Timothy Reesman was born inside the fort to a couple of guards after his sister Ellie. After losing both their parents in the fight against beasts of the ancient forest, they were both raised in the fort orphanage.
Though, Timothy lost his parents when he was just 7 years old to the beasts, he was never sad. He was jovial and kind boy who always tried to make others laugh. He was a driven and active boy and wanted to be a guard just like his parents. So, the first year he turned 13, he applied to join them.
Timothy woke up early today, feeling very excited and happy expecting to have a great day. It was his first day as a trainee. He had strengthened his body using the same methods that his parents did and ended up among the best 50 of the trainees.
It was all going well till he put his hands on the orb. It was as he expected and the orb turned grey as it absorbed his mana. It was his first time seeing it from close and he thought it was darkness attribute and was happy till heard guard yell.
"Another major deviant today," yelled the guard pointing at him. Hearing that Timothy's mind stopped working. He had worked very hard to get strong and if he was a deviant, it would be only harder. He began to sway and almost fainted.
"It's shadow attribute. This is a cause for celebration," he heard Angeline say as she patted Timothy on his back.
"Huh, don't worry, you a mixture of shadow and darkness attributes. It is much different from the other boy. You will be in a squad, but will also have some other roles," she said as she looked at his depressed face.
Still Timothy didn't feel that good and was in state of confusion, but soon he was processed and like the others he was given his new uniform, training manuals and sent to his accommodation. It took him some time, but he finally came to terms as he saw the uniform.
It was a grey uniform consisting of pair of loose fit shirt and trousers together with black leather boots. The shirt had an insignia depicting a line of spears in front of a wall which was the symbol for the border guard. It was exactly as he had once seen on his fathers uniform. He felt glad and then he began to feel good as he properly began to notice things around him.
He looked around and found that the room was a slightly modified prison room. It had a pair bunk beds against a wall, a chair and a small table with a lamp on it. He could still see the location where the urinal used to be. It was covered up with a layer of limestone.
He wore the uniform happily and began to read rulebook when he suddenly found Ajax sent flying into the room and sitting beside him on the bed.
Ajax put the books he received on the bed as he looked toward the other trainee who is clearly his roommate. The boy was his age, about 4 and half feet high, with brown eyes and shortly cropped brown hair. He looked to be slightly frightened and in shock with mouth open wide in an 'O' shape.
"I guess they really are using a prison to provide accommodations. They didn't even modify it well. How lazy must the warden be," said Ajax as he laughed pointing at the urinal location.
"Does it smell," he continued as he put his head near that location and took in small breaths attempting to smell. He did this to make the Timothy laugh or smile, but his expression didn't change.
"You," said Timothy as he realized that Ajax was the other deviant.
"Hi," said Ajax. "You know me?"
"You are the other deviant," said Timothy pointing to him with his finger shaking as he pointed it toward Ajax. "They said it was forbidden attribute."
"Not really forbidden currently. They gave me cultivation method for it. So, they clearly don't consider it so," said Ajax. "Don't be that afraid. I can't do anything to you."
"So, it is ok?" asked Timothy as he looked carefully at him as he took a step back from Ajax.
"If it wasn't, I, a deviant wouldn't have been put together with a new trainee like you," said Ajax. "Right?"
"But I am also a deviant," replied Timothy. "So,... I am not really sure."
"You are also a deviant? What attribute?"
"Shadow. You?"
"Blood. Well, if we are both deviants, we shouldn't be that dangerous to one another, right? So, calm down," said Ajax.
"But I don't know anything. And they said your's was forbidden."
"The same one who said that mine was forbidden also put us together. So, unless one of them wanted to kill you for fun, you should be safe," said Ajax.
As Ajax calmed him down, he remembered the time when he had to calm down a frightened kid who was a witness to get some information in his past life. He had to feed and shelter the kid for two days before he talked and gave Ajax what he wanted. It was essential to calm them down or shock or frighten them a bit and when they were lucid, it is best to make logical statements to make them believe that there is no danger. They he needed to earn their confidence. He was trying the same with Timothy.
"Ok," said Timothy as he sat on the bed a bit away from Ajax.
"To be frank even I am not sure why it is forbidden," said Ajax as he bent down and took the lore book. It had a red leather cover with now title or author. "But I got some lore about it," he continued showing the book. "We can find out together."
"You don't know?" asked Timothy surprised.
"Just heard that it was dangerous and caused unnecessary destruction," said Ajax moving the chair beside the bed and then sat on it as he opened the book. He taped the bed beside him indicating to Timothy to sit beside him so that they could read the lore together.
"Am I allowed to read?" asked Timothy. "I heard that all these techniques and knowledge are based on credit and we have to serve a minimum time based on what we get."
"What?" asked Ajax. "I wasn't told that."
His colleagues at the restaurant had to told him about a lot of things, the usual tests, the training that they undergo, etc., but somehow glossed over it. It was told to all the trainees at the end of the assembly today, but he had missed.
It was a common thing even in his past life that if one was trained by any organization, that organization expected him to either pay or serve them with the skill learned. Ajax should have expected it, but he had somehow forgotten about it.
"Yes, I was actually told to inform you about it. Also, something about you first finish reading the rules and get to the kitchens at least an hour before lunch time. Something about extra duty," said Timothy.
"Oh, I completely forgot about that," said Ajax slapping his forehead.
"So, why do you have more work?"
"I asked for it. More work, more pay and resources."
"Seriously, you can ask?"
"Yes, but you need to have the skill, I think," said Ajax. He had gotten this opportunity only due to Krev pulling some strings and he knew it wouldn't be possible for every person. "I used to work at warrior's wok before. So, I am continuing as they have catering contract with the guard."
"You used to work there? I thought it only took in veterans," said Timothy aloud.
"Well, I had help," said Ajax as he understood that timothy might be a resident of the fort before and it would be hard to hid it from him. After that he went on to explain that his dead parents were merchants who were once related to a general's family and he currently had slight support of a general.
As Timothy kept hearing about his new roommate's story, he was more and more awed. To the son of a guard like him Krev was a legend and an idol. He grew up listening to exaggerated stories from his father. So, he was very excited as heard everything Ajax told him with rapt focus.
"So, you are a noble?" he asked moving close to Ajax.
"No, I am not. Did I look or dress like one?" asked Ajax.
"But.."
"It is my luck that general Krev's is honourable and feels responsible in place of my father. That is all," said Ajax.
"Is it why they allowed you to get those cultivation techniques, even if it was forbidden?"
"No. The attribute is not forbidden only some evil methods that can be done with it. I think they did it to try and see if it can be used in a safer way. Apparently, it is quite a powerful attribute. If it works, they might not consider it forbidden too," said Ajax trying to make him more comfortable and make it appear that he was just unlucky to have the attribute and trying to risk himself in making it safe like it was some virtuous work.
"What can they make something not forbidden?" asked Timothy. Though he was surprised and felt that Ajax was being a real good guy doing work that would probably help many others, he was still a kid and kept having doubts.
"I had the same doubt. Then, I was told a secret," said Ajax asking him to come closer so that he whisper in his ear.
"Did you know that there was a time when dark attribute was also forbidden," he whispered.
"No," said Timothy taken aback. His own attribute was shadow and darkness. Even shadow was told to be a deviation of darkness. So, he found it hard to believe. "That is impossible."
"Right, even I found it hard to believe," said Ajax. "Apparently dark attribute cultivators were hunted down and considered evil during those ancient ages. But finally, some fought against and showed the whole world that it can be used safely and then it was allowed. We owe a lot to those ancestors for doing it."
"Really?" asked Timothy.
"Yes, they told me that similar things happened before and I had to prove myself, if I ever want to go outside the guard," said Ajax. As he saw Timothy's behaviour, he was sure that he had managed to gain the confidence of his roommate.
An adult might not be willing to trust someone with such stories, but for a teenager who dreamt of fighting beasts and saving people, it was more than enough.
"So, willing to read together," said Ajax pointing to the book.
"No. No. I already feel that I heard too much. You shouldn't talk about these to others. Don't you know that," said Timothy in a reprimanding tone.
"Why not? Won't it be helpful to others? We will also be treated nicely," said Ajax feigning ignorance. "My father told that as a merchant one needs to share information. Only then one will gain information and it will help one to take wise decisions."
"Ayya!" said Timothy holding his head. "You are too naive. Now you are not a merchant. Don't think like that. You are a border guard, a soldier and we have to keep information guarded. Only tell it those like us who are noble and use it to keep the world safe. Otherwise, evil people will do bad things using your information."
"What? I don't think it is dangerous. I am only talking about telling you and other trainees," said Ajax continuing with his act.
"My father was a guard and he told me that. He told me that people could get out from guard and they might misuse this information or forced to give up the same. Thus, it is like a rule to only tell when required and not spread it easily. So, from now on you should listen to my words," explained Timothy.
"Oh! That makes sense!" said Ajax in slightly higher tone as if he had just realized something important.
"I will follow your words. Just don't tell anyone what I told you or that I told you," Ajax continued. "Else, we both might get into trouble."
"Yes, we will keep this secret. You are also not to learn other's cultivation techniques," warned Timothy as he took the rule book in his hand.
"Finish reading the rules book and then go for work," said Timothy as he put the book in Ajax's hand. With this Ajax was certain that he had earned Timothy's trust and under normal conditions, he could trust him to look out for him.