"First time huh?" A man nudged my shoulder, noticing my visible turmoil.
"I've never seen someone die.." I spoke, my voice softly drifting in the air.
My eyes stayed glued at the scene before me. It was true, I never really experienced death, in this life or the last. Well sure, I've been to funerals and stuff but it's not like I've seen someone's life taken away with my own two eyes.
Deep down I had an inkling that this wasn't the first time I was going to be met with such a scene, so with a hard swallow I burned the image into my mind and tore my head away slowly, meeting eyes with the old man at my side.
He scratched at his neck, "Now that you mention it, I was about your age, son," he said to me, "when I had my first kill that is."
My eyes widened in surprise before I nodded my head in repeated acceptance, as if realizing something.
'Ah. I get it.'
I turned away, walking in the other direction. The man's sentence had proven my suspicions.
Everyone in this world was a fucking psychopath.
'I'm going home, I've had enough with these crazy folk.'
"Eh? Kid where ya' going"
With slow and drowsy steps I made my way back home, unable to shake the feeling eating at my stomach.
"Mother, I'm back." I announced, and as I was slipping out of my shoes I noticed an extra pair sitting at the front of the door. A warm smile came onto my face, quickly making my way into the sitting room.
"Hey there champ," a familiar voice greeted me as I entered, "missed me?"
There, sitting on the brittle sofa was my father, Henry Grimm, like my mother he also had fairly long hair, for a man that is, barely touching his shoulders, his hair was a dark black and his eyes were a soft hazel. His features were extremely striking, an angular face with a sharp jawline and cheekbones, soft creases lined the corner of his eyes and mouth, a result of his age and stress.
He had this amiable presence that made me feel warm inside and I don't know why, but yes, I did miss him.
Approaching him with a smile I greeted him with a manly hug as I asked him if his trip was smooth, to which he replied, "Is it just me or did you mature while I was gone?" He gave a cheerful laugh and I smiled awkwardly.
For a second I thought my cover was blown, but I quickly dismissed the concern.
"Your mother told me you agreed to join the soldiery. I am impressed."
He coughed, and for a second I thought I saw his cheeks flash red. "I'm proud, my son." He seemed unaccustomed to offering praise, but the pride in his eyes was unmistakable. I smiled and he continued, "I made sure you will receive the best training, your division has already been chosen, thanks to Arthur and his recommendation." He looked lively to tell me the news.
That reminded me, in all kingdoms things such as soldiery divisions existed, some very prestigious others a disgrace and trash of the trash, and pleasantly enough it seemed my father had pulled some strings to make sure I joined a respectable one.
Henry flexed his muscles and rubbed his nose, "Little did you know I had a favour with the old bastard. I was a bit of a trouble-maker in my hayday." He boasted
My mother laughed, "I beg to differ." To which my father jumped to cover her mouth, "Dont blow me' cover you traitor."
We joked for the better part of an hour and I laughed and conversed with them like I never had before. Unfortunately, like the busy man my father was, he was forced to go and iron out some situations he had, and as he was about to leave he turned to me, "I almost forgot to tell you," he smacked his head, "Arthur urged that you go and meet with him, he wanted to speak to you about some things before you left. I believe you know where his house is, meet him there at noon."
I nodded and my father left. 'I gotta meet that old bastard..' my mind recalled the battle I witnessed a few hours ago. If one thing stood out to me, it was that he was strong, crazy strong. If a man of his age was that strong it made me wonder what people of this world were capable of.
***
Time flew by with my head engrossed in a magnitude of books, eating the snacks my mother baked after she adamantly proposed I eat as much of her food as I wouldn't be able to have this luxury at the soldiery, to which I accepted happily–and before I knew it it was already noon.
After getting up to change into something more appropriate, I looked at myself in the archaic body mirror in my room, and my face scrunched in dismay.
I squished my fat cheeks, it didn't take a scientist to tell I was incredibly obese and when I say obese I mean the kind of obese where you could hear each breath I took. The clothes I wore had to be uniquely tailor-made, it was embarrassing.
I clicked my tongue in defeat, 'Lets hope the soldiery will be of any help.'
I stepped out of the house and for a few minutes I tried my hardest to remember where the old man's house was. This memory dilemma was starting to tick me off. If I had to guess, Konrad's memories were at most sixty percent back and it really annoyed me. It was like some memories were shrouded in an indispensable fog, so with the hopes that taking a stroll around the town would refresh my memory, I began stepping.
Fortunately, that seemed to be the case as in the midst of me walking across a stone path footing did a series of vivid memories flash in my mind. My head throbbed painfully as I stopped to take a breath.
'Fuck, that hurts!' I cursed inwardly, helping myself against a stone wall.
These memory flashes had been common in the past couple days, most prominent on my first day in this world. Only after a couple seconds of stabilizing myself did I finally move forward, continuing up the steep stone path. Eventually I made it up, with my lungs on fire and my legs on the verge of snapping.
Waiting for me, seated on a large stone rock, peeling an apple with a small knife was Arthur. I stared at him anxiously, my hands on my knees as I struggled to catch my breath.
Suddenly his eyes briefly looked up to meet mine before falling back to his apple, and as he did he let out a hoarse chuckle, "This is the boy Henry claims to have the wits to survive Goldswood." He chuckled once more, this time his laughter leading to a series of violent coughs. A few moments passed with him straining to control his coughs.
"Cough… come closer child."
With laboured breaths I approached him, only after seeing him move over to make space did I cautiously lower myself to sit beside him, and just as my butt was about to touch the floor, I felt a strong tug pull me down.
Falling straight at my ass, I stared at Arthur to which he simply took a bite out of his apple, "You move too slow, child."
If there was one thing I never understood it had to be elderly people, although Arthur wasn't quite considered elderly yet, he certainly took after their weird habits. We sat in an awkward silence for a few minutes until those few minutes slowly grew into what felt like an hour, prompting me to understand what type of person Arthur was. He was the type of person who never engaged in starting a conversation, either I speak or we never talk at all.
Arthur leisurely ate his apple, staring out into the far distance.
Swallowing hard, I opened my mouth, "Is Goldswood a soldiery division?"
Arthur nodded in silent affirmation, "I call it a pile of shit, that works too."
Seeing Arthur and his house reminded me of the stories Konrad's father used to tell him about Arthur and his days in Goldswood.
"The Mad Dog, he was one hell of a fighter." I recall him saying.
"I-I've heard my father speak of it sometimes, he says it's one of the greatest divisions in Aucorus." I scratched my nose nervously and stared at Arthur for a few seconds, patiently waiting for his reply.
'Say something you old shit..' he simply continued eating his apple, not bothering to spare me a glance.
My anger quickly faded as he spoke, "Goldswood is not for the weak, child."
"There the rules are plain and simple, kill or be killed." Arthur handed me the last half of his apple. "Eat."
As I took the apple Arthur continued, "The townsfolk are not familiar with how harsh the environment of a soldiery division is, especially not Goldswood," for the first time Arthur turned to meet my eyes, and I could have sworn I felt the air freeze just a little, "take this as a warning. The only reason I gave you a recommendation is because your old man wouldn't stop nagging."
Arthur laughed, "Not for a second did I think you were going to actually accept." Poking my stomach he teased, "When did you grow some balls kid, just go tell your old man you dropped out, save yourself the shame. And, even if my recommendation does go through, Goldswood has to also accept. They are widely known to be thorough."
My face flushed at his blatant ridicule, but after pondering at it for a while I shook my head. Even if I'm not Konrad, I am in his body and I felt that gave me the obligation to defend his name as I would my own.
Clearing my throat I spoke up, "I know I'm fat but that doesn't mean I wish to stay like this."
Though he didn't show it, I could tell Arthur was surprised to hear my words. My eyes stared back at him, "I have dreams, just like everyone else."
As I spoke a sly smirk fell across his face, he looked somewhat pleased to see me retaliate.
"I want to be fit, I don't want to look so miserable in front of my parents anymore." I don't know where these words came from, if it was me or Konrad, but everything that came out of my mouth felt right, so I continued.
"Shame? Haven't I experienced that enough?" I gave a weak smile, "I mean just take a good look at me, do I look like the kind of person to falter to shame and insults. No, I experience that daily."
That might have been true for me but for Konrad it could not have been any farther from the truth and it was for that reason alone I said it, Konrad didn't deserve such slander, for he too wanted to change.
Arthur's words really irked me, it was people like him I loathed, speaking with no basis and pure assumptions.
I stood up, "Your baseless words mean nothing, nor did I ask for your pity recommendation." Although I kind of understood where Arthur was coming from I still couldn't take his words at a face value.
I turned to leave, half-expecting him to stop me as I did, however that didn't happen and without much difficulty I arrived back home.
Entering inside the house a wave of pleasant spices and aromas wafted my nose. My parents sat at the table, waiting for me. As I sat down my father was the first to greet me, "Great, my son, you're back, now we can begin! Your mother made a very special meal today."
"Yes! Unfortunately, today is a special occasion, it is the last day my dear son will be with me." I could almost see tears well up in her eyes.
"Hey don't say it like that.. it's not like he's going to be gone forever."
"Yes Henry, he is! My son will be away from me for five years, that is basically his entire life!"
My father looked down at his hand, counting his fingers slowly, "He will be eighteen when he returns, he will still be but a young man, don't worry." He returned his gaze back up, holding five years of age up in his hand.
It was true, I was thirteen now so in five years I would be eighteen.
Age standards in this world were simple, at fifteen you were basically treated as an adult, sometimes even younger, much like the feudal eras back on earth. In my time in this world I've seen kids ages ten and younger drinking alcohol, clearly they have no regards to age restrictions.
"But then he wouldn't be my small Konrad anymore," she grabbed my cheek, "he'd be far too interested in girls his age to worry about his mother any longer."
I grabbed her hand, "Don't be silly, mother, of course I will have time for you." Back on Earth my mother would say similar things, especially back when I was leaving for college, so I was used to these motherly tactics.
She smiled warmly. "That's my sweetie." and as expected my mother quickly lightened up to hear my words.
I dug into the meal in front of me and my family continued conversing, "So, Kon', what did Arthur want to speak to you about?"
I looked up at my father and thought carefully for a moment. I didn't want to spoil my parents' meal and break the news to my parents that I was rejected. Taking another bite of my food I decided I would tell them later.
"He was just wishing me luck," I chewed, "he says the place can be a bit rough."
My father nodded, "Yeah I did hear about that, something about a division war."
"What, like some animosity between the divisions?"
My mother turned to me, "Learning big words eh?" she laughed and I raised my eyebrow.
'Big words?'
Then it dawned on me and I felt like smacking my face. I'm a thirteen year old kid, I'm not sure kids my age would speak like I do.
"Oh," I chuckled awkwardly, "I have been reading a lot of books lately, that might be the reason."
She continued speaking to my father. It was either my excuse worked or she was simply teasing, most likely the latter.