For Kaztos Molinar, life was predetermined from the moment he drew his first breath. It may not have been apparent as his mother first held him, when he took his first steps, or when he said his first words. But as he grew, he realized with ever greater certainty. The path set before him was ingrained in his blood. The sun would rise and fall, the seasons would change through the year, the great pious Amedori would look down from heaven to guide them, and Kaztos Molinar would lead a life of glory and honor.
His day started like any other. His linen sheets shifted aside as he got up and walked across his decorated room to the connecting bathroom. He performed his usual routine of washing his face, brushing his teeth, and combing his hair. As a Molinar, he had to make himself properly presentable. He looked in the mirror to check for any imperfections. Staring back at him was a young teenage boy with trimmed brown hair and red eyes. Long hours spent on the training fields had tanned his skin. His appearance was worthy of someone of noble blood. Satisfied with his appearance, Kaztos grinned at the mirror and said, “Looking fantastic today!” He nodded at his reflection before exiting the bathroom.
Heading into his closet, Kaztos grabbed his clothes for the day. A matching high-collared buttoned shirt and pants. After putting them on, he scrutinized his reflection in a full-body mirror again. Seeing everything in order, the Kaztos then put his boots on. Next, he walked to his dresser and grabbed the amulet on top. Kaztos would never be caught without it. He took a moment to look at the engravings on the front. The winged hammer symbolizing his family always brought him comfort throughout the day. Kaztos put the amulet on with care, making sure it lay on the outside of his shirt for the world to see. Finally ready for the day, he left his bedroom and began making his way to the dining hall.
As he made his way through the small manor, Kaztos took in the state of his home. Many of the decorations were out of style and worn. The furniture and halls were clean, but not spotless. The place was silent except for the creaking noise his steps made on the wooden floor. It fit, given the circumstances. It wasn’t like they could buy the newest furniture or hire a staff to keep the house perfectly maintained. They had to save where possible. Kaztos passed by a wall clock and noted the time. Good, he was right on schedule. It wouldn’t do for him to be late after all. Still, he maintained a brisk pace until he reached the dining hall.
A long dining table sat at the center of the room. It was empty except for one seat. Sitting at the end of the table was Rilathas Molinar, Kazto’s mother. He took a seat next to her where a meal was waiting. His mother was already eating. She was preoccupied with reading a book, but he was undeterred. Kaztos said, “Greetings, Mother! I hope this day finds you well. Did you sleep well last night?” His mother gave no outward indication of hearing him as she continued to stare at her book. Kaztos tried again. “Well, I slept great! I plan to meet the day with the same fervor as I always do.” Once again, his mother failed to say anything. Seeing the conversation going nowhere, he ate his breakfast.
The dining hall was filled with silence, occasionally broken by the clinking of silverware on plates. Kaztos rather enjoyed the meal. It was delicious as always. He would have to thank Yilatas, their only retainer in the manor. She did so much for them. It was only right to show his appreciation. Perhaps he could help her by cleaning some of the manor. Heaven knows how hard it must be keeping the manor up by oneself. It was too bad they couldn’t afford to hire anyone else, not like there would be anyone interested in working here. It was a miracle they had Yilatas.
Kaztos finished breakfast and stood up to leave. He tried to talk to his mother one last time. “I shall be heading to the academy now, Mother. I will do my best to represent the family properly.” Kaztos paused to see if she would respond, but Rilathas didn’t. “Take care, mother. I shall see you this afternoon.” Kaztos turned and began to leave. Though disappointed, Kaztos wouldn’t allow this to ruin his mood. Her attitude wasn’t a surprise to him anymore.
Upon reaching the door, he heard his mother speak behind him. “So, you’re still deciding to wear that amulet? Aren’t you tired of the unnecessary attention? Heaven knows I was.” Kaztos stopped abruptly in the hall. A flash of anger passed through him before he took a calming breath. He grabbed his amulet and absentmindedly rubbed his thumb over it. It helped soothe his growing anxiety. Kaztos looked at his mother’s neck and noticed nothing there. Not like he expected there to be anything. He knew his mother took little pride in their family.
The young noble gave a charming smile as he responded to his mother. “I wear this proudly to show that I am a part of the Molinar family. I care not for the negative attention. The other students at the academy will be wearing their family amulets, so it is only proper that I do so myself. I wouldn’t want to besmirch our name by leaving it at home.” His mother stared at him for only a moment before returning to her book. He took this as a sign to take his leave.
Kaztos exited his family manor and passed through the bent and worn gate that was supposed to protect the property. As he walked, he glanced back to see the outside in a similar state of disrepair. His home had faded paint, overgrown grass, and empty flowerbeds. It was a shameful state of affairs. Kaztos longed for the day he could return his home to its former glory. The manor left his sight as he walked. Kaztos dismissed the side glances given by passing people. They focused on his amulet before making space to avoid him. Some even spoke insults under their breath. It still stung, but he had nothing to hide. He would proudly display who he was to others. It was necessary for his family. His mother never understood. She would rather hide in their manor than face the world. She didn’t have the ability or the willpower to represent a family such as theirs. Fortunately, he will do so, and someday she too will face the world with the same familial pride he felt.
With these thoughts in mind, Kaztos arrived at Urada Academy. At first glance, one wouldn’t think much of its modest size and plain appearance compared to other buildings of academia. However, Urada Academy had the privilege of training the children of all the nobles and upper-class citizens who took residence in town. A larger space was unnecessary, since there would only be a few dozen students at any given time. It was an honor for him to be among the few who could strive for a higher education.
Kaztos entered the academy and within a minute arrived at his classroom. He didn’t stop to converse with anyone in the hallway. It wasn’t like they were willing to have a civilized conversation with him anyway. Inside, a dozen other students were lounging as they waited for classes to start. Kazto had to hide a grimace, as he was the last one to arrive. His conversation with his mother had delayed him more than expected. Tardiness would not look good for him.
Kaztos put on a bright smile and said, ”Greetings, my classmates. I hope you are as ready for the day as I am.” Half of the class ignored him while the other half snickered at him. An expected response, but it was proper to give a greeting to your equals. One boy got up from his seat and made his way to Kaztos.
”Well, hello Molinar,” the boy said. He spat his family name out as if it were poisonous. “I’m surprised you’re still here. I would have thought the professors had gotten around to kicking you out.”
“Good morning, Holindras. There’s no need for petty insults today. It wouldn’t do to get in trouble through childish arguments.” Rising to his classmate’s provocation would only make things worse. Besides, it was nothing he hadn’t heard before.
Holindras wasn’t done, though. “Well, perhaps the rest of us come from noble families. But you come from a family of blasphemous murderers. You should know your place with the rest of the dregs of society.” Holindras and several other classmates began laughing at him.
Kaztos took this in stride and stayed calm. It was just another part of the day at this point. Still, a slight given to his family had to be repaid. It wouldn’t do for the Molinar name to be further sullied by such words. “Yes, well, not all of us can be at the pinnacle of Urada society like the Holindras family. Though, I have to ask, just how promiscuous did the lady of the house have to be to reach such heights? Last I heard, she is rather close with half of the city council at this point.” The rest of the class punctuated his words by bursting out into laughter. Kaztos felt that the insult perhaps went too far, but at least his family’s honor was defended.
Holindras went red in the face as he gritted his teeth. He stalked up to Kaztos and grabbed him by the collar. The noble was about to yell something when a loud throat clearing caught their attention. Everyone turned to see the professor standing in the doorway. He was an elderly man with a stern expression on his face. Holindras reluctantly let go of Kaztos and took a few steps away.
The professor glanced between the two and said, “I hope I didn’t see a fight about to break out. I expect my students to have better self-control. You both come from noble families, so I expect exceptional behavior.” Both teens looked away from the professor. “What are you waiting for? Get to your seats before I have to discipline you.” The two hurry to the desks, with Kaztos going to the seat in the back. The professor turned to the other students. “Sit down now. Class has already started, and you’re wasting time.” Everyone took their seats as lessons began.
In Kazto’s opinion, academic subjects were the hardest for him. Although he found the lessons to be rather boring, Kaztos knew they were necessary to have a complete education. It was just hard for him to understand the material at first. He made up for his lack of talent through enthusiasm and discipline. Kaztos made sure to pay attention in class and take detailed notes. It was best for absorbing the knowledge presented. They first completed math and science before reaching history in short order.
History was just as dry for Kaztos as the previous subjects. The professor would drone on at an even pace through the lesson. While he found history to be a little more interesting, it was hard to get excited when presented in such a lackluster way. Still, Kaztos made sure to take meticulous notes. Finally, the professor finished the lecture. He faced his students and said, “Seeing as we have some time left before the next class, I will ask questions that will be on the next test for review. Now, who would like to tell me when our great kingdom, The Holy Dominion, was established?” Several hands went up, including Kaztos’. The professor chose Kaztos to answer.
Standing up from his seat, Kaztos answered, “Sir, the Holy Dominion was established in the year 694 of the fourth era. It has reigned for just over a thousand years into the seventh era today. It was founded by the first emperor Kil-”
“Just the answer to the question will be fine, Molinar. I don’t need a detailed report of the entire event.” Kaztos quietly apologized and sat back down. A few students around him snickered before the professor’s glare stopped them. “Next question. For what reason was The Holy Dominion formed?” This time, the professor chose a student at the front to answer.
The student stood up and said, “The reason for the creation of The Holy Dominion was because of the Amedori wanting to restore stability to the land after the fall of the Elf and Dwarf Kingdoms during the third crisis. The power vacuum had fractured the remaining human kingdoms for the following centuries. They picked out a hero who could unite the fractured nations and supported him on his conquest of the warring nations at the time.” The professor thanked the student and continued to pose questions to the class. While he raised his hand every time, Kaztos was not called upon again.
Soon the professor moved on to the next class, etiquette and debate. It was one Kazto enjoyed. The professor explained the first topic. “Let us start by exploring the relationship between the nobility and the common people. Just as the Amedori watch over and guide humanity from the heavens, so too do the lords of the land watch over the people who serve under them. My question is, with the position of power we have over the common people, do we have the responsibility to emulate the heavenly lords? To look over and guide the people under their stewardship. Or do you think lords are free to go their own direction in life? To use the freedom they were born with and push the boundaries of discovery? This is a free discussion. You may talk when willing.” The professor sat at his desk and looked over the class.
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Almost immediately one student, the son of a council member, derisively snorted and said, “Why should we go out of our way to help the peasants? It’s not like it would benefit us in any way. They’ll work the same as they always do, and we’d be out of our hard-earned money.” The answer had Kaztos taken aback. It wasn’t unexpected, but to hear his peer share such beliefs was disheartening.
Another student, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, added her own thoughts. “It’s not our responsibility to help the rabble of society. The holy lords guide all of us equally. If they can’t help themselves, then how could we? They probably did something to deserve to be in that situation. After all, it’s not like we were granted specific blessings into our stations. Our families had earned their positions at some point. If they can’t reach such heights, then it is on them.” Others shared their views. One heir stated that a person’s life was determined by the Amedori. If you were born a peasant, then that’s what you were destined to be. It’s not as if giving aid would do anything meaningful. Another student claimed that ruling over the less fortunate was their birthright. The holy lords placed them in these positions, so they deserve to reap the benefits. Children of council members, wealthy merchants, and local nobility all gave similar answers. The professor said nothing, but the look of annoyance on his face spoke volumes.
Rage built within Kaztos. Did they truly have no shame? To think they would all be so willing to dishonor their own families like this. Didn’t they know that the lords of the land had a sacred duty to fulfill? It was one of the first lessons that should be taught to noble children. Was Kaztos the only one to be taught this? He couldn’t let this go on any longer. The Molinar stood up and slammed his palm onto the desk. The rest of the class hushed and turned to look at him.
Kaztos straightened to full height, glared at his fellow students, and exclaimed, “Unacceptable! Such a disgrace to your noble blood. Do you not hear yourselves right now? Have you all forgotten your duty? Why do you think the fortune of being lords was bestowed upon us? The Amedori are as powerful and wise as they are just and kind. However, they are not everywhere, nor can they do everything. That is the reason The Holy Dominion was established in the first place. For the rulers to watch over the lands under the purview of the holy lords. To care for the people under us is our duty as nobility. And how are we to care for the people? The Amedori provide us with the methods. Just as they guide and protect those underneath them, so too must we protect and nurture the people under our care. We were given this duty from birth and, by the honor of our blood, we must see it through.”
Kaztos took a moment to collect himself. He had let himself get a little carried away, but he felt the point had gotten across. He waited for a rebuttal of his argument, but none came. Silence held in the room as his professors and peers stared at him. Kaztos wondered if they had not expected such an impassioned speech from him. It should have been, since they were arguing about abandoning their sacred duty. It was only proper to set them straight. After a few more moments, the professor recovered. “Excellent points, Molinar. That was very well said. Glad to see that we can actually have a debate today. Would anyone like to give a rebuttal?”
His classmates regained their composure. One student said, “It’s funny you should think that, Molinar, seeing as you’re from a disgraced house. If only your uncle thought similarly, then maybe your family would be better off right now.”
Several classmates chuckled at this, but Kaztos was not to be deterred. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t heard countless times before. Still, he couldn’t help but offer a rebuttal. Kaztos stared at the student as he responded. “I am well aware of the position that my family is in. That is why I won’t rest until honor is restored to my family. This I swear. It only concerns me that my classmates would talk about acting in a similar manner to my uncle.” That last comment earned him several glares.
From across the room, Holindras said, “Our beliefs are entirely different from your uncle’s. We’re not the ones starting a blasphemous crusade. If anything, I find your views to be childish. What, did you read holy texts and fairy tales to determine how nobility should act?” As more of his classmates laughed at the jeers, Kaztos could only try to hide a blush. That was perhaps closer to the truth than he would have liked to admit.
Before things could devolve further, the Professor called for silence. With the class’s attention, he hurried on to the next debate topic. Luckily, none of the following questions resulted in squabbling. Soon, history class was over, and the class broke for lunch. Kaztos took the time to find a quiet place to relax. He often had to look for new spots to avoid heckling from his peers. Fortunately for him, no one appeared to harass him this time. Less fortunate was that Kaztos had forgotten to bring lunch this morning. He chided himself for his absentmindedness. A noble such as himself needed to always be on top of things. He dedicated the unexpected free time to meditation and prayer. His peers were right about his uncle’s blasphemy actions. If he wanted to walk the correct path, then reverence of the Amedori was necessary. Perhaps he could go attend church this weekend? He spent the last hour before class enjoying the summer breeze.
The last subject of the day was Kazto’s favorite, combat training. The instructor had them start with stretching and basic exercises. He tackled these simple tasks with gusto. This ended with a run that lasted several laps around the field. He easily outpaced his peers. Kaztos knew he had more at stake than the others. If he wanted to prove himself, then excellent physical proficiency was a must. The next task of the day was combat practice. Students would take turns sparring against each other. With growing impatience, Kaztos watched as students entered the dirt ring and dueled with wooden practice swords. After a half dozen duels, his name was finally called.
Kaztos rushed to grab a practice sword and entered the ring. Across from him, Holindras approached with a smirk on his face. His amulet depicting a lightning strike shone in the sun. They stood ready, only a dozen feet away from each other. Exhibiting proper decorum, Kaztos said, “Good luck and fight well, Holindras.” He then gave his opponent a formal bow.
Holindras in return only languidly swung his practice sword back and forth. “It seems fortune has already found me. I’ve been waiting all day for this Molinar. You’ll learn a lesson for running your mouth.” Both combatants entered a guard position. The tension rose between the two. Neither took the eyes off the other as they waited for the start signal.
The instructor began the match with a shout. Both Kaztos and Holindras cautiously approached each other. Holindras acted first with a thrust at Kaztos. This was easily parried, but Holindras continued his assault. He alternated outside slashes from both sides, but Kazto’s guard held true as he blocked each attack. With a well-timed parry, Kaztos knocked his opponent’s sword out of position. He used the opening to stab at Holindras’ torso, which was narrowly sidestepped. He tried to retreat, but Kaztos relentlessly pursued his opponent. Every attack forced Holindras further backward until he had reached the edge of the ring. In desperation, he attempted an overhead swing at Kaztos, who countered with an upward cut that hit his fingers. The strike caused Holindras to drop the sword and fall to the ground, holding his hand in pain.
The instructor called the match in Kaztos’ favor. The victor offered a hand to his fallen classmate. “Good match, Holindras.” The fallen student stared at the hand for a moment before slapping it away. He grumbled to himself as he got up and walked away. Kaztos took it in stride and returned to the group to view the remaining matches. With his victory, he could hold his head up high. The last duel had concluded after four more matches. Class ended shortly after and with it, the school day as well. Kaztos made sure to avoid trouble as he left the academy.
Kaztos made it back to the manor in good time. The young Molinar had a schedule that he preferred to keep at the end of the day. First, he returned to his room to use his private bathroom to freshen up from the day’s exercise. Next, Kaztos completed his required studies for his classes. This took until suppertime, and he made his way to the dining room.
He arrived to see his mother seated at the table, waiting. Kaztos sat down and greeted his mother, who frowned. An unusual response, but better than being ignored. Undeterred, Kaztos began to regal Rilathas about his day at the academy as he ate. He boasted to his mother about his successes in debate and martial class that day. Right as he was finishing, Rilathas finally spoke up.
“Why do you even bother, Kaztos? You’re only making things worse for yourself.” This made Kaztos pause in his recollections. He looked at his mother, showing more confusion than he felt. Hopefully, this didn’t go where Kaztos feared.
“I don’t know what you mean, Mother.” Rilathas’ expression worsened as she turned to look at her son. Kaztos was taken aback by the disappointment and irritation on his mother’s face.
“Don’t play dumb. You know exactly what I mean. Why do you even bother going to the academy? It’s not like you’re going to be doing anything substantial with the experience. We no longer have any land to govern, and you’ll never be appointed to a political position. The only posting in the military you could hope for is as a lowly foot soldier. So, I ask you again, what’s the point?”
Kaztos was resolute in his response. “You know why I do this, Mother. I plan to restore this family to the honor it previously held. If I am to have any chance of doing so, I need to be well-educated.” As the two silently faced each other, Kaztos unconsciously fiddled with his amulet. He hoped that his mother would drop the matter and they could continue with their meal.
His mother had other plans and pressed forward. “You know the futility of that path. It won’t matter how you go about things. The taint that our family holds will never be cleansed away, no matter what you do.” Kaztos felt exasperated with his mother. Once again, she didn’t seem to understand the duty their family had.
“It doesn’t matter how long it takes. I will do whatever it takes to right the wrongs this family has committed.” He had no choice in the matter. That was the path destiny had chosen for him.
“And how exactly do you plan to do that? You can say you will restore the Molinar house all you want Kaztos, but at the end of the day it’s all talk.” Rilathas leaned back in her chair and took a calming breath. “You know you’re not the first Molinar to try. A few have attempted to restore this house to its former standing. Do you know where they are now? Dead, either by a sword through the chest or a knife from behind. Do you even have a plan, or are you just blindly running around in the dark?”
Kaztos stumbled in his answer. “I don’t exactly have a plan yet, but I will think of something. I still have time to do so.”
Rilathas let out a disappointed sigh. “That’s what I thought. No plan of action. You know, Kaztos, I am trying to help you. It would be a shame if you ended up dead in some alleyway from political backstabbing. Prestige and renown are all well and good, but they aren’t everything. We still have a sizable amount of wealth if we spend it wisely. Such as not wasting it at some pointless academy. So just sit back and enjoy life son, there’s no need to be a glory chaser after all. We could even spend some time together if you stopped wasting yourself on worthless pursuits.” Satisfied that she got her point across, Rilathas began to eat her meal.
Kaztos clenched his fists underneath the table as he tried to control his emotions. It wouldn’t be proper for him to lose himself in fury. He took a deep breath and stood up to leave. As he began walking away, his mother asked, “Where are you going Kaztos? You haven’t finished your meal. You wouldn’t want to offend Yilatas now. It’s hard enough to find help nowadays.”
He couldn’t find it in himself to leave silently anymore. He turned to his mother and with a controlled tone said, “You may think otherwise, Mother, but I am not doing this for personal glory. You never seem to get what it is I am trying to do. Why not? You don’t seem to mind the position we find ourselves in. You may find satisfaction in being a vulture feeding on a corpse, but I refuse to be anything other than what a Molinar should be.” Kaztos ignored the squawks of his mother as he made his way out the back of the house.
The backyard was rather modest, given the circumstances. There were no decorations in the backyard, and it was barely maintained. But none of that mattered at the moment. The most important thing was the shed that held the training equipment he used. He picked out a practice wooden war hammer and walked to his favored spot underneath the biggest tree at the center of the yard. The grass under the tree had long since died away, leaving a patch of dirt. The result of countless hours of practice having left its mark. Kaztos got set and then began going through his exercises.
He let himself fall into the rhythm of the swings. Practicing precision and endurance with swing after swing. As he did this, Kaztos berated himself for what had happened. He lost himself to emotion and insulted an elder member of his family, his mother no less. It didn’t matter what she said to him. Acting in such a manner was unacceptable. How was Kaztos going to accomplish his dreams if he acted like a child to any provocation? He would be eaten alive in the political world at this rate. He needed to improve further. It was obvious that he wasn’t good enough. But first, Kaztos needed to work through his anger swing by swing. However, no matter how long he worked, the storm within him refused to die down.
Only when his arms felt like lead and his lungs burned from exertion did he stop late into the night. Kaztos struggled to make it to bed due to fatigue. At that moment, despite all the hard work of the day, he felt like a complete failure. Luckily, the physical exertion meant sleep came effortlessly for Kaztos. He slept through the entire night and woke up feeling at least physically refreshed. Looking at the clock as he got up, he felt fortunate that the academy was closed on Sundays. He slept in today. His bad mood worsened, as he was already off on the wrong foot for the day. Kaztos hurried to get ready for the day, but still found himself late for breakfast. Though it was perhaps fortunate, as it seemed like his mother had already eaten and gone about her day. At least he wouldn’t have to be civil with her this morning. He ate his meal while sitting at the table. It was a little cold but still filling.
Kaztos left the manor for a walk. The atmosphere still felt stifling after last night’s argument, so it would be best for him to go and clear his head. Perhaps after some relaxation, he could tackle his ambitions with a renewed spirit. Kaztos left and began to wander aimlessly around town. The sound of people going on with their day soothed him, from the laughter and cheers of children playing to the calming murmurs of people conversing with each other. It all helped to quell Kaztos‘ inner turmoil and let him think everything would be okay. Last night was a bump in the road, but that never stopped him before.
His wandering brought him near the town square. In the distance, Kaztos saw a crowd formed around a carriage. Ah, it appeared that an outsider was visiting the town. Perhaps he should see what the commotion was about. He wasn’t sure what was happening, but it was likely to be entertaining. Maybe he could hear about the happenings from around The Holy Dominion and maybe even listen to a new tale of valor. With these thoughts, Kaztos began making his way to the carriage.
Yet, as he made his way over, a disturbance to his right distracted him. Turning, he saw two teenage boys heckling a girl in a ragged cloak. She looked panicked as she tried to escape their grasp. It filled him with disgust that people would act in such a crude manner. When one of them forcefully grabbed the girl’s cloak, Kaztos realized he had to take action. He walked over towards the three, not realizing a certain redheaded elf was heading toward the commotion as well. Kaztos didn’t know it at the time, but he would look back on this moment fondly as one of his best.
