Magnum woke up on his wagon. He only had his pants on and instantly felt the cold of the night. A familiar old man was sitting beside a campfire. His granddaughter was sleeping on a sheet beside him covered with a blanket. Magnum stood up. The cold wind blew as he walked to the fire. His body felt tired but he can move freely without any pain. He didn’t mind the cold but the heat felt good when he sat down beside the fire.

“We’ll watch over you,” The old man said, “You can still go back to sleep and recover”.

“My name is Magnum”

The old man smiled, “I am Fadel, and my granddaughter is Fina.”

“Nice names,” Magnum said looking at the fire.

“Thank you. I'm glad you’re alive. Most people would not be after an encounter like that,” Fadel said.

“I got lucky, again.”

“We heard some squires talking after the mother demon fight was over. They said there was a merc who meddled with Lady Matrina’s training so I instantly thought it was you! So I sneaked around the squires and saw you sleeping on the ground.”

“You carried me here?”

“Not just me. There was a squire who helped. Ahh! I forgot his name but he was a good kid and he liked you. He said you save their town.” Fadel handed a piece of folded parchment to Magnum. “The squire wanted you to have it.”

Magnum opened the parchment.

“You’re our Hero! Thank you for saving my mother and our town! I’m trying my best to be a knight one day so I can also fight demons! - Craste”

“I’m no hero… I got a few lucky breaks and thought I could kill the grand demon. Stupid!” He threw the parchment on the fire and watched it burn.

“You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself,” Fadel said.

Magnum did not respond and the two sat in comfortable silence as they felt the warmth of the fire.

“Mama!” Fina quickly stood up. Her eyes were still closed, and she went back to bed and cried for a few more seconds before going completely asleep again.

Both of the men were still silent. No one felt the need to talk about where Fina's mother was. Fadel knew, Magnum had an idea but he understood that it was a matter better left unknown to him.

“I’ll prepare some hot drink to make you feel good. It will be good for you,” Fadel said standing up.

“Thank you,” Magnum looked around and saw his arms. He noticed a gold and white strip with three dots on his right wrist, “How did I?”

“Lady Matrina came and got you the oath. We also got it now.”

Magnum hit his head with his palm, “Shit”, he said.

“oh! She has a message for you,” Fadel came back with a pot and put it on the three stones forming a triangle on the fire.

“Not interested”

“She said, to tell you to search for her and Garvin in Midandria during the Light festival,” the Fadel said.

“So they got me the Oath and now they think I will go to them. I won't.”

“They want to recruit me,” he said to Fadel.

“You should try it, at least.”

“The knights didn’t help my father. I don’t need their help.”

The old man shook his head. “I hope it won’t happen but your pride could be your undoing. You are young. You have a lot of time and still ways to learn.

Magnum sat silent. He knew the old man was correct but he won’t do it. Pride is all that he has and he won’t give it up.

Cheers erupted from the Knight’s Camp. Magnum didn’t notice that it was close until that ruckus. It was covered by trees but the camp was easy to spot once you know where it is. Magnum stood up and wore a shirt from his wagon. He started walking to the camp.

“Hey! Don’t go there!” the old man said but Magnum went on.

No one was guarding the camp so Magnum peeked at a broken wall. The cheering became louder. It sounded like there was a feast. Everyone was in good spirits, drinking and eating. An image of the Vicar was being shown high above and everyone was watching.

“This kind of instrument still works?”

In Midandria, not a soul was left in every house. Everyone was gathered around the city square, spectating. In front of King Raydant’s statue was the current King himself, the leader of the Knights, King Rayvance. He looked younger than ever, he should be more than a hundred years old but he always looked in his thirties. It was said that his youth was brought by the power of the crown he wore on his head. A pure white crown with white stones. He was sitting on a sparkling white chair that was elevated higher than all the other chairs. Two knights stood beside the King who wore plated armor with a white cape and a cowl that hid their faces, the Royal Knights. On the King’s left side was the Vicar who stood behind a lectern representing the priests and the Faith. On the King’s right was Gwyn standing to represent the Knights. In front of the King, sitting on long wooden chairs are the heads of the stronghouses from the Capital and from Midandria.

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Magnum took time to remember the faces of the heads' of the stronghouses when they were shown by the instrument. Many of them were old but a few looked near his age. What most intrigued him, however, was the masked man. He was from the Gater family. A new stronghouse said to be a relative of the King but no one was able to confirm. Their family was aloof and always wore a mask never showing their face. There were a lot of mysteries surrounding the family but no one wanted to make a move as it may incur the wrath of the King.

The Vicar then started performing the Ray of Light ritual for everyone; a prayer and distribution of light ceremony and it was shown to residents of the capital and around the country including the camp where Magnum was in.

“What a shit show,” Magnum said.

After the ritual, the Vicar called Gwyn to the center in front of the King. Gwyn walked and knelt. The King stood up and walked forward.

“Gwyn, I grant you a sword made by the finest artisans of the capital to aid your journey of ending this plague,” the king said.

Gwyn knelt and bowed. He put up his hands and the King placed the sword on Gwyn’s hand.

“Thank you, my King,” Gwyn stood and held the sword properly. The sword lit up and slowly showed all the intricate details etched on the white metal. A strong aura radiated around him. It made the cloth on his armor fly upwards. He held the sword up to show it to everyone. Loud cheers erupted. But aside from feeling stronger, Gwyn noticed his Oath, the center dot was now lit up. He now has two tasks completed.

“I have now completed another task from the Gods! And with this sword! I will kill the Grand Demon! And end the plague once in for all!” Gwyn said.

The crowd in Midandria cheered louder, even the ones in the knight camp where Magnum was couldn't help but cheer and think optimistically. Magnum looked at his wrist. It was dull unlike Gwyn's. No dotted light like the majority of the people are. It was only the Knights and Vicars who gets to complete any tasks from the Gods.

“Two tasks? So they spoon-fed you. Who cares about that stupid Call?”

The wind blew and a faint familiar smell passed Magnum. He knew this one. He quickly looked to the origin of the wind and found a familiar beautiful face that instantly made him angry. She was sitting on a table wearing a knight’s armor together with other knights and squires. Her hair looked different but with this fragrance and face. Magnum was sure.

His eyes glared at the Duwendi, “I found you!”

Hiraya instantly looked at Magnum as if she felt the ill intent directed towards her.

“Don’t move!” she said with the same ill-intent as Magnum’s.

Magnum felt a force come to him along with the words. He heard it on his brain and now he couldn’t move. The Duwendi was gone from her seat. She was now standing behind Magnum.

“Give it back!” she said.

Magnum turned around to Hiraya with an angry face. She was surprised at that stunt by Magnum, most would not be able to defy her Commands. A punch flew to her face which she deflected by slapping it away with her hand. Another punch flew and she slapped it again. Hiraya jumped back but Magnum was able to follow her. Magnum threw another punch. Hiraya slapped it again but she did not hit anything. Magnum stopped midpoint and caught Hiraya’s arm and pulled her. But her arm turned into vines which easily escaped Magnum’s grip.

“Where is it!” the woman said several steps away.

“Why are you here?” Magnum answered.

The Duwendi’s eyes turned dark and roots rose from the ground where Magnum was standing. He was not able to evade and got caught up to his waist. He started to feel weak.

“Where is my Finder!”

“Finder? So that’s what it's called?”

“It's still pointing in the same direction. What’s the big deal?” Magnum smirked.

“Give it to me now!”

“Here!” A voice from the wall said and then something was thrown from a window at a room above.

The duwendi caught it with her vines and she was instantly gone, leaving with an angry face directed at Magnum, “I’ll deal with you soon!” she said.

A woman with long hair jumped down and quickly pulled Magnum to a wall hiding them from the light. She pinned him on the wall using one arm.

“You!” Magnum was surprised to see Matrina in a short white dress. The dress looked great on Matrina and it felt soft and smooth to Magnum’s skin as the wind blew the cloth to him.

“You!” Matrina whispered, her breath oozing with a flowery smell, “What are you doing here?”

Magnum’s anger transferred to Matrina. “What is she doing here?” he said.

“Shut up! Why are you here?” Matrina facepalmed, “Shhhhhh... Follow me!”

“No! Answer me now!” Magnum said.

Matrina then gave Magnum a look that terrified Magnum but the look was gone as quickly as Matrina showed it. Magnum then decided that it was not good to be on the bad side of this woman for now. She was barefoot but didn’t look bothered at all. Her smooth skin screamed of wealthy family origin but Magnum didn’t know which family and just followed her to the forest.

“Didn’t the old man tell you not to come here?”

“No”

“Liar,” Matrina said. She diverted from the small campfire beside Magnum’s wagon to the dark side of the forest, she then stopped walking under a large tree and faced Magnum with a serious look.

“Stay there and tell me why the witch knows you?”

“She’s in your backyard. Why is she here?” Magnum said.

A strong aura started oozing out of Matrina suffocating Magnum, “Answer me!” she said.

Magnum started breathing heavily. He tried to fight the drowning feeling but he was running out of air, “She was controlling… the infected..” he said.

“You’re not her ally?” she took one step forward to Magnum pressing her spirit over him.

Magnum’s breathing became heavier. He pounded his chest as if it would make it easier to breathe, “No…” he said.

Matrina’s face turned back to normal and the strong aura was gone, “Good!” she said.

“That’s it? Wait, answer me!”

Matrina faced the camp and started walking back. “There is a town at the foot of the mountains. Follow the river and you will meet some interesting people there”.

“Not gonna go there…”

“You will… if you want to get stronger. Also, take this.” She threw a small instrument to Magnum which looked the same as the witch's finder.

“What's this?”

“We copied it. We were investigating her but you made her run away. I should be pissed, you know.”

“You shouldn’t be. You got some valuable information tonight.”

“Maybe, who knows what those needles are pointing at?”

Magnum checked the instrument and it was still pointing in the same direction, he was right. “I thought you want to recruit me?” he said.

“Nah, you’re too weak.”

Magnum was offended but Matrina was right, “I won’t join you!” he said.

“You already joined…” Matrina whispered and waved goodbye.