Swords clashed, and there were around a hundred dragons guardian just one princess. One princess waiting to be saved by her knight in shining armor.

“Eric!”, the princess shouted.

“You’re here to save me!”, she added.

Eric smiled and nodded, the princess saw the gesture and charted to cheer.

“It’s over!”, said Eric, charging forward toward the dragons. He had no fear in his eyes for he knew his victory was certain.

One slash is all it took for him to slay one dragon, sometimes two dragons fell to just one of his slashes, sometimes even three.

Soon, Eric’s dreams were going to come true. He was finally going to save-

“Wake up!”, shouted Dave.

“Oh, you’re already awake!”, he added while looking at Orph who was busy thinking while sitting.

Orph nodded.

Eric’s eyes were now wide open, he went from feeling happy to being sad.

Eric groaned.

“You could’ve woken him up as well.”, said Dave, laughing as he usually does.

“I didn’t want to disturb him... He looked happy...”, replied Orph.

Eric groaned again.

Dave clapped before speaking, “Alright, get up. Let’s go train.”

Eric sighed before replying, “Alright...”

He got up and continued,” ...Give us five minutes, please.”

Dave nodded and replied,” See you outside.”, and went out of their tent.

Eric took his time to get used to the fact that his dream was still a long way away from coming true, but he was not one to give up.

He disturbed Orph and his thinking and asked him to follow him outside.

Orph looked at Eric in shock at first but then soon, nodded. They were both out within five minutes.

Meanwhile on top of a mountain, not far away

“Median! Median!”, shouted Slav, running towards Median and Ogre. Who were busy guardian the slaves.

“Ban has called for you.”, she continued after catching her breath.

Median had a feeling for what was to come, he looked towards Ogre and Slav, gulped down, and went to Ban.

Ban was sitting where she usually sat down, It always felt like some sort of a throne. Dit always stood behind her, it was an almost perfect representation of their relationship.

“You called for me?”

Ban gestured to Median with her hands to come towards her before speaking, “Yes. Yes. Come.”

“At least you’re able to follow some orders.”, she added.

Median had doubts before but now he was certain, he tried his best to control his body shaking.

He bowed but didn’t speak a word.

Ban got up from her seat before adding, “I met this knight... a while back.”

She went towards Median and placed her hands on his shoulders.

“He was grand... a grand person.”, she added.

She removed her hands and started walking away from Median before looking back, “You see... I tried my best, believe me... I did. I tried my best to emulate that grand person...”

She started to walk towards him, “...to be like him... to be forgiving.”

Ban walked as near as she could, putting her face near Median who was still bowing down. She looked down upon him and spoke, “But I failed.”

She walked away again, “As you have failed me.”

Ban started to laugh.

“Why are you so scared... I wouldn’t kill you.”, said Ban, after she suddenly stopped laughing.

“I mean I would, but Dit reminded me that I shouldn’t waste... precious merchandise. “, she added.

Median was drenched with sweat.

“Besides...”, said Ban, while walking towards Median again. She put her hand on his chin and forced him to look into her eyes before whispering, “... I could easily command you to do so.” in his ears.

Median could barely stand up, he looked into Ban’s eyes but saw nothing but darkness. An empty void filled with total disdain for his life. He couldn’t look anymore, so he tried to look away only to see the sadness in Dit’s.

“Alright!”, Ban shouted.

“No need to thank me but... You’re now going to mine. You’ve failed as a fighter but I hope... I really do hope you don’t fail me as this.”, she added before laughing again.

She gestured for Median to follow her, and so he did.

They went to the mine, where Median had left both Slav and Ogre.

“You’re back!”, said Slav as soon he saw Median approaching while giggling.

She smiled at Ban too, who smiled in return.

Ban also gestured to the other two to follow her inside the mine.

“Ahem!”, she shouted while coughing.

Ban placed both of her hands on Median’s shoulders before speaking,” I’d like to welcome your new... colleague. I’m sure some of you have seen him before... but now he’s going to help you guys.”

This shocked both Slav and Ogre, but before they could speak up, Ban placed her finger on her mouth gesturing both to shut up. Which they did.

“Now go ahead.”, she added before pushing Median towards the other mining slaves.

“Hmm... You!”, said Ban picking a random miner from the group.

“Me?”, John replied.

“Yes. I want you to show your fellow... colleague the ropes.”

John nodded.

“Good”, Ban replied and smiled.

“Maybe I can be like him after all!”, she added while still smiling and looked up at the ceiling, confusing everyone else.

She looked at Ogre, asked him to guard the miners, and then looked at Slav and ordered her to follow her to training.

“I don’t want two failures in my camp.”, she said while leaving the mine alongside Slav. Slav did look back at Median with sadness in her eyes while following Ban but left soon after.

“Ogre...?”, said Ogre.

“Oh don’t be sad... It’s way better than the alternative...”, Median replied while picking up a pickaxe.

“That it is.”, John replied.

“You’ll get used to it in no time.”, he added before going back to mining.

Median sighed and followed him with Ogre watching over them.