Switched ~A MCD AU~

001 - L

I ran, I ran away from my family. The ones who were keeping me safe, well, I guess now I could keep myself safe. I am now a guard, I just need to find a village.

Sighing I looked back, O'khasis looked so small from where I stood. Although that might just be the effects of the helmet I'm wearing. I don't want anyone knowing it's me, I'm just glad the guards at the gates didn't really care that a person wearing a training uniform walked out. I chuckled a bit, boy can those guards be really idiotic sometimes.

I continued going forward, hoping to come across a village of some sort. Sighing as I didn't as I walked towards Nahakra Village, although there were ruins of one. I had heard about it, Falcon Claw, some say the lord weren't mad and slaughtered all the villagers but I don't believe that. It had been abandoned for about five months now, Father had said to stay away from anyone one from there. If there were any survivors that is.

I kept walking, past Nahakra Village. Saying I was just a guard looking for a village. Thankfully no one went and got the lord, I don't want to be a guard for a village so close to O'khasis.

I walked and walked and walked, for what felt like ages. I took a few breaks here and there, eating a bit of the food I had packed. Until I found a small, almost perfect village. Villagers were all around, talking to each other. It wasn't as big or busy as O'khasis. I hadn't even heard of this village. I slowly went up to what looked like the head guard of this place.

"Hello, but where are am I?" I kindly asked, making the guard slightly surprised.

"Oh! You're in Phoenix Drop! A village on the outskirts of the Ru'aun region!" The guard joyfully said. Almost making it seem like he was happy to be a guard here. "The lord lives over in that direction if you want to talk to him, but beware he has a wife and a little newborn child." The guard said while pointing into a man made path, the grass almost looked like it barely grew there. Who ever the lord must like his privacy.

I nodded. "Thank you."

"Your welcome, I thought you could use some help anyways!" The guard laughed. I slightly shook my head and chuckled. I had been the one who came up to him.

I went on my way towards the lord's house. I hadn't noticed but it had been turning night, I had lost track of how many days it had taken me to get here. Gosh, well, at least I know that Father will never find me here. At least I hope so, the guard had said it was on the outskirts and O'khasis was there as well. It must be far if I've never heard of it, or seen this part of Ru'aun. I had been stuck in O'khasis, occasionally going to Nahakra or Scaleswind with my father since I was supposed to be the next lord of O'khasis.

I'm glad I ran, now I don't have to marry some girl I barely know. I don't even know if she would want to marry me, some guy she barely knows and once she got to know me she would see how I'm just some stuttering guy that usually hides under a helmet. Well, I guess I wouldn't be able to hide under a helmet while being the lord.

I made my way towards the lord's place, looking at all the trees. It would be a perfect place to hide. If I wanted to hide, there's probably no chance that Father will find me here. Unless someone was to come here and see me without my helmet.

Sighing I made my way to the door, slowly knocking. Scared that the child the guard had been talking about would be asleep and I would be the one to wake it. I waited at the doorstep for a few minutes before someone came to the door, by the looks of it the mother of the child.

"Hello, are you looking for my husband?" She asked, she sounded so kind.

I shook off my thoughts and answered. "Yes, I am, is he in?"

"I think he might be around the village, he hasn't come home in a bit," she said, sounding like she was confused. "He's been away for a few days so I wouldn't know."

I nodded and left, guess I have to search for the lord now. I wonder where he's been, his wife had said something about him being gone for a few days. Who would leave their newborn child? Well, I guess if you're a busy lord then that would be a reason but a few days? You would be able to go home by the end of the day probably.

Sighing, I went off searching, I doubt it would be a walk in the park. It'd probably take me awhile to find him.

A few minutes later I bumped into a person who looked to be in a rush, almost too much of a rush. I accidently knocked them over, making us fall to the ground. I saw that it was a man, around his forties, and he almost looked worried. I hadn't seen him in the village till now though.

"Excuse me but I must be going, my son and wife are probably worried sick," the man said, standing up and picking up his speed.

"By any chance are you the lord?" I asked, making him stop for a moment.

"Yes," he said uneasily. "What do you need from me?"

"I was just searching for you," I answered, trying not to alarm him too much.

"Speaking of which, I've never seen ya around here before," the lord blurted out, adjusting, what I just noticed, his glasses. "Who are ya?"

"Oh, I'm Laurance and I'm just a guard that got out of training." And also the run away son of Lord Garte of O'khasis. I didn't want to give out too much information about myself though so I left the part about me being the son of Lord Garte out.

"A guard that just got out of training. Well, do ya have a village yet?" He asked.

I shook my head. "No, I just got out a few days ago sir."

"There is no need for that, sir," the lord laughed. "I haven't heard someone call me that since I was younger, about your age I think." He paused for a moment, looking over me carefully. "From O'khasis are ya?" He asked.

I gently nodded my head a bit, it might of been slightly covered by my helmet. "Yes I am." I didn't say anything else.

"Heh, I could tell. Haven't seen a uniform like yours in so long," he let out a chuckle. "I'm Xavier by the way, and you?"

"Oh, I'm Laurance," I held out my hand and gently shook it. I had told him my name earlier, had he already forgotten it? I just ignored it, maybe he hadn't heard me say it.

"Well, Laurance, how would you like to join the guards of Phoenix Drop?" Lord Xavier asked, making me slightly puzzled. I had only just got there. "From O'khasis you seem like a nice lad, I trust ya. Maybe you'll be my head guard one day. So how 'bout it?"

"You barely know me though," I objected.

"So, like I said you seem like a nice lad. Unlike some others from that place," he muttered. "Anyways you seem like ya've been through a lot. Why not settle down here, like I said that position as one of Phoenix Drop's guards is open. Especially since Dale gets gettin' drunk off Root Beer." He lightly chuckled.

I nodded. "I'll stay, for a bit."

"Oh goodie!" Lord Xavier clapped, almost jumping for joy. "Come now, I'm sure Dale wouldn't mind sharing a house with ya for a bit. Speaking of 'im I bet he's somewhere near the plaza or somethin'."

Lord Xavier started walking ahead, waving his hand in the air for me to follow. He seemed so cheerful. I wonder why he wasn't like this when I met him?

I ignored it. I seem to be ignoring a lot of things. Sighing I continued to follow him, maybe running away from home wasn't such a bad idea.

Woo hoo! First chapter of Switched down! I really enjoyed writing this! Hope you guys enjoyed!

~Netti