The Second Son Triology: Scarlet eyes

Chapter 1

        "Carter", I wake up to the sound of my  Aunt calling my name. "Why can't a nobody second born like me be allowed to sleep a little longer in the morning", I groan.
          Even though my dad never bothered himself with training me, my aunt always made sure I was tutored by professionals in both combat and academics like the way all nobles should be. She was like the mother I never had and honestly the only reason I could survive living with my Lord father. 
        
            Wait a minute, today is the D-day.  The day I make my journey to the Royal Capital. I jump up from my bed to start preparing for my trip to the Royal Academy all thanks to Taran's mysterious disappearance. I can't help but feel grateful towards him, but that still doesn't mean I have forgiven him for all those years he ignored my existence to please my Lord Father. After getting ready I go downstairs, have my breakfast and I am escorted by my two body guards to my carriage.
        
            Surprisingly, sitting in my carriage is Elaine, my first love and current girlfriend. She was the daughter of one of my father's loyal knight commanders. We grew closer over the years as we were always left behind whenever her father left his country manor to my Lord Father's villa in preparation for missions. He'll always bring her along but leave her in the villa, from there which they'll proceed for missions led by my father in the company of Taran, he's all- too-precious heir. 
           
          "Surprise! I just wanted to say my final goodbyes. I'm really going to miss you. "Yeah, me too", I reply. "And remember to stay away from the noble babes".  "Yeah, yeah. Like I'm going to leave you for them anyway. Besides, firstborn nobles are discouraged from dating other firstborns to prevent power monopoly and anyway........". She cuts me mid sentence with a deep kiss. 
"Its time to go Carter ". I turn to find my carriage driver Ben. We hastily said our final goodbyes and then the journey began.
             
            It was evening already by the time we arrived at the royal capital. At first I was appalled by the unwelcoming smell of sewers and cramped streets filled with carriages and scrambling citizens. The living quarters were cramped into what looked like slums and majority of the people I saw look like they hadn't had a meal or bath in days. When I complained about this to my driver Ben, he just laughed and said that we were still in the slums were the labor force and lower class of the capital lived and that we would soon get to the magnificent city where the upper class of the capital lived.
         
            When we got to the city I was awed by the impeccably paved roads and the flamboyantly dressed upperclassmen that made their way in beautiful carriages up and down the roads. Pleasant smells from bakeries and inns filled my nose  and I could already hear my stomach rumbling in frustration. Luxurious mansions and manors surrounded by lush gardens  could also be seen from the vantage point of the high road.
       
          Finally, I caught sight of a magnificent castle towering in the horizon and another less flamboyant but nonetheless magnificent castle not too far away from the first. We made way to the less flamboyant castle which my Ben said to my delight was our destination, the Royal Academy.
          
           When we got to the moat surrounding the castle, I was shocked at the amount of patrol guards and archers stationed around the walls of the castle and the war machines and contraptions that lined the walls in abundance ready to be unleashed at any second. But on second thought I reasoned that these should probably be the second most protected place in the kingdom as it housed the heirs of the noble families of the kingdom and it was literally the training grounds of the Knights and soldiers of our armies.
              
            After my arrival was announced, the bridge leading across the moat was let down and I was escorted by an abundance of guards to the main castle. I was taken aback by the splendor and organization of the castle. Blue and gold flags and fabrics hung everywhere as this was the colour of the military. Knight resplendent in their shining amours and decorated breastplates could be seen in abundance making their way around the premises. Everytime I neared a regiment of Knights they would stop whatever they were doing and salute to greet me . I can't help but smile as it feels nice to be recognized for a change. I was ushered into the grand entrance by servants and led down a hall showcasing weapons, armor and paintings of magical beasts, popular battle mages and famous knights to an enormous open courtyard from there which they located my quarters.
          
            To my amazement a whole wing of the castle was dedicated to my family, the house of Blackwood, as I was told that every noble family had a wing in this castle and that soldiers training to be knights who will serve that particular family all reside in those wings. The Knights in training in my wing were even more respectful towards me than those outside as they knelt in greeting and wouldn't get up till I permitted them.
             I was led to a large room at the top floor of the wing. Apparently, this was going to be my room. It had a large canopy bed, a reading desk, lush rugs and carpets, an entire closet connected to a large bathing room and everywhere was decorated gold and blue, which were the colors of the military.
            On my bed I saw a gold and blue uniform made of velvet with gold buttons and a single silver star on my badge. "I can get used to this" was the last thought on my mind before I crumpled on my bed due to exhaustion completely forgetting my hunger.
                             
                            *****
         
             I wake up to the sound of bells and I wondered for a moment where I was, before the realization of yesterday came to my memory. I hurriedly got ready and was led to an enormous but elegant dining room filled with unknown faces eating and chatting in long rows. I was led to a table  elevated on a platform where nobles sat and was greeted with stares. I could hear people whispering, " Is that him?" all around me.
 

           I sat down next to a blonde guy who introduced himself to be Bernard of the Cavell  family. A mean looking girl suddenly walked up to me and said, "So you're the second son?" . "Not a nice way to address someone, but yeah" , I replied.  " By the way I'm Carter and you're.... ", I added with an outstretched hand only to receive cold sneers as she totally ignored my hand. "I'm sorry, but I don't speak to second born trash" , she said sassily and walked away.

         I looked at Bernard confusedly who said, "Sorry but that's just how she is. I only came yesterday but she already gives me the creeps". We both laugh, along with some other nobles and she gives us a look that has enough venom to kill a dinosaur.
         
           Our breakfast is interrupted by a booming voice, " Knight trainees to the training ground, nobles to the grand hall" . I and the other nobles made to the hall where we met a dangerous looking man in the royal army uniform of gold and blue with three gold stars on his badge on an elevated platform. Threepowerful men were standing behind him.

          "I am lord Baron of the Lynette family and as you can see I am a trained battle mage. All of you present here are the future of the military of our nation and your respective noble families and I expect you to behave as such. For my duration here I will be your Ki teacher. I will teach you how to manipulate it into various attack combinations which are useful in battle and I will teach you spell craft. All of you are to meet me here daily for Ki class, then to your magical beasts class in the courtyard, after which you go to your personal combat class and finally to your actual warfare class in the training grounds where you will learn battle strategy and how to control an army.  I'm sure you can notice three men behind me. Starting from my right you have Sir Humphrey, your magical beasts trainer, Sir Kelvin, your personal combat trainer and Knight commander, Sir Thomas who will be your actual warfare teacher. These men are all notable individuals in their fields so you'll do well to respect them and obey them as any insubordination will be punished harshly and will only bring shame to your families.

           I would like to make two rules known. First, tardiness to any lesson is inexcusable and infights are strictly prohibited. Disobedience to those two rules result in severe punishments. Am I clear?".  " Yes sir", we all chorus. Now to today's lesson......