PPS: Is three fronts too much, or just two? Haven't started that far, so leave me comments if you've been following you'd likely know where I'd be taking this portion of the story.

“I suppose it’s time to leave. The camp was east... south-east from the village, but where am I? Oh well, east until I figure out where I am,’ spoke Andrew to himself as he chewed on a fruit he saw Lisia pick up before. With essentially no survival skills in this world, he realised how reliant on his two companions he was for basic necessities. “I will find a way to reward them in the future, anyways let’s go to.. well anywhere with directions to a village to I don’t even know the name of,” laughed Andrew self-derisively as he gently leaned his ax onto his shoulder.

After nearly a full day of lazing around on the beach of the lake, Andrew eventually decided to continue moving forward. Downing a small glistening bird, that literally shined like a sapphire, he deposited it into his inventory to act as a snack should be able to find the opportunity to cook. Worst case scenario, he figured, he would just throw the bird out to the stray beasts prowling around for an easy meal.

Walking in the direction he thought to be east, he kept going at a steady pace. As nothing seemed to be even remotely familiar, he was entirely lost, but he wasn’t too distraught. He just took it as another journey of sorts.

Given that the dense forests from before seemed to disappear, he altered his path slightly north thinking that the south would typically holds more prairies. Whereas the north would be colder, thus trees and if all things go well - snow. However, as expected the first sign he saw was not even remotely familiar.

Across the grasslands he saw golden wheat growing up in scattered, inconsistent rows. ‘Not quite as picky as the elves, huh?’ Mused Andrew as he saw a small village stand at the centre of the wide field.

The houses themselves were falling apart, but they still stood. Quiet, but still noisy enough for the life to be felt coming from it. Quickly depositing his near-omnipresent ax, he kept his leisurely pace walking towards the center.

Without hurry, Andrew made his way past the tall stalks of wheat, brushing his hand past as he moved. Feeling the roughened grains fighting momentarily before swaying along with his stride. Each step was angled awkwardly as he was trying to follow the resulting path from the erratically sown crops. With his vision was covered by the ears of the sickly looking wheat, he trudged his way through the fields trying not to damage the weak crop as much as possible.

Finally dodging the last of the stalks of wheat, Andrew was momentarily taken aback by the sight that lay before him.

In the fertile fields, the village itself shone in the midday sun, showing the brightly gleaming metal and stone identifying the buildings. While it could have been a great center years ago, now the signs of disrepair had shown their mark. Roofs without shingles, those that did have them were few in between and even then it was patched with mud and rock. What stood out the most, however, was the square.

Gleaming in the bright light of the sun, three figures stood. With polished, custom made armor, swords raised in the air, and even a banner meticulously designed with fine silk, they stood impeccably straight with a noble’s air radiating from them. Glittering in the light of the sun, the black swan, centered itself around the iridescent glow of crimson lights, seemingly to show the elegance of the human’s legion.

‘Geese more like. They probably mean, ‘we’ll even look noble cutting off your head and dragging your entrails around,’ scoffed Andrew slightly at his jaded interpretation of the banner’s implication. He began approaching the square to see what the commotion was all about. With growing restlessness in the crowds, he finally heard a shouted sounding throughout the village.

“Hear me, hear me! We, the King’s knights, are here to welcome you into our cause.” Spoke the man confidently as he sheathed his sword as he opened his arms wide, “any man willing to fight the growing menace in the west will be given fifty pieces of gold should they succeed! Those who fight valiantly, but do not, will not be unrewarded! Everyone who signs up will be given ten pieces immediately, those who die will have their families compensated - BUT those who succeed will become the richest of the village. I know well the situation in these troubled parts. Few adventurers are willing to lend you a hand, yet you must fight off the beasts day and night,” paused the youngest looking knight for dramatic effect, inciting the crowds into a frenzy, slinging out curses towards the cowards who’d refuse to help their plights. With raised fists and pitchforks being thrusted in the air in anger, the knight kept his neutral gaze.

Taking a deep breath, he yelled out, “NO MORE! After the war is over this village will officially receive the protection of Arlai, no more will you have to fight each day to survive. With royal guardsmen sent to protect you and your families, you will have nothing to fear during these battles. When you return, everything thing will be just as you left it…”

The knight fidgeted slightly as he hunched over, eyes laying on the floor in front of him as he spoke cautiously, ”Alas, I suppose I lied, your homes will no longer stand,” seeing the restless movements from the villagers, the knight gave off an almost completely imperceivable smirk, but held his gaze to the ground.

Raising his hands to quiet the frenzied group, even dodging a stone thrown haphazardly, he sighed loudly continuing, “it is because of the King’s orders that if you fight with us, tradesmen of every color will be sent to tear it all down - in favor of a true village. No, a true town! They will rebuild this dying village into a place prosperity! Of peace!” Roared the knight as his hunched back became straight, his eyes fastened to each villager and a wide grin plastered on his face. The two behind him stepped backwards and the knight who spoke followed, signaling the end of his speech.

Silence took over for a short time, but as the first began to shout the rest followed. This time holding enormous favor for the young knight. Cries of joy and excitement bursted from the crowds as each man, woman, and child held each other rejoicing. Even with the man walking off the makeshift stage, the shouts continued for a long while, drowning out any other noise that might have been heard before.

With the near fanatical shouts praising the Kingdom of Arlai, Andrew sighed softly muttering, “...’Of taxes,’ more like. Not to mention should they return, there is a difference. I suppose it’s is time for that then, hey? What was he called again…? Oh well, not important, Impotent Skeleton declared war on humans because of one of us 'Players', or something to that effect.“

Feeling a slight tap on his shoulder he was greeted by a tanned, young man, no more than thirty years of age. The man standing before him was not much different from himself. Armed with a longsword at his hip and shield glistening on his back, the browned haired man seemed fairly young, but experienced. Seeing the crowd, the adventurer gave a small sigh and turned to Andrew with a wry smile.

“You hiding from the pitchforks? I wouldn’t peg you for the type,” chuckled the man as he eyed Andrew up.

Andrew’s mouth lifted a little as he asked with a simple nod, “adventurer?”

Receiving a small shrug, the man spoke, “sometimes. I think it would be more appropriate to liken myself as a blade for hire - mercenary, if you will.”

“I was thinking about that at one point, you know?” Sighed Andrew as he shook his head slightly, “it’s just that I’d probably be liable to be put to death if I kill a client or commanding officer. There isn't many people I like, let alone would be willing to protect, you ever have that problem?”

“Well, as you can see, no, not yet anyways,” laughed the man touching his shoulders and lightly caressing his neck, “there were a few cases a couple of years after the Great War though, but those things are behind me.”

“I’ve heard about it, but only in name. What is this Great War?” Inquired Andrew.

“They say that it happens about every fifty years or so, at least from the few books I’ve actually read, in one way or another. Regarding the last one, which was the largest so far, we got pissed at the elves, they got mad at the dwarves, the dwarves with the… So on and so on. It’s basically that everyone was left to protect themselves while they were busy kill everyone else. Simple, right? Well, humans got pissed with everyone so the old empire collapsed into smaller ‘Kingdoms’ if you wanna you wanna use that word.”

“So that’s what brought us to today - in history, mind you. How about you, what did you show up here for?” Questioned Andrew as he shielded his eyes from the gleaming shield.

“Same as you, I’d like to think,” spoke the man with a grin creeping on his face. “Gold.”

“Ah, one of those types, hey? Anyways, I’m just looking for directions. While a war sounds interesting, money doesn’t hold much merit for me - for the time being.”

“How about prestige then? Reputation, so on and so forth,” laughed the adventure as he continued on, “there are three reasons why people like us do what we do. It has nothing to do with survival after the first stage, either it’s money, women, or fame. You don’t seem like you’d have a problem with one of them and money is off the table apparently, so that leaves us here. Say what you will, but I’ve seen more men die for these reasons than anything like honor or loyalty.”

“... Cynical one, aren’t you? Well, I can’t fault you for that,” grinned Andrew as gazed at his sheathed sword. His grin slowly turned to silent contemplation as he struggled to word it properly, ”In the beginning survival was the driving force... now I don’t know. How many have died by these hands? I can’t say. Yet, it seems like for the time being it is the only path for me. Regardless, all of this psychological non-sense is tedious. Have you ever considered settling down?”

“Once in the past. After a year’s peace, a plague took out the woman I loved so I gave up ‘homes’ and returned to where I belong . Before you say anything, don’t apologize, it’s long since been buried. The road still waits for me and I will tread where things take me,” as the man’s grin turned forced, Andrew immediately closed his open mouth.

As Andrew stood awkwardly trying to figure out something to respond with, he eyed the man’s attire and said without thought, “why money? I can’t imagine you’d need more than a pocketful to live like a king in some of these parts,” spoke Andrew as his gaze turned from the adventurer to the falling buildings in the distance, subtly nodding at them.

As an awkward smile crept up, “secret. You have yours, I’m sure, I have mine. Gold is necessary to fulfill the small dream of mine, however.”

“‘Attendants’?” Said Andrew as a playful smirk.

“The ones who get paid by the night and leave in the morning, maybe. The ones who stay in your head, no,” snickered the man in response.

As the two were talking about more cheerful topics, the crowd had dispersed and a knight approached the two. With gleaming silver plate encasing his entire body below the neck and streaks of gold flaked on his chest and shoulders, he began to speak cheerfully, “Look at what we have here! Brave adventurers looking for fame and fortune?”

With a quick sidelong glance to check if anyone from the crowd was nearby he quieted his voice from the loud, heralding one he used previously, “different rates for men who’ve proved themselves before. Unlike these here who’ll likely die in the first wave or two, men that have already braved the perils of life and death are given a much, much more substantial salary. This small amount of gold can hardly replace your potential income after all, so titles of minor nobility are granted to those who show valor and courage on the field of war.”

“Well, as someone who is well-versed in the art of war - and being paid for it - I would like to add a clause for my friend and I,” smirked the mercenary as he pulled his sheath from off his belt, revealing a bulging coin purse underneath. “Paid in advance for each battle, only committing to one confrontation at a time. And drop the titles. I need only gold, gold, and more gold. As for my friend here, I can’t speak too deeply about his requirements, though I don’t think they will be too excessive.”

Sighing loudly, Andrew loosened his sword from the sheath and spoke out to the knight, “well, in truth I could care less about the money. I only want to perhaps a way to find some people to help me further my ability. If you can teach me, I’d gladly join to learn more from you all, however, if you are as weak as the fodder you are preaching to… Well, this conversation will be over. Oh, random elf village, most likely north - know anything about it?”

With the knight thinking over the terms, the adventurer interjected, “ah, well I heard one being in that direction, but I’ve never been there. I started working my way up from the south after all. It gets too cold up there.”

“Cold? It’s ridiculously hot as it is already. Please tell me winter is coming soon so this bloody heat wave will by over,” muttered Andrew as he pried off his blackened undershirt from his chest - pulling skin with it.

Seeing Andrew wince slightly, the adventure let out a wry smile commenting teasingly, “true man of the north, eh?”

As a reflex, Andrew said, “wrong side, we don’t say ‘eh,’ common misconception. Looks towards the far eastern side and then you may be right, but not from where I come from.”

“Ahem - are you two done? We can agree to those terms, but you’ll have to provide you own way there and food. We only have so many supplies we can bring up with these ones,” spoke the knight with a indifferent nod towards the excitable crowd, “and too little time to call for more men or grain. Do as you will until the battle, but we’ve already had skirmishes with those bony bastards. You’ll be paid accordingly, assuming you’re worth your claims. And - you.”

With a small *shing* the knight pulled out his decorated longsword causing Andrew to mutter, “pretty, but is it a decoration or true steel?”

“Ready?” Said the man as he backed up slightly to give Andrew a bit of room.

“Have at ‘er,” replied Andrew as he drew the short sword to meet the swinging blade of his enemy.

With tiny sparks lighting up the two blades, they both took a step back. Andrew’s blade was no worse for wear, however the knight’s longsword that once held extravagant engravings sketched into the blade was scratched wickedly. As a frown came on the knights face he swung again.

As the blade neared Andrew’s chest, Andrew merely raised his sword slightly to interfere with the charging blade. As the two met, Andrew flicked his wrist, leading the knights blade to break their gridlock and side down Andrew’s sword.

Casually stepping back from the still moving shallow swing, Andrew raised his blade to the knight’s semi-exposed throat. Sighing loudly, he spoke casually, “you are new to the ‘order’ or whatever the hell you call it, hey?”

Seeing the sword point just under his chin, he trembled slightly, before dropping his shoulders with his sword clanking on the ground. “Y-yes,” letting loose a long exhale as Andrew removed his sword, he continued, “unfortunately, I’ve been thrown into this order… well, without much training. The elders are far more skilled than me, but they needed people at the villages, recruiting so that we don’t have to resort to conscription. Although we have done so in the past, very rarely does it ever work to a great extent. Moral and some such reason.”

“”Blue-blood?”” questioned the two in unison, causing them to laugh loudly in front of the unarmed knight.

“Ha, oh well, When will this be? I’ll need to be somewhere in about two days… no make it four. I don’t want to go back there unless I have to... “ Sighed Andrew with a troubled face.

While he wanted to meet up with the two he figured that they would have enough to do over the next few days to keep them busy. Given Lisia’s return to home and Taryk’s task, he didn’t think they would be ready to leave for a few days. ‘It could be nice to meet some new people too, though I don’t think many will be too sociable on a battlefield.’

“Anyways, all I want his some basic armor, nothing fancy, to hold me off. And someone to teach me magic, preferably of the elemental nature,” after some thought, Andrew decided to alter his request slightly, earning him a disapproving look from the brown haired adventurer.

“Magic? You’re really into that fairy shit? Oh Rywen, by the way.” Questioned the brown haired adventure, Rywen, as his eyes narrowed slightly on the man with an arched eyebrow.

“Campfires, dealing with sweltering temperatures, and other annoying tasks.” Replied Andrew indifferently. Waving off the man, as he turned to the knight, “if you can do that, by all means I’ll help.”

“That’s it? I could probably steal it from one of these peasants here to give you all that you asked for right now. Back home there are academies that offer much more than that in any major city… Well, to each there own. I’m sure it won’t be an issue. And, a day’s travel west is a meeting spot that we are sending everyone, though I’m not sure when we’ll be sending people off to battle. As you can tell.. I’m not exactly qualified for such information, but so be it.”

“You are qualified to requisition rewards?” Questioned Rywen as he glared at the young knight.

“Y-yes!” Feeling Rywen’s gaze at first was bad enough, but Andrew quickly joined in, pressuring the young knight to speak out, “if nothing else I’ll arrange it from my father’s estate! He’s a duke so such things are nothing to him!”

“... Then why are you here?” Sighed Andrew even though he already knew the answer.

“Politics. Anyways get a move on! I’ve had enough of this interrogation. That’s supposed to be my job. South west, you’ll see some caravans if you’re on the right path.”

“Oh, you’ve said there was a den of beasts around here… Do you by chance know where that is?”

As the two looked at Andrew inquisitively, Andrew simply shrugged and left in the direction of the so called beast’s den.

Thinking he might get lucky, Andrew marched a little north-west in hopes of finding the den. It took only a half hour to find the clearing with a substantial burrow in the middle of the open. Tempting any curious critter or man to their fates it was as arrogant as the beast was domineering.

Ignoring the obvious trap-like nature of the burrow, Andrew called out loudly, “Hey! Wolfie? If so get out here! I wanna ask a favour!”

As the burrow quaked slightly, a shadow passed from the front door, barking “Humin, what want?”

“Lone wolf? No matter, a ride to battle. Anyways, you’ll be free to hunt on the way and check out the village in depth to find any weakness so you can attack later on. Think, eating the dead of the battlefield, free meals… or you can just fight because I’m apparently the Den Mother’s mate?” Waving his hand dismissively, Andrew walked up to the beast, growling out all the while.

“Food? Mate? ‘Kay I fight,” growled the wolf as he swatted the ground a few times to show his resolution. “What ride?”

“This,” replied Andrew as he jumped onto the wolve’s back.

As the wolf instinctively tried to jump and buck Andrew off, he eventually gave up when he realised there was no ill intent. Andrew, on the other hand, was rather annoyed at having the impromptu rodeo, but realised it was his fault to begin with. Gently patting the side of the wolf, Andrew asked politely, “can you take me to the village first? Then we can go to the battleground.

With Andrew’s new mount, who begrudgingly followed Andrew’s request, he quickly made to the village - greeted by a large number of spears, pick forks, and small knives pointed at him. Shouting loudly he called out, “he is a friend, he will not eat any of you.. unless you die. Be that as it may, if you attack I’ll have to do the same.” Leveling the giant, blackened ax that towards them, Andrew stared at the crowds to see if any still had any ideas and was accompanied by a feral growl that terrified the crowd. With the townsfolk now entirely petrified, largely from the wolf, but also from the vicious looking ax; he made his way up to the startled adventurer.

“I figured you had something up your sleeve… but this? What in the actual hell? How can you tame such a beast? At least in such a short period of time,” with the wolf growling with it’s two heads towards the relatively small man, Andrew interpreted for him as he tossed the small sapphire bird towards one of the mouths.

With a bone shattering snap of its jaws, the one head seemed content, whereas the other was even more agitated, “Calm down, I’ll get another, you glutton. You have the same stomach don’t you?”

Turning his head back towards Rywen, he sighed and what back to topic, “I have another at the camp anyways, but not ‘tame,’ basically, think of it as a mutually beneficial agreement. He eats some of the dead; I kill them in comfort. Not much more than that.”

As more growling was heard the disgruntled head - far too close to the Rywen, for his comfort - Andrew sighed, “Yeah, yeah, I’ll feed you later, but don’t get lazy - or cocky. Anyways you wanna ride? Or do you have a horse or something?”

“H-horse. I think I’d rather use him than… that,” squeaked out Rywen as he pulled out a small whistle.

After an irritatingly high pitched tweet - that irked both Andrew as his new found mount - a bulky, spotted black and brown war horse came trotting up. Completely indifferent the the large carnivore, the horse sauntered up to Rywen who clutched the small leather stir up and smoothly mounted it.

Grabbing the reins, with a loud neigh the horse reared up and he questioned Andrew with a raised eyebrow, “you ready? And can you ride that thing bareback?”

“We’ll find out,” smirked Andrew as he growled towards the wolf, to tell the wolf to set off towards the south west.

With the grasslands blurring past, the two set off towards the battlefield. Andrew on a vicious looking silver wolf and Rywen on a powerfully built steed that easily kept pace.