Disclaimer: I do not own Sanders Sides. The credit belongs to Thomas Sanders. The overall plot belongs to thepastelpeach who you can find on youtube. She made an AMAZING animatic which I suggest you watch after you finish the story as the animatic contains spoilers. You can find it by searching "Ready as I'll ever be - Sanders Sides animatic" Anyway, on with the story!
Prologue
Long ago, when even Merlin hasn't been born, there was a small group of Praise-singers. They were wizards without wands and had the ability to Praise. By that, it is meant that the sing their praise so powerfully, a person enters a hypnotized-like state. Hence the name. The power wasn't used often, but one Praise-singer abused it. Some say he went bad after his mother died. Others claim that he was forced to watch his parents get murdered. No one knows exactly and his name was long forgotten. He got power hungry and started going after Royals and Dukes, Praising them into giving up their possessions and power. Then one fateful day, he was gone. No trace of him was left and it was almost as if he was never there. Looking back, the people decided on a name for him, taking into account all of his actions. Finally, it was decided. He was named Deceit.
Twenty Years Later
"Roman! Roman, it's time to wake up!" Roman groaned and rolled over in the straw bed he shared with his younger sister Melony. He had the most splendid dream. He was a prince leading the knights into battle against Lothywyr, an enemy of his home kingdom Glendahar. The fearsome battle was victorious, and he was trotting on his snowy white stallion back to the kingdom which would hold a celebration for the next few days. "Roman, it's your 15 birthday! You are going to the knight training academy for the first time today!" Roman gasped and quickly sat up, throwing off his sister. How could he have forgotten? Melony, who was only five, pouted. "Mother said that you have to milk the cow first." He groaned. "When will Virgil, Logan, and Patton come?" As if they where called, a knock was heard on the door frame. "Roman, wake up. It's not-" "Dignified to be late." Right away he could tell that it was Virgil and Logan. Virgil was constantly worried for Roman, which annoyed him to no end. He was an adventurous spirit and shouldn't be held back from his goals. Logan was smart, and since his family was educated, he was schooled at home. The group used to like to joke that he will one day become the Royal Advisor for King Thomas. But, at this rate, they all truly believed that he will get a job at the castle. All of them were waiting until Logan would say that he was ready for the test but he said that he will only start when he was twenty. "Roman you have to wake up! Aren't you excited to go and start to train today?" Patton didn't even wait for the "Come in!" when he bounded into the room like the ball of sunshine he was. "I have to milk the cow first guys. I'll come in a short while." After Roman finished, Roman and Patton bounced all the way to the castle while Logan walked slower and Virgil trudged along.
The wonderful line break
"So, you want to be a knight kid?" "Of course!" Roman frowned. Why was this taking so long? "You know that becoming a knight means possible death and relentless training for five years. It isn't easy." Roman, once again, nodded. "I know about the risks and my parents let me. I want to become a knight." The guard shrugged. "Suit yourself. Come along. I have to take you to the chief." Roman grinned a goodbye at the others while Virgil tugged at his grey home-spun clothes and Logan and Patton waved, sporting the same outfits only different shades of grey. When Roman turned around, he focused his gaze on all the different knights in the field. Swords clashed and someone sliced a straw dummy open. Someone in the distance yelled "Fix your stance! Anton, you're holding the sword wrong. BE CAREFUL! Honestly, good thing beginners start with wooden replicas of swords, not the actual thing. OR YOU WOULD HAVE SLICED YOUR ARM OPEN!" The guard man grinned. "That is how you find the chief. There aren't that many new knights now, so he goes hard on the ones who join. Don't take it personally if he starts to yell too much at you. He wants you all to be able to defend yourselves when you are in a war and your only means of defense are your sword. Sometimes shields get lost and you need to be careful. Sometimes, King Thomas might walk around here so be on your best behavior. After you have met the chief, I will show you where you will be staying during your time at the Academy. I will also explain the rules later. There he is, Chief Francis."
Chief Francis was a tall lean man and was very muscular. He had a short beard and had a mustache, both of which were light brown. His hair was short the proper length for a knight and castle staff while everyone else had shoulder-length hair. He was helping a young man perfect his grip on the sword. When he was done with that, he looked up and noticed Roman and the guard standing on the outskirts of the group. Chief Francis walked over to the two and looked over Roman with a criticizing eye. "New trainee? Not many people are applying nowadays. Hopefully, you are strong, I can't bear having a student drop out." His eyes turned sad. "I'm afraid that I was too tough on them, but if I wasn't..." Francis didn't finish the sentence but everyone understood the meaning. They would've perished in the wars. He waved a dismissive hand. "He is accepted. Show him to his room." Francis directed his gaze at Roman. "You will be ready for training at 6-o-clock. No later, or else."
Huff. Thank you for reading this! It's my first fanfiction so if you can tell me how you liked it, it would be much appreciated.