The sky's colour hasn't changed much, just endless grey. I've done a fair bit of travelling, and I've seen many things, castles and strongholds so enormous and ancient that for a normal person it would look a gods creation. But I have seen those "gods", fueled and corrupted by mana, those who create and destroy mountains with a mere thought, I've seen them create things which usually would have taken centuries to create, they created in hours. I've even seen Elven Druids change deserts into endless forests within a week.

There was only one thing they couldn't change. Something they would never even try to change, because for them it was a simple roof of the realm they rule. But for me this was something more, it was something they could never change. I've been in regions where more starts were visible in the sky than living creatures. I've seen the dance of polar spirits that painted the sky with emerald waves. I've always wondered what the sky is, or if I can touch the stars. Is it really just a sphere of father's mana that "protects us from the evil", or is it something more?

Father, huh.

Everyone created their own "unique" name for him. They all believe that they speak for him, they know all the answers, they always know exactly what's right and what's wrong, but it always ends the same way.

I really miss the sky, the one that changes from cyan, to burning orange, and purple, and it seems like I'm not the only one tired of this endless great mass. During the trip I've gotten closer with Rudolf and Tedal. Up on the deck we're eating some rations we bought in Toaan together. Good thing we bought rations before, you could buy food on the ship but it costs more than the ticket. There are always people who will try to squeeze out as much as they can, this isn't a business but a racketeering scheme, and if they pay the captain a part of their profits they can have the monopoly.

The noise of heavy boots stops the discussion I was having with Rudolf about the easiest way to kill a mountain cat. The group of Enforcers walked out around three people, an older man in his fifties together with a man and women in their early twenties, all dressed in lavish clothes. They walked towards the bridge, and after a brief exchange with the helmsman, the young woman started to steer the boat. Big toys for big girls huh.

Tedal was looking at the Enforcers, then at the nobles with eyes that wanted something, something he never had and probably never will. It's hard to explain to children that there are things they can't have just because they weren't "lucky" enough to be born in the right position. A singular enchantment on an arm bracer would cost more than he could make in a decade. In reality, it's not that hard to make them, but it's always about "supply" and "demand". And if demand is high and supply is controlled...

"Why are they called Enforcers?"

Rudolf looks at his son, based on his looks he must've lived a simple hunter's life. Not many are brave enough to travel so far alone, even less with children. Must be a decent reason, the fact that Tedal's mother was never spoken of tells me a lot.

"Well, I guess it's because they enforce their weapons with mana."

After a few seconds of thinking it over and trying to puzzle it up in his mind the boy replies,

"Then what's the difference between Enforcers and Mages?"

Rudolf scratches his head, trying to come up with an answer, but in the end he's a hunter. Additionally there are not that many mages here. The widespread religious and administrative discrimination against any non-humans ensured that no foreign mages would travel in this direction. On top of that the local ones are quickly recruited by the Wizard Tower, and comparitively getting into a Duke's house and fucking his wife is easier than learning anything from the Tower.

"The difference is that Wizards have significantly more mana, with which they use to cast a wide range of elemental spells. Enforcers have less mana, but they have more control over it, by applying it with a strong "will" they can influence how the mana behaves. They force their will onto mana to strengthen armour or sharpen a sword, because of this, they are called Enforcers."

Both of them are silent for a few seconds, each with their own thoughts.

"Are you an Enforcer?" Tedal asks in excitement.

"No, I'm not, but I have read a fair bit about them."

The boy smiles and buries with a non-stop barrage of questions. Everyone dreams of becoming a Wizard or Enforcer, kill the bad guys, and bathe in gold and respect. Many can, but only a selected few will be allowed.

Knowledge is power.

Power is a threat.

[And threats must be neutralized.]

The ship starts swinging side to side as the captain comes out onto the deck. He looked to the young woman turning the wheel but said nothing. Half his face is bruised and each movement he makes contorts his face into a pained grimace. Everyone felt a bit seasick but none dared to voice any dissatisfaction.

The woman as if tired of playing turned to the older lord and thanked him with a bright smile. It was clear she didn't understand what she was doing, or how it was affecting everyone else, innocent child, came to my mind. After a small talk they went down to the lower deck, as they passed the captain he bowed slightly with one hand behind his back. I could see it curl into a fist, several seconds after they left he took something out of his pocket. It was a watch, he opened it and looked at it for nearly a minute, took a deep breath, put it back in his pocket and went up to the bridge.

Most likely a picture of someone close to him, family or a loved one. We all bend, but in most cases it's not for ourselves, but rather someone we're willing to sell out souls for. Anything to keep them safe.

...

It's been nearly two weeks since we left port, there were several attacks as expected. The human ones were dealt with by the Enforcers, and "wild ones" were used mainly for food.

We've finally arrived at Saloto, the southern most city in the Northern Kingdom. Here the river branches, to the south, the Desert Alliance, and to the east, Qing. Tedal, and Rudolf left, I never asked how far they were bound, guess this was it, from here on out they're going to Qing on a different ship. Even if I think it's a bad decision to head to the east, it's their life, their choices. Perhaps I was a bit attached, I didn't think this interaction would be this short.

But it's not about me.

Sadly, the lord didn't leave, we stayed here for only a few hours, more than likely the wish of that lord. More than half the passengers left, the Desert Alliance isn't a kind place, and not many travel there without good reason. Thankfully the weather got better, not many clouds in the sky, and it's warmer. My muscles started to regenerate so I don't look like a walking undead, and I push my body farther now.

Sitting on the deck, I bask in the sunlight, warming my body and keeping time. You don't really appreciate anything until it's gone do you? Footsteps distract me, turning mu head in their direction I check to see who's coming.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"Hello, if it's possible I wanted to ask you a few questions." the young women asked with an innocent smile.

"They don't speak Tasar, milady. They barely speak common Malari. I believe that the captain of this vessel could answer any questions you have." said one of her accompanying Enforcers.

"Oh, umm, no it's not that, he looked interesting with his fur armour. But he doesn't look like a Northern man, I was curious as to where he was from. Perhaps he has a few interesting tales to tell."

Confusion crept over the guard's faces, but they tried their best to keep the emotions from crossing their face. Not many people were still on the ship, and it looks as if she is tired of all the travel.

"Dear, stay away from the peasants, you don't know what diseases they carry." said the older lord, who had just come topside. "There's tea with dessert prepared for us. Come sweetheart."

After looking down at me one last time the woman walked away with the group. The lead Enforcer stuck me with a "threatening" glare and left with the rest. If the talk continued, I'm not sure I could've held myself back. People often said that I make decisions to quickly, recklessly, that I was hot-headed.

But it's not true, there comes a moment where you just stop caring.

Perhaps I've seen a bit too much of what people really are, underneath their masks. Maybe if I hadn't, life would be different, I could trust others, have a family, be happy.

But not anymore.

...

I'm not sure if others would laugh or cry if they were in my place. I just feel apathetic about what people call "life" and what it throws at me. A large group of bandits attacked, they love to gather around the borders, easy to run if things go south, nor do many patrols make it to the corners. The attack itself isn't a problem, but the fact that it blew a third of the ship away is. It's still a surreal experience to look at something for a moment and the next it disappears. The explosion blew a few people into the river, the bandits were already on the shore for those one, and most times the strategy works, but not this time. The bandits were quickly neutralized, I could never understand bandits, they kill, rape, steal without a hint of mercy, but when their own lives are being taken, they kneel and beg for mercy. How do they justify their actions but when the roles are reversed, they expect totally different treatment.

We gathered on the riverside, people tried to salvage what they could from the river. I saved a few who couldn't swim. Thankfully it's still near noon and the weather is warm, so the chances to get sick or catch a disease because of hypothermia are low, but the river is still freezing cold. In the end it doesn't matter, the ship is lost, the next will come by in roughly two weeks, there are no horses but I can't waste any more days. The caravan in Kamalesh won't wait. My wolf armour is soaked and traveling with it has become an issue, but I can't leave it just yet, the nights are still cold. Wringing as much water from it as possible I prepare to depart, checking my equipment and weapons.

"Hunter, you will guide us to the nearest port. You will be rewarded when we get there." says the lead Enforcer in Malari. After a few seconds of silence the nobles look at the lead Enforcer.

"Does the peasant even understand you Galor?" says the older lord, expecting me to not understand the language of nobles.

Looking over at them for a few seconds more, I think over the situation. They have too many bags, they will be slow with that large group. Too many problems, and it's unlikely that they will even reward me, and to top it all off, my time is limited. I breathe out, and turn around while walking away.

"You fucking RAT!" screams the lead Enforcer, sprinting after me, his enchantments glow as he prepares to kill me. Fucking retard who screams while attacking from behind, well even if he didn't scream it wouldn't change anything, he's about as silent as a drunken guard. I already started to circulate my mana. When he's three meters away from me, I turn and my hands move into action, my left hand grabs his wrist that holds the sword, a cracking sound can be heard as his palms move in a very unnatural direction. Before he can howl in pain, my right hand grabs his neck in a hold, the chain-mail protecting his neck is useless. Many have died from underestimating the strength of my hands. After the air flow is cut off, his brain stops all non-instinctual actions, and if the brain stops giving orders, your magic and enchants are useless. Many fights can be won easily if you know what to do.

Waiting until I see the whites of his eyes, and his body goes limp, I pick out the eyeballs from the Enforcer's head, and drop them to the ground. Look at the noble groups as they bundle together and stare at me in fear.

"Is this what you wanted?" I say in Tasar.

As if realizing that I am neither peasant nor assassin, but possibly a noble in hiding, the older lord screams,

"My name is Robert Sotozar, Lord of Thean! What family do you belong to?! Do you understand the consequences of attacking us on Baron Katof's land? Do you know what will happen to you?!"

Here we go again, bandits beg for mercy, and nobles start to list names of friends in the hope that it will scare the enemy off. Even though they were the first to attack.

Pathetic.

"We are no longer on the Baron's territory, this is the Desert Alliance's territory, where the punishment for attacking unarmed travellers is death."

I point with a bloody hand at the blinded Enforcer and the sword near him.

"And as you can see, the law isn't on your side. But that's a totally different subject. Did you really think that I will just let this offense go? A debt must be paid."

The Enforcers draw their weapons and stood in front of the nobles. Unbelievable, only now do they come to their senses. I can feel their fear, the lead should've been the most skilled one, but he made the mistake of coming too close to me. If the attack from afar, well, I'm fucked, thank fuck they're too stupid to realize that.

"But, I will let you live, for now, but remember Robert, the debt shall be paid, one way or another."

I turn and start walking to the south. I specifically addressed him, using his name, to show that his status held no sway over me. He will spend the years being careful, trying to find who he offended, looking into the dark corners of his room, fearing that the moment has come.

Was I angry because of their actions during the departure from Toaan? Was it because they looked down on me, called me a peasant?

I'm not sure anymore.

Nor does it matter, I still have much to do.

And time is limited, very limited.

Even if my time is limited, I would give it all up just to spend a few moments with the ones who no longer have it.

But it will never happen.

Life will not, and cannot be stopped.

And a new sun will rise,

Again, and again.