Chapter One: Young Alaric
“A 100 years ago, there were 5 people who were graced by the gods of this world; they were The Puppeteer Marquis Tenebris, The Enlightened Victoria Lumen, The Jack of Trades Lachlan Jaikes, The Lady Hearth, Rose Bestias and the most powerful of them all, The Mad Hatter although his name was never known. Together, they formed a coalition against the Overlord Azafith, becoming the only beacon of hope at the time. It took them years of hardship for them to defeat the Overlord Azafith and they had succeeded. The aftermath of the long war between humanity and the Overlord was the birth of the Great Kingdom of Mythrone and people began calling them the 5 Great Exemplars.” says Alaina.
“What happened next mother?” says the young Alaric.
“What happened next is that you were born into this majestic kingdom, Alaric.” Alaina chuckles.
“Now get some sleep, it’s late. Father has some plans for you tomorrow. Goodnight.” Alaina says as she tucks Alaric in bed.
“Goodnight mother.” says Alaric.
As Alaina left the room, young Alaric couldn’t help but wonder about the Great Exemplars. The hardships they went through and how surreal it must have been. He idolizes them very much. The stories about how they were “Graced” by the gods and had been given their own abilities to purify this world from the tyranny of the Overlord Azafith. A few moments later, he had driven off to sleep.
The next morning…
“Wake up Alaric, your father is waiting for you.” says Alaina.
Alaric flutters his eyes open slowly as the sunshine breaks through the window of his room, shooting on his bed. He gets up and freshens himself up and quickly has breakfast before meeting his father at the front yard of the house.
“Ah Alaric, it’s about time.” says Bertram.
“What is it father?” says the clueless young Alaric.
The strapping Bertram threw a wooden sword onto the ground and signaled Alaric to pick it up.
“From now on, you will start training in swordsmanship with me, Alaric.” says Bertram.
The young Alaric was rather confused and befuddled at his father’s words but obediently picked the wooden sword up. His father, Bertram was a known swordsman and a known noble throughout the city of Electi where he and his mother reside.
“Show me your stance.” says Bertram in a serious tone.
Alaric nodded and got into a stance, although it was somewhat accepted, it was far off from an actual stance of a swordsman. His stance was rather awkward and the wooden sword appeared cumbersome for him as he has a small body.
“It will need to be polished but do not worry, I shall teach you.” says Bertram.
Alaric awkwardly nodded and Bertram showed him the proper way to wield a sword. It took some time but the young Alaric quickly got the hang of it.
Bertram once again stood in front of him and drew his weapon before getting into his own stance.
“If you manage to land a strike on me Alaric, I will buy you the famous macaron from the bakery in the capital Maiestas but if you fail to do so, you will have to train with me until you succeed. Understood?” says Bertram.
The young Alaric drooled at the thought of the famous macaron since he had a sweet tooth and he was determined to accomplish his father’s request. He nodded in agreement before getting into his stance while wielding his sword.
“You may strike me whenever you want, Alaric.” says Bertram.
The young lad dashes towards his father, trying to strike him only to be parried easily. He strikes again and again and Bertram easily parries the incoming attacks.
“I thought more of you Alaric.” says Bertram in a disappointed tone while parrying Alaric’s strikes.
Alaric decided to take a different approach and grabbed some dirt in his hands before running towards his father again. Before striking, he quickly threw the dirt he had grabbed onto his father’s eyes, disabling his vision temporarily.
Bertram was taken aback by his sudden tactical changes before quickly rubbing his eyes to get the dirt off. The next moment, all he could see was the young Alaric flying towards him with his wooden sword pointed towards the surprised Bertram.
Although Bertram was shocked, the young lad was still no match for him as Bertram easily parried the attack sending both Alaric and the wooden sword flying.a aer ade
“Hmph, not bad. That’s it for today. Go back to your mother for lunch.” says the proud Bertram.
Alaric nodded in disappointment as he couldn’t achieve his father’s request of landing a strike on him and missing the opportunity of tasting the famous macaron.
Back in the house, Alaric took a quick rinse to wash off the dirt that got on him during the spar with his father. While Alaric was getting ready to eat lunch, Alaina noticed his slightly bruised arm as he was about to sit down at the dining table. She looked at him with a worried expression, thinking to herself that Bertram may have been a little too harsh on him during the spar.
She knows that Alaric will have a tough life ahead of him due to his status as a bastard son of a noble and a maiden. She loves him very much, and she wasn’t proud of what she did with Bertram despite him having a wife, but her regret was quickly washed away with the thought of Alaric. Her own beacon of light and she wanted nothing but the best for her own son.
“How was your spar with father?” says the worried Alaina.
“It was.. Decent.” says the young Alaric in a disappointed tone.
“What’s wrong?” says Alaina.
“Father promised to buy me the famous macaron from the capital if I had succeeded in landing a strike on him and I had failed to do so.” says the teary eyed Alaric thinking about the out of reach macaron.
“I could always make you one.” says Alaina while chuckling.
The teary eyed Alaric jumped in excitement and immediately hugged his mother in joyousness.
“Thank you mother, I love you very much.” says Alaric.
“I love you very much too Alaric.” says the warm hearted Alaina.
After lunch, Alaric spent his free time reading old books containing stories about the 5 Great Exemplars. He then stumbled upon a book containing some information about the 5 Great Exemplar’s current royal houses.
However, he noticed that there were only 4 houses and there were 5 Great Exemplars.
“Where is the house for the Exemplar Mad Hatter?” Alaric mutters to himself.
To answer his curiosity, the young Alaric went to his mother to ask questions about the missing house of the exemplar.
“Mother, what happened to the exemplar Mad Hatter?” says the young lad with curiosity.
“Well, Alaric. In the stories, it had been said that the Mad Hatter had gone mad after the war against the Overlord and the other 4 Great Exemplars had to stop him. But I’ve heard some say he simply vanished and traveled to another distant land.” says Alaina with a chuckle.
“Hmph, I don’t know which to believe...” says the confused Alaric.
“Well you don’t have to worry about that.. How about instead you help me bake the macaron you wanted?” says Alaina with a smile.
“That’d be a delight!” says the excited Alaric.
“Well, shall we start baking then?” says Alaina with a warm smile.
The young Alaric nodded and the both of them began baking the famous delicacy.
