black. The world was burning, burning, burning, burning-

“Wake up soldier, wake up!”

I jolted awake and sat up abruptly, nearly bumping my head into the commander’s as he stared at me with a scowl.

“Quit dreaming of rainbows and unicorns, the general has an announcement to make! Get your ass to the courtyard in twenty minutes. Don’t be late!”

I wiped the spittle off of my face as he trudged off to awaken the next unfortunate soldier.

“Do you think what he said was true? Is the general himself truly giving an announcement, to us?” A soldier beside me asked. Judging by his tone, he was Avery.

“Yeah, I think it’s true. Why would the commander have any reason to lie?”

“But this is the general we’re talking about, the actual general!”

“Yeah, and what’s so crazy about that?”

“Whaddya mean? The only reason the general would say something to low-born rabble like us is if the empire is going to war!”

“Quit your yapping back there! And someone turn on the light!” The commander screamed from the other side of the tent.

“Y-yes sir, immediately!” A soft voice responded.

‘That must be Terence.’

Suddenly, the tent was illuminated by a bright light, and I had to cover my eyes to adjust my vision.

“Oh, is that you Alric? I thought you were Balsan.” Avery said.

“Don’t compare me to that huge brute. Our voices are on different sides of the spectrum.”

“Hahaha, you’re right! Man, I must be so tired right now. When did we go to sleep last night?”

“Around… one? I don’t know. Hey Terence, what time is it?”

“Alric, is that you? I can’t see well without my glasses.” Terence replied in his signature soft voice.

“Man, how terrible would it be if you were blind and weak? It must be a huge pain being you!” Avery yelled from beside me.

“Shut up Avery,” I said heatedly. “Terence doesn’t need your critique.”

“I-I-I-it’s six o'clock right now!”

“Got it, thanks, Terence!”

Avery turned to face me, an expression of annoyance etched on his features.

“Why do you care about that little shit? All he does is follow the commander around like his little pet.”

“At least he’s not a hothead like you. You’re the first to go down in the battle simulator. It’s almost as if you’re asking to get hit.”

“Oy, quiet down, won’t you? You have fifteen minutes to be fully geared and in the courtyard, and you can’t be late!” The commander yelled, before stomping out of the tent.

“That guy is such a huge pain in the ass.” Avery muttered.

“Agreed.”

————

I stood within a crowd of soldiers, all of us fully armored and armed, and sweating buckets from the heat of the morning sun.

Before us was a large platform that the commander usually used for announcements and demonstrations. Standing on the platform was the largest man I had ever seen, fully decked out in black glossy armor and a glowing red sword strapped to his waist. He easily towered over the tallest soldiers in our battalion and was at least eight feet tall.

We stood there in silence, not daring to make a sound under his piercing gaze as swept his eyes across the crowd.

“Soldiers of the empire! I have come here to inform you all that the empire is at war! The X Rank mage Teseret Von has declared war on the empire, claiming he will smite all of the people of the land! Men, women, children, everyone! This man is a threat to all life within the empire, and only you can stop him! Brave men of the fifth battalion, you are to march to the border and fight on the front lines! The emperor has great hopes for you! Salute!”

“Salute!” We replied.

The man smiled, a large toothy smile, and then disappeared from the platform.

‘So the rumors were true. The general is a space mage.’ I thought.

“Hey.” I felt someone elbow me from the side. “Do you think what he said was true? Are we really fighting on the front lines, against The Reaper?”

“Yes Avery, we are. Can you stop asking the same question over and over again?”

“But it’s just so insane! How are we, mere F-rank mages, supposed to face off against one of the strongest mages in the world?”

“We’re not. We’re just fodder, sacrificial lambs being led to slaughter. No one stands a chance against The Reaper. The emperor is just using our deaths to stall for time.”

“Come on Alric, don’t joke around. We’re not just lambs being led to slaughter, were people, were human beings! There is obviously a purpose for all of this.”

‘Easy for you to say. You have a family to go home to. I have nothing.’ I thought to myself.

The commander trudged onto the platform and waited for the soldiers to quiet down.

“Alright soldiers, you heard the man. Send letters to your families and loved ones, and prepare your equipment. Tomorrow, we march to battle!”

The soldiers cheered, and then walked back to their tents to get ready.

I began to follow them when the commander touched my shoulder.

“Not you Vayne. You come with me.”

“What? Commander, did I do something wrong?”

“No. Now follow me, and no more questions.”

————

The commander led me into a large red tent near the edge of the compound, and after fussing with my uniform for a few seconds, left me there alone.

‘I wonder what this is about? Also, what tent is this? I don’t remember seeing it before.’

The inside of the tent walls were decorated with golden thread, and unlike the standard lamp lighting, a mana orb hanging from the center pole illuminated the entire room.

‘It’s like a tent fitted for royalty.’

“Admiring the decor?” A voice said from behind me.

I spun around. In front of me, the general stood, his red eyes staring into mine.

“General Seran? What are you doing here?” I asked in surprise.

“Hah! What a bold question to ask. This is my tent, not yours.”

‘This is the general’s tent?!’

“That’s an amusing expression you have there. Good, you should be surprised.”

He placed his hand on my shoulder. “You, Alric Vayne, are not going to participate in the war. You are hereby stripped of your uniform and will be brought to your home. Your time in the army is over.”

‘Huh?’

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“What I mean, Alric Vayne, is that you are so weak, and your potential is so low, that by participating in the war you would only hinder us. Thus, you are being kicked out of the army.” He gave me a smile. “That’s good for you, no? Your life will be spared, unlike your fellow soldiers.”

‘I’m being… kicked out of the army?’

“Don't make such an expression. By doing this I’m saving your life! If you fought in the war you would be killed instantly! You have one spell in your repertoire, and it’s the candle spell! You are so weak that even a child can beat you! The only reason you even got accepted into the army in the first place is because of your father’s achievements. And now he’s dead. So consider this the final favor that I owe him.”

I stared at him and opened my mouth, but no words came out. I felt his grip on my shoulder tighten.

“Go back to your tent and gather your things. A horse is waiting for you at the entrance to the base. You leave in ten minutes.”

He released his grip on my shoulder and looked into my eyes. His red eyes reminded me of the dream I had just before I woke up. The dream of the fire.

Suddenly, he disappeared.

I stood there, alone, in the general’s tent, not knowing what to do. My entire life was in the army, ever since my father died fighting in the last war. I had no home to return to, since my uncle had inherited the family mansion after my father’s death, and had then kicked me out.

The only place I had was the army. And now, that is gone too. Where would I go from here? I had no money, and no relatives other than my uncle. Would I end up living on the streets as a beggar?

I buried my face in my hands.

‘Should I just give up and try to escape the empire? No, I would be instantly killed if I tried. Maybe I should become a bounty hunter or a vigilante? No, the general was right, I’m simply too weak. Whatever I try I’m simply bound to fail. I guess… there is no use defying fate.’

I raised my face from my hands and stood up straight.

‘I should get my things.’

————

I stood next to my horse, staring at the army base for one last time. All it was was just a few tents haphazardly placed inside of a squared fence, but for me, it was home.

“Hey, are you going to ogle or are you going to leave?” The commander asked.

I looked him over. He was a middle-aged man of average height, with slightly balding brown hair, and a bit of muscle on his arms. The only defining feature he held was the scowl that never escaped his face. This man had given me hell for the last year, but I would miss him. I would miss all of them.

“Hello? Stop daydreaming and leave! Go already!”

“Yes sir, and thank you for everything.”

“Yeah, yeah, get on your way.”

After taking one last glance at the base, I mounted my horse and began the long ride towards Hesten city, where I would hopefully find a home and a job, and live a happy life.