NOBLE Grandgeneral

They called him Derek, though no one knew if that was his real name. He didn’t know either. He’d picked it himself when he was six—heard it from a drunk soldier in the market and liked how it sounded sharp. Strong. Like something that could survive. And that’s what he did. Survive. Raised by streets, forgotten before he knew what he was missing. There were nights he slept beside trash fires with a blade tucked in his boot, praying no one slit his throat in his sleep. When was thirteen, He’d just gutted a guard who cornered him in back alley by half a dozen more soldiers for stealing apples. He was ready to fall. In fact, he welcomed it. He was so damn tired. But a voice had cut through “Wait” The King himself stepped forward. Derek had spat at his feet and King only smiled. “You’ve got f