Before the sun dusked, Iver stood outside the creaking wooden gate of the Nadia Orphanage. Inside the small courtyard, Sister Elena smoothed down her worn apron, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she looked up at him. "I heard the news from the Guild early this morning, Ares," she said softly. "Four years is a long time... but I know the road always calls to talented young men like you. Thank you. For everything.
"You don’t need to thank me," Iver said calmly, his expression guarded as usual. "I only did what I chose to do."
"Brother Ares!"
A cluster of children rushed out from the main building, surrounding his legs with breathless, chaotic goodbyes. Among them, a young girl with messy brown hair squeezed her way to the front. It was Senna. Her eyes were red, her bottom lip trembling violently as she tried and failed to hold back her tears.
"You’re... you’re really leaving?" Senna hiccupped, clutching the hem of his dark coat.
Iver looked down at her, his red eyes softening just a fraction. He reached out and gently patted her head, ruffling her messy hair. "I’ll be back," he said. "Four years passes quickly. While I’m gone, you need to work hard and get stronger. Don’t let the younger ones slack off."
"I won’t!" Senna sobbed, throwing her arms around his waist in a tight hug. "I’ll get super strong! So when you come back, I can fight alongside you!"
He gave her a slight nod, gently stepping back out of her embrace before turning to walk away toward the central district. His next stop was the tavern bench near the Guild hall. Gray and his veteran crew were already there, knocking back early morning ales.
"Well, look at the big shot!" Gray bellowed, slamming a massive fist onto the wooden table as Iver approached. "Off to the big city to guard a noble’s brat! Don’t go soft on us, Pyre!"
"I won’t," Iver replied with a faint breath of amusement.
"Make sure you come back in one piece, kid," Gray said, his tone shifting into something surprisingly genuine as he slapped Iver hard on the shoulder. "If anyone gives you trouble in Solace, just remember what we taught you: hit ’em hard and hit ’em first."
After saying his quiet goodbyes to the mercenaries, Iver walked through the heavy oak doors of the Guild building. The main hall was still quiet, the morning sun casting long shadows across the empty stone floor. Behind the counter stood Carla. The moment she saw him walking toward her, her hands froze over her stacks of paperwork. Her lips parted, and her pale blue eyes filled with an ache that she couldn’t hide.
"Ares..." she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "You’re... you’re leaving today?"
"I am," Iver said, stopping at the counter.
Carla gripped the edge of the wood, leaning forward, her face flushing as she bit her lip. "Please... promise me you’ll come back to see me in the future. No matter how far you go, or how strong you get... I’ll always be here at this counter. So... so you must come find me, okay?"
Watching her flushed face and desperate, hopeful eyes, Iver felt a brief, cynical thread of inner thought pass through his mind. ’is this what i think it is’... To him, feelings were a luxury he couldn’t afford. Romantic entanglements were nothing more than unnecessary baggage. Unless a relationship offered a concrete, strategic benefit to his path of power, he would never allow himself to pursue one.
Yet, looking at Carla’s earnest face, he saw no reason to crush her or push her away needlessly. Maintaining good relations with a well connected Guild receptionist was never a bad thing.
"It’s only four years," Iver said softly, keeping his voice reassuring. "I’ll definitely come back. Ravencrest is the closest thing I have to a home." This story is hosted at g.com.
Carla’s eyes lit up, a soft, beautiful smile breaking across her face despite the tear shimmering in the corner of her eye. "Then... when you come back, there’s something important I need to tell you. So you’d better make sure you return safely!"
"I will," Iver nodded.
Leaving a flushed, smiling Carla behind the counter, Iver walked up the staircase to the Guild Master’s office. The hulking old man was standing by the window, looking out over the city. Hearing Iver enter, he turned around, a heavy grin breaking through his thick silver beard. "Done with all your little farewells, kid?"
"Yes," Iver replied cleanly.
The Guild Master tossed a heavy leather folder onto the desk. On top lay an official document sealed with dark green wax. "Take this. It’s your official recommendation. Head straight to the eastern gate there’s a carriage waiting for you there." Iver picked up the letter and tucked it inside his coat. "Thank you, Guild Master. Goodbye."
The old man barked out a boisterous laugh, stepping over to give Iver a heavy pat on the back that would have knocked a normal boy off his feet. "Don’t disappoint me out there, Ares! Make the most of it while you’re there, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity!"
He paused, his keen eyes squinting down at the quiet youth. "Though... I suppose I don’t even need to remind you. Your eyes have always looked like a man chasing power at all costs, even if I don’t know what the hell you’re chasing it for. Now run along! Don’t keep them waiting."
Iver gave a short nod, turned, and strode out of the Guild hall for the last time.
...
At the eastern gate of Ravencrest, the morning traffic had been cleared away. Standing in the center of the broad dirt road was an ornate, pristine carriage painted in white and accented with gleaming gold trim. Surrounding it were eight heavily armored knights mounted on sleek black horses, their hands resting ominously on the pommels of their broadswords. As Iver approached, two of the guard knights spurred their horses forward, blocking his path.
"Halt, commoner," the lead knight barked, his voice echoing from behind his steel visor. "State your business."
"I was sent by the Guild Master," Iver said calmly, pulling the wax sealed letter from his coat and holding it out.
The knight snatched the letter, inspected the wax crest, and turned to march up to the side of the white and gold carriage. He knocked twice on the polished wood. A moment later, a deep, refined voice sounded from within.
The guard bowed, pulled open the heavy carriage door, and gestured for Iver to step inside. Iver climbed the wooden steps and stepped into the spacious, plush interior of the carriage. Sitting inside were three people. Across from him sat a handsome man in his early thirties with sharply trimmed hair and fine silk robes. Beside him sat a middle aged woman dressed in a crisp black and white head maid’s uniform, her posture stiff and immaculate.
And next to the man sat a girl who looked to be right around Iver’s age.
She was breathtaking. Long, flowing white hair cascaded over her shoulders like spun silver, framing a delicate face with striking, golden eyes. She wore a pristine white dress decorated with subtle lace, radiating an effortless, high class elegance.
Iver found himself stunned for a brief fraction of a second. ’She really is stunning’... he thought dryly. If this were my old world, she’d be on every idol magazine cover on the planet. A light, amused chuckle broke his train of thought.
"Enchanted by her beauty already, I see?" the nobleman said, a playful smirk dancing on his lips.
Iver instantly snapped back to his emotionless composure, bowing his head slightly. "Pardon my rudeness. My name is Ares."
"Welcome, Ares," the nobleman smiled pleasantly. "I am Lucian Rayne, head of House Zephra, a Baron house under the Radiant Crown. This is Marie, the head maid of our household." He gestured toward the stiff woman, who gave a brief, polite bow of her head. Lucian then rested a fond hand on the shoulder of the white haired girl. "And this is Adela, my beautiful little angel."
"Father!" Adela flushed instantly, her golden eyes widening as she puffed out her cheeks in a visible pout. She turned her head away with a sharp hmpf. "I am perfectly capable of introducing myself, you know!"
"Nice to meet you all," Iver said, taking the empty leather seat across from them as the carriage doors closed tightly behind him. With a soft lurch, the white and gold carriage rolled forward, its iron rimmed wheels grinding against the dirt road as the eight armored knights fell into formation around them.
Iver turned his gaze toward the glass window. Outside, the familiar timber walls and dusty streets of Ravencrest slowly began to recede into the morning haze. Two years... ’he thought’, his red eyes reflecting his own faint shadow in the glass.
...
While Iver was lost in his quiet reflection, Adela peeked at him from the corner of her golden eyes. ’Gaaah!’ Adela screamed internally, her cheeks burning red as she squeezed her silk skirt. ’He’s... he’s actually so cute! What is with that messy black hair and those sharp red eyes’?!
She stole another glance at his calm, aloof face. ’I can’t believe he’s just a commoner. Father said he’s extraordinarily strong for his age and already reached Tier 2... that’s practically unheard of for a commoner without noble resources!’ Suddenly, Iver turned his head away from the window, his intense red gaze shifting directly toward her. Adela’s mind went into absolute panic. ’Eek! He’s looking at me! He caught me staring!’ Panic surging through her chest, she snapped her head in the opposite direction, letting out a haughty, exaggerated "Hmpf!" as she crossed her arms and stared intently at the carriage wall. ’It’s not like I like him or anything! He’s just... interesting, that’s all!’ she thought.
...
Iver blinked slowly, watching the white haired noble girl aggressively stare down the blank wooden wall of the carriage. What a weird girl, he thought, adjusting his position on the cushioned seat. Well... I have to spend the next four years watching her, so I suppose I’ll just have to get used to it. He turned his eyes back to the open window, watching the vast, rolling green hills of the Imperial borderlands stretch out before them under the rising sun.
Add to your library and send some powerstones for faster releases.