My name is Ray Alteus.

A Former Hero.

I was an orphan. I don't remember my original parents. They left me inside the woods.

I have memories, strange memories. I couldn't tell what their origins were. Perhaps another world? Another time? In them I was falling down from somewhere. There was water below me. I couldn't breath. It was cold. It felt so surreal. The memories grant me a will to live. And so, a miracle happened. Someone found me.

I was raised by an elderly couple who couldn't bore any children of their own. They gave me the name "Ray" for I was their light, their hope. I love them more than anything.

One day, there was a squad of knights infront of our small cabin in the woods. They said I was "chosen to be a Hero".

I found that ridiculous.

But they threatened me with my parent. So I was forced to accompany them to the Imperial Capital. And there I met my partners. The 4 other Chosens.

Cole the Swordmaster.

Maria the Cleric.

Agnes the Mage.

Wilhelm the Shield.

They would be my partners in the journey to defeat the Demon King. But I was to put through a year of training on the battlefield first. And it was there that I met my second family. The 17th Knights Squad.

They were a rag-tag combo of mismatched personality. But I love them all.

Arthur was a family man with 2 daughters at home. Levi was a man with a high-pitched voice. Emile would be the "serious" type during missions, but a comedian during breaks. Thomas was a weird fellow with curiosity beyond any of us. Umbra was a chuunibyou but strangely reliable. Sarah was the eye-refresher of the group with her bright smile.

"So what's got you down in the dump today eh, Ray?" - Arthur said, while tapping me on the shoulder.

"Nothing, I was just thinking."

"About what? Something that actually make our little genius think? That's impossible for us then." - Emile chimed in

"No, nothing like that. Just.... I'm tired of fighting."

"Oh?" - Arthur showed a suprised look

"That's strangely mature coming from a 15 years old like you" - Emile

"Being at war really makes you old fast."

"Fair point, look at poor Arthur, he looks like he'd complain about the weather affecting his bones soon."

"Mmm, then I guess you'd have no bones left to complain about" - Arthur, while cracking his knuckles.

"...I'm sorry. Please spare me." - Emile is now kneeling on the ground.

*sigh* "I'll miss conversation like these." - Ray

"Nothing said we can't meet after the war's over right?" - Arthur.

"Maybe I'll open up a bar somewhere peaceful after this..." - Ray

"That sounds like a great idea, and then you can treat us all for free drinks when we shows up" - Emile.

"I can't support your drinking for free, you know? Especially Arthur, he'll drink my funds dry in an hour." - Ray

"Can't help it if I'm a great drinker"

"Hey guys, Ray's opening a bar after this war is over, let's make sure to survive this war and get free drinks from our little genius." - Emile said to the others.

"...I just said I can't support that..." - Ray

"I don't care, you'll have to treat all of us, remember, you're the Hero after all."

"..."

My face probably looks very conflicted when it was said.

"What's wrong?" - Emile, finally turning serious again.

"I'm called back to the main Hero squad for a frontal assault, I've just received a message from the capital yesterday. And now I'm wondering if you all can live without me."

"That's what bothering you?" - Arthur looks over me.

"Yeah...With our contribution you all might also be summoned to be part of the fight, so I'm very concerned about your safety that's al-"

I barely managed to end my sentence before a fist blindsided me. It was Arthur's.

"Who needs a kid like you worrying about our safety?" - There were fire in his eyes - "Are we that pathetic?"

"No, but..."

"We are the 17th Knight Squad, since when do we need you to worry about us? Now get your ass up, you didn't come to our squad to be a wuss, I'll beat you down damn it!"

I scanned acroos my teammates, they all have the same fire like Arthur's in their eyes.

"Heh. Guess I was worried for nothing, you fools better live long enough to come to my bar."

"Finally, you now look fitted to be our Hero" - Arthur said, a wide smile appeared on his stern face.

"Of course we'll live"

"Definitely"

"Surely we'll meet again"

That was our promise to each other. And it was the last conversation we had.

When the day of the assault came, I heard a conversation between the King and the Advisor:

"...If we win this, the Great War will finally be over." - the King

"Yes, it will. And what shall we do next?" - Advisor.

"If we could make use of the Hero's power and fame to unify the continent under our rule, surely that'd be for the best"

"A brilliant plan, my King"

"You think so? It may cause another war to happen."

"To unify the continent, lives must be sacrificed"

I couldn't stomach it further. They planned to wage another war despite the countless sacrifice made to keep you fools alive till this day. Detestable.

But I know if they ask me to lend them my power I can't defy them, they know about my parents and my bonds with the Knight Squad. They'll threaten me with lives of those I care about. I can't stand it. 

And so I plan to fake my own death during the battle with the Demon King.

And so begin the day that history would remember as "End of an Age".

Humanity's greatest force versus the Demon faction.

Humanity won.

At the cost of half of the lives of the human forces. We won.

During the final confrontation with Demon King, I let him put his sword through me as I pierce his heart. I stopped my pulse and breathing completely. No one thought I survived. Not even my partners, the Chosen. Even though keeping my condition during Maria's desperate healing magic casts was proven to be very taxing.

And like that, I died, in their eyes. The Hero died valiantly during the battle with Demon King to finish him off.

After the army retreat, I replaced my body with a dead soldier's and mask his apperance to be similar to mine.

After disgusing myself to be that of a tired solder and return to base. I ask for the status of the 17th Knight Squad.

"They are all dead, I'm very sorry." - was the reply.

The world was darkening before my eyes. I kneeled. I wailed. I cried. I griefed. Desperately hoping that he'd be wrong and they were safe. But alas, they never returned.

"You promised me...you promised me..." - was all I could mutter before blacking out.

And on that day, the Hero died again.

And now, 5 years later. I returned to the capital with a heavy heart and a heavy wallet from the gold I've collected across my journey. I bought a small piece of land in the commoner's area. It's a remote place inside an alleyway.

My name is Ray Alteus, a bartender.

This was my story.

 End of Chapter 2.