Guardians of Enthia I - Chapter I
The winter sun dipped low over the city of Kathara, casting long shadows across its cobblestone streets. Yui Staav leaned against a stone wall, his breath visible in the chilly air as he stood guard with his brother, Alistair. Their mismatched armor clanged softly with each shift of weight, a testament to their lowly status on the city guard's totem pole.
"Remember when we used to pickpocket the clothiers on this avenue?" Alistair asked, his arms crossed as his voice echoed through the empty alleyway. "And now here we are, protectors of this fine city. 'Tis an irony, isn't it?"
Yui smirked, adjusting the sword at his hip. "I'm not sure if we're quite at 'protectors' yet." His quiet tone carried an air of resignation. The brothers were far from the heroes they once dreamed of becoming.
"You two!" A gruff voice called out from behind them. Garth Monty, the guard captain and their direct supervisor, stormed towards them, his face cemented into its usual apathetic glare. "You think you can slack off just because the shop's are closing?"
"Captain," Yui said, his voice dripping with a false sense of humility. "I implore you. We are giving as watchful of an eye as anyone in the State."
"Enough of your lip, boy." Monty glared at both brothers, his disdain evident. "Bad enough you steal the name of the Staav bloodline."
"It isn't stolen!" Alistair protested, his jovial demeanor replaced by anger. "I ought to know better than anyone who I come from."
"Is that so?" Monty replied. He eyed Alistair up and down, but said nothing further, leaving the brothers alone once more.
Yui could feel the frustration radiating off Alistair, but knew better than to intervene. Instead, the two stayed in silence, continuing to watch the walkways from the alley.
"Hey," Alistair said after awhile, his voice low and conspiratorial. "I overheard some of the other guards talking about a prize fight down at the docks tonight. What do you think? Fancy a go?"
Yui hesitated, his thoughts drifting between the prospect of a good fight and the potential consequences of a couple of city guards roughing with sailors. Alistair sensed his brother's reluctance, and continued.
"Come on, Yui, it'll be fun. Besides, there's a good prize pot. And the only people in town right now are merchant ships from Enthia - should be an easy fight."
"Alright," Yui agreed begrudgingly, lifting himself up from the wall. "But I'm the one to fight, like you're not-so-subtly implying... then I want seventy percent of the cut."
"Ha! It's a deal!" Alistair clapped Yui on the back, a wide grin splitting his face. "Trust me, this will be a little adventure we won't soon forget."
As it would turn out, the adventure wouldn't be forgotten. In fact, it would be the start of the young mens' journey into one of the most important conflicts in the entire history of the Region of Spring.