The rain started to slow down and the run rose gently from the east as morning came. A refreshing smell of humid air and purity filled the streets as the Palace gates slowly pulled open.
It was still the early hours, and the day was not yet fully bright.
Callum sat by the side of the street in front of the Palace gates like a farmer seeking a judicial appeal.
His head looped down in the weight of his actions and grief.
Hearing the loud creak, he tilted his head towards the gate and watched in awe as a majestic carriage slowly came through it.
As he watched, the curtain of the luxurious carriage pried open a little and a young girl stared blankly out of it. Her bright, golden hair glistened in the blue light of morning.
As the carriage went past him, their eyes met for a moment and Callum felt a strange sensation of serenity. Their eyes remained fixed on each other until she smiled just before another fair hand reached out and closed the curtains.
Staring wistfully at the back of the carriage, a strange feeling of calm washed over Callum followed by a determined expression on his face as he turned to look again at the Palace gates.
Inside the carriage.
"Who was that Zina?" A gentle voice asked.
The little girl whom Callum saw, Princess Zina dressing in a regal purple gown with white woolen collars turned sideways to her sister with an innocent smile.
"I don't know, but I like him" she replied shrugging.
"Zina, no games" the older sister scolded.
Zina turned to her older sister who wore a similar styled dress but of crimson color.
"You don't get to tell me that" she replied squinting gently and then turned to the other side of the large luxurious carriage where two maidservants knelt.
"Find out who he is and what case he is appealing. I'll preside"
"Yes My Lady" the younger maidservant replied bowing low.
A sigh resounded in the carriage as Zina gave her older sister a mocking smile and turned back to the carriage windows.
"Don't open it. You know the rules" her sister's cold voice came again but she ignored it and leaned her head against the window. Despite her aloofness, she did not open the curtain.
The first ray of light peered through the clouds shining directly on the Palace gates and Callum immediately rose as he saw some familiar faces coming out of the shadows.
He recognized some of them from yesterday's test. It seemed they had all arrived but stayed in the corners until it was first light.
As they grouped at the gate, a group of Imperial Guards approached on horses. Their regal armor dulling the sun's reflection in its majesty. The warhorses they rode walked with muscle groups moving in amazing symmetry and finesse stunning all the Recruits.
The horses slowly pulled to a stop and the First Captain continued on two feet ahead of the others. Addressing the recruits, he started.
"Welcome back." He took a pause and allowed his eyes to roam over them.
The crowd was noticeably smaller than it had been the day before after the test. Some did not return. But even those who did made the crowd over a hundred people.
"By law, I am obligated to inform you of what to expect during the next six months of your training." He started again.
"By crossing these gates, you will be Retainers of the Imperial Palace, subject only to your direct superiors and all Imperials by blood. You will go through an intensive training regimen which will last the duration of six months after which you will qualify as Decorative Guards who will stand at attention in different areas of the Palace.
"If you wish to go further, you will receive further intense training, more targeted and comprehensive than the first six months. Every extra month you complete will further increase your skill range and qualifications. If you make it to the very end of twelve months, further opportunities will be made available to you.
"Take special note, the first six months are not optional. You must make it through or you will have to return all expenses incurred by the Palace including your Sign-in payment. If you are unable to do so, you will enter a slave agreement with the Palace until all your debts are paid off."
He paused to take a large breath. Straighthening, he adopted an imposing expression, looking down on the crowd from his majestic warhorse.
"Do you understand everything I have just explained?"
A resounding yes filled the crowd and he nodded satisfactorily.
"Follow me" he ordered and turned his horse around, heading back into the Palace.
The group started along only to be stopped at the gates by the Guards the First Captain left behind.
They asked a series of questions and took records before letting each person through.
Soon it was Callum's turn.
"Name and Family name"
"Callum" he replied promptly causing the Guard to look up.
Seeing the helmet jerk upwards, Callum flinched but soon started to relax until he realized he was being stared at.
"Family name" the guard repeated coldly.
Almost all applicants were residents of the Mid or Inner City of the Capital which meant they were all Legal Citizens with Family names.
Hesitating, "Can I not answer that?" Callum replied skeptically.
The guard continued to stare and Callum felt his taut nerves getting fatigued at being glared at by a metal face.
"House Address," the guard asked again, his tone even.
Callum sighed in relief but the air soon got suck in his throat. House address?
This question quickly brought his mind to the events leading to his departure from home. Legally the house was still his but he doubted he would ever have the courage to go back there.
"Soldier!" The guard's tone turned stern and Callum was forced back to the present. He was once again aware of the metal face glaring at him. From this angle, he could see the eyes of the guard behind the armor.
"Mid City, 13 Street by Mid City Clinic" he replied.
The guard continued to stare at him and Callum began to feel increasingly self-conscious.
He glanced down at the notepad where his information was supposed to be recorded and then back up at the guard.
"If you don't want your family name recorded, why did you give me your address?" The guard asked, his tone a note lower than before as if in a whisper.
Callum was stunned by the question. He recognized his mistake, he was giving away his family name by giving his house address. The Empire kept strict records of all Legal Citizens.
But what he could not understand was why this guard in front of him cared to remind him.
"Take your time to think. I will let you in but in a few days we will meet again and I will update your records."
Callum nodded blankly and following the guards' gesture headed into the Palace.
The multitude of Retainers followed behind the First Captain as he led the way. As they walked, Callum could not help but admire the majestic scenery of the Imperial Palace.
Altbourg was an Empire built on the foundation of Nobility, not as a title but as a concept. The Pride of the Imperials reflected itself in the Officials and therefore in the citizens under their rule.
The appearance and changes brought about by Emperor Gaius solidified the idea that Altbourg was a Noble Land and the architecture of the Palace majestically reflected that.
Unlike the Empires around it and Surbordinte kingdom's, the Palace of Altbourg was not adorned with gold or shiny jewels but graced by natural tall trees and green grass. The interior of the Palace reflected controlled nature and peaceful serenity.
Until the feet of Retainers intruded on it. As they walked, Callum naturally noticed the Decorated Guards standing around. Their black uniforms adorned with red stripes formed a stern atmosphere around them.
But it was their sparse presence that alerted Callum.
With so many applying to be Imperial Guards each month, why were the Decorated Guards so few?
There were two possible explanations, either the training was easy and many passed or not many could make it through the first six months. This train of thought alarmed Callum but at the same time motivated him.
He had no home to return to, this he could not fail.
They soon reached the end of the gravel path and diverted into a path made between the trees. Before long, they appeared before a camp, and in the middle of it stood several figures in metal armor. Their helmets off and expressions stern, they started past the First Captain at the arriving Retainers.
The First Captain stopped and turned his horse around to face the retainers. His piercing gaze scanned through each of them.
A moment after those behind caught up, he started his address.
"These are your Mentors, each of them will select from among you and assign you numbers by which you will be addressed during the duration of the first six months." He paused for effect then continued, his tone turning colder and more forceful.
"You will not share your names. You are not friends but competitors. You will not sabotage your opponent, to win, you must pull ahead of others and not pull others behind you."
"Here only victory matters, effort is useless."
He concluded and the horse turned around and walked on. The Mentors ahead of him separated allowing the horse to walk past them then they marched forward in unison to stand facing the retainers.
In the middle, a Female guard with long auburn hair started and all the Retainers' attention turned to her.
"When you are selected, you will follow your Mentor to your designated camp. If for any reason you choose to quit, you may leave your camp and return here, someone will receive you. Selection starts now, maintain a distance of two feet from each other"
Hearing the many rules Callum could see some start to waver but others wore even more determined expressions.
He followed the instructions and distanced himself from others around him.
The Mentors soon scattered and began walking among the group of Retainers. Callum watched as a Mentor touched the shoulder of someone beside him.
"Eleven" the Mentor muttered.
A small smile formed on the Retainer's face and he noticed Callum watching.
"Go stand over there" the Mentor ordered and Eleven winked at Callum before heading off to stand with others selected by the Mentor.
Time passed and Callum soon became dazed at the monotony of standing still. The crowd was thinning out and yet none of the Mentors had picked him.
As the sun approached the mid-sky and bathed him in its heat, a shadow suddenly shielded him, covering him from its anger. Although from this angle, he could barely make out a face due to the light, her hair directly gave her away.
"Do you know why no one wants you?" He heard her ask in a gentle tone.