Prologue
10 years prior
In the land of Auricela, the gilded realm as it was so often called, there was a great festival held once every decade. This festival was known as the Aurum. For some it was a day of great joy and celebration, for others, it brought about nothing but tragedy. The Aurum was a week-long holiday for all of the Aurocraets of Auricela in which the great monarch Bellaeope’s treasured Auricles were chosen. The Auricles, elite youths with spectacular fighting prowess or intelligence, were selected throughout the realm to act as the monarch’s royal advisers and guards. Enacting her will with their bodies and sometimes their lives, it was a position that was sought out for many as it served as a way to gain power, prestige and security. As an Auricle, your status in the realm was untouchable, you were as essential to the realm as a member of the royal family. So, it was no great surprise that it came with a lot of stakes and that for many hopefuls, it could soon be over before it ever even began.
As the sun reached its highest point, a loud trumpet resounded throughout all of the land. It was time for the final day of the festival. In the Primoer palace, at one woman’s feet, 7 soldiers bowed, looking up to her with utter subordination.
“The 7 of you,” the woman began, “That I have summoned here now will be my strongest warriors, my harbingers of justice. No longer shall our country be subjugated by beings of such terror and evil. No longer shall we hide away in fear. Since the very beginning, we have been destined for greatness and greatness we shall achieve. Let us take back that which we rightfully deserve. Let us wage war against our enemies and deliver our people. My Auricles… All I require from you is your loyalty, your steadfastness and the determination to fight against the injustice that we have taken lightly for far too long.”
The woman pulled out a sword from her gold-decorated scabbard. One man, positioned to the right of her shuffled slightly forward and spoke up.
“Your majesty,” one of the soldiers spoke up, “For now and all of eternity, I shall remain by your side.” The woman smiled and moved towards him.
“Then prove it,” she said, holding the tip of her sword to his neck. The man removed a dagger from beneath his sleeve and dragged it across the length of his chest, not even flinching as the gaping wound bled out on the marble palace floor. The other soldiers around him tensed and watched on nervously.
“Is this proof enough of my loyalty? Or is doing it a second time enough to cement your trust, my liege?” the man asked as he wiped down his dagger with his cloak sleeve and clutched it tightly. The woman smiled and waved her hand dismissively.
“No, you may return your dagger, Orfaesus,” she said, “It won’t do you any good to get more of your blood on the palace floors.” The man nodded and discreetly tucked the dagger back.
“As for the rest of you,” she continued, “What can you prove to me that makes you worthy of living?”
“May I have the right to speak, your majesty?” one said, raising his left hand slightly.
“You may,” she said, “But do me a favour and stop talking to the floor. It’s lowly and I don’t want one of my potential Auricles to do something so unbecoming.” The man set his jaw and looked her in the eye.
“Rather than us all kneeling here, talking in great length about our supposed abilities,” he said, “Would it not be better if we showed you?”
“Are you implying that my method of recruitment is flawed?” she hissed, inching closer to him and furrowing her brows.
“Of course not, your majesty,” he replied, “I’m simply suggesting it would be a good thing to do considering the important mission that we all may be entrusted to do under your command. The last thing that you should need is incompetents who can only spew drivel and not affirm their ludicrous claims on the battlefield. I simply want to see your plan be implemented and achieved as successfully and swiftly as possible.”
“You,” she said, pointing her sword at him, “What is your name?”
“I am Arkiles, your majesty,” he said. The woman hummed and clicked her fingers. Just then, a woman with black skin, golden eyes and a short gold bob appeared, seemingly from out of nowhere.
“You’re quite the smooth talker aren’t you?” she said, “This is Patrokla, one of my best Auricles currently. If you manage to survive against her, maybe I’ll consider making you an Auricle as well. Hurry along now Patrokla, but do try not to kill the boy, he might make quite the interesting pet.” Arkiles tried to ignore the chill that went down his spine as he followed Patrokla down a dark, winding corridor to the palace courtyard.
“Two out of seven,” the woman said, turning back to the rest of the remaining aurocraets, “But what exactly… shall I do with the rest of you? You don’t look very entertaining or particularly skilled. Should I just slaughter you?” The remaining five aurocraets began to loudly protest.
“You-your majesty, I-I…” one began. At her words, the monarch froze and swivelled her head around.
“You’re disobedient as well,” she said, pulling out her scabbard. Down at the training centre Arkiles, who was putting on gear, could only grimace as he heard their anguished cries and screams.
