Town of Winslow, Country of Trianta

After commanding the guards to lose their memories ever since my arrival, I made my way inside the wooden 10 foot long, 10 foot wide door. Luckily I was able to close the door before the guards took notice.

'Damn, hurts my head every time I use it. It's been getting worse over the years but I think its a good handicap to my ability. If I were to go insane again....I.....I couldn't....I.....I can't.' I nervously think while I sneak my way through the small squadron of soldiers covering the other side of the door like a post a good distance away.

'It's like they don't want people coming through this door? Or maybe something?' I ponder.

Finally making my way past all the guards I'm met with a huge plaza with a giant stone fountain in the middle which had no water running through it. This plaza is probably the center of the town, and as such you would expect many people selling, buying or just wandering around. To my surprise, there weren't many at all. A plaza of this size would fit a couple hundred people but I can only estimate around 60 or 70 and most are women.

' Wait. Is this because....yes....yes that's the only explanation I can think of. It's most likely because of war. The guards giving entrance fees and the low amounts of men roaming the streets. This was how most town and cities were during my Uprising. Many advances in agriculture were sadly halted during the long 15 year war.'

At a glance one could read the sad and gloomy atmosphere of the plaza, and probably the town as well. No person wore clean clothes and the food and materials the merchants were selling were either of low quality or broken. No man or woman was smiling and instead had sorrowful looks on their faces. As I continued to glance through the plaza, a tall black-haired man wearing worn out and dulled steel armor walked towards the center near the fountain with 6 subordinates behind him. The worn out armor is a giveaway that he must have been in many battles, and as such must be very experienced in the art of war. 3 of his subordinates carrying a small wooden crate placed it in front of him and then stood behind him with the others. He then stood on the crate, becoming a center of attention to the people as if he weren't before.

" My dear fellow commoners, I am Rin, a captain of the Triantian Army. Me and my fellow subordinates have come all the way here from the War-ridden borders to give you news of our current status in the war. Many other captains have done the same with the other towns and cities, so please, do not be alarmed. Unfortunately, the Great War isn't going so well for our proud country. We have lost many of the few men we had to protect our borders which keep you safe during this time of war." RIn shouts with a sad and gloomy tone.

"But we have come here today, having our final recruitment of proud Triantian men willing to serve for their country. I know many of you would rather stay here with your wives and children, but I ask of you to think about their futures. Our borders will break down and the enemy forces will invade your poorly defended towns. Your Wives will be raped and your children sold to slavery. Do not let them and instead fight! Fight until your very last breath and be proud to serve a country as great as ours! Your children and wives will think of you as a hero, and this country will think of you all as heroes."

In the crowd that has formed in front of Rin, an old women steps up from the rest and begins to speak to him with a croaky voice.

" Young man. What more do you expect from such a small town as ourselves? Most of our men have already been taken during the previous recruitments leaving only the ones deemed to skinny or unhealthy. My...My grandson....he....he was recruited...but....never returned." The old woman began to cry after her last sentence. 2 woman, most likely her granddaughters then came to comfort her and brought her back to the croud.

"I...I'm sorry. I'm sure he died an honorable death and was proud to have served protecting his family." Rin said with a sad voice.

"But if any are interested, please come to us at the Cavern Inn before Sunrise tomorrow. You will not be forced and of course, if we happened to get out of this war alive, all commoners such as myself, will be given the chance to become a noble and have an audience with the King of Trianta."

Rin then got off from the crate and began to walk away with 3 subordinates while the other 3 retrieved the crate. The crowd then despersed with almost half of them crying while the other half had the same gloomy faces as before.

'Poor old woman. To have lost her grandson in the war. If worse comes to worst, I'lll have to join the war myself.' I thought.

'But back on track, I really need information if I want to get a grasp on things.' I thought while glancing around looking for people nearest to me. A couple feet behind me were the 2 previous woman from before. I ran up to them before they walked any further.

"Hello, excuse me, but I'm looking for a library if this town has one?"

The black-haired woman who was the taller of the two turned around first.

"No, we don't have a library in this town but we do have Sarah at her shop. She loves books and can pretty much memorize them. Its west of the plaza, named 'Sarah and Goods', around there." She points towards the only set of shops there. "Can't miss it." she says.

"Okay, thanks for the help." I then turned around and begin to walk west towards the direction she pointed to.

"Umm...excuse me Mr."

I turn back around to see the smaller black-haired girl, probably around 13-15 nervously looking at me.

"If...If your going to the War, can..can you bring my brother back? His names Victor and has blonde hair and green eyes and is around your height and...and...I...I just know he's alive. Please, Please Mr.? I know it sounds much but he's the only brother I have." the girl says while holding back her tears.

"Of course, if I ever meet him, I'll surely bring him back to you." I say with a nice smile.

The girl then blushes but quickly hides it behind her hands.

"Tha..thank you!" She says before running off to her sister.

After about 3 minutes of wandering and looking at shops, I finally arrive at the place the woman told me about. Just like the all the other shops and buildings, the wood that makes up its exterior is worn out and seems to be on the verge of breaking. The small windows seem cloudy and are very hard to see through. Except, this shop has a more reddish color to it than the normal brown. I then walk into the small shop to see a beautiful blonde-haired woman reading on a chair behind the small counter. Looking around the shop, you can see many kinds of items, from wooden buckets and dolls, to Swords and books on the walls. Of course, all these items aren't very appealing and have the same look as all the other items from the plaza.

"Excuse me Miss, but do you have any books on the Marsa Continent? Specifically it's history?" I say with a nice smile hoping to impress such a beautiful woman.

"......"

The woman doesn't pay attention and continues to read her book.

"Ahh, Hello?.......Hello? Are you awake?" I say while waving my hands in front of her book and face with a confused face.

' Maybe she's a doll?!' I think in admiration.

After about a minute of complete silence, I touched her shoulder as the final test to my theory. From my sudden touch, she jumps back on her chair and falls back with her book on her face.

"Ohh, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize I had a customer." She said as she got up and dusted herself off.

" It's alright, It should be me apoligizing for scaring such a beautiful woman." I say with the same smile from before.

"So what'cha need?". "Names Sarah by the way, but you already know that." she says with an angelic giggle at the end of her sentence.

'Woah, she might be better than me.' I think to myself.

"Just wondering if you had any books on the history of the Marsa Continent?"

"Marsa Continent? You mean the Old Marsa Continent right? When Emperor Vale still reigned?"

"......"

"Di...did I say something wrong?" she says with a worried expression.

" What do you mean....Old Marsa Empire?" I say emphasizing 'old' with a stone cold smile.

"We...Well, after Emperor Vale's death, the Continent was divided into 5 Nations due to the Royal family's reckless decisions."

".....I see."

I then began to walk out the door with a cold face and a not so well hidden angered fist.

"Whe...Where are you going....now?" Sarah says with half her head behind the counter.

I turn around with my cold face and quickly give her the same nice smile from before, except one could tell it was fake.

" I'm joining the war." I say before finally leaving the shop.