Aleck stood alone, clutching the shining sword Ethen had given him, in that dim alleyway of the slums. The burden of disappointment weighed heavily on his shoulders, and the hand he held the sword felt more like a symbol of failure than a gift to him. He glanced to his left and right; then he saw the narrow streets lining the crumbling shacks, heard the distant murmur of bustle yet somberness. The knight who was escorting him did not bother to waste a single moment, thus leaving him to his luck.
Ethen's words were still ringing in his head: "Find Anna. She'll take care of you."
He'd heard of her often-a rigid, retired knight with a reputation for sternness but a soft spot for children. She was said to be one of the few who had trained the legendary Sword of the North. But what use would a woman like her have for a failed recruit like him?
The voice startled Aleck, sharp and cutting like the hiss of a blade. He turned around, his heart beating fast, only to see an elderly woman standing behind him. He hadn't even heard her approach. How did she sneak up on me? he thought with a chill down his spine.
She was hunched but steadfast. Frailty showed only in her frame but this wore worn cloth. She surveyed him with a glint of sharpness that ran behind cracked spectacles; she looked as if she hadn't eaten a thing proper in days, and there she sat, commanding all his respect.
"No need to be on the lookout for me, boy," she said, her voice gruff but tinged with amusement. "The fact that you didn't notice I was standing here says it all—you've been skipping training, haven't you?"
Aleck flushed with embarrassment, but he did not reply.
Her eyes fell to the sword in his hands, and for a fleeting instant, a smile pulled at the edge of her mouth. "Well, well," she said. "Looks like Ethen's playing favorites again." Aleck clutched the hilt tighter but said nothing.
"Come on, boy." She gestured for him to follow. "Your new home isn't much, but it's all you've got now. Unless you've got some other brilliant idea." She let out a dry laugh, one that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Aleck hesitated for a moment, then followed her down the narrow street.
They walked five minutes along the narrow alleys, their footsteps echoing off the night air heavy with the stench of decay. The place looked old, its wooden sign hanging crookedly above the door, barely visible in the faint light. Aleck felt something settle in his chest as he looked at the place. This was where he was going to start over?
No need to worry," Anna said, pushing the door open as she glanced at him. "We don't have customers anyway."
Her voice was flat, and there was a resignation in her eyes that Aleck couldn't pinpoint. She led him inside where the smell of must and old wood filled the air. Dim lanterns hanging from the ceiling gave off a faint, flickering light.
She motioned for him to follow, down a narrow hall to a room at the end. The floorboards creaked underfoot as they walked. When they entered, Aleck saw the sparse, worn furniture—the bed barely big enough for one, and a small table that looked like it had seen better days.
Anna turned to face him, her expression hardening as she spoke. "Starting tomorrow, you'll be working as staff here. As you can see, this place is a little rundown, and you'll need to earn your keep. Clean, serve, do whatever's necessary. If you want to survive, you'll need to pull your weight."
Aleck nodded in silence, struggling to keep the discomfort churning within him. He wasn't accustomed to this—working, surviving, not for something greater but just to get by. "Yes, ma'am," he said quietly.
Anna paused, her eyes softening briefly before she continued. "One more thing," she said, her voice sounding cautionary. "If in case any man here asks you to a duel. don't do it, please."
Aleck blinked, confused. "Why?"
She let out a deep sigh, and something between regret and concern flickered in her eyes. "These people. they've lost themselves. They still think they're knights, still think they're warriors. But you're not one of them. Don't let them pull you into their foolishness.
Aleck didn't answer, though he felt a tightness in his chest. It was hard to imagine these people—slumped in the shadows of a forgotten kingdom—still clinging to honor and pride. Still, it was hard not to feel a glimmer of respect for that.
Anna gave him one last look before turning toward the door. "Get some rest. It's late, and you'll need your strength for tomorrow."
Aleck watched her go, the door creaking shut behind her. He moved over to the bed, drawing the thin blanket over him, but sleep didn't come easy. His fingers closed around the sword that had been with him since the orphanage, its weight familiar and comforting.
The moonlight poured through the cracked window and cast shadows on the walls. Aleck stared at the sky through the small glass pane, feeling the vastness of it all. His dream—the one Ethen had believed in, the one that felt like a distant star—seemed farther away now than ever. But he couldn't forget it. He couldn't give up.
Holding the sword tight with him, Aleck shut his eyes and slept into some restless slumber that consisted of the gentle sound of wind outside his window interlinked with the gentle beating of his own heartbeat.
Aleck woke the next morning early, light from dawn seeping in through the thin curtains. He stretched, his muscles screaming in protest at the strange bed, and rubbed his eyes. It was quiet in the room; only the faint murmurings of voices from the common room outside broke the silence, and curiosity nudged him up.
As he entered the hallway, he saw Anna by the door with a young man, speaking in low tones about something. The fellow was tall, muscularly built, and looked the kind of man who would not back down from a scrap. His voice had a kind of assurance that Aleck quickly picked up on.
When he went into the corridor, he found Anna there, in conversation with some young fellow. The youth appeared healthy-looking, with that air of silent confidence about him, so the hilt of a sword by his side seemed well-suited. Aleck noticed that the talk flowed so easy for them.
Anna then noticed him and waved to call him over. Though apprehensive, Aleck had no choice but to come over.
"Ah, there you are, Aleck," Anna said as she faced the man beside her. "This is Brad, my son. And a mercenary. Not to brag, but he's one of the best talents the kingdom has seen."
Brad smirked and waved his hand in dismissal. "Again with the mom? I'm not so special, am I?"
Aleck stood there still perplexed at this gathering but before he could think more of it, Anna spoke up once more.
"So now that we're all here," Brad said with a grin, "let's duel, young man." His tone was confident almost playfully.
Aleck blinked in confusion. "Duel? What do you mean?".
Anna immediately shouted, a little too loudly for Aleck's liking, "Don't worry, Aleck, he's half the reason I told you not to accept duels. And don't call him young, you're 21 yourself, young man."
Aleck's eyes widened, his mind still trying to catch up with everything. He opened his mouth to respond, but Anna kept going.
"Ah, and Aleck," she added more calmly, "I've enrolled you in the school. You'll go there and finish your education. You'll need that for identification if you're going to get a job. Trust me."
Aleck stood there, speechless for a moment, processing everything she had just thrown at him. A duel? A school? The notion of education felt foreign to him, but he knew it was important.
Before Aleck could say anything, Brad took a step forward and gave him a clap on the shoulder. "No worries," he said with a smiling face. "I am going to take you there today. I want to talk with you also.
Aleck didn't know what to make of it. His head reeled with all the information, but he had no choice but to follow them. His life had taken a turn he hadn't expected, and he didn't know where it would lead him, but for the first time, there was a chance - an actual chance - to carve a future.