Why? Why do I have to be so lucky? There are billions of people, but nooo Lady Luck became my stalker. The fuck does she find appealing in me? Go rape some random lord or an idiot in a palace, I'm sure they would be more than happy about that arrangement. God damn it. I run and jump through the wall of fire while hiding my face with my left, and the moment I land I don't even look around, I just hope my memory is correct and swing my sword at ten o'clock. I felt my sword graze some fleshy bit, I don't stop to look at the result and roll to the right instantly. Half a second after which a spike of earth impales the air where I just was. I finally took in the current situation.

How in the hell did a bandit group get their hands on a fucking mage? Or better yet, what in the name of my hairy balls is this imbecile mage doing here? Well, it doesn't really matter anymore, as he's a bit busy choking on his own blood. Can't even close a small cut on his neck? Pathetic. As I'm preparing to finish him, my instincts scream at me to get out of the way, and I roll forward. Several bolts hit the ground behind me, poisoned most likely. Fuck, I gotta hurry, even if they're retarded they still have a numbers advantage. I quickly chop the mages head off, even half-dead he was more dangerous than anyone else here. Next are the ranged fighters.

"He killed Atir!"

"Catch him!"

"Shoot him you dumb fucks."

A lesson to every close-combat fighter, GOOD FUCKING CARDIO, if they can't catch you, they can't kill you. Running towards the two archers dumb enough to stand next to each other, I prepare for their next shot. The moment they aim at me I bring up my shield, and block the bolt that should've hit me in the chest, and the other bolt missed me entirely. Oh come on, at least fire seperately to keep me on guard. I reach them before they can prepare another shot, they stood about two meters apart, the one on the left is almost ready to fire again, apparently more experienced than the one on the right. To prevent him firing I tackle him with the shield held high. I quickly take my sword and plunge it through his lung. Shit, not enough time, the meatballs are catching up. The second archer throws his crossbow away and runs into the forest. Sorry, I can't let that happen. Shit, he's faster than me, I can't catch him like this. So I do the dumbest thing that comes to mind, I throw my sword at his legs, and by some miracle it cuts into his calves. Not quite sure how much damage it did but it did create a spectacular fall. Oh, am I switching places with Lady Luck on who's turn is it to fuck the other over? I run after him, grabbing my sword from his friends body, and plunge it into his back. I don't really register the screams and curses from their friends.

"Donny! Noo!"

"Oh sorry, was he your butt buddy? Pity, his dick won't stand again. But you could suck it while it's still warm. Last taste of him, you know.."

Ok, one by one, you little shits. I continue running around, and dividing them, oh, nice the one in front doesn't realize that he's separated from his group. Turning around I block his attack with my shield, his eyes flash with fear as he realizes his mistake. I stab my sword into his Adam's apple. What? Didn't expect me to retaliate? Ok, three bean cans left. I repeat the same strategy for the next two idiots, but the third runs away when he realizes that he's the last left alive. Shit, maybe I could hit him with a crossbow, damn he's too far away.

Sigh. Why am I a living magnet for situations like this? I collect anything of value from the dead bandits. A few extra coins are never really extra.

A mage, two archers, and several sword-smashing idiots can scare quite a few people into submission. Not sure if they had too many actual battles, likely they didn't and that's why I'm still alive. Putting a mage into the vanguard, they definitely had something wrong with their brains.

...

I continue on the path towards Emeral, the appearance of trees tells me that I'm going in the right direction. Still, mages becoming bandits...I need to hurry. After several days and eating nearly all of my yak snak, I reach my destination.

The harsh environment stops any village from appearing north of the city. Even the city itself only exists because during the summer the river Anolat melts, and trade starts, making Emeral a large trading and control center. Which additionally is quite remote from other cities, which allows whoever has power to do basically whatever they want to whoever travels through. Corruption, greed, and time are powerful forces, and they all gather around like flies buzzing around shit. The city stands on the river, a stone wall five meters tall surrounds the city, less of a city more of a fortified castle really. The gates are open, but there are at least five armoured guards on the ground and two archers on the wall.

"Halt! Who goes there?"

"Legionary B117"

I'm still in the legion, so everything has to stay official. The guards eyes become round as they tense up.

"What's a legionary doing so far north?"

"Same as always, protecting the lives of ungrateful little shit. Are you gonna hold me here all day? I have a lot to do."

The leader looks at his comrades then back at me with visible worry on his face.

"Can you prove your status sir?"

I take my upper clothing off exposing the mark. The moment their eyes fall on the mark on my chest they shrink and look away in fear.

"Is this enough?"

"Y-yes. I'm terribly sorry, we didn't expect you."

"Why? Has something happened?"

"Um, my apologies sir, b-but I wasn't informed, about your umm.. arrival."

He's hiding something. I can feel it. But nothing will come from squeezing him.

"Not a problem."

"Thank you sir."

They step aside as I put my clothes and armour back on. I didn't take the bandits armour as it was heavy, and slowed me down. Walking into the city I go over my plan again. During spring, summer, and autumn, the city is alive and bustling, but now it looks as if its been abandoned for decades. Only a few people are outside and even the inns aren't as bright as they usually are. Sigh. If I remember correctly the Legion Hall is in the east part of the city. Walking there takes about twenty minutes. When I arrive there I curse every god I can think of, the building is still standing, but the doors and windows are closed with wooden planks, and seems to have been abandoned for quite some time. What the actual fuck. Never in all my days have I seen anything like this, a closed hall, this is unacceptable in any form. If the Legat heard about this... No, not my problem. Just report in and that should be the end of it.

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I return to the center of the city and walk directly to the nearest inn. So that's why they were acting like that. Shit, I need more information. I open the door to the inn with a slight squeak, and close it behind myself. It's not full, but not empty either. Good. I go to the counter and place ten coppers on it, not too much not too little. I look at the granny behind the counter who greeted me politely.

"Good afternoon. I'll take a meal, no alcohol."

She smiled at me warmly and turned to give orders to the cook and waitress. I take a seat near the wall. It had been quite some time since I had a hot meal. The food comes quickly it's bean soup with potatoes and meat, bread, and ginger ale. I eat in silence, and listen to the conversations around the inn trying to glean information from them. All they speak about is bullshit, tits, ass, their adventures, and how they killed a bear bare handed. I wait till evening when most of the drunks leave. Then I meander over the counter, take a seat, and place a silver coin on the bar. Grandma looks at the coin then at me for a few seconds in silence.

"Girls aren't for sale. We're not a brothel."

I look at her in disgust. The waitresses are children who looked to be barely twelve.

"Single room for one night. Alone"

She looks at me with suspicion.

"That's too much for a single room."

"Some info would be greatly appreciated."

"What do you want to know?"

"All I want to know is what happened to the Legion hall in the four years I was gone."

...

Long story short, they know jack-shit. For some unknown reason the Legion hall shuttered its doors, and no one saw anything else, not even anyone leaving. The actual FUCK, that's it? There's also a street rumor of a war brewing. No shit, that was bound to happen, so what the fuck do I do now?

A yelp interrupts my thoughts, and I turn around and see a scene I've seen hundreds of time, with a few slight variations. Drunk idiot(s) with weapons plus girl, typically a waitress in a pub or inn. But this time it's a child., this is too much. One of them holds the child by the hips and starts to grope her. Granny is already near them trying to stop them, but it's useless, and she knows it. Does she have a weapon? No. Or does she know that..I sigh, even grannies are trying to use me. How I fucking hate all of them. Pathetic vermin whose only purpose in life is to use others to slightly improve their lives.

I stand up and walk to the group. I check their equipment, city guards, what a surprise. Five warriors, three scouts, one barely an adult. Their whole look produces a single vibe. Rotten. Those who were bound to protect somehow always ended up as their oppressors. They barely spare me a glance, as they continue to drink and laugh.

"Release the child."

"Ha? Get lost." The older one says as he continues to grope the child, and laugh without even sparing me a glance.

"I said, release the child." I repeat myself.

Two of them stood up while the original one continues to grope the child.

"You don't belong here stranger, you best mind your own business." says the one on the left.

"You'll get into something you can't handle, if you keep pushing." says the one on the right with a sneer, as he gestures to his weapon.

Fucking trash.

"Unsheathe your weapon, and you'll die." I state while putting my hand on my own sword, giving them a death glare.

The whole room goes silent as even the older one stands up and looks at me while he releases the child. The one on the right tries to take out his sword as fast as he can, but it still doesn't make any difference. Half-way through his neck splits open, the one on the left was too slow to see his friend take action, and the moment I moved he tried to draw his sword as well. He got a bit farther than his friend, but not far enough. I stabbed him in the gut before he could defend. They fall to the floor with a thud.

"Dad! No!" the child of the scout screams, he draws his dagger and stares at me in horror. The girl and grandma shriek, and run behind the counter.

They jump at me together, as I evade the vertical chop from the groper, I perform my own on him. His skull is smashed, it looks like a tomato with its contents flying in all directions. The next ones were dispatched in a similar way with a counter attack. Even though I didn't have my shield, I still have my gauntlet on my left hand which is more effective in this constricted terrain.

The floor was coloured red, and the only ones left standing were me and the scouts child. After a few seconds of hesitation, he runs at me while screaming at the top of his lungs holding his dagger with both hands. His face meets my straight left and falls like a sack of potatoes. As I look down at his immobile body, I considered leaving him alive. But he's a loose end, he will turn into a problem, one way or another. I can't leave a loose end. But he's innocent, everything was a result of his father and his friends actions. He's too young to understand. He just follows orders from his superiors. But he won't know that. He'll turn me into the villain, someone who came and killed his "innocent" family.

I was only meant to give the final oath here. Why do things always go wrong? Was my interference a mistake? No, it always starts this way, look the other way, forgive those who do evil, and let them do as they please. The world isn't hell because of the evil, it's hell because the good never take action.

To do or not to do, that is the question.

To live day haunted by my own regret?

Or know that a vengeful dagger will be my end?

Life was never easy. And it looks like it never will be.