The King's Guard

Chapter 5

Well, what?” the woman asked without looking up.

“I can control time to some extent.” Kael replied. The woman raised an eyebrow but didn’t seem particularly surprised. He knew most people reacted with curiosity or disbelief, but she only nodded faintly.

“That’s an unusual one,” she said. She leaned to the side, opened a wooden box and pulled out a wristband, handing it over to him. “Here. You’ll wear this during the tests.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Kael added, putting on a faint smile. The woman’s face changed at the word, but before she could say anything, he had already turned away and walked off.

Eventually, the line was finished. All the recruits were checked in. Some stood around, others chatted in low voices. A while later, a loud voice rang out, pulling everyone’s attention towards a nearby platform. A tall man had climbed onto it. His build was impressive, and his face was marked with several scars. He had a very large sword on his shoulder, and he stood still as the noise in the area settled.

“Welcome, rookies.” the man said, his tone rough but loud enough to carry.

Kael stood with the rest of the group. He had seen drawings and read a little about the man. This was Archon, the one in charge of the Shadow Corps. People spoke about his battles and how he’d led the Corps for years.

Next to Archon stood two others. On his left was a woman with long red hair, dressed in a fitted gown. Her clothes looked expensive, and she stood straight with her hands folded in front of her. People looked at her with interest. That was Ember, second in command. Kael recognised her from a book he had once seen.

To Archon’s right stood a shorter man in black armour. His eyes were narrow and he didn’t move much. His face was unreadable. Kael remembered his name was Drax. He was known for planning and handling situations with fewer people.

“Welcome to the bi-annual tryouts to become a Shadow Corps member of the Kingdom,” Archon went on. Some of the recruits shouted or clapped, but most stayed quiet.

Ember stepped forward, and some people, especially the younger men, paid more attention. She didn’t react much to that.

“You’ll be tested in three stages,” she said. “Only forty people will be accepted. The rest will be sent home.”

The noise died down completely. The number was much lower than most expected.

Drax then stepped forward. He waved his hand toward the large building behind him. A door opened slowly, revealing an open space with markings on the floor. Three circular designs glowed faintly. Some people leaned forward to get a better look.

“For the first test,” Drax said, “you’ll each be sent into a different part of the Forest of Death. You will stay there for one hour. If you survive, you’ll be brought back. If you don’t want to continue, press the button on your wristband. You’ll be returned immediately.”

The name of the forest made people shift uneasily. Most had heard rumours about it. It wasn’t a place people went for training unless it was serious.

Archon raised his sword briefly. “Let’s begin.”

The recruits were directed into three groups. Kael joined the one leading to the leftmost circle. Everyone stood in a quiet line. No one spoke.

When Kael’s turn came, he stepped into the circle. A brief glow surrounded him, and a strange feeling passed through his body. Then the light increased. He felt his body move, as if dragged forward, and the air changed. It was over quickly.

Kael opened his eyes. He was in a wooded area. The light above was dim, and the trees were packed closely together. The ground was damp. Everything smelled wet and old. It wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t warm either. He heard noises coming from deeper in the forest. Nothing specific—just movement, and distant sounds.

He turned slowly, trying to see as much as he could. The trees weren’t very tall, but they were dense. He saw fallen logs, bits of broken branches and patches of soft ground. The forest floor was uneven.

Something shifted behind him.

Kael spun around. A large creature stepped out from behind a tree. It looked like a wolf, but bigger and heavier. Its fur was dark. Its eyes had a pale glow to them. It stared at him for a moment.

Kael stepped back. The creature moved forward, slow and steady. Its mouth opened a little, teeth bared.

Kael placed a hand near the dagger on his belt.

“Easy now.” he said, although his voice was shaky.

The wolf let out a loud growl. It jumped forward. Kael dropped to the side, landing hard on the forest floor. He got back up and turned in time to see the wolf circling again.

It came at him with a swipe of its paw. Kael ducked, feeling the wind of the strike pass over his head. The wolf didn’t pause. It struck again. This time, Kael wasn’t fast enough. The blow caught his side and sent him backward into a tree. The hit knocked the breath from his chest. He stayed down for a second, then pushed himself up slowly.

His ribs hurt. His hand went to the spot, and he could feel dampness. Not deep enough to knock him out, but it was going to slow him down.

The wolf growled again, moving closer.

Kael’s dagger had fallen near a patch of moss. He spotted it and made a slow move toward it. The wolf watched.

Then it ran forward.

Kael rolled, reached the dagger, and turned. He swung upwards as the wolf got near. The blade hit the creature’s snout. It recoiled slightly, making a sharp sound. Kael didn’t move. He just held the dagger in front of him.

The creature’s head lowered. Its mouth opened wider now. Blood dripped from its nose. Its breathing was louder.

It ran again.

Kael stood still. He wasn’t going to run. Not because of courage though, but because his legs didn’t feel steady enough to try.

As the wolf moved closer, Kael focused. The energy inside him was always strange. He didn’t use it much, and when he did, it made everything feel different like time slowed down.

He felt it now. A hum in his chest. His hands tingled. Everything became quiet.

The wolf’s movement changed…slowed, like it was underwater. Kael stepped to the side and drove his dagger toward its underbelly. The blade cut deep. The wolf’s body landed behind him, letting out a harsh noise. It rolled slightly and tried to rise again.

It turned and limped toward him.

Kael didn’t say anything.

The creature kept coming. It wasn’t finished.

Kael thought it might stop. But it didn’t.

He tightened his grip on the dagger. The wolf lifted itself again, pushed forward with all its weight, and leapt into the air.

Kael watched it closely.

Then, just before it could reach him, the creature froze. Mid-air. Time caught it. The moment locked.