Crucible Journal Entry

I dreamt of the rain.

The same rain that filled my entire childhood.

The same cold rain that showered down on the alleyways that I hid in, sloughing the grime off the walls and into whatever small crevice I would have been hiding in.

I dreamt of the same drops of rain that poured like stones, the same stones that were thrown at the many beggars, like myself, living in the winding narrow streets of Aquillum.

I found myself walking down the same paths I used to walk and beg in, the same narrow winding passageways I used to evade any furious shopkeepers who would desperately search for the sewer child who stole their wares.

I walked and walked,
until I found myself in the heart of Aquillum, the city of the Iron Hawk. The plaza held a tribute to the guardian of the realm, a statue of the Iron Hawk atop a evergreen tree, its eyes glaring, piercing the mist and ever on the look for foes hidden beneath the leaves and branches of the forests below.

But as I set foot within the plaza, I felt as if the gaze of the Hawk was upon me, its sight as cold and disregarding as the rain that fell relentlessly.

Though not quite as cold as the blade that drove itself through my back.

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“It looks like it’s going to rain today as well”

“Bah, when does it not rain here. The Iron Hawk himself will take flight once more before the rainclouds ever empty.”

“I’m just worried we’re going to be forced through another march in this rain.
Sean nearly fell off the trail last time.”

It’s loud as ever….

“You should worry about yourself more. Instructor Hearst was not pleased with you yesterday. Hell, even I was a bit shocked. How do you even fail to remember those basic reconnaissance protocols?”

“Fuck off, the last time we went over that it was 2 years ago back when we were still being evaluated. The fact that you can still remember all that is weird.”

“Hey, just remember that it won’t be me that gets kicked out because they didn’t study hard enough.”

“What time is it right now that you two are arguing like two cocks in the same henhouse?” I groggily sat up from my cot, looking over at my two roommates, Adam and Trest.

Trest looked back at me with a slightly apologetic smile, evidently guilty that he woke me up. Meanwhile, Adam simply grunted. “Late enough for all of us to get ready.”

I stood up in our cramped room, and reached for the water pitcher, only to find it empty. I groaned slightly, it meant that I had to be the one to leave the warm confines of our barracks to fetch water from the
well.

Adam looked over and, seeing me holding the water pitcher, he smirked and showed me a cup of water, half full, which he promptly downed.

Motherfucker.
I shot him my best death glare and prepared myself to go out to the courtyard. I looked out the window and saw the rain that the two had been talking about when they so rudely woken me. It was a thick and heavy rain, coming down in sheets and nearly obscuring our view of the courtyard. Even though our compound was well up high in the mountains the fall rains came down often and heavy.

Though, thanks to that we enjoy a rather plentiful harvest in what little arable farmlands we possess.

I felt a slight aching sensation in my chest, and rubbed the old scar that was there, slightly beneath my left collarbone. I was lucky to have survived that blow that day…

A slight nudge on my shoulder from Trest broke me from my contemplative mood and I walked out the still quiet barracks, ready to be hit by the uncomfortable weather. The stairs creaked as I went down to the courtyard, and then I rushed out to the well, trying to get my water before being drenched too thoroughly in the rain.

Just another morning in Aquillum.
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All the Recruit-Wards of the Aquillan guard are expected to be in proper combat uniforms, which simply meant thick leather attire, by the 6th bell toll from the water clock. While most other regions used sun dials, our weather was ill suited for such a device, and as such we made do with the horrible clanging noise that emitted from the clocks.

Adam winced each time the bell clanged. He always complained about the damn things, claiming that they would deafen him sooner or later. I smiled to myself as he sighed loudly, that’s what he deserved for making me fetch water in the rain.

“ATTENTION!”