"God has never abandoned us… We were just too naive to notice His blessings. But now…" The scrawny, pale-skinned boy muttered as he was carrying the corpse of his dead mother. As snow blanketed the ground, the blizzard had no intentions of going away, and the boy strode forward with all his might.
A murk smile reached the pale boy's face as he struggled to make his way through the deep snowbed. Looking back, he could only see the trail he left behind. And the snowstorm had only worsened since he chose this path.
"Dear lord…" His voice came a bit hoarse, but his smile betrayed the tone nevertheless, "I have never doubted your kindness. And I never will…"
He paused. But at the same time, his legs gave out as well. He fell on the snow as the corpse of his mother fell beside him. The boy's face was morbidly close to the disfigured face of his mother. But he had no tears to spare and no energy to continue living.
"Hang in there, mom. We'll be together."
"Soon."
And then his eyes gave up.
…
"Was it all just a dream, then?" Aegis Emporio, the adopted son of the Emporio family, pondered as he reminisced with tears on his cheeks. He felt a bit embarrassed, considering he had just turned 18 last week, and here he was weeping like a child.
Touching his cheek and then feeling the wet tears, he muttered,
"It felt too real… And it was too long. May I never have to experience such a dream again."
He had fallen asleep on his desk. The candle was still lit, so he hadn't been sleeping for a long time. He glanced down at his notes.
"Fuck."
His papers were all a mess, filled with salty tears from a bittersome nightmare.
It wasn't long until he realized something dire. As his fingertips reached his temple, he let out a groan.
'Headache. Great.'
Suddenly, he heard his door open. Out of instinct, he swept away his tears and put on a facade.
A tall figure with broad shoulders stood at the doorstep. He was wearing an iron breastplate. And he had his sword unsheathed. The charming young man had a beard that hinted at his maturity.
"B-Brother Horcus?" Aegis stood from his chair to address his brother. His adoptive brother, really.
The act of standing up to address his brother wasn't entirely out of respect. Mostly, because he feared him.
"Aegis. Don't you have classes today?" The mature lad asked, his tone indifferent.
"No- Yes, brother. I do. I was preparing for my classes just now." He replied calmly, hiding his embarrassment flawlessly.
Horcus stared at him for a couple of seconds. "Get ready, then. I'll drop you off at your university. Understood?"
"Ye-Yes, brother." But then Aegis questions,
"Why are you wearing battle armor?"
His brother had already turned away with the ball of his feet, but he stood to reply with a piercing gaze,
"Council meeting. Nothing serious."
And then he left the room, keeping the door open.
Aegis sighed, "At least should've closed the door-"
"Lad, get ready fast."
Well shit. He heard that. Aegis closed his door firmly so that his brother wouldn't take his actions for revolt. He knew better, after all. All these years, he had been keeping a facade to earn the favor of his adoptive father. He shouldn't enrage his adoptive brother, or else he might have to duel him.
Not that he wanted to, of course. He had no chance of winning against him. Forget winning, he can't even touch him. Probably. Not that he ever wanted to find out!
After all, his brother was the commander of a large legion. A colonel, no less.
…
Looking through the wagon's window, Aegis gazed at the busy city. The city gazed back at him. Well, not him. His brother, of course. His brother was one of the 'valiant heroes' to stop the invasion of the frost demons.
'Almost as comical as the troupe of the novel I've been reading.'
Last year, the city of Tritine was engulfed by darkness itself. Beings from fairy tales had been manifested in the streets of the city, and abominations came in frenzy from the distant forest like swarms.
Tritine was the capital of the whole empire. And it was entirely impossible for creatures of the other continent to just manifest out of thin air. However, the mystery was never solved. And the intelligence unit had no scope to trace back the source.
Nevertheless, his brother, along with the available warriors, had stood against these abominations with their swords. So, he did feel a bit of admiration for his brother.
But mostly, he felt jealousy.
Horcus was sitting opposite him in the horse wagon, "Aegis…Has your teacher notified you and your classmates regarding the mass enlistment?"
"Mass enlistment? No, brother." Aegis asked curiously.
"Right. The Legion of Tritine is preparing to expand its army. And so, they'll come to recruit at your university soon. Considering yours is the best in the city, they'll come soon."
"So?" Aegis asked.
"So. I have only one piece of advice. Not that I am threatening or anything." Horcuse crossed his arms as he leaned back.
"Don't join the military. It's for your own good."
Aegis had no interest in joining the military anyway. So, he nodded in acknowledgement.
"Any particular reason?"
Horcus replied with his eyes closed, "Father will be mad. The old man is already mad at me for not retiring. All he thinks about is becoming a grandfather soon! I just can't stand the old man."
He suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Aegis with an amused look,
"But considering your circumstances. You are better off ignoring the call. Also, you don't possess a core to begin with."
A dark frown reached Aegis' pale face. He knew the bitter truth after all. So, there was no point in dwelling on it.
And so, Aegis tried his best to excel in comparison to his other counterparts in the working society, a desperate initiative to prove his worth as a mundane human. That is why he strived to gain a merit position in his university at least.
But unfortunately. There were more talented students than him.
Just like the lady who stood in front of the gates of the great Hall.