FORTITUDINE (COMPLETED)

Jacob's Curse

Prologue

"Son, quick! Come into the shop!" Shouted my father, Ivo. I jumped up from my studies and rushed down the stairs into the shop part of the house.

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My father is a shoemaker for the small town of Stari Grad, Croatia; one of the finest. My mother, Hana, is a part time seamstress. I have a twelve year old sister named Lea and a seven year old brother named Daniel. I did have an older brother named Aron but he disappeared when I was fourteen. I'm seventeen today.  I am Jacob Isaac.

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"What's wrong?" I ask as I rush into the small leather-scented room. I stop to see, almost, my entire family standing in the middle of the room smiling.

"Nothing Jacob, come and sit will you?" Asked my father, a chuckle escaping his lips.

I hesitate but sit on the tall wooden stool with my pale, scrawny arms crossed. I drew my eyebrows together in confusion as Daniel drew something wrapped in brown paper from behind his back.

"Happy birthday Jacob!" He shouts as he runs into my arms. I pull Daniel onto my lap and take the gift from his small hands.

"You got this for me?" I ask half jokingly, half confusedly. He nods his head and Lea says, "Well open it!"

I smile and carefully unwrap the gift. A dagger. Not just any dagger but a beautiful handmade silver dagger with gold plating and intricate designs on the blade itself.

My hands falter as I reach out to pick the dagger up. Was I even worthy of grasping such beauty?

I look up at the faces before me. Mixed feelings of worry, pride, hope, and excitement swirled around the room at a dizzying pace.

I stare wide-eyed at my parents as I  struggle to find my tongue. "This is real?" They nod their heads. "This is for me?" My father smiles and clasps my shoulder. "This is for you, my son. You will learn to use it and become a better man than I will ever be. You have the mind and soul of a warrior-"

"Now all you need is the muscle." States Lea with a smirk. I let out a frustrated growl and go back to admiring the dagger.

"She is not wrong. That is why I have asked an aquatint to train you to become Croatia's best soldier." Father  stood wearily at his desk.

I sigh, slightly disappointed. Aron was a soldier, one of the youngest-and greatest. They wanted me to be like Aron. Now it all makes sense.

"How did you come across such an expensive dagger?" I knew the answer before he spoke.

"I borrowed the money from the man who is to train you." Was all he said. I shook my head and stood up straight.

"Thank you for the gift. It truly is beautiful. If you'll excuse me, I'll get back to my studies." My father sighs and shakes his head.

"When will you give up on those construction lessons? You can't have a wall without someone to protect it." Father slammed his fist on the table and my mother and siblings left the room, knowing it would be another long argument about my future.

"You can't protect a wall if there isn't one in the first place." I state before walking outside, slamming the door behind me.

I've never been so mad at my father before. I felt guilty that I left like that but he can't pretend that I'm Aron because I'm not.

I am Jacob Isaac, no one else. No one can tell me what to be but myself. I am my own person.

...or so I thought...

Jacob's Curse
A Book From the Strength Series

Hey guys! Long time, no see! I know it's been forever since you've heard from me but being a sophomore taking senior level classes is harder than it sounds.

Yes, this prologue is ten times better than the one for Infirmitate but I'm having a writers block for that book...

I will probably write this book before Infirmitate-when I do get around to writing again, which shouldn't be too long if people keep reminding me to update😅

I have decided that it would be nice if you read Fortitudine before this book because near the end of the story I will be leading up to the Trials of New Strength...maybe even starting where Jacob first meets Alexa...🤔 I'm not sure yet.

Anywhooo...I hope you liked this prologue as much as I did writing it! It would be really encouraging for you to keep liking and commenting, so please, continue to do so! 😄

Soon friends, soon!

Au revoir mes amis!