Many years ago.

Midday, across a green plain outside of town.

A single hawk flew through the sky, its cries echoing throughout.

A group of men, each on their own horse, raced across the field. The men were dressed in leather armor, weapons sheathed on their backs. They all looked rugged and boorish, with immoral looks on their faces. One of them was leading the rest at the front and was considerably burly compared to the other men. To go along with his husky frame, an unkempt beard grew from his chin, he wore a bandana on his head and sported an eyepatch over his left eye. At one glance, one could tell he was the leader of this group of bandits and thieves.

“Oi! C’mon lads! Pick yer asses up! The faster we get this job done, the faster I can get to a brothel and get me a bitch for the night!”

The trailing men snickered at their boss’ remark while on top of their horses.

“But boss, what about us?” A bandit from the group smiled and asked his leader.

“Hehe, with what we’re being paid to do here, we can rent out the whole brothel and drink ‘till we’re full for the years to come!” replied the boss.

“Haha, yes boss!”

“Heh, a perfect chance to get rich!”

“Finally! I’ve been pent up recently and need a good release!”

“Hah, maybe I’ll buy a few girls as slaves and spend the rest of my life in luxury with them serving me!”

Each of the men were blinded by their own greed and desires, barely paying attention to what’s ahead of them.

Behind the group of bandits and thieves was another man atop a majestic white horse. The man donned white armor with gold accents, complemented by his white cape with black wolf fur around his shoulders. A White Templar.

Even though his armor was quite radiant and eye-catching, it didn’t hide the elegance and charm exuded from the man. He had a sharp jawline and a handsome face to go along with it. His hair, short and blonde, rustled in the wind.

The White Templar whipped the reins of his horse causing it to go faster until he caught up to the bandit leader.

“Desmund,” said the Templar, “perhaps we should stop first and let the horses rest, they’ve been running for too long.”

“Tch,” Desmund, the bandit leader, clicked his tongue.

“Look ‘ere Everette, me and the lads ‘ere are the ones getting paid to kill the girl. Yer just ‘ere to make sure she dies and report back to yer master like the good little dog yer are!”

The White Templar kept quiet. He only looked back at Desmund in fury and contempt.

When Desmund saw how the White Templar looked at him, he sneered back.

“Oi you dog, don’t think just ‘cause you’re wearing that shiny armor and look just a bit handsome it makes yer any better than us! I’ll have yer know I can get any girl I want, long as I have enough coin that is!”

Desmund then continued to rattle on about his “conquests” with different women. Strangely, they all seemed to end the same, his nostrils would flair and his gaze would look to his men as if asking them to reaffirm his manhood.

As the White Templar continued to listen, he felt appalled having to hear the vulgar stories that the bandit leader spat out his mouth.

“Don’t mind him Royland! He’s just a horny old dog!”

“Yeah, yeah! But aren’t we all?!”

“Hah! Here, here!”

The men near the White Templar, Royland Everette, tried to encourage him, not wanting the young man to have any hard feelings towards their boss while telling crass jokes to past the time. Hopefully, he won’t complain to his superiors about the group’s rambunctious behavior. The last thing they needed is a reduction in their pay.

‘Are these men really fit for the task they’ve been assigned to? If anything, their coarse attitudes give them some drive and motivation. I just hope when they see the target, they won’t forget what must be done and immediately pull down their pants.’

However, Royland decided to stay silent and just looked ahead with a solemn yet determined look on his face. As the group drew nearer to their destination, Royland’s mind echoed what he was told to do a few days ago.

‘Follow that bandit leader and his group to make sure he gets the job done! I’m paying those shitheads mountains of gold! Check that they kill the girl, report back to me, and I’ll be one step closer to completing my objective. And whatever you do, make sure you’re not seen by her or any of her entourage. One look at you and they’ll immediately know who the fuck put a kill order on her and lay the blame on me! Are you listening, Royland?! These are your orders!’

‘My orders…” Royland thought to himself as his horse came to a halt along with the other bandits.

The group stopped in front of a tall building that looked to be guarded by a male and two female knights. The three stood by the entrance of the building looking wary, guarding whatever’s inside from outsiders. Luckily for the bandits, they tied up their horses a further bit away from them and hid behind a few rocks and bushes.

“All right lads, hurry and gear up. We’re about to earn our pay,” whispered Desmund to his companions.

“Aye,” the bandits replied as they unsheathed their swords from their backs. The rowdy bunch looked more serious than a few moments ago. Their gazes looked more committed and a heavy air around them, wanting to get the job done.

‘Hoh, perhaps these men are suited for the job after all,’ Royland thought to himself, impressed by the group’s demeanor.

“Boss! There are lasses right there! How ‘bout we kill off the boy first and then we can take the girls and pass them between us!” said one of the bandits.

After hearing that, the rest of the men let out a mischievous grin, their eyes turning lecherous.

Royland doubted what he just heard, ‘Ah, I guess I spoke too soon.’

Bash!

“YOU IDIOT!” Desmund whisper-shouted, punching the depraved bandit in the face for what he said.

The rest of the group cowered back, afraid they’re boss was going to punish them as well for having such thoughts during the job.

However, what Desmund said next astounded the group, including Royland, questioning if he was really qualified to be the one leading them.

“You lot can take the girls, just leave the lad to me,” said Desmund. His gaze locked onto the male knight, affectionate and lustful.

‘Hm? Wasn’t he going to a brothel to get a girl after this?’ Royland thought to himself as the bandit group got ready for action.