I walked outside the school and breathed in the midday air, slightly heated by the blazing sun above. Ah… how I hate nature. I started walking down the path out of the forest. This place, dragon’s mountain. It’s not exactly a mountain is it?

It’s more like a forest begin surrounded by a mountain range with only one natural entrance and exit. Obviously, the mages were not so dumb to randomly name this place the dragon’s mountain without a singular mountain being the focus point for the area, so the reason as to why they named it the dragon’s mountain is very intriguing.

That’s a mystery for another day however. Once I was far enough from the school, far enough away from the observatory magic floating around the grounds, I walked into the forest. The capital isn’t that far away from the academy, in fact, it’s the closet major population center. It makes sense that our capital is so close to this place of power.

Despite its distance from the academy, I refused to humiliate myself and walk all the way there. I needed the tiniest bit of class and prestige, I didn’t need much, just a bit.

Walking even deeper into the forest, I could no longer see outward. Perfect. I decided that here was the perfect place. “Come to me, noble steed, spirit of the sun, serve me with your legs, your hooves and your life!”

A portal had opened in the dark forest as a beautiful glowing horse emerged from the portal. It wore bright iron armour and its skin was a pure white. By its sides lay two wings, tucked gently against the armor. I can’t show my ability to fly to the public, however, the same doesn’t go towards my beasts.

I mount the pegasus and with a snort, it flew high up into the air, darting past the trees and straight into the clouds. When I was young, I had openly summoned a pegasus in front of all my family members. They were shocked by the sudden appearance of the mythical beast and how well it got along with me.

It’s common knowledge in my family that I can summon such a creature. I have no doubt that the information spread outward already. There is no point hiding the fact any longer. I confidently ride the beast across the forest and over the mountains and there, not even ten minutes away, lay the imperial capital of the kingdom of Gan.

A huge stone wall surrounded a massive expanse of land, most of it flat plains and hills rolling up and down the landscape. Battlements lined the walls, giving ranged cover for those on top. Ballistae armed and primed in between the ramparts were aimed high up into the sky, while cannons, hidden in small holes in the walls remained pointed at the ground.

Gan was very heavily defended compared to the other kingdoms. This is mostly because the kingdom encompasses a large amount of ley lines. The mana attracts dangerous beasts and monsters like insects to a flame. The defenses weren’t for an eventuality, they were a necessity.

As I approached the wall, I flew closer to the ground, making sure I didn’t get myself shot down by those ballistae. They were made to shoot down magical beasts. A single, powerful shot created to kill or break the wings of flying creatures. An ingenious creation made by a madman. Aerial superiority often decided a battle. Losing the ballistae meant losing entirely.

As I approached the kingdom walls, I could see a large line formed in front of the only gate to the kingdom. In it were various peasants and the such, each one talking with a guard before walking into the gates or being prevented from entering.

I walked closer to the line and a guard had rushed up to me personally. It’s kind of hard to miss a flying horse. His attire consisted of solid steel armor with a black iron chainmail underneath. It was very reminiscent of Julius’s guards except it carried more prestige. The reason for this was solely because of Julius. He wanted his personal guards to be powerful but not look the part.

Guard: “Ah, Aenios. I’m sorry for all this trouble in front of the gate, let me escort you through.”

The guard, whom I’ve never seen before, easily recognized me and started to lead me past the village folk. Their eyes looked up before returning to their feet as my gaze met theirs. Another guard rushed towards my horse and tried to harness it. He got kicked hard in the gut when he attempted.

Aenios: “Sorry about that, Pegasus is very shy around people he doesn’t know. He also doesn’t like being harnessed. Don’t worry, I promise he won’t be running around the streets.”

The guard very readily apologized to me… and my horse before rushing back to whatever position he came from. I continued the walk forward. The villagers eyes lifted up again but they weren’t looking at me this time. Their eyes were stuck on the pegasus.

This is probably their first time seeing such a rare creature, and probably their last. I wouldn’t blame them, however, I can only imagine their filthy eyes staining the coat of the horse. The horse reveled in the attention, snorting with arrogance. Ugh, just like Judgement amongst mortals.

When we approached the gate, the guards quickly hurried to open the large metal bars. I heard a large *crank* and more sounds of machinery as the barred gates began to recede into the walls. I took one last look at the line before continuing to walk.

As I was about to enter the capital, a small old lady walked up to me and tugged my robe. A dirty brown stain in the shape of her fingers remained as she released her hand. FLITH! The guard, looking at my robe and the woman, took action by jabbing her with the blunt side of his spear.

The woman fell backward, clutching her stomach in pain. The line of commoners gasped and even some of the guards looked distressed.

Steel Gate Guard: “How dare you even touch a nobleman’s clothing! You insolent swine! We’ve already told you, get out of here! Don’t cause trouble ever again!”

I let a small smile emerge as the guard attacked the woman, but alas, I cannot savor her misery right now. My appearance as the good samaritan must remain. I approached the guard, and place a single hand on his shoulder, his rage subsiding quickly, afterwards, I approached the woman who was writhing on the ground.

With a single spell, I healed her of her pain and her wound as well as removing the dirt from myself and her clothes. Despite the ease of the task, touching me is still a crime, one that is punishable by death. But once again, I remind myself of the greater good and my own anger is contained.

I extended a single hand outward and the old woman graciously accepted it.

I guess now was as good as a time as ever to inquiry about the line. I’ve never seen something like this, despite my numerous visits to Gan’s capital.

Aenios: “Tell me, why is there a line here? These people, why are they waiting to enter the city?”

The guard sighed. “I’m sorry sir, I should have explained this to you. Recently, there have been quite a few bandits popping up in the capital. They’ve been causing havoc, ruining businesses and taking away from the economy but more importantly, they are undermining the royal name.”

This was certainly news to me. This was indeed something to worry about, however, I feel that he’s not quite done.

Steel Gate Guard: “There is another thing. A recent raid on a bandit hideout lead to the identities of their conspirators. Some of which happened to be from the kingdom of Cat, Catalonia.” He leaned closer to me and whispered the rest of what he had to say.

Steel Gate Guard: “The higher-ups are saying that Catalonia is sending spies into our kingdom in preparation of an invasion. Tensions have been high after the border disagreements and the Cat’s aren’t known for remaining peaceful. Thankfully, we have their children attending the MCBA alongside you. As long as they remain in Gan lands, they won’t dare declare war.”

He leaned back and began walking towards the gate. “Because of that, we have to talk precaution and the king’s advisors have suggested a border check, this lead to that and here we are.” He threw out his arms, referring to the gate, the guards and the line of men and women waiting to get inside the safe capital walls.

Aenios: “And this woman, what about her?”

I looked back to the decrepit old creature that stood behind me. Disgusting, ugh.

Steel Gate Guard: “Well… the minister of finance heard of the check and decided an entrance fee was a great way to… let’s just say you can’t get in without a fee.”

Aenios: “And this fee, how much is it?”

The guard looked terrified as I asked that. “It’s only a silver but please don’t worry yourself! You’re an extremely valuable friend to our prince, asking you to pay such a minor amount just to get in the city would be an insult!”

I smiled gently and placed five gold coins in the guard’s hands. “This is for the next five-hundred people looking for entrance into the capital. This new law, it will do nothing more than decrease the wealth of the city. I hope at least the people can find some solace in the fact that the guards are working hard to uphold the law.”

The men and women in the line started to cheer as they heard my words. The guard stood still, speechless before gulping and getting back to work. The old woman smiled with her broken disgusting absolutely nasty teeth before the entire line rushed through the gates. The guards barely managing to keep them in check.

Aenios: “Please do keep in mind that a security check must be done. Don’t make this hard for the guards, charity does not mean complete freedom. Please form an organized line!”

Once again, a line formed and the guards sighed in exasperation. The guard I was talking to nodded and I nodded back before he escorted me into the walls.

I mounted the horse once again and waved goodbye to the guard and the villagers, before I commanded the beast to quickly trot along the road which extended from the gate all the way to the loud, bustling center of the huge expanse of land that made up the capital of Gan.

---

I picked up my pick and slammed it back down. Up and down, up and down. The red crystals glowed with power, or maybe anti-power? I had no idea. I quit school. Exhausted, I sat down to take a small break, looking back at the pile of crystals behind me, I decided it was time to call it quits for today.

I walked over to my little hut. A shabby wooden room built into the stone wall that kept us all in. It did nothing to keep out the harsh cold that blew in from outside. I lay down on my deerskin, something I won in a gamble. It was the only thing that prevented me from sleeping on the freezing rock beneath me.

As I lay shivering on top of the hide, gnawing on its edges to trick my empty stomach that I had already eaten. I was afraid to close my eyes but eventually, sleep befell me and I returned to those horrible nightmares.

I was just a boy when my village was raided by bandits. They killed my parents, took me and my sister. I was ten back then. She was twelve. It was only two more years before they took her somewhere else and I never saw her again.

Growing up was hard. I was constantly abused by the other bandits, made to work like a dog for mere scraps. I tried to steal some more food once. I didn’t get a meal for weeks. It wasn’t until I was sixteen before my life started to turn around.

I was chosen to form a new squadron with someone high up in the “organization”. As if it was something that sophisticated. We were just bandits. Anyway, someone high up had decided to create a new team, and I was needed.

I quickly accepted the offer, thankful for the opportunity to get away from that hellhole that was the bandit base. It was there where I met my real family. It was a small team, just me and five others. Elli, Li, Mark, Belle and Captain.

At first, I was terrified of Captain. He almost never spoke, was always serious and never told us his name, even till date but after a few missions with him, I began to understand the small changes in his expression. When he was angry, when he was happy. I could even tell his meager attempts at making a joke.

He taught me how to fight, and in return, I taught him how to talk. It was fun, he was like a father to me. Over the years, our group came together closer. We told each other things, things about our past, things we never told anyone about before. Mark was a beggar up until the Captain found him on the streets. Li was a slave before Captain ransacked the noble’s mansion. Belle was used as stress-relief and Elli… she was just like my sister. A little girl taken from her family.

We bonded and shared moments together. We survived through everything. There was nothing we couldn’t do. We were invincible. Until we met him.

It was two years ago when everything changed for the worst. I was walking up and down the halls with Elli, anxious. Captain was called in for an important meeting and it didn’t help that both of us were worrywarts.

When Captain walked out we bombarded him with questions. His only reply was that cocky grin of his and a few words. “I’m getting promoted!”

The next couple of days were filled with celebration. Captain was drinking non-stop, Belle was showing off her magic, Li and Mark were off looking for a good woman to share the night with while me and Elli realized our true feelings for each other.

Those were the happiest moments of my life. So why? Why does God have to take away everything good from me? A few more years passed and we did some missions before Captain was tasked with something from the head of the entire operation.

By that time, me and Elli were already having our first child. Captain told us that I could stay behind and be with Elli, but neither of us could accept leaving Captain to go alone. I said my last goodbyes to Elli before departing with Captain, not even asking where we were going or what we were doing. This was my biggest mistake.

We were shipped off, away from the capital to some noble’s land. Spies from another kingdom had found vast amounts of blood crystals here. Enough to cover one-hundred thousand men in armor made of the stuff. This was probably the biggest mission we had ever taken and by far the most important one.

Our task was simple. Just to oversee the mining operation and make sure we weren’t found out and for an entire year, I lived in this rotten cave, away from my family, away from my daughter.

Mark, Li and Belle all had no family back at home, they had no ties. It was probably why they died with Captain. That boy, he came out of nowhere. It was a summer evening when I saw a bright flash of light come from Captain’s room.

This wasn’t his prank or joke. This was something else. It wasn’t until I heard his screaming did I rush over and tell Belle and the others. Mark and Li broke down the door while Belle removed the stone walls. We were astonished to see what was inside.

There stood a single boy, clutching Captain’s neck in his hands. At this point, there was no chance of winning was there? I tried to give an order to attack but it was already too late. Those chains, they ran straight through Belle and killed her instantly.

I screamed in desperation to attack that damned KID! But… but nothing worked. The arrows just bounced off and the swords couldn’t even get close. Tears were welling up in my eyes, but he… no… that monster wasn’t done.

Those horrible chains snaked around half of the men, some gave up. Others kept fighting. Nothing worked. Then he slowly crushed their necks and I could only watch as both Mark and Li struggled against their slow death.

Li: “P-Ple..ase st..opp.”

Those were his last words before the chains rapidly closed and their heads flew off their bodies, the blood of my comrades landing in my agape mouth.

Li’s head landed right in front of me, the desperation in his eyes, the pain he felt, forever petrified in with his last breath. Oh god why? Why did we come here?

Some of the bandits began to run. I told them to stop… but… they died too.

The Monster: “Your captain, he tried to fight me. Now, he’s a writhing pile of meat that’s barely alive. Your friends, they tried to fight me. Now they are headless corpses whose remains you can see right before you and if you try to fight me…”

Finally, he pointed the chains at Captain. My eyes went wide and I wanted to scream for him to stop before I got a noticed a weak, cocky grin on his face. Memories of my Captain rushed back to me. Of course! He was invincible and this was some kind of trick or maybe a training drill. He was probably going to yell at us for being cowards after this was done. Bell, Mark and Li were probably somewhere, hiding in the camp! A faint bit of hope emerged and materialized into a smile on my face. I could tell, everything was going to be alright.

Then, he exploded.

The rest of my body that wasn’t dirtied was then covered in blood. The smile on my face refused to move. I-It’s the captain. Of course he’ll have something up his sleeve. He’ll probably pop out from behind the bookcase and yell surprise! He always was a joker…

Ha… haha… hahahah.

He’s dead isn’t he?

The Monster: “Good. You understand. Now, let’s begin.”

I gasped as I opened my eyes to daylight and the sounds of picks hitting stone. I grabbed a nearby rock and added a line to my cave. I looked at the two giant golems of light standing outside the cave, preventing anyone from exiting.

I open a small letter from my pocket, the contents are unimportant, I only look at the top and the bottom. “Dear Jyld… From, Elli”.

This won’t stop me. I will escape. I will get back to my family and I will avenge my family.