Kratz

4

Their years as a toddler were most crucial for the commoners. They collected children from various age ranges, but still quite young. If suitable, a full blooded Leponese, at just one to five years old joined the next available class. A single class took roughly six years to train until graduation. King Liam instructed his men to attempt to start a new camp every year. That specific year he based the camp at the same town where Bas was born. This was not quite ironic though since it was suitable and was already home to four boys who had been found. Bas was not special; he was among other children in his very town that were like him.

In Bas' hometown there were hundreds of various Leponese slaves. Most worked the fields, some worked on construction, and others acted as servants. The fields laid northeast of the town, and the woods covered the east, south, and west. Leponese villages rested in the southern forest. Not far from their village was a small outpost of commoner soldiers. Their main barracks were in the town where most of them slept. They worked to keep the town occupied and keep the Leponese in check. The few who slept in the woods were there to keep watch for escapees.

The Diamond Guard barracks was oddly placed, they slept on the side of the mountains to the north. A large building with many rooms. Housing a total of twenty-one Diamond Guard soldiers. Including their leader Patrol Commander Jarin. A highly regarded soldier for the commoners who led the twenty men proudly. The barracks often also held Patrol Captain Anderson. An incredibly old looking fellow, who resided in their town for much of his career. Though he oversaw several patrols at several different towns, he primarily stayed in Bas' town. He himself was the man responsible for finding Bas in the woods as well. A boy he knew little of at the time of his capture.

For a time, Bas was taken care of by the commoners, until spring training began. Then he and seventeen other boys would be taken to the Diamond Guard barracks in the mountains. He was still too young to quite understand where he was going. In fact, he hardly even knew much about his powers. During the winter months the commoners that watched him also trained him how to properly speak and say certain words. Though mostly words for battle, they wanted recruits to know how to speak too. When spring came Bas still struggled with speaking. His language was poor, and he was hardly old enough to walk well. But at least he could walk.

When he first arrived at the barracks, he found it quite a disturbing property. A very dark building, with extraordinarily little lights, that rested on the slope of a mountain. A small layer of snow laid on the roof. The snow on the ground had already melted and made for soggy grass. The building itself had a diamond point at the top, representing the Diamond Guards. There was a small walkway for watching the fields, that could be seen quite well below them to the south.

The commoner soldiers escorted him into the large wooden doors of the barracks. Then they travelled up a long flight of stairs that led to the main room. On the way up Bas noted how cold it was inside. The only fires lit were the few torches scattered on the dark wooden walls. He also noted that the wood itself was old and wearing due to rot. As for the roof, it appeared on the verge of collapsing.

Once up the stairs he was shown to the rest of the group. Seventeen other boys, waiting patiently, standing in a single line and facing one of the walls. They stood only a few inches from the wall, and each other, and remained completely still. Bas joined them and placed his feet on one of the ends, replicating the line. He heard the commoners who had brought him there walking back down the stairs and leaving. Though spending several months with them, he found no interest in him. They offered him little and he found himself more alone in their company. But standing in the cold barracks below a torch resting on a rotting log, he worried this place was going to be much worse. He glanced at the boys next to him, attempting to snap a peak at each of them. They all appeared close to his age. Some were older, a few about the same age as him, and only a few who were younger. Bas counted himself average among one of the other boys. He quickly turned back to face the wall at the sound of footsteps.