One of the largest cities in the West was known as Horizon Bar, a city where the countries on the west side of the continent established their alliance and signed a peace treaty until they defeated the Eastern Nation. The Eastern Nation or EN as the leaders of the Western Alliance are calling them, has been attacking all of their countries continuously since the rise of their King almost 300 years ago.
"Brother, brother" jumped a little girl to get her brothers attention.
"Hmm, what is it?" He smiled back.
"Is it true that the war is ending soon?" She asked.
This time the boy, or rather young man since he had already passed the age of eighteen.
"It is. Today is the signing of the peace treaty. So after today me and your siblings won't have to go to the battlefield."
"Connor, you are going to battlefield if I have to drag you there myself."
The first brother looked at the second, narrowing his eyes.
"If you want to get beat by me that bad I won't complain. But at least make me sweat this time, Timmy."
Tim stepped out of line from where he was standing, and standing in front of Connor, a near head taller, looked down at him.
"What? You want me to double down? We both know I'll beat you with both hands behind my back."
Some of their sibling hid their smiles
"That only happened because I tripped." He complained.
"Okay clumsy."
Tims head snapped to another of their brothers, this one somewhere between the first two in height and had a straight face, as if nothing was happening in front of him. He swallowed hard as everyone looked at him, trying to keep a straight face.
"Who asked you." Tim was obviously getting annoyed that he was getting mocked. "No one said anything to you."
"Someone's a little grumpy today. You sleep well?" asked Connor. Before Tim could say anything, Connor quickly added, "I hear father coming, better hurry."
A quick flash of fear came across Tims face as he hurried back to his spot.
"I don't hear anyone coming." said their youngest sister, the one that got them talking.
This time everyone their started laughing.
I'm so going to beat you up later." Tim muttered.
"I wish you luck" Connor said. "Make sure to watch where you step this time."
A few minutes later, their father came out of his chamber, sword in hand and already in his armor. The light coming through the windows in the hall causing the armor to glow softly.
Each of his kids all stood up straight and looked forward, and remained standing like that until their father nodded. Their youngest sister ran forward and gave him a hug.
"Morning dad!"
"Morning sweetheart." He replied softly, "You ready for breakfast?"
"I am." She smiled back.
"You have to get to work." Their mother chimed in, coming out of the room.
"Your right, I'll see all of you later, once we are officially at peace with the East."
The family walked down the hallway, all casually talking to one another, all of them excited that they no longer have to worry going to battle, having to worry about sometime going to the battlefield.
They walked down a hallway, painted white, and making each of the members appear radiant as they walked past the windows. Even the servants moving around them seemed to be glowing, as if by effect of the bright family.
A little while later they were all seated at a rather expensive looking table, with amazing food that seemed to be glowing and smelled delicious.
"Remember," their mother started, "today is the day of the signing of the Peace treaty, I would believe the representatives of the EN have already arrived and one of the other royal families of the west should be showing them around the city, and your father has already left to meet them. I expect you all to keep a close eye on the city people and make sure they behave themselves. Some of them have made their displeasure known that the Easterners are in the city."
"I would imagine," replied Connor, "It can't be easy seeing high figures of the enemy freely walking around. Though we will do our best to make sure nothing interferes and that everything will go well today."
This city, Horizon Bar, was situated rather close to the boarder of the two sides, but still within the territory belonging to the west. It made it easy for the East to threaten this city in specific, and even though a major battle rarely happened, the people were still affected.
It's unknown as to why the East would take up arms, but all that mattered was that they did and that has been the way of life for the last 300 years.
Their mother gave them her loving smile, the one she gave when she believed her children were in danger.
Assassination attacks have been made against all of them, and even though only three members of this family awakened to the super plain, receiving a power, they had all survived with little more than a scratch.
"Make sure you all stay safe. I know this is a city in the West, but this is close to the boarder. No one knows how this day will go. It could also take a while, the signing I mean, because we will be staying until both sides are happy."
Connor and Tim both shivered. They knew that some of the leaders of the United Nations of the West could be a little much sometimes, them having to meet with them in the past for missions.
"I'd be more concerned about yourself, mother, you have to make sure some of our allies behave themselves."
Tim chimed in, "You also be safe mother. They are still the enemy, and they still pose a threat to you and father."
"I will be fine, boys." their mother chuckled. "I will be fine. This time in just a few days' time we will be eating breakfast together as a family once more with your father and no battles to worry about."
Their youngest sister started clapping, she was nearing the age of seven, so it was hard for her to comprehend what was happening. But she did know she would get to see the rest of the family more often, so she was happy, and she didn't have to fear never seeing a family member again, they all new that feeling a little too well.
"Will you be leaving soon mother?" asked Connor.
All the siblings turned to their mother, all side chatter at the table went silent, nervous energy floating about.
"I will be, but that does not mean you get to slack off. I expect you all to keep up with your responsibilities."
For the younger siblings, that meant they had to find their tutors, which made them groan. The older siblings new that it meant doing rounds and making station checks, ensuring that everything was up to standard and no dangers had made their way into the city, and checking up on the hunters.
This was not their home city or nation, so these checks could possibly hurt their public image, but was of low consequence since the dangers were too high to not do all of this.
They all replied in unison, none all that excited, "Yes mother."
"Cheer up you guys, good things are coming."
Once they finished eating breakfast and their mother left for the day, some of their siblings left to head out in search of their tutors. They would normally attend school meant for royalty and wealthy in their home nation, but since they were not, they had to study with local tutors.
The other three however, had to venture out into the city and perform safety checks. Connor doubted that they were the only royal family here that would be doing all of this and expected that the East had people on the inside already telling them what was going on. You can never be too safe.
Connor moved to retrieve his swords and armor from the armory with two of his brothers. In this city, it was not uncommon for people wo walk around in armor, after all this city was frequently under attack. If not from the random threats from the East, then the wild animals. They had supposedly been more active lately and been damaging the city walls.
Even the less wealthy have been trying to find armor for themselves, even if it was not the best around.
"Where do you want to patrol?" Connor asked his brothers after gearing up.
The brothers glanced at one another obviously unsure of where and how the patrols should be done, causing Connor to sigh.
He got the attention of a few other guards that the family had brought for extra protection.
"Are any of you under any specific orders?"
The six shook their heads.
"Alright two of each of you guys will go with each of us. Tim take two and head to the Southwest side of the city and work your way North along the wall. Supposedly the monsters are becoming more aggressive so see if you can find any idea why and see the damage they've caused. Don't interfere with the people's business but offer input if necessary. Talk to the hunters in the area and the city guards, find out what you can. Don't leave the city, we still need you in here incase anything goes south."
Tim rolled his eyes but nodded and left, muttering about how hardheaded the hunters can be.
Hunters were the people who would venture to battle against the East when they made a move but refused to work for the western figure heads. No one was complaining about their help or way of thinking. Not because no one had no complaints but because the East was almost twice the size of the Western Alliance and were under constant threat. The West needed as much help as possible even if the help was outside their control.
Connor instructed two guards to follow him, one appearing more muscular and the other that had an air of calmness around him.
Connor next looked at Geo, the one who almost tipped Tim over the edge this morning.
"Start at the South side of the city and see what the commotion this morning was. It shouldn't have been that bad, some sort of quarrel from what I've heard from here, but if it reached us, it was probably pretty big. Investigate that then head to the city center, I will meet you there in a few hours' time."
"You want me to investigate a fight between people in the residential district?"
"Supposedly they have been getting more violent with one another, no one knows why and if it led to a big enough fight that the people of our house were concerned, then something is definitely wrong. See if you find out why the residential district has been acting strange, and I don't have to warry about you, but don't intimidate anyone. If it ends up being nothing all the better."
Geo sighed
"What will you be doing?"
"I will head to the Eastern side of the city. That part of the city is known to be violent despite being the nicest part of the city. Nothing's happened yet, which I'm sure is a result of more surveillance from the city guards and our guests, but I still have to be sure. After that we'll meet in the city center, to make sure that everyone has safely made it to the city hall for the treaty and together we will ensure the premises are safe. You will continue north after that and meet with Tim here. I might be back by then, but I'd like to talk to the city guard at some point to make sure that they aren't dealing with unfortunate trouble."
Geo huffed again.
"I get the lame job."
"We could switch?"
Geo looked at him, shocked.
"Never mind" he mumbled as he walked away.
Connor sent the more experienced guards to follow his fifteen-year-old brother. Watching them leave Connor looked at the other two guards who were sharing glances.
"I'm not that bad, promise." Connor said rolling his eyes and standing up. He looked down and put his thumb over his family crest on the armor, a star with five smaller stars that appear like dots halfway between each corner of the bigger star.
The star represents the individual, while the smaller stars represent the people. Showing that the people make the individual, and that the individual can only shine bright with the people behind them. Or maybe it's meant so show the bigger star protects the lesser ones, and the lesser ones support the strong. Both meanings were good but wasn't sure which it was true.
Supposedly the crest started in the East with similar meanings, but in war the winner takes all and two hundred fifty years ago when the war was in full throttle an ancestor supposedly stole the crest. Not for greed or anything cheap, but because he admired the meaning and claimed that the East had betrayed the crest.
Evidently, he was not wrong. The people of the East have supposedly been raising their voices, forcing the rulers of their country to seek peace.
Connor didn't entirely doubt that as the influential figures of the East were always changing because the East believed the strong should be the leaders.
There was another rumor that the East had also split and there was no longer a royal family. No information has arrived from official sources, just the people guessing as to why the East now wants peace.
How can you follow and support someone if you just turn around to betray them when you feel like it's time to replace them?
The East truly was strange but of course, forcing your thoughts onto others would only cause conflict, and that is not what Connor, or the world really, needed right now. They needed peace and Connor would be sure that that is what would come to be. The weight on his shoulders didn't feel lighter, but surely soon it would, after all peace was right around the corner.
Stepping outside into the sun made Connor squint his eyes.
"Let's get this over with so I can rest tonight." Connor said to no one in specific.
"Yes sir!" The guards behind Connor shouted causing him to jump slightly.
Can't believe I forgot they were there. I must be losing it. I mean I told them to follow me and I'm talking out loud, what did you expect to happen. For them to listen to you ramble silently?
After a deep breath Connor headed out toward the East side of the family, where surprisingly, nothing had happened all day.
Fat chance. Which of the groups were manhandling the eastern region of the city? They have been loud each morning so either they are behaving themselves for the arrival of the Eastern convoy, responsible for the war and causing several issues for all of the West, or someone has taken control, more than likely in a less than ethical manner.
Connor sighed again why is the commercial district making this difficult? Hopefully this gets resolved quickly, after all, them not selling anything is only hurting the people of this city, not the people from the East or influential figures of the West. It's just causing one more mess for me to clean. The weight on his shoulders got a little heavier.