Shirae stood on the edge of the road with her bag over her shoulder. She breathed in deep of the fresh morning air. She had reached the fortress of the Children of the Light much later than she had hoped. She had hoped that the money she had taken from her brother would have lasted a lot longer but without having much experience in haggling she knew she had overpaid for most of the necessities on the road.

 

But she had made it and now stared a the opening before her, the guards kept their eyes on the road and raised their eyebrows at Shirae as she still stood still at the sight. She was just too overwhelmed at the knowledge that she had made it. Really managed to do what she had set out to do after escaping the future her parents had thought out for her. She shook her head at the memory of her brother’s eyes and the determination he had had when he continued to the White Tower. She gave her head one last shake and walked to the guards. “I’ve come to join the Children of the Light.” she announced proudly holding her stance high but respectful.

 

The guard closest to her nodded at the direction of a building in the middle of the yard. “Report to the Head Clerk, in that building.” he said and paid no more attention to Shirae. She thanked the man and hurried off keeping her eyes on the building ahead. It was not so easy a task to do as everywhere she looked she saw Children training and the clank of swords was like music in her ears. She walked the few steppes to the door and rapped loudly. Upon hearing an answer she opened the large door and stepped inside.

 

She looked at the man behind the desk and when she felt she was close enough she bowed her head in greeting. “I have come to join the Children of the Light.” she said her voice having lost some of the confidence it had held while speaking to the guards.

 

Roudal raised his eyes impassively and gave the woman in front of him a long hard look. "Are you sure you want to join our ranks? Many join and buckle under the pressure. Some join thinking they will find answers to their purpose in life and end up leaving with a double amount of questions and no answers in sight. Joining the CoL can build a life, but it can also destroy it. So think well and hard, young lady, before submitting yourself to this way of life."

 

Glancing at the pages in front of him, Roudal smiled as the woman remained planted in her place. It seemed his scaring tactic didn't affect her in the least. A good sign. Maybe he was wrong about her after all. "Very well, I can see you're determined. Let us hope that is enough." Taking the recruitment book out of the drawer, Roudal started to flip through it.

 

"Full name, age and place of origin."

 

 

 

 

Roudal

Head Clerk

Shirae stood still as the man behind the desk spoke. His words sounded cold and careless. There was truth to them, she could easily see it. But this had been her dream ever since she had first been told of her great grandfather. She would not be the one to falter and cave under pressure. She had made up her mind long time ago and did not mean to walk away now. She said nothing and stood in place wondering if she should have replied to the man, and convince him of her conviction.

 

But before she had managed to finish that thought he spoke again, taking out a large book from the drawer. Shirae looked at the pages as he flipped through it. All the names there were of Children of the Light that had come to be recruited. The book looked old, but Shirae wondered if it would be old enough to hold Sheir's name in it.

 

"My name is Shirae Caral, 18 years of age. I come from Whitebridge." she said in a clear voice nodding at the end of her words, as to make the statement of her origins more firm. She wondered where her sudden will to stand up straight and prove that she could be a soldier had burst. She had never known she could stand so still and answer is such a formal way that she almost broke into a smile as her name was written in the book to join thousands before her.

 

Roudal nodded and wrote Shirae's information on the old paper. He was going to give her the remaining instructions, yet he simply could not suffer the insuffrable chatter around. Roudal slammed his first on his desk. "This is not a working atmosphere", he said, his voice booming. "Don't make me repeat myself again!". All the clerks around him rolled their eyes and went back to work. While they feared his temper, they knew he almost never carried out his threats.

 

Sitting back down, Roudal realized that Shirae was still standing there. "I apologize for the little outburst. I can't concentrate when there is so much mindless chatter around me." Some clerks who overheard him smiled at each other and started whispering between themselves.

 

"In any case, you're all set. Find the Quartermaster's office. Her name is Emanuela. She will give you some further instructions and assign you a room. You should be settled in swiftly." Roudal hesitated for a moment before continuing. "If any problem presents itself, feel free to come to me and I'll do my best to help." Roudal himself had no idea where the burst of affection came from, but for some reason he had a good feeling about her.

 

"You may go now, Shirae. I wouldn't like to keep you."

 

 

 

Roudal

Head Clerk