"So what are the-" Lancrael said excitedly before Wade cut him off with a, "Shhh, Bob is still trying to sleep. We can talk about it tomorrow." Seeing that Wade was not going answer he stopped with a, "Hmpf," that would have been accompanied with crossed arms, but Bobenetous was on his left arm.
Lancrael stayed up as long as he could watching the lights, and trying to carve paths between them. Lines formed in his mind that were soon disrupted by the lights shifting and drifting through the air. He fought his slumber, but the heavy burden on his eye overwhelmed him.
*******
His dream started in the morning fog and he felt free to run as he pleased. Running and jumping without a care he explored a world that came to his eyes at most in two feet increments. The air felt light like a new joy he had never known.
Then, without warning he tripped. He did know what it was, but the fog thickened around him as if to hide what was behind him. The black haired boy didn't want to turn around, but he did with tears in his eyes.
His mother now with less hair and dried skin lay on the ground hollow eyes staring at him. Still his hands and knees Lancrael didn't move. He blinked and grabbed his foot.
"Nooooo!" Lancrael sat up with a scream and saw Wade getting ready to pee on his foot. "Okay, okay I get it, so keep your voice down." Wade offered in jest, but never took his eyes off of the clearly shaken boy on the ground. The red haired boy above all things in the room chimmed in with, "You okay man?"
As the hand of Bobenetous came down from above, Lancrael took it only after after his hyperventilation slowed and only with shaking hands. The dream haunted him of things he did and did not want to forget. His mother who he didn't get the chance to bury is now more than likely a rotting corpse being trampled in the morning fog by the masses on their way to the fields.
"What's wrong?" Bob rephrased hoping for an answer. "M- my mom-" he choked in his tears but continued, "sh-she- I-I didn't get to bury her." Wade stepped back with a grimace, and Bob patted Lancrael's back while side eyeing Wade.
It was tight lipped dead stare that would make you uncomfortable enough to to laugh, but Wade still wanted nothing to do with it. "I'm here aren't I?" Wade said in return and Bob stopped to focus on his friend.
Some kids came over to ask, "What's wrong?" And Wade explained to the best of his ability, but before he could finish the fog around the stairs and walls thinned. Wade without a care picked up Lancrael and slapped him. Lancrael's tears turned to anger but at least he wasn't crying.
"Lance, we don't have time for this get in line!" Wade said in the whispering tone that was not really whispering because he was still yelling. Lancrael humored Wade with furrowed brows and got in line. As he fixed his eyes forward he saw the woman stepping down the last stair.
The woman wore a black tunic that only came down to her knees, which was strange for a woman, but what really caught his eyes were trousers that covered her legs. Blinking in surprise barley noticed her moving closer until he felt hand on his head that then was lifted to be level with the rest of the kids.
The woman didn't say anything else just moved up the line, but even Bob, who towered over the woman, stood as straight as he can be. The woman nodded before saying, "Good, if you remember we begin training and your education today. Today will only be drills and after that you will expected to do the exercises on your own time. Your education will begin after the drills, and subsequently after the exercises. Do you understand?"
"Yes." everyone but Lancrael said because he didn't understand what was going on. His mind was still trapped in the night terror he suffered. Noticing the discrepancy but choosing to ignore it, the woman said, "Follow me," and the children did as they were told.
The children came in file starting with Bob who would be the shield if anything happened. Each in line followed with their own thoughts, and Lancrael followed the lines formed by the gaps between the stones like that would be lead to the way out.
When escape was not found and the path was lost, the black haired boy turned his face forward and saw light reflecting of the wall. It was the light of the sun. The light of burden to him, and one that he didn't miss. The tunnel began to warm up as he got closer, and he already regretted waking up.
The children were lead into a corridor that did not match the one his memories because this one had windows lining the wall opposite the doorway. They came up with the same stairs the same torches, but for someone reason they came out to a different place. The windows lacked glass and only had shutters to restrain the wind and heat.
They walked down the corridor without a single one stepping out of line fearing the woman ahead. The corridor split into three different ways and they went to the left which brought them to a dark wood gate. As if on que, the gate rose and the bottom went right over her head as she walked with confidence.
Bob, who walked with equal confidence realized it was unfounded when he hit the gate with an audible thud. The line stopped for just a moment, and that was enough for Bob to bend down a little bit. No one else had that problem, but Bob vowed hatred against all doors from then on.