Sitting in the grass, is a young boy and looking up to the sky, tending to his father's herd of sheep. His dream is to join the Knights of Amorion, he sees it as an opportunity to a better life. it's getting dark already so he rounded up his father's sheep, and started walking home.
He reached home, and as usual, his mother welcomed him in, he went to have his bath, then coming back, they have already started their meal, everywhere is awkwardly silent, so his mum, Mary Breaks the silence.
"Starius, do you know that a messenger from the capital, came in today, they will start conscription in a week time" she said with a smile on her face. while Gerard, Starius father was frowning.
"WOW, mum you mean it, I will love to tryout" Starius said happy.
"Not in my house, you won't" Gerard said angrily.
"Why dad, I have tendered to sheep for long, and obeyed your words, why won't you let me join" Starius said trying to keep his cool. his dad has always been rude to him but was nice to his three siblings, two elder brothers. Josh and Dray, and his junior sister, Matilda. Everytime his father makes him feel as an outsider.
Seeing he doesn't have a good explanation why Starius shouldn't join.
"I want you to stay back, I need a man in the house" he said.
"A man in the house, does that mean Josh and Dray are not trying out" he asked starting to get upset.
"Well, because they have the looks of a soldier, and they are well built in muscle and strength, so they will try out" he says wishing to finalize this argument.
All Starius wanted to say at that point was, if he was well fed and taking care of like his brother maybe he wouldn't be so frail. but he just kept quiet and left his dish and exited the cottage.
#####
He stood outside thinking. Yes his from a poor home with no money, and he wants to change that, but first he have to leave this poor Town called Rak in the province called Pamos in Amorion Empire.
Pamos is a poor province with no opportunity, the only job in Pamos were, lumbering, farming, hunting and that's it, and he doesn't see himself doing such menial jobs.
He has always wanted to ask his father why he treat him differently, but he knew it was futile, his food is always the smallest, he does all the chores, while his siblings rest, it was only his sister and his mum he felt deep down loved him genuinely.
"I do not care anymore, I will leave this backwood village, I won't let him decide my fate" Starius told himself.
#####
Reaching back inside, he saw his dad handing over to his brothers nice pair of swords, they were both beautiful and was specially made by the local blacksmith, and two leather armors.
"You boys will make me proud I know it, now go take some rest", he said before each and everyone of them in the house retired to bed.
***********
Waking up in the morning, Starius noticed white fur all over his sleeping space, he was confused, but without any logical explanation, he assumed maybe it's the wool of the sheep, he tended to. He got up had his bath, swept the cottage front, watered the garden and then he took a short break after doing the dishes. staying outside he is looking at the new swords his father bought for his brother right there. what annoyed him the most is his father dropping the sword for him to clean like his sons weren't old enough to clean it themselves, and the leather armor were there also for him to clean.
Mary saw the look on Starius face and knew he wasn't happy, maybe because his father bought the sword and armor for his brothers but not him, so she crept behind his back, and tickled him a bit, waking him up from his thoughts.
"What's in that mind of yours son" she asked with a little giggling.
"Nothing mum" he said trying to hide his expression.
"Don't feel that way, I promise I will get a sword for you before the day of the conscription" she placed her hands on his shoulder assuring him.
looking up with a wide smile on his face
"You really mean it, thanks mum" he spoke with joy in his voice, while hugging his mother.
"Now get up let's go and finish up those chores" she got up, and Starius followed behind, when he was done with home chores he picked his father's sheep and went grazing.
***********
Well today is unusual, as Starius came back early. his sister ran and went to hug him. he hugged her too lifting her up and dropping her after a brief seconds.
"Well drumstick, dad said we should tell you to join us hunting" josh said, laughing at the nickname they gave him.
"Stop it, you guys are rude, it's not his fault his thin" Matilda said.
Matilda is a twelve year old girl while Josh is fifteen and the eldest Dray is sixteen, while Starius is just fourteen of age. And yet Matilda was more compassionate and mature in terms of thinking.
"Well dad said you guys should carry me along today" she says happy of joining them.
"Then let me go in, freshen up and have my food, I will join you shortly" he says trying to leave, but Dray blocks his path.
"Where are you going to, there is no food in this house, because we ate the last one, and dad said, immediately you get back you should join us, you have to contribute for the feeding in this family" he said, looking intently into Starius eyes, like someone ready to commit murder, then he handed him a spear.
"Fine then let's leave then" he said collecting the spear.
#####
They were, in the forest Haj, north of their village. Dray held his bow, and he had surplus arrows in his quiver, while josh was with a catapult. Starius just held his spear as tight as he could, looking at Matilda, he felt for her, releasing a small smile from his face, since he ever knew her she has always been a brave girl.
Josh picked up a stone and threw it at Starius when he wasn't looking, and Starius Shaked vigorously, then Josh and Dray roared out laughing.
"You are just like a woman, too scared and yet you wish to join the Emperor's knight and Elite forces" Josh said laughing, Starius face was red, not knowing what to say.
"I even wonder what that stupid name of yours stand for anyway, I have never heard of it before" Dray said, joining Josh to laugh at Starius.
"shush, over there, there's a deer" Starius said, shushing them.
" don't you ever shush me and that's my kill", Dray said drawing an arrow from his quiver and set it on his bow and prepared to fire at the deer, which was thirty paces away grazing on the field in the clearing. then Matilda trying to see, mistakenly tripped, pushing Starius, who slightly hit Dray, at the time he released his arrow, making him miss his target, he got up angry punching Starius across his face.
"ouch, what did you do that for" Starius asked very upset.
"that's for making me miss, you cow" and Dray started yelling at Starius who was starting to get very pissed.
"It is not his fault, it's mine" Matilda said trying to calm down the situation. but it got even worst.
"What is you problem, you spoilt brat, raising your shoulders up high like you're someone important, well you're not" Starius shot back, he was tired of been used. At that very moment Dray charged, throwing his hands out to punch Starius, but Starius dodged, turning around, and elbowing Dray in his mouth, making him bleed a bit, but the fight didn't end there.
"Oh, now I will teach you to respect your elders" Dray charged again, Starius was ready this time he put his right leg forward but did not expect what happened next, Josh held him around his waist,lifted him up and heating him hard on the floor. they both ganged up beating and punching Starius. Then suddenly a roar was heard. looking behind them not far, is a Rizor.
**Rizor; a beast resembling a Cheetah, it has two tentacles, each one sticking out both shoulders, and very long claws, and it's known to be the fastest beast, never missing it's prey**
The Rizor has wrapped his tentacles around the deer, suffocating it until it passed out, he was ready to eat then he noticed Dray, who was yelling. it unwrapped it tentacles from the now dead deer, and charged at Starius group.
On seeing this, Josh took to his heel, leaving everyone behind, before everyone realized and followed suite. They were all running trying to keep a safe distance from the beast. Josh and Dray were almost out the forest with Starius close by, as he is running he noticed, Matilda wasn't close by, so he stopped, looking back and he saw the beast diving on Matilda and ready to tear her apart, it is a far distance from Matilda, but Starius couldn't let his sister get killed, But what could he do, he is in panic, he tried running back but the most unexplainable thing happened, lightning started shooting out his body, claws elongated from his fingers his eyes turned super red, and a set of neat fangs appeared in his mouth, and he increased in size with white fur all over his body. he became a full white fur werewolf, and the speed was much, because within seconds he reached the beast before it could bite down on his sister using only his right hand he grabbed the beast flinging it hundreds of feet away from his sister.
Matilda got up and started running, till she found a place to hide. but the beast, not relenting charged at him again, but he caught the beast in the throat with only his left hand, raising the beast up and smashing the beast to the floor, then he deeps his right hand in the beast chest region taking out it's heart and throwing it aside. for a few minute Starius wasn't himself, he was still breathing heavily, with blood dripping down his claws, and lightning shooting off his body. Matilda got out of her hiding spot, approaching her brother but she's afraid.
"Starius are you ok" she asked, and immediately the voice snapped him out of his trance. he started transforming back to his regular form, and he noticed a strong body pain.
"What are you, brother?" she asked him still afraid and keeping a good distance from him.
"Matilda I will want you not to tell anyone of what occured here today" he said pleading, even he was confused, there was no such thing as werewolves, so he believed, but one thought lingered his head
"Who am I".
***********
On reaching home, right there is their mother and father and his two brothers, Josh and Dray.
Gerard ran over to his daughter and checking if she's ok, then he looked at Starius with anger.
"You are a stupid boy, I send you on an errand and you nearly got my children killed".
"Dad, it wasn't my...." Starius try speaking up but was cut shot by Gerard.
"Shut up, you ungrateful cretin, get out of my sight" Gerard yelled.
With tears dropping from his eyes, he left, with no one checking if he had any bruises or injury.
he went to the town's well and started crying.
"Are you alright dear" Mary came and started patting him on his back.
"Why does Dad hate me, am I even his child" Starius asked still sobbing.
"Get that thought out of your head, you are special, and there's no one more special than you love, and Guess what" Mary ended the conversation handing Starius a sword.
"Wow, Mum thank you " he said, embracing his mum tight.
"I know it's not the best, and I have spoken to your dad, he will allow you" She said.
"Mum, the Sword is ok, I will cherish it and make you proud" Starius said, looking at the Sword in his hand, the hilt was worn out a bit, and there was a little bit of rust at the two sharp edges, it wasn't the best Sword but it meant alot to Starius.
"I will fix this worn out hilt" he thought to himself, not wanting his mum to find out so she wouldn't be hurt.
"Now, come let get home" she said, carrying Starius along, till they reached back their cottage.
#####
It's close to a week time, Starius is outside brushing his Sword, When he was done, the Sword looked brand new, and it was neat.
He went to have his bath, coming back he saw his father giving his two sons advice. Then raising his head he looked at Starius with contempt. The armor fitted his brother. At that moment they were about leaving before his mum ran towards him giving him a kiss on his forehead.
"Be safe love, I wish all of you luck" She said. and immediately Matilda ran forward hugging each of them closely.
With that they were off, joining others boys on their journey.