“Alright Morgana, since you are now a fully-fledged sorcerer, you can now either join a sorcerer’s guild or make your own. I would suggest joining my guild. Glindya is already a part of it.”

“Sorry grandpa, I would like to make it on my own. And besides, your guild logo is way too old.”

“There is nothing wrong with an old tree!”

“Hahahahaha” chuckled Morgana

“Suit yourself. But remember, you need to find members of your own guild.”

“But I thought, a guild with only 1 member is allowed.”

“Yeah, I know it is allowed, but only the strongest could survive the challenges ahead of one’s journey.”

“Sure Sure.”

“Remember all the items that I have given you.”

“Yeah, I got my containers, backpack, return stone and a shrink pouch.”

“Take care.”

Morgana left the town of Colbarde to search for the members of her guild.

Rats, I forgot about my logo. I laughed at grandpa’s tree but I can’t think of one myself.

As she went on her merry way, she encountered some bandits. Now, they were led by a man named Haydren who appeared to be the right-hand man of the leader 10 years ago.

“You!!!”

Haydren then drew a sword and chanted,

Flames of the salamander, bless this sword and give him your flame for this attack

As the flames engulfed the sword, Morgana unleashed an orb of water against the attack.

“Water attack? I thought you wield fire?”

“I thought so too.”

Flames of hope, ignite my hands and burst forth, fists of fire.”

“Fire Strike.”

Instantly Haydren was knocked out by Morgana. His companions fled as soon as they saw that their leader was knocked down.

“When will they learn”

Morgana continued her way until she reached the next town. It was only a short distance from Colbarde. Unusually, the town is very quiet and the few people outside were trembling when they saw her. Looking around, she saw a worn-down sign. The sign says the word “Azuran”.

It must be the name of this town.

While she was wandering around, she saw that the buildings appear to be partially destroyed. It seems that there is an ongoing conflict in this town.

Intrigued by what is going on, Morgana decided to inquire at the town center.

There, she met an old man.

“Where are you from, stranger?”

“I came from Colbarde.”

“You must be the granddaughter of Merlock.”

“You know my grandfather?”

“Well, of course. Isn’t he the strongest sorcerer in these lands?”

“Uuuuuhhhh…”

I didn’t know that grandpa has that kind of reputation in these parts

“Well, he must have sent you to help us.”

“Well, actually…”

“We are troubled by bandit infestation. Just a month ago, bandits have rampaged throughout the town. Only the county of your grandpa and the town of Kuldro was able to resist them in these parts. As a town chief, I beg of you, please help us. We will pay as much as we can.”

I don’t know if the message has received grandpa, but judging by the situation, this town needs help.

“All right, I will help you…”

“Travion.”

“I will help you Mr. Travion.”

Just as Morgana stepped out of the town center, a large explosion was heard.

“Stop you filthy bandits.” Shouted a large man.

Wielding a huge club, the man looked at Morgana, and went to Travion.

“Who is this?”

“Merlock’s granddaughter.”

“Didn’t I already told you about this. We don’t need help from outsiders.”

“But the bandits are still rampaging across our town and county.”

“Yah, but we can take care of ourselves”

“But…”

“The last time we took help from others, this is the result. Hhmmphhh.”

Angrily, the man glared at Morgana and walked past her.

“Don’t mind him…”

“Is there a story to this?”

“There is. Come with me…”

Travion went to his small house just outside of the town proper.

“That man is Piedro. He is the guardian of Azuran and deeply protective of this county. The story goes…”

About two months ago in Azuran...

Piedro was finished with his daily tasks as a guardian of the town. Wanting to rest for a while, he went to the house of his friend, Lance.

“Hey buddy.”

“Hello bro.”

“So how are you doing as the town guardian?”

“Hmmm. Pretty hard so far. But enough about me, what about you?”

“About me? There is nothing interesting in my life.” Lance chuckled.

“Hmmmm. But you have turned down the role of being town guardian for about a year now. I know still consider yourself a stranger, but you have guarded this town well.”

“I don’t know… But I think you deserve it. It is your hometown after all.”

“Alright.”

“Drinks?”

“Sure.”

After drinking for a while, Piedro saw that dusk was approaching and decided to go home.

“Are you sure, you’re okay to go home”, asked Lance.

“Nah, I’m fine”, said Piedro.

Piedro was greeted by his wife and their newborn son when he returned home.

“How’s the day?”

“It’s okay”, said Piedro who then kissed his wife.

“I’ve prepared a meal for you.”

“Thanks.”

After eating the meal prepared by his wife, Piedro paid compliments to it.

“This is delicious, as usual.”

“Hahahahaha. I hope you like it. Anyway, get some rest dear, you have a long day ahead of you.”

“Can I at least help with the dishes?”

“Sure.”

After cleaning the dishes, the couple went to their bed and slept.

The next day, a commotion was heard at the town center. A young man was unconscious and was tied up with a note stating. “This man is unwanted. Take him.”

Taking pity on the man, Piedro untied the ropes. He carried the man to one of the doctors in the town, a man named Alfredo.

“He looks in a pretty bad shape. Let me take care of him”

Light of the way, give us hope, cure the pains of this man. Help him.

“HEALING MAGIC: Basic Restoration”

The man woke up and thanked the doctor.

“This is the man you should be thanking”, the doctor pointed at Piedro

“Thank you, kind sir.”

“No problems. As a guardian, it is my duty to ensure that every people here is taken care of.”

“But, I’m an outsider.”

“Well, in the note, it was said that you’re unwanted, and I don’t want anyone to consider themselves as unwanted. So from here on out, you are one of us.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Just Piedro would suffice.”

“Thank you Piedro.”

“You’re welcome….”

“Konrad.”

Piedro shook Konrad’s hand.

“You know what, you can stay at my place until you find a place to settle down.”

“Thank you for the kind offer.”

“Don’t mention it.”

Piedro lead Konrad to his home. There Piedro’s wife welcomed the stranger and introduced him to the guestroom. Due to his duties as a guardian, Piedro cannot stay at his house for too long. He then bid his wife farewell and gave her a goodbye kiss.

She can take care of herself. After all, she is a sorcerer.

As the days pass by, nothing notable has happened except that Piedro has noticed an increase in the rate of bandit attacks. While he was talking with his wife about this, Konrad heard the name “KarKhon Bandit Group”

“Beware of that group. They were the ones who devastated my hometown and were the ones who beat me up and dragged me to unconsciousness,” said Konrad.

“Hmmm. They were probably the ones who dragged you here.”

“Probably. I will just warn you, that group is a very dangerous one. You need to prepare yourself against them.”

The next day, Konrad told Piedro that he would be out of the town, looking for a place to stay. With a gratitude towards Piedro and his family, he gave them a basket of oranges. He went about on his way to the town to look for a house.

Later that day, Lance requested a private talk with Piedro.

“I don’t trust him.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t trust Konrad.”

“But he was in my house for over a month now, and nothing bad has happened to us.”

“Think about it, he only mentioned that he was tied up and dragged into unconsciousness.”

“And we found out that he was dragged into the town center. If you think that he tied himself up, I can assure you that no one who ties himself can bind a rope as tight as his.”

“Hmmmm. Take heed on the treat of the KarKhon Bandit Group.”

“I will.”

Why is he so suspicious on this guy? He was tied up real nice when we found him and has gotten along with my family

Suddenly, Konrad came running to Piedro yelling

“They have arrived, the KarKhon Bandit Group, and they are targeting your house!”

“Let’s hurry up then.”

Konrad and Piedro came running towards his house which is burning down. There a group of bandits were laughing in a gleeful manner.

“Let’s take them down.”

Konrad and Piedro charged at the bandits. With all his might, Piedro hit several of the bandits with his club. The same could not be said to Konrad who went down after a hit from one of the bandits. This enraged Piedro and hit several more of them with his club. Swinging hard and loud, he yelled.

“CLUB SMASH”

After knocking down 8 bandits, the rest fled. He went to a knocked-out Konrad who was still reeling from the bandit attack.

“Sorry, I wasn’t much of a help”

“No problem. I wanna is how could this happen.”

“Ashure asked for some ingredients and then…”

“Let’s go inside. Let’s see if we can still save them.”

Konrad and Piedro went inside the burning house. There, they saw Ashure coughing and fading into unconsciousness.

“Let’s help her up.”

As Piedro approached his wife, he muttered a word to Konrad.

“Traitor. I know it was you.”

“What are you talking about? Your wife is dying and all your thinking of is accusing me?”

“Ashure never asks for any ingredients. She gets it herself.”

“Hahahahahahaha. I was hoping to keep up with the ruse for quite a while.”

How did she fell so quickly? She is strong enough against any bandit attack.

“You are wondering how your sorceress wife was able to be subdued so quickly. Well, the oranges I gave her contain mana drain. It drains the mana of a sorceress, and with that, she is unable to use many of her spells. With her being weakened, me and my thugs were able to beat her down. Sadly, we don’t know where your brat is.”

“You bastard!”

Konrad then summoned a spear and was in a motion to stab Piedro when a large shield spun its way across Piedro’s house.

“Lance”

“I knew it. The KarKhon Bandit Group does not simply dump their captives.”

“Knowledgeable, are you?”

“Of course. But for now, I must leave the both of you, adieu.”

Still shocked by the revelation, Piedro was in disarray, causing Lance to shake him up.

“Get it together man, your wife and kid still need you.”

“Let’s save my wife and our son.”

“Atta boy.”

“I…. saved….. him…. Go….. I…. don’t….. think….. make….. it…..

Soon, Piedro and Ashure’s son, appeared right next to her.

Invisibility spell

Ashure was protecting their child all along while she was weakened and battered.

“I….. love…… you…..”

Piedro went to his wife and gave her one last kiss.

“We can still save your son Piedro.”

“I know, Lance.”

With Piedro carrying the body of Ashure and Lance carrying the child, they managed to escape the burning house.

“With him infiltrating the town and county, it will only be a matter of time before his men would go here.”

“I will make a promise to you Lance, I wish avenge Ashure and will never trust a stranger with my live again.”

Lance although shaken by Piedro’s declaration, simply remained silent knowing full well Piedro’s current state of mind.