His body jolted
His mouth fell open as he gulped down air in a single breath, and his fingers
clenched against his face. He remained seated where he was, hunched forward,
trying to recover his breath while his heart pounded violently against his chest
He saw nothing
Darkness surrounded him on every side, and nothing moved in the room except the
trembling shadow of the candle on the wall. He felt a chill creeping through his
limbs, and cold sweat dampened his neck despite the still air
He lifted his head slightly
His eyes were open, yet they never left something that did not exist in front of him
- Those dreams again ...
His voice came out faint, weary
He ran a hand over his face and pressed his fingers against his eyelids
- How long will I keep seeing that?
Voices crept into his head
Distant whispers, tangled together, their words impossible to make out. They were
barely audible, and yet they pierced his skull with a sharp pain that spread behind
his eyes
He bent over and clamped both hands over his ears
Nothing changed
The voices did not come from outside
They were inside him
He tried to catch a single word, anything that might give meaning to what he was
hearing, but the whispers only tangled further. His jaw tightened, and his fingers
dug into his silver hair
And suddenly, everything stopped
He remained still
A faint chirping reached him from the window
Another bird answered it
He raised his head toward the wooden shutter. Pale threads of light seeped through
the gaps between its boards, and the darkness began to withdraw from the corners
of the room
He let out a long breath
It was only birds
He rose from his bed, which lay directly on the floor, and went to the window. He
pushed open its two wooden panels, and a cold breeze rushed in, stirring the ends
of his silver hair and brushing against his exhausted face
The sky stretched out before him in a bluish gray, streaked with golden lines at the
horizon. The sun was preparing to rise behind the hills, while the village remained
sunk in the stillness of early morning
He gazed at the horizon
- A new sunrise ..
His voice carried no joy
- What does this beautiful sunrise hide?
He fell silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the swelling light
- Even the sunrise ... has become a hell disguised as something beautiful
He turned away from the window
The room was cramped, its furniture sparse, and its wooden walls bore the marks
of long years of dampness and neglect. Beside the wall lay a simple bed, and near it
a small chest piled with things of no value except that they were all he owned
He picked up his worn black shirt
It was short-sleeved, its edges frayed and its color faded from too much washing.
As he slid his arms into it, the scratches running across his skin came into view,
some old, leaving faint lines, others still red at the edges
He took the bandages lying beside the bed
He began wrapping them around his hands, covering the traces of the wounds with
a care born of habit. He pulled one tight around his wrist and tucked its end
beneath the next wrap, then spread his fingers to make sure he could still move
them
He snuffed out the candle
The flame shrank beneath his breath, and the room sank into the cold light of dawn
He headed for the wooden door
His shoes were set beside it, and next to them sat a woven basket, empty except for
a piece of folded cloth at the bottom. He sat down to put on his shoes, and as he
was about to rise ...
A cough
He stopped
The sound came from behind him, weak and hoarse, followed by a tired gasp
He turned at once
On the other side of the room, on a bed raised slightly off the floor, a woman lay
under a thin blanket. Her body looked drained even beneath the cloth, her long hair
spilled across the pillow, and illness had left its clear mark on her pale face
He approached her
Everything about her suggested that the simplest movement drained what little
strength she had left
He sat at the edge of her bed and placed his hand on her head, then moved it to her
forehead to feel her temperature
She opened her eyes with difficulty
- Akaino ... my son, are you awake?
His face softened
- Yes, Mother, I'm awake
She tried to lift her head, but exhaustion pulled her back to the pillow. He helped
her settle and drew the blanket up over her shoulders
She watched him as she caught her breath
- My son ... where are you going?
He did not answer at once
He looked down at his clothes, then back at her
- I have to deliver something to the Kingdom
Her expression changed
She caught his wrist before he could rise. Her grip was not strong, but it was
enough to make him stop
- No ... my son, not the Kingdom
He lowered himself beside her and wrapped her hand in both of his
- Don't worry. I have my entry permit, and nothing will happen to me
She kept looking at him, as though searching his face for something he had not said
- You're going to Brizelius, aren't you?
He nodded
- Yes. I'll hand over what I'm carrying and be back before sunset
Her fingers tightened around his hand
- I don't like you going there
- I know
- No, my son, you don't know ...
Her voice broke into a dry cough. He waited until it calmed, then handed her some
water and helped her drink. He stayed holding the cup until her hand settled on the
blanket
When he set it back in its place, he found her looking at him with tear-filled eyes
- I'm sorry, my son
His brows knitted
- Why are you apologizing?
She tried to smile, but her lips trembled
She fell silent, then ran her fingers over his bandaged hand
- Because I'm helpless ...
- Today is your seventeenth birthday. You've grown, my son ... you've become a
handsome young man, and I can't even prepare for you what you love
Her gaze dropped
- I wanted this day to be special. To prepare your favorite food, and sit with you
the way we used to. But you're going out to carry burdens you should never have to
carry, while I stay here ...
Her voice shook
- Forgive me for my helplessness
A tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another
Akaino kept looking at her
He did not find the words at once
Her small hand lay between his, cold and weak, and yet she tried to hide its
trembling so that he would not worry
He raised his hand and wiped away her tears with his thumb
- Don't say that
She closed her eyes, but her tears kept falling
He leaned toward her and kissed her forehead, then stayed close, his brow almost
touching hers
- Do you know something, Mother?
She opened her eyes
He smiled at her, a quiet smile that could not hide the weariness behind it
- This world gave me the best gift I could ever receive
Her tears stopped for a moment
- It gave me you
She stared at him as he continued in a steadier voice
- You are not helpless, and you never will be. I don't want you to cook for me, or to
do anything for me. It's enough for me to come back and find you here
He held her hand in both of his and kissed it
- You will recover, Mother. You'll come back stronger than before. I promise you
Her lips trembled as she tried to reply
But he did not give her the chance to apologize again
- And when I return, we'll sing your favorite words together, and we'll celebrate
my birthday. I won't let you forget it
He looked toward the window, where the rays of the sun had begun to seep into the
room, then back at her
- It will be a special day
She smiled at him at last
A small smile, which illness wore down before it could be completed
Akaino kept that smile in his memory and rose to take his basket
Light had flooded the floor of the room, and the birds outside had grown louder
He reached for the door handle
- I'll be back before sunset
Her voice came from behind him
- Akaino ...
He turned
She was looking at him with a worry she could not hide
- Whatever happens there ... remember that you promised me you'd come back
His features stilled for a moment
- I promise
He opened the door and went out
It closed behind him with a soft sound
And his mother kept looking at the closed door, while the rays of sunrise stretched
across her bed
She did not know why she felt, in that moment, that his promise had not been made
to her alone
But to something else ...
Something waiting for him outside the house
The birds filled the edges of the forest with their voices
The sun had risen above the hills, and its light reflected on the branches of the
trees, which swayed with the morning breeze. A small bird landed on a nearby
branch, tilted its head, and let out a short chirp
Another sound followed it
A crack
The branch shook beneath its feet, and it spread its wings and left
Another crack
This time the sound was sharper
Wood splitting under successive blows
A rough hand closed around the handle of an axe, lifted it above shoulder level, and
brought it down with all its force on a wooden log propped against the ground
The log split
One of its halves rolled to the side
Splinters flew around his feet
He kept working until the ground was littered with pieces of wood. Sweat began to
gather on his forehead and run down along his temple, while strands of his hair
stuck to his face
He drove the axe into the last log and left it there
He walked a few steps to where his shirt lay thrown over a wooden crate, picked it
up, and wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck. He put it back over his
shoulder and raised his face to the sky
The wind stirred his silver hair
He kept looking at the sun, as though looking into broken mirrors
There was nothing in the place to draw the eye. Old trees, heaps of firewood, dry
earth
And yet, he hated coming here
Thoughts crept into his head
"Whenever I come to this place, I always wonder whether my existence is of any
use at all"
His gaze fell to his hands
They were wrapped in bandages, and small spots of blood had seeped through the
edges of the cloth
"They gave me a name ... they call me Akaino Tendo"
He clenched his fingers
He ran his thumb over one of the bandages. "And afterward they called me the
Cursed One"
"But the curse was not something I chose. I did not choose my name, nor what I
was born with, nor the fate they decided to place upon my shoulders"
The wind stirred the leaves of a nearby tree, while the axe remained buried in the
wood behind him
"I'm sick of this ... "
He closed his eyes
"Every time I come here, I wish this life were like what I see in my dreams, just a
nightmare. Something I could wake up from, and it would be over"
He opened his eyes
The sunlight reflected inside his pupils, but his gaze carried none of its warmth
His mother's words came back to him
- I'm helpless ...
His features changed
He lowered his head and looked at his hands once more
"You're not helpless ... "
The words came out inside him, quiet and heavy
- I'm the helpless one
He tightened his fist until the cloth wrinkled around his fingers
"This place always reminds me of that. No matter what I do, no matter how hard I
try, I end up at the same point"
He looked at the firewood scattered around him
"I haven't been able to change anything"
He bent down and picked up a piece of wood, turned it over in his hands, then set it
on the pile
"I no longer know what I'm supposed to do ... "
He stopped at the last word
A reel of old memories passed before him: faces whose features he could not fully
recall, voices calling out to him, and looks that changed whenever he came near
"Ever since I was little, I've wondered what reason there could be for my existence
to have any meaning"
"But all I've found ... "
He looked at his hands
"is my helplessness"
He remained standing where he was
The sound of footsteps reached him from behind the trees
He did not turn at first
The scrape of boots against dirt, followed by a man's cough
- Akaino!
He turned his head
An old man stood at the entrance of the path, carrying a cloth sack on his shoulder.
He waved, then came closer, panting a little
- Still working since morning?
Akaino answered as he picked up his shirt
- I had nothing else to do
The old man looked at the pile of firewood
- This is almost enough for the whole Kingdom
- I'm not finished yet ... winter is near, so we have to gather our reserves
The old man laughed softly
- If you keep this up, there won't be a tree left in the forest
He pulled on his shirt
- Better than freezing to death, old man
The old man studied his face for a few moments, then his smile faded
- Are you going today?
- Yes ... as usual
The old man's expression changed, and he cast a glance at the road leading to the
Kingdom
- Aren't we going to talk about your trips to the Kingdom, Akaino? Going there
while carrying that mark is a great danger to you
Akaino answered without looking at him
- There's a contract ... don't worry
- But my boy, the Kingdom's system shows no mercy. Your previous contract won't
protect you from their wrath
- Do you have another solution, then?
The old man fell silent
Akaino raised his eyes to him
- There isn't one ...
The old man lowered his head, then continued in a graver voice
- I know you work to meet your mother's needs, and that you shoulder the
responsibility of providing for her, but you are also responsible for returning to her
safe. Your mother has no one but you
Akaino looked at his hands
- I know ... and I'm working hard to make sure of it
He nodded
The old man sighed and glanced at the road leading to the Kingdom
- I heard the guards have tightened inspections at the northern gate. Don't get
into any trouble there
- I won't
Akaino took the axe from the log and pulled the blade out of the wood
- You always say that
- I'll be back early
The old man watched him as he gathered the wood into the basket
Akaino lifted the basket and placed in it what he needed, then took one last look at
the pile of firewood
He had to leave
And yet the question remained lodged in his head
What could someone like him do to make his existence of any use?
He carried his basket and went on his way, down the road leading to the Kingdom
His steps followed one another over the dry dirt, while the rays of the sun slipped
between the branches of the trees and cast broken shadows across the road
He had not gone far when voices crept into his head
Overlapping whispers
Within moments they sharpened, and flashes darted before his eyes
Blood
Screams
Terrified faces
A hand stretched out in the darkness
He stopped walking and bent forward slightly, his hand against his head
He pressed his fingers to his temple
His jaw clenched
The voices went on for a few more moments before they cut off
The sound of the birds returned
He raised his head, his hand still resting on his forehead
- Those damned marks ...
He lowered his hand and looked at his right shoulder, where a black circle
appeared, with branching lines spreading from it across his skin
- I never asked to carry them
He took up his basket again and continued on his way
"And yet they weren't content with forcing them on me. They made them decide
what I deserve, where I'm allowed to live, and what I'm permitted to do"
He studied the road before him
"All it takes is for someone to glance at your shoulder, and they know exactly how
to treat you"
His fingers shifted around the handle of the basket
"If your mark is useful, you're a founder ... and if it isn't, there's no place for you
among them"
"That's how simple it became"
"It doesn't matter what you're capable of, or how much you can endure. All that
matters is what they see in that mark"
His steps continued
"They say they do it to protect the kingdoms, that resources no longer suffice for
everyone, and that they must prepare for what is coming"
His gaze dropped
"But I never understood why it had to be us who pay the price"
"I never asked them for anything ... all I want is to work, and to earn enough for my
mother ... I have no dreams, and no right to have them"
His grip tightened
"Even that wasn't easy"
He remembered the permit, the contract, and the restrictions that surrounded
every step he took outside his province
"I need permission to go, a contract to work, and a permit to cross"
He raised his eyes to the road stretching ahead
"As if I were committing a crime just by trying to live"
"I'm tired of this ... "
He walked on, his silver hair moving with the wind
"All I want is for her to recover. I don't want anything more than that"
A small bird shot out from one of the branches and soared between the trees until
it cleared their crowns
It climbed into the clear sky, and the land widened gradually beneath it
Branching roads appeared, along with scattered settlements and the packed
rooftops of distant cities
Clouds gathered above the horizon, and the rays of the sun stretched through the
gaps between them
The bird kept climbing
Until, far below, an immense stone wall appeared, running the width of the land,
with watchtowers and fortifications spread along its top, its two ends vanishing
beyond the horizon
"This is the land where I was born ... the land on which my fate was written ... this is
the Kingdom of Pirama"
And behind it, the cities and the six provinces stretched out beneath the morning
light
The bird went on flying over the wall, then lowered its wings and landed on one of
its stone projections
It dug its claws into the ledge and tilted its head
Workers were spread along the length of the wall, some hoisting blocks of stone,
others working to fix them in place. The sound of hammers rose from below, and
the echo of their strikes rang between the towers and the fortifications
Directly beneath the wall, a colossal gate stretched out, carved with intricate
ornaments in which ancient shapes intertwined, its heavy metal panels set within a
broad stone frame
A guard stood at one of its sides, while another sat behind a wooden table piled
with papers and documents. He examined the entry permits one after another and
signaled to the guard standing before him to let the visitors through
Not far from them, the guards' horses stood in a line, their legs planted on the
paved ground, while a number of soldiers were stationed around the entrance,
carrying their weapons and watching the movement of those arriving
The sounds of the place blended together
Hooves striking the ground
Cart wheels grinding against stone
Vendors calling out their wares
And overlapping conversations among travelers and merchants
- Next!
The guard raised his voice
A man carrying a large bag stepped forward and held out his documents to the
seated soldier
The latter examined them, flipped one of the papers, then raised his eyes to him
- Purpose of the visit?
- Selling some goods at the market
- Trade permit?
The man took out another paper
The guard inspected it, then gestured toward the gate
- Next!
A line of people stretched before the entrance, waiting their turn to pass. Some
carried baggage, while others stood beside their carts, trading words as they
waited to be let in
And at some distance from them ...
Akaino was approaching
He carried his basket in his hand and moved through the crowd until the wall
began to rise before him and fill his field of vision
His eyes stopped at the gate
Tension showed on his face
His hand rose of its own accord to his right shoulder, and he pulled the edge of his
shirt slightly to hide the mark
He kept walking until he reached the end of the line
He stood behind a man carrying a cloth sack and glanced at the entrance
He had to wait
A thud
Akaino turned toward the source of the sound and tried to see what was happening
among the people ahead of him. Bodies blocked part of the scene, so he leaned
slightly to the side, then turned to the man standing in front of him
- What's happening?
The man did not take his eyes off the spot
- They caught a man trying to enter the Kingdom without a permit
Akaino looked back toward them
- Without a permit?
- Yes ... it seems he tried to slip through with one of the caravans. He didn't have
the necessary papers
Another blow reached them
The man's face struck the ground
- Please! I didn't do anything!
One of the two soldiers seized his clothes and hauled him up off the ground, then
drove his knee into his stomach
His body folded, and a gasp mixed with blood escaped his mouth
- You insect! Do you think you can enter the Kingdom whenever you please?
The soldier grabbed him by the hair and forced his head up
- We'll rape you in front of your children, so you'll be a lesson to worthless trash
like you!
Akaino's fingers stiffened around the handle of his basket
He did not raise his voice
And he did not step forward
His eyes were fixed on the man lying on the ground
- Please ... let him go! He only wanted to feed his children!
The woman tried to break free of the soldier holding her and stretched her arm
toward her husband
- Don't touch him! Please!
The soldier turned to her
He kicked her
She fell onto her side, and her head struck the ground
- Shut up, you whore!
- Mother!
The two children broke away from the soldier's side and ran toward her. One clung
to her arm, while the other wept and called her name
- Mother ... Mother!
She tried to lift her body, but her hand could not bear her weight
The soldier remained standing over her, while the other went back to the man
At that moment, Akaino moved
He stepped out of the line, leaving his place behind the man who had been waiting
his turn
His steps were not fast, but he did not stop
He approached the woman and bent down to her
- Get away, you worthless wretch!
The soldier's voice came from behind him
He did not turn
He reached a hand toward the woman
- Can you stand?
She did not answer him
She was trying to hold her children close, her face covered in tears and dust
He took her hand to help her to her feet
The soldier came closer
- Am I not talking to you, you bastard?
Akaino did not move
- I said get away!
The soldier shoved him with both hands at the shoulder
The woman's body swayed back a little, but Akaino stayed where he was
The soldier raised his eyebrows and looked him up and down
- Have you lost your hearing?
No reply came
Akaino was still holding the woman's hand
The soldier's features hardened
He reached an arm toward his throat
And at the moment his fingers closed ...
Akaino seized his wrist
The hand stopped where it was
The soldier's face changed
He tried to pull his arm back
It did not move
He raised his eyes to Akaino
- What ...
Akaino's body lowered slightly
He turned the soldier's wrist and drew his arm forward, before the latter lost his
balance
His feet slammed against the ground
And in a single motion his body flipped over the stones, and his back crashed
against the earth with force
For a moment, the sound of the place cut out
The other soldier turned
He left the man lying on the ground and drew his sword
- You bastard!
He rushed at him and raised his sword
Akaino did not raise his hand
He shifted his body out of the path of the strike
The blade passed beside his shoulder
And at the same instant his hand moved to the hilt of the sword
A grip
A pull
The direction of the blade reversed
Before the soldier could grasp what had happened, his weapon had left his hand
Akaino stopped in front of him
The blade at his throat
There was no sound
No one moved
The soldier stared at the sword, his eyes following its edge, which rested against
his skin
As for Akaino, he remained silent
The hand that held the sword did not tremble
Behind them, the two children were hugging their mother
And the man lying on the ground was trying to lift his head
The conversations of those standing in line stopped
The voices of the vendors fell low
Even the guard sitting behind the table raised his eyes from his papers
The soldier who had fallen was still on the ground, staring at Akaino in disbelief
As for the other soldier, he did not dare to swallow
And at the end of the line ...
No one was thinking about their turn to enter anymore
The blade remained resting against the soldier's throat
Akaino did not take his eyes off him
- You assault a woman who has nothing to defend herself with, together with her
two children ...
He moved the blade a slight measure, and the soldier swallowed
- Didn't your commander teach you that this violates your own laws? Or do you
apply the law according to whatever your whims desire?
The soldier did not answer him
His eyes were fixed on him, and the confusion had gradually left his features,
replaced by a sharp rage
He looked at the sword at his throat, then went back to staring at Akaino's face
His gaze was charged with hatred and contempt, as though what he had suffered in
front of the onlookers was not merely a defeat, but an insult he would never forgive
His jaw clenched
- Lower your sword ...
Akaino's face did not change
- Did you hear what I said?
The soldier's gaze hardened
- I said lower your sword, you bastard
From far away ...
The sound of horses' hooves arrived
It was drawing closer, growing fiercer with every moment, until the ground began
to shake beneath the pounding of the successive hooves
- Clear the way! Make room! The Governor has arrived!
The crowds parted on either side of the entrance, and those standing there drew
back from the road leading to the gate. The conversations broke off, and every eye
turned toward a company of horsemen forcing their way through the crowds
At their head was a massive horse, its body covered in dark metal armor that ran
from its neck to both sides of its frame, the heavy plates overlapping above its
muscles, while the grinding of metal rose from its movement
The horse stopped
The place fell still
A foot slid out from over the saddle and came down on the ground with a heavy
thud
Akaino raised his eyes
The newcomer wore a dark black cloak, made from the hides of unknown beasts.
Its heavy hems hung down to the ground, while his shoulders were so broad that
the bodies around him seemed smaller than they were
He was not the highest in rank in the Kingdom
But he was the highest in authority in this sector
Asgard
The Military Governor of the Northern Sector
The rest of the horses advanced behind him, and the riders dismounted one after
another, some of them spreading out around the place
No one spoke
Even the soldier who had had the sword at his throat remained still, his eyes
shifting between Akaino and the Governor
Asgard advanced a few steps
His eyes stopped on the man lying on the ground, then moved to the woman and
her two children, before settling on Akaino
- What is going on here?
At first, no one answered him
He came closer
Akaino did not change his stance, and the blade remained at the soldier's throat
Asgard looked at the sword
No sign of emotion showed on his face
Akaino drew the blade away from the soldier's throat, then threw the sword to the
ground
The metal clanged against the stones
The soldier seized the moment and got to his feet, then bowed before the Governor
- My lord Governor ... Your Greatness, Asgard!
He pointed toward Akaino
- This person interfered in our procedures with one of the outcasts. This man was
about to enter the Kingdom without an entry permit, but this person, the one with
the silver hair, interfered while we were carrying out the punishment
Asgard raised his eyes to him
- The punishment?
- Yes, my lord. We were enforcing the law against him after his attempt to enter
without a permit
Asgard did not reply
He turned his head toward the man lying on the ground
He was trying to lift his body, propping himself on one hand, but his legs did not
help him. His arm trembled under his weight, and his body sank down again before
he could stand
He gritted his teeth and tried once more
His hand reached his knee
He lifted his head with difficulty
Blood was running from his mouth, and his clothes were stained with dirt
Asgard stood before him
He kept looking at him without speaking
And the man struggled to hold his ground in front of him, unable to know what
awaited him this time
Asgard kept looking at the man for a few moments, before turning his eyes to
Akaino
His gaze settled on him, then stopped on the sword lying near his feet
- And who permitted you to interfere in my soldiers' procedures?
Akaino did not move
Asgard stepped forward
- Don't you know that interfering in the enforcement of the Kingdom's rulings can
be punishable by death?
Akaino raised his eyes to him
- I did not interfere in any procedure concerning the punishment
He paused for a moment, then gestured with his eyes toward the woman and her
two children
- All I did was try to help that woman and her children get up off the ground
He turned his gaze back to Asgard
- But your soldier decided to interfere, and he ended up lying on the ground
The Governor's features did not change
Akaino continued in a steady voice
- Isn't there a law that states that, Asgard?
The moment he spoke his name, stripped of his title, some heads in the crowd
turned
Whispers seeped through the onlookers
- Did he just call him by his name?
- Has he lost his mind?
- That's the Military Governor ...
Akaino did not look at them
As for Asgard, he kept looking at him for a few seconds, then raised his hand
Everyone fell silent
He turned his head toward one of the soldiers and signaled with his eyes to the
man lying on the ground
- He will be punished according to the laws of Pirama. Four days in prison and two
hundred lashes
The soldier bowed at once
- At your command, my lord
- Take this outcast to the execution of the permit penalty, and release his wife and
children
Two soldiers moved toward the man. One took his arm to help him stand, while the
other hurried to the woman and her children to move them away from the place
Asgard no longer looked at them
He turned his gaze back to Akaino
He approached him until only a few steps separated them
His steps were heavy, and he made no attempt to hide where he was heading
He stopped in front of him
Akaino did not speak
Asgard leaned forward slightly and came close to his ear, lowering his voice so that
those standing around would not hear him
- If it weren't for the Blood Contract ... and your little dog Leo, you'd be a corpse in
your mother's arms right now
He paused for a moment
Then a narrow smile spread across his face
- We will meet again
He moved away from him and straightened his stance
Akaino stayed where he was
He did not reply
But his fingers closed around the rim of his basket, and his grip tightened until the
cloth crumpled between his hands
Asgard turned his gaze to the soldier standing at the gate and signaled to him with
a curt gesture to carry on with his work
The soldier faltered for a moment, before regaining his stance and shouting in a
voice he tried to keep steady
- Next!
Akaino stepped toward the gate, passing alongside Asgard, and before he moved
away from him, Asgard's low voice reached him without his turning to look at him
- Do not interfere in any procedure, whatever it may be. Understood?
Akaino did not answer him, and did not turn to him. He continued walking until he
reached the table in front of the gate soldier
The soldier held out his hand to him and said in a dry tone:
- Your ID
Akaino took a small card from the pocket of his clothes. Its edges were frayed and
its surface scratched from heavy use. He placed it in front of the soldier, who
picked it up and began to examine its details:
IDENTITY CARD
Name: Akaino Tendo
Age: 16 years
Rank: Alpha Minus
ID Number: 665
The soldier's eyes stopped at the rank field, and a mocking smile appeared on his
face
- Alpha Minus? It seems the Kingdom hands out permits to just anyone these days
Akaino did not comment. The soldier returned the card to the table and gave him a
scrutinizing look
- And what brings you here?
- I came to deliver a shipment of wood, and I have a permit to work at the Axira
mine
- The permit
Akaino took out the required paper and handed it to him. The soldier examined its
seal and details, turning it over in his hands before returning his gaze to him
- Show me your mark
Akaino hesitated for a moment, then raised the sleeve of his garment off his right
shoulder, revealing the mark engraved on his skin
The soldier's features froze
His eyes widened, and his mocking smile retreated until it vanished completely. He
stared at the mark as though he had seen something he never expected to find
before him
- A ... a Black Mark!
He raised his eyes to Akaino's face, his tone changed
- You are the bearer of that mark?
No reply came from Akaino. He lowered his sleeve again and remained standing
where he was
The soldier turned toward Asgard, searching his face for a sign of what he should
do. The Governor was following what was happening without any sign of surprise,
and he merely gave a slight nod of his head, granting permission for him to pass
The soldier straightened and cleared the way for him
- You may enter
Akaino stood before the massive gate, its shadow stretching over him, while the
sounds of metal mechanisms rose from behind its walls. Moments later, its panels
began to move, emitting a deep creak whose echo resounded throughout the place
Air rushed through the widening opening, stirring his clothes and his silver hair. He
stood in front of the entrance, his eyes fixed on what was revealed beyond the gate
The Kingdom was there, with everything it carried of laws and borders and rulings
He gazed at the road stretching before him. Crossing it was not merely entering a
land he had known since birth, but confronting the place that had decided from the
very beginning what he deserved and what he did not
"Those people lived as slaves to their fate ... but I was not born to be a slave to
mine"
To be continued.....