Under the blazing noon sun, the elderly man don on his cloak over his shoulders as he was making his way towards the heart of the village. A pungent mixture of mud and sweat hung in the air, enveloping the agitated villagers who chattered incessantly about the recent unfolding event.
Ignoring the mud and sludge, he was approaching the registration hut. The entrance was guarded by two knights well cladded in a silver armor with spears on their sides controlling and organizing the queue. The queue was shortened drastically which took him by surprise to see how the people were cooperative and well-behaved.
The old man thought inwardly and sighs "If only Kiyan was like this".
He slowly walks while perfectly fitting himself in the line and waited patiently as he hears the people muttering in front of him.
"Isn't it rather suspicious? I mean, considering what I've heard about the former King's corruption and those exorbitant taxes he levied," the person at the forefront whispered to the man ahead.
"True, and the rumors about his countless affairs even while being married to the Queen," the man he was conversing with chimed in.
"Idiots, if they caught you speaking bad about the previous King, they will charge you with treason"
Both men gulped and sweat trickled down their forehead and waited patiently for their time. It wasn't long before the old man could hear the guard shouted
"Next."
The old man slowly makes his way as one the guards led him into the tent. Inside the tent was a desk about 7ft long with a bunch of parchment, inks and quills scatter on top and on the opposite side was 4 officials dressed neatly in their courtly attire with beautiful embroidery design of the sun on their right chest.
Several guards were positioned inside. Four stools were on the side that he was standing at while three of the seats were already occupied. He sat down on the available stool before smiling to the official in front of him.
The official in front of him look like a wraith as his eye bags are clearly visible evidently that he lacks sleeps. He looks tired but he forced a smile.
"Hello, how shall I address you"
"Sir is fine" He paused for a while "How many forms do you require?"
"If it is possible, can I have 2 good sir." The old man asks with a hint of nervousness in his voice. "I have 2 grandchildren you see".
"Good sir ? If only everyone in the Capital can address me like that" the official sighed inwardly. "Well certainly if they fit in the criteria"
He then handed him 2 pale white parchment papers and a quill. "Can you read and write? If you can't I can help filling it out for you".
The old man accepted the paper and quill.
"Thank you but I can do it myself" He then carefully observe the paper before jotting down relevant information
The questionnaires in the parchment paper requires the name, age, village and gender. He can notice that in the paper, there are no slots for surnames as it was common knowledge that it is only a privilege for nobles, knights and heroes only.
"I wonder if Kiyan caught something today" The old man thinking to himself. "Hmm hopefully it's a warthog"
*Name: Kiyan
*Age: 14
*Village: Boisson.
*Gender: Male
*Name: Lumiere
*Age: 14
*Village: Boisson.
*Gender: Female
With the form filled he handed the papers to the official in front of him
"Here you are good sir" The old man handed him the papers.
The official accepted the papers and inspected it for a while before setting his gaze at the old man again.
"Sir you wrote fairly well, your handwriting is quite good for someone living far from the capital" He then put his palm on his chin and studying the old man "Have I seen you before".
The old man chuckled before replying "Thank you for your compliment good sir but I believe we have not met before. I'm just an old man wanting the best for his grandchild"
"Hmm" The official still looking at him suspiciously "May I know your name."
"My name is Carlos good sir."
"Carlos huh, well I wish the best of luck to your grandchildren"
The old man gently bows and swiftly left the scene. The official watch as he walks away before putting the papers along with the rest of the other documents before turning to his colleague on the right side.
Just like him, he too has eye bags but he has this friendly aura surrounding him.
"Hey Adrian don't you think that old man looks familiar"
"What? No, why he seems suspicious to you?" The official name Adrian answered back with pure confusion.
"No, I just get a hint of nostalgia when talking to him." He then rubbing his eyes as he was trying to stay awake. "Maybe those sleepless night is catching up to me".
"Well we've been out of Suncrest for a month now so it is not surprising to see someone familiar or look alike along the way" Adrian reasons with him "Anyways we still have to compile all this file, tsk I hate paper works".
The official chuckled "Hehe you're right, anyways though this village is a rundown, I heard the tavern here has good meads. What to check it out together tonight?"
"Oh Clayton, why bother asking me when there is mead involved" Adrian gave a huge laughter and hitting his back but knocking several papers in the process.
Clayton chuckled and rub his temple "This is why you should stop doing that".
Adrian let a small chuckle before he goes back to grumbling as the paper he tries to recover the folder that fell and spread everywhere.
~
Meanwhile, Kiyan left the cottage and went eastward. He was whistling while smiling with both of his hands behind his head. He stops at front of a cottage that does not look different for theirs. He knocked while shouting.
"Hey Julia you there?" Kiyan yell in front of her house "I know you there"
Kiyan can hear someone running and stumbling behind the doors not long the knob with someone fiddling it.
Creaks
The door opens and behind is a girl with brown hair and a petite body. She was looking neat even in the worn out tunic she was wearing. Her eyes look like they'll burst into tears anytime soon.
"Kiya…kiya…kiyaaan you can just knock you know" she stammers and her face bright red "An..an.anyway wha..t are you up to".
"I'm going to take the test" Kiyan replied proudly and looking pretty smug "Are you going to join as well?".
"I don't want to but my dad signs me up" her voice is so soft that she seems like she was crying.
Kiyan then put his hand around her neck and let out a huge laugh.
"Your dad chose correctly"
Her body shivered as his hand make contact with her skin causing her face to turn absolutely red.
"Umm Kiyan"
"Hehe we will leave this damn village and see what the capital is like" Kiyan going all buddy buddy mode with Julia as he loudly declares.
"I hope so too." Julia smiles before asking "Anyways what brings you here?".
"Oh, right, I forgot," Kiyan reach into his worn out pouch dangling at his right side, deftly retrieving a flower with a strong scent and vibrant purple hues petals. "I found the flowers you asked me to find for you."
Julia's jaw dropped "WHAT! You manage to find Nestlebane! You mean to tell me you entered SilverVeil forest all alone?"
"Umm yeah?" Kiyan looking genuinely confused by her astonishment "What is with the surprised look?"
Julia just look dumbfounded and screamed inwardly "You're telling me that you entered SilverVeil like that is some market where you can come and go as you please."
If anyone else were to know these, they would rip the hair out of their head and go mad.
"Oh shoot, I wasn't supposed to tell you that" Kiyan seems to realize something "Anyway here you go".
Julia just stared like she seen a ghost. Her hand was trembling as she was holding the Nestlebane.
"By the way", Kiyan ask with a hint of curiosity "What do you need it for?"
"Oh I read a book that if you use can brew the petals Nestlebane, and you'll get something called vanilla coffee" Julia's eye practically are beaming " It is considered a delicacy especially in Suncrest and Fraise but Nestlebane is a rare commodity itself in the entire Sun Empire which is why I was surprised whn you….". She continue mumbling away as Kiyan already loses focuses on what she was saying
Kiyan face was stoned. "Now you're sounding like Lumiere".
Julia realizing that she got carried away, her face got red out of embarrassment "Sorry I just got too excited"
"Well don't you two look like a couple". A snarky voice came from behind them.
Kiyan turns around to see who it was. "Oh it's just you, why are you here?"
Standing behind them was Lumiere looking annoyed as she just saw something disgusting.
"Really, you have the guts to ask why I am here while dumping the warthog right in front of our house and expected it to gut itself".
"Cou..coup…coupleee" Julia's stammered as her face got redder than a tomato.
"Why don't you gut it"
"You expect this delicate hands to get dirty" Lumiere gave a deadly shot look "You really expect a maiden to do such task"
"Maiden my ass" Kiyan retorted back.
"Kiyan you can't say words like that" Julia trying to calm the siblings down.
Lumiere took in a deep breath to calm down as she changes her attention to Julia.
"I suggest you find someone else to be your husband other than my brother" Lumiere advised Julia and she was speaking from her heart. "He is no different from an animal".
Hearing the word husband almost cause Julia to faint out of embarrassment. Right now she just wants to dig a hole and hide in it.
"Husba~and" Julia stammered and covered her face before whispering "That's too soon"
"Animal? you're an animal, your face looks like an animal" Kiyan face was going red as he was hurling insults.
Lumiere sighs and slowly shakes her head "Kiyan we are twin, if my face looks like an animal, doesn't that mean yours will look like one too".
Before Kiyan could say anything he someone talking behind
"Well, well, well if it isn't the little pipsqueak and Ms. Know it all."
Both Kiyan and Lumiere turned around in unison as they saw Standing behind them was a figure with a build that seemed more imposing than natural walked towards them, his broad shoulders nearly brushing against the villagers passing by.
This was Ben, a hulking presence with a presence that could hardly be ignored. His brown hair, unruly and tousled, framed a face that appeared to have been carved from stone. His eyes, a deep shade of hazel, were set beneath thick eyebrows that often furrowed in a permanent scowl. A faint scar traversed his left cheek and his bicep bulging from his sleeveless tunic.
Kiyan made a clicking sound with his lips "Tsk when I thought my day is already ruined. What the hell you want Ben"
"Enjoying myself seeing two idiot arguing with each other" Ben snickered in a mocking tone "Anyway I assume you two will take the test tomorrow".
"Yeah, what about it?"
"I suggest you two quit and save yourself the embarrassment" Ben looking proud while brushing his hair with his hand. "With a genius like me, I don't want to hurt you two especially your pretty face Lumiere." He gave a wink to her.
Lumiere shuddered.
The three boys behind him was licking his boots with praises.
"Hehe no one here in this village can compare to the great Ben".
"He definitely will get accepted".
Lumiere's response was swift and biting, her words a dart aimed at the target. "Oh, if it isn't Mr. the world revolves around me and his pets Mr. dumb, dumber, and dumbest at the back." Her voice dripped with sarcasm, her disdain for Ben was barely hidden. "What part of you makes you think you're a genius. All I can see your head getting bigger but obviously not your brain."
"And definitely not his face either" Kiyan added more fuel to the fire. "Even the Skunktard look pretty when compared to you.
You can see the three of their faces contorted in an ugly twist while Ben is clenching is his fist while the insults still came firing in.
"Julia, that right there is the real animal" Kiyan casually dropping this as he explaining to Julia "You see Wargs travel in packs and their leader are usually smart except the one we see lacks that aspect"
"For once I agree with you" Lumiere folding her arms and nodding her head.
Julia really tried her best to hold laughter in but her mouth betrayed her and she let out a snickered before covering her mouth with both of her hands.
"That's is not nice Kiyan" Julia hastily said as she tried to recover from her laughter. "This 2 really have venom in their tongues".
Ben's face was fuming red and the vein on his forehead is bulging so hard it looks like it was about to burst.
"If you don't want me to tear you up you better shut up" Ben snap back.
"Oh, I'm so scared" Lumiere dramatically puts her hand on her forehead. "Please save me from this monster Kiyan"
"Oh don't worry sis, the way he's looking, he will explode so need for me to jump in" Kiyan added on before bursting into fit of laughter.
"This two are so terrifying when they join forces" Julia shuddered inwardly "Glad I'm not on the other side"
Ben was clearly enraged but quickly calm himself "Hmmph, just wait and see when I humiliate the both of you tomorrow." He turns around and walked away. "Let's go boys."
His lackeys stick out their tongue and made faces to the trio before quickly joining Ben.
"For once he is being mature." Kiyan sighs, closes his eyes and shook his head as he was feeling pity for them.
Lumiere stretches her arm and nodded in agreement "Anyway, let's go back, there is no way I touching that hog."
"Tsk" Kiyan clicked his lips before turning to Julia. "Well see you later Julia, and hopefully you make whatever you make can do with that nestbane or whatever you call it."
Hearing Kiyan mentioning it, she turn to stare at Kiyan and Julia. Her face plastered with concerns for a second before her cool aloof face returns.
Julia gave a warm smile while clutching the nestlebane tightly in her hands. "Thanks Kiyan and umm" Her face started to glow red again "I'll see you tomorrow in the village center".
"Will do" Kiyan smiled and walked away.
"Why don't you two just get married already" Lumiere was annoyed with this lovestruck atmosphere as he follows Kiyan and disappearing from Julia's sight.
With both of them gone, Julia look at the Purple hue of the Nestlebane in her hand "How did Kiyan manage to get this, no how did he enter SilverVeil forest". She then stared to where she last saw them, "Those two will always remain a mystery to me".