Arthur hurried after Kage as he ambled out of the pub. They had spent a fair amount of time celebrating his enlisting as a new private. Though Arthur still wasn't really sure about his decision to enlist.
But, as he had no place to hide and saying no probably meant a run in with the inquisitors, he decided to just go with it for now and see. Hey the worst that could happen was back to square one, the noose, so why not.
He also doubted it could be much worse than his life up to this point. So far he had gone hungry and thirsty his whole life whilst suffering beatings on top of his exhaustion. With this in mind, along Kage's friendly attitude, he thought that maybe the army would be good.
A fresh start with others like him who would view each other as brothers. Arthur hadn't even had a friend before this let alone brothers in arms so it wasn't like he was opposed to the idea, if anything he felt some wishful thinking already going wild imagining how that would be having somewhere to belong and people who saw him as a brother.
He hurriedly raced after Kage. As the man, whilst being of only average height for his own age, towered over Arthur meaning the brisk pace he set for himself was more a jog for the much smaller Arthur.
Huffing and wheezing they finally made it to the cleaned but worn building on the edge of the more slum-like streets of the Capital. This was where those who could get an apprenticeship and gain a craft went to differentiate themselves from the Nulls, Thought to be what Nobles call those who live in the slums.
Its appearance was quite bland even amongst the ordinary houses that bordered it. It was a squat stone building with a wooden roof, there was a small courtyard with space for a tree and some bushes. The building itself was simply practical in design and effect only housing what it needed to and nothing more.
Overall, Arthur would say that it was pretty lacklustre. Nothing like the Grand Training ground of knights Arthur was ashamed to think he imagined like from the tales.
Kage, who saw this let a little smirk cover his lower face as he chuckled to himself. "Not quite the magnificence you were expecting eh?" He asked Arthur as he enjoyed the small boy's confused disappointment.
"Not really sir... Thought it'd be bigger sir that's all." Arthur said before realising his slip up there and trying to recover a remark that could be take the wrong way. Didn't want to insult his soon to be ranking officer about his barracks before even signing up.
"Hahaha! Don't worry boy! This, simply the housing and admin for us lower lot. Those posh tots have some massive House in the inner city for their lot. Ain't right for them to share with us lot now is it hehe." Kage let out a sad hollow laugh as he explained the absence of any grandeur to the simple building.
"Alright then. Think it's about time we get you signed up isn't Arthur?" Kage broke the small silence had built up whilst they thought the depressing thoughts about their supposed 'lot in life'.
They made their way forward towards the oaken door of the building and entered without any further delay.
Inside, the room was dimly lit by light from the opened shutters. It was much like the outside as it was purposed built of efficiency over any sort of beauty and sophistication. However, the simplicity of the room made it pretty in its own way.
As the sparsely furnished floor seemed to direct your attention to the attendant peering at them with what seemed friendly enough curiosity.
Though Arthur had learned long ago that curiosity never ended friendly, someone was always too nosey for their own good and that normally ended in death, best not to be too curious is what Arthur learned.
Arthur, still lead by Kage, walked stiffly to the reception, remembering the last time he had a dealing with a receptionist.
He hoped this one would be easier to deal with than that one one at least, he didn't want to scare the little kid because of some receptionist with an attitude problem.
The receptionist took one look at Kage and seemed to become more subdued noticing his three stipes.
Interrupting the inevitable pre-amble Kage spoke loudly and with authority. "Corporal, get the sign up papers! This here is Arthur our newest private to be!"
Hearing this the corporal gave me a quick look of pity but also some schadenfreude before rushing off to get the papers needed.
Seeing that brief glimpse in the corporal's eyes, Arthur tensed up as he suddenly wondered whether maybe he had been too rash in joining the army.
But, soon he remembered it was really only this or the noose and so his decision was made for him.
His urges now screamed at him that something was wrong. He had thought that sergeant Kage's kindness was transferable to all of those in the army but now that he thought about it, it made no sense.
'Foolish naivety' Arthur swore in his head as he felt disappointed in himself for not seeing this as the classic merchant's swindle, show a kind face as you steal him of his precious coin.
The officers wouldn't lower themselves to be seen in the same place as the scum that made up the lower classes.
And the sergeants, in an attempt to ingratiate themselves to the officers, refused to socialise with the corporals or privates and didn't even visit the poorer areas of the Capital.
Now he saw it so clearly! Sergeant Kage was a recruiter! His job is to find desperate men in the poorer areas of the Capital and convince them that the army is the home they never had and the best way to earn a living.
Sighing to himself, Arthur decided to just forget it as it was already too late now to back out. He had foolishly told Kage everything as he thought it was all behind him.
The corporal could be seen making his way to the desk as he handed over the papers to Kage, who simply passed them straight on to Arthur.
As Arthur scanned the document he filled in all the areas he could and skimmed through all the others that he couldn't.
He soon finished up as he handed the papers back to Kage. Who then checked everything before saying, "Arthur you need to fill the surname part." and handed it back over to Arthur.
"But sir... I I don't have one." Arthur said sadly as he remembered all the hateful things the neglectful orphanage runners had said to him or about his mother throughout his time there. "well.. make it up boy! no body really gives a damn!"
Hearing this stumped Arthur for a moment. Why hadn't he ever thought of that! Maybe some of the bullying about his parents and how they either didn't care enough to claim him as their own family name or insults about his mothers occupation might have been less frequent.
After some careful thought, Arthur landed on a name he thought would make him seem strong and clever. filling in the blank surname, he handed it back over to sergeant Kage.
"Hmmm... I like it!" he laughed after that as he signed his name under the name for who had enlisted him and handed it to the corporal who then stamped it and put it into the finished pile.
"Well then! I guess a congratulations is in order! You have officially become a private in the Divine Grace's 31st light brigade! You will be assigned a room by the corporal here and then you will meet the other trainees and myself at 0800 sharp! Got that? Good, you may go." He said as he made for Arthur to talk to the corporal and sort out his lodging, pay and equipment.
"Oh and private?" sergeant Kage quickly swivelled round like he was on a bearing. "Yes sir?" Arthur hesitantly asked as he was still absorbing all the information he had just received. "Welcome to Army... private Shard!" He said with a brilliant smile as he paced out of the foyer.