It’s not the darkness that was scary, I knew I wasn’t afraid of that, because when the moon shone full I would still tremble. I think darkness was at least predictable, it was one of the sole constants in that unpredictable hell.

It was night when I left that place too, now that I think back on it. It was that night that I truly became the hero.

Maybe the moonlight has some deeper meaning for me. It wouldn’t surprise me, there’s more legends about me than grains of sand on the beach. Surely one must mention ‘moonlit nights’.

My empty chuckle, drawing the attention of a boy seated on his mother’s lap across from me, prompts him to begin inspecting me carefully.

I suppose my figure and outfit might ignite some questions in the boy’s mind.

“Hey, Mister,” He eventually whispers, glancing at his mother’s dozing figure behind him. “Are you a warrior? A mercenary maybe?”

“Tobi, that’s rude.” His mother chastises with a single open eye. “I’m sorry about him he doesn’t…”

“No worries.” I wave her off quickly. “It happens all the time. Actually, Master Tobi I am a traveling Ninja. Trained by my teacher for fifteen years before being subjected to the ‘ultimate trial’. Now that I have succeeded, I am traveling the world to do virtuous deeds!”

“… Woah,” Tobi mutters with a slack jaw. “Ultimate trial… Cool.”

His mother, giggling behind him flashes a thumb towards me before shutting her eye again as Tobi begins to imagine the way of the Ninja.

The caravan bumps noisily as the road switches from dirt to cobble as the city comes nearer.

From here I need to find some coinage or maybe a job escorting someone to the capital. Of course, me alone will make the latter difficult. Even if I was the most peerless warrior on the planet, who’s going to trust the word of a single stranger?

To start, once we arrive I’ll ask the merchants how much a seat on a capital bound caravan will cost. I can expect it to be at least double what I paid to get here, which is my life savings, so if that math works out I can be expected to leave in about thirty years.

Luckily, I’m the hero though. Not that my branded wrist gives me some discount trip, but a person incapable of falling in combat can surely make a few measly gold coins in a long weekend.

Finally arriving I wave to the boy and his mother as our group splits in a dozen different directions. I was quickly able to find the merchants running the caravan to the capital. The route was via Nantwin so I’ll have a chance to sample some seafood before hitting the long leg, and it will be a lot cheaper toll-wise, than the straight shot.

Two and a half small gold coins for the seat though.

Now I just need to find a job paying three.

There’s the obvious choice but I’d rather not get my hands dirtier than they already are.

As I began to walk away from the caravan section a loud whistle cut into my thoughts. Glancing towards its source I spot a handful of men outfitted in thick hide armor. Judging by their location they must be scouts for various escort parties.

Stepping towards them carefully with sword arm tense the whistler walks forward from within the group to meet me.

“Our fifth quit last minute, if you can carry the bag and hold your own against our archer with a sword, your in.” The man rattles off quickly as if he has rehearsed it a dozen times. “Food and bedding for five are already packed, so no worries on that front. What’dya say? Give it a shot?”

“Going to the capital?” I hesitantly ask weighing the chances of this being some strange trap. But if we are escorting a legit caravan they wouldn’t dare try anything. What’s the worst the can happen? I’m the hero. If I can’t take a risk what am I even doing?

“Assigned to the Six-thirty departure. We already pushed it as far back as possible once Jax quit. We swapped with every group we could. You’re our last hope. So?”

“Alright. Where’s this archer?” I ask reaching for the sword I grabbed on my way out.

“Not here, not here.” The man tut’s pushing the half-drawn sword back into its scabbard with breakneck speeds. “You almost gave me a heart attack. You must be new here. There’s a public training ground two blocks away from here.”

“… Ah.” I mutter glancing at the tense guard glaring at me a short distance away.

“But really this fight should be interesting. I hadn’t expected you to be able to move so fast with a body like that. In fact I was worried about the backpack when I first called you over.”

“I may not look it, but I know how to carry a sword. And my strength is fairly good. My father was a party leader so I trained with them from time to time. I can hold my own in a fight.”

“I’ll say, you might be able to give me a run for my money during this bout.”

“Cim I thought I was…” A man with a bow hanging off his back begins to say with an incredulous look at the man leading.

“What are you saying?” Cim asks with a wide grin. “I’m this parties archer after all, how could I volunteer someone else to fight?”

Noticing a distinct lack of bow or fletching on the man I can’t help but shrug. I don’t mind fighting him or anyone else.

No matter what it ends the same way.

One way or another, I win, and I go to the capital. From there, I gather my army and we march on the demon world.

And any demons in my path fall.

That will be enough to prove it, right?

It has to be.