Daltonia was a peaceful place. With its thundering mountains, grassy plains, and rolling hills, it was also considered to be one of the most beautiful lands there were.

In this Kingdom lived their King, who ruled with the gentlest hand and unwavering kindness. Many went to Daltonia for refuge, some for acceptance because there were people living there from all types of lifestyles, and others simply because it was a peaceful place to live. The land was mostly full of farmers and merchants who sold all kinds of things. Visitors to the land always left with a wonderful sense of their culture and their infinite friendliness.

Alongside the King ruled his Queen, who he loved dearly with all his heart. The King's brother was his advisor, the one he sought for advice since the King knew he had a good head on his shoulders and a strong sense of what the right thing to do was. His brother was the General of his army, as well. He was the only one the King could count on fully to maintain the peace of the Kingdom besides himself, but he was far too busy with other matters to overlook the army himself. So, his brother was granted the duty and the responsibility. The General's son, the King's only nephew, helped his father with the army, having been trained for combat and strategy ever since he was old enough to hold a sword steady and understand a map.

All was going well in Daltonia, until a Prince from a neighboring land, one that frequently tried to engage the Daltonians in combat, sent a letter to the King saying that he had gotten an army together and that the Daltonians should prepare themselves. They were coming to attack sometime within the year.

The King panicked, knowing that their pre-existing, small army could never survive a war like he was anticipating. Within a week, the draft had begun. Either fathers or their sons, from selected districts of Daltonia, were to report to a military camp in the center of the Kingdom when and if a Kingdom official reached their district.

The General and his son now had an army to train. And while doing so, one of them would he given the surprise of his life.

About a month after the draft began, General James Anderson and his son Blaine were sitting in the General's tent. In front of them was a large map of the Kingdom, when he revealed something to his son.

"I am taking about a thousand troops to the eastern border," he pointed to the spot on the right of the map where they would be going, "The King was tipped off by one of his spies that the enemy army is heading there within the week. The King wants us to be there to protect the border when they arrive."

Blaine drew in a sharp breath at his father's words and his eyes went wide, "What will I be doing when you're gone? Am I coming with you? Please let me-"

"No," General Anderson set his strong jaw and looked at his son with hard eyes, "You'll stay here and continue to train the new troops."

Blaine went to protest, "But Father-"

"Blaine. You will stay here," he said, leaving no room for argument, "You and Wes" -Blaine's right hand man and best friend- "are the only two I trust to train the new ones without me. There's a new group coming in from the Lima district today. I don't expect either of you to have any problems on your own."

Blaine hung his head a little, "Okay, Father," he nodded reluctantly.

The General stood and smiled a tiny smile at his son, clapping him on the shoulder as he stood with him, "You'll have your day in battle. Just be patient and your time will come." He knew his son was waiting to have his chance to go prove himself as a soldier. He was understandably upset that he wouldn't be going along with him.

Blaine smiled back to him and nodded once more in acknowledgement of his statement before pulling him into a short hug and saying, "Be careful."

"Worry about yourself, not about me, okay? I'll be fine," he looked at his son carefully, adding onto his sentence, "Captain Anderson."

Blaine's head shot up at the word, "Captain?" His heart was beating expectantly. He had been waiting to be promoted to Captain for a long time.

"Captain," his father repeated to reassure him, "You've earned it and the title suits you. Don't prove me wrong." He walked across the room to where his helmet was on display, throwing it on to complete the rest of his armor, looking regal and stern as his uniform was completed. He ruffled Blaine's curls one last time before exiting the tent to mount his horse, Blaine following close behind, "I'll see you soon," he said, now addressing both Blaine and Wes, who had been waiting to join them whenever they would be outside the tent.

"Good luck," Wes replied with a nod.

"Stay safe," Blaine echoed his earlier statement. His heart felt a little heavier in his chest knowing his father wouldn't have any guaranteed safety for a long time.

The General's horse was moving before he could reply. He waved to the two boys as it strode away, going to meet the troops that would be joining him at another part of the little town that their military training camp had now become. Blaine eyed the horse nervously for as far as he could watch it gallop, only tuning out of his anxiety when Wes clapped him on the shoulder.

"Just you and me now," Wes said, his tone confident and ready to go, "You ready for this?"

Blaine ran his fingers through his unruly curls to calm himself and averted his eyes to the men that were arriving on horseback that he had never seen before. He figured that would be the Lima group. "Yeah. You know, I am," he said much more confidently, a wave of newly possessed importance hit him now that his father was gone.

"Excellent," Wes smiled, "Want to go meet the new recruits?"

A smile took over Blaine's whole face at the prospect. He loved training new troops. It was exciting meeting new people and assessing different skill levels before training began. It felt incredible taking someone inexperienced and turning them into a soldier that could do anything. "Sure. Let's go," he replied.

They walked over to the area the new recruits were crowding. A head of swooped up, chestnut brown hair caught Blaine's eye from the top of the crowd. He would have to see who it belonged to soon, before his curiosity completely took him over.