As we started our trek, towards war. Morale was high. I was ordered to escort, and well keep safe the merchandise. It was the top priority, along with keeping order and protecting [Merchants] themselves.

It was an easy job, almost too easy. For someone with abilities that I possessed. I felt overqualified, even with these 20 [Soldiers], if they all ganged up on me, I was confident. No, I was certain, they couldn't even scratch my armor.

While I thought about armor, it occurred to me. That I was ordered to wear the same armor as them. I was obviously a higher rank. And I had my own personal armor ready. Instead, I was given this, cheap thing, painted silver with our Kingdoms Mark on it drawn in red. I admit it looked nice. And well I had no use of armor at all, not this one at least. But why would I complain about something so insignificant, and waste their time? They probably had their reasons.

We would pass three villages on our journey. It wasn't a small distance, and would probably take us, with the load, and [Merchants] that aren't used to traveling or sleeping outside instead of their fluffy beds. I estimated that it would take at least two weeks.

I was wrong, few [Merchants] even left before we reached the first village on our route. They just muttered something about leaving their trusted people, and that they will deal with the business deal of things, and that they gave them the authority to do so. I didn't complain, they slowed us down anyway. And listening to them moan, while bouncing on the hardwood seats. Of their carriage of course. Well, it got annoying after the first hour, when we had our laughs.

And well I had my orders. Not a single weapon, nor a bit of food shall go missing. And I took my orders seriously. That is how you progressed. Few times I found soldiers slacking off. Even though I could do this all by myself, and well it would have been more efficient… faster. But I had my orders, and if that would lead to a promotion… you just had to grit your teeth, and endure.

Well, I was grumpy. With these people dragging themselves like they're going to execution. And I respected time, every day is a treasure. You could never go back, regret always came late.

And so I took it upon myself to teach these wannabe [Soldiers], what organization, and order looked like.

After the first one, received my teachings. They weren't happy. They even tried to protest.

It didn't go well for them, but it didn't go well for me either. Even though we had an [Healer] in our team. He didn't want to spend his time, and energy on healing bruised egos, and their, swollen asses.

The first one ended up sleeping on his job. It was his time to guard the cart, and smartass thought that he could just sleep on it. When he started to snore, well it crossed the line. That changed their whole trip, from a relaxing experience to hell.

Kicking people in their stomachs was bad, with food being available to everyone, and without shortage. It turned out that I underestimated their awareness and physical readiness. They were all [Soldiers] from what I knew.

Before he could shower me with vomit, I stepped aside, and just watched with disgust as a poor excuse of a [Soldier] collapsed. After managing to barf out everything. Even though I didn't even kick him that hard.

The poor bastard looked at me, terrified.

"C-captain Raden, why, why would."

Before he could finish, I used one of my abilities, it wasn’t even that good. Meant to scare people, get their attention. Everyone stopped in their tracks. Scared, pulling their weapons, searching for the crazy person who dared attack our Kingdom's merchandise. As they found out the source, they couldn't comprehend, wanted to ask the obvious question, but didn't dare to.

Before anyone could muster their courage, I had no patience anymore.

"There shall be no more tolerance towards, well not doing your jobs. I grow tired of our slow pace, and hearing useless [Soldiers] snore, while they have tasks to do. From today onward, if I catch. Anyone of you, escaping your duties, and so slowing us down. You shall end up like this poor guy."

As I finished my little speech, I noticed that he finally managed to get up. Having learned the lesson. This time I kicked his ass, a few times. Just to make sure, that he didn't forget.

Now that I was done with that, I observed the crowd. Noticing that they still looked pale. I couldn’t help but sigh… if these people were supposed to go to war? What kind of war was it?

"I understand that it's a boring job, within our Kingdom, roads are mostly safe. But that doesn't mean that, while slowing me down, you get to rest as well. Is that clear ?"

There were few murmurs of agreement?

Using my ability again, this time actively focusing it on them. Some of them dropped, mostly merchants on their knees, others just looking paler. This time they made sure that I could hear their response.

"Y-yes ca..ptain, Jerry Raden."

Looking at them, I nodded.

"Now that this is over with, I expect, not to see a repeat of this scene. And let us arrive quickly at our destination."

As they started to disperse, and start to move again. I noticed this guy still laying there, where he fell.

"Did you not understand me [Soldier]?" I asked. Was he crying? Well with my mood being as is, I wasn't surprised that I didn't notice.

"Err... Captain Jerry. Sir." He stuttered through sobs. "I, I can't seem to get up, I can't feel my legs."

As it turned out, to my surprise they were all so fragile. As the healer finished his examinations and cast a few spells. He turned to me.

"Sir. [Captain] Raden, I know that you are in a hurry. But please avoid using so much force on our guards. If I wasn't present, this poor guy. Most likely he would be stuck like this, sprawled out, for at least a few days. And as potions, and remedies are reserved for the army. With my healing alone he won't be able to walk, for at least the next few hours."

"Just throw him into a carriage for the day then." And here I thought that my day was already bad.

Murmuring about incompetent weaklings, I walked off in our original direction.

As the days passed, incidents stopped happening, there was still a guy, here and there thinking himself smart. Well, they ended up the same way, their punishment equal to annoyance that they caused me.

Aside from that, beast and bandit attacks didn't happen often as I expected. There were few dog-like beasts, but I didn't bother. Leaving it up to regular [Soldiers]. And just focused on merchandise.

________

As days went on, people got close. They talked, somewhat cautiously. The threat was still clear, from their first day. And they couldn't tell if their chatting would anger their [Captain].

But it seemed that as long as their chatter didn't affect their work, [Captain] Jerry Raden. Didn't seem to mind.

It was a strange group, comprised of [Initiate Soldiers], old and young. [Merchants], and a [Healer].

They all were excited, some less some more. Young soldiers looking forward to war, wanting to level, rise in their rank. Old ones seemed wary, they probably were a part of one, at some point.

[Merchants] were all cheery, but they all seemed somewhat convoluted. They would always try and trade you something, offer you a deal. But once you let them know that you weren't interested.

They would end up either backing off or started a normal friendly chat.

I had somewhat of a special standing, as the [Healer]. Even though I was still in the early part of my class. But who wouldn't want to befriend a [Healer]? And I didn't mind the chat.

On the first day I got to know Bob, he seemed average, from his face to his posture. And I was correct.

His family wasn’t of noble blood. And like every kid, that grew as a peasant, he had grand dreams. That were slowly eroded by reality, that nothing revolved around him.

Total opposite of myself, I was a noble, though a minor one. My parents were [Merchants], and well. They were lucky enough to be able to afford the title.

I had four brothers and one sister, they all either followed parent's footsteps, or well, tried to get into [Knight] order, or well some kind of court position.

With my weak physique, I failed to get into [Knight] school. And well courts didn't interest me. So I was kind of, just enjoying life. Until my parents made me, well get a job. They had a deal with a local healer, and for a discount, he agreed to teach me the basics.

And so here I was... ending up here, going towards the war. Assigned to practice my class, in a real war. I didn't want to think about that, wars were scary. And most of my companions here seemed not to understand that.

"[Healer], friend, thank you! Without you, I don't know what I would do."

I glanced to my left, seeing Bob, trying to make himself comfortable, I couldn't blame him. [Captain] sure was ruthless. Poor guy, it wasn't only his ass that got injured, but pride too.

"You can call me Matt."

Surprised to hear the response, Bob smiled.

"You are the first [Healer] that ever bothered to answer me, what made you join our group? I thought it would have been much better to stay away from trouble, especially if you are young as you look."

"It wasn't my idea, but as you must know. Well levels come with challenges, and my parents got tired of me, well not progressing. What about you, what made you join?"

"Honestly? Money. You know how it is, being a peasant and all, you probably, already know how it is for us."

"Are they paying you well? I got a decent deal, being a [Healer] but never bothered to ask."

"If I make it home, in one piece, well I won't have any worries for next few years. And even if I don't my wife will get some benefits."

“You have a wife?”

He nodded with a smile and started talking about his wife, how wonderful she is. And the daily occurrences, I tuned him out, he seemed happy to talk, and I didn't mind some kind of sound that weren't horses, or the clinking of metal.

________

We were getting closer, we passed two villages. The first one, Erast being much larger than the other. It even had walls, with [Guards] that probably didn't make the cut. It was a solid settlement, its wall, and houses, made of stone or bricks, solid roads, some even made of cobblestones. Some houses had two stories, there being inns, shops, markets. It was a nice change, from the continuous green, and the dirt road.

Most complained, but I ignored them, we had a job. And I would not risk our gods staying in the open, as we slept in some inn.

Veron being the second village, on our journey. Much more modest. There were some nicely built houses, but most were wooden shacks, or houses from bricks, that needed maintenance. They had some kind of wall that, well was shorter than me, my estimate was one meter and a half, maybe.

They had guards as well, but I doubt they had the class. They had pitchforks, well something that looked like them. Wore peasant clothes, but at least. They seemed to take their job seriously.

What surprised me was the lack of beggars. And if there were any, it wasn't obvious. They either built themselves shacks. But as we were passing through them. And half an hour wasn't enough to gauge a village and its state.

And having already seen the big cities? Even growing up in one of them… it just didn’t interest me as much, to look at the details.

The last village, or what we assumed to be a village. But rumors were, that it was more of a ruin.

And apparently that it was… with its name being Ruin, and it apparently looked like one.

[Soldiers] and [Merchants] alike, were getting bored. Being on the road for seven days. It does that to people.

Some were thankful for the way that I forced them to work. It gave them a way, to make it seem like time flowed faster.

Some? They couldn't take it, as we passed two villages, with a minimal pause. For food, and other stuff that was needed. And the further we went the worse it looked.

Well, at least they managed to last this long. Some [Merchant] came to a bright idea, to make a bait. Setting a sword, at the edge of the cart. So that it was clearly visible, but making sure that even with the rocking of the cart. It couldn't drop out.

I let it go, the last two villages that we passed had no beggars. Nobody attempted to steal from us when they saw twenty-something armed, and armored [Soldiers]. If even the Bandits didn't appear the chances of someone being desperate or stupid enough to try and steal from us? Were minimal. So if it made him less jittery. I let it go.

As we neared the Ruin. I could see why it was called that. The whole village had few streets, a bakery. And a few houses. Some lacked roofs.

The village had no walls, it was just there. Next to the woods. No guards.

And people that lived there? Most were [Farmers] probably. At least I hoped so, with the stench that lingered on the streets. If it wasn’t due to animals… the other option was just sad.

As we entered, people gathered. Mostly peasants or what I assumed to be [Farmers], watching us like their saviors, it was probably their first time seeing armored people.

As we went through the town, I noticed for the first time in our journey. Beggars, at first it was a few, now there was eighteen of them following us, gawking at our equipment. Together with peasants.

My senses went off, before I could think I reacted. A beggar went for the sword, that was sticking out of the cart. I apprehended him.

As he tried to speak, I shut his mouth. Ordered the [Soldiers] to gag him.

I was taught to... make an example of people. And if this beggar managed to steal that sword, I might not be demoted, but my road towards [Commander] would be indefinitely prolonged. And if he got away with this attempt? He would most likely try again if the other caravans didn’t have someone as skilled as me? He might even get away with it. And that was unacceptable!

So I did what I was taught to do.

First went his right arm. And as I looked down at him, I noticed. Even though his mess of a face. He was young, looking up. First time since we came, looking at them. They all were. They probably didn't even awaken.

And it all clicked. Lack of beggars. Lack of kids playing, somber atmosphere. [Guards] that didn't slack off.

Before my thoughts continued, I sliced his head off.

He would suffer much more if I let him be. And like this, it will make it so, that they would learn, learn not to offend more people. People who wouldn't be so kind, and make it painless.

Not paying attention any longer to their shocked faces, I turned and left. Ordering for us to get moving. Staying here any longer wasn’t acceptable.

My mind was racing, if it was them. It made sense.

With war on horizons, lack of soldiers in villages. It was a perfect time for them to harvest young blood. Kids that didn't awaken, and raise them.

I should hurry after this is done. I need to inform House of Raden.

[Slavers] were active again.

And it made sense… with the amount of [Noble] kids that were taking part in this war. From what I was informed? They were probably taking with them [Slaves], I shook my head. It wasn’t a probability, it was certain.

And so the demand… would increase.