When Gadric Cintog arrived at the farm, he furrowed his thick brow and squinted his already-narrow eyes at the sight before him. His son, though not by any blood relation, had already done a considerable amount of plowing through the field.
The boy was already drenched in sweat, working intensely with the rusted hoe.
"Oy, what's going on with you?"
Cedric looked up, having not noticed his father's appearance at all.
"Ah, good morning father. I just had trouble sleeping, so I thought I'd get a head start this morning."
"That so…"
Gadric ended the morning pleasantries with that, and began his own workload tending to the crops. As Cedric continued working with even more fervor, he wondered if his father noticed his currently plummeting state of mind. He looked up to the sky while taking a quick breather, face wrought with unease. The grey sky was always like this, but the atmosphere it gave off today matched his burnt out melancholy.
The sleepless boy was no longer petrified, but at a loss. He knew that things around him were going to change soon, and he didn't know what he should do to navigate those changes. From the talk of the next heir, to the worsening war and his mental defeat, he was beginning to see himself as helpless to impact any change in the upheaval that loomed larger every day.
"Father…do you think we're on the verge of losing the war?" Cedric posed his concern plainly as the two made their way back home.
"What makes you think that? Has your world changed in any way because of the war?"
"Ah…I guess not…no," Cedric half lied.
"Then, do not concern yourself with matters that others have the role of addressing. No matter what happens, we must only continue in our roles. If you are not a soldier, you needn't think of unnecessary things."
"Ah…understood…"
They returned home, and Cedric remained downcast as he bathed and prepared for lessons.
Eating his portion of breakfast in a hurry despite having little appetite, he then stood up and made for the door.
"Is it really your wish…to become the next Sword Heir?"
Cedric's heart stopped. He turned to look at his father, who was sipping a mug of hot tea at the old worn down table, as if to confirm it was actually him. He had, without exception, never once talked about the Heir competition with him. Cedric assumed he didn't want him to bring unnecessary attention to them, and thought he maybe even resented him for his name simply being thrown into the ambiguous race. Therefore, it was a complete shock to hear him mention such a thing.
"I…I can't say that it's my desire to be the Heir. I think what I want is- no, I know that I want- to be a knight."
"I see," Gadric muttered before silently puffing on a wooden pipe.
"Your birth father was the same way."
Cedric's heart jumpstarted, only to stop once more. Gadric had said this like it was nothing, but it was the first time he'd ever mentioned either of his parents.
"You…knew them?" Cedric managed to breath out his words, stunned.
"Barely. I only had brief contact with them in the mountains where they lived."
"Mount-
Another shot of ice-water directly into his heart.
"I'm- an offspring of the mountainfolk?"
His father gave a silent nod.
So, I'm essentially-a descendant of the campsite.
He looked down at the table with wide, shaking eyes that threatened to pour tears out at any moment.
So, then Garik…
Cedric clenched his fists. Part of him wanted to hear more, but knew very well he shouldn't pry further. It was a miracle his father decided to divulge so much information to begin with.
"Anyway, if you're truly shooting for knighthood…I only expect that you make sure it's within your grasp. Reaching out beyond yourself, in whatever you do, will result in failure. Keep your duty at the core of your heart, and do not explore its possibilities carelessly."
"My duty…to the Teutons…?"
"Your duty to yourself."
The inside of his chest thumped like a drum. He wanted to indulge his father further, to ask him what duty he should hold to himself. However, the words wouldn't come out. He was too overwhelmed by the things his father had said.
"…I understand. Well then, Good day, father. I'll see you at dinnertime."
Gadric returned his words with a short nod, and Cedric thought for a second that he looked slightly less stern than usual.
On his way to the schooling center, Cedric looked dazedly at the mist dome. He still felt as though he was lost within a sea of those clouds, unsure of what to do or where to go. However, his heart was still racing from what his father's words had given him. He felt like he now at least had a modest light to illuminate the way ahead. An energy within that would allow him to go forward, into that cloud of uncertainty, with some confidence.
When he arrived at the classroom, it became clear that he wasn't the only one out of sorts. Many of the boys seemed to be in a daze, and seemed less talkative than usual.
This lay most true with Mel. The lanky blonde sat with his arms folded, staring at his desk as if it was telling him some sort of story.
Cedric, not feeling up to pestering him, took his seat in silence. Quentle, on the other hand-
"What's wrong with everyone? You all look like I ate your lunch and stole your girlfriend. Hehe, or the other way a-"
"Shut up you moron, it's early and you're giving me a headache already." Mel spat out, not bothering to look up while holding his head. Quentle pointed at Mel, looking at Cedric with a curious smirk as he sat next to him.
"Hey Quentle, have you not heard?" the approaching Farum asked before sitting comfortably on the side of their table.
"Huh? No, Cedric, you know anything?"
Cedric merely shook his head in response, only half-lying.
"Apparently…" the slow sounding noble whispered much louder than an actual whisper, "the wall was broken through last night."
Cedric felt his stomach sink, his eyes wide. Mel responded similarly, but with much truer shock.
"Wha-
"Though it seems it was only a small section, and was immediately recovered. We even caused a somewhat quick retreat from what I hear."
"Say that sooner next time, man!" Quentle burst out over-dramatically.
"A quick retreat, yet they were able to take out a portion of the wall in that amount of time?... big guns, huh…" Cedric whispered the last part, ignoring the stares pointing at the attention-hogging Quentle.
"Yeah, and it seems the casualties were quite high for such a quick battle, as well…" Berd added with a touch to his glasses, suddenly walking up to their desk alongside the lazy-faced Kaolo.
This time, Cedric's heart sunk as well. He stared fixedly at his desk, attempting to justify to himself why his low-level friends were sure to be okay.
"I heard Commander Al came in to save the small fry infantry garrison of Commander Giro," Kaolo added with a yawn.
Gi..ro.…
Cedric mouthed the name, realizing where he'd heard it before, and began sweating visibly.
"Though, from what I'm hearing it's possible some enemies got through the wall before the retreat happened…"
Cedric was now shaking, his face white and clammy.
"Cedric? You good?" Quentle posed quietly, before the others had a chance to notice.
"Ah…yeah, fine. Didn't sleep much thanks to you guys." He brushed off Quentle's inquisitive glance with ease.
"Speaking of," Mel cut in from nowhere, "I was thinking about having the guys all join us tonight…ya know, just to be safe."
Cedric looked up quizzically, wondering how much attention his aloof friend was paying, and if the timing of his interruption was as calculated as it seemed.
"Ooh, a three on three you're thinking? Spices things up a bit!" Quentle seemed genuinely excited.
"Well, even more would be fine, I think. What about Geraint and Jorge?"
The two muscular boys peeked their heads around from two desks away upon hearing their names.
"You guys in?" Quentle asked in a whisper that rivaled Farum's in volume and subtlety.
Geraint nodded his head with a shrug, and Jorge held a thumb up with a wink.
"Well, that's that! This is gonna be awesome!"
"Yeah, so we could do the two big guys, Kaolo and Cedric, against me, the ruffian, Berd, and Farum."
"Huh? Why so specific?" Cedric asked with a frown.
"No reason, really." Mel didn't bother to turn around as he answered curtly, returning his head to his arms.
Don't give me that…
This is based on…yesterday's class…
Mel's weird insistence on pushing the issue frustrated Cedric, fouling his mood further. With a half-grunt-half-sigh, he held his head in his hands until he heard Master Gambell's polite voice.
"Ah. Good morning, boys. Please, have your seats at this time."
Even this guy was sounding somber. Cedric sat up properly, thinking the end must really be near.
"Well, today, I'd like to begin by touching on some things mentioned yesterday. Namely, that of the Day Left in Grey."