Heroes

A Tale Begins

This book is set in a modern day era and I aim to write over seven hundred words a chapter so I probably won't update as frequently. And I know this story seems really depressing but it will get better. Enjoy!

Before I start writing what's happened to me, let's get a few things straight.
My name is Rivio Agani. I'm sixteen years old, and I'm fighting for peace. My country, Alaria, is at war.
It all started one year ago.
Up until this point, the country was ruled by one single government, made up of four families. They split into their groups, divided on how they wanted to run the country. It was only a matter of time before the fighting started. My dad was best mates with Lui Scalleti, the head of the Scalleti family. He went off to combat the other families.
He didn't come back. They told me he died quickly, a bullet to the head.
I hated the bastard who killed him at first, but I wasn't going to throw my life away on vengeance.
My mum was crushed. She didn't even talk to me for the longest time. When she finally opened up, she still went silent for minutes on end, barely noticing her own children. I learnt to fend for myself, cooking, working, helping my little sister Renée. She's only nine. And she lost both her parents. 
When the soldiers came through our town, they always started drinking, or stood around, looking sad. War was not this glorious battle officers in their mansions spread, it was horrible. I knew first hand. The four families, Scalleti, Ceryn, Coldheart and Feric were fighting for the throne, just like kids fighting over toys. I lost my dad, and practically lost my mum too because of this damn war. At least I had my friends.
Jun Xiao, who I'd been best friends with ever since I could walk around. He was dark skinned, with jet black hair. He always seemed happy, no matter what. Elizabeth Rochester, who everyone called Lizzy for short. She was as pale as snow and had bright white hair too. She was really, really shy and barely spoke to anyone except me, Jun and my other friend Aria. Her full name was Aria Scalleti, and her dad was the infamous Lui Scaletti. She hated him, and always stayed over at Lizzy's house.
We all lived in a large coastal town. Me and my friends used to go walk on the beach at nights, before all this war crap started. Now there was curfews, lockdowns, house searches and everything. The town was controlled by the Scalleti troops, and they were ruthless. The four of us didn't see the point in this war, it was just plain ridiculous. Alaria was divided into four sectors, and Scalleti forces owned the southern one. Feric's owned the east, Ceryn's the west and the Coldhearts ruled the North.
Still with me?
The four of us used to sneak out of our houses and meet up. We talked for hours about the war, about our lives, about pretty much anything. We were all looking forward to the day when the families would get on again, and would hopefully be able to move past their differences. I didn't want anyone else to lose their parents like I had. My mother would never be the same, and my father was killed, just because the four families were divided on how to run the country.
I guess you could say I set the scene now, so I suppose this is where the story begins. And where my life was changed forever.
One early morning, a letter slipped through my door. Tearing open the envelope, I slid out the letter, and it read:
To all civilians in Scalleti territory, this notice is to make you aware of a recent law. All persons of sixteen and above, who are able, must sign up to join the Scalleti army, and join their brothers in glorious battle! Must sign up by seven days from now, or face the punishments.
I was going to war. The same war that killed my dad. The same war that I criticised.
The same war that I would probably die in.

Hey guys, comment what you think of this new book! It's just getting started, and I hope to make it a long book!
Thanks for reading!