Gregory sat atop his horse, his half-golden, half-silver armor gleaming as it reflected the light that shone upon it. Behind him, his army stood at the ready, silently waiting, pikes and spears raised high. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, but all he saw was the specter of another war, another endless battle. When will it stop? he thought bitterly. I’ve sacrificed more than I care to for this country in that damned war. Even if we won, can it really be something to be proud of? A trophy to be claimed?

  He sighed deeply, allowing himself a moment of exhaustion before turning back to his men. His face hardened into the mask of a warrior, concealing the weariness beneath. ′Men of the Von Houzen estate! Soldiers of the Empirium!′ Gregory’s voice rang out, clear and commanding. ′Are you ready to march and make the sound of death? Those beasts, those animals, those freaks, think they can start another war and win it. Ha, they’ve lost every battle we’ve fought in, and this war will be no different with us joining the fray. We fight in this war as one, and if they can’t beat us separately, what are they going to do when the North stands united under one banner, the banner of freedom? Now, march, and let’s bring victory just like always!′

  As they reached the border of the Duke’s County, Gregory’s sharp eyes caught sight of a trio of travelers in the distance. He swiftly dispatched a few scouts to intercept them. When the travelers were brought before him, Gregory’s stern demeanor softened ever so slightly as he recognized the distinct purple fabric draped over Albaras′ armor. With a knowing smile, he greeted them. ′Look who we have here, Albaras, already on the road with your companions, I see. Are you on another warpath against beasts?′

  Albaras offered a cryptic hymn. ′Not a beast this time. A very special human, for a change.′

  Gregory’s curiosity was piqued. ′And is this human near the Cross or Dunten? We’re heading there ourselves. If you wish, you could join us.′ He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly, sensing there was more to this than just a simple request. ′Though something tells me you’re not simply passing through...′

  Before Albaras could respond, I eagerly blurted out, ′Can we join them, Albaras? It is a long time ago since we last met.′ He pointed to Gregory with a grin, his excitement palpable.

  Rederick, who had remained silent up until that moment, glanced at Albaras. ′We’ll travel with you to your next destination, then go our separate ways after.′ His tone was calm, but there was something in his gaze, resolute, almost defiant, that suggested the decision was final in his mind, regardless of Albaras’ plans.

  Gregory flashed a smile ′Come, ride beside me, my dear Kian. Tell me a few stories of the successful contracts you’ve made with the others.′

  There was something about the way Gregory asked so casual, so confident, yet so sincere that I couldn’t resist. It wasn’t just the tone of his voice; it was the earnestness in his eyes, the warmth that felt genuine, as if he truly cared to hear what I had to say. Without a second thought, Kian moved to his side. Neither Rederick nor Albaras had time to react before Kian was already there, eager to share the stories of his successful contracts, it was as if a weight dropped from his shoulders as he presented his experiences like trophies, something to be proud off.

  ′Stay with me, kiddo. It’s not wise to share everything.′

  Beneath my hood, Kian looked up at him. His pale face still held warmth. ′I can handle it. Don’t worry so much. Wasn’t it me who saved you twice?′

  His expression shifted, his sharp features softening. His eyes seemed distant, like reflections on deep water not sad, but drifting through a memory. For a moment, his gaze passed through me, reaching for someone long gone.

  ′You’re still too young to understand,′ he murmured, though it felt as if he was speaking more to himself than to me.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Kian turned my horse back toward Gregory, who was now in conversation with Albaras.

  ′Ah, my dear boy,′ Albaras said laughingly as I approached. ′You’ve missed the beginning of Gregory’s tale, how he fought in the War of Fatigue.′

  Kian tried to focus, listening as Gregory recounted stories of battle and the relentless demands of war, but my mind kept circling back to Rederick’s words. Still, fragments of their conversation reached me, talk of loyalty, of sacrifice, of an unwavering devotion to the emperor’s land.

  As they entered the Duke’s County, a group of bannermen of the Cross stood watch, awaiting reinforcements and prepared to guide them to their assigned destination as directed by the Protector.

  Their banners bore various sigils, one displayed a pine tree with golden leaves, another showed the same tree but with a castle looming in the background. But one banner stood apart, unsettling in its design. Against a black backdrop, a bald, featureless face wept in silence, its expression unreadable, its identity lost to ambiguity, neither clearly male nor female.

  ′Greetings, bannermen of the Pineburry’s and Adam family,′ Gregory said, his voice steady. ′I see your lord has finally risen to a higher position. Well, deserved.′

  The bannerman nodded in acknowledgment.

  ′So then,′ Gregory continued, ′where should my army make its way?′

  The rider bearing the sigil of the pine tree and castle stepped forward. ′To Dunten, sire. My lord is there, guiding the young Protector, who will soon take on the responsibility of leading our forces and defending the county.′

  Gregory nodded, a hint of approval in his voice. ′A new Protector already rising? That’s good news. Maybe not under the best circumstances, but better than having no leader at all.′

  Rederick looked at Kian as the duo split from the army, veering off the main road.

  ′Why did we leave? Shouldn’t Rederick be with us?′ I asked. Something about this felt wrong, off. He was… is a part of this group. We complete each other.

  Albaras chuckled lightly. ′Easy question, my boy,′ he said. ′There’s something I want to show you before we reach Drettius.′

  Kian frowned. ′I just don’t see why Rederick had to be left out of this.′

  ′I’m not leaving him out of it. I’m leaving you out of it.′ He glanced at Kian, his voice quieter now. ′I know it will be hard to accept, but Drettius is not someone you get to meet.′

  Kia wanted to object, why couldn’t I help? The words sat on the tip of my tongue, ready to spill out. But something held me back. Was it the way Albaras spoke? There was something in his tone, something unspoken yet deafening. It screamed at me to stay silent, to let this happen.

  ′To become what you must, you first need more experience with the bow,′ Albaras said. ′This is your only chance to gain that experience, my dear boy.′

  ′And where exactly are you taking me?′

  He didn’t answer. He simply led me forward in silence. His tone shifted. The warmth vanished.

  After a while, we arrived at the edge of a vast forest, stretching for miles, with a river snaking along its side. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine.

  ′Some friends of mine live here,′ Albaras finally said. ′I took on a few contracts for them long ago. Listen well, respect them, follow their guidance, and do not give up. Unlike me, they won’t go easy on you.′

  From the shadows of the trees, two figures emerged, clad in dark green cloaks with feathers lining their hoods. Their bows were nearly as tall as they were, their bodies covered in muted greens and browns, blending into the wilderness. At their wrists, glints of metal caught my eye, bracers, perhaps, or something more.

  One of them spoke, his voice sharp. ′Who have you brought to us, Butcher of the Woods?′ Their piercing gazes settled on me.

  ′A temporary student, try to teach him well.′

  A temporary student? why should we do that said one of the two men.

  ′It is the favor I still have, remember what happened twenty years ago,′ Albaras said, looking up at the man. ′That battle, where your men stood alone doomed to die.′

  The other man looked down at him, exchanging the glance. ′You were the problem. The only reason we’re alive is because of our strategy, not you. We simply avoided you.′

  Albaras let out a laugh. ′Ah, good memories. But still, I have the favor, not you.′

  The other man spoke, his tone measured. ′I have a proposition for you. What if we teach him, and in the end, he decides whether he stays with us or returns to you? If he chooses to leave or stay, our favor is done, and we’ll never have to see you around here again.′

  Albaras gave Kian a slight push forward. ′Good luck, boy. I’ll see you when I’m done with the contract.′ With that, he turned and rode off, heading back the way they had come.

  ′What’s going to happen now?′ I asked nervously.

  ′Follow us,′ they replied in unison.

  With that, I trailed behind them into the forest.