ALL NOVEL A citizen of the Empire
[??? Pov]
It was early in the morning, when I arrived at the capital. I'd been on the road for three weeks, bringing a message from my hometown. I was allowed into the city after showing the message, and led to a small waiting area at the guard post.
After a few minutes, a heavily armored guard entered the room, followed by a man in black clothing.
The man in black sat opposite me, and spoke.
"Tell me, Boy, do you have any idea what that letter contained?"
"No sir. Just that my pa told me to deliver it to the guards commander."
"Well. It concerns you. I'm afraid you won't be leaving here for some time. Now tell me of the witch."
"But why won't i..."
"LATER! THE WITCH?" He slammed his fist on the table.
"She's just an old lady. She uses her balms and poultice to help sick folk. I mean, she has power, but it dosent seem great, the most she can do is locate lost objects and heal minor wounds."
"And her recent... guests?"
"OH! She found a wounded Lizardfolk, and his child. They'd been attacked by... well... according to the Lizardfolk, it was an adventurer, a tamer of some kind."
"And this Lizardfolk... did he possess Grey markings? Specifically around the eyes?"
"Well... yeah, I think so... looked a bit like a spiders web..."
The armored guard suddenly shouted "ITS HIM!"
" I see. The necromancer. Hmm. BOY! Did the lizardman seem aggressive?"
" no sir. He seemed old. And even though he was injured so badly, he only cared about the little girl."
"So he's found himself a surrogate child... hmm. Thats all we needed to know. GAIUS!" A red haired ans bearded man walked in. "We are done. Explain things to the boy."
The red man saluted "yes sir, lord inquisitor."
The man in black and his guard left.
"Alright, boy. Listen up. Your father made a request of me in his letter. A request I intend to honor. So, as of this day, you are conscripted. Welcome to the Royal army, Citizen. Now... before we do anything else... I am Gaius Cromwell. What's your name?"
"Brutus, Sir. No surname, obviously."
"Brutus. A fine name for a soldier. Follow me, brutus." He left the room... and I followed.
[Notes on the Empire]
The Imperial military of The North is divided into three sections: Soldiers, Guardians, and Inquisitors. Likewise, the Entire structure is militaristic. To be a citizen one must enlist, otherwise they are mere Civilian subjects. This is the class divide. A formerly Xenophobic country, the empire still has issues. Especially with magic. The inquisition are the witch hunters.