Hey guys, SeaJade here. So, first and foremost, this is an AU fanfiction. Yeah, that's pretty much it. Well, I hope you enjoy. R&R
"It was an honor to serve the emperor." That's what I had been told my whole life. Even through the tears, my mother managed to choke out those words again and again. To this day, the pain on my parents' faces is etched into my mind. Mother's tears freely ran down her face as my father stood behind her, solemn and stoic, watching the royal guards take me away from my home.
I was a payment for a debt. A debt that my parents got into long before I was born. A debt which cost a five-year old child eighteen years of his life as a servant to the emperor. It was not a malicious action, but to take from the emperor means to give back equally. Nothing personal, simply business.
My first thought when I was taken to the castle was 'big'. The palace walls were as high as the sky, the buildings were as large as mountains, and the stone they were made of gleamed like the sun. At least, that's how my five-year old self saw things.
While the walls may not have been as high as the sky and the buildings not as large as mountains, it was not lie that the palace was extremely large. For five years, the only buildings I knew were a small, three room house and a one room school. My world was small, as many children's worlds are, so the palace was something like a whole new world to me, something scary and yet adventurous.
It was the old maid's glare which held me back as I walked down those large palace hallways. Pictures of people and colorful vases decorated the hallway. I wanted to touch, climb, and run… but the stern look of the elderly woman held me back.
At the end of the corridor was a door, large and ornate, carved with images of people with sticks and plates playing with dogs and birds. Only later would I find out that the sticks were not sticks at all. Neither were the plates, plates; nor dogs, dogs; nor birds, birds. Instead they were swords, shields and monsters. A mural of a war long past.
The maid pushed the door open and motioned for me to enter. I walked inside, head turning like a wheel to capture the whole beauty of the room: lush carpet, large stain-glass windows, great banners from the golden ceiling.
It wasn't until the door closed that I realized there were other people in the room.
"Young child," a voice said.
I spun around looking for the owner of the voice. Four figures sat upon large seats towards the back of the room. The old maid placed her hand on my back and gently pushed me forward, towards the four people. I walked forward until a hand grabbed my shoulder halting me.
I stood staring up at the four figures. There was a man, with colorful clothing and lots of hair on his face, a woman, who had a stern look and bright blue eyes, and two children, a boy a few years older than me and a girl who was my age. I smiled at them as my mom told me to always smile when you greet someone.
The boy just stared at me unblinking, with his head tilted upwards and eyes wide so he looked a little weird. The girl smiled back.
"Hi," I said, "I'm- "
"Shhhh!" the old maid, who for some reason was on her knees, grabbed me by both shoulders and shook me a little, "you're in the presence of the Emperor! Kneel and don't talk unless spoken to."
"But they did talk to me," I said, "He spoke when I entered the room. I was just trying to be p-p-pol…. nice like my mom said when greeting people."
The girl giggled and I looked at her again smiling. I saw the boy nudge her and shook his head. The girl quieted down but struggled to keep a smile from forming.
I turned back to the maid and saw her glance up to the man, "Forgive him, your majesty, he is simply a boy, he does not know- "
The emperor raised a hand and smiled, "It is no problem Agatha, it is refreshing to see the youthful innocence of a child." He looked at me, "Child, I believe we were in the middle of introductions?"
"Hello," I said again after a short pause, "I'm Guy! What's your name?"
"Yes, they know you're a boy," the maid said from beside me, "what is the name your parents gave you?"
I looked at her and pointed to myself, "I am Guy."
"Yes, they know- "
"Excuse me Agatha," the man said and the maid immediately went silent, "I think he means that his name is Guy."
"That's my name!" I said happily.
The maid looked at me, "a rather unorthodox name to be sure….my apologies."
The man nodded, "Hello, Guy. I am August, Emperor of Ionia. This is my beloved wife Nyet and my two beautiful children Shen and Akali." Nyet and Shen gave me nods as their names were made known while Akali gave me a small wave.
"Do you know the reason you were brought here?" Emperor August asked.
I shook my head. Everything happened so suddenly that I honestly had no idea what was happening. "You have been called to serve this land as a payment for the favors that we have shown to your family." The emperor sighed, "honestly, I would rather let bygones be bygones- "
"August!" his wife whispered harshly.
The emperor sighed again, "but I suppose to maintain my image as the one in charge, I have to show them that I will not be taken advantage of."
The queen looked a little more composed as August finished saying that. "So," August continued, "you will serve here. You are expected to learn the ways of the court as well as be well educated in academics and the art of battle. More specifically, you will be retainer to my daughter, Akali, when you both grow older."
"Okay," I said, "what is a retainer?"
The emperor stroked his beard for a second, "A retainer is someone who works closely and serves someone. In your case, you will be the retainer of my daughter."
"So, like a friend," I said as I knew that friends were supposed to be close and help each other."
August smiled, "Yes, like a friend."
I walked towards the girl named Akali. Nyet and Shen immediately stood up, but August remained in his seat, watching me. I approached Akali whose eyes had grown wide, but she hadn't moved. I stuck out my hand, "Friends?" I asked.
Akali looked at my hand and then to her father. August smiled and nodded. Akali turned back at me, stood up, grabbed my hand, and pulled me into a hug, "Friends," she said.
She let go and I walked backwards, wide grins on both of our faces. The woman and Shen both sat back down after a few seconds and then Emperor just looked at me with a smile and warm eyes.
"Miss Agatha will be your caretaker from now on," August said, "she will oversee your academic and courtly learning. Sir Jax, although he could not be here, will be your martial instructor. You're lucky kid, he's one of the best."
I had no idea what he was saying but I nodded anyway as I saw the nurse motion me to do.
"You are dismissed," August said, "but first, do you have any questions?"
I thought for a moment, "Will my mom and dad be coming here soon?"
It was probably the first and last time I saw emperor August look truly sad, "I am afraid not Guy. I am afraid not."
I felt a heat on the back of my eyes. Getting a new friend and all was great, but if I couldn't have my mom and dad, I wasn't so sure that I wanted this. Before I could say anything, the maid Agatha was ushering me out of the room. I didn't' pay attention to the paintings of the vases on the way out. My mind was with my mom and dad, wondering when I would see them again. In turns out, I wouldn't see them again for a long, long time.
So, it is a little shorter than most chapters that I write, but this really is just an introduction. The real Ch 1 will be a tad longer.
Ciao,
SeaJade