Finally…I can sleep in a proper bed, nature’s nice and all… but it can’t beat good old civilization! Strolling into down happily I great the old lady walking down the street. It’s good for the elderly to be energetic!

As we walk to the Inn… something starts to bug me… I haven’t run into any… young adults…? There are just children and elderly here…? That can’t be right… I heard this was a lively town. I’m sure they thought of the wrong words, I mean seriously… even the Innkeeper looked like a grandma!

You know what… I’m not going to worry about it, I have more pressing matters to deal with. A BED! Finally able to sleep on a nice comfortable bed after all this time I leap onto it. To only be greeted by a board of wood underneath it…

WHY! Why would you betray me so bed… I just wanted a nice fluffy mattress to sleep in after all the camping! Dah! I’m over it… I’m just going to sleep… they won't’ be here for a couple days anyway so time to take it easy.

The following morning I wake up uninterrupted, it’s nice to just sleep until you wake up! In a good mood I leave the Inn for a nice after meal stroll. During my stroll I stumble upon an old man tending to his farm and offer to help him. The man smiles at me and I spend some time helping him.

(Old man) “You’re pretty strong there youngster, are you a Traveler?”

“Nope! I’m an Adventurer, me and my associates are waiting for the Kingdom’s knights. We’re going to help them reach a nearby fort by clearing out monsters.”

Hehe, I always liked the sound of Adventurer! It just has the feeling about it!

(Old man) “Can… you save my son?”

Wha? What’s with the sudden bomb old man? There has to be a proper order to things you know… Ah.. he’s going to ignore me and keep talking isn’t he.

(Old man) “My son was captured by the bandits that live in the forest! They’ve been kidnapping all the young people in the village! Please help us!”

Really old man...What do I look like to you? Yes, let’s ask the shady guy in a black cloak to help me save my kid…

“Shouldn’t you wait for the knights for something like that?”

I really… don’t feel like working today… Don’t give me that look old man...my lazy day… give it back.

“Fine… I’ll check the forest out, no promises though! I’ll take a look and see if I can help.”

(Old Man) “Thank you sir! We don’t have much here…”

… You’re not even going to pay me? What am I? A charity… damnit old man! Stop it with those pitiful eyes…

“Don’t worry about the reward…”

*Sigh* He better at least have a meal for me or I’m going to be pissed… My good mood ruined I return to the Inn and talk to Damien and Kal about the bandits.

(Kalibur) “Of course we will assist these poor villagers!”

(Damien) “That… sounds like a pain… Can you not get us jobs that don’t pay Kuro?”

It’s not like you were subjected to an elderly man throwing you pitiful gazes! We continue to talk it out and decide to start our operation that night. Slowly navigating through the forest we start to hear… partying?

The sound of singing, and several people just having a good time grows louder as we close in. Uh… are they… having a Frat party…? Is that even a thing... Let me guess, they attract people with their partying and recruit them...

(Damien) “Why don’t we just join the crowd and I’ll start putting people to sleep using magic.”

I really… should learn more spells…magic seems useful… but all the learning that required for non-elemental spells… And I really didn’t go to school to understand how people get put to sleep I don’t think I imagine them to sleep and for it to work... right?

“That’s not a bad idea Damien, I don’t think they actually know who is who. I’ll just use some Somanilla pollen to put them to sleep. When we’re done we just tie them up and have Kal carry them back.”

(Damien) “Good I like it, especially the last part.”

(Kalibur) “... I’m not your butler...or servant. Why must I carry everything?”

“Because we should leave the jobs to who is suited best. Damien’s magic, my stealth, and your… muscles.”

After saying that me and Damien blend into the group before Kal can object. Within an hour we round up everyone and bring them back to the village throwing them into a barn yard. Leaving Kal to keep watch, me and Damien go back to the inn and sleep until morning.

Strangely… not a single person we captured, was a bandit…? They were ALL villagers? They also don’t remember how or why there were in the forest…Something’s fishy… but I’m not sure what… I think I’ll check out the forest tonight if I have time and see what’s going on.

Of course, the knights decide to finally show up and put a hamper in my plans, there looked to be a few hundred of them at least, and set up camp outside the village. So all 3 of us head towards the camp to introduce ourselves.

Ugh… I don’t like these guys already… After we introduce ourselves they seem extremely excited that Kal and Damien were there. But completely ignored me, and didn’t even bother acknowledging my presence. Well it’s not like I have anything to prove to them so I ignore them back.

(Knight) “Sir Kalibur, I will inform the Dragoon Garret that your party is here. I’m sure he will feel reassured with your and Sir Damien’s presence here.”

What’s… a Dragoon? Is it like a dragon… but...dragged on? Hehe, but seriously… I should ask Kal. I wait until the knight leaves and nudge him to get his attention.

“Hey, Kal… what’s a Dragoon…?”

Don’t give me that look… Why? Did I say something wrong…? Why is everyone giving me that look now…? I didn’t get the damned instruction manual for this world!

“Seriously though Kal… I have no idea what a Dragoon is. Can you explain?”

(Kalibur) “Sorry Kuro, I thought you were joking around. I’m truly surprised that you haven’t heard of them. They are the Elites of Drakon, only those with great strength and achievements are given this rank.”

I was then subjected a history lecture… damnit I hate history! Why’d I even bother asking…

(Kalibur) “And the reason that the kingdom changed its view on dragon’s was when they sent an Army to kill the dragon living in the Forest of Mist. It was rumored to be her nest and they were swiftly defeated, but not killed.”

Huh? Why does that sound familiar…?

(Kalibur) “The mother then approached that generation’s King, who had joined the expedition to prove his strength. She was asking for the return of her child, she only attacked because she was worried about her family. After speaking with the Dragoness, the King started to doubt the words of his ancestors… and renamed the Kingdom Drakon. From that moment he even reset the calendar to represent the beginning of a new age where the kingdom would try to co-exist with dragons.”

Uh… wait… they reset… the calendar that day?

“Uh… Kal… what year are we in again?”

(Kalibur) “I’m starting to wonder about you Kurogane… You are even unsure of the year? It’s the 766th year.”

….766 years… since that day… THE HELL!? I’ve been alive for over 700 years!? That…that can’t be right… can it? No… forget it, let’s not think about it… Age is just a number right! You’re only as old as you feel!

After that… Kalibur… slowly gave me a long...LONG lecture. I was subjected to his history talk until nightfall… What did I do to you Kal!? I thought we were friends! Absolutely drained I drag myself to bed and fall asleep.

Recalling a time passed, it was after I found out about my wife’s murder… No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t be myself anymore. All I could do… was smile for them… my sister Mia… and my brother Ken. I could never show them my sadness, nor weakness… As the eldest I have to… be strong, for my siblings.

The office I was working at then, let me take a few weeks off in order to collect myself, but I instead only took one day off. If I was alone at home… with all the momentos of my wife, no let’s not think anymore… there’s work to be done.

Day in and day out I kept myself busy with work, taking care of my siblings… any and everything to get my mind of it… That was until, Kenny didn’t come home. At first I thought he was just out with friends… but he would usually call me or Mia and let us know. Something was wrong… I could feel my stomach churn, I need to find him. NOW!

Frantic I ran outside the house tripping over the front steps, it doesn’t matter… I just need him to be safe… that’s all I need right now. Ignoring the elevator I ran down the stairs until I missed a step because of my ragged breath.

I could feel that I was bleeding, but it didn't’ matter to me, Kenny’s safety is more important than anything that happens to me. If… anything happened to either of them...No, I have to find Kenny. I continue to run and check everywhere I can, no matter how much air I breathed in, it didn’t feel like enough.

Just a little more... hold on Kenny, your brother’s coming...please be ok… I kept running no matter how tired or injured I became. Until I found him in the park, he was swinging on the swings in the dead of night. Nothing to keep him company but a lone light that shone above him.

I can’t show him my current appearance so I dust myself off and catch my breath first… I have to show him the face of a reliable brother, I can’t show him my weakness. I have to be strong… strong enough to protect them.

“Kenny, what are you doing here? If you wanted to stay out late you could have at least called me or Mia.”

Slowly he looked up at me with a cold stare…

(Kenny) “Don’t act like you care.”

What..? Where did that come from…?

“Of course I care Ken! What kind of person doesn’t love his brother?”

(Kenny) “The type that wouldn’t even cry at his parent’s funeral… or his wife’s. You DIDN’T even care! You just stood there staring like it had nothing to do with you! Don’t you DARE act like you give a DAMN about any of us!”

….

(Kenny) “What! Nothing to say! Of course you don’t! Just stand there with that stupid smile on your face!”

….

(Kenny) “Say something DAMNIT! Anything! You won’t even deny it! You cold blooded… ARG Are you even HUMAN anymore!?”

Tears started to fall from his face… it’s been so hard on him...us... Kenny jumps off his swing and runs over to me and throws a punch at me as I wrap my arms around him.

(Kenny) “The hell with you! I don’t need someone like you! I wish it was you that was shot not Sis! She at least gave a damn!”

I couldn’t say a word… every word he said stung a hundred times more than the search for him... All I could do was stand there and take it all in. Until he calmed down. Every insult he threw at me… I took it all…

Still sleepy I begin opening my eyes, the sun again is trying to beat my face in this early in the morning… Can’t you wait until I feel like waking up? Of course the sun’s response was more light in my face… throwing my blanket over my head I try to get a few more … hours of sleep.

(Damien) “Hey Kuro! Have you seen Kal?”

Of course I haven’t seen him! I’m in bed still!

(Damien) “Wake up Kuro, Kal’s missing.”

Wha!?