Jerrick awoke in a bumpy carriage with a strange Elf he had never seen before across from him reading a heavy book bound in thick leather with a picture of a dragon on the cover. He could hear the sounds of a busy city around him and smelled a number of pleasant and unpleasant things wafting in through the open window, that only had a thick curtain keeping the air outside from penetrating the carriage.
Jerrick had never left the farm due to the family wanting to keep his race a secret, many knew they had taken in a baby but they never divulged where he came from or what he was, they only knew his name because they found it sewed into the blanket he was swaddled with when his sisters found him. His name was Jerrick Aldeen, and that's all anyone knew about him. His family had even kept the family name a secret just in case it would be recognized even though Tyre didn't know it and he had a formal Empire education, and the wars with Humanity was covered deeply in empire schools, mainly on how it became a war of extermination and why the empire was justified in its actions.
The elf sitting across from Jerrick soon saw the young boys confused look and quietly explained that he was now in the care of the Kingdom and he would be living in a school set up for orphans. "You had been sleeping for most of the journey and we will be leaving the city shortly, your new home is on the outskirts please remember to show respect for your betters once you arrive."
"I'm not a orphan, I have a mother, father and even 2 sisters and a brother…" Jerrick suddenly remembered the last moments with Diandre, the memory of the immense pain and fear made his young body shake uncontrollably and suddenly he realized how alone he was. This elf sitting across from him was not friendly and he missed his mother. He began to think why he was sent away and came to a conclusion that because he hurt Diandre. The four year old mind suddenly felt immense sadness and his eyes began to water, when the other mind forced its presence on him, the crack in the wall that always separated it gave it better access to influence the boy. This part of Jerrick was what was left of Jericho Aldeen, mainly his memories. 40,000 years worth of memories made a presence or spirit inside of Jerrick's mind. They had been separated due to the young boys mind not being able to handle all of it yet and things were slowly supposed to come to Jerrick as instincts, but Diandre trying to murder him forced his other mind to bestow knowledge that a child shouldn't know on him very early, when the Lightning aspect wasn't enough, it sent the memory of calling forth the black flame. That was able to save the child and the other mind went dormant while Jerrick was sleeping.
The other mind wasn't a soul, or sentient. It was memories and instincts, although it was able to protect itself. It's instincts were screaming to not show any weakness, so instead of Jerrick crying, he allowed the other mind to shield him from the pain. He showed him an ancient breathing technique meant to stabilize your thoughts and Jerrick, not wanting to feel this deep well of sadness inside of him accepted the memory and pushed it all down and began to breath rhythmically. All emotion dulled for the time being, and his young face went blank. The elf who witnessed this was shocked, at first he thought he would have to deal with some crying brat, then he noticed the immediate change and was perplexed at this tiny child's control.
They soon arrived at the orphanage, or school as the Elf across from him called it. As Jerrick exited the carriage he saw a large wall about 10 meters tall with towers about every one hundred meters, the gate was made of grey stone with plain wooden doors, with the image of a griffin painted on it. Young elves stood guard at the gate, in a blue uniform with a griffin emblazoned over the heart. While they didn't look old enough to be soldiers, they acted like they had the authority a guard would carry. The elf that was escorting Jerrick walked up to the young men and handed a parchment to the oldest looking young elf. The elf looked at the parchment then to Jerrick. "We handle him from here, no outsiders in the school grounds", said the young guard. Without saying another word the accompanying elf went to the back of the carriage and dropped a small bag in front of Jerrick and mounted the carriage and ordered the driver to leave.
Pick up your belongings and follow me. Then the guard turned around and signaled for the gate to open. The gates as if run by some aspect moved quickly, and dark gatehouse opened up like a maw of some beast.Jerrick although very wary quickly picked up his bag and followed the young elf into the gate. Once inside the gate Jerrick could see grey walls to his left and right with a thick wooden ceiling that had a number of people looking through holes made into the ceiling at the young human. Aspect light stones lit the building and Jerrick could hardly keep up with the Elf has he took a sharp turn into a open door. This room appeared to be a large office with basic furniture, including a large wooden desk in center with a scarred older elf sitting in a large chair. The young elf immediately yelled as Jerrick entered the room, Cadet Roth reporting candidate Jerrick has arrived" The older elf then signaled with his hand in a beckoning motion, Roth immediately walked forward or rather marched forward handed the older scary elf the parchment and went back to his former position, showing no emotion on his face.
The older elf looked over the parchment for a moment as if skimming the contents. He then spoke in a hard tone that only one who had spent years in a battlefield could have acquired. I'm Commander Vulmon, Im the head instructor of all the candidates that have been chosen for immediate service in the Kingdoms military when they reach adulthood. Candidates usually arrive once a year all at once, but that was three months ago, so I will be doing your intake. Do you know why you are here boy?
Jerrick still deep into his breathing technique refused to stop using it, because his young instincts told him that the man sitting in front of him cared for him as much as a insect, answered the Commander quickly and quietly, "I'm to live here…" then as if seeing the intense commanders expression change to one of even more intense disapproval, quickly added a Sir to the end of his answer.
The commander looked at the boy and sternly told him, "your young boy, much younger than most candidates, but I'm not going to lie to you, you won't be living here boy, you'll be training from dusk to dawn, training your mind, your body, your aspects if you have the ability and cultivation if your blessed with the gift and since your still alive human that most likely means you have the gift. While some may rejoice at this and claim you are special, just know the kingdom will never let you go. You destiny once you walk through these doors are to be useful to the Royal Family, then the Kingdom itself. The moment you fail is the moment you are sent to the mines, and you will serve your 10 years there, and most don't survive." After this lengthy and terrifying speech that Jerrick could barely wrap his mind around, the commander looked at Roth and order him to begin the intake.
Roth then grabbed Jerrick roughly by his shoulders and pushed him towards the door. They then left the gate house and headed to a building in the distance that was a large two story brick building, the windows were being cleaned by young boys and Jerrick could see young elf women in the same blue uniform cleaning the floors on the inside. Everything is done by students, Roth said as he pointed at the children cleaning. Everything here is determined by ability, to how much you eat to what chores you do, to what kind of schooling and training you get. Daily points are given by instructors, and the heads. The heads are older students, and if I was you I would stay far from them, this place is cruel, and anyone who grows up here isn't looking for friendships especially with weaklings.
Roth lead Jerrick inside the building and they approached a desk with a young female elf sitting in a high backed chair. Roth knocked twice on the desk and told her,"new intake for a late arrival Elise" smiled and handed her Jerrick's parchment. The elf seemingly name Elise scowled at the soldier, and snatched the parchment from him. Elise then looked at Jerrick from his head to his feet and briefly flashed a look of concern and compassion once she realized how young he was, then quickly concealed it with the scowl as she looked at Roth, who was still snuggly smiling at her. "If I was you I'd wipe that smile off your face arrow catcher" said Elise in a low threatening tone and she slowly stood up and a flash of the Fire aspect seemed to glow in her eyes, Roth who was just a soldier and didn't have a strong aspect suddenly realized he may of overstepped regardless of his past history with Elise suddenly backed away and in a uncertain tone replied, "ca-ca-calm down Elise I'm leaving was just dropping off the fresh meat anyway". Elise just continued channeling her aspect until the young cadet practically ran out of the building nearly falling on the freshly cleaned floor on the way out. Several of the young ladies cleaning quietly giggled at the scene. Elise muttered under her breath as the fires faded from her eyes, "have a fling with a cute boy years ago and let him kiss you and they think they have some hold over you for all your life." Another girl who was nearby who was around Elise's age said, "just be happy you found out what a dunce he was before it went any further, poor Sae, he made sure everyone was awake when she tried to sneak out of his room, then spread rumors about her just to ruin her reputation."
Jerrick who was just looking at his feet during this interaction thought it would be best if he pretended he didn't understand what just happened. He knew from experience his sisters while being sweet as pie, were rather scary at times. Elise as if finally noticing him for the first time put on a mature face, and acted like she didn't just about immolate Roth with fire. You, candidate come with me, I'll be doing your intake and it's your lucky day because while usually I'm considered to valuable to do such things as holding a candidates hand, I'm currently on restriction, and it falls on me no matter how great I am. To Jerrick this made no since, and he looked longingly at the other girl who had a much calmer aura that seemed to be Elise duty partner. "Darshee please watch the desk while I handle this" Darshee who was away from the desk when Roth arrived with Jerrick, looked at the boy with curiosity and asked Elise if she would like her to handle it, Jerrick looked pleadingly at Elise who completely took his look the wrong way, and said, "no he obviously wants me to do it, poor kid looks scared, Roth was probably bullish with him." She then began to walk down the long hallway and without looking behind her told Jerrick to hurry along.