Adrian Bloodson: Rise of the Dragon Knight Reborn

CHAPTER 2

“Get away from him! Have you lost your fucking mind?” Ciara’s mother rushed into the room and shielded her husband.

She was a B-class welder: those who had power over shields and weapons. Extremely powerful ones could change sand to steel!

“How dare you raise your useless hands on him? You unfilial ragshit! Is this how you repay us for everything we've done for you?” She snapped at Adrian who laughed at her.

“I can't believe I once bought this nonsense,” Adrian retorted.

Her cheeks warmed with embarrassment.

“Just wait for Ciara to get back. She'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget! Do not think we will forgive this!” She screamed at Adrian who rolled his eyes.

“I’d like to see her try,” he replied and walked out of the room.

“Adrian! Don't you dare walk away from me! Get your useless ass back here now- ” She cursed at him but Adrian slammed the front door before the last word fell.

For the first time in forever, Adrian felt alive. The sun warmed his skin, even the air felt different.

He took out an identity card that was concealed inside his pocket. Every Scilician had one. It told the quickest story about a person's status.

Name: Adrian Bloodson

Status: Nonmagical

Occupation: Servant

Energy level: zero

Remarks: advised to avoid conflict at all costs. Health insurance not guaranteed. Privileges not granted. Citizenship to expire in two weeks except renewed.

Adrian kissed his teeth. This was the useless life he lived before now, a life of being treated lesser than an animal.

“But it's my time now,” he said to himself, squeezed the identity card and threw it into the trash!

[CONSCRIPT!]

Adrian paused while he heard a deep monstrous voice in his head. He looked around but no one was talking with him.

The voice sounded familiar.

[CONSCRIPT!!]

The growl came in again. And what followed was a sharp headache!

“Ah!” Adrian cried out while he grabbed his head. That was when he remembered that that day was also conscription day.

Hundreds of twenty-one-year-old boys like himself conscripted into the army that same day. The Scilician army was losing the war with Arkham, a ruthless dark kingdom, and needed all the help they could get.

Without wasting time, Adrian strolled to the Cadet's Station.

As expected, dozens of boys stood in line waiting to be conscripted. They were mostly C-class magikals.

They were so named because their energy didn't operate within the confines of the elements. It was raw, unpredictable, more dangerous, and could destroy even the wielder if used extensively.

B-class magikals were rare, but A-class magikals, like Prince Henry were even more rare.

Adrian stood in line until it was his turn.

“ID?” Barnes, the large man behind desk said Adrian in a rough tone.

“I don’t have one anymore,” Adrian replied.

Barns’ eyes darked as he shot Adrian a glare.

“Wait a fucking minute. I know you! You’re Adrian Bloodson!” Barnes pointed his finger at Adrian.

“Do you think we're fucking playing here? How dare a nonmagical like you try to conscript?” Barnes yelled at Adrian.

“He's a nonmagical?”

“Does he have a death wish? He wouldn't last one minute in the war,”

“Maybe he's tired of living and just wants to die. Being a nonmagical must be so hard”

The boys muttered behind him.

Adrian kept his head high.

“I can do it. I have what the Kingdom needs,” he stated confidently.

He didn't want anyone to know about his powers, not yet. The royal mages would dismember him trying to figure out how he got them.

“Get the fuck off this line or I'll kick you out myself!” Barnes threatened Adrian.

The large man was a B-class grounder. He could punch the earth and it would tear open like a grapefruit.

But Adrian stood his ground.

“I’m not leaving here until I conscript,” Adrian said to Barnes, crossing his arms.

Barnes let out a soft growl and stood on his feet. He was over six feet five inches tall, with muscles hardened by years of hard work under the sun.

“Do not make me repeat myself again…” Barnes warned Adrian, but Adrian did not budge.

Everyone watched to see what would happen next. The tension was sharper than a knife

“Stop! What is going on here?”

A familiar voice cut through the air as heavy strides approached.

Adrian turned his neck around and saw Prince Henry approaching him, wearing the same proud look on his face.

“My Prince, this useless lowlife with a death wish is causing trouble. He wants to join the army,” Barnes replied, pointing at Adrian.

That was when Henry's eyes roamed to Adrian. He arched his brow as an intrigued smile crawled on his lips.

“Adrian? Shouldn't you be at my quarters scrubbing my toilet perhaps?” Prince Henry asked and his friends chuckled.

Adrian gave a soft smile. “That is not my job anymore,” he replied.

Prince Henry, amused, crossed his arms.

“I don't remember reassigning you to another position. Get out of here and resume your duties. This is no place for a weakling like you,” Prince Henry dismissed him.

Then Prince Henry, faking a sympathy for him, placed his hand on Adrian's shoulder.

“Look, I get that you're trying to do something important. Being a nonmagical must hurt so bad. But not all of us are meant to do something meaningful in this world. Some are meant to stay at the bottom of the food chain. That is your place, Adrian. You are to remain there, rotting in peace, far from greatness,” Henry smiled at him.

Adrian's heart churned as he shrugged Henry's hand off his shoulder. With a calm resolve, he said to Henry.

“I quit that fucking job,”

Prince Henry's smile faded immediately.

“Do not do something foolish. I won't take pity on you,” he said to Adrian.

“I don't need your pity,” Adrian replied.

He remembered the look on Henry's face while he killed him the last time. That disgusting smirk that made bile rise to Adrian's throat.

Prince Henry cast a long dark glare at Adrian before his gaze softened again in pretence.

“You want to join the army so bad? Fine. Let him,”

“But my Prince-” Barnes started…

“Don't you fucking disobey me, Barnes!” Henry snapped at him and people gasped.

Realizing he was losing face, Henry faked a smile and steadied himself. He valued public image more than anything.

“See you at the training grounds, Adrian,” Henry said and walked away. Henry wanted to teach Adrian a tough lesson

This would be the perfect opportunity.

Adrian's eyes remained fixated on him while he left. Reluctantly, Barnes registered Adrian for the army.

“Take this and fuck off!” Barnes threw a new ID at Adrian who bent down to pick it up.

Name: Adrian Bloodson

Status: Cadet Nonmagical

Power level: Zero

Remarks: Advised to stay off battle. Instantaneous decimation upon conflict.

Adrian smirked while he read through the card. It was the perfect disguise. No one would see him coming.

But suddenly, a shrill female voice peered the ambience that surrounded Adrian.

“Adrian! You son of a bitch! How dare you lay your fucking hands on my father!”

Adrian shut his eyes tightly.

The day brought more shitty faces his way!