Intro/Chapter 1

My day.. Let me tell you something about my day. It began like any other, which is to say bad, hell I'd go as far as to say miserable. 

Since the start of the day I was harassed, walked in on a situation I didn't want any part of, had a group of thugs try to kill me, and a stray princess was forced into my care... Today began as a miserable day. But now... Now that the day is over... Gods has it been a good day.

Earlier in the morning.

"Remember today not only are we celebrating the end of the war that has allowed our great nation to flourish, we will also be feasting to celebrate the great union between our Prince Halbert whom is the pride of our nation and the Emperor's daughter Princess Sarah Everheart!" yelled a crier from atop the podium competing with the sounds of the market. 

'Yes. Yes. We get the message. I'm amazed he still has a voice.' The young man thought to himself. 'The poor stooge has been up there for the past week announcing the same thing and giving updates on progress of the preparations, as if anyone actually gives a shit.'

"Chris have you even been listening to anything I just said to you?"

The young man named Christopher Hayden snapped back to reality looking to one of the few friends he had, Ms. Angela Vicard who was the daughter of a rich merchant. What precisely their family deals in has always been a mystery to most the known world. Her family was always enshrouded in secrecy but seem to be well acquainted with the upper echelons in every society. Any time I try to inquire she always has a vague answer prepared,  such as. "Oh we always try to supply whatever needs our clients have." He knew her family supplied all sorts of different goods such as simple as cooking supplies to having contracts with the military for both food and weapons, but their wealth definitely surpassed the expected income of those contracts. The girl and her family could easily buy out a small kingdom.

""Cut me some slack Angela. It's already been a long enough morning." He was completely exasperated having just finished their morning classes at the military institute they attend together. Which for the record was as pleasant to Christopher as walking barefoot on broken glass.

"You kind of brought that on yourself. The instructor was pissed. I'm not saying you should have paid attention to the lessons necessarily, but would it really kill you to at least pretend to pay attention? Hell at least keep your eyes open just to humor the man. Never know maybe he would even cut you a little slack if you didn't flagrantly  repeat this disrespectfulness everyday.  The poor man’s had even more gray hairs growing in since you’ve arrived." She rolled her eyes thinking back to their class. "It's not like I wish to hear the same thing time and again. Day after day. But sometimes it doesn't hurt to play along."

"Come on it was a lecture about the war. It's a story that even the poorest and uneducated know! Why the hell are we actually dedicating an entire day listening to the same story that all of us have had forced down our throat repeatedly over the past year! Not like it’s the truth anyway.”

"You always say it's a lie no matter how many times you're yelled at for it."

"Calling bullshit anything other than bullshit, is bullshit."

...

SMACK. Christopher could only help but grunt in pain while holding the back of his head. ‘When this girl brought down the hammer boy did it hurt.’

What Christopher was referring to is the war that had come to an end two years ago between the Eternal Empire and the kingdom of Albrael. The war had lasted for 3 years. Shortly after the initial invasion the fighting came to a deadlock, a kingdom everyone believed would surrender or be crushed within 6 months held out far longer than any could have anticipated. Due to the efforts of Albrael's army and more so their Black Guard division whom the empire came to both respect and fear as their adversary. They had once said they fought with the ferocity of a cornered pack of wolves, and these wolves would always bite back.

Eventually The Empire approached King Robert Velen offering him terms, become a loyal vassal and answer when called upon. In return the king, and all his subjects would be allowed to keep their status, and lands without fear so long as they paid their taxes and maintained control of their territory, they would be allowed to govern themselves. After much debate King Robert chose to accept the terms of Emperor Aldous Everheart to spare their two nations any more bloodshed. Both Sides called for celebration happy to return to their normal lives and families. Although some refused their kings orders. Outraged by the king's decision Havoc led the Black Guard division in a failed attempt to murder the king and take control of the country, attempting to stop the surrender.

Too The Black guard accepting this was simply becoming a slave to another nation. Although before they could follow through with their plans, the king discovered their plot. Prince Halbert led a large force of the regular army to stop and prevent the murder of his father. After Havoc's failure The Black Guard was purged, none were spared. There were rumors of some of the traitorous soldiers escaping but they were hunted and disgraced. One could say they were now considered to be a taboo or curse to most of the populace. Once the heroes of their nation, they were now hunted by the very people who upheld them.

The dead had no voice to tell their story. The only voices to speak were the ones to condemn the dead.