Holden sauntered up too the only entrance into the royal capital.The entire perimeter of the towering city wall was surrounded by a wide moat filled with sloshing water.The only gap in the moat and the wall was a massive drawbridge that was filled with guards and a massive crowd of people.
Holden could hear their screams as the city guards held the crowd back,
"Let us in we have no homes!"
"Please my child is sick!"
"Please we've travelled too far too be turned away here!"
The crowds mournful cries obviously belonged too refuges Holden quickly realized that like him these people were what was left from monster raids.
He slowly walked into the crowd of refugees and they instinctively parted for him,almost as though they felt a dangerous predator walking towards them.Holden confidently marched towards the alert guards who,when they saw him started too panic.
A tall man in beast skin,sporting a terrifying bear head and wielding a short sword approached the guards and let out some gruff words,
"let me in..."
The guards hurriedly put their hands on their weapons and got prepared for the worst case scenario.Holden pulled out a tattered and yellow paper,it was the name of the person who his dad had told him he should find when he arrived at the city.
He quickly spoke out,
"I'm looking for Kaleb Worcester"
The guards simply looked at each other in confusion however a head guard immediately put his hand away and approached Holden.
"Come with me,no normal person would know Kaleb"
The head guard was a sturdy fellow with some light gray starting too pepper his hair,he led Holden into the city and told his men too hold the refugees out till he returned.
Holden wasn't very talkative however he was very observant and saw distressed civilians running about in some worse for ware houses.However as he followed the head guard and got deeper into the city he noticed that the roads became more well paved,the civilians were dressed nicer,and the shabby houses started too become standard homes.
They soon reached another wall after around an hour of walking,Holden and the man only had one conversation,
"What's your name son"
"Holden"
The man who stayed alert the entire time because of this wild fellow's ferocious aura sensed that he wasn't much of a talker and had promptly gave up.
They reached a checkpoint where the head guard handed Holden off too a much stronger looking youth in better quality armor with some brief words.The cycle repeated itself and Holden once again noticed a complete change in the city around him as it became nicer and the quality of life improved.
There were even parks and fountains and there were children running about worry free. After about 30 minutes into their walk they arrived at a grand looking villa with its in gates,walls,and security.Holden could see a much more magnificent wall a few minutes away yet they stopped at this magnificent home.
Holden in all his 12 years of existence had never seen such an extravagant home and was actually shocked.The strong youth knocked on the door and a tall man wearing a butler's attire promptly opened it.
The guard quickly explained what he knew of the situation and once again Holden was handed off like a baton.
The butler said some words of greeting then led them through the warm home.After a few hallways they entered a study where an impressive looking man in a sharp suit was sitting,gazing at a fireplace.
"Excuse me,Master Kaleb you have a guest"
The sharp man gazed over Holden with a penetrating gaze as the butler left the room.There was absolutely no fear in the man's eyes only a faint curiosity.
"Sit down lad,what business do you have with me?".Holden swiftly sat down in another grand chair and told him,"My father,Arnold told me too look for you".
As soon as Holden mentioned his fathers name Kaleb's eyes immediately showed excitement and a wide grin showed up on the man's face.
"You're Arnold's boy!You've truly grown into a man huh".Kaleb had a spark of happiness on previously cold face and continued too rabble on about how he had met his father as a fellow royal guard.
They were fiery young men and competed for the best positions as they slowly became best friends.When Arnold had married Amanda he was happy for his friend but knew he was going too retire and so he decided too aswell.
Both of them retired with the highest honors and were even known friends of the royal family after guarding them for so long.Before Arnold left he had said a tearful goodbye and they never saw each other again after that.
"I see Arnold has raised a fine man,so... where is you're father?"
Holden took off his hat and revealed his fine features and glowing eyes.His heart had long been cold and only the warmth of vengeance stayed as he cools explained in his gravelly voice without a trace of emotion.
"My father died fighting monsters,and my mother perished aswell.I am the only survivor of my village"
Kaleb's eyes turned sad.He knew that the monster hordes were becoming active again but he never would have thought his best friend from his days as a royal guard would fall victim top those damned creatures leaving an orphan too survive in the forest alone.
"Aye that's a shame,you're father was one of my greatest friends.I had always admired your mother Amanda,she was a sweetheart"
Kaleb had astutely noticed that Holden's eyes showed almost no emotion when talking about his parents and he felt sorrow for the kid as he explained his tough journey too get here aswell as his exploits.Holden had lived a hard life and Kaleb was astounded when he heard that Holden who he assumed too be a young man was actually 12!
In fact he wouldn't have believed him if not for his birth plaque.
Kaleb was impressed with this young lads willpower and strength and thought internally "Arnold rest easy old friend I will take care of your son!".
"Well you have a home with me son I have more than enough room in my villa"!
Holden felt grateful inside and did not refuse and he was soon led away by the butler who he found out was named,Larry.
His room was on the second floor of the 3 story villa and he had a great view of the massive yard encased by a large wall that surrounded Kaleb's entire property.
He had a rather large room with the simple yet elegant furnishings of a bed,desk,dresser etc.
Holden sat down his meager belongings and for the first time in five years he lay down in a bed and sank into its comfortable mattress.
...He woke up as soon as the sun went up because of his natural alarm clock and habit.He didn't know what too do with himself so he put on his beastskins and attempted too find Larry and so he wandered throughout the villa the entire morning.
He soon ran into a maid and attempted to ask where Larry was and when the young maid,who had never seen a monster before saw an imposing figure dressed as a terrifying bear walk towards her she promptly screamed and ran away.
Holden sat in the hallway confused and figured if he waited here eventually someone would investigate the scream.His hypothesis proved right as he saw Larry run up the stairs with the maid in tow.
"Good morning Larry"!
Larry,when he saw Holden's massive frame sporting his usual attire didn't know wether to laugh or cry.The maid following him was confused and was on the verge of tears till Holden took off his hat.
Holden with his natural beauty stunned the young maid until she ran off flustered.He looked at Larry,confused and Larry simply laughed before guiding him too a large table for breakfast.
Holden sat down at the table directly facing Kaleb,
"Good morning sir"
"Good morning Holden how is the room"
...
They carried on with a casual conversation until plates of piping hot food were served by various maids.Holden's mouth watered and he quickly began too feast on the only real meal he's had in years .
Kaleb smiles and laughed at the giant boy salivating over a simple breakfast.
Holden quickly topped off the plate making sure not too leave a single crum before Kaleb began too talk too him,
"So Holden obviously you know of the monster outbreaks,many cities and villages have fallen prey too their rapid advances"
"Yes sir naturally I know of them"
Kaleb's eyes gleamed with opportunity
"Well you see son,I work for the royal military academy as an instructor and I know you have ambitions too fight against those bastards and the military academy provides a straight path right into becoming an officer"
Holden naturally understood Kaleb's intent and completely agreed in his head,"as long as it's the fastest way sir I'll do it"
Kaleb was delighted however he also knew that the boy was ridiculously strong from the brief explanation of his journey,after all not just anyone could survive 5 years in the heart of that forest.
"While you will attend,you will be in the highest class usually only the most talented people aged 15 or higher are in this class or honestly the people with the best connections,however you've lived a life of fighting and are close too fighting some of the weaker instructors on even ground not too mention you look like an adult"
Holden naturally agreed,he was very familiar with his strength and knew that there was very little he could learn from the average instructor.
"However I do have one favor too ask of you Holden"
"Just tell me sir frankly I already owe you for you're hospitality".
"Could you please for a single day a week come on as an instructor for survival of the forest!We need someone with experience and even though you are young,you are mature,have by far the most experience,and more than enough strength"
Kaleb has thought about this all last night,his academy desperately needed an instructor for survival of the forest as most horses started too come out from the forest!
In fact Kaleb had already talked too the headmaster and his response was a laugh and he simply said,
"Alright then this might be fun!"
Holden thought it over,and Holden who had zero common sense after being away from humans so long and not thinking about how this could complicate his school life agreed without hesitation.
"Brilliant we will introduce you and have your first session tomorrow!"