CHAPTER 1:The Decision

"Your Majesty, we have conquered Hysteria and brought back five thousand men, seven thousand women, and five hundred children to serve you." shouted the general as he stood in front of the balcony of the king's castle. "You have done well Achilles. Your parents named you and you've lived up to that name." said the king after hearing what the general had said. "You're going to receive a promotion if you keep this up." the king continued. "Thank you, your Majesty. I am honored." replied the general gratefully.

"Take them to the slave house and let the gods be on their side as they choose their new posts." commanded the king. The slaves followed the soldiers to a grand mansion. When they got to the gates of the house, one soldier turned and told them, "Except for people who get to work in the castle and as soldiers, this is where the rest of you guys are going to stay." he turned and opened the gates for them. "Get in here you slaves!!" shouted the soldier after he opened the gates for them to enter. "All males to the left and females to the right." he continued. They all lined up and two baskets were placed in front of each queue.

"As you can see there is a basket in front of each queue." he began. "Each person is supposed to go forward and pick a piece of paper from the basket. Each paper has a job written on it, and the job you pick is going to be the job you're going to do for the next fifteen years after which they would be given a choice whether to return to Hysteria or to become a citizen of Elyria." he continued. "May Clovis be with you." he concluded

 They picked a piece of paper and showed it to a soldier who was sitting in front of their queue. The soldier watched the roles they picked and directed them to their places. But when it got to a particular boy the soldier looked astonished. "This is impossible!!" he screamed. Just then a hoard of soldiers rushed over to him. "What's it?" asked one of them. "A male's got a female's job." he answered. "But that's impossible." said another soldier. "That's what I said you imbecile." said the soldier behind the table angrily. He looked to another soldier and told him "Get me General Achilles now." "Yes sir." he responded and ran off to call the General. "As for you, go over there." he said turning to the helpless boy who did not know what was going on. "Next!!!" shouted the soldier behind the table as the boy moved to where he was directed to.

A few minutes later the soldier returned with the General. "Yes, Armeistrose. I was told you called me." said the General when he entered. "Yeah, I did. I think you have a new son." responded Armeistrose jokingly. "What do you mean Armeistrose." asked Achilles. Armeistrose smirked a little and began "You remember when we were picking jobs fiftee.." "It's okay cut it I remember, so... what about it." he said cutting Armeistrose off. "Well that boy over there picked the same thing you picked so I think you have to convince him to change or to keep it." Armeistrose said pointing to the boy he set aside. Achilles walked over to him and began s conversation with him. "What's your name young man?" he asked. "I'm Draken Gondsten." he replied.

"Okay Draken," he started. "I've been told that you got a female job, is that true?" he asked with a soft voice."Yes sir that is true sir." he said with a bold but respectful voice. "Would you mind if I told you to change it?" he asked the boy gently with his soft but fierce voice. "Sir please not to be disrespectful but no. Clovis gave this and I would not dare reject the goddess' decision." he said with boldness in his voice. After staring into the eyes of the boy, he saw something. The boy had no fear or regret for what he had said. General Achilles was known as the fiercest warrior throughout the nine kingdoms. It was said that he could squeeze the truth out of a liar just by looking at him. But he looking at this boy he saw no fear, something which scared him. After staring at him for a few seconds, he looked away and smiled. "He wants to keep his job so let him keep it." he said with a smile. "Ooookaaaay!" said Armeistrose. "Go over there kid." he continued pointing to a group of girls gathered at a corner but before he joined them Achilles told him; "Kid I like your spirit and I would like to see you more so anytime you need me look for the house with the golden sword." Draken nodded and went off to join them. After a few hours, the grouping was done and each group was to go to their specific posts for a three-week training. As he entered the castle, he saw from the corner of his eye a figure staring a the group.