INTRO SONG: Kono Sekai e Moeru

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*Thunk*

The hall reverberated to the clash of wood striking wood as Gerhard sat unobtrusively in a corner sipping tea, watching the people in the hall with an appraising eye. 'So this is Royal Road huh?', he silently thought to himself.

It has been a few weeks since his encounter with the thugs and the instructor on that dark evening, and consequently to the amusement of all the players, he had consequently spent his evenings sleeping out on the door step of the training hall, his sword resting against his shoulder. Although everyone was baffled as to why anyone would do that as logically he should have logged out and saved himself some embarrassment. Needless to say, for Gerhard, logging out was impossible.

"My family just can't let an old man die peacefully", he grinned wryly to himself.

The act of sleeping for Gerhard was quite literally a programmed biological act that he must adhere to; basically it wasn't done in order to avoid stat penalties for his character. Though he can avoid sleeping for days, he felt uncomfortably sluggish although with sleep come dreams that he barely remember upon waking. Nevertheless he had already come to the realisation quite early on that he was in a game when he woke up to a character creation screen, something he was quite familiar with as he often saw his grandson play such games when Max returned home from university.

Using rusty information gathering skills, Gerhard had questioned friendly players and figured out what game he was in, how to access his character menu and inventory but for the life of him he couldn’t' find an option to log out. The only possession he had on him was a sword of dubious quality, shoes and pants, the remnants of his shirt having long since consigned to becoming rags wrapped around his muscled frame. He was currently living off the charity of the Instructor and Bernett, the girl whose life he saved which although made him uncomfortable, he really had no choice in the matter. If there was a character class for the extremely poor then he was for all intents and purposes a 'Pauper'. Even the tea he was drinking was heavily diluted with water and was given to him almost a week ago by Bernett.

Managing to make himself feel disgruntled, Gerhard sighed as he finished the precious last of his tea before standing up and began loosening his muscles in preparation for his routine. Having found that due to some sort of restriction he couldn't leave the city, Gerhard spent most of his time in the training hall practicing sword forms diligently unaware of the fact that he was actually raising his stats slowly by striking repeatedly at the scarecrow. For him it wasn't a monotonous act, he did enjoy doing this. It reminded him of the times he spent with his father practicing together when he got back from primary school or when he was with friends in the Königlich Preußischen Kadettenkorps in Wahlstatt before he transferred to the Hauptkadettenanstalt in Berlin-Lichterfelde.

As he was wont to do, Gerhard began humming a tune, which always made others in the hall curious because it seemed to be quite jaunty and inexplicably lifted the mood of those around him. Gerhard did this subconsciously for hours on end and finally one of the onlookers just had to ask him what song he was humming. Wiping the sweat from his brow he turned to look at the person who interrupted him, and the onlooker who looked like a young female high schooler felt her heart skip a beat as she saw Gerhard's face up close. With high refined cheekbones, gently shaped almost almond eyes and a face that was close to elfin in its grace… he can easily be described as a beautiful man.

"……..", the woman could only stared slack jawed as she tried to make words leave her mouth.

"Can I help you, Fräulein? ", Gerhard asked politely, sheathing his sword before giving her his undivided attention.

She was about to speak when she noticed….THAT HIS SHIRT WAS WAAY TOO REVEALING. Through the ruins of his shirt she spied muscular abs and a wide strong chest and before she knew it her face immediately became beet red with fictional smoke rising above her head.

"Madam?", Gerhard tilted his head slightly to the side, the effect sending an arrow racing through her heart and she replied with a "guurgh!"

Finally regaining some control she asked him in a too high pitched voice, "I, I, I, I, I, I have been wondering, I mean WE, have been wondering what is it you have always been humming to yourself", she flailed her arms madly above her head and pointed to her friends as she became lost to her nervousness, "It really sounds like a wonderful song".

Feeling a little bit embarrassed he replied whilst scratching the top of his head lightly with one hand, "Its only just an old folk song I use to sing with friends… in the old days".

"Ummm I don’t suppose you can sing a little bit for me.. I MEAN MY FRIENDS. Right me AND my friends"

Shrugging his shoulders he said, "Its fine, it would be nice to know that some people will still hear the sound of the 'old country'"

Closing his eyes and gathering his breath, he started off the first verse slowly.

"Wenn wir marschieren,

Ziehn wir zum Deutschen Tor Hinaus,

Schwarzbraunes Madel,

Du bleibst zu Haus"

And at the chorus he picked up the pace, lifting the tempo as if to draw everyone into the song.

"Ei, darum, Mädel, Mädel, Wink, Wink, Wink,

Unter einer grunen li-a-Lind

Sitzt ein kleiner Fink, Fink, Fink,

Ruft nur immer "Mädel, Wink!"

Sitzt ein kleiner Fink,Fink, Fink,

Ruft nur immer "Mädel, Wink!"

All throughout he had unconsciously smiled at the upbeat song and the hearts of all the females in the hall became entranced by it whilst the guys could only look on in a mixture of jealousy and attentiveness as they unexpectedly began humming along with him. They didn’t understand what he was singing but for some reason they began picturing a beautiful significant other waving goodbye to them with a smile. The illusion was so strong that no one noticed that Gerhard had finally stopped and was wondering why the training hall was suddenly so silent.

After this incident, over the next few weeks the hall started getting overcrowded as word spread at first slowly by word of mouth (mainly from the females) until it finally spread throughout the whole city. Gerhard gained an audience of female admirers who would listen and watch as he dutifully sang whilst practicing on the scarecrow. Although it brought some unwanted disturbance to his daily training there have been a lot of positive changes to his daily living. For one… he was daily inundated with cooking from all the female audience, and for some reason occasionally some blushing guys…, whilst the other was most importantly his equipment.

"I think you would look gallant with this sword…my name is engraved near the handle so please always remember me. Heheheheheeee"

"If you wear these clothes we would have matching colour schemes, isn’t that wonderful!"

"I will give you 90 percent of all my items so please partner with me… permanently"

"WAIT! NO FAIR! As president of his fan club, rule no 1004 states that no girl should…"

"GRrrrrr you just want him for yourself!"

"WHAT WHAT WHAT! I can't possibly be with Sir Gerhard…"

"WHY ARE YOU BLUSHING!? I KNEW IT YOU ARE INTENDING TO STEAL HIM FROM US!"

……. Yes, for some reason Gerhard found himself inexplicably popular with the female players and would be mentally disturbed if he knew the kind of inner and outer dialogue the girls were having amongst themselves when he was presented with these gifts. However it mattered not to the fan girls which gifts he used (he finally gave up refusing them under the constant mental barrage he was receiving) because they all wanted him to look the part. And that was that of a beautiful man dressed elegantly. Gone were the rags and in its place was a silken shirt of purest white hung loosely around his frame, over which fine black padded armour protected his torso as well as boosting his stats. His pants was of dark brown in appearance where his shins were protected by a pair of highly polished silver leg guards to which also a pair of matching silver gauntlets complemented the look, gifted from a high level female mage who muttered "I happened to find these in some dungeon and thought it would suit you well". To which the other girls snickered, "It’s a lie, I saw her come out of the auction house with those".

By now, the time limit of not being able to leave the city had long since past and when the instructor came up to him one day, it was to announce that Gerhard had completed some sort of training. Not really understanding what was happening, Gerhard stood straight in military attention, clicking the heels of his boots together with his back ramrod straight as he was gifted with a sword from the instructor.

"Herr Instructor, I cannot possibly receive this gift. I am already burdened by your kind hospitality".

"Hahaha think nothing of it Gerhard! You are only the 17th to achieve this in our Hall and I am proud to have such a fine student like you. There are other training halls with better programs but at least you can say that you have come from one of the best basic's schools on the continent"

Feeling touched, Gerhard gave a sharp salute as he replied, "I will honour this sword you have given me in whatever travels I may find myself in, Herr Instructor"

"Good, good, by the way you remind me of someone I used to know who also often sang in battle. And thus getting straight to the point I believe you still do not have a class as of yet do you?"

Shaking his head slightly from side to side, Gerhard replied innocently, "No, I do not. Is it of vital necessity?"

Looking askance at Gerhard in disbelief, the instructor roared with laughter before regaining control of himself, "You ARE a rare one, aren't you? Yes it is important and so I want you to give some serious thought into apprenticing yourself to a friend of mine. His name is sir Ernst Rommer and as luck, whether good or bad only time will tell, would have it he is currently short handed of fighting men to patrol the borders. Are you interested?"

The instructor eyed Gerhard critically and thinking to himself that he had no important matters to do even if he were to leave replied, "Jawohl, mein Ausbilder"

Breaking into a broad smile, the Instructor handed a rolled parchment to Gerhard.

*Tring!

Item: Instructor's personal recommendation

"Report yourself to the Royal Barracks with this. The Quartermaster there will prepare you for the journey ahead."

*Tring!

Border Watch

Sir Ernst Rommer is having difficulty maintaining the integrity of the borders of Rosenheim, with predations from human bandits and Orc raiders constantly striking deep into the heart of the Kingdom. There are calls for reinforcements from the Capital and a detachment is bound to leave shortly.

Difficulty: E

Quest Requirement: Leave with the detachment within a week.

Quest Reward: Unknown.

The next day, after having said his goodbyes to the NPCs whose kindness he would never forget, he stepped out of the hall and into the early morning sunlight, Gerhard slinging a bag over his shoulders and adjusting it to become comfortable before he turned around one last time to gaze upon the place that was almost like a second home. Seeming to memorise the structure, Gerhard finally resumed his purpose filled walk down the road towards the Royal Barracks where the detachment awaits. He never once turned back.

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12 August, 1939.

The von Natzmer estate

Gerhard sat on the lawn, the woman he loves lying in his embrace, as they both gazed up at the night sky. The droning of aircraft can be occasionally heard overhead, probably supplies bound for the garrisons in Prussia, as Germany inexorably spirals towards war. He held Hannah tighter, wondering if this will be the last time he could do so, his wife placing a hand on his forearm, and squeezing back in anxiety. Tomorrow, Gerhard will have to return to his regiment Großdeutschland, which was being formed from the core of Wachregiment Berlin in preparation for a ground offensive that he is forbidden to discuss with Hannah… and he dare not tell her… the place that he might die.

All his life, he had dreamt of being a soldier… but now that the day has finally come to prove his mettle… all his thoughts are instead about living a peaceful life with his wife and as yet unborn child. They had only found out last week that she was pregnant… Gerhard… was going to be a father.

"Will you…" Hannah uttered softly, ".. will you be back for the birth?”

"…I don't know", Gerhard told her truthfully, "IF everything goes according to plan… Then I will be back before Christmas."

"… Liar," he felt her smile sadly, "That’s what they said about the last war, and look what it brought them… millions dead," she shuddered in his arms.

"Hey," he gently turned her head to face him, "hey, you know me. Do you honestly think, that I, Gerhard von Natzmer, will give you a horrible Christmas gift of a widow's letter?"

Hannah caressed his face, looking into his eyes, "You tell such sweet lies, Husband… I really want to believe them so…"

Grasping her hand that was on his cheek with his own, "If you haven't noticed by now," he said firmly, "a von Natzmer never goes back on his word."

"… Then promise me now… that you will live."

Rubbing his chin with his hand as though thinking to himself, he said, "Hmmm… I don't know…"

"Huh? W-what are you saying?!"

"Oh… It's just that," he suddenly grinned at her evilly, "I must first receive my reward beforehand, hehehehe." He chuckled deviously.

"???"

*Clomp*

"Ow!" Hannah cried as Gerhard bit her on the neck, "YOU JERK! W-what are you DOING?!"

All she could hear was a mumbled reply as he continued to nibble on her, Hannah suppressing the urge to give a soft moan before she finally regained some willpower, turned around, and whacked him on the head with a chop of her hand.

"Y-YOU! I WAS BEING SERIOUS!" she scolded in annoyance.

"…I", he looked at her with eyes that shone with… purity of purpose, "Gerhard von Natzmer, of the House of Natzmer, son of Leonhard, who is my Patriarch and Master," moving until he was on his knees in front of Hannah, "And as a knight of Prussia, in title and deed; will return to you once again, alive, to see and hold our child together, to raise him or her in happiness till the end of our days."

Grasping her hands together in his own, as though in prayer, "This oath I pronounce loudly before Gott", he bent down to kiss them, then slowly lifting his head up again, to gaze devotedly at the face of the woman he would do anything for, "Thus I swear."

"… I still don't forgive you…" she twisted her head to the side, trying not to look at him in the eye. Her cheeks were a little flushed.

Gerhard chuckled, "I guess you don't want me around then," as he gradually stood up, only to have her hand snake out and seize the sleeve of his shirt.

"Hmm?" he said amused.

"… B-bully…" her head was down, not looking at him.

Tenderly brushing the top of her hair, he whispered, "Still want me to leave?"

She shyly shook her head before finally glancing up. Gerhard bent down and kissed her on the lips, lifting her up into his arms and walking off into the darkness, hoping that dawn would never come… but it inevitably did.

Garbed smartly in his full dress uniform, he stood still as Hannah straightened up his collar, the sound of a car rumbling outside and Gerhard thanked his usually impatient best friend for refraining from honking the horn.

'Heaven alone knows the amount of willpower that was required for him,' Gerhard chuckled inwardly to himself.

Hannah was… taking an unusually long time, fussing over his collar repeatedly for almost 10 minutes, before he finally reached up and stopped her, feeling her body trembling against his.

Drawing her into a hug, they just stood there together for a long moment; Gerhard finally ending it by parting from her reluctantly, before reaching down to grab his luggage. Hannah silently followed him out through the hallway that led to the front entrance, his entire family already waiting to wish him farewell.

"You… stay well, all right, Dear?" His mother struggled to withhold her tears as she smiled, "I remember when your father was in the army… always coming home in bandages for one reason or another."

Coughing gruffly, his father clapped him on the shoulder once, "I…I am proud of you, Boy. You don't need to prove yourself to anyone out there", coming in closer to whisper so no one else could hear, "That will only get you killed. Don't be brave Gerhard. Be smart."

"I understand, Vater", he nodded. Gerhard turned to his siblings next.

Anne… sweet Anne was unashamedly crying, as she suddenly clung to him and buried her face in his greatcoat.

"I guess, I will see you in a year then, Bruder", Dieter grinned weakly, "after i have graduated".

"Hah! We would have won the war by then and you will just be stuck with all the paperwork", Gerhard boasted with false brovado.

"Ehhhh! Leave some for us!" The boys, Albert and Benedikt, exclaimed.

"Hahahaha, I will try, I will try", he grinned at them, as he lifted the face of his little sister up and dried the tears streaking down her face.

"And you… don't cause Mutter any problems, all right? Or..." he continued, "Break anymore boys' hearts. Father is still sorting through the list of possible suitors, you know", he winked mischieviously.

To which his father proclaimed from the side, "I am never marrying my daughter off-", unable to finish as his wife elbowed him HARD in the stomach.

With a final hug from his family, Gerhard was finally able to stride out the massive double doors, his wife waiting faithfully by the stone bench, sitting with an expressionless face as she stared straight ahead. Gerhard thought he had said all he needed to say as he moved past her silent figure… but walking down that long driveway… something inside himself caused him to drop his bags, before he practically ran back to sit down next to Hannah.

She eventually turned to face him, the tears having slid free uncontrollably at the thought that he was now going, unable to maintain her strong façade any longer. He leaned in close... and placed his lips upon hers lightly.

"I will keep my promise", he whispered fervently.

Nodding, she replied dutifully, "I know you will"

Rising up, he touched her soft lips with his fingertips before withdrawing them swiftly in regret, doing an about turn to retrieve his bags and marched stiffly to the car. His best friend was busy whistling nonchalantly at nothing, pretending not to have witnessed the scene, as Gerhard sat down in the passenger seat, bags on his lap.

In the end, he never did turn around for a second time… Gerhard knew that if he did… he would run back into her arms and never let go. And in the blood-filled days to come, he would always wonder, 'Why didn't I just hold her forever?'

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Ending Song: Gentle Light