I turn my gaze to the sky, I hadn't noticed that the skies were clouded, they are all of the taint of thunder.

With this moment to reflect... this day has been very strange.

The nervous shuffling of Thomas feet, they took me out of my phase of wonderment, and reminded me of the situation we were in.

The woman glowered upon Seth with pure hatred.

The tension in the air was suffocating, to say the least.

This woman's glare, I find myself fortunate to be alongside of her.

Glancing over at Thomas his eyes seem to be goggling at her rear.

My hand slapped Thomas upside the head, "I thought you were terrified moments ago," I said.

"Ow!-- Well, I don't control my urge," Thomas said, brushing the back of his head.

"Urge?" I said in bewilderment.

"Don't tell me you haven't had--" Thomas said, before I shift my attention to Seth.

"I will be your opponent," The womanly knight said, "Prepare!"

Seth gazes upon the knight with scrutinizing eyes.

"My outcome is clear cut, I am no imbecile, I will leave," Seth said.

Instead of being vexed with the likely chance of battling an elite knight, he was suprisingly unruffled.

Seth treads steadily to the forest, beyond the cottage.

"Where is my mother?!" I said, hollering.

Seth halts before becoming unseen behind the prolific and dense trees.

"You're begging to be killed boy!" Seth said, his voice was a mixtured croak and hiss.

The voice was so unsettling, that it had left me with goosebumps crawling.

"The brat you are... I'd rather want a Noble dead, then roaming!" Seth said.

I smirked slightly, did he finally break?

The petite feeling of hope soon glimmered in me.

"If you want to see your mother once more, she will be in the kingdom of Saecrum," Seth tilts his head towards me in a sickening grin, "That is if... you're alive by then."

The glimmer of hope is immediately smudged, by fear and doubt.

I am quite unsure if Seth is bluffing, or is warning me of the troubles I was to encounter.

Before I am able to release another question, Seth vanished.

"My--father--mother... gone," I said, I drop to my knees carelessly.

"It is fine Aaran," The knight said, patting my shoulder.

"You will see your mother again," The knight said, in a soothing voice.

The thought comforted me slightly, until I realized the difficulties.

"How do you know that?" I asked snappishly.

"Well, I will explain later, I promise," The knight said, she then gently lifts me up from my knees.

"Madam... what is your name?" Thomas said, leaving his hand out to be greeted, fidgeting as though nervous.

"Xvianne."

"Thomas."

After a short time to breath, I am able to calm myself.

"Follow along Aaran, we must hurry into the center of Astrid..." Xvianne said.

"Stop," I holler, "I need to enter my cottage."

Xvianne shows a sympathetic smirk, "Yes, of course."

"Bu-bu-but what if we collide with  group of van--" Thomas said in a nervous tone.

"Hush Thomas! Aaran must collect the sentimentals," Xvianne said assertively.

"Yes ma'am," Thomas said, muttering to himself as he followed.

_________________________________________

I open the door cautiously, the handle felt loose, while all but one hinge was torn off.

"Damn you Seth!" I said, my fists clenched.

Entering the cottage didn't feel similar, a saddening silence sealed my eardrums.

Looking upon the single framed image brought a tear to my eye.

I was able to show a faint smile at an image of my parents holding me as an newborn, their jubilant expressions.

Slowly swiping my fingers through the photo, I recalled the memory of my father telling me he threw all his savings into capturing the moment I was born into this world.

All the memories, moments in a single day taken by---- Seth.

Not this memory, not this moment.

I place the photo inside my satchel.

Then quickly snapping out of my saddening trance, I catch sight of ... a note.

It certainly wasn't there this morning.

The note was placed on the dining table.

Without even contemplating who wrote the note, I snatch it without hesitation.

Then reason enters, "Not now, I must leave before more trouble arises," I said, as I stuffed the note in my satchel.

I'll read later surely.

"You done yet?" Thomas asked, peeking his head through the damaged door.

"Close, I suppose," I said.

"Well... any minute no--" Thomas said, before being pulled out of sight.

"Take your time, Aaran!" Xvianne hollered.

I use my knitted blanket as the bag to hold my items, aqua blue, my favorite of colors. I had worn blue for a decent portion of my life, even this day, wearing my mangled tunic top.

After rushing, I nearly packed all my items.

"Hurry Aaran, I'm begging you, we're pushing our luck being out here for so long," Thomas said in a whine.

"Yes, I am almost done," I said, "Amazing Thomas, you sure are cowardly," I muttered to myself.

I exit the cottage with hefty baggage strapped onto my back.

"You both will stay in one of Astrids center dwellings," Xvianne said, "And Aaran, you must follow me after setting your things."

"Ugh-- you're joking, the dwellings, why not the Larifts?" Thomas said, "A single dwelling swarm with hundreds, if not maybe a thousand."

"The Larifts are certainly reserved to the wealthy, now, it's 4 past noon, we must hurry along." Xvianne said.

She hastened up the trail, we soon followed.

_________________________________________

Fortunately, there was not a single encounter with another bounty hunter. As we had progressed passed the academy, a single kinght had escorted us to the heavily guarded entrance gates.

There definetly was doleful feelings leaving the academy, even Thomas showed some regret.

We could have done more.

As we approached the gates, the sun began to shone onto us through the rift in the skies.

The gates were confronted with atleast two dozen bronze knights, all seemed relatively new.

"Xvianne-- royal to the king," Xvianne said, and as soon as she uttered those words, the men opened the gates.

Xvianne led us through the guarded gates, and the knights were staring gawkingly at us... well I felt as if their eyes were staring at her.

One stout knight had motioned for Xvianne, a speedy jab swung at the man's face, I thought he was dead, until I heard him snoozing.

She looked at the men in disgust, "What a bunch of pigs," Xvianne said.

"The woman's mine,"Thomas said, waving his arms in a protective position, circling Xvianne.

Xvianne rolled her eyes in annoyance.

The Knights were chuckling.

"The scrawny one," one of the men hollered.

These knights have no regard for women, incredibly immature, one can only hope they mature in time.

Soon after, two men had appeared.

The Knights had no trouble in promptly forming an organized line, so the men must be of high stature.

One of the men was dressed primly, and had a lengthy silver beard,  definetly of elder age.

The other man had golden armor, and a blood red robe stitched from in his armor, flowing gracefully outwards. His hair was slick, the sun made his hair shone brighter, his stature was full of confidence.

"Shut all your yaps," said the armored man, his voice sounded strong.

He stepped in front of the men, and based on first immpression, I assumed, he was giving the men a lecture.

Through the corner of my eye, I notice Hemsworth approaching.

"Nice to see you Aaran," Hemsworth said, his eyes appeared more mystified every year.

"You were quite the prodigious instructer, with healing being the most complex of magic. I enjoyed the time you taught the class about Telemere Regeneration, it certainly increased the life spans of many of the classmates, I hope your chosen to become a Paladin, you would be of great value."

"Yes, I hope so as well, but.." I said.

"Professor Hemsworth! Do you remember me?" Thomas blurted out.

I looked at Thomas as if to say, "Now? Really?"

Hemsworth rubbed his chin in an attempt to recall Thomas, "Faintly, you really should stay in one social group, because one day you were with your fellow Paladins, then the next you were with the troubled students, who were quite the pain."

"Is that all I have been remembered for?" Thomas said, releasing a saddened sigh.

Darquil interrupts before I'm able to answer.

"You two are to be in the dwellings, you know the route," Darquil said.

Thomas left without response.

I attempt to follow, but Xvianne clutches my arm.

"Not now, Aaran," Xvianne said.

"What're you doing with em?" Darquil asked.

"Well, I would like to speak to you privately, sir," Xvianne said.

Darquil gives me a cold stare, before they leave to an isolated distance.

"I was going to ask you Hemsworth, if you have a certain bloodtype does that hinder your chances at becoming a Paladin," I asked.

"Well... that depends, why so?" Hemsworth said.

"Well I happen to have..." I said, I couldn't release any more words, my mind was clouded.

"Professor Hemsworth!" A knight yelled.

"Yes?" Hemsworth said.

"You are in need for assistance from the academies chairman," the knight said.

"I will certainly be there, well Aaran, we must continue this conversation at another time," Hemsworth said, as he was pacing away.

Why couldn't I simply say I was a Noble?

Through my peripheral vision I see Darquil pointing his finger, directed at me. I faintly make out several words, "How on this holy earth, could he be one.." that's all I could distinguish as words.

After several moments, they arrive back, Darquil gives me a criticizing stare, "What is your concentration, Aaran?" Darquil asked.

I take a hollow gulp before answering, "Paladin, sir," I said.

Xvianne must have told Darquil of me.

"You will soon have to change, I expect to see you in judgement hall, tomorrow's sunrise, understood," Darquil said.

Judgement hall? I was meant to be there this morning with my classmates.

"Yes, sir," I said.

Darquil gives me one more stare, before pacing to the kingdoms entrance doors.

"Follow along, I will escort you to a Larift," Xvianne said.

"A Larift? I thought they Larifts were occupied," I said, the Larifts are always reserved for the wealthiest.

"Well, until a 'Noble' arrived, you're fortunate Thomas, I have to guard the dwellings, the people can become tumultous," Xvianne said.

"Wow, being golden class requires many work," I said, my eyes widen in suprisement.

"It certainly does, but not as troublesome as you would think, for example, one year I am serving, and the next I am off, the pays generous, so I don't mind," Xvianne said, casually shrugging her arms.

As Xvianne guided me to the entrance, it was simply magnificent, costly chandeliers, with a lengthy red rug, consisting of a flowery pattern.

As we paced through the rug, we encountered the stairway.

Cherry wood flooring, for a moment I had thought I had sawn my reflection, but I wasn't sure, as Xvianne rushed me along.

"Hurry along Aaran, I know you're at awe, but you need as much rest as possible, you have a set schedule tommorow," Xvianne said, as she gently shoves me up the stairway.

We stop as we meet the end of the hallway at the second floor.

"Here it is," Xvianne said, as she opens the iron door.

At the moment I entered the room, the door shuts, immediately I attempt to unlock the door.

"Don't think about wandering through the kingdom, it is highly dangerous, as you were informed earlier," Xvianne said.

"Xvianne plea--" I said.

"Ah, do not want to hear it, rest," Xvianne said.

Before I am able to mutter a word, Xvianne descends the stairway, as I hear her footsteps becoming fainter.

I hear a thundering rumble coming from my stomach, "Great," I said. This hectic morning and life-altering afternoon had blinded me of appetite till this moment.

At least the room appeared luxurious, I didn't care to explain the details.

I threw myself onto the bed, I felt the cotton as I lay.

My arms were slouched above my head.

I stared upon the sealing, I couldn't comprehend that I was now an orphan.

Made me feel quite glum, until I recalled a quote from my father, "Testing times never last, but the resilient do."

That comforted my temperary depression.

My mind drifted soonafter, I fell into sleep.

_________________________________________

...Aarons Dream

"Aggh!" I said, as I descended downwards.

Blackness was the only thing present.

I remained falling, until I saw a gap of light.

It began to grow larger in size as I approached.

Until....

I impacted the ground, but I felt no pain.

I looked upon my body it was transparent, yet I could sense my muscle.

This environment was the one in which I encountered that being, I began to have sense of my surroundings.

"Where am I?" I asked, hopeful yet again, to hear a response.

Once more, no response is heard.

Then, the orderly motion picture appeared, but...

It was horrific.

The children were wailing in terror, the men and women were attempting to battle a giant, but they were arrantly irraticated in mere moments.

The giant had a shadowed complexion, his armor was the color onyx, he was wearing an helmet with two lengthy spikes protruding from the sides.

He was pummeling lives left and right.

The skies... were a mixture of lava red and darkness.

The motion picture soon engulfed myself, it felt as if I was in a surreal nightmare.

Anger blurred my judgement.

I hastily dashed passed the crowds of children. I needed to face this inhuman murderer.

The childrens faces showed utter terror, tears streamed down their delicate faces.

This angered me dearly, who would take enjoyment in ruthlessly slaughtering children?

As I departed the horde of children, I faced the giant.

The harsh winds streamed through my ruffled hair.

The Giant halted, "A man dare face me, his face lowers, leveling to mine, "Ha! No one faces Saecrum!"

I shut my eyes, I didn't desire to stare into his face, if his actions of late were an indicator of his looks, he would be far from pleasant.

"Leave the children be," I said, masking the absolute terror.

Almost instantaneously, a colossal fist swung onto me.

Cracks slithered from the rocky terrain around me.

I was certain I was as good as dead, but my body, it reacted on its own, I was too scared.

My arms surely felt immense pressure, but it hadn't lasted for long.

I heard grunts of frustration echoing through Saecrum.

Then hollow chuckles, his fists had crushed into me.

_________________________________________

My waist throbbed upward, "Saecrum, saecrum, saecrum," I said, as I panted in a panic.

My eyes darted through the room, I was still at shock.

The sunlight pored onto me through the elevated crevace, raising the temperature several degrees within the room.

Consequently resulting in sweat drooping from my temple.

"Agh!" I muttered, a headache crept in, this one was clawing into my mind.

I soon discovered blood had been dripping from my nostrils, it shined bright.

My hands applied pressure to my forehead.

I heard the unlocking of the door.

"Awake for the day is for judgement!"

A man was entering my Larift.

Not now! How am I going to explain this blood?