A month had passed since the team had returned to Citta Della. The young knights were not used to having this much time off. They were used to going to the academy almost every day and expected to be on the road more often. Each of them expecting to be sent out on their next mission soon, the team was busy preparing themselves.

Stella stood at the grave of her mother, the late queen. The grave laid in the cemetery of Citta Della. This is because the queen wished to be buried among her people.

As the princess gave a prayer for her mother, she couldn’t help but reflect on herself. She looked up to the afternoon sun as a cool sea breeze swept over her.

“I’m not the same girl you birthed, mother. I know you weren’t around to see me grow up, but I truly believe that I am now a warrior. No longer am I the soft princess who couldn’t see her own worth. I hope that makes you proud. Father hasn’t made time to speak with me since I've returned, but I no longer seek his acceptance. I think he’s proud of me for that. I hope you’re resting peacefully mother. I will return soon.” Stella prayed out loud.

Stella turned around and walked the path back to the city. The look on her face was filled with confidence. She had spent much of the month training and her skills had elevated to a new level. Deep down, she was excited to show her friends what she had learned.

Stella was not the only one who had spent time training.

During the long month home, Aria had hardly left the grounds of her family’s manor. She spent all her time in the large courtyard towards the back of the property. The once beautiful marble lawn was now destroyed from the powerful strikes of Aria’s warhammer. Now, she had just finished sparring with three private instructors that her parents had hired.

“Ms. De Sempre, please, allow us to rest.” One of the instructors said, gasping for air.

Aria had asked the instructors to come at her all at once and defeated them all with ease.

“I expected much of you milady, but defeating us while blindfolded? It seems there isn’t much more we can teach you.” Another instructor spoke with heavy breaths.

Aria snickered, and lifted the blindfold over one eye, observing her victory.

“Sorry instructors! I got carried away again.” Aria laughed.

“Are you sure your parents are going to be okay with the damage to their courtyard? I wouldn’t want to receive a pay cut when they come home. They’ve already paid to have it fixed three times this month.” The last instructor asked with a chuckle.

Aria looked upon the damage she had caused.

“Oh shit! How did I not notice this?!” Aria asked in disbelief.

The instructors looked at each other with confusion.

“You were... blindfolded.” One of them replied.

“Well, that does make sense. Don’t worry, I'm to blame for the damages. Your pay will remain the same. Today was our last day of training, correct?” Aria asked.

The three instructors stood up slowly, exhausted from Aria’s blows.

“Yes ma’am. I believe I speak for all of us when I say that you have done more than impressed us. When we first started training, we set goals for you that we thought were impossible for you to achieve at that level. This was to push you, but you easily shattered those goals. You honor us with your skills. We would love to train with you again one day.” The head instructor spoke with a bow.

Aria beamed with excitement.

“Well, what can I say? I’m a living legend! Seriously though, I appreciate everything you guys have done. After my last mission, I was starting to feel like the weakest one on the team.” Aria spoke.

“Your strength has increased tenfold. Your teammates are in for a surprise on your next mission. Plus, your new techniques will serve you well in battle. Milady, we wish you the best of luck in service, and will await your safe return.” The head instructor spoke.

The group bowed their heads to each other, and the instructors began leaving the property. Aria was now alone in the destroyed courtyard.

“I really hope I get sent on my next mission before my father comes home to this mess. I’d rather fight a dragon than be scolded by him.” Aria said to herself.

Once her instructors were gone, she simply picked up her warhammer and began training once more.

Unlike his friends, Alex’s free time was not constructive. After the events of their last mission, Alex had gone down a spiral of depression and loneliness. He spent most of his time at The Brave Cup tavern trying to kill his sorrow with alcohol. He couldn’t face the fact that his entire family was killed, and that the man who did it died by his hand. There was no closure or clarity for him, just an empty void.

Alex hadn’t spent any time with his team since they returned home, nor had he even attempted to train like he used to do.

Sometimes he would drink so much that he would begin conversing with his dead family. The only real outcome of doing so were strange looks from the tavern-goers around him.

Despite his depressed state, Alex knew that if he did not return to a righteous path then he would be investigated and stripped of his knighthood.

Knowing this, he slowly got up from the bar stool he sat on and started his walk home.

Night had fallen upon the city once Alex had arrived at his home. It was a one room apartment near the academy, all foreigners who attended the school are given one. The decor was minimal, all Alex had was a bed, a desk and a picture of his family on a nightstand.

He stood in the center of the dark room, his face was unshaven, and his hair was messy. He looked at the small picture frame by his bed and tears began to roll down his face.

“I need you more than ever, but you’re not here.” Alex said.

He walked over to the nightstand and grabbed the picture.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t afford to be weak anymore. Not for a second.”

Alex put the frame face down and laid on the floor. He sighed and put his hands behind his head.

“One…two…three…four…” He began counting as his tears turned into sweat.

During that same night, Nero was heading to a fancy restaurant where he was to meet the captain.

“I’ve been here for a month, and I still have no idea where I’m going.” Nero laughed to himself.

Nero was heading to The Tulip, a fancy elven cuisine in downtown Citta Della. It was the weekend and there were plenty of citizens enjoying a night out on the town. Nero wore a nice black suit that the captain had bought for him, which made him extremely uncomfortable. After aimlessly walking for a while, he came across the restaurant.

It stood out from the rest of the buildings, it was made of sleek white wood and elegant string music could be heard from inside.

Once at the front door, a forest elf in a suit greeted him.

“Welcome to The Tulip sir, do you have a reservation?” The host asked.

“My name is Nero; I’m supposed to be meeting my captain here. His name is Joshua War-Song.”

The hosts eyes widened, and he looked through a list of names.

“Oh, I see! You are expected Lord Nero. Right this way.” The host said as he started leading Nero into the restaurant.

“Lord?” Nero asked in confusion.

“Why yes… the list says you are a high-ranking knight. It is an honor to have you dine with us tonight.”

Nero chuckled under his breath. He found it funny that many knights must serve for many years before becoming a lord. Yet he only just became a knight and has no interest in titles.

As Nero was led through the restaurant, he noticed that all the guests were either upper class Hevarians or important looking True Elves. He has never seen a True Elf before, they had golden skin and white hair. They were also very tall and seemed to look down on everyone who wasn’t one of them.

His thoughts were interrupted when the host spoke again.

“My lord, your table.”

Nero looked at the table and saw the captain. He was wearing a navy-blue suit and sipped on a glass of red wine. He sat across from the captain while the host said farewell.

A few moments of silence passed.

“You look fancy.” The captain said with a chuckle.

“I look like an idiot.” Nero said back sternly.

The captain sat back in his chair and sipped more wine.

“Why am I here captain?” Nero asked.

“I like to meet with my subordinates one on one when there’s free time. I already met with Stella and Aria this month.” The captain replied.

“What about Alex?”

“He needs more time. Him and I got off to a bad start.” The captain said quietly.

Nero laughed.

“Didn’t you and Stell get off on a bad start when you beat the shit out of her?”

“Watch the language in here. And yes, but the princess and I have come a long way since her initiation.” The captain replied with a smile.

A waiter came to the table, he had a familiar face.

“Kymil?” Nero asked with a smile.

Kymil looked at Nero with shock but kept his composure because he was working.

“Hey Nero, looking good. I didn’t know if I would see you again.” Kymil said with a smile.

“You’re looking good yourself, last time we met you were covered in dirt on the streets.” Nero laughed.

The captain delivered a swift kick to Nero’s leg under the table.

“Oh sorry, that was rude, I’m still not much of a conversationalist.” Nero said with a shrug.

“It’s alright, I got a job here and I have my own place now. The king helped all the forest elves get jobs and proper housing. None of us are homeless anymore.”

This made Nero happy, the last time he saw the forest elves in Citta Della they were all living in a dirty alleyway.

“I guess the king came through after all, good for you!” Nero said with a smile.

“Thank you but remember I’m on the job. Tell me what you’d like to drink.” Kymil said.

“Water is fine-“ Nero tried to say.

“Nonsense, he’ll have what I’m having.” The captain interrupted.

Kymil gave a nod and left towards the kitchen.

Nero was skeptical, this was all very new to him.

“Why am I here captain?” He asked seriously.

“Three reasons. First, to recap our last mission.”

Nero felt a wave of frustration.

“What is there to discuss? I failed. Samson incapacitated me and the rest of you had to fight without me. If things went wrong, I wouldn’t have been able to protect Stell.” Nero scoffed.

“Samson didn’t ‘incapacitate’ you. He struck you with a bolt of lightning, and you were completely healed the next day. No one else would’ve survived that. Plus, you got us all the way to the fort, you may have been caught off guard towards the end, but you fulfilled your duty as a knight.” The captain said.

“I don’t feel fulfilled. I didn’t get to beat him.” Nero replied.

“We beat him, all of us. You should’ve seen your squadmates, they were spectacular.” The captain said.

“I’m sure they were, but is it so bad to beat myself up over a mistake? I’ve learned my lesson and now I’m stronger. I’ve spent this whole month training my speed. I think I’m faster than Samson was now.” Nero said.

“Good, it’ll be put to the test. We have another mission to go on soon.” The captain replied.

As Nero sat forward with excitement, Kymil returned with a bottle of elven wine and began to pour Nero a glass. Once he was done pouring, Kymil left the bottle on the table.

“It’s on the house. Would you guys like to eat anything tonight?” Kymil asked.

“No thank you, we won’t be here for too long. Thank you for the bottle.” The captain replied.

Kymil left the two knights.

Nero sniffed at his drink and began inspecting the liquid.

“I forget you haven’t experienced much outside of battle. You should give it a try.” The captain said with a smile.

Nero took a sip of the wine expecting a bitter flavor. However, it was smooth and sweet. There was no taste of alcohol. It was reminiscent of juice. He continued to sip on it more.

“Go easy on it, the taste can be misleading, it’s still a strong drink.” The captain chuckled.

Nero put down his drink and began looking around the restaurant some more.

“What do you see here Nero?” The captain asked.

“A bunch of forest elves working for rich true elves.” He replied.

“True, this place is only here to show Hevarians that there are no hard feelings after the 4th great war. However, everyone knows that the forest elves are still annexed by the true elves.” The captain said.

“Are there still hard feelings? Weren’t you a formidable foe against the true elves?” Nero asked.

“Some people hold resentment. Not me, war is war. What happens after is not the same thing.” The captain replied.

“Is that why we’re here? Because I’m an elf?” Nero asked as he sipped his wine.

The captain chuckled.

“That is one reason, but I’m also a fan of their wine. You may not be a true elf or forest elf, but you are still an elf nonetheless.” The captain replied.

“I don’t think I’m a fan of this, I believe I’m more suited for fighting than drinking wine.” Nero laughed.

“I know how you feel, but the armors got to come off at the end of the day.” The captain said.

Nero looked perplexed.

“Mine doesn’t.” He spoke.

The captain put his wine down and leaned forward.

“What do you mean?” He replied.

“I never take it off unless I’m bathing. I eat, train and sleep with it on. This is the first time I’ve worn anything else other than armor.” Nero laughed.

The captains face turned serious.

“Nero, that’s not a good thing.” The captain said sternly.

“Why not? I feel better when it’s on.” Nero asked as he sipped more wine.

“I was raised during wartime, I fought during wartime. I always kept my armor on back then because I had to. I fought for the day when I didn’t need to anymore. People like Samson never took the armor off. All the bad things came home with him. It turned him into something bad.” The captain said quietly.

Nero took a moment to consider what the captain had just said. Even though the alcohol was affecting his ability to think, the message was clear.

“How about this, when you go home tonight take the armor off, put on some robes, hell sleep with nothing on if you want. I swear you will have the best night of your life.” The captain said with a smile.

“Alright, I’ll try it out. But I would like to discuss our next mission first, I’m excited to hear about it.” Nero replied.

The captain took a moment to reply.

“No, not tonight. The team will meet up at The Brave Cup tomorrow at noon for a briefing. Let’s finish our drinks and head home.” The captain said.

The two finished their cups and the captain left a small bag of gold coins on the table. The captain grabbed the bottle and the two walked out of the restaurant. Nero gave Kymil a wave as they made their exit. Just before the two knights parted ways the captain turned to Nero.

“Remember, no armor tonight.”

Nero laughed.

“Sure thing, thanks for the wine captain.” Nero replied.

The two parted ways and Nero made his way back to the castle. By now the wine was hitting him hard. Once back in his room, Nero removed his clothes and flopped down into his bed, where he entered a deep sleep with dreams of battle and glory, but with no armor.