Hiding the truth is difficult. It involves keeping things away from nosy idiots. Idiots like me.

- Itched into the stone floor of the Lid’s holding area.

Head. Hurts. I tried to moan in complain, but only a muffled whimper left through whatever covered my mouth. Gag?

I lifted my cheek from the cold, hard floor it was resting on. My eyelids, still heavy with sleep, refused to open. I moved my hands to rub them, only to feel a tug on my legs, chains rattling in response. Huh…? I pulled again. There was another tug. Someone was crying behind me. Why cry? Sadness. Happiness. Danger. Slowly, more moans, cries, sobs, and whimpers, became apparent around me. The symphony of wails, and rattling chains, gradually began turning the gears in my head. I’m Marcus. This is….somewhere. Chained up. Not good. Sleepy. Heavy. There was water. A fountain. I remember… lots of eating. And drinking. Drinking lots. Drinking wine. Spicy wine. There was… a speech? Drank more wine. Then darkness.

I gently blinked away the sleep in my eyes. Each flutter brought with it another piece of information. Large room. Lots of people. Hundred? Could be less, could be more. Few light crystals. Lots of gray. Lots of shackles. Shackles? I found the reason I couldn’t move. A pair of binders encapsulated my hands as a set of manacles clamped my legs together. Both set of limbs connected to each other by a short, dark iron chain looping through a metal ring between my knees; the circular shape firmly embedded into the stone floor. Chained up. Not good. Need to escape. Most of the people seemed to be awake. Only a few were still lying down on the ground. The women wore the same elegant dresses while all the men wore the same fancy jackets. Same clothes? I looked down. Same jacket. Jacket. Dorm room. Had no clothes of my own. Academy… gave me some. Academy of royals. No, wrong. Royal Academy. Yes. It was for something… An odd odor eminated from a large red stain on my jacket. It smelled like vomit. Vomit? Had to vomit. Vomit at banq… something. But why? Drinking, lots of drinking. No vomiting. I was getting close to something. Toast. Fear. Goblet. Wine. Sleep. Darkness. My eyes fell on the only platform in the room. It was located near the only door. Besides it lay a gagged demon. It’s body covered in multiple layers of chains as it wiggled around like a worm. Gob. Drink. Spiked drink. Anger. On the platform itself sat a familiar figure in her hooded cloak. Her face covered by the only darkness in the room my eyes couldn’t pierce through. Adeline. Poison. Traitor. Cheater. Scum. I squirmed in anger, but quickly settled down. For I remembered. I remembered everything.

And frankly, I’ve had enough. These last two days my soul got bound to some unknown monster pretending to be an imp. Followed by a near stabbing. A cave rat that tried to eat me. Imminent execution. A dweller that tried to eat me. I watched said contracted monster monster move moons with his mind. Evaded capture and some more execution. Almost committed a capital offense in the arena. And now I got drugged and dragged off to Gods know where. I was beyond fear. Beyond anger. I had reached that mythical point of serenity called: I don’t give a fuck. Maybe things will get better after a good night of sleep. Or maybe I’ll be dead before sunrise. Whatever it would be, it didn’t matter. My shackles made damn sure of that. So I did the only thing I could do. I sat, and waited.

Adeline remained quiet for a good long while. She just sat there—looking. Nothing more, nothing less. But mostly she looked at me. Or I think she did. I got the distinct feeling of being watched as I checked my surroundings. These red stones look familiar. I just hope this place isn’t where I think it is. I was located somewhere near to the front. Situated close to the platform, and the heavy wooden door. The only escape route from this place of constant moaning. Not counting the barred windows. What few light crystals there were basked the walls in a eerie red glow. Their dim light not sufficient to reach the ceiling, nor the floor. Outdone by those few slivers of moonlight that managed to creep through the high windows. Not that it helped the people below. Most of those that cried, sat in total darkness. The lucky few near the walls were hugging them like their lives depended on it. Can’t blame them. I would probably be scared shitless were it nor for my eyes. And my fried nerves. Though it didn’t help much. Being forced to watch the slow, mental breakdown of those around me, in various shades of gray, wasn’t exactly how I imagined spending my time at the Academy. I’m getting real tired of this prisoner business. The fact that the only illuminated part of the room was occupied by a grim, silent figure on a platform, and a chained up Gob screaming muffled threats through a gag, didn’t exactly inspire hope in my fellow unfortunates. That was until the figure finally moved. She simply stood up. That was all she did. And yet that one act was enough.

The room became as still as the platform she walked on. Those that sobbed, quieted down. Those that moaned, went silent. And those that cried, stifled their tears. All sound vanished, safe for Adeline’s voice. And the angry grunts of a certain demon. “I see you have finally woken up. There’s much to explain, and not much time.” An angry voice could be heard in the distant, seemingly getting closer by the second. “Know that there’s a reason I brought you all here. One that may end up saving your lives in th-”

There was a series of furious knocks on the door. “Ely!” Blackwall’s muffled voice came from the other side. He sounds pissed. “I know you’re in there, Ely! Open up, right now!” The thick door reverberated briefly at the strong kick that hit it. “ELY!” He is pissed.

Adeline’s shoulders slumped. “Excuse me while I’ll deal with this ol-”

A loud boom echoed through the room as the door was blasted of its hinges. A gust of wind smashed it into the opposite wall, disintegrating into a mass of splinters. Blackwall one. Door zero. People shielded themselves from the debris as a fuming Blackwall made his way into the room. “Have you gone mad!” he shouted at Adeline. “Agreeing to the Council’s proposal is utter insanity! You might as well kill this lot, right here, right now!” Why does everyone keep trying to kill me?

Adeline remained quiet, silently waiting for Blackwall to calm down. The man’s big, lumbering breaths steadily grew softer as Gob stopped squirming. His eyes alight with sparkling interest. I’ve seen fish with larger concentration spans. “You got it out of your system?”

“Uhm, yes… Sorry about that,” Blackwall began grumbling. “Something like that couldn’t possible be true.” He gave a small shrug. “I’m sorry for letting my Wrath get the best of me.”

Adeline waved him off. “No need to apologize.” Blackwall nodded. “Besides, I was the one that proposed this plan. Not the Council.”

“What!?”

“Don’t you dare give me that stare, Hadrian.” The man flinched. “I was left to pick up the pieces because a certain someone failed miserably two years ago.” Blackwall seemed to wither under the finger pointed at him. “Did you really think I could resist the Council five-to-one? That you getting booted in favor of Malius was but a setback?” If my hands were free, I would probably have dug myself a hole to hide in. Angry Adeline is scary. “I’m attempting to resist five purists simultaneously, Hadrian! When you were still the Archduke of Greed, we had some breathing room. Two against four isn’t the best of odds, but at least we formed a front! A front that allowed us to save a precious few, but a few nonetheless. But now, forget saving, I’m barely able to retain my seat in the Council as is!”

Blackwall was fidgeting his single hand whilst avoiding her gaze. “I know I fucked up, but there has to be another way.” His eyes found me instead. How you doing, Blackwall? If you could just unlock these cuffs that would be great. “If we lose this batch, we’ll end up no better than those stuck-up Dereans down south.” He looked away again. Or not. No pressure, I’ll be here if you need me.

“There is no other way.” She pointed a finger at someone in the front. “In fact, it is the only way. One that requires sacrifices from us all.”

My eyes tried to pierce through the crowd left of me. I glimpsed some silver hair as Blackwall took in a sharp breath. “You can’t be serious?”

“I am serious.” Who’s she pointing at? “Risk it all now, or lose it all later. Either way, I’m bound to lose something in the end.”

Blackwall gave the platform an audible kick. “Fucking purists! These last few centuries must have rotted their brains.” He began pacing back and forth. “They’re acting like their bloodlines sprang up from the fucking ground. Like their founders never started as simple commoners!”

“It got worse this morning.” Blackwall stopped in his tracks. “They’ve doubled the duration of the Culling.”

Sounds bad.

“Shit.”

Badness confirmed.

“Shit doesn’t even begin to describe it. Six months was already enough to kill almost all of them.” Badness level increased. “And that was when you were still in a position to help.” Blackwall looked away. “You can’t possibly expect me to keep them alive by myself. Not for six months, let alone an entire year.” Badness level broken.

“But why?” The man began pacing again. “Why would they risk their offspring like this? Are they that desperate to get rid of us?”

“Desperation has nothing to do with it,” Adeline snorted. “If they were prone to overextending, I would have exploited it years ago.” She folded her arms. “No, this decision was made due to other circumstances.”

Blackwall gave her a blank stare. Adeline sighed before bending down to whisper in his ear. Blackwall eyebrows furrowed as he nodded to whatever information was passed to him. Occasionally he would slip in some questions of his own. “It actually caused that? Orgies with female imps? Since yesterday?” Blackwall seemed lost in thoughts when Adeline finally stood up. “So what? We’re going to have another total war with the Dereans on our hands?” That last line certainly got my attention. There was hardly a better opportunity to free my family than during a total war. Especially if I was in command of a bunch of trained killers. If I survive today, that is.

“The reports from the Black City have been verified by multiple sources,” she said. “If their ruler is acting like a kid drunk on power-”

“It’s a matter of when, not if,” Blackwall finished. He slowly ran a hand through his golden hair. “I’m getting too old for this.” And I’m getting too young to die. Now get me out of these cuffs.

“Just don’t plan on dying peacefully. If this plan fails, I’ll be dragging you to hell with me.”

“Always in it together, eh?” Blackwall chuckled. “Wouldn’t want it any other way.” He took his place next to Adeline on the platform. His eyes seemed to briefly linger on a certain person in the front before clasping Adeline’s shoulder. “Want me to break the news?” I think I already know where we are.

“I’ll do it,” she said. “This is my plan, my responsibility.” She broke the physical contacts as her feet moved towards the platform’s edge, each step slow and deliberate, the wood beneath her boots lightly groaning when she came to a standstill.

Please let me be wrong.

Chains softly rattled through the room as people fidgeted around me. It gradually died down when Adeline raised a hand for silence. When all was quiet again, her voice filled the air. “I… I…” The leather of her gloves squeaked as she wrung them together. “I will be honest with you. Within the hour, you will all be sent to a near-certain demise.” Most people froze up, safe for those few that made muffled cries of anger. Their suppressed outrage soon doused by her follow-up, “The other option was letting you all die alone. Butchered like mere beasts.” Still preferable to getting send back.

Adeline started to pace around, hands raised high. “Most of you will be asking: Why am I here? Why is this happening? What did I do?” I got drugged. I got drugged. I was stupid. You happy now? She stopped with her back to the crowd. “The answer is simple,” Her cloak billowed as she turned around. “You were born Awakened. No. We were born Awakened.” Eh… I’m not. Not that I could complain, the gag in my mouth made sure of that. “Look around you! Almost everyone here is a fellow Awakened.” She slung an arm around Blackwall’s neck. “That includes the both of us!” Wait, what? Really? Both of them were common born?

The room became abuzz with the sound of iron rattling as people began to look at me, and the others around them. The fear in their eyes seemingly replaced with the sparkle of wonder. “And therein lies the problem.” The sparkles dimmed. Well that mood didn’t last long. “This last century hasn’t been very kind to us.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Blackwall snorted.

“Didn’t you ever wonder why the famous bloodlines always stayed the same? Why so few commoners ever made it into nobility?” Adeline made a sweeping gesture. “Among you are fifteen Awakened qualified to become Warlocks. Fifteen people, fifteen commoners, that can establish their own noble bloodlines. And yet.” She paused. “None of them will live long enough to realize that future.”

The silence that followed was nothing short of stifling. “You want to know why?” Many heads around me bobbed up and down. “It’s because we get treated like weeds. Something to be nipped in the bud, never allowed to fully bloom. Something that needs to be manually removed lest it spreads itself further.” So… a rat?

“Make no mistake,” Blackwall said. “Old Cedia is no more.” He strode forward. “Derean’s twisted mindset has firmly taken root into our nobility. Overpowering the very principles upon which we were founded.” Adeline moved behind him. “Now, strength without heritage means nothing to them. It’s something to be disdained, to be feared.”

“To be removed,” Adeline added as they switched places. “To be disposed off during the Culling.” Her gaze swept over the room. “An ancient tradition where we would Bind, Brand, and dump all the first-years in various groups near the Forbidden Zone.” People began to shift nervously. That doesn’t sound like the most friendly of places. “We would secretly shadow your footsteps for six whole months. Documenting your survival, and ensuring your safety from threats beyond your capabilities.” This sounds awfully familiar. “Those that managed to stay alive till the very end would be deemed worthy enough to truly enroll into our education.” How is this any different from basic training? “What was once a test of strength is now nothing more than a glorified deathtrap. Six long months where the nobility have free reign to root out those they deem unworthy.”

“And don’t be thinking you’ll die an easy death,” Blackwall said as he took his time studying the crowd. “These purists have been at it for a whole fucking century. Competing among each other to see who could kill Awakened in the most interesting ways. Sick fucks, one and all.” He spat on the floor. “It started small. A stray arrow here, a lost monster there. Just enough to kill, but not enough to stand out.” His shoulders slumped. “I was naive. Chalked the higher percentage of Awakened deaths to a lack of early training.” He looked at Adeline. “When Ely joined the Council, the accidents seemed to quiet down a bit. As if things were looking up.” Blackwall’s fingers twitched. “We were wrong.” A soft breeze began blowing through the room. “They had secretly waited till the other four seats of the Council were filled with like-minded cocksuckers. Next thing you know, Awakened candidates start dying in droves.” It picked up in strength. “And they did not go gentle. Nohoho. The corpses they left in their wakes made that abundantly clear.” I squinted my eyes to shield them. He’s back to being pissed again. “So we battled it out in the shadows, saving a few, but losing many in the process.” The wind abruptly died down. Or not. “And then I made a grave mistake.” He grasped the stump on his right side. “One that cost me my position, and robbed me of my chance to protect you.”

And killed a bunch of people in the process. Let’s not forget the attempted genocide part. It tends to matter. I liked how Blackwall treated me. But that didn’t mean I would so easily forget the ultimate goal his campaign. Had we been the actual weaklings that they thought we were, we would all be lying several feet below the ground. Not that I would ever say that to his face. I valued my life far too much for that.

Adeline laid a hand on his shoulder. It took several seconds before Blackwall nodded in response, slinking back a bit on the platform. “My influence alone isn’t enough to guarantee anyone’s survival here,” Adeline said as she took the forefront. “To be honest, I doubt I could save even a single soul now that the Culling spans an entire year.” There were several sharp intakes of breath around me. I’ve got a bad feeling about this. “So I’m left with but a single choice.” She sighed. “A choice that involves sending you to the only part of Cedia untouched by this purist influence. The one place where you will not be left at their mercy.” Please let me be wrong. Please let me be wrong. “Your Culling location, this year, will be the Burrow.”

Phew, I was wrong. I thought we were going to the BurrowS. Ha. Burrow, Burrows, two totally different things. Never heard about this Burrow place. Must be a wonderful location to live in. Who knew that a single s could make such a difference? Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha, ha, he, he, heeee… I’m fucked.

I could already feel cold sweat starting to form in various places. Followed by a short, but intensive, version of the shakes. Worse was the fact that my inner peace had decided to leg it the moment the unavoidable tidal wave—called fear—loomed on the horizon. I tried to trip the serene bastard, but that skinny fuck dodged my foot with a small hop. He quickly sped of into the distance as the flat ground began to rumble with the incoming water. Fucking clock. There was this loud ticking sound in the background. Almost as if the world mocked me with my own personal countdown. I could only scream my guts out when it rang a single time, just before the wave crushed me.

“Snap out of it,” Blackwall said in an urgent whisper. I looked around in confusion, finding myself in the stone hallway, fear firmly settled in my gut.

“Leave him to me,” Adeline said. “You introduce Maximilian to them.” She didn’t wait for an answer as she forced him through a door opening.

“How long was I out?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Adeline whispered. “You’re awake, and we need your help.” I just stared at her. “Look, you either help us, or we’re all dead. Including you.” She grasped my shoulder. “If you thought that purists hated Awakened, just wait till you see how they’ll murder you for being a rat.”

“Fuck that.” I pulled free from her grip. Can’t I get a fucking break? I want more options than: do this, or die.

Adeline gave a sigh. “You’re not doing this for free.” You got my attention. “Whether they like it or not, you are a Warlock in all but name.” Her hood fixated towards me. “You give me a personal Oath that you will protect as many of these Awakened as you can, during this Culling, and I’ll make you a Baron the moment you step foot back on Cedian soil.”

At least the choice was better than death, or survival. Death, or nobility was something a lot of people would be willing to risk their lives for. And with that upcoming war I was going to need all the manpower I could get my twitchy fingers on. With the decision made, I laid a closed fist on my heart. It took a while before I spoke up. Gotta get the wording right. “I Marcus Ashwood, son of Manfred Ashwood, and Aidyn Ashwood’s son, hereby swear an Oath to protect the Awakend, of this year’s culling, and for the duration of this year’s culling, to the best of my abilities.”

Adeline nodded before mirroring my actions. “I Adeline Kendall, daughter of Lucan, and Alena’s daughter, hereby swear an Oath to make Marcus Ashwood into a Baron, and raise him up into nobility, should he keep true to the promise he just uttered.” There was a brief gust of wind as our chests radiated dim blue light. It quickly died down leaving behind a warm feeling.

That went well. “Never knew that you Cedians had Oath-stones. Let alone knew the whole Oath thing.”

“We don’t have them, and nobody knows about it.”

“Wait, what?” That can’t be true. “But then… how could you…?”

“I’ll have some people check the Oath-stone in the Burrows.” I took a step back. “Don’t look so surprised, Marcus. Did you really think we wouldn’t send spies after that massive disaster from two years ago?” She shrugged. “Sure, most of them got caught, but not all of them. And that’s all that we needed.” I feel fucking stupid. “Did you never wonder why we would attack the Burrows full-force?” Now, I feel really fucking stupid. “We can’t possibly let something like that exist within our borders.”

So much for pretending to be a normal rat. She lead me to the door opening. Through it I could see the wooden platform. On it were both Maximilian and Blackwall. The latter was still busy holding some kind of speech whilst pointing at the former. I couldn’t really hear what they were saying since Adeline’s voice was taking priority. “Just walk on the stage with me. Nod and agree with what I say, and we’ll get through this in no time.” Just shut up, and follow orders. The wonderful life of recruits. Aaahhh, those were the days.

“...so don’t hate Maximilian here,” Blackwall said as I waited. “He’s been forced into this as much as you. His addition to this group was the only reason the Council accepted Ely’s proposal in the first place.” He shot a glance at Adeline. She gave him a nod before he turned back to the crowd with a smile. “And now she is here to bring you some good news.”

Adeline stepped forward, and I followed suit. Blackwall quickly slunk back as we ascended the platform, making sure to drag Maximilian with him. “Normally sending you to the Burrows would be no better than sending you to the gallows.” The no-nonsense approach. I like that. “But the Burrows isn’t the barbaric place Cedia wants you to believe it is. There are rules, and laws they abide by, though they tend to be hidden beneath the surface.” Nice pun. She clasped my shoulder. “And Marcus here knows how to use them.”

For once I wasn’t happy with my new vision. I had no problem commanding a small squad of men, I would be a shit sergeant if I did, but that sea of expectation filled gazes before me was something else. They were like those scripture fanatics down below, treating her words like they came from the gods themselves. Chained up fanatics whose lives may very well rest in my hands. I suppressed the shaking of my legs as mind started going blank. Luckily I remembered my o so simple instructions. Don’t think. Just agree. And so I did, making sure I gave the occasional nod to her words.

“I’ve already send word to the Four Kings, and gotten their response. They will consider sparing your lives, and sheltering you, in exchange for the information that Marcus has been given by us.” What information? I didn’t even need to ask. Adeline already leaned in to whisper, “Remember the briefing with Blackwall.” Troop numbers, and invasion dates. Got it. She continued on like nothing had happened, and so did my nodding. “But in case that isn’t enough, I still have a card to play. Something that will surely convince one of the Kings to side with you.” A faint whisper filled my ears, “You’ll hear it after the speech.”

“And should the worst come to pass. Marcus here can always call upon a certain law of theirs to escape execution.” I stopped nodding. “Won’t you, Marcus?” Adeline asked as she tightened her grip on my shoulder.

“No.”

Adeline’s grip became painful. “What do you mean, Marcus?”

My gaze swept over the faces of confusion. Not that. Never that. Despair began to creep into some of their expressions. I’m doing this for your sake. “We’re not using that law. Not without their express consent,” I said. Voice now deeper, and more resolute than before. Adeline flinched at my words, allowing me to pull free from their grasp. I quickly moved away, happy that no shackles bound me, as I faced the crowd at the platform’s edge. “What Adeline says is true. There is indeed a guaranteed way we can avoid execution.” Chains rattled as the tightly packed mob crept ever so slightly forward. “But that involves sending you to a place where men aren’t meant to walk. A place where hope goes to die, and life is but an eternal struggle.” I locked eyes with one of the more frightened looking ones at the front. It was a woman with brown hair, and browner eyes. The way her chest had stopped moving told me enough. “So instead I ask you this: Who of you is prepared to die the most gruesome death imaginable? To forego an easy death, for this tiny promise of freedom? To even risks one’s very soul?” The mass of people began to pull back as one. “I am not exaggerating. Not all those that prowl that dark place seek to consume flesh. There is more at stake than just your current life.” The brown haired woman had averted her eyes as soft trembles wrecked her body. That should be enough. “Those of you that are still willing to risk it in favor of a quick execution, raise your binders.”

Everyone had their eyes downcast as if the floor was the most interesting thing they had ever witnessed. That was a good thing. I just saved these people from making the biggest mistake in their lifetimes. Sometimes death is preferable. The fact that I didn’t need to go, if nobody did, was but a small bonus. A very small one. Totally not the main factor for my speech. Had nothing to do with it.

The unmistakable sound of iron scraping against iron broke the silence. A pair of binders slowly rose above the crowd. Its owner’s hair was the same dull gray as the rest of the people sitting in the darkness, but the protruding horns on her arms were a dead giveaway. I stared at Isabelle as my mind raced to understand why she did it. Didn’t I just tell you that they you’ll die horribly!? A pair of binders in the back began to rise. And then another. And another. And another. It didn’t take long before every binder was held high. The fear in their eyes replaced by firm resolution.

What are they feeding these people?