I proudly stand at the scaly archway, gazing upon the guests gathered in the hall. Their wealth is obvious, men equipped in silken uniforms dazzling with medals while women wear fine dresses armoured in golden accessories. These are my people. Today is my day. The day I get what I deserve. I step into the main hall, traversing its obstacles: discarded candles and benches hastily pushed towards the sides, disturbed dust still lingering in the air. I feel honoured they found a venue in such short notice. I suppose elites are efficient. A much needed change from the rabble I'm used to. I grimace at the thought of how close I was to marrying a commoner. Months of pointless exchanges and chaperoned visits - all for nothing in the end. When the time came for military service, she showed her true colours, insisting we trade the opportunity for glory for something as worthless as a family^{1Military exemption may be granted for pledging to raise 3 children (biological or adopted) within 5 years, or 5 within 10 years for couples.}. She'd have us confined to the poor districts living like rats and beggars, while I would've made us legends. I retreat to a comfortable corner away from the guests and cobwebs, my blood boiling as I remember who i used to be. Saffire , if you could see me now you'd regret your damned attitude. I'm becoming someone. And unlike you, I will never go hungry again!

My eyes squint at the dim hall, struggling though the dust and draped furniture blocking the view. Sunlight creeps through the boarded windows half-illuminating the guests just enough for me to make out their features. My gaze jumps from face to face searching for any familiarity.
Badum… Badum…
My heartbeat constricts around my ears.
Badum… Badum..
None of my family are here. Of course they aren't ,what did i expect ? They looked at me as if I was madman just because I have ambition - a dream to escape the slums we call home. Kalai had similar dreams but of course nothing but praise is said about him. They were beaming with pride, boasting to every neighbour and friend about their perfect angel who protected them from monsters. Just because he was too weak to make it back ,I’m supposed to give up my chance at fame? I snatch a drink from the waiter who scoots by my position.
Gulp!
Good thing when the purge was announced^{2Participation in the purge is considered separate from military service} I signed up before those parasites could stop me. My hand trembles as I take another sip of the juice. I don’t understand Mum, I came back. I'm strong enough, stronger than Kalai ever was. My throat runs dry as I finish the drink and discard the glass onto the bare floorboards. Why is no-one here for me? I'm a hero too.

Maybe I - O wait Dad is here. His attire is embarrassing. Plain green garments hang off him like a sick dog's coat, and he's clutching some sort of sack in both hands. I subtly shuffle away from him begging no one sees the resemblance. Unfortunately, I walk straight into something solid. A wall? No- a statue standing in the centre of the hall. It depicts a human figure wrapped in layers of scale, its face proudly gazing into the heavens. Yet its red eyes seem strangely mournful beneath years of dust and neglect. Like everything else in the hall , it's in poor condition caked in dust and grime. Of course I can recognise the figure immediately , it’s the Dragonist saviour the "one of 14 parts". Saff told me all about him. she always enjoyed speaking of theology, and I enjoyed- NO enough of that soppy nonsense. She was a fool for taking any of this religion stuff seriously. I look up at the statues face: 2 eyes, a mouth and a nose - basically a human. It's obvious to me that is all these "gods" ever were. Scam artists who conned their way to immortality. They aren't any better than I am. In fact ,if some old fool gets to be worshipped why shouldn't I? I'm stronger, smarter, BETTER. If this guy was brave enough to be around right now I'd humble him myself.

"There you are boy!"
My thoughts are interrupted as a giant of a man approaches me. His attire is even more prestigious than that of the other guests, his decorated uniform cloaked in more metal than cloth. Even his face radiates status. His right eye is hidden behind a glistening golden eyepatch, his thick moustache perfectly groomed, his heavy neck layered in folds of fat. This must be the general - my future father-in-law, the one who sees me for who I am!
"Well Sir, I am honoured, You must be the -" I stammer
"Ah! The commoner." He grins. "I hope you're doing well, son?"
"Oh yes, thank you for-"
"Good , Good, my boy! I expect you are prepared to serve your double term , I'll personally see to your deployment"
What? What is he talking about. I notice the other guests begin to perk up at our conversation, passing something between themselves. Double deployment..? Does he want me to serve in the military on behalf of his daughter?^{3Males may choose to serve additional years on behalf of their female relatives} I suppose it is the chivalrous thing to do. I'd owe it to my new family.
Badumum… Badumum…
My heart hammers in place as I notice men from the rows slither towards me. Without saying a word a crumpled paper is produced from their hands and forced onto me.
"Sign it Boy" The general booms, his moustache coiling around his lips. My damp hands unfold the sheet and I stare blankly at the scribbles that populate it.

I-I cant read, not properly anyway. I was going to learn with Sa- NO NO, I can do this. My eyes scan for a recognisable word or shape , G.. no D - r- a … Dragonism! Sweat runs down my forehead as I continue to decipher the text. "Declare… Dragonism…", Oh this is probably just to confirm I'm Dragonist. Without bothering to read a further word I hastily scrawl my signature where I assume a signature would go. This seemed to satiate the men who retreat back to their seats as silently as they approached. A cold shiver snakes down my back as I process what just happened. I did it, I'm part of Dragonism. I'm one of the elites now! My excitement fades as I envision Mums face when she hears of my "conversion". Not that I was religious anyway. Had I stayed with Saff I would've converted to King's Religion regardless. Religion is just a tool - I thought she understood , why else be a sister of faith with the king? My heart sinks as I remember our conversations ; babbles about God and strange worlds beyond our own.
What a fool.

The guests are hushed to silence, as a slender man in white robes stands up to make an announcement to welcome them back. From the corner of my eye, I notice a girl in a white dress and veil stride up below the priests desk. Ah yes my lover. How elegantly she saunters up the platform, each step brimming with practiced grace. A strange feeling develops in my stomach as I instinctively begin to follow. Wait , am I supposed to be following? I haven't actually been to a wedding before, Kalai was supposed to have his but …
I scowl.
No.
I blunder forward up to the priest, forcing my expression back to a tense smile. The should-be-trivial walk stretches into a winding crawl, the stalking stares of the guests following every movement, hammering my heart into a distracting hum. Each step betrays me with the squeak of pathetic leather against the floorboards, while somewhere beyond the walls faint, almost imaginary bells continue to ring. With a heavy sigh, I reach my rightfully earned place in front of the woman who actually deserves me. The only person who appreciates my courageous actions from the purge. My mind drifts to the fond memory of my return, a letter written in ink worth more than the house I lived in, addressed straight from the general. Apparently his daughter heard of my epic slaying of the illusionist^{4The narrator was part of a squad of 20, who slew a violent sorcerer instance.}, and specifically requested for my hand in marriage. And now that very admirer is here in front of me - my ticket to being someone.

The priest drones about "justice" and "indemnity" with his eyes locked onto the crumpled sheet in front of him. Upon seeing me his gaze meets mine, making me instinctively glance away and onto my betrothed. Through the thin veil I can make out her face for the first time ; round and plump , 2 amber eyes locked in thin squints with slight wrinkles on the edges. So she might be a little older than I expected^{5The narrator is 19, his bride was found to be 28} , but aren't all important people? At least she doesn't have those creepy coloured eyes of Saffire^{6Saffire has partial heterochromia}.
Badummm
What is wrong with my heart? Am i just excited? I try to refocus myself but I find my gaze wandering back to the rows of guests still staring expressionlessly. At least Dad isn't ; his face is locked to the floor, back hunched, shoulders slumped over some sort of sack. In fact, most of the guests are carrying the same sack. Some fidget with its golden ribbons; others make clumsy attempts to conceal theirs in their pockets. A wedding gift from the general? I don’t even see the general at all in the crowd - maybe he went to deal with the parade^{7There is religious parade occurring in the city on the same day as the wedding}. But then why get married on the day of the Flowist festival? Why not wait a few days, this marriage has been moving quickly already. No , I'm being unreasonable . The word stings as a painful memory flashes through my mind. Saffire's voice replays in my head telling me that I - . NO NO NO This is my day. Saffire is in the past, irrelevant compared to … I look back at my bride. I don’t even know her name?
Badummm
It's just a Dragonist tradition - all of this, this is how elites act.This is normal, it’s the best day of my life.My breathing begins to settle. I force my mouth closed before I start panting like a frightened dog. Through the haze I attempt to refocus on the words being spoken. "Obligations … Obedience" The priest articulates each word slowly and carefully ,like a performer. Looking over at his huge desk , I see he's now holding a gavel. My eyes pivot back to the main crowd - rows of benches, raised stands on the side, a witness box ; I'm in a courthouse.

Crack!
My shin explodes in pain as my bride's foot drives into my leg.
"Stop looking around weirdo…" she hisses "the others never"
What the hell? She struck me?
dmmmmm
The sound of my heartbeat melts into one endless hum, drowning every thought beneath it.Two rough gloved hands snatch my own and pull me out my trance as the priest finally goes silent.All eyes turn to me.And all at once my mind snaps.Is he waiting for me? , Why are there so little people? Why are the bells ringing? What did i do wrong?I tremble as the veil in my mind finally shatters. Something is very wrong here. I need to leave. What would Kalai do?
"Well do you? " the priest asks inquisitively not noticing or maybe not caring about my hesitation.
"Um actually I think I nee-"
"Great" the gavel crashes into the table, and he turn to my bride "and do you…"
Oh God, please save me. I'm not strong enough….

"YOU ARE ALL TRAITORS" A singular declaration cuts through the building, interrupting mortal affairs with an omnipresent primordial screech. The darkness of the roof is immediately obliterated as a figure of pure oppressive light descends upon us. Brighter than the sun itself, the room is drowned in an ocean of light, consuming rows of screaming guests. Debris is flung in all directions from the impact, stealthily masked beneath the glare. Loud squeals erupt as the fragments blindly scatter, the bride shrieking as something strikes her leg. I pay no attention as I clamp my own eyelids shut, hands uselessly clasping them, trying to reduce the bright white from tunnelling into my eyes. My vision blurs, dark spots revealing themselves from the overwhelming light. Then just before they reach the edge of my vision , the light mercifully withdraws. The bride has gone silent and the guests screams fade into silence. I open my eyes - It burns… Everything - living and inanimate - is reduced to humble ruins leaving nothing standing,
Nothing except a single statue with triumphant red eyes.

Saffire I'm sorry, if you are willing will you be my family?
And to God, please protect her.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The above is a first person eyewitness account taken from the city's hospital as part of trauma counselling for survivors. The subject was asked to reaccount the details of the attack with maximum accuracy. The general survived the attack but, following an investigation, was hanged for falsification of military documents and complicity to murder. Saffire had volunteered for military service a week before the attack, her current status is unknown. The narrator has been granted exemption from service himself due to extensive damage to his vision.

¹Military exemption may be granted for pledging to raise 3 children (biological or adopted) within 5 years, or 5 within 10 years for couples
² Participation in the purge is considered separate from military service
³Males can choose to serve additional years on behalf of female relatives
⁴ The narrator was part of a squad of 20, who slew a violent sorcerer instance.
⁵ The narrator is 19, his bride was found to be 28
⁶ Saffire has partial heterochromia
⁷ There is religious parade occurring in the city on the same day as the wedding