mural

Moving towards the pure bloods residence"Walk faster kid"said krix the bulky Knight, obviously annoyed with the kid's walking pace as he nudged him forward.

  "Okay, okay, sheesh",Alex grumbled as the silhouette of a five meters tall wall appeared at the distance with eight meters tall light towers.

"Uncle krix, where is my dad?", Alex asked hoping he is not with the elders.

"At the dining hall", krix answered.

"Dining hall, he's staring at the mural", Alex mumbles as they walked through the sparsely crowded gate into a brightly lit vicinity, with symmetrical arrangements of beautiful two story stone buildings, both the houses and streets were illuminated by the surrounding light towers, the light blue flames gave the environment a strange beauty.

"Alex, have you seen Derek?", a young girl asked she had silver hair and blue eyes, crystabel has been searching for her younger brother since she came back from her friends home, so seeing Alex she assumed he knew, because the two runaways are partners in crime.

"Yes, he should be at the market", Alex answered with a thoughtful face.

"You're so helpful Alex, thanks", crystabel said cheerfully while bending to peck Alex's cheeks.

"Sir krix", she greeted and she walked away.

"Don't get smug, you're still a kid", krix "advised" the kid, popping Alex bubble before it had a chance to grow.

....

"Chieftain you summoned me" Alex said with respect in his voice as he knelt with one knee and bowed his head before the dining hall doors.

"Come in", a deep voice reverberated beyond the door .

BOOM!,The manning guards pushed opened the huge oak doors, Alex rose and walked in .

A huge man at least 1.9meters tall with a backview of long silver hair, long black coat with golden embroidery at it's edge and hem with long black boots. He is Rhyss Alderigde, cheiftian of the silver bloods, ruler of denerim, where the clan resides and finally a peak level warrior. He stood at the other end of the long dining table and gazed at a large mural with the drawing of a beautiful woman standing in a small garden with long inky black hair cascading down her back, almond shaped green eyes and thin lips giving her a slightly serious look.

Turning to face Alex, the sorrow in his eyes diminished as a gentle smile crossed his face and cleared his throat,"ahem..., you went to see the old man", he said walking over to Alex.

"I did", said while rushing to his chair to eat dinner,"he said something about a great empire that united the world", Alex struggled to speak as he stuffed his mouth with roasted turkey, reaching out to his fruit drink.

"Calm down there buddy, the food isn't running away", Rhyss chuckled as he passed the drink to Alex ,who drank like his life depended on it.

"The empire", Rhyss muttered with raised brows, he was surprised .

Hearing his dad,"did such a powerful empire really exist?",Alex asked with great expectations.

"Go to sleep Alex, the ceremony is at noon, you should be prepared before then", Rhyss said in a conclusive tone while he tousled Alex's hair. As he watched Alex leave the hall, he muttered "powerful.. heh!, not with the Titans".

••••

Alex was awoken by the greeting of aunt Emma, his personal maid," morning alex, did you sleep well?", questioned Emma as she walked towards the window after leaving a tray of breakfast at his bedside. opening the window she adjusted the curtains and the morning sunlight flooded into the room, Alex squinted his eyes to adjust to the sunlight as he rose from his bed, removed his duvet bedsheet, cleaned his mouth and took a slice of bread,"good morning, aunt Emma, I feel great!" Alex replied with bubbling excitement in his voice while he smeared honey on the bread.

"Excited about the ceremony," said Emma, she noticed the joy from his tone

"I heard the ceremony is quite dangerous", she added

"Forget about those gossips aunt Emma, it's not that dangerous, it's an injury that may last four to six months time to heal.

"But your mates will be ahead or you with such a long period" said emma.

" That's why I will never fail", Alex said with conviction.

"Your bath is ready, don't you want me to bathe you?",Emma questioned.

"I can bathe myself",Alex said while he stepped out of his bed took off his night gown and went to the bathroom.

Ten minutes later, he came out with a bathrobe and walked straight towards his dress room, he stopped before a large mirror and stared at the pale skin, gray haired boy at the mirrior, with clenched fists he muttered,"different or not, I will beat you all and make dad proud".

The clothes for the ceremony was a standard tight long sleeve white top and trousers with a white cotton padded boots and a black band for the arm.

"It looks good right?",asked aunt Emma, who had appeared at the door at some point .

"It does", answered Alex while standing with his arms stretched wide .

"Avun", aunt Emma mumbles in ancient language.

WHOOSH!, The clothes vanished from the hanger and appeared on his body ,the only sign showing Force has been used was the dying blue light at the back of Emma's palm.

••

"I am ready dad", Alex said to his dad who was at the courtyard, standing before a luxurious carriage with four large and muscular brown horses. Looking at his son he chortled," you look valiant, my young warrior". pleased with Alex appearance, " let's go" he added as the butler opened the carriage door.

On their way, Alex saw numerous carriages with other pure bloods heading towards the gates, he was searching for Derek and williams carriage when his dad called out to him.

"Alex, don't forget your training, remember there is no help nor partner in the compitition, you must prepare yourself because it will be very tough at the end", Rhyss said while looking at Alex.

"I understand", Alex answered with his head lowered in thought, he then raised his head and stared at the tall silver tree a far distance away with burning confidence.sounds of the crowds chattering and people struggling to see the compititors filled the background

"And so it begins", a hoarse voice from an old man echoed as he stared at the carriages from afar .