• Chapter 1
    Chapter 2


    Yenek moved through the forest path that led to his home, he kept alert as there were sometimes animals that attacked people in this forest. Yenek made it through the forest with no obstacles and approached his house, he jumped over the short gate instead of opening it and then climbed the steps to the front door.
    “Mom I’m home!” he called as he walked in and closed the door behind him. Yenek walked into the kitchen and looked into the refrigerator for something to munch on, “Mom?” he called when he didn’t get an answer.
    Yenek walked upstairs and up to his mother’s bedroom door, he rapped his knuckles against the door and then cracked it open “Mom are you sleeping?” the stupid question escaped him before he could think about it. He opened the door a little more and noticed the bed was empty, he listened for any sign of life in the room, none came to him.
    As Yenek walked down the stairs he heard a knock on the door, he walked to the door and opened it to reveal two Narathian soldiers in full dress “Yenek Vakgahna?” they asked.
    Yenek rolled his eyes “As if you didn’t already know that,” he replied.
    “We come bearing grievous news,” one of the soldiers said
    Yenek frowned “Which is?” he asked.
    “General Leksey Vakgahna was killed in battle today,”
    “What battle?” Yenek demanded.
    “A band of demons appeared and the General took a handful of troops to counter attack, the final demon was obviously of the Devil class, Leksey was killed while the remaining forces retreated, the Devil left after killing the General”
    Yenek was visibly knocked back by the news, he grabbed the door frame to stop himself shaking, he kept the obvious question from his mind and asked a more proper one”Is her body whole,” Yenek remembered all the stories of the vicious devils that once invaded Narathu tearing their victims to shreds.
    The soldier nodded his head “Leksey’s body was recovered and is being treated to military honors,”
    Yenek bowed his head “That is all I needed to know,” he said maintaining the front of a soldier’s son “You may leave me now,”
    The soldiers shook their heads “We are under direct orders from Commander to bring you to headquarters,”
    Yenek raised an eyebrow “Why?”
    “We were not told why,”
    Yenek looked the soldier in the eyes “Then why on Koru would I come with you?” he asked.
    The soldiers shook their heads “We haven’t time for this, the Commander said it was urgent, he also said he had to give you something,”
    Yenek shook his head “Guess I’ve got no choice,” he said irritated that he didn’t have more time to grieve “I’m gonna go ahead and assume you are ordered to take me by force if I resist,”
    “Hit the nail on the head,”
    “So what do I need?”
    “Enough clothing to last a week,”
    “Fine,” Yenek said and went back inside, he climbed the stairs to his room and got a bag and some clothing together. Once he zipped the bag up and went back to the soldiers “Lead the way,” he said, still agitated with the soldiers for not respecting the loss he had just suffered.
    The soldiers lead Yenek down the forest path, again nothing attacked. The three walked down the asphalt streets of the capital. Yenek looked around he noticed that people were scrambling through the streets, smoke was rising in the distance, it was apparent a battle had taken place .
    “Why wasn’t the city evacuated?” Yenek asked
    “As soon as we gave the order to evactuate the battle ended, these people who are running around were those quick to react to the evac order”
    Yenek shook his head “This should have been done quicker, the Commander is slipping.” he said
    The soldiers both looked down at the young man with disdain, “You would dare question the Commander?”
    “When he puts people’s lives and livelihoods at risk you’re damn right I would,” Yenek replied “People should still be in shelters until this mess is cleaned up, no reason they need to see the carnage,”
    The soldiers didn’t reply they just continued to walk along side Yenek.
    Yenek laughed “See you agree, you just can’t say so because you’re good soldiers who don’t question their orders,”
    The soldiers again didn’t reply. Yenek put his hands behind his head and continued to walk with the soldiers. They continued down the street until they saw Kyo being handled rather roughly by two soldiers “Where are you taking me I don’t what to go!” he said firmly.
    “Me if I would have resisted?” Yenek asked the soldiers
    “Yes,”
    “Fun,” sarcasm oozed from Yenek.
    “Shall we continue,” one of the soldiers asked as they passed by the others manhandling Kyo.
    Yenek shrugged and they continued onward. After another block and a half of walking Yenek and the soldiers made it to the Narathian Military Head Quarters. Yenek looked up at the building, it was four stories taller then any other building in the area, made of white Marble and each window was stained with the seal of the Narathian government. Two guards opened the doors for Yenek and the soldiers escorting him “Welcome,” they said in unison.
    Yenek nodded to both of them and walked into the building. Ther three continued through the hall until they made it to an elevator, the taller of the two soldiers pressed the call button and the three waited for the elevator. Yenek took the down seconds to appraise the two soldiers he’d been walking with, he scanned their shoulders and noticed their insignias, one captain and one major, both of the Army, Yenek frowned, he began to wonder why were such high ranking soldiers escorting him and weren‘t out fighting the demons, by the damage Yenek assumed this band was much more like a platoon. He was about to ask but the elevator chimed and they stepped in, the two soldiers immediately pressed the close door button and in unison swiped their IDs in slots on either side of the elevator. Yenek looked at the distance between the two slots, he figured not even someone with Nhoj’s size could reach both slots simultaneously and he figured why the high-ranking officers were with him, they needed access to the higher floors.
    The Elevator moved up to the top floor in a matter of moments, the speed of it caught Yenek off guard and he had to grab the handrail to avoid falling over. The major raised an eyebrow “I thought you had been on the elevator before Vakgahna,”
    Yenek nodded “Only a few times all of which I was younger then three so my mom carried me,”
    The captain shook his head “A three year old headin’ to the top floors,” he muttered
    Yenek smiled “That’s right,” the elevator chimed again, the display showing they were on the top floor “Commander’s floor,” Yenek said blankly “Top floor, the next four are the floors and main HQ’s for the Air Force, Navy, Army, and Special Forces,”
    The captain smirked “You are well informed,”
    The Major frowned “Too well informed for someone your age,”
    “I always knew I would be sucked into this business,” Yenek said blankly.
    The elevator opened and the three stepped out and walked onto the floor, in front of them stood a door Yenek had seen once before, he was two when his father was promoted to the rank of Commander in Chief; Yenek and Leksey had come together to see Kluth in his new office. Now Yenek stepped in and a much different man sat behind the desk, the Commander was an older man, he was clean cut and in uniform, the model commander. The Commander stood and and the major and captain saluted him, the Commander returned the salute then looked at the officers and nodded “You’re dismissed,” he said said firmly and the soldiers left without a second thought.
    Yenek watched as the Commander sat down again and remained standing, he decided to be blunt “Why am I here?”
    The Commander shook his head “And here I thought you would be you’re father over again,” he said “But that irritating lack of acknowledgement of rank is your mother,”
    Yenek nodded “That’s right Commander,” he said “But I did not ask to know which parent I am most like; I asked why I’m here,” his voice wasn’t irritated but actually very calm as if reminding the Commander of his question.
    The Commander nodded and stood, he went over to a door behind his desk and began working on the longest string of code locks Yenek had ever seen. The Commander opened the door and pulled out two sheathed swords. Yenek looked at the two swords and shook his head “Those aren’t…”
    The Commander nodded “War and Peace,” he said calmly “The swords of Commander Vakgahna and General Vakgahna, they are now your’s.”
    Yenek reached two trembling hands forward and grabbed the straps of the sheaths and strapped them to his waist so the two swords crossed behind his rear. Yenek grabbed each hilt and a smirk crossed his face, he felt at ease with the hilts in hand he drew the swords and his smirk was assured, a three foot katana and a three and a half foot broadsword War and Peace seemed to be the perfect twin swords for Yenek. Yenek slashed the air with the two blades, getting the feel for them quickly.
    The Commander smiled “Well as much fun as your having you need to go back to the first floor now, Major Woodcock is waiting for you,”
    Yenek sheathed the swords and nodded to the Commander then left the room where he found the major “So I take it you’re my escort,” he said calmly.
    “Not that his majesty Vakgahna needs one,” Woodcock said with a roll of his eyes.
    Yenek laughed “Well aren’t we getting off to a great start.” he said and the pair went to the elevator and Major Woodcock pressed the call button. The elevator dinged and Major Woodcock stepped in and Yenek followed. Woodcock pressed the button for the first floor and the elevator decended.
    Yenek tilted his head to the side “Why don’t you need the cards this time,” he asked.
    Woodcock rolled his eyes “If we were to use the cards on our way down then the room would fill with knockout gas.”
    Yenek nodded “Nice security measure, trespasser would assume they need the cards to get down, and its not lethal in case the soldiers are being forced to swipe their cards,”
    Woodcock nodded “Good to see you’re not completely incompetent,”
    Yenek was about to retort when the elevator stopped and opened, the two stepped out and Woodcock led him down a few hallways in silence until they reach a large set of double doors “Enter and remain within this room until you are given further orders,” Woodcock said firmly and opened the door for Yenek.
    Yenek stepped into the room and found himself surrounded by people his own age he looked around and began to count them.
    “Twenty-eight,” came a familiar voice next to Yenek.
    “What?” Yenek said and turned to see Nhoj’s chest.
    “Including you there are twenty-eight people in this room.”
    “Perfect,”
    “Still have no idea whats going on?”
    “Not a clue.”
    The door behind the pair opened and a younger man stepped in, despite his young age the insignia on his shoulders showed he was a Colonel “I think I can shine a little light on that subject.” The Colonel stepped into the exact center of the room “Can I have everyone’s attention please?” he said loudly and waited for the room to silence itself. Once the room was quiet the Colonel spoke again “As of this moment you have all been drafted into the Narathian military, I extend my congratulations to you all and will now give you you’re first mission,” he announced.