Conflicting Conquest

6; THE RECRUITS

The South-Land Royal Capital.

Being the epicenter of the entire South-Land, it was a very popular city brimming with life and all kinds of activities. With a massive area of 2.5 square kilometers in a roughly square shape, it easily holds over 20 million residents of different statuses.

Among its various popular tourist sites including the Royal Castle where the royal family stays and the Royal Army Headquarters which, being the pride of this military kingdom and also the reason the 500 year ended in the first place, made it an especially famous site, most notably its Royal Knights divisions.

Because it's such an important city, the process on gaining entry into the capital was also a little complicated, especially to commoners.

At one of the 8 capital gates surrounding the capital in the middle of the afternoon...

A small crowd of people all bringing different items and belongings were being screened by the capital's security guards.

"Next!" A guard shouted as the caravan he finished checking moves on while the next one comes in.

Some distance away, there was an outpost with 8 different stations where assigned workers provide passes for new comers. A lady moves towards one of these lines with her eyes fixed on her hand-bag which she searches restlessly.

"Please tell me I didn't leave the money at home. Frank will kill me." She mumbled in fear before finding the cash bills hidden among her makeup. She lets out a sigh of relief and lowers her bag... just as a cloaked man snatches it out of her hands and runs. "No! Help! Thief!"

Two guards patrolling caught this action and immediately chase the man. "Seriously? That's the third one today." The male guard grumbled.

"Stop!" The female guard shouted but the thief smirks as the cloak lifts up, showing his legs transform into that of a deer, increasing his speed.

"Damn it." The guard grumbled and the thief laughs as he continues to get away... just as a muscular forearm collides with his face, sending him into a vertical spin before landing with a heavy thud on the ground.

The guards stop once they get to the 5'8" feet tall figure who crouches to pluck the bag from the unconscious thief. "Hey you go, officers." The figure said to them with a deep voice while holding up the bag and their eyes widen once they finally see the figure's face.

A now 16 year old Dom now wearing a sleeveless blue-black hoodie and jeans with old but still cool looking sneakers, stares at the guard's shocked face in confusion. Meanwhile, all the guards were thinking about was how a clearly young teen had the all-rounded physique of a highly trained adult soldier.

He awkwardly rubs the long dried scar on his left cheek as the guards continue to stare just before noticing the line for the pass clearance move.

"Shit." He grumbled as he quickly gives the bag to the male guard and goes to take back his spot on the line.

"Something tells me that boy's here to join the knights." The male guard said as he stares at Dom already arguing with someone on the line before turning to look at the motionless thief on the ground. "Seriously. These new recruits are getting more monstrous every year." He sighed before noticing that the female guard had not taken her eyes off of Dom.

He narrows his eyes at her before widening them in realization. "Are you... blushing?" He asked and the guard looks away, embarrassed. "Are you kidding me? He looks even younger than my own kid."

The female guard loudly clears her throat. "Let's just get this guy into custody." She grumbled as she conjures a puff of pink clouds which lifts the thief's body.