“Did you sustain any injuries?”, asked Cess to Dave.

“No.”, replied Dave flexing his muscles and laughing.

The party had made camp nearby where the fight happened.

“Sir! Sir! We’ve found a village nearby!”, said one of the royal guards running towards Dave.

Dave smiled and spoke, “Good. Let us go there.”

“You sent a scout ahead?”, asked Orph.

Dave nodded. “I saw smoke nearby and thought that it was their base.”, he added.

Knight Dave ordered the party that they would head towards the village tomorrow morning.

Which they did.

The villagers came forward, it looked like they came to greet them but on closer inspection, some of them had farming weapons in their hands.

Knight Dave who was leading the party put his hands up before speaking, “We don’t want any trouble.” while awkwardly smiling.

An old man gestured for the others to put their weapons down. It looks like he’s the village elder.

“We thought you people were bandits.”, said the old man.

“I’m the village elder. Can I ask who you people are?”, he added.

“I am a knight from the kingdom, along with some knight cadets and royal guards.”, replied Dave.

“What brings you here, sirs?”

“Yea... None of you guys came when this village was ransacked by bandits...”, spoke some of the villagers.

“Bandits?”, asked Dave.

“There have been no bandit attacks here, at least not in the last few years sirs.”, replied the village elders before gesturing for the crowd to quiet down.

“Oh. We’re here to capture some slave owners... Do you know anything about them?”

“I’m afraid not, sir.”

Dave looked into the eyes of the village head. It didn’t show any hint of him lying.

Dave sighed and asked them if they could stay near the village. To which the village head happily agreed.

The party set up camp near the village.

Dave asked them to not trouble the villagers, to which the party agreed.

Dave sighed and went to the outskirts of the village far away from the camp. Cess saw it and decided to follow him.

“Are you alright, sir?”, she asks as soon as she thinks she’s in hearing distance.

Dave looks back and sighs before turning back again. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright sir. I’ll leave you be.”

“No. No. It’s fine.” Dave looks towards Cess, before looking at the ground. “I know how we’re related.”

“I know why you try so hard to get close to me...”

“Of course, you do, sir. You’re this kingdom’s greatest knight.”

Cess couldn’t meet Dave’s eyes.

“It’s not that... It’s not. I just want to defeat... that man.”

Dave sighed again and continued, “I feel stupid sometimes... I know I’m strong but maybe I can’t physically solve all of my problems.”

“I’m lost. I do not know where those slave owners are...”, he added.

Cess came near Dave and spoke, “It’s alright. You’re the greatest kni-”

“The added pressure gets to me.”

Cess got stumped, she looked around her and smiled.

“You have us.”

“Us?”

“Yes. Us.” Cess then pointed her hands toward the party.

“Don’t give up.”, she added while smiling.

Dave nodded before sitting down on a rock and putting his head down. Cess left him alone. Some time passed before Dave put his head up and saw Eric.

He went near him and asked him, “Do you want to train?”

“Huh?”

Eric was shocked.

Dave didn’t speak or move, he stood there waiting for Eric’s answer.

“Yes sir...”

“Good. Follow me.”

Dave led Eric to where he was slumping and asked him to do what he was doing.

Which were a lot of sit-ups and pushups.

“Come on. You can do this cadet.”, said Dave while smiling.

“Yes... Sir"

“I can’t hear you!”

“YES SIR!”

Eric tried his best but couldn’t keep up. He fell to the grown, trying his best to catch his breath.

“Alright, let’s take a break!”, Dave said while smiling. He patted Eric and went his way.

But Eric wouldn’t get time to rest, Knight Dave ordered all the cadets to go and hunt. Hunt enough food to have a feast.

Eric groaned but complied, he followed Orph and Cess to the village looking for traps. Cess found a bow and arrow there.

“Maybe this could help.”, said Orph.

“We aren’t allowed...”

“No one except us is going to know about it.”

Cess smiled and nodded, she took the bow and a bunch of arrows before running towards the forest.

“Looks like we don’t need traps.”, said Orph looking at Eric.

Eric shrugged and then they both ran after Cess.

“Wait for us.”, screamed Orph but to no avail. Cess wasn’t going to wait for anyone. She jumped over all the obstacles in her path, saw a boar nearby, crouched down, and aimed at it. A single shot, that’s all it took.

Both Eric and Orph were shocked.

“H-Have you used a bow before?”, asked Eric.

Cess laughed but didn’t reply, she jumped straight toward the boar.

“Yes. My mother’s a hunter.”, she finally replied.

“I’ve used a bow since I was very young.”

“Then why not keep using it.”

“We’re not allowed...”

“She’s right.”, Eric agrees.

“Not you... So many weird rules...”

“Shush.”, said Cess. “What if someone hears you? You could be tried for treason.”

“Makes me want to hate him more.”, replied Orph with a cocky smile.

“Can I try?”, asked Eric out of nowhere.

“Sure...”

“Have you ever used a bow before?”, she asked.

Eric nodded with a no.

Eric aimed at a rabbit nearby, and it hit. At least enough to severely wound it.

“Wow. You’re really good for someone who never used it.”

“That’s all I’ll ever be.”, murmured Eric.

Cess took her weapons back and shot some more shots, she was able to get some deer and another boar easily.

“Who needs traps when you have this trusty thing with you.”, she said while smiling.

They went back to the village and asked them to cook it. The villagers rejoiced, and the feast happened.

Dave sat down beside the village chief and saw the villagers happy around his party. He smiled and thought that maybe Cess was right. He should keep trying.