"Are you the hero of your own story, or the monster of someone else?" Justin's question toward me took me by surprise and echoed inside my mind. I was not sure of what he meant by that, and I had no idea of what to answer him.

We were alone in his chamber, as he had been adamant about sending Rodrigues to his mission without me. He had also given a strict order that no one had to disturb us until further notice.

"The hero inspires those around him. The monster installs fears on them. This is, of course, a simple vision of the world. A hero is, of course, the monster of someone else, and the monster is the hero of his own tale." He put both hands in front of his face and looked me in the eyes. "In the end, they are the same."

"Makes sense," I told him, just because I felt like answering something to break my silence.

He got up and looked toward his map, now fixed on the wall. "We live in a dangerous time. War and monsters had always been part of our history, but something is different now. Like someone is moving the pieces behind the curtains of shadows."

Passing a hand over the map, he stopped above a portal. "Of course, most won't see it like that. All they can see are the fields being burning or the buildings they build being razed to the ground. They believe this is nothing, but how things are."

I had no idea where he wanted to go with that talk.

"When our wise king, blessed by his name, came up with this plan. We praised him. And why wouldn't we? An army of slaves could change the war in our favour." He turned and looked me in the eyes. "But what if this is also a piece moved by the hand in the shadows? Can we be sure?"

"No, by the way. When I survived the fight, I got a message saying something about those who can't be named are watching me."

"They are powerful creatures that can go toe to toe against the Gods. They corrupt those who they can. We don't name them, for it empowers them" he waved his hand. "I'm not talking about them, I'm talking about something far primal and evil, something we have never known before."

He looked like a crazy conspiracy theorist. But to be fair, I would have said the same of anyone who believed magic could be real and that people could be summoned to another world, so he at least deserved the benefit of the doubt.

"But you do have to worry about them. Mana is alive somehow, and the mana inside your [Mana Heart] will respond to your emotions, especially the dark kinds. Those who we can't name may take advantage of it, corrupting and turning you into one of its thralls."

"Is that a thing? I can become a monster or what?"

"You can become a monster, but that's not the case here. What I'm trying to say it's that I can feel that we both are deeply rooted in all this mess. What that means, I'm still not sure."

"So, what exactly do you want from this conversation?"

"You have to make a choice here and now. One that will change your life until the day you die. Because of that, I want you to understand your choices."

"First you can live as a slave. You help me deal with the [Memoir] and keep being thrown on the battlefield after battlefield. To be fair, serving my household will never prevent others from controlling you." He went over to his cupboard and started at the wines inside it. "You will be turned into a war hero to inspire your people."

"Why? I don't understand."

"You are the future owner of a Godly Weapon. The King will want to make you an example. To use to inspire others. Your life will be a living hell of constant wars and political play."

I put my hand inside my pocket and held a [Death Coin] wondering how something so little could change so much of my life, "Makes sense, and the other?"

He took a cup of wine and drank it before spinning it and looking at it like he was in some sort of trance. When he returned to his senses, he poured more wine and offered it to me. I took it and drank the content, it was sweet and spicy, an odd combination.

"You become the monster."

He smiled and poured more wine for me. "This is a good batch, right?"

"A little spicy."

"Like our lives. Sweat, but spicy." He then sat back in front of me and sighed. "I'm a Warden, do you know what that means?"

"Of course not."

"A warden is the military's lord and protector of a region. In times of war, all nobles of the said region are under his rule. A position that is of course coveted by many. Arlam in especial."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"This is a position that holds me down and doesn't allow me to find the truth. I"m ready to pass it down to him if he is willing to help me to get the position of a Lance. Who is charged with waging war against the king's enemy.".

"That looks good, but I still don't see where I come in."

"As a Lance, I can have you working for me and me alone. You would still be sent to the frontline, but only when I order."

"This is just the first option, but working for you."

"Of course, what I'm really asking is that you take my side and help me fulfill my mission. This won't be easy, but I can make your time worth it."

"Haven't I already pledged an oath to you?"

"It's different. You are sworn to my household and I have to take care of you. If you accept, you would swear yourself to me as a Lance, and as my right-hand man. You will answer to me and the king alone."

"How? Wouldn't the spell bind me to the will of others? I saw you breaking it, so I can guess there is a chain of command. But it's not like I will always be near you."

"First, you have some sort of resistance to it and I would be lying if I didn't believe you would break free of it given due time. That would have you executed, by the way."

Good to know…

" Second, the spell ruled can be adjusted. We can make sure you obey me and the king only. The king is a wise man and wouldn't give useless orders to you if he ever give one. So i. In the worst case, you only have to fake you are obeying the orders of two people."

That looked good and all, but it didn't make sense. The second choice was far better than the first, so I didn't see a point in having to choose between them. "There has to be a catch."

"People will have to oppose you becoming the right hand of a Lance. And even with Arlam's help, we would not be able to convince the king who has to consider the opinion of all his subjects. We need to give him a good reason to accept the offer."

He gets up again and puts the map of the [Memoir] in front of us. "You will have to fulfil some tasks to prove your worth. I can already say that the most important one is to kill the cannibals' king."

Memories of that giant destroying the forest made me adjust myself in the chair. I was sure that the knights died because of him, which meant I had no chance to kill him.

"Don't worry, that's your end goal for now. There are steps before that, and we don't know where he is." He looked me in the eyes, too serious. "First, we need to build you a team and prove to the nobles they can trust you. If you accept, the slaves will be also bonded to you."

He let me out of words. So, that was what he meant by me becoming a monster. The other slaves would hate me and brand me a turn clock. I would basically become a slave with slaves.

Which meant nothing to me. That would ensure no one dared to try killing me again like the tattooed man. And I would still be better than the knights.

Of course, they wouldn't see it like that, but that was something that I would have to work on.

"Ok, fine for me."

"That's it? Don't you feel bad for doing it?"

"No. They tried to kill me then twice and it's not like I will force them to lick a dirty floor or kill themselves. I just need to control them enough to bring results, right?"

"That's more or less it."

"Then let 's do it."

He opened a drawer from below his desk and took a parchment; and a pen, "This and a blood oath, it's similar to what we have done, but it will be enforced differently. If you sign this, you must keep my secrets, and won't be able to tell others about them. Not even the spell would make you able to share them."

He passed me the pain. "Write your name with your blood and you won't be able to tell others about this plan."

That looked fishy, but I was already entangled in that. I cut my finger with the pen and held it above the parchment. A pen never felt so heavy before, especially when I signed it.

"Good, there is no turning back now. You have made your choice, Aron, and together we will change the world." He told me with an ominous smile that almost made me regret my choice. Almost, because as long as he took care of my family, I didn't care.

"What now?"

"I need to take care of some business in the city in a week. I want to go as my escort, with a team of another 5 slaves. Choose them carefully, because I will have a task for you all there."

"One that involves fighting?"

He smiled. "It always does. If you have a hard time convincing them, tell them that the meals will be provided and they will be a week or more away from the [Memoir]."

The food alone would probably be enough reason for most to accept the offer.

Someone knocked on the door. Justin made a sour face, clearly displeased that someone dared to interrupt him. "Who dared disobey my order?"

"We have a problem" Arlam's disturbed voice came out from the other side of the door.

"Come in."

Arlam opened the door and entered the room, his face was pale like he had seen a ghost. Even the way he walked showed that he was nervous.

"There are orcs, four or five hours from here."

"Orcs? Justin got up faster than I could see, "How? We heard nothing about them."

"We don't know, they raided a town and are marching toward us. They probably have information about the [Memoir]." Arlam told him. "Most of the knights have already departed for their missions.

"Cursed green bastards! Send a party to search for the knights. Let's use what we have to buy as much time as we can!" Justin said, smashing his fist against his deck, with enough force that it broke in half.

"I will have the slaves and whoever can fight ready as soon as possible." He said, bowing. This had been the first time I have seen him show any hint of respect for Justin. Which could only mean that the orcs were such a treat that it could force a truce between them.

"Take Aron with you. Have the slaves follow his command if necessary."

"It will be done."

I followed Arlam as he rushed outside the building. He stopped in front of the [Memoir] and shouted to all around us to hear. "Everyone needs to be ready to fight in ten minutes! knights, arm the slaves and those who can fight."

Everyone around us stood frozen, staring at him. His explanation sucked really hard and made no sense for those who didn't know what was happening.

"The orcs are going to assault this place!" I shouted.

And then people started to move. Knights rushed toward the armoury. The servants started to run, some to follow them, others probably to hide somewhere. The slaves just stared at each other, unsure of what to do.

I decided it was a good time to start showing my worth, so I rushed toward them. "Follow the knights toward the armoury and then move to the walls. We also need to barricade the doors."

They avoided my gaze, at best. It was clear that most were afraid of me after the fight.

"We need to move to survive! The knights won't protect us."

"And you will? Who do you think you are?" A muscular man with a well-shaved beard answered me.

"The guy trying to save your ass. Now move on or I will make your move."

One by one, people were getting armed and doing their best to prepare for the battle. The metal doors were being barricaded with everything that we could find, from tables to carts and even an anvil. I was not sure it would hold against magic, but if it could buy us at least a minute or two, it would have been worth it as things could change for better or worse in a dynamic environment like a war.

I went up the wall and looked at the world around us for the first time. The fort was situated over an open field, with roads made of stone so well polished that a car could be driven above it without anyone noticing it was made of stone.

There was a forest of grey and brown trees far away in front of us. And a smoke behind it, which could only be coming from the place raided by the orcs. I had no love for the people of this world, but as a father and a husband, I felt some degree of sympathy for the people who died there.

"I found you," Arlam told me, getting to my side. "They will be here soon enough. You better drink this." He passed me a bottle with a bluish liquid.

"What is that?"

"A mana shoot. It will recover the mana you lost and recharge your shield."

I took the bottle and drank it. It tasted like piss and bad beer with a hint of coffee. Not the best drink, but if it could save my life, it could be my new favourite drink.

For a while, nothing helped. Anxiety and anticipation filled us as we waited for the enemies to arrive at our doors. It was different to know someone was coming to kill you than to deal with the possibility of it happening or not inside the [Memoir]. There was also the problem that I already knew the orcs would be stronger than most of us.

That meant most if not all slaves would die today.

And like the world wanted to confirm my fears. Rolls after rolls of orc warriors appeared from inside the forest. Far outnumbering us.

"Do you have a God?" Arlam asked me, out of nowhere.

"Yes."

"Then pray, because we are going to need it."