"You turn 18 at midnight. Are you ready?"
His mother's strict yet soothing voice sounded all too distant.
"I wonder what sort of kingdom I'll get?" Luke's thoughts drifting in distant places, no doubt imagining the glory that would befall him upon his birthday.
Slap
As his head jerked forward, Luke couldn't help but widen his eyes, his pupils silently constricting in what could only be described as fear.
"Young man, I am talking to you."
His mother's voice pierced the awkward silence as Luke awkwardly looked up at his 'loving' mother, reminiscing about the past.
In Luke's universe, everyone gets assigned a kingdom in an alternate universe upon turning 18.
Some kingdoms are big, some are small. Others are filled with vast populations, while some are sparsely populated.
The only constant in the madness of "The Selection" is that you, without a doubt, become a Sovereign upon turning 18.
"Please bless me," Luke muttered beneath his breath.
Some rule entire planets, while others become the king of tiny villages.
Luke is the result of a political marriage between two vast neighboring kingdoms, which together unite an entire solar system.
Some speculate that the might of the parents plays a part in the 'lottery,' and in Luke's case, he has been groomed as an heir for as long as he could remember.
"Tomorrow, I will finally get out of here," Luke thought to himself, excited at the prospect of escaping the torturous lifestyle he had led for the last 17 years of his life.
"I'm sorry, Mother. I was lost in thought," Luke's voice trembled as cold sweat slowly slid down his neck.
"To think we spent 17 years nurturing you," his mother's voice sharp as her gaze bore into him, "and yet, you somehow manage to lose your cool in front of me. It seems you are ill-prepared. Well, so be it. There is neither time nor opportunity.
"Your journey is about to begin, and the only thing I can do is wish you the best of luck. I know I've been hard on you, but remember this:
"I will always love and be proud of you. All that matters is returning safely. Be careful; the universe is a treacherous place."
As her words fell upon the stunned Luke, his mother quickly pulled him into a tight embrace as a singular tear slowly slid down her cheek, planting itself on his shoulder.
Her worries were not without reason; no amount of preparation could compare to the realities of ruling, taking control, and developing a kingdom.
After a little while, she slowly pulled back, staring intently at his face as if etching his very existence in her mind forever. Soon thereafter, her hurried yet controlled footsteps approached the open door.
Click
And as the door closed, it became evident that she would not allow herself to show the slightest worry or weakness in front of her son. At least not more than she had already...
Luke's journey was yet to begin, but she knew the hardships better than anyone. The treacherous lifestyle one had to lead in order to become someone of value.
The all-powerful queen could no longer protect him. From now on, fate would rest upon his own shoulders.
The silence quickly became unbearable for the restless Luke, who could not fathom what had just transpired.
His mother's moniker, "The Ice Queen," was known for her tyrannical ways. Her subjects looked upon her warmly, yet her enemies, neighbors, and adversaries could never sleep comfortably.
Luke had just heard her express her love and worries for the first time.
His earlier fantasies slowly ebbed away as the realization of the emptiness he would no doubt feel in a new, strange environment quietly overshadowed his earlier excitement.
"I'm prepared for this."
He tightly clenched his fists as his resolve slowly but surely reaffirmed itself once more.
"I won't return to this place for five years, if ever."
When you first transferred over, you were forced to stay for five years, unable to escape.
The only way back—was death.
"I will be back in five years. I will prove them all wrong!"
The clock struck once more, and time silently passed as Luke spent the last few minutes in silent meditation—a technique passed to him by his father when he was young.
By circulating the world's energy, he would slowly build up strength previously thought unobtainable.
23:56 (11:56 PM)
Luke found himself unable to focus as his thoughts drifted back to his classes.
"Two hundred years ago, the world suddenly changed. Unexplainably, teens started to disappear, and the whole world surged into panic."
Mr. Dorian's calm voice echoed in the empty classroom, whilst Luke found himself engrossed in the story.
"Panic ensued until five years later, when the first batch returned with unexplainable might and power. Their stories quickly reached every corner of the earth, slowly changing society into what it is today.
"I wish this was a happy story, yet it is nothing of the sort. While some came back, most were found dead. Some butchered, others starved. Yet none of them breathing.
"And that, dear Luke, is a fitting place to end this lesson."
Luke sat there stunned as Mr. Dorian calmly exited the room, intending to give Luke some time to digest, as this was no doubt a heavy topic for such a young mind.
Luke's mind slowly grew increasingly clear with each passing breath.
Slowly, the room grew quiet; his ragged breaths were now barely a whisper.
His body slowly circulated its energy.
23:58 (11:58 PM)
Although Luke was hit by a sudden surge of doubt, apprehension, and fear, time would stop for no one—no human, at the very least.
And with each passing second, the awe of a new day was fast approaching.
23:59 (11:59 PM)
Luke's eyes narrowed, his fists clenched, and as blood slowly escaped his now firm wrists, his knuckles whitened as if silently vowing to stand firm against every challenge he would face.
Ding
00:00 (12:00 AM)
The clock reached midnight; everything Luke once knew was now in the past.
His earlier clouded mind, now crystal clear as if the very notion of unpreparedness was offensive.
As the scenery slowly ebbed, darkness threatened to overcome him. Yet Luke refused to budge. He would witness the change in its entirety.
And as the world turned dark, colors slowly came into existence once more.
His eyes widened, a mixture of shock and despair flooding his body.
But what would happen next, nothing could prepare him for.
Nonetheless, his story was about to unfold.
**********
Hello! So I promised a new story awhile back.Â
I suddenly found myself unable to continue with it any further. And I think it was because of my detailed plans.
Everytime it derailed I found myself feeling like a failure of sorts. And in the end I could get nowhere
Well anyhow. This chapter is not perfect in any way shape or form. Nevertheless it is mine.Â
I do hope you enjoyed it. Be prepared for some action in the following chapter!
For every 10 collections I will double my daily chapter!
 (Which I will have to write as this sudden surge of inspiration allowed me to start anew. So you better add it before it disappears!)Â
Yes that's a threat!