The King's Guard

Chapter 4

The line to register was unbelievably long, trapped in the four walls of the village, Kael had thought only a few people had aspirations to be a part of the Shadow Corps, but upon seeing the large crowd gathered at the King's Academy his thoughts were proved wrong.

“Well, good luck with this lad. I hope to see you around.” Sir Fred said as he enveloped Kael in a hug, before getting on the carriage and riding away.

Now Kael was all alone in the big city, he grabbed his travelling bag from the floor and moved to join the long queue, standing behind a bulky man with a loud voice talking to his friend.

“I heard the prince would be coming to congratulate us after the whole test for who would get chosen is completed.” The bulky man said gaining the attention of other competitors.

“I doubt that. The Royal Family hardly ever leave the comfort of their Palace except it is very important.” A lanky man with scattered teeth standing in front of the bulky man replied.

“Well, don't you think this is important? I mean, we would be in charge of protecting them, unlike their low-level royal guards.” The bulky man said smugly, causing listeners to laugh.

“I don't think it's right to belittle the work of the royal guards. In as much as the Shadow Corps are responsible for protecting the royals and doing their bidding, the royal guard does most of the work by handling minor issues before they become bigger issues.” Kael said, reprimanding the bulky man.

Kael’s words hung in the air, a challenge that silenced the scattered laughter and shifted the mood in the room. The other competitors, previously amused by the exchange, now watched with bated breath as the bulky man named Gale slowly turned to face him. Gale’s menacing stare bore into Kael, but Kael refused to back down. He held his ground, his heart pounding in his chest, but his expression remained calm and unwavering.

“Were you talking to me, boy?” Gale snarled, his voice low and threatening. His fists clenched at his sides, the muscles in his arms bulging as he prepared to lash out. The tension in the room thickened, and Kael could feel the eyes of everyone around him, including the royal guards who were now alert, their hands resting on the hilts of their weapons, ready to intervene if necessary.

Kael’s mind raced as he assessed the situation. He knew he couldn’t match Gale in sheer strength, but he also knew that brute force wasn’t the only way to win a confrontation. He needed to outthink his opponent, and quickly.

“If you attack me now,” Kael began, his voice steady, “you’re going to lose your chance to ever become part of the Shadow Corps. They’re looking for discipline, self-control, and intelligence—not someone who can’t keep their temper in check. You’ll be out of the competition before it even begins.”

Gale’s eyes narrowed, his lips curling into a sneer. “The Shadow Corps will weed out the weak ones anyway. Maybe I should just help them do it.”

The words sent a shiver down Kael’s spine, but he didn’t let it show. Instead, he met Gale’s gaze with cool determination. “And maybe you should take a look around before you do something stupid.”

Gale hesitated, his gaze flickering to the sides. Kael saw his opportunity and pressed on, his voice laced with reason. “You’re underestimating the royal guards. The very ones you’re mocking are right here, watching, ready to act if you cross the line. They’d put you on the ground before you even had the chance to throw a punch. Do you really want to lose everything because of a moment of pride?”

Gale’s jaw tightened, his fists still clenched, but uncertainty crept into his eyes. The other competitors were silent, waiting to see how the confrontation would play out. Joe, the lanky man standing beside Gale, placed a hand on his friend’s arm, his voice cautious but insistent. “Let him go, Gale. He’s right. This isn’t worth it.”

Gale’s anger flared, but before he could respond, a clear, confident voice cut through the tension. “He’s telling the truth, you know.”

Everyone turned to see the speaker—a girl with striking white hair, streaked with strands of blue, standing near the back of the line. Her arms were crossed, and her expression was one of casual confidence as if she had seen this sort of situation play out a hundred times before. 

Kyna stepped forward, her sharp gaze fixed on Gale. “The royal guards you’re so eager to insult would have you on your ass before you could even think about ‘weeding’ anyone out. And if you haven’t noticed,” she added, her eyes flicking toward the guards who had inched closer, their spears glinting ominously, “they’re already prepared to do just that.”

Gale’s eyes darted to the guards, their expressions stern, their grip on their spears tightening. It was clear they were ready to step in, and the realization seemed to deflate some of Gale’s bravado. He let out a low growl of frustration but took a step back, his fists unclenching slightly.

Joe seized the opportunity, tugging at Gale’s arm with more urgency. “Come on, Gale. This isn’t the time or place. We’ve got bigger things to worry about.”

Gale glared at Kael, his eyes burning with a mix of anger and frustration, but he finally relented. With one last look of contempt, he turned away, his body still tense with unspent aggression. “Fine,” he muttered, his voice laced with bitterness. “But this isn’t over. I’ll get rid of you, Kael—one way or another.”

Kael didn’t respond, merely watching as Gale and Joe moved back into the crowd. His heart was still racing, but relief washed over him as the immediate danger passed. He knew Gale’s threat wasn’t empty, but for now, he had avoided a potentially disastrous fight.

Kyna walked over to Kael, her expression softening slightly as she approached. “That was brave, but maybe a little reckless,” she said with a hint of amusement. “You handled it well, though. Not many people can stand up to someone like Gale and come out on top.”

Kael shrugged, trying to play down the tension that still buzzed through him. “I just didn’t want to start by causing trouble. We’re all here for the same reason—to prove ourselves.”

Kyna nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “True. But you made an impression, that’s for sure. Let’s hope it’s the right kind.”

Before Kael could respond, the sound of trumpets echoed through the hall, signalling the start of the ceremony. The competitors quickly fell into line, the earlier tension dissipating as everyone focused on what was to come. Kael took his place in the line, his mind still buzzing with the events that had just unfolded.

As the doors to the main hall swung open and the competitors began to file inside, Kael couldn’t help but glance over at Gale, who was still simmering with anger. This was only the beginning, and Kael knew that he would have to be on his guard, not just against the challenges ahead, but also against those who saw him as a rival.

But for now, Kael pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. He was here to prove himself, to show that he was worthy of joining the Shadow Corps. And no matter what, he wasn’t going to let anything—or anyone—stand in his way.

Slowly but surely, it reached Kael's turn and he entered a large compound, there were several tents located around and he walked into one where he met a woman who stood confidently behind the registration table, her posture relaxed but authoritative. She had short, jet-black hair that barely reached the nape of her neck, styled in a tousled manner that framed her sharp, angular face. Her piercing green eyes darted between the applicants as she diligently noted down names and details on a small notepad, her fingers moving with practised efficiency.

Her armour was far from typical, designed to be as revealing as it was protective. The upper part consisted of a skimpy, intricately crafted breastplate that accentuated her large bust, moulded to fit her form snugly while leaving much of her shoulders and midriff exposed. The metal gleamed with a polished finish, adorned with delicate engravings that hinted at both its beauty and strength. Below, a short skirt made of layered armoured cloth provided minimal coverage, allowing for ease of movement while adding to the allure of her striking appearance. The skirt was held in place by a wide, studded belt that cinched her waist, emphasizing her hourglass figure.

Strapped to her thighs were small, sleek pouches that likely held tools or other essentials, completing her look of both practicality and seduction. Despite the scantiness of her attire, she carried herself with an air of professionalism, her focus entirely on the task at hand as she registered each person with quick, decisive notes.

“Name?” She asked not even looking up from the notepad.

“Kael, Kael Draven,” Kael replied quickly.

“Age?”

“Eighteen.”

“Working yet?”

“No ma'am.” He replied and noticed there was a slight twitch in the lady's eyebrow.

“Any known family in the Shadow Corps or the military?” 

“No ma'am.” Again another slight twitch.

“Call me ma'am again and I'll rip your head off.” She said through gritted teeth. “Any abilities?”

“Yes m-” Kael stuttered catching his tongue before he made a mistake. The woman smirked as she finally looked up at him. 

“You were saying?” She pressed further daring him to talk.

“I-I said yes,” Kael said.

“So what abilities do you have?” The woman asked returning her gaze to the notepad.

“Well…”