Flames Of Hate and retribution

My day.. Let me tell you something about my day, It began like any other, which is to say bad, hell I'd go as far as to say miserable.

Since the start of the day I was harassed, Walked in on some shit I didn't even care about, had some people try to kill me, and had a stray forced into my care... Today began as a miserable day, now that the day is over... god it has been a good day.

Earlier in the morning.

"Remember today not only are we celebrating the end of the war that has allowed our great nation to flourish, we will also be feasting to celebrate the great union between our Prince Halbert whom is the pride of our nation and the Emperor's daughter Princess Sarah Everheart" yelled a cryer from atop the podium competeing with the sounds of the market.

'Yes yes we get the message. I'm amazed he still has his voice'. The young man thought to himself. 'The poor stooge has been up there for the past week' announcing the same thing and giving updates on progress of the preparations.

"Chris have you been listening to anything i just said to you ?"

The young man Christopher Hayden snapped back to reality looking to one of his few friends Ms.Angela Vicard who was the daughter of a rich merchant, although what their family deals in has always been a mystery to him, any time he tried to inquire she would always have a vague answer such as oh we always try to supply whatever needs our clients have. he knew her family supplied things as simple as cooking supplys to having order contracts with the military.

"Cut me some slack Angela it's already been a long enough morning." He was completley exasperated having just finished their morning classes at the military institute they attend together.

"You kind of brought that on yourself. The instructor was pissed. Im not saying you should have paid attention to the lessons necesarily, but would it really kill you to atleast pretend to pay attention, hell atleast keep your eyes open just to humor the man. Never know maybe he would even cut you some slack if you didn't do this to him every day." She rolled her eyes thinking back to their class. "It's Not like I wish to hear it again either but Sometines it doesn't hurt to play along."

"Come on it was a lecture about the war. its a story that even the poorest and uneducated know! Why the hell should we actually dedicate an entire day listening to the same story that all of us have had forced down our throat repeatedly over the past year! The story is bull shit anyways."

"You always say it's a lie no matter how many times you're yelled at for it."

"Calling bullshit anything other than bullshit, is bullshit."

...

SMACK. Chris could only help but hold the back of his head. When this girl brought down the hammer boy did it hurt.

What Christopher was refering the the war that had come to an end two years ago between the Eternal Empire and the kingdom of Albrael. The war had lasted for 3 years. Shortly after the initial invasion the fighting came to a deadlock, a kingdom everyone believed would surrender within 6 months held out far longer than any could have anticipated. Do to the efforts of Albraels army and more so their Black Guard division, whom the empire came to respect their advisary. They had said they fought with the ferocity of a cornered pack of wolves, and these wolves always would bite back. The Empire approached the king offering him terms, become a loyal vassel and answer when called upon. In return the king, and all his subjects would be allowed to keep their status, and lands without fear so long as they paid their taxes and maintained control they would be allowed to govern themselves. King Robert Velen chose to accept the terms of Emperor Aldous Everheart to spare their two nations any more blood shed. Both Sides called for celebration happy to return to their normal lives and families, Although some refused their kings orders. Outraged by the king's decision Havoc led the Black Guard division in a failed attempt to murder the king, take control of the counry and stop the surrender.

To The Black guard accepting this was simply becoming a slave to another nation. Although before they could folliow through with their plans, the king discovered them. Prince Halbert led a large force of the regular army to stop and prevent the murder of his father. After Havoc's failure The Black Guard was purged there were rumors of some of the soliders escaping but they were hunted, disgraced, and could be said to be a taboo or curse to most of the populace. Once the hero's of their nation now were hunted by the very people who upheld them.

The dead had no voice to tell their story. The only voices to speak up were ones to condemn the dead.

"Giving this poor soul yet another lecture? come on Angela cut the poor man some slack." a male voice said lightly

Angela and Christopher turned to look at the layed back voice. A tall muscular man with slicked back blonde hair strode up to them with his hands clasped behind his head. By all definitions... A pretty boy. Christopher himself was not bad looking but the way women mostly looked at him and Thomas was night and day. While Chris was fairly muscular himself he didn't have the bulging arms like Thomas and has Black shorter, messy spiked up hair and blue eyes. Not exactly an attention grabber compared to Thomas. Rich, Charismatic, and built like a stone wall.

"Thomas you shouldnt encourage him! Things like that are one of the biggest reasons that most of the school looks down upon him, his attitude towards other students and classes. How many times now have they tried to throw him out. If not for Lady Cassandra they would have already had their way and he would be gone already!"

"Attitude or not they would find an excuse to throw me out." Chris was not a noble, was not a member of a rich family. He learned long ago no matter how he behaved or treat his fellow students and instructors he was nothing but scum in their eyes.

Thomas was probably Christopher's only other friend at school. Thomas Belenkov was the son of a mercenary who had been given a noble title after saving a member of the empires royal family on the battlefield. Once the war had ended the empire had paid for him to be enrolled at this school as part of the reward and thank you from the empire.

"Oh please I agree. All those rich and noble pricks would look for any reason to spit on him. The man could be on fire and they wouldnt even piss on him to put it out."

Angela sighed "Thomas I'm forced to ask, you do realize you yourself are a noble right?"

"Nope that's my father"

"Which makes you one as well..."

"Thats up for debate. Aaaaanyway if our friend here wasn't so prickly... I mean respected and loved by our dear fellow students then who would keep all your would be suitors and kiss asses away from you. Really in my oppinion you should thank him."

"Hey thanks thomas."

"Christopher Hayden shut your mouth!"

"Oh she used the full name."

"Damnit Thomas, dont make me test out this new club my father gave me after you broke my last one!"

"That I broke!? It broke when you hit me outside the head! Do you have any idea how much a head wound bleeds!? It ruined my favorite shirt!"

"So what do you two have going on today" Chris asked brushing aside the past incident.

"Well for me it will be a toss up between drinking or training...maybe both...at the same time.. Yea I'm going for both."

"Thomas do you really think your father would approve of something like that?" sighed Angela.

"Honestly he would probably be proud if I was able to pull it off."

"And just like that so much has been explained" Chris laughed.

" Unfortunately I have to negotiate a contract on my fathers behalf in about an hour so I have to leave"

"What about you Chris"

"Guess since you both are busy I'll just go home and prepare myself for the mental trauma I'll have to endure tomorrow. If Elise finds out about anything probably a little physical trauma too."

Shortly after the three friends parted ways for the evening. Leaving Chris to make his way home. Allowing his natural instincts to lead him back he listened to the flow of the city and the people going about without a single care to be had. However for Chris it was chaos. Money and goods exchanged hands, people at the bar smoked and drank, workers going about restocking, greeting customers. Chaos. His mind took all of it in like a constant flow of information. So many details that his mind refused to ignore. His heart rate began to rise. Breaking out into a cold sweat, the world began to spin as if he had just spent the entire night and morning drinking. He stumbled forward and leaned his arm and head against the wall. 'There's nothing to worry about, no enemies, no traps, breathe.'

"Close your eyes, steady your breathing." a soothing feminine voice whispered into his ear.

"If it was that easy I wouldn't have this issue to begin with." He muttered in between sharp breaths

"Concentrate on my voice, there's no one else here, no sounds just me." She began talking about her day as if continueing from a conversation they were just having.

Chris listened and did as the voice said, slowly his heart rate began to drop as his breathing flowed normal again.

"I'm proud of you, you're handling things much better Just think a year ago you would never be able to handle crowds like this."

Chris turned and smiled " Hello Elise." Before him stood a woman that could only be described as beautiful, The perfect hour glass figure, darker skin, shoulder length black hair and green eyes. It was safe to say if he still had a heart, one could claim that Elise was it.

"Hello Elise"

Chris turned and smiled at the beautiful woman that was now standing in front of him, with a beaming smile that could melt the hearts of anyone that was lucky enough to see it. He could say with certainty that it was a smile that would captivate any man and bend them to her will, although happily she was not that type of person.

"Hello handsome, turns out it was a good thing i delayed shopping for dinner today"

"Haha" Chris gave a feeble laugh unable to make eye contact with her, he couldn't help but to feel ashamed. She lifted him by his chin and smiled.

"After the life you have lived, I am amazed that you have come this far. Regardless of how you feel. I am proud of you."

As far as Chris could think of there was three people in this world he honestly loved and would do anything for. She was the one thing that held him together when he thought he was no longer able to take it. She always knew what to do, what to say. ' I will always owe this angel my life.'

She looked at him so fondly. He could feel the warmth in her gaze. The way she was looking at him she could tell him he was god himself and he may just be willing to believe it.

" It could always be better and it could always be worse." shrugged Chris.

"It always makes me happy to hear that. Because its about to get worse." Her beautiful warm smile vanished immediately and was replaced with one of a grinning demon. You would almost think she was a different person.

"Huh?" was all that he was able to manage before Elise extend her arm out, holding in her hand a letter.

"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" she yelled glaring daggers at Chris. He was completely clueless as to what could make Elise so furious. It then hit him when he looked to the seal at the bottom of the page.

'Oh shit' The color instantly drained from his face. It was a letter from his school! Why the hell is she even recieving anything from them!?

" I was sent this letter Because I'm listed as your family contact on it, Also even though im only 3 years older then you they had me listed as your guardian." She said while rolling up the letter in her hand"What is this about you cutting classes, being lazy, having a hostile personality, picking fights with other students, being rude to your instructors?" She smacked Chris once with the letter for each question asked, Although it was just paper Elise had a way of making it feel as if each hit was being struck with a hammer.

"It's not my fault their lectures are so boring! I mean they teach us stuff that is either out dated or pointless! Not to mention the teacher has a stick so far up his ass that I'm quite certain some one could pull off a pretty amazing puppet show with him! As for the fighting with other students, they're assholes and if I'm being completely honest it wasnt much of a fight. I mean think about it, Five against one and they couldnt even be bothered to put up a half decent fight!"

Elise let out a sigh. " I understand that you really don't want to be here but you need to take into consideration all the strings that were pulled so you could go to this school and live a life like everyone else. Cassandra has done alot for you. Atleast take that into consideration."

"Believe me I know how much I owe Cassandra, and I love her for it. Honestly though, this is not exactly the life I wanted." he whispered.

SMACK.

"Well to bad for you, this is the life that you have now. So quit complaining and get home, as soon as im finished shopping I'll meet you there and you can help me with making dinner."

"Fine fine. Do you need any help carrying anything ?" He asked rubbing his head awkwardly. Can't help but to feel like a scolded child. Half feeling guilty, half accused he could only shrug it off.

"No just get going and I would prefer if you didnt manage to get into any trouble on the small walk back to our home."

"How hard could that be?" Pfff Chris blew out some air at her comment. 'It's not like I causes that much trouble...Ok maybe some times but not every day! For instance this week alone I've only been in trouble.... Oh damn it really has been every day.'

"Hehe" Chris chuckled to himself rubbing the back of his head looking like a complete fool.