I can’t say I remember my parents much, but I do have my pride. And I think I love them, as much as a person can for people she doesn’t much remember. Maybe I just love the idea of them, like my brother says.
In any case, starting at nine, I found that I had a bit of a temper, and a resilient spirit. Not that I like to brag about it, at least not the temper part, but I like to be honest when I can.
As my brother and I grew up under the supervision of the Imperial ward, we both got into plenty of trouble. And no, not the kind of trouble where we make mischief and such, but the kind of trouble that came looking for us. You see, we were great targets for bullies. Who didn’t want to pick on the half-bloods? Easy prey. And since half-bloods were rare enough, we were the only ones in our little ward.
My brother tried to play it off well. He’d always been cool headed and such, but me, not a chance.
The easiest way to blow off some steam and rille up one of the snot-nose brats was to remind them that they parents didn’t want them. That’s how most of the kinds ended up under the watch of the Imperial ward.
Yes, it sure did get them burning up, about ready to go on a rampage on my face.
It was those times I steeled up and waited for my brother to save me. But… that didn’t always go as planned.
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One time somewhere around twelve or so, I’d gotten a whole mess of boys made at me for something snarky. I’m sure I’d just thrown it out there for no good reason. And I should’ve counted the number of them or remembered that my brother wasn’t around before I opened my mouth.
I steeled up real quick, forming the shape of a sparring staff. Probably could’ve chosen something smaller, but I liked trying out new shapes at that age.
So, I spent most of the day being carried around, and the boys made an effort to smack me into anything and everything, probably hoping to wear me out enough to get me phazed out and back to human.
Fortunately, I was a pretty resilient Steel, so I held up under the pressure until they got bored and tossed me in the river. The one off the east side of the mountain.
Of course it was the frigid season, so I shivered and swam, making my escape from the bullies. Ended up with a devilish cold that lasted for days.
My brother came back that night and was furrious, even when I admitted that it was my own fault. That was the last day we spend with the Ward. My older brother had got us a place to board with the stipend he’d received joining up with the Steel Imperials. He somehow got lucky enough to become a Steelhand for a friend he’d made growing up. No one was as lucky as my brother. He was smart and funny. Sometimes it annoyed me, him acting so perfect all the time. But I still loved him to death, even if I avoided saying it.
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After joining the Steel Imperials, my brother wasn’t around much. With all the wars going on, it was no surprise. I often found myself sitting alone, missing him. It was then I decided that I was going to join the Steel Imperials, as a Steel. My brother may have been too weak in our nation's magic, but mine was strong. If I succeeded, I would be the first half-blooded Steel in the Steel Imperials for generations.
