*DUG-DUG-DUG-CLANK-CLANK-CLANK*
The sound of iron balls and wood hammers colliding with each other cast a deafening and chaotic sound that fills the room. Sunshine peeks in through the crack of the curtains, shining light on a face. A boy's raven hair and ivory skin are highlighted, in part to the sun's golden rays, it is quite a pretty scene where one would expect to see in a fairy tale. However it wasn't as fine and dandy for one person.
"MMMMPHHH!!" The boy grunted as he places a pillow on his face to cover the blinding light. He moved around the bed some more, almost as if trying to find another spot to sleep in, but he knew he couldn't do that due to the noise and because of what day it was. He shot his arm to the right, shooting out some sort of purple ray which immediately shut off the iron clackers and wooden hammers.
"I can't believe it's already that time....man I wanted to sleep some more." said the boy after shutting off his "alarm clock' in dismay. It wasn't that he didn't want to wake up, rather he was actually very excited for today, it's just that like all humans he wanted to sleep some more. The comfort of a bed tempts anyone after all.
The now silenced alarm clock allowed for some much-needed peace as the birds came back to chirp and the chickens once again started cuckooing. He opened his blinds and window to breath in some fresh morning air.
"GOOD MORNING AESTHELIA!" He exclaimed as he stared at the plains and green scenery around him.
But his yell alerted a new, scarier sound scared them all off and to be frank, it scared the boy too. Badly.
*STOMP-STOMP-STOMP* Those menacing stomps that he heard come from the stairs told him all he needed to know!
Immediately, the boy got up from his bed and started panicking, trying to clean and organize his bed up before IT fully reached the top of the stairs. Only now noticing how messy this room had gotten.
*STOMP-STOMP-STOMP* IT had gotten closer and it was only a matter of time before his fate was sealed.
In a last ditch effort to make his room not look that bad, he started throwing clothes into bins and baskets, he grabbed a bag and briefcase and starts shoving random things insid-
*CREAK* Welp, he was too late.
"Oh, you son of a-"
"MOM WAIT PLEASE I CAN EXPLAIN!" The boy said in reflex to try and avoid the beating of a lifetime.
"Petro!! How can you possibly explain this filthy room! You...you...you're lucky it's today...get down already! I'll fix up your dirty things and pack for you...what will I do about you...." His mother sighed and while he couldn't hear that last part, he eagerly went down the stairs to see his dad making a batch of tea, casting fire out of his hands to heat up his mug for a tiny bit.
"Tea? I never thought I'd see the day where you don't drink coffee as your first drink, Dad."
"Your old man's tryin' something new, besides your mother didn't want me having coffee breath while saying goodbye." His father chuckled at the thought.
Petro entered the bathroom giddily, excited for what's to come, albeit very nervous. He went in the shower, closed the curtains and turned on the stone shower, a Rune lighting up in the process which allowed the clear water to splash his face and hair.
Petro came out of the bathroom ready and hopeful. He dressed up in his robes, first wearing the buttoned shirt, then the pants, his vest, and finally his cloak. All of his clothes were branded with "University of Arkangel". He went back downstairs and saw his parents sitting on the table with food in front of them, which was a simple egg bacon sandwich. As Petro sat down to eat, his father finally broke the silence.
"Y'know son, we're gonna miss yo-"
"Oh, shut up Ross! He's 16 already! He can handle himself, sometimes!" His mother interjected.
"Darling, won't you miss him too?"
"Of course I will, but...oh fine! Why'd you have to live in the dorms anyway?!"
Petro laughed at his mother's tough exterior cracking. "So I can study closer mom, you know this. The school's just too far away from us here in the farmlands, I'll have to move to Arkangel, if I want to have good grades."
ARKANGEL - A city of bustling commerce and a melting pot where all sorts of cultures come together and meet. It is regarded as one of the 3 Capitals of the Empire of Tritonia, and is the city where the best school in all of Tritonia, the University of Arkangel, is located. Recently however, there have been many rumors that the University has declined these past years especially with a new Headmaster.
"But...I'm not ready for you to go.."
"And I'm not ready to leave, mom. But sometimes, you just gotta take a leap into the unknown..c'mere!"
Petro hugged both his mom and dad, proceeding to wrap his arms around their necks and bring them closer to him, they in turn returned the favor.
2 knocks interrupted the special moment however. His father moved to open it and there they saw a man wearing a similar, but a more adult styled garment, to Petro. He had a rather young face however, with hair styled upwards though it wasn't weird, as well as a clean shaven chin.
"Greetings! Mr. Ross and Mrs. Christine, I am Professor Hugo Schepp, 3rd Year Professor at the University of Arkangel, and as per University custom I will be the guardian for your son, Petro Castello, for him to be able to reach the University safe and sound. Here is my patch." Professor Hugo handed them a golden patch depicting 2 laurels, with a sword wielding angel in the middle, the University of Arkangel's patron saint, Kalios.
"Yes, I'm ready." Petro spoke in an oddly calm manner. He turned to face his mom and dad one last time.
"We'll miss you son. Go make us proud." Ross said as he held her wife close to her, still sobbing.
"Goodbye Mom, Dad. I'll do my best."
The door shut as Petro turned back to face the Professor.
"Well Petro, are you ready?"
PETRO CASTELLO - 16, UNIVERSITY STUDENT, ACCEPTED
HUGO SCHEPP - 31, UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR, GUARDIAN
____________________________________________
A man wearing a trench coat stood still near the cliffside of Vagabond Valley. Despite the positivity and glee the sunlight brings, this man's aura was different. His aura intimidated and tainted the light, not to mention the several bodies next to him, all dead with a petrified face plastered on each one. He held up one man by the collar above the edge of the valley.
"The human mind, considers itself superior, and yet we believe concepts such as time and fate to be uncontrollable? We defined those terms, and we will be able to make them kneel before us, well the strong ones will. This "Empire" has been tainted far too long by the ideas of old." The grim man spoke.
"The Emperor will have you killed for this!" the man wearing a gold and silver vest responded as he was being held above the ledge.
"Oh no no no no no no no. Balthir, you are a strong mage but a weak-minded fool, we can't be having that. The Emperor has failed to bring about the necessary change needed to propel us to society, he will not stop my holy crusade."
"Nobody will stand for this! They'll send more of us to kill you! Fate will come for you!" Balthir in a last act of desperation threw a mana-filled punch, but it was no use.
"Magic, is quite possibly the strongest force to ever exist, but magic is dependent on its user to be strong." The grim man caught the fist with his hand, and in one swift move all that mana dissipated. Balthir looked in shock.
"That was your last chance to join me, Balthir. You were a formidable, albeit predictable opponent and you could've served me well..."
"You say they'll send more to kill me? Then let them. Do you not see Balthir? I control my own fate, fate is on my side!"
"Fate, is on the side of the holy."
In one fell swoop, Balthir was dropped off the ledge, cursing out the grim man.
The man looked at Balthir and gave him a 2-finger salute.
"Good Morning, Aesthelia!"