Cup of Blood

Chapter 3: Neodymius Ascarlon

"What is your name, lad?" I asked the young man standing right in front of the Cabinet House, clad in a long brown cloak covering his face up to his feet. He's tall, that's for sure, and he seems to be holding a letter. As I come down on the staircase, he reaches his hand out to me, holding the letter, bends his head down, and gives me whatever was in his hand. Of course, I gladly accepted. I was silent when I accepted this young man's letter. It seems he doesn't want to reply. Quite rude, I'd say, especially if the one who asks you is a person of nobility and you failed to reply well. I am fond of calling people "young man" whether male or female. I just feel like everyone has the strength and masculinity of a man, the independence of one, so I address everyone as a man, a strong, young man. I don't even know whether this person whom I am talking to is a girl. I took the letter gladly, smiled at the other, still with the head bent down, and started scanning him.

I usually stay inside the Cabinet House for the rest of the day. Mainly because this place is where my quarters are and also because this place is where all my things are located. My real house, however, is the sole mansion at Angel Village, just few miles northwest of Swor's Village, the village where the late Talon family settled before Zacchaeus slaughtered them. Ha, that Zacchaeus really is unpredictable. Out of all the Paradoias brothers, he's the wisest and most reasonable. An instinct, maybe? Well, he is the eldest brother.

"Oh, so you're Genesis. Are you an orphan?" I asked the young man. The young man nodded at my statement, agreeing with my assumption. His letter comprised of his will to work with me as a guard, he boasts his physical strength and his will power. He's definitely a man. How so? His handwriting gives him away. At this time of the era, only few women knew how to write legibly, let alone write a whole article of will and strengths. I find this man's passion out of this world.

"Genesis. You have no parents, no original name, not even a single certificate. You lived in the woods?" I asked. He nodded, too at that statement. "May I see your clothing?" I asked. With a willing gesture he removed his cloak, and I saw the classic clothing a farmer's boy would have. He's dirtied. He must have worked his noggins off before reaching me. Maybe he worked a lot just to earn enough to sail to this place. Poor lad.

"Hm. This man's different. He's strong. I can sense it," I thought to myself as I looked at his face. "Ah, a beautiful young man, you are, I see," I told him as I smiled and gave a gesture. He smiled at me, too, and covered his face and clothing again. "Alright, you may get inside. You have enough will to reach me personally, I think you will do fine as a soldier and as a personal bodyguard, but I have to trust you first. You will train under the Royal Guard immediately. No pretests needed. Your body build is already well," I told him as I rolled the letter and put it inside my red overcoat. The man smiled at me. Hm, I wonder if he speaks?

"Alright, boy, come with me. We will fix your papers and you will start training later on this afternoon. The first practice this week starts at one o'clock in the afternoon, so eat a light but packed lunch, and don't be late. The Royal Guard's training is at House Blacksmith, just a few blocks from where we stand, following the Great Sea, where the sun sets. I will be there earlier to see and watch you as you train. Now, come," I said as I gestured him, and immediately he came walking with me up the staircase into the Cabinet House. The door opened to us and we came inside. We directly went to the Long Table in the dining room immediately after signing our attendances. Of course, I signed for Genesis' attendance, because authenticity is needed for these types of visitors with no family names. I quickly went to my quarters, leaving Genesis on the Long Table. I passed by the brothers' quarters, and it seems no one is there, save for Zacchaeus who I just saw enter the Cabinet House on his carriage, who somehow didn't notice us.