"Well, I suppose we'll start off with me?" A man said as he took large gulps of alcohol.

"How should I start this off. I guess I'll start off with how I began my adventuring career to now then." The man took a while to ponder before he thought of something.

​​

"I was born in a distant village that was poor. I grew up learning how to farm alongside my parents. My elder brother grew up and became a knight in the city which brought him a lot of money. This helped our economic stance change as we had an easier time living." The man began to tell.

"One day he suddenly came up to me and asked if I wanted to learn the sword to protect myself and others close to me." He said as he took another gulp of his alcohol.

"Of course I said yes. Who wouldn't want the power to protect themself after all. Though it didn't necessarily get me that much stronger to what I am now. I was able to protect the village when monsters would show up. When I hit my teenage years, I also joined him to be knights in the city." The man said.

"After so many years working as a knight, he had finally become the captain of a knights squad. Thus, I was put in his tutelage when I was recruited."

...

"Elder brother, what should we do? The village down south is being raided by bandits. They're requesting for assistance. The knights down there can't hold them off." He asked his brother who was sitting at his desk.

"Don't call me elder brother here. Call me captain, as that is what I am." His brother replied to him.

"And of course, we will go help them. What type of knight are we if we don't go help the ones in need?" His brother added as he stood up from his chair and took his sword which was sheathed off the wall.

"Wait if you're going, who is going to watch over the place?" The younger brother asked.

"You. You haven't been here long enough to join missions like this yet. Only after you have risen through the ranks will you be allowed to participate in missions like this. We don't want any unnecessary hostages and incompetent people to hold us back." The elder brother said as he left his room.

"I didn't sign up to be a knight just to stay within the city and train all day though... When am I going to be sent out?" The younger brother muttered as he watched his elder brother leave.

He went to the window to watch his elder brother rally up his own squad before they headed out to the village in hopes of eliminating the bandits. Little did they know it would be the last thing they would ever do in their lives. As they were heading towards an ambush with only death awaiting them.

...

"After that, I resigned as a knight and became an adventurer. As knights were held back and restricted by many rules. I could've been with my brother, maybe that would've changed things a little bit. Sorry for the sad story kiddos." The man said as he looked at Sylvie's group.

"Not a problem. We're fine with it." Chad said as he glanced at Maria and Ariana who were crying. And the rest who were silent and calm.

"Why are you all crying so much, look at these kids! They aren't even crying!" The adventurers started to tease their members.

"Shut up! How aren't you crying! You heartless person! He just lost his elder brother in that story!" They replied to their friends.

'I've read too many sad dramas...' Sylvie thought inside her head.

-------------------

Author : another zzz

*poof*