Intro: A Perspective of an Eternal present

“'Temerá e cairá', that’s the last words i heard from that man."

in someplace, there was an dark, dark that one can’t get a glimpse of, yet, there were two beings there, but as for theirs forms, it’s very hard to tell if there is any.

???: “That man had just let you get an showcase of how you’ll fall. If an side is not able to play the game, then it’s determined to fail.”

“No, you are wrong. If there is no need to fear, then it’s all going to be okay. Looking at that man, everything was made clear.”

???: “You can believe in your illusions all as you wish. In the next time we face each other like this, only one of us will be left.”

The second being disappears.

“Ponguer ... The bigger the scale you strategise over, the most likely it will be that you’ll forget the seemly small things. Someday, an monster will grow in your back, and it will be over for you. As for me, i’m not going to fear anything.”

The dark was absolute, however, it was also clear, the resonant distortion was just beginning. Make as well that the dawn uppon world come more near, however, the world was just beginning to enter uppon dawn. The dark was clear, albeit absolute, there is nothing that was made to be impossible to be unmade.

Chapter 1: Knight's Decision

Upon morning, Natteus Eggbert, an boy in his teens, was sleeping soundly, just like the main character of any generic story around. Differently from other generics one, however, he had the special ability to wake himself up, he is pretty much an loner so there is no one to shout against him hears to wake up. Of course, he is thinking about all these things being narrated, since he is a geek by heart...

Natteus: "Shuddup, what the fuck i'm thinking just after stopping my sleep...".

After getting up and preparing himself, there was only one thing he would think of... Adventure! Natteus abandoned his own home and family early to acompany an band of mercenaries since he deeply disagreed with his society's social rules, it didn't end well, but he robbed enough to life just fine for some period of time.

He is a fine, muscular lad, it's year 485 and he thinks he is 15 year old, but he's not sure, he and his family never gave much attention to ages a d birthdays, anyway. Departing from the inn he was, he gets trough the street and walks towards an certain building. He has been spending his money wisely, but he knows he can't turn out to be an fine warrior if he doesn't have the skill for it! So he needs an big shot to properly teach him. Opening the door, he sees his master, who probably already awake earlier than him, he imediatly turns to face him.

???: "Whatever you want in this time of morning, nutjob egghead?"

Natteus: "C'mon, i gonna finish off your shores like always, after that you teach me some legendary technique or something!"

???: "Teach legendary techniques to a weakling like you? Shut the fuck up. But if you want to be my personal slave i'm not gonna stop you."

Natteus's master has always has been some chill dude since he meet in an week ago, when the mercenaries where after him some badass swordmaster disarmed them with his rapier and said: "begone, if you were robbed by an mere child you might as well lose the money!". The mercenaries still tried to get Natteus, but the swordmaster always appeared to kick their asses. Natteus started to call him master after that, without even knowing his name.

Natteus: "So give me some knowledge, master! I'm gonna learn it all by myself to not bother you!"

Master: "What the fuck you plan to learn with me? It's not cuz i helped you that i need to teach you anything."

Natteus: "Swordmanship! But ah man, all these punchs and kicks you threw against those mans was also epic! So it's fine you teach me that too!"

Master: "You think so? However, i think fighting is boring! I only saved you cuz i didn't want to find an lifeless body of some stupid child in the woods!"

"Grr" Natteus pick upon the old sword he had and started run towards his master, "Teach. me!". The master instantly spotted the blind spots trough his body, however, he lets the child do his attack. Natteus jumps, and when the master tries quickly to desarm him with one hand and put him to sleep with another, Natteus manages to do some juggling mid-air to kick the master's woodsword and get some diagonal cut done against him. The master still manages do hold his hand and hit some of it's arteries anyway, but not without struggle, Natteus managed to punch his head before failing to the floor, but he quickly gets up, altrough having no sword anymore.

Natteus: "Damn it! But i still almost caugh you! No one is a match to my superior agility!" He looks like he is trying to run, but the master calls him: "Hey boy, aren't you forgetting your sword?" He throws up the sword against him. "Get it and fuck off" was his last statement.

Now Natteus is in the door, pissed but high in confidence: "i will get him next time, uhum!" He whisper to himself before getting away.

The 'master' inside seems to be feeling entertained. "I got the attention of some wild child, but he is not bad, next time he gets in some trouble in the area i gonna watch how it turns out before stepping in". He then continues to do his shores. His true name is Elepius Servantes, but everyone knows him as a guardian knight in the region, he is almost an guardian deity in the area, and the place he lives in is pretty much a tourist spot, an "must visit" to anyone visiting the region, so he don't leave anything he owns there, only the things he receives. Finishing the cleaning, he gets out of the place: "Now gonna solve troubles and watch upon the people, what i don't do to get some hot chicks, free food and shelter, uh...".

The screen cuts to Natteus, and he thinks to himself, or not: (Gotta spare some screen time to those useless but convenient side characters). He is already in some dangerous woods, he got food on his bag and some things to treat wounds. There are no trolls like he reads in the books, but he knows there are things out there! (there are gonna be some witch hag in some wild hut!) He thinks to himself. As he search for danger, he spot the glimpse of some suspicious tree house. (So that's where i'm gonna find the fucking dwarves and some beautiful princess! Gotta get the job done... Please, reader, just ignore all these supposed troughs).

Upon climbing the tree and kicking the door open, he only gets to find some old hammock and some '[useless trash]', the tree house was also clearly incomplete. "Oh boy, i trough i could find some dwarves, gonna ransack the place as revenge for wasting my time!" Upon saying these words he feels something coming from above, he tries to dodge but still gets his butt kicked, and falls with his face against the floor.

???: "Keep you face that way your bastard! The one who gonna gets ransacked is you butthead "

Natteus: "You don't know who you are dealing with!" The boy gets up by doing some sudden mortal by using the force of his feets, and unleashes his swords. "So you wanna be my first victim, i say! I was sure there was some wild monster outta there!". The one who he is dealing with seems to be some savage wearing thorn clothes made from the skin of beasts, he seems a bit tall and is muscular, and instead of talking he is approaching Natteus after picking an club among those Natteus considers '[useless trash]'.

The two get serious, and Natteus picks the innitiative to try to cut a part of the hammock. The savage approachs quickly, but Natteus quickly dodge an attack with the club and manages to cut open a part of his thorax before getting away from him.

Natteus: "let's talk now, i got the first hit, now surrender will you?"

But the other one speaks imediatly, ans fastly.

???: "First hit? this is just a small wound, but i accept that you get out from here quickly, you rat."

Natteus: "C'mon, i'm saying i will spare you upon admiting defeat."

???: "Shut up, i'm gonna trash you your bastard."

The two continue trying to hit eact other for some time, and it doesnt take much to the duel to turn into a brawl, but eventualy the cut the savage suffered in his chest was enough to turn him uncoucious much faster together with Natteus's punchs and kicks.

Natteus: "*pant*, fuck, he is already dead? At least i punched the jerk to my liking." As he tries to get away from the crime, some guy dressed in dark appears opening the door and poiting an finger against him, "Calm down right there criminal! You dare try to kill someone and just get away like that!?", Then Natteus replies, "What!? Who are you? I just beat down some jerk who kicked my butt!". The other guy then replies: "No excuses, i've seem everything, you were the one to invade this desolated house. Prepare yourself against my justiceee!" The guy goes running against him empty-handed, and Natteus tries defending himself but ends up beaten uncoucious with an quick punch against somewhere in his face..

As he wokes up. He sees his master looking at his face.

Natteus: "M-master, did you beat that jerk in black and save me?"

Master: "Hahaha, you are pretty stupid, heh boy? I was the one to punch you uncoucious, idiot."

Natteus: "I-if that's so, why did you meddle in my fight? I had just beaten that random jerk."

Master: "Well, i didn't really meddle in it, i did wait until he fell uncoucious, but you almost killed someone because of the blood loss, of course i had to save him otherwise you'd turn to be an killer. And he is no savage, he is probably the same age as you, apparently has no family, and just arrived here some weeks before you."

Natteus: "Same age? But i didn't tell you how old i am."

Master: "Anyone can tell just by looking that you are around 15, stupid. Anyway, you're fine now, so you need to get the hell out of here since i'm gonna lock the place, i'm going to get some food for myself now.".

Natteus: "Might it be free food? I want some too."

Master: "Forget about that, go think about what you did, you should return to your family instead of causing trouble."

Natteus: "Don't wanna, why the fuck i need to live like a normie? Papa and mama can live without having another mouth to feed now!"

Master: "... Well, no use to me arguing with some stupid boy, but i'm telling you, i'm no baby maker, if you case more trouble i might kick you far away for good and you won't even notice it because some amnesia you'll suffer after receiving my punch."

The two go along. Elepius Servantes wants to go blow off some steam, but now he is making an stupid boy acompany him and takes his precious and dear time. He wonders what he is truly doing in life, no use complaining anyway... Almost an decade ago people could spread tales about this "dragon tamer, demon slayer, curse dispeller, princess saver, greatest fucker of all time (this one is self-said)" of a man... But now he is hiding in this nowhere village because he is hiding from an certain someone like some damn loser, but he can't really do anything against this certain someone, anyway.

Master: "Man, i'm so cursed, it seems an wave of luck always come with an wave on curse right after..."

Natteus: "Hey you jerk of a master, you wouldn't be having so much trouble with me if you gave me some of your sword techniques in first place!"

Master: "It's you who needs to know your place, when i said anything about teaching anyone? Fuck you your obnoxious boy."

The two stops close to some old barton.

Natteus: "That's where we gonna eat? Why we don't pay for something in the inn?"

Master: "In first place, it's in the countryside that you find good food, in second place, i never pay for anything i eat. at. all. Never!"

Natteus: "So you are an vagabond wanderer?"

Master: "Wrong! I'm a hero, an proper knight, and as such, i want to be always treated properly by using my skills to help people! Boy, now shut up, you need to look like someone whom i'm doing charitable work for! Just answer anything someone might ask you with 'uhums' and 'okay', get it?"

Natteus: "Shut up you, i'm your apprentice, not your mascot!"

The master seems to think for a moment:

Master: "Right... It doesn't look so bad to actually have an apprentice. However, i'm not gonna do shit without getting paid, you'll need to do everything i order like an nice boy obeying his father... That's right, i am gonna turn you into an fine boy who will serve his parents as you are supposed to serve! Hehehe."

The master them goes to call the people in the house without hearing anything coming of Natteus, who is certainly not buying any of it.

Some young woman arrives to see him and goes inside again. Some old guy arrives.

???: "Oh, the chilvarous knight! You want to eat something right?"

Master: "Certainly. I'm also gonna hear your troubles nice sir, i don't want anyone messing with the people i look for! Ah, this boy right here is my apprentice, you can treat him too, i'm gonna turn him into some fine lad in no time."

The master goes talking with the old guy while approaching the house, and both enter. Natteus goes right after relutantly, wondering if this guy is really an true master, he doesn't have time to waste eating country food or talking with random farmers! But then Natteus remembers he was the one who wanted to go along with him to eat, he then calms himself.

The house seems to be fine inside, his master is already reuniting with others members of the house while eating some soup, there is a lot prepared. The old guy calls him and says to come eat long, looks like they routinely make soup for the whole family and more, there are vegetables, cassava, meat and even juice, now Natteus understand why his master is there, an fine warrior need healthy food!

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

The young girl from before tries to talk with Natteus: "Is it true that you are his apprentice?", Which he replies: "Not only his apprentice, i'm still gonna defeat him before going in my heroic journey!".

Girl: "Look, the chilvarous guardian knight is not some pushover you know? He always says he can smells troubles, when anyone needs him, he always appears, and the only thing he asks for is food and an local to live. The village elders even agreed to give a building for him to live in."

Natteus: "Oh, i already noticed all that, he even saved me from some nasty guys back then. Anyway, i don't care about any of that, my dream is to unleash my future mighty power against all these jerks who think they can live as they please, yeah, that's right."

Girl: "What? I've never got out here, but if you think like that i bet you are going to die soon."

Natteus: "Shuddup, i don't need some country girl to think anything of me!"

Girl: "Can't you notice you are being an hypocrite by saying you are going against those who does anything they please while at same time saying you are going to beat your master?"

Natteus: "Hey, i don't know you, right? There is nothing hypocrital there, it's not cuz you think something of mister hero that he is a perfectly, untouchable person. Anyway, i don't have anything against him, but i'm gonna beat anyone strong enough to think they are the big shit."

The discussion goes like this until they finish the food. Elepius Servantes, of course, can hear everything Natteus is saying, if he is gonna put some sense into the boy he needs to know about everything he says and do!

Anyway, the girl is called Raserei, her father and the other people of the house also said their names, but Natteus doesn't see a need to remember the name of extras he barely talked to!

Natteus follow his master, who imediatly says: "Old man Grolber is having trouble dealing with some tax collectors, do you know what this means?"

Natteus: "What?"

Master: "Time for some anarchy, baby!... Just kidding. Anyway, do you know what to do if you are an hero and people are being opressed by their leaders?"

Natteus: "Hmmm, get ride of their leaders?"

Master: "Wrong, it's useless to do anything against the leaders. Let me tell what is the most powerful power against humans who never know they place, my boy: fear. If you beat someone so badly that he loses all hope to go against you, then he will certainly surrender and compromise with you if the conditions are right. Of course, not every situation can be dealt with like that, but you probably got what i'm saying, right?"

Natteus: "That, in order to control people, you need to know their heart?"

Master: "Hoho,bxactly, how you knew that?"

Natteus: "Well, there is a book which an character says that..."

Master: "... Ah, now i get why you are so stupid! Real knowledge to a man is only obtained trough sweat and hard steel my boy!"

Natteus: "Shuddup."

Master: "Let me tell you one thing, if there are a lot of leaders around, it's either cuz they are scary, or because they have power enough to control a force that is scare. Fear, my boy, is what control the people's minds, anything else is temporally, my fame might turn into an local tale after i die, but it will still live on to the next generations as a imposing image against those sorts i fight today! So by helping people now, i will be helping people in the future in severals chances, now let me talk you about something more interesting [...]"

His master continues telling him stories while they get back to his home, and when they get to the house the mayor gave to Master, he them says:

Master: "Hear me, you don't really need to waste you time in this shabby village, at least not while you are so young. You might think that learning with someone already strong is gonna make you even stronger, but you are wrong, life isn't a book where you can learn ultimate techniques from day to night and instantly master it and defeat the one who teached you. Don't believe in such illusions, you are already grown up, and the fact you've run away from home to betray some losers and get their money while risking you life shows that you are only some courageous idiot..."

Natteus: "Hey, but i got the money right? If i feel like it, i can simply return to my home when i want!"

Master: "Didn't i say for you to hear me? Calm down for a second. You might be an prodigy, you might be a genius, but you are wrong to think that everything in life will come to you when you feels like it. It's not because you think that everything will go as you want or predict that the world will automaticaly help you into it, risking yourself like nothing is being an idiot, putting yourself in harm way is something stupid, if you want to do things corretly, you needs not only to judge yourself to be prepared to it, but also the consequences of your actions, and them do it. You defeated the one you called "savage" earlier, but what at cost? You almost killed him, and ended up being punched by me right after, what if instead of me it was someone else? Someone else who would kill you for apparently killing him?"

Natteus can't help but feel that it's true.

Master: "Are you getting it now? I'm not really saying for you to return home, but being there with me might be a waste of your time, anyway, i'm not gonna pressure you. Let's fight again so i can put some more deep sense into your head." The master them picks an wood sword, Natteus reacts by unseathing his old sword.

Master: "An sword is an weapon killed to kill, to kill someone don't make the world better or turn you into an better person." He then directs the sword in a diagonal stance. Natteus then goes right after him, the master prepare his sword to attack, but then Natteus jumps right into the wall and then into him.

Master: "Ah!" He gets away from Natteus attack range and gives an soft touch against his chin with the tip of his sword, "what you think you are doing with reckless attacks, nutjob? You can't simple go to attack and forget what the opponent can do. Let's try again.".

They get to the same place as before, and restart the fight. Natteus this time try an low attack, but gets his attack deflected and his head kicked.

Master: "Are you getting what i'm saying? C'mon, if you think of me as your master you need at least to be more creative."

They both continued fighting spars for almost an hour until Natteus eventualy ended up dropping to the floor for being so tired.

Master: "See? You keep making mistakes, and you didn't get me an single time, altrough that trick of yours of directing your height against me and trying to pass trough my attacks was kinda interesting, but you wouldn't do this against an armored, seasoned warrior, in any real fight against an true enemy you would only get yourself killed. Say, maybe you would change you weapon of choice to something that suits you more, no?"

Feeling kinda dishearted by getting defeated so many times, Natteus finally talks after a while: "What weapon?"

Master: "Let's say... An halberd. You might not notice it yourself, but you uses your agility mostly to try to overpower the oponents with quick attacks and little tricks. These sort of things would never work in an proper, serious fight against opponents more skilled than you. Instead, you should either get an shield and learn how to fight without putting yourself into constantly risk, or use an weapon than enables you to get the upperhand even against seasoned warriors. Spears are always troublesome for any skilled warrior, but an halberd might be specially dangerous if you don't know how to deflect any of it's attacks."

Natteus: "So you are saying that i can put my agility into good use by using an halberd, and that sword should be used properly with an shield if i want an serious fight?"

Master: "That's exactly it, you don't want to get yourself surrounded by bandits and knights while having only an mere sword in hands, idiot! Now i'm going to get some things better to do, my duty calls me! Get you but quiet in this floor and think about how you should fight, can you." He then sheates his sword and goes out of the house.

Natteus then starts to think about how am real battle should be fought, he always trough that he would kick everyone ass with only an sword, oh boy, such discovery is shattering his child as a child! There is no need to think about it anymore, (i should kick someone's butt and get my confidence back' to what it was) he thinks. Just as he reflects with himself some more, someone enters in the house, it's the salvage he defeated.

Savage: "Hey, you..."

Natteus: "Did you come to a rematch? I'm really needing to kick someone's ass now."

Savage: "Dude you are crazy, i still can't fight so soon because 'that cut you put right on my chest."

Natteus: "Oh, right. Anyway, who are you? Master said that he knows you."

Savage: "Of course! I was trying to rob some things from this house, but that jerk caught me and punished me. Man, doesn't that guy knows this house is public property!? Anyway, he helped me earlier when you, an even big jerk, tried to assassinate me, and now i know you are his apprentice! Like master, like apprentice."

Natteus: "Did you get here to get yourself fucked again? I didn't forget you kick against my butt."

Savage: "Chill out dude, you master told me to come here to knock some sense into you so that's what i'm doing. Anyway, after i'm good i'm gonna beat the shit out of you, just wait." He then leaves.

Natteus then remembers what his master told him: "[...] Let me tell what is the most powerful power against humans who never know they place, my boy: fear. If you beat someone so badly that he loses all hope to go against you, then he will certainly surrender and compromise with you if the conditions are right.", Maybe his master is telling him now to make his true first victim by using such ingenious tactics! Tsc, Natteus wounders why did his master waste so much time with all that talk earlier if he only needed to tell him what he needed to hear. However, the spar with his master did show that he needs do consider another options, gotta learn how to beat his ass asap and become the true master. An Halberd sounds too heavy to fight with agility, gotta consider it after he creates more muscles for himself. An shield sounds viable, but where is he gotta find it? He can't depend in some jerk to find weapons to him, the sword he has now he only got by robbing from some fucktards mercenaries, and man, it's supposed do be the sword of the leader, but shit, it looks like an pretty old and cheap sword.

He then gets out of the house and search for some armourer, without hope of finding anything in this hellhole. But he eventualy finds an travelling merchant selling a lot of things.

Natteus: "Do you have an shield to be sold there or something?"

merchant: "Of course. Because of the Chilvarous guardian knight there are a lot of people around who wants to look tough, i bet that you'll turn out to be some toughie too with it and this sword of yours, hahaha." Has he speaks, he looks inside his carriage, and returns with an mid-sized shield. "This one looks fine for you, i want just 50 silvers and it's yours".

Natteus looks into the shield and wonders if it's good, he has around 5 gold coins, and with that he pays the merchant, he expects it to be a good investment, otherwise...

Merchant: "Anyway, things are quite peaceful around this region because of this knight lad, he seems to have an third eye for any kind of danger happening around, no wonder he is considered some regional hero, and of course, it's also very good for me too and all the business i do. I heard that the Duke of Aussen to the southeast tried to recruit him, but then the knight replied: *merchants makes an very mainly voice* 'I serve no one, even if the emperor himself were to come here, i would still refuse to be someone's wardog.', anyway, if you want something more to buy find me in the inn, have a nice day hahaha!"

Natteus's home was deep into the west of the Kheneldian continent, into the indric region which was far away from the central civilization governed by the Empire, the region he is now in pretty isolated, an very small península, to the northern regions are the lines made to divide human and elf state borders. In Eyshteer church, the supreme and first race, the one capable of comunicating with spirits without restraints, are the elfs. The humans were the secondary race made to help with their minds... And there is also a lot more that Natteus doesn't know cuz he doesn't care, the Indrician region is famous for it's virtualy agnostics inhabitants, but Natteus doesn't want to continue thinking about it.

Returning to his master's house, he notices that there are some people around waiting for a chance to talk with the famous knight, it doesn't seems like a good time for him to butt into his house. After isolating himself enough from the village, he gets into the woods and start practicing alone with sword, trying to get ahold of his shield at the same time he attacks and counter-attacks imaginaries enemies. He imagines his master trying to punch him but blocking him with is invencible shield, he can feels how he is able do bash ir against that jerk while thrusting it against his stomach. Eventualy it doesn't take much for him to start talking alone and imaginating things, a true raving lunatic as his master could call describe him if he was to see this scene. As he gets deep into the woods, he start hearing voices, he sees that there is a camp nearby, and there is bonfire it, probably since it's already starting to get late and very cold. Natteus, of course, can't resist looking more deeply into it, there are no clear lookouts, and he gets to look into the camp easily. There are only two mans sitting around, but the camp clearly seems bigger than for only two people. Since he doesn't know who they are, he can't get nearby for no reason, but they don't seems to have weapons with them, at least not big enough to be seem being carried. He hurries back into the village since it's getting dark, and go into the inn he has been in for a while: 'Gebelli's cry'. There they prepare lunch and dinner, and there are even an bit of basic room service.

As he goes to sleep, he remembers the promise he made with certains friend: "I will get famous, rich and strong and return back here to get all these people where they belong!", His kingdom is pretty corrupt, it's not usually an bad place to live, besides the fact that you already a lot of you life planned before even being born, the nobles, however, didn't see any limits for themselves, and It's heard that they were trying to get into an militar aliance with the terrible orcs, how could they!? Some mercenaries were trying to get some job but failed, and Natteus conviced them to pick him up along them in their journeys, he can remember very well their names, Esterid, Marccol, Potter and Seyagoll. They travelled for around 3 months doing odd jobs until they finally reunited with they leader, who had a lot on his hands. He dismissed the four Young because because they failed to get any money, but Natteus challenged the leader to an duel an managed to keep his standing against him, getting knowledged, however, it was a mere act since he was disappoited that these three were dismissed, so he wanted to pay back. So when they were sleeping, he went and gave himself the liberty to rob the leader's tent, he almost lost him head to an silent cut the leader tried against him in the act, and could only run away north, were some men were ordered to hunt him and get everything back. After some hours of constantly running, his master popped up in the forest and saved him, they got what they deserved in the end!...

...

As Natteus wakes up, he remembers that there is a duty to uphonor, just like his master says sometimes, gotta know what's important and whatta you need to do... But first need to start the morning training! After doing everything he needed to do, he wonder calmly, trying to choose whether to go train with his master or take an look at these guys in the forest.

"Hey nutjob", Natteus wonders if he is hearing things, "Egghead!" Then he finally discover where the voice is coming from, the savage is just in the corner of the street.

Natteus: "Lemme take an guess, you are already fine and ripe to be kicked in the ass as a payback uh?"

Savage: "No you little shit, there are some people going after me and the chilvarous knight just told me to call you, i wonder if you have any use trough??"

Natteus: "Fuck up. But i already bet who these guys are. Anyway, i bet you have some secret shit to tell why you are being hunt, unless they are only trying to get rid of random savages."

Savage: "Savage this savage that, man even i get tired of this, call me Rikreug Raeder or something like that."

Natteus: "Reeder? Just like Cristopher Reeder in the book i had read?'

Rikreug: "Raeder, it's my family name, but whatever, let's go instead of wasting time here, your master already told me your name anyway."

Natteus: "Man, that guy now is even giving my name around, what a shithead."

They go to the knight house, there he is already locking it.

Elipius: "No time to waste, gotta solve this issue ASAP, Rikreug does you know why they are going after you?"

Rikreug: "Uhm, maybe they are interested in my because from where i came from, the Tezaree Peninsula to the north."

Elipius: "No wonder, i already went there in the past, there are all sort of legends about wyverns and what's not there."

Rikreug: "Oh, so you already went to Poergunn? My father was trying to get intouch with the Duke of Aussen to make some trade with his tribe, he got ambushed and his ship wrecked, i managed to escape but i don't know about the others "

Elipius: "Oh boy why didn't you tell me much earlier? These guys are probably trying to make it certain that no one manages to get back, who knows what deep intentions they have with all that? The Hero here needs to know everything, you tell me that all latter okay!?"

Rikreug: "right".

Elipius: (The tribes to the north always feared the ocean, and now that one one goes south, everything literally goes south, no wonder they prefer to be desolated, fortunaly their wyverns protect them from danger)

Elipius: "I promise that i'm gonna protect you, maybe we can get you back home, but it's difficult to say. Now we need to kick some asses!"

Rikreug and Natteus: "Yeah!"

They three get into the forest. An day earlier Elipius had already managed to contact with these people, but he didn't manage to talk with the leader, he then encountered Rikreug, who was in deep trouble, he then kicked the asses of some of there guys.

Elipius: "Hear me, if we get to fight you two shouldn't try to act as heroes, firstly we gonna talk, if nothing goes good i kick their asses to far away. I doubt that they leader is some dumbshit, the men i encountered yesterday were divided between these with bows and these with spear and swords, if we fight both of you might get hurt, so better stay quiet and hide yourselves if the worst come to cross."

As they pass an small lake, there they see the band already all woke up picking some water. Elepius approachs and shout: "Hey Dorode, i came to see your master!". The band looks, and some guys come running. "Oh, hey knight, the master already agreed to meet you, but in the camp, can't you go there?", Which Elepius answer with a "fine".

Dorode and the three goes to the camp, the rest of the band remains behind just staring at them. As they arrive at the camp there, they see an tall man seemly waiting there.

???: "So you are the chilvarous knight."

Elepius: "And you are the one hunting for a child.*

???: "I'm not really hunting, you have your so-called smell to save people then i also have my sharp-eyes to peoples and opportunities. May i say, i am also an fellow inhabitant from our dear kingdom of Enastere, and i know you, Elepius Servantes."

Elepius makes an clear face-palm.

Elepius: "Ah, d-didn't expect to find an fellow Enasterian-citizen around."

???: "That's right... My name is Gérôn Le Bon-Augure, as fellow countrymen i could like an private talk with you inside the camp. Also, the little savage with you is safe, i won't try anything against him as we talk, so let's relax." As he says that, he goes back to the camp towards an large tent.

Elepius: "Well, Dorode may you let these two in some place to relax? I'm gonna talk with your leader."

Dorode: "Oh yes."

Elepius then goes and enter the big tent. There are some chair there and Gérôn even offers some coffe, they start talking their native language.

Gérôn: "Now, from where i may start... Yes, at the day of the marriage between you and princess, a lot of people didn't even pay much attention to your appearence, but i have a good memory, after i see someone i never forget his face, altrough i didn't know your hair was a bit redish. The other boy with you did some things against me, but i compromise to not touch an hand against them if you go with me to Enastere."

Elepius: "What now, did they place an bounty in my head?"

Gérôn: "Wrong. Let me tell you one thing, i'm not a mercenary by choice, i love my country and the kingdom, but to most people i was a mere despicable bastard son who shouldn't exist..."

Elepius: "!?"

Gérôn: "But i already abandoned my real identity long ago, now, i don't care, i was teached to love even those who hate me, and i'm not gonna abandon my real duty even if this is something people don't notice. Elepius, the king Géraldud- i mean, Gérald died not too long ago, are you going to completely abandon your royal and familial duties? The one in the throne is the previous crown princess, now queen, and since you are nowhere to be seem, your first son is now the crown-prince, you know very well all the troubles in the kingdom..."

Elepius: "I won't get myself in a war."

Gérôn: "You don't need to, remember that the one who got himself in a war for being stubborn was the previous king, you can still pressure the church to end the war with your tricks. Don't you remember how admired you were for solving everything trough the smarts alone without putting anyone in harm away? I've already heard and seem that you remain the same, you didn't lose all your worth."

Elepius: "Well, i don't know how things are doing there, but Géraldude surely made for himself an weird war because of his fetishes, that's why i got away. I'm sure the queen can solve this by herself."

Gérôn: "Wrong, the demi-humans think of her as a witch, they are not going to stop this war until Ibeleski gets satiated with his revenge, he might stop some years from now since the king is already dead, however, how much you think are going to die?"

Elepius: "Hmm this mean i only need to solve the conflict right? There is no need for me to return to the kingdom..."

Gérôn: "You are being irrealistic."

Elepius: "Whatever, i'm just going to talk with this Ibeleski dude, he already got his revenge, right? Gotta have an tea party with him or somethin', bet he is going to assign me an mission and everything is going to end hela fine."

Gérôn: "... Whatever, are you going with me? We need to solve that mess."

Elepius: "Right, but remember, if you try to get me into an big mess i'm going to get away from there quickly."

Gérôn: "Fine."

Back to Natteus, he is talking with Rikreug and Dorode, who somehow ended up having to look after them.

Natteus: "So, as a Enasterian, master's home is pretty far away from there, right?"

Dorode: "You bet, even if we all were to have horses, it would still take around a month to get into the nearest city."

Natteus: "Well, i trough you guys were trouble, but maybe i'm going to get into an adventure with yours."

Rikreug: "Well, it's nice that i'm finally getting away from here, i hope that we find someone who can send me back home."

Dorode: "I'm not sure about that, lad. Not many people even see yours Poerguians as humans, maybe you should get an nice change of clothes instead of looking as a savage."

Natteus: "Right?"

Rikreug: "You guys know nothing, back home we wear this to show that we are shamans, currently i'm only hunting animals to eat, but we are specialized in taming them, just like we managed to tame the legendary wyverns."

Natteus: "So you guys actually got there dragons!?"

Rikreug: "Yep, but we wouldn't carry them in the ship, alas, we wanted trade so bringing them is considered disrespectful, and because that we ended up ship wrecked. No wonder that most of the tribes doesn't even approach the central lands."

Dorode: "Well, there are historical issues, in the past your guys could plunder the central lands in your damned fast ships, i hear that some big wars happened in the past because of you guys.

Rikreug: "It's still no justification for destroying a harmless ship."

As they debate story, master and the mercenary gang's leader are back.

Master: "Hear me, we are gonna travel to pretty far, we might do some small jobs in the way, but the important is that you can guys can go with me or not."

Natteus: "Of course i'm going with you!"

Rikreug: "Me too."

Master: "Nutjob, you'll need to return the sword..."

The mercenary leader then interrupts him: "No need, the kid can have the sword, but i'm getting back the money.". Natteus tries to protest but he is forced by his master to give up the money anyway.

That day they started to get along with the mercenaries, several plots are already revealed, but are it's solutions going to end so simply as Elepius thinks? The Knight's decision was made, however, there is no one that can say it's a correct one. In his head, he still somewhat regrets getting away from his family, he lost so many years to be with them, however, he doesn't regret getting away from the mad king's war. He wasn't like this, Elepius tried to say it was a new demon's curse, but no one gave him hears. They tried to use him in their wars, and he made an compromise with his family that he couldn't do it, he was no killer.

What the destiny reserves for them? Maybe, when different people are together, an peaceful way can be made, who knows.

End of chapter 1