1 Nightmare
As his vision cleared Gale first wondered where he was. another dream? he thought. "What is this place?" "Where's Sam?" "Blake?" he heard the words come from his own mouth but didn't say them.
Gale sat up and took in his surroundings his vision and mind both hazy as he adjusted to the dim light. Ten figures stood dwarfed before a giant dilapidated pillar of stone a statue carved into the front. Twelve figures locked in combat. The statue was so large that while human sized broken pieces surrounded it, you could still make out the figures clearly. Five figures on the bottom locked in combat. Above them 5 fought while also launching an attack at the back of one of the two who fought above them all.
At the bottom of the massive pillar. A bow wielder aimed at a large man dual wielding hammers whose ends were clutched by a tall well-built man wielding very thick gauntlets. On the other side a hooded figure holding two daggers in an overhead stab, was jumping toward a fully armored man with a large tower shield held in front and a morning star mace at the ready.
Above them a robed man with a sickle and chain was slashing at a man with two chakram. one was being thrown at the man with a sickle. The second chakram and weighted chain from the sickle both were thrown toward the man in the center. At the other end a man with a halberd stabbed forward with one hand. The other pointed center but the statue was crumbled there. A woman with her hand held in front of the halberd and a gnarled wizard staff pointed to her other side toward a man waving a fan at her. Between the staff and fan the image was distorted and crumbling.
At the top of the pillar two men clashed weapons. one a large burly man with long hair holding a battle axe with two hands. Locked weapons with a crowned heavily armored knight a large claymore in one hand. Pushing the axe back the other hand blurred and crumbling held outstretched toward the oncoming attacks.
Surrounding the pillar twelve monuments stood tall. each depicting a figure and weapon. A sword, axe, spear, fan, staff, chakram, whip, mace, dagger, gauntlet, hammer, bow. The figures on the monuments resembled those on the pillar.
Hey! he's awake! As he felt himself struggle to rise Gale looked over to see a blurry figure to his left shout. As the ten figures began to turn around his vision faded again. When he came to, he was standing before one of the monuments.
"Again? Where is this place?" As Gale vision cleared, he was able to make out some of the details. It was a tall stone monument with a crowned fully armored man carved into the front. A large two-handed claymore sword was held with the tip pointing to the ground. All manner of different swords formed a half circle behind him. Captivated by its appearance, Gale had never seen anything like it. He was captivated by how imposing the man was as he studied the monument. He continued to study the monument top to bottom, he noticed a plaque lay under the feet of the carving. Focusing on the plaque Gale started to read.
"The sword emperor." "His swords to overcome." "His spells to vanquish." "Both sword and spell to dominate."
"Aghhh" he yelled but no sound came out as a splitting headache so intense it caused his vision to blur took him. He could no longer make out the rest of the plaque and his vision faded…
This time when his vision cleared, he was standing in line. A voice that seemed to come from everywhere spoke out. "Step forward kneel and confirm your oath." The man before him stepped forward. He was tall about 6ft 1in with shoulder length blonde hair. Wearing a white t shirt and brown pants. Taking around five steps forward he knelt to one knee. "I ***** accept and vow to bring glory to *****" light started to shine from his body getting bright and brighter until Gale had to look away. As the light faded the blonde man was no longer there.
The voice boomed again "step forward kneel and confirm your oath." Gale saw himself start to step forward and as he was about to kneel a piercing pain shot from his abdomen looking down, he saw a piece of statue protruding from his abdomen. From behind he heard "don't worry I'll take care of your sister in your place."
"Blake… why?" Gale heard those words escape his mouth a spurt of blood from his mouth painted his chest red. "It's better to remove you now."
The pain overcome with anger and confusion. As the piece of statue was removed, he fell to his knees and then forward rolling to his back to see the man who stabbed him. He was tall and thin with long messy black hair. His emotionless brown eyes with deep bags under them stared back into his own. As his vision started fading, he heard himself shout. "I Gale Alton accept and vow to bring... "shit" he saw panic enter the man named Blakes eyes as he lunged forward to stab again.
With a jolt Gale sat up from bed panting. His heart beating so hard he felt like it might stop any second. Struggling to get his pulse and breathing back under control he realized he was covered head to toe in sweat.
"That was a really shitty one..." This wasn't the first time Gale had a dream about a version of himself and memories he didn't recognize. He had previously dreamt of this version of himself a few times. The dreams started when he turned five years old. They were typically of the life that man lived in a world he didn't recognize with his sister Sam. Sam was kind too much so for her own good.
She had bright brownish blonde hair and an even brighter smile, but he couldn't recall her face. Just how that Gale felt and remembered her. She was his little sister, and he gave everything for her. They were poor and when their mother died their father turned to alcohol leaving Gale to take care of them both. He did poorly in school and got a shit job after taking care of her as best he could.
Gale's reminiscing over his past dreams were cut short when he realized his fingers were still digging into his palm a burning anger running through him. While they felt like strangers to him, he still felt the pain and emotion that that Gale felt during the dreams.
"Gale are you up yet? Breakfast is ready" his mother's call snapped him back. Only now did Gale notice the strong smell of bacon and eggs coming from the kitchen. Gale was seven now it had been two years since the dreams started. He was thin and tall for his age around four feet tall. He had a silvery color hair with blue eyes like his mother Elizabeth. "Coming" Gale shouted the anger quickly replaced by panic. while grabbing some water from a bucket by his bed to wash his face. Throwing a baggy white shirt his mother promised he would grow into. Some brown pants and worn-out shoes he dashed for the stairs. I can't believe I overslept!
How could I forget what day it was! I've been waiting for this day for weeks; he thought as he ran sliding down a few steps on his way to the bottom. "Careful honey don't get hurt before the assessment even begins" Elizabeth chuckled as Gale ran to the table. A loud laugh resounded as he almost knocked the chair over trying to sit down in his rush. "don't worry son we still have an hour before we need to leave. Relax and have breakfast. jumping a bit from surprise only now did he notice his father older brother and younger sister sitting at the table smiling and trying unsuccessfully to hold back their laughter.
His father Kade a handsome man about six feet four inches tall. With dirty blonde hair that was shoulder length and blue eyes. Smiled fondly at him. Kade was a military man who reached the rank of knight. Now retired at the young age of thirty-two. After exemplary service was granted a minor nobility title and some land. Which he asked to trade the land for retirement and a small sum so he could live with his family. The Alton family while nobles lived as farmers his father constantly would tell him "I hate the stuffy life of a noble." "I much prefer a simpler life like how I grew up."
His older brother Aiden Alton. Was the spitting image of his father but with brown eyes. "Gale did you sleep in again?" "I can't believe you would sleep in today of all days" he said with a silly grin.
"It's not funny Aiden I almost pissed myself when I realized." Aiden was nine now. Tall like Gale for their age at five foot four. "Hmm I remember having to wake you up with a bucket of water on the day of your assessment because you were about to sleep through it Aiden." His father smiled between bites of bacon.
"I couldn't sleep I was so nervous I stayed up almost all night." Aiden grumbled while stabbing at some eggs with his fork. "Speaking of are you ready Gale?"
"I would be if either of you would just tell me what actually happens during the assessment."
"Can't it's a secret." Both his brother and father said, smiling at each other in unison. "Quit messing with him you can at least tell him the basics, right?" Elizabeth glared at the two while serving Gale a healthy serving of eggs and extra bacon. While both father and son looked on in envy.
Elizabeth was tall and very beautiful at five feet nine inches. With long silver hair and stunning blue eyes. Despite her simple clothes she couldn't hide her elegant well-proportioned and toned body. All the Alton's and members of the village had softly tanned bodies from the work outside.
"Ya quit bulling Gale" his little sister chimed in while puffing her cheeks in anger.
His little sister Kaila was an adorable little girl at five years old. Silver hair and blue eyes like her mother and brother. She was the weakness of the entire family nobody could say no to her. The little princess always got her way.
"Alright alright." His father raised his hands in defeat. "What you didn't tell me anything before mine." Aiden whined in complaint.
"Thats because you overslept, I practically ran there with you over my shoulder." Kade snapped back.
"Alright Gale all I can tell you is what will happen for the first part of the assessment." "The first part lasts for two months." "First they will test your physical state." "Then you'll go through a boot camp of sorts." "After that for the second week you go onto weapons training." "After that it varies year to year, but you can expect more training." "Finally, they will assess your overall grade and complete it with a tournament." "Remember to try your hardest there are a lot of benefits to preforming well."
"Aiden here despite almost being late actually performed well winning the tournament and getting high marks in the following assessments." "It got him enrolled at an officer training program for when he turns twelve for his mandatory military service at fifteen." "It's a way the kingdom finds good seeds early and it's very hard to get into otherwise."
Aiden puffed his chest out at the complement. "Don't worry even if you aren't as talented as me you should still make sure to do ok, so as not to embarrass dad."
"you're the one who better not embarrass me." Kade said while slapping the back of Aidens head. "if you keep slacking off and don't increase your training for the O.F.P. you'll just end up washing out in the first week."
