By a freak of an accident, we ended up as the King’s of Concord honored guests at the Palace of Araneum – the Royal City and Capital of Existara, indefinitely. Least that’s what the Old Man said. Can’t say we were welcomed with open arms, nor can I say that it’s not bothering us... Zarri traveled across the world to get away from Royalty and now here we are again... Alas, Zarri wouldn’t be Zarri if she did not do things her way too.

  The first thing she did was hole up in the highest tower with a clear view of the stables where Emerald was asked “nicely” to stay. Since the lady keeper did not want us staying with Emerald – we had to leave Emerald behind. Which, of course, put Zarri in a foul mood on arrival. Hence the, what she called: best vantage point to keep an eye on Emerald. Plus, the tower also had a good view of the Main City Square.

  Crile and I got rooms a floor below Zarri’s. Though I am pretty sure that Crile won’t be needing his... Works out better this way. They’ll have enough privacy, and I won’t have to choke on my pillow each night, pretending I don’t care or hear their activities...

  The one good thing about the situation, well, no, two, I guess, is that Zarri seems to have bonded with the King in an unexpectedly warm and respectful way. And we got paid. Enough. With that kind of a reward on our hands, we don’t really need to stay within the Palace, but Zarri says we can use the information here. What for – she didn’t say. Not that I have an interest in Royal Politics or anything. My only loyalty is with Zarri – where she goes – I go. Even to Hell.

  Then again, I do have the opportunity to once again expand my repertoire. Or at least stock up on Herbs and Potions. Perhaps even browse a few books! It’s been forever! Right! Better not waste the possibilities! Who knows how long we’ll be within the grasp of civilization...

  Old Man Bell has been more than generous to us. That said – I can’t stand being under watch again. As such – I want to get out of here ASAP. Problem is – where to. If we stay at the barracks, as part of the new recruits enrolled – I'll be separated from Emerald even more! That won’t do. I like our privacy with Crile, but... If we stay at an Inn – we'll burn through our hard-earned savings... Of course – working is an option too, but what? I’m kinda done with manual labor and serving others. I want something with more movement and action... But the living arrangements are my top priority right now. I’m sick of the Camp under the Stars too! Can’t believe I actually miss commodities...

  But the worst part is – something fishy is going on here and I can’t help but be drawn to it... That whole “sacrificial pawn King” business is gnawing at me, but it’s not just that...

  Work wise – there’s the Guild. You can register there to get sent on missions, assignments and requests from towns’ folk. Which is similar to what we already did back in Astri. Except that there was no Guild there. The Military handled it all. But that’s our way of doing things. Either way – I'm passed the Errand Girl phase too. Humbling myself didn’t work in my favor either... I wonder around the Palace memorizing it, while Crile and Star go off on errands of their own. Something catches my attention and I take a few steps back.

  “What a gorgeous view.” The open skies and the rippling golden colors of the leaves...

  “Better than the stone-cold walls here, eh?” A gurgling voice speaks behind me. I turn around.

  “Old Man. Oh, sorry, your highness.” I curtsy.

  “Ay, knock it off, Beasty. I’m not the one for the fancies.” He waves his palm sideways in front of his face.

  “As you wish.” I straighten out. “Not much to do for the King around these parts?” I mock him friendly.

  “Nah. I’m here for one purpose only and that’s a bit less than a decade away still. They’ll be lucky if I live to see the big day!” He laughs again. “Anyways, let’s not dread on that. Tell me, what’s gotten your attention?”

  “A few things. Where to live is one of them, but for now – riddle me this, Old Man, why invite us to stay? Not that I’m not grateful. But Barrabus was not impressed in the slightest.”

  “Ay, don’t mind him, he speaks his mind, but he’s harmless. He does all of the work for me, so I can’t exactly hate him.”

  “Not what I asked for, exactly, now did I?” I cross my arms on my chest.

  “Ha! That’s what I like about you three, ah, pardon, four. Can’t forget the Pretty Kitty.” He smiles again. “I saw you fight. The Assassin Boy and you moved in a mystic unison. Even though there was not much actual teamwork or interaction between you two at the time, since you handled the bandits separately, but I could tell – you two share a special bond. Even Your little Healer has a back bone! Who here has heard of an Offensive Healer using Medical Grade Potions for Attacks! Brilliant!” He roars again. “Most Meat here are just Puppets. They are taught how to fight one way and think one way too. You’ll see what I mean once you visit the training grounds.” Old Man Bell pauses, scratching his beard.

  “A lot can change in 50 years, Beasty. A lot has changed over the past 20 plenty too. Back then fighting and teamwork meant something... The way you fight – it reminded me of that... These days youngsters don't bother bonding because all they are here for is to be feed...”

  The way he said that sent daggers down my spine...

  “Perhaps I took you in as a toy for my amusement, perhaps from nostalgia... Or maybe I saw a ray of hope in you. Who knows what an old coot like me is thinking!” He roars for a short second again.

  “For the time being – if there’s anything troubling you – let me know. I have too much free time on my hands anyways. A good distraction would do me some good!” He chuckles again.

  “Very well. Tell me, is there any land for sale? Or perhaps a patch where I’d be free to do as I please?”

  “Hoooo? What do you have in mind?” He asks, narrowing his eyes and stroking his flaming beard.

  “Who knows what a coot like me is thinking.” I answer, shrugging my shoulders. Old Man Bell roars again.

  “Have it your way, Beasty. I’ll look into it.”

  “Meaning you’ll have Barrabus look into it for you?” I squint at him. And he roars again.

  “Ha! Good one! I could, or I could bully some other poor Robe into doing it.”

  “Try not to piss someone important off, while you’re at it.” I smile.

  “No promises!” He says, roaring again and walks away.

  For the time being, we enlisted into the Army just to be less of a burden for the Old Man Bell. We are clearly not welcomed by his entourage and that is fine by me. Being part of the Army lets us go places where common people aren’t allowed. Especially since the soldiers also act as City Guards and Law Enforcement. Which sounds something like I’d enjoy. Unfortunately, there is a probation period where they test you to see if you are fit for duty and won’t be causing more trouble with the newly established power.

  Besides that – we need to pass a few other tests. So far, we’ve aced all the individual exams. We’re left with the Sparring one today. We pass that and we’re clear to move around freely.

  “Which one of you will be first?”

  “I am.” I take a step forward. The Master looks me over.

  “Very well. I assume you are familiar with the rules?”

  “Sure.” I answer and enter the ring.

  Zarri volunteers to be the first one to take the last test. We agreed that I’d be the last one and would only try to score a passing mark. Crile told me to hold back. I found that to be quite ironic, but I understand why.

  “Star. Don't look now, but you seem to have a few targets set on you.”

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “Huh?” I look up. Crile nods to the side. I follow his gaze. Some guys are looking at us.

  “They're just staring. It's business as usual.”

  “Not this time.” He whispers.

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Cause they are looking at you the same way I look at her.” He whispers and I clench my jaw tighter.

  “Whatever.” I mutter. Zarri gets ready for her match. She stands there barehanded.

  “Begin!” The Master gives the signal. The Cornutese girl charges in with a side swing of her sword. Zarri shifts her hands only and catches the blade with her claws.

  “Foul! No shifting against non-Druids.”

  “NOW YOU TELL ME!” Zarri lets go of the blade.

  “You said you knew the rules.” The Primerian Master answers.

  “I assumed you meant no killing and no fatal wounds! Those are the only rules I ever had to spar under!” Zarri exclaims, irritated.

  “Maybe where you are from, but not here.” The Instructor answers unimpressed.

  “Fine!” She curls her fists tight and puts ‘em up.

  “Foul! A weapon must be equipped during a match.”

  “Oh come on!” Crile hisses. So does Zarri. She goes over to the weapons rack and snatches a staff. She comes back and takes a stance again.

  “Begin!” The women circle each other, slowly. Zarri goes in first. She spins the staff around her, as she spins in place herself. She picks up speed and starts hacking the air with short and quick swings. The other fighter blocks each one with her sword. Zarri rams the staff into the ground and uses it as support. She picks herself up, hanging her body sideways on the staff. She spins around it once and rams both of her feet into the girl, sending her flying a few steps. All of it happening in mere seconds. Not even the sword lessened the force of Zarri's kick. The fighter drops the sword. Zarri lets the staff go and picks up the sword.

  “Foul!” The instructor yells. “No other weapons are permitted other than the one equipped at the start of the match.”

  “What the! WHY! IT'S LITERALLY RIGHT HERE! I'd be an idiot not to use it!” Zarri protests.

  “I said foul.” The Master does not budge.

  I sigh. “Well now he's done it...” Zarri growls once, throws the sword away, goes over and picks up her staff again. She breaks the thing in two with her knee and flips the pieces over, grabbing them again at the smooth ends. She readies herself again.

  “Yup. She's pissed alright...” Crile agrees. She only ever goes for the “weaker” weapons when she wants to prove a point... The other soldier picks up her sword again too and takes a stance.

  “Begin!” There's the signal. The Cornutese girl charges Zarri with downward swings and slices.

  “This is too easy for her...” Crile says. Yeah... Zarri knocks the sword out of the fighter's hands and slashes her across the torso. I know that grin... Zarri's getting too into it again... She swipes the broken staff as if her own claws. Another hit. The blood spills from the girl's thigh.

  “FOUL! MATCH! You failed. Try again in a month.”

  “What!”

  “Why!” Both, Zarri and I stand there confused.

  “She got caught, huh?” Crile mumbles.

  “You know why.” The Master stares Zarri down. Oh you can't be serious... “I've humored you enough. Dismissed.” The man walks away from us. The rest of the troops scatter too. I try to offer my assistance to the other girl, but get rejected.

  “Save it, Star.” Crile calls to me. A single Balli male is left standing from the whole crowd.

  “Can I help you?” I try again walking over to the boy.

  “Ah. I... How did she do that?” He points to Zarri. “Usually when fighting with a broken staff you hold on to the broken parts, because the other ends are sturdier?” He looks at me. I look to the others. Crile smiles. Zarri just pouts.

  “Well go on. You're the expert.” She waves her hand around.

  “Wanna know the secret?” Crile asks the boy. He nods. “Ok listen here. She used Mana Control. You know the feint blue light that shines when Cleanser's cast their spells?” Another nod. “That's Mana leaving the body. That's why it always shines the same color no matter who's casting spells.”

  “Ok?” The guy seems confused.

  “What Breeze did was, she used the same principle, only she focused her Mana in the center of her palm. Once the wood got in contact with the Mana it allowed her to strength it with the help of Mana.”

  “That's why she used the broken ends to attack with! I almost figured it was because she didn't want to get splinters...” The Balli says and Crile roars.

  “Nah, she ain't that delicate.” Crile winks to me. I roll my eyes at him instead. “Anyways. The glow is difficult to see because it's located in one spot, unlike the Cleanser spells that use the entire surface of the palm. Get all that?”

  “I think so. Question. How do I force my Mana to the outside?”

  “Huh. Guess there's hope for this place yet.” Zarri says behind us.

  “It's a process, but you can learn it. If you can manage to manipulate your Mana inside your body you can learn how to force it out too. What are you?” Crile asks the man.

  “Oh. Here. He turns to a block of dirt and back in a second.” Overtake. I feel bitterness inside my mouth...

  “Nice.”

  “I guess.”

  “What's your name?” Zarri steps closer.

  “Urdock. You?”

  “Breeze.” She puts her hand up. “This here are Crile and Starlight.”

  “Hi.” I nod.

  “Pleasure.” Urdock nods to us.

  “Mind telling me what's with the weird system here?” Zarri tries again. The man shrugs his shoulders.

  “Just how it is, I guess. Nobody really asks questions here. We do as told, get paid and that's enough. We don't get paid to think. For the most part. Depending on how dangerous your assignment is - you get paid more, well, rather, your next of kin.”

  “Say what now?” Crile double checks.

  “There are assignments here that the fleets or platoons don't come back from, like exploring the North-West of Existara or patrolling the waters between us and the Rebellion.” Urdock explains.

  “Why the North-West?” I ask.

  “That's the Rebirth grounds. Because of the Castle of Despair people don't go near that region. It's unexplored for the most part. Some teams don't return from there when sent to check it out. Listen, I don't know how you do things back in the Old Continent, but here, this;” he gestures around himself; “we're basically just sacrifices for the Rebirth. Everyone is just trying to make the most of their time with the Army for one reason only - gold.”

  “That's horrible.” I whisper.

  “That's life on Existara. We don't live here. We survive. We just make it seem like it's all good.”

  “It's because of the 200-Years-of-Darkness, isn't it? When the entire land was engulfed by Dark Magic?” Crile says. The boy nods.

  “I'm sorry.” Zarri says.

  Urdock shrugs his shoulders. “Just how it is.”

  “Thanks for the chat anyways.” Zarri offers her hand.

  “Thanks for the insight.” He smiles. “Think I can bother you again for some advice?” He looks to Crile next.

  “Anytime.” He offers his hand too.

  “If I may pick your brain for a moment longer?” Zarri asks.

  “What about?”

  “Would you mind going through the trouble of educating us on the Rules and Fouls here? I am ill-equipped for this system, clearly.” Zarri rolls her eyes.

  “Ah, that... That will take long. And I kinda have to be some place. Is there anyway you guys can meet up later?” Urdock looks us over.

  “Leave a message with the Giant Cat at the Stables when and where you can meet us – you'll know what I’m talking about once you go there – we’ll find you ourselves.”

  “A giant cat?” Urdock stares confused.

  “Her name is Emerald, I’ll tell her that Urdock will be stopping by, all you’ll have to do is tell her your name and when and where to meet us. Simple.” Zarri explains as nonchalant as can be.

  “Uh-huh...”

  “Just take our word for it.” Crile slaps the dazed soldier on the shoulder and offers him a hand to shake. Urdock shakes it and holds his hand out to me too, out of pure reflex, I guess. I smile and take it. Urdock bows once and leaves us.

  “In other words – everyone here is just wasted potential.” Zarri says looking over the yard. “I want to know if that Rebirth of theirs is really as bad as they all claim or is someone just lazy... You two don’t need to–"

  “Don’t. If we die – we die together. All of us.” I tell her. Crile smiles.

  “What she said.” He nods to me, crossing his arms on his chest.

  With the help of our newly found friend, we managed to learn and memorize all of the bullshittery of the Araneum Army training. The system is designed overly complex and restricting for a reason. Question is – what reason is that... As I cannot, for the life of me, figure out what is being gained by limiting the possibilities and potential of the people here. Can it be so that the Rebirth is just some sort of a Pagan Ritual where hundreds and thousands of souls need to be sacrifice to appease the angry land gods or something?

  If that’s true – then the farse and charade of training and learning while getting paid – works nicely to aid and sustain living in the City and Existara. Otherwise, this place would be no better than Rebellion with people being bred for the sole purpose of feeding them to the Castle of Despair. But by the looks of it – people are rather enjoying their lives here... What gives?

  The three of us spend the next month preparing for the re-take of our exam. In between breaks, I try to find out more about the teaching systems and the Rebirth. I’m a horrible person. Dragging Crile and Starlight into something that I wished to get away from...