May 9, 535

The sun dipped below the horizon, its fading light catching on the brass and copper outlines of towering buildings that marked the boundaries of the Red-Light District. Steam rose from grates scattered along the decaying cobblestone streets, mingling with the thick smoke that belched from the windows of every building. The air was a tapestry of soot, the smell of oil, and the tinge of the distant farmlands surrounding the Einrich Empire's capital Heldenstadt.

Eldric Freeman threaded his way through the crowded streets, his gaze downcast, avoiding the glare of the gas-lit lanterns that hung overhead. The bulbs flickered erratically, casting a pulsating glow that gave life to the shadows. Around him, the clamor of the district surged—a cacophony of hawkers selling goods of unknown origin, the shrill laughter from the dance halls, and the clatter of the poorly made structures as they swayed in the faint wind, all over the backdrop of the loud night.

As he approached the edge of the district, where the ornate lampposts of the neighboring Middle District began to replace the flickering gaslights, a harsh voice cut through the crowd. "I thought I smelled rat poison around here," called a sneering, well-dressed young man leaning against a sleek, horse-drawn carriage. Beside him stood two others, a tall skinny man and a short stout companion, their fine clothes starkly contrasting with the grimy backdrop of the Red-Light District. Their clean, unblemished coats were adorned with polished brass buttons and crisp, embroidered cuffs, as they stood mockingly confident.

"Eldric Freeman. You've once again wandered out of the pits," jeered the stout lackey, his voice dripping with disdain as his friends chuckled. "You lost?"

Eldric's heart sank, but he kept his expression neutral. He was on the border, a place where the fringes of his world met theirs, and encounters like this were laden with risk. "I mean no trouble, Tobias." he replied, his voice steady, betraying none of the resentment that stirred within him. "Just trying to head home."

"Home?" The word came out the tall, lanky sidekick's mouth twisted with mockery. "You seem to be as confused as all you Red Lighters are. Home is that way boy, you have no place here."

"Watch your pockets, boys," the leader Tobias mocked, stepping closer, his gaze flicking over Eldric's worn jacket as if he might find it contagious. "You might find yourself missing a pocket watch or three."

"I mean no trouble, Tobias," Eldric repeated, inching his feet backwards as the burly Tobias continued to step closer and closer.

"Trouble is all you people cause, Freeman, especially people like you." The leader turned to his companions and threw his hands in the air. "I, for one, know my place, and keep this great nation afoot in recognizing so. As a rightful heir to the Kistler Great House, it is my duty to protect the common citizen from ruffians, and to contain these ruffians within the confines of the Red-Light District. Isn't that so, Freeman?"

Eldric knew confrontation was inevitable with outsiders who viewed his district—and its residents—as nothing more than a blight. They stood blocking his path, a living barrier wrought by prejudice and scorn. He subtly shifted his stance, ready to defend himself if needed, the cogs of his mind turning as rapidly as those that powered the city around him.

"Your place is back behind you, Freeman. In the gutters of society. As much as it pains me to say, I'm sorry you had to be born in such a terrible circumstance. If only your father wasn't such a worthless human being, you could have lived a normal life with the people of the world. Unfortunately, you weren't. Now turn around and walk to your real home before I make it so you can't walk at all."

Eldric's jaw clenched as the lead bully stepped closer, the dim light reflecting off his mocking smile.

"What's the matter?" Tobias mocked, his words etching into Eldric's mind like a knife. "Cat got your tongue, or is it just the stench of the gutter keeping you quiet?"

The words stung, but Eldric held his ground. He knew that showing fear would only embolden them. "I need to get past," he stated, his voice firmer than he felt. "I'm not looking for trouble."

"Trouble found you, mate," sneered the bully as he pushed against Eldric's chest with a gloved hand, the leather creaking under the strain. The force wasn't much, but it was enough to show they weren't just going to let him pass easily.

Eldric took a step back to maintain his balance, his back straightening as he assessed his options. Around them, the usual din of the district continued unabated, bystanders carefully averting their eyes. No help would come from them; this was a fight he had to face alone.

With a sudden move, Eldric tried to sidestep the trio, aiming for the smallest gap between them. His movements, honed from years of navigating crowded and hostile streets, were quick, but the tall companion reacted faster. He stepped forward, blocking Eldric with a broad shoulder, sending him stumbling back into a stand selling mechanical parts.

The grunts of the men drew a few glances, but still, no one intervened. The well-dressed rascals laughed, their amusement dark and cruel. "Not so quick, are you?" taunted the stout man, as he picked up a small rock from the ground and pretended to throw it at him.

Eldric's heart pounded in his ears. He could fight, but he knew the odds were against him. Still, his determination to not be cowed in his own district, on his own streets, fueled his resolve. He squared his shoulders, eyes narrowing. "Just let me through," he said, his voice low and steady. "Last warning."

Tobias' smile faltered, his eyes narrowing into slits. "I'm only doing my duty, scum." With a swift motion, he swung his fist towards Eldric's face. Reacting just in time, Eldric managed to duck, feeling the rush of air as the fist passed overhead. Seizing the moment, Eldric pushed forward, his shoulder connecting with Tobias' stomach, driving him back. The broad man stumbled but caught himself, rage contorting his features. He spat out a combination of saliva and phlegm, locking eyes with the now grinning Eldric.

"You'll pay for that, slum rat!" he spat, and all three lunged towards Eldric.

With carefully timed dodges, Eldric avoided the men's grasp as he darted away from the trio, their voices fading away into the night sky of the Middle District.

* * *

Heldenstadt's streets were narrow and winding. Except for a few town squares along his route, there was little room for more than two wagons going both directions along the road. The buildings lining the street were connected in a snakelike fashion, with the occasional break in the snake for an alley. Some would have a balcony overlooking the road below, and many who did hung their laundry for drying.

Eldric wasn't in fact, headed home, rather the Market District. The distance between the Market District and the Red-Light District offered him a forty-five-minute walk through the Middle Districts comprised of the middle class of Heldenstadt. Because of his nearly daily walks, he had become somewhat known to the frequents of his route and would often get scoffed at because of his heritage. It didn't bother him, though, as he had become accustomed to the way people treated him and expected no more.

Being just after sunset, the streets were bustling with men returning home from work, children playing outside, and women cooking dinner. The people who noticed Eldric always went as far away as possible when passing him out of fear of being mugged or beaten. Still, Eldric paid no mind to it.

He continued walking, turning down some more roads and eventually making it to a town square, where the road opened up to a large open area with shops, people, and a fountain that marked the middle of the court. Eldric sat down at the fountain to catch his breath and watched the children who had returned from school run around. He could see nine total, four boys and five girls. All seemed to be siblings or friends, and their mothers sat at a table across the way conversing about the newest fads. Whatever the nobles did, they followed suit, mentioning their names like heroes in a book. As he sat down, the mothers noticed his presence; his tattered and dirtied clothes giving him away to anyone. They stood frantically and called their children away from the square.

Figures. Eldric thought. He turned to the fountain, which continued to spurt water out. This was treatment he'd become accustomed to, what everyone who lived in the Red Light District had become accustomed to. Many never even dared to step foot outside the dark neighborhood as they became belittled and subhuman the moment they did. Eldric never felt this way, though he was unsure why that was.

He turned back around to watch as the children fought against their mothers, who were pleading to head back to their homes. He paid no mind to the swarm of insults hurled his way with no regard for his presence, it was part of the job.

Wait a minute.

Eldric counted the children once more. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8…

There were only eight children.

Eldric quickly rose to his feet and glanced around the square, causing the women to jolt and swoop their children in their hands. As the women bolted away, Eldric's mind began to race. There were only so many places that the missing child could have gone, and it hadn't been so long since he had last seen him, so he eliminated the four roads that outstretched from the square. He did not see one of the mothers pick him up, meaning he couldn't have gone with them. If that were the case, he wouldn't be missing, so Eldric eliminated that option.

"Is something the matter, sir?"

Eldric jolted around to find the source of the voice he heard. The boy who had disappeared moments before was now standing in front of him. The boy wore brown suspenders holding khaki shorts over his clean white button-down shirt. He donned a flat cap and black dress shoes with shin-high socks to complete the outfit.

"You look unwell. Is everything all right?" The boy asked once more. His face showed visible concern.

Eldric laughed to himself and put his hand to his forehead. "No, no, nothing is the matter." He looked back up towards the mothers, still fighting their children about heading home. "I just thought I'd forgotten something, that's all."

The boy looked relieved for a moment before smiling at Eldric. "You're awful considerate, aren't ya?" The boy jumped down from the fountain and ran towards the mothers, following the road in which they disappeared into.

Eldric looked back to the fountain. It kept spurting water as if nothing had happened to begin with. By now, the mothers and their children were well into the depths of the street, far away from Eldric. He looked up from the fountain and continued his journey.

Although the shortest route to the Market District was to follow the women, Eldric opted to take a slightly longer way so as not to appear to be following them. The roads seemed similar, but now with a bit of variation. Rather than separate homes with a gated yard in front, there were now snaking buildings with the occasional balcony. Rather than straight and wide roads, they became narrow and winding. This narrower road saw less people than the wider road of the Middle District, likely because of the unimportance of a road this small.

At the end of the winding road was a T-intersection, in which, right in the center, was a chapel for the Church of Hrofth. Since before the Great Calamity, the church had been in existence and worshiped the deity of light, Ein. The chapel wasn't the largest, as the closer to the Einrich Palace you got, the larger the chapel was. If nothing else, it was a good way of locating yourself within the empire's large capital city.

Service had just ended as many men, women, and children were exiting the chapel, with the priest standing in front wishing everyone a wonderful day. Not wanting to be seen, Eldric sidelined the street and rounded the corner at an immense speed. Once he had done so, he turned around to look at the chapel once more. He saw the families exiting, no more than five per group, and saw the children along with their parents joyfully resuming their daily activities. Eldric wasn't a family man, but he couldn't help but feel jealous.

Eldric never knew his mother. According to his father, just a year following his moving to the Red-Light District, he met her at a bar, and they hit it off. Once Eldric was born, however, she thrust all of the work onto him and disappeared. Eldric had no idea how much of his stories to believe, but he did know that he had never even seen photos of her, so the story isn't entirely unlikely.

His father, on the other hand, was a complete slob. Once holding a respectable position on the Legislative Court in Heldenstadt, he had been framed for something terrible. Because of that, he was stripped of his entire estate and title, forcing him to enter the Red-Light District. This, however, is also all according to him, so how much of it was true can't be said.

Eldric had stood there for too long, as people were starting to notice and become wary of him. Even here, he had been known as a Red-Light District citizen.

* * *

 As Eldric entered the Market District, the streets had welcomed him as if he'd never left. He turned a corner and saw Buddy Jones sitting on his front porch, holding a cup of tea and rocking in a rocking chair.

"Evening, Eldric," Buddy called out to him.

"Buddy." Eldric's stern face softened as he saw his lifelong friend. Eldric had always enjoyed coming to Buddy's store. Although shallow, the main reason for this was due to how Buddy treated him. Many would see those who lived in the Red Light District as barbaric, criminals, and lesser people, but not Buddy. Buddy's family would often visit the district with high-quality food and goods to distribute to the lowest class of people. It was there that Eldric and Buddy grew close and became close friends. "I have some exciting news to share with you."

"Exciting is good," Buddy chuckled, "better than the usual news of running into trouble with Tobias Kistler."

"Well, I wouldn't say that didn't happen," Eldric looked away from Buddy, who rubbed his forehead with his hands.

"You give yourself a bad rep, Eldric," Buddy sipped the last of his tea and stood from his chair. "How are you going to get out of the R.L.D if you keep antagonizing the people that could help you get there?"

"I don't want to have to kiss the asses of the people who can help me, you know that."

Buddy sighed. "I do, but I hope you know it might be your only way out. Alright, let's talk about your news inside, it's getting a little cold out." After stretching, he walked back into his store with Eldric not far behind. Buddy's family had owned the general store for three generations, and as such, they had seen many come and go from Heldenstadt's Market District. Inside was a small, naturally lit room with empty bookshelves that used to hold all kinds of goods but now sat collecting dust. In the middle was a counter that used to hold a register but now only had a teapot and two cups. A stool sat on either side of the counter, so they sat.

 Buddy poured Eldric and himself a cup of tea. They sat in silence for a few minutes while sipping quietly from their respective cups.

Buddy was the first to break the silence. "So what's this exciting news you have to share?"

Eldric smiled. "Did a letter come in the mail addressed to me recently?"

Buddy's face drew a look of confusion. "A letter? I don't receive mail all that much anymore- Oh! You mean this one? It wasn't addressed to anyone but I haven't had anyone come for it, so it must be." Buddy reached under the countertop and presented a small sealed white envelope with no writing on the front or back. Eldric quickly snatched it out of Buddy's hand and ripped it open, procuring a piece of paper and glancing over it.

"This, Buddy, is going to be how I get out of there."

"The R.L.D?" Buddy's face narrowed. "A piece of paper is gonna do that? Unless it's an imperial pardon, I doubt a single piece of paper can do that much."

Eldric sighed. "No, not the paper itself. Here." Eldric slid the paper to Buddy, who quickly read over the contents, widening his eyes as he went along.

"You're trying to join the military?"

"That I am! They pay real good, you know. I'll work there for few years, make some money, and then live carefree for the rest of my life."

"That's pretty ambitious of you, Eldric. Whatever inspired this?"

"Well, the journey from my place to yours isn't exactly short, Buddy, you hear things when you do it as often as I do. Rumors, stories, the latest news, all sorts of things."

Buddy wiped his upper lip with his thumb. "And you are aware of the ongoing war, right?"

Eldric raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, of course. It's all anyone ever talks about these days."

"And you're assuming you'll be able to come home after going on the front lines? You'll die out there and you won't be able to return with all that money, instead it'll go right to your father. You really want him to reap the rewards of your effort?"

Eldric slammed his hand on the paper, rising from his seat with a large smile. "That's the thing! There's a division of the military where you don't fight on the front lines!"

"A division where you-" Buddy looked at Eldric with a concerned expression. "You don't mean the Guardian Force do you?"

"Bingo!"

Buddy sighed. "Do you even know what they do? What they're known for?"

"Well," Eldric thought for a moment. "I know they guard the Empire along the Land of Solitude, but apart from that I can't imagine it'd be that difficult."

"Simply put," Buddy leaned forward. "They're known nationwide as the cowards of the military. 'Rather than killing republic dogs, you wait for something to attack that might not have even existed to begin with', or so they say."

"You think I care about the republic? What's Reinbose ever done to me? I'm sure Einrich is the true bad guy in the whole thing."

"Yet you want to join their military."

"Whatever can get me out of the Red Light District. Cowards or not that's the easiest way out of there."

Buddy placed his cup down on the countertop. "Well, I wish you luck in that." He looked around at the small room before locking eyes with Eldric. "I think I need to share something with you as well, Eldric."

"You have good news as well?"

"Well, it's news." Buddy sighed. "Eldric. The store is closing—for good. I'm headed off to Arlington to set up a new shop and begin a new life there."

Eldric was taken aback. "W-What?" he stuttered.

"To tell the truth, I'd been thinking about it for some time now, and I feel this is the right time to do so. I'd have preferred to go to, say, Rivercrest, on account of it being the trade center of Alcrest, but the northern countries aren't exactly the greatest of places right now, especially Rivercrest. I hear it's under the control of Reinbose now too."

Almost instantly, Eldric noticed the room they'd been sitting in had been completely gutted out. He had barely noticed when walking in due to his excitement of his announcement, and slowly looked at Buddy in shock of the news. "But I-" Eldric gulped down his cup of tea slowly and placed it beside the teapot. Buddy picked up the pot as if he were to fill up the cup, but Eldric declined with a quick wave of his hand. "But I don't understand, why?"

"Arlington's stayed neutral to the whole war, even from the beginning, so I thought it'd be a nice change of pace."

"But don't you know how long of a trip it is? It'll take you days, weeks even to just get to the coast!" Eldric looked outside the store through the large glass windows to see children running up and down the street. "You don't have to leave. The war isn't felt here, Buddy. You have it good. How do you not understand that?"

"I do. I do understand how good I have it here. That's why I have to go. It might not be felt now, but there's no telling when Reinbose is going to cross the Land of Solitude to attack our borders. We might feel the war as soon as tomorrow."

"But we don't today. Isn't the Land of Solitude a desert that stretches over a hundred miles? If Reinbose wanted to attack us by going through there, they would've done so already."

"There's one small problem with that, Eldric." Buddy took a sip of his tea. "The Men of Gordon."

"The what?"

Buddy's face appeared surprised, but that surprise faded quickly. "I guess you wouldn't know. It's fine, don't think about it too much."

"That doesn't explain anything."

"I know!" Buddy exclaimed, switching the conversation, "Why don't you come with me? You and I could set up shop together, and we could make it big. It's not like you have anything here; Einrich despises you, and you won't have to join any stupid military!"

"The entirety of Einrich hates me?" Eldric remarked. "I doubt everyone in the Market District alone has even met me."

"They may not hate you, exactly. But they hate the idea of you, even more so if you join the Guardian Force."

Eldric looked outside the store once more. One of the children playing outside must have tripped and fallen as his mother was standing over him, nursing him to health. "I can't leave, you know that. Even if I wanted to it's a bitch to even leave the city for someone like me. And not everyone hates me, there's you after all!"

"And next week I won't be in the country."

"Well, um, there's my father."

"Yeah, your father. Face it, Eldric, I know your mentality is to persevere until the end of time but isn't it good sometimes to take the easy way through life? Taking the path less traveled will only tire the feet. Wouldn't you want to take a nap at a rest stop occasionally?"

"Even if leaving the country was easier, I'd rather have blistered feet than cushioned ones." Eldric stood from his stool. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I don't have anything here. But that doesn't mean I can't make something out of the nothing."

Buddy sighed and looked down at his watch. "Well then, it's getting late." Buddy finished his cup of tea and took the tea set to the back room. "It should take a few days to reach the bay and then a short distance across the channel. Everything is set to go. I leave in the morning, just so you know." Buddy came from the back room with a suitcase in hand, likely with the tea set inside, and stuck his hand out to Eldric. "If you decide to come out with me, I'd be more than happy to have you. If not, it's been nice to get to know you Eldric."

Eldric reluctantly shook Buddy's hand. "I guarantee this is not the last time we will see each other."

"Right."

The two stepped outside and Buddy sent Eldric on his way. As the small shop slowly went out of view, Eldric looked to the clear night sky. The stars slowly popped into view as he continued to look onward, knowing he'd never make this journey again.

Eldric continued his walk home once more, finally reaching the entrance to the Red-Light District after a shorter walk than his way to the Market District. The opening was not welcoming, as a singular, dilapidated gate created the only actual door for the district. Tobias and his lackeys had left, presumably because they couldn't wait much longer around the entrance without being disgusted. The difference in housing was noticeable as well. Rather than the long snaking rows of homes, or the larger detached houses, the Red-Light District had stout, run-down buildings that couldn't pass as houses even if they tried. The district was never the prettiest, with the occasional two-story apartment complex dotting the scenery. There were no roads, just different decaying cobblestone pathways that intertwined the buildings leading from one place to another. Eldric was not headed home, he had somewhere else to be.

Deep in the Red Light District was a bar known as Louie's. It didn't have an official name, as the bar could not afford the sign, so everyone just called it by the bartender's name. It was the only reasonably stable building and thus the most popular with all the locals of the Red Light District, Eldric's father included.

The bar was tinged orange from the bulbs that burned low, casting a warm, somber glow over the few patrons scattered around. George Freeman sat at the bar, his posture slouched, a half-empty glass of something strong enough to forget but mild enough to linger, sat in front of him.

Louie, the bartender and owner, polished a glass as he eyed George with a mix of concern and resignation. George had been a regular for years, ever since his fall from grace, but he never caused trouble. He just sat, sipped, and stared into nothing.

"Another round, George?" Louie asked, his voice low, almost blending into the hum of a tired song playing over the speakers.

George shook his head, a faint smile touching the corners of his lips. "No, Louie. Think I'll just sit with this one for a while longer."

A younger man at the end of the bar scoffed loudly, downing his drink and slamming the glass onto the counter. "Sitting's all he seems to do around here," he muttered, glaring pointedly at George.

Louie shot the man a warning look. "Ease up, Tommy. Not everyone's here to make noise."

George turned his head, eyes meeting Tommy's. "Young man, the world's got enough noise. Sitting... well, sitting gives you time to think. Time to assess. Time to allow the world to work at its own pace."

"And what's so good about thinking, old man? Seems to me like it's just another way to do nothing," Tommy snapped, his voice tinged with liquor.

George sighed. "Thinking's where the answers start. Action's where they end. I'm just... stuck somewhere in the middle right now."

"Stuck in the middle? Middle of what? Lazy Town and Bumsville?" Tommy burst into laughter.

The door to the bar swung open, and in walked a figure that drew George's gaze immediately—Eldric, his son. The young man's eyes scanned the room, settling on his father with a mixture of disappointment and frustration.

Louie nodded towards Eldric, signaling George. "Looks like your thinking's about to turn into some talking, George."

Eldric approached slowly, greeting the other regulars of the bar along the way. He pulled up a stool beside his father and sat, not looking at him. "Hey, Dad."

"Eldric," George replied, his voice a mix of coldness and somber. "You're back."

"And you're still here."

George looked at the counter, setting his drink aside. "You've come to bring me home again?"

Eldric did not reply. The two sat in silence for what felt like hours. Eldric and his father had become somewhat famous due to their relationship, and everyone present at the bar knew that. The voices of chatter slowly died to a silent hum, the only sound hearable being the sounds of Louie shining the glasses.

Eldric broke the silence. "I'm heading off to the Sur District tomorrow to join the military. I came here to tell you that."

"I see."

"I plan on joining the Guardian Force, if I can. That way I won't die on the battlefield."

"That's good."

"I'll probably be gone for a long time. You know that right?"

"Whatever makes you happy, Eldric."

"Right." Eldric stood, pushing his stool away from the bar. "I'll see you at home." He turned away from the bar, waved goodbye to Louie, and exited the bar. Soon, the voices of laughter began to start once again.

"You could have handled that better, George," Louie stated. "Aren't you very against this nation's military?"

"What my son decides to do is out of my control."

"Yes, that is true, he is of that age, but you're still his father. If you're against the military, or so you said years ago, make him know that. Make him stay. You're his father after all."

"Yeah, maybe." George necked the remainder of his drink and placed his payment on the bar. "It's really out of my control, Louie." Standing up from the bar, he slowly moved to the door, opening it lethargically.

Eldric left Louie's and began the short walk home. Unlike outside the district, the grog in the air caused the sun to disappear at nearly every point of the day, so he couldn't tell if it was still daylight or if the sun had set. Either way, he was to head home.

Eldric and his father lived on the second floor of one of the apartment complexes scattered about the district. Inside the home was a single room with a bathroom in one of the back corners. The big room housed enough room for a table, and a kitchenette lined the entrance hallway. There was a singular window on the back wall looking into more grog. There was no back door, just the express front door, a severe fire hazard should the apartment building go up in flames.

Eldric had a few books that Buddy had given him over the years, and so while he waited for his father to come home, he decided to pick up a book and start rereading it.

As time passed, and Eldric had grown tired of waiting. After setting aside his belongings into a bag he owned for the trip he'd make the following day, he laid down on his mattress on the ground and dozed off, hoping his father wouldn't wake him the next day.

* * *

The following morning, Eldric awoke to his father slumped over on the table. It appeared that he arrived sometime after Eldric had fallen asleep and passed out drunk upon the table before he could get a word out. Although Eldric didn't know what time it was, he knew it would be a full day's travel to make it to the Sur District, situated in the heart of the capital, near the Palace District.

Eldric put the book he began rereading the previous night into his bag and made for the door.

'Cough, cough.'

Behind him, Eldric saw his father rise from the table as he wiped the drool off his face. "Oh, morning, Dad." Eldric attempted to make a break for the door but was interrupted.

"Eldric."

Eldric stopped in his tracks, not turning around.

George sat at the small table. "As a father, I've failed you more than I've failed myself. I drink all day and sit around doing nothing, and then get pissed at the actions you make as if I'm any better. There is no atoning, nor making up the lost time you've missed because of how much a failure of a father I've been." George looked out the back window and then at his hands. "But I can't let you go to the military."

Eldric looked at his feet.

"Why would you want to fight for this god-forsaken country of ours?" He asked desperately.

"I-"

"What in Ein's name did this country do for you? Kick you to the ground? Belittle you and treat you like some animal? Is that the country you want to stand for?"

"I-"

"Do you know where we are? Where we live?"

Eldric did not reply.

"We're in the Red Light District, Eldric." George sighed. "Living here means we are the lowest of the low. Not much more valuable than a pig. To the people of Einrich, we're no better than the republic themselves." George chuckled. "Hell, I wouldn't blame 'em if they let the president of the damn place walk given a choice to get rid of one of us. Do you truly want to fight for those people? The people that betrayed us? That left us here to die?"

Eldric finally turned to face his father, who had water in his eyes.

"Should you decide to go, I won't support it. Not at all. But I'll do my best to accept it." George stood up and stepped up to Eldric, grabbing both of his shoulders. "But, should you decide to stay—and I truly, honestly hope you do—I'll do my best to atone for my unforgivable sins. I'll raise you to be the best son a father could ask for. I'll tell you everything I know, introduce you to the people I call my friends, and I'll… I'll…" George let go of Eldric's shoulders.

"Dad," Eldric began, "I understand what you want to do, but before you'd be able to raise me in the 'correct' way before you can begin to atone, you have to look at yourself first. Fix the things wrong with you before you can fix the issues in others. I'm sorry, but I'm heading out."

George's grip loosened. "Right." He stepped back and sat down once again at the table. "Well, best of luck then."

"Thanks, Dad," Eldric replied.

* * *

 The trip from Eldric's home to the Sur District was just about as eventful as his trip from the Market District to the Red-Light District, though the change in building style was much more drastic. The further he got from the Red-Light District, the more Eldric noticed the increasing size of the buildings. He had rarely been out this close to the Palace District, and because of that, many were not quick to judge based on his appearance alone.

 The streets went from broad to more expansive, the houses gained gated yards the size of buildings in the Red Light District, and the people went from wearing everyday clothes to fancy chapel clothes as if they were a regular attire. Women wore parasols and large dresses while the men donned straight tuxedos. Children and teenagers wore similar clothing, though less refined given their age.

The streets were more populated as well, likely due to many upper-class citizens not needing to attend schooling. The roadside saw street painters, musicians, and the like entertaining the empire's nobles. The center of the street was carved in half by a line of trees, each in the full bloom of the summer season. Parks were more abundant as well. A grassy open field would show itself with many noblemen and women enjoying their time with games, picnics, or conversation every few homes.

When Eldric arrived at the Sur District, the sun had already set. He did not care where he'd spend the night as long as it was a place to lay his head. He brought no money and thus could not stay at any inns, so he found one of the parks and laid down on the grass.

The sky was filled with stars. There was no space on the canvas above him, no matter where Eldric looked. In the distance, a chapel bell could be heard. The voices of a crowd were slowly diminishing as people returned to their homes, and in the end, all Eldric could listen to was the wind blowing through his hair and his breathing.

As much as he wanted to pull out his book and begin reading, as he often did before falling asleep, he knew that the little light he was working with would not be enough, so he closed his eyes and dozed off.

Eldric was awoken by the sun and noises of birds, the chapel, and the early morning crowd. He reached into his pocket and took out the flyer he had been given. It had a location of the training grounds. He didn't know what the address meant, so when he reached the street, he asked a man walking by where the training grounds were located, and the man pointed him in the right direction. After thanking him, Eldric made for the settings that would determine his future.

The training grounds were a large rectangular grass field gated on all ends. In one portion of the grounds was a sandpit, likely for training for the desert. There were already people standing in the middle. Most were conversing with one another, some were stretching, and others were running in place or doing exercises to prepare.

At the front of the grounds was a ticket box used to admit candidates. Eldric walked up to the box and put his flyer in front of the woman running admittance. She glanced at him and sighed as she grabbed a piece of paper and a pen.

"Write your name on the line. Remember the number next to it."

The paper he had been shown showed several signatures already, with numbers next to them. He wrote his name next to the number 301 and stepped into the grounds.

Looking to his left, he saw several bags lined on top of one another. Eldric put his bag down next to the rest and made his way to the ground's center.

Given my number was 301, there are probably three hundred others trying to join, but it doesn't look like there are even one hundred.

Eldric found a space to sit down, and he watched as everyone warmed up for the tryouts.

"Man, I didn't expect there to be this many people." A voice came from Eldric's left. A tall man walked to him from the ticket box and stuck his hand out. "Kastor Gregor, number 302, a pleasure to meet you."

Eldric stood up and shook his hand. "Eldric Freeman, 301." Kastor's height was much larger than Eldric had initially thought, nearly an entire head's length taller than him.

"Oh! 301, then! It looks like we're number neighbors!" Kastor laughed. "In all seriousness, do you really think there are three hundred people here? I was looking around, and it doesn't seem like it."

Eldric glanced back towards the crowd. While there were undoubtedly many people, there were nowhere near enough for three hundred. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing," He replied. "But even then, it isn't a huge deal. It makes it easier for us to get in then."

Kastor laughed again. His laugh sounded forced to Eldric, and it was so loud you could probably hear it in Reinbose. "So," Kastor sat down, Eldric following suit. "Which branch are you trying to go out for?"

"To be frank with you, I don't think I have anywhere in mind. I'm just looking to get in, get paid, and get out."

"Ah," Kastor looked back towards the ticket box. A few more came through the gates and situated on the grassy field. "So, I guess the Guardian Force would be for you, then."

"Yeah, that's the second time I've been told about that thing. Is it really that bad to join it and not be on the front lines?"

"Hmm… I don't know." Kastor turned to Eldric. "I guess purists will say it's a disgrace to go out for it, but the way I see it, you're still putting in work no matter what you do."

Ah. Eldric stood up and noticed a few people starting to gather in a cluster. "What do you think is going on there?"

Kastor stood up. "I'm not sure. Let's go check it out."

They raced over to the group, where they found a pocket in the middle for two men who appeared to be fighting. The crowd circled the two was rowdy and barbaric, pushing and shoving each other as they all wanted a better view. Eldric, used to these situations in Louie's, was able to snake his way to the inside of the circle.

The first man was severely beaten. He had blonde hair and wore a white tank top drenched in sweat. With no sleeves, anyone could see he wasn't the most muscular man in the world, but he wasn't a toothpick either.

The other, a much more muscular man, wore a tank top as well, though colored in maroon. He had barely any bruises and looked like he had just woken up with how little sweat came from his pores.

"Come on, Rietveld!" The muscular guy called out. "Is this what your traitorous family raised you to be?!" He lunged forward at the blonde man, carrying his entire weight. When the blonde dodged, he crashed into the front few spectators.

The blonde man held a defensive stance with his hands, using his lighter weight to his advantage. "I'm not here to instigate any fights, Henry. Let's just calm down and wait for the captain to get here."

The muscular man got up and scoffed at the blonde. "There you go again with your annoying, people-pleasing attitude that somehow allowed you to live this long." He exclaimed, pointing his finger toward him. "Well, not this time. Mommy isn't here to protect you no more." He raised his arms and turned towards the crowd. "Fine spectators of the crowd, the man who stands before you today is none other than a Rietveld! He is no more than a traitorous scum whose ancestor revolted against this great empire and created the dogs of the republic we know today!"

The crowd erupted in noise that couldn't be deciphered.

"Now," The muscular man continued, slowly walking towards the other contender. "How far has the empire fallen such that we now allowed traitors amongst our kind? To fight for us!" He stopped a foot away from the blonde and spoke directly to him, much quieter than before. "And who's to say that he won't just turn on his tail and run to the republic once on the front lines?"

That line got the blonde man riled up as he jumped forward to the behemoth. However, before he could make contact, the muscular man grabbed his hand by the wrist, threw him to the ground, and planted his foot onto his chest. "This is what dogs like you deserve." He mumbled as he drove his foot deeper into his chest.

"ENOUGH!"

A booming voice came from outside the crowd. It broke up and showed a uniformed man standing at attention. The muscular man stood dumbfounded for a moment before saluting the uniformed man. The blonde coughed a few times as he slowly rose from the ground.

The man in uniform walked up to the two. "Henry Kistler, and Leonard Rietveld." He reached into his front breast pocket and pulled out a small note. "I was told that I was getting a strange crowd today, but I apparently wasn't briefed enough." He mumbled to himself before putting the note back in his pocket.

The uniformed man clapped twice and ordered everyone to stand at attention in line. Not a second passed, and the crowd was frantically racing to their spots. Eldric found Kastor out of the group and stood next to him as the rest of the crowd formed a straight line.

The man walked up and down the line, inspecting each candidate and their build. In front of Eldric and Kastor, he pulled his note out and nodded twice before putting it away and continuing down the line. Once he had made it to the end, he walked to the center and positioned himself a distance away from everyone else to allow them to see him.

His dull eyes scanned the crowd in front of him as if the examination had already begun. Standing firm, he placed his hands behind his back, puffing his chest outwards in confidence. Despite being part of the imperial uniform, he bore no cap, and in its place was a bald head. His face was unshaven with a large scar that ran vertically to the top of his head.

"Good morning, candidates. My name is Malik Asante, and I am a captain for the Guardian Force along the border between the Einrich Empire and the Land of Solitude, and your examiner this morning."

Amongst the crowd, there were a few murmurs, mostly out of disbelief that the supposed weakest branch of the military was in charge of the examinations.

Someone a few people to Eldric's right spoke up.

"The Guardian Force?" He laughed. "This must be a joke, why would anyone from them come out and bother with us? Shouldn't you be bumming around the border wall and-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Asante pulled out a handgun and sent a bullet at the candidate's feet. The ground exploded as the contender jumped back in fear. Asante, now wearing a smug look across his face, twirled his gun and placed it back in his holster.

"Apologies, it appears my gun has misfired. Such a shame that is, happens from time to time. Do you mind repeating what you said? I was, unfortunately, unable to hear it."

Standing back in his place, the outspoken applicant shook his head in silence. Asante nodded and began speaking once again.

"I'm aware many of you have a poor vision of the mighty Guardian Force, but I should illustrate to you the purposes of this examination. If, we, the Guardian Force, are the weakest of the branches of Einrich's military, then should we determine to deem you unworthy, it wouldn't be unfit for the 'more prestigious' branches to refuse to even glance your way. The purposes of these examinations are to weed out the significant from the insignificant. The talented from the untalented." He began to pace back and forth in front of the line of candidates. "The examinations will comprise of two phases, both of which will occur today. This means that each and every one of you standing before me will know the outcome of their trials by sundown. Do I make myself clear?"