I've had this written and the first chapter written for a while. So hopefully this one has less grammar issues. Especially since SaviorsBlood helped me out. A huge thanks goes to him. Hopefully you'll all enjoy. Chapter 2: New Questions I grew up in the slums, which wasn't so horrible. I was lucky enough to be in the better part of town. But growing up I really only had two friends, Becca and Ralph. They were siblings who lived with their parents. Ralph and I always dreamed of becoming Guardians one day. Dreaming of glory and honor through hard work. It was foolish at the time but we didn't know what battle really was. He and I had a lot in common; same goals, same dark blonde hair and blue eyes. But Becca stood out from the rest. She had brown hair that went past her back, green eyes and beautiful features unlike any other girl. Especially where we lived. When Ralph and I were 15 and training to be Guardians he was murdered, changing mine and Becca's lives. It didn't matter to the world that he was gone. He was from the slums. Why would anyone care? He had been a beacon of hope to Becca and me, always upbeat and excitable. But after his death I fell away from our dream. That dream followed me though. When I was 17 I was flunking school. I didn't do much in my days, except nap on my roof. I thought nothing would ever happen in my life. But that changed when I had a letter posted on my door from General Zain. The year before, I'd told Becca I didn't want to enlist anymore. She constantly would ask why, and if I'd change my mind. The answer was always no, until I was tested secretly. "Now why would you not want to join the Guardians?" Madam Shalese asked. "Well ma'am, the upper class isn't the lifestyle I wanted." She looked to the others. "Would you explain why being in a high caste was something you didn't want?" The room stirred a bit, the nobles focusing their attention solely on me now. I let out a sigh. "I'd rather not ma'am." She smiled. "Mr. Mikkelson, I assure you that I, or anyone here, would be more than happy to hear a story of yours." I glanced at the commander and she nodded. "I'm sorry to say, but I have to leave. If you'll excuse me." The nobles burst out, " Do not go sir." "Please say more." They all stood up, mixing their words together. "Hush now all of you." Madam Shalese bellowed. The commander and I caught each other's eyes. "If Mr. Mikkelson needs to go, let him go." She sat back down gracefully with a smirk on her face. The room quieted quickly and the nobles returned to their seats. "Thank you miss." The commander said with concern. "But Mikkelson we don't have to leave for another hour. At least finish your story." I settled back into my chair. "What else would you like to hear?" I questioned the group. "Why not tell us about the testing?" A quiet noble woman asked. "Or about what happened to your lovely wife?" Madam Shalese said. The sentence was innocent but the words pierced me. "Madam-" "Silence yourself, let us see what Mr. Mikkelson would like to share." Madam Shalese interrupted the short noble man. I stared at the stone table, unable to think. Why would she know anything about my wife? We lived in the ghettos. It's impossible for her to know. News from the slums would never reach such a high caste. Besides, any personal information about me is practically non-existent. There's no way she could have enough power to look at any military personnel files. "Mikkelson come on, don't be shy now." The commander hissed at me. I cleared my throat gathering my thoughts and what little composure I had left. "Well..." I hesitated. "The testing isn't much of a story. It started two months after I turned 17..."