Kai entered the hut. His adopted mother Seren Astra was sitting in a chair, her arms folded, ready to shout profanities. Kai braced for impact.
" He is innocent! It was me who broke the clay bottle! " Shouted Ash, Kai's adopted older brother.
Kai looked at him with a mix of confusion and gratitude. Though he couldn't express it in words, his brother was always his Knight in shining armour, saving him from their mom wherever he got in trouble.
" Don't lie. I know you didn't break it Ash. Stop defending your little brother everytime I'm about to punish him! " Exclaimed Serene.
" You are both adults now. You should know better than to break my bottles." Serene told them. This time with a calmer and softer voice. That was unable to hide the fact that her rage was still as explosive as a active volcano.
Kai and Ash both looked at each other. Their mother Serene Astra is a descendent of the Astra family. The rulers of Astraeon. She is the younger sister of Marcus Astra. She was an eccentric woman who hated her fiancé, Lucien Valcor, a lustful womanizing pile of human waste. So she ran away from home and chose to be a commoner instead. She is petite in stature. Her hair is blonde and her dress is a modest peasant clothing. Not something a dignified royalty would be wearing. At the moment her eyes looked less like the blue of the sky and more so the blue of a incredibly hot flame. It didn't matter how old they had gotten, they would always be terrified of her. The boys taught in unison.
Sigh. "Okay I'll forgive you this time. Don't need to look like you are about to cry Kai. You are 18 now have a little backbone." She joked.
The tense atmosphere had finally lifted. The boys toom a sigh of relief. The family started eating dinner. The mood was much different than before. They were joking around and having fun.
" Hey mom can I join the military?" Ash asked out of nowhere.
Serene's eyes bulged open. She was in utter shock and so was Kai. After gaining her composure she just said a single statement,
" No."
" But why not? Ash asked. Even though he had a pretty good idea of why. " I know you have some history with your family. I know it's a dangerous job. But mom, I have the blood of a noble. I have been blessed with the power of sunlight. I believe it is my destiny to protect this kingdom."
" The same kingdom. Where people burn undesirable children and their parents alive. The same kingdom that killed your brothers biological parents and tried to kill him as well. That kingdom? You are willing to risk your life for that rotten of a kingdom?" Serene was unable to control her fury. She was furious that her own son would decide to join the military and serve under the same royal family that she had abandoned. As she was about to explode with anger a gentle hand reached out and held her hand. It was Kai. Looking at her with his gentle eyes. She calmed down. After a long time of thinking she made a decision.
" You can join." She said and nothing more as she immediately went to sleep. The boys confused if she wad mad or not.
The next day a carriage arrived to pick up Ash and other boys his age and take them to the Military. As Serene and Kai were giving their farewells to Ash a soldier suddenly came up to Kai and asked him a question,
" Have you seen any mutes here? There are rumours of a muted undesirable living inside a small hut in the Moonveil forest. If you suspect anyone please make sure to contact the military."Kai got flustered and didn't answer. Serene quickly answered no to satisfy the soldier but the seeds of doubt had sprouted inside him. He asked again, " Have you seen any mutes around here?" Kai couldn't answer. As he was unable to speak. Serene tried to answer for him but the soldier shut her down. " You are not one of those mutes are you?" The soldier asked with a menacing look. " Come on peasant, why aren't you answering my question?" 7 soldiers have surrounded Kai. Ash was trying to stop them but he was dragged inside the carriage by 4 soldiers. " I'll count till 10. If you don't answer before the count down is finished we will assume you to be a undesirable."
"10"
"9"
"8"
"7"
"6"
"5"
"4"
Kai's hands were shaking. He thought he was about to die. Serene begged the soldiers to stop but they ignored her. A crowd gathered around looking at the commotion.
"3"
"2"
"1"
"0"
The soldiers quickly pinned down Kai. Serene tried to stop them but it was no use. They quickly pushed him inside another carriage and hurriedly took him away. Leaving Serene all alone.