Chapter 1: Beginning (1)

Dread was the only thing I could feel in the quiet darkness. The morning light that managed to pierce through drape-covered windows barely illuminated the narrow steps as I slowly and carefully made my way down.

While the immense weight of my canvas backpack was painful, especially on my shoulders, I managed to keep balance as much as I could. Having to pack so much stuff just to go to a place where you’ll likely die is just tortuous, both to one’s mind and body. My lungs were practically burning by the time I reached the bottom of the wooden staircase, but I stopped myself from attempting to slip my huge weight off.

This exhaustion was my fault, having stopped my training to become a Raetalian knight years ago. Aside from myself, the dilapidated foyer around me was quiet and empty, stripped long ago of the aged possessions that once hung from its walls. Memories of a loud and bright room briefly flashed by like an image, but I shook my head.

There wasn’t much time to waste, especially since Ais went ahead already. She had woken up earlier, likely with a full night's rest. I slept none, so naturally I was left behind. It was fine though, the ship wasn’t too far off from our manor.

I reached out towards the large wooden front door, the rusty doorknob firmly in my grasp, but something in me hesitated. Because once I opened the door, it would mean I would finally be leaving the manor that had housed me and my sister for the longest time. All the darkness and light would be left behind.

At least, for a couple years, if I even came back alive. Unfortunately for me, the place I was going to was Albius. Likely one of the deadliest places in the world, complete with traps and monsters that wanted to kill you. And if you survived those things, then you had to worry about your ‘friends’ stabbing you in the back. All that for a Destiny and power that could just be worth nothing. My country was still brutal enough to keep on sending fresh ‘adults’ to get some ‘experience’ in the wonderful tower of Albius.

In reality, they were just sending meat bodies to a machine in hopes something usable came back to fight in a war that froze long ago. Me and all the hundreds of twenty year olds were just fodder to be sent fighting in that stupid war for our fated Destiny. And we don’t even question it, too busy worrying about the divide between nobles and commoners I guess.

But it doesn’t matter now. What stood between me and Destiny Day was this rotten old door that barely clung with its hinges. And was I ready? Definitely not. But I had no other choice. All I could do was hope I get some weak Destiny at the beach and cruise for the rest of my life. I took a deep breath, and pushed open the door.

The sunlight was thankfully not too bad as I stepped outside. I had expected to be harshly blinded, but my eyes adjusted easily. As always, my view walking out was breathtaking. The sun casted warm golden rays upon the vast dock far below the cliffside in front of me, while also illuminating the vast ocean that spanned through dawn’s horizon. Hundreds of ships lined the giant dock, and I barely could see the slew of tiny silhouettes of people intermingled all throughout the wooden bridges.

Some were fishermen and boatmen. The majority of the people however, were in the black mass of humans all corralled by groups of Raetalian Knights in the center of the dock. All the people in the formless mass were dressed in the same black uniform I was mandated to wear. Hundreds of fresh twenty-year olds fated to fight for their life and the empire couldn’t even treat them like humans, huh. And I had to soon join them. I sighed as I readjusted the straps of my backpack, my shoulders still crying out in pain as I stepped out towards the cliffside stairs.

Thankfully I was still efficient at walking down these cliff stairs despite my encumberment. While it was still hard and I still had to be careful, thousands of hours of playing down at the docks ingrained a comforting familiarity. It also helped that there seemed to be no one else going up nor down the stairs. Everyone else seemed to be on time, except for me I guess. Their voices and shouts grew louder and louder as I descended.

By the time I reached the bottom of the stairs, the black mass of fellow sacrifices were already slowly being herded towards a titanic ship far out in the middle of the dock. It was a crimson behemoth at least 150 feet tall, obsidian plates covering its sides. Anyone sane in the Empire could recognize the giant ship with one look. The famed Warship of Albion, named so famously after our nation’s heroic dragon. Legends say some of his scales were patched directly onto its hull, and I didn’t doubt it. That ship survived many battles despite being in the forefront, even against the gryphon shriekers of Ulea.

I admit it though, it was pretty amazing to finally get a chance to board it in person. My mother had always told me stories of her adventures on it, and it was my turn to see it myself. I just wished it was in a better circumstance. I quickened my pace as I marched over to the black parade, my boots squeaking the old wooden floorboards of the docks bridge. As I approached however, I could see a Raetalian knight walking over to me. I’m surprised they even caught sight of me despite the chaos, but I didn’t mind it. He was expressionless underneath his silver helmet, where short blonde hair laid.

“All Albius recruits must reveal their badge of entry.” The knight’s voice was gravely. He seemed like he was either in his late twenties or early thirties, but I couldn’t tell with a large scar adorned on his face. I nodded, rummaging into my uniform’s collar. When I finally felt the cold metal, I quickly pulled out the gold badge that doomed me into going to Albius.

“Alexander of the Lurdrake Estate.” I said as I extended the badge out towards the knight, the golden sheen of the dragon mark seemed more shinier than usual. The knight’s piercing amber eyes bored into the badge for the briefest moments, before nodding. He saluted, his right arm mimicking the signature ‘wings’ out motion of my wonderful country.

“Son of the war hero Alice. Congratulations on beginning your journey to Albius, Sir Lurdrake. You may follow me.” He turned away from me, and began to move back towards the warship.

“Wait- whatever.” I muttered out as I returned my badge back underneath my collar, and readjusted myself as I followed the knight. He didn’t really have to hit such a sore spot. The knight started to lead me past the black mass of recruits, walking around them. I was skipping the line? I was confused but I could only follow orders. Maybe it was because of my gold badge. Whatever the reason, I could feel the stares bored into my back as I continued to walk, the quiet murmurs barely audible but understandable.

“Isn’t that?”

“That’s the failure of the duke!”

“His sister is so much better.” Their snickering continued on and on as I followed close behind the knight. Whether or not the knight heard it as well, he didn’t seem to acknowledge it. I won’t respond, because I never did. Those insults have always haunted me since forever. It didn’t hurt. Well, maybe a little. I was more surprised they even recognized me. The silvery white hair underneath my black cap was probably the giveaway though.

We turned into the side bridge that reached out towards the warship, the walkspace much tighter as we now had to pass not only the line of sacrifice, but also the Raetalian knights who were stationed on the left side. Some knights nodded and saluted as the knight I followed went past them. Was he a high ranking knight? I didn’t pay much attention to any badge equipped he had on his chestplate, but I was now curious. The blue cape that bellowed from his back was the standard cape of the Raetalian knights. I guess it didn’t matter now, because if I checked his badges I would be able to tell in the end.

We were rapidly approaching the warship, the shadow of the behemoth now eclipsing the entirety of my view. It was much bigger than I had thought now that I was this close, with steam bellowing out from the obsidian plates lodged onto its sides. I could see tiny black figures clinging onto the hull of the warship, slowly climbing the makeshift ladder hanging loosely down from all the way to the very top of the ship.