Calig woke up.

"Damn..." He clutched his head with both his hands. He felt an unbearable pain in his head.

"Maybe I drank too much last night." He thought, as he got off the bed.

Calig gazed gazed outside the window and saw that it was quite bright outside. He was immediately assaulted with another feeling. He was clearly annoyed.

He lazily walked towards a chest at corned of the room and opened it. Inside was a set of basic body armor. Quite shabby and rough. Of course he wasn't okay with such equipment. He even went to the town hall to request a new one but they ignored him. So, he just went on with what he had.

Calig was already late for work so he didn't have time to take a bath or anything like that. That really didn't matter because even if he had time to take a bath, he couldn't.

Last night, Calig was too busy drinking with the retired guards so he totally forgot to draw water from the well. No water, no bath.

He slowly put on his armor as if he didn't really care if he was late or not. The pain in his head might be the cause.

After he put on his armor, he tied his long dark hair behind and put on his helmet.

"Another fucking day." He silently murmured. At least the cold from the helmet cooled his head a bit and lessened the headache.

He grabbed the sword standing next to his bed before opening the door and leaving.

Bright Town. Legend says this town was once ruled by a powerful demon during the Dark era. His influence over the town was so powerful that evil would always come back even if destroyed. Of course that was until the Lightbringer came. She raised her weapon and illuminated the whole town, making the demon and evil dissipate underground. With all her might, she struck the ground, annihilating the remaining evil. Her attack was so effective that her power manged to illuminate the whole town. Thus came the name Bright Town. This was the town where Calig works.

Calig didn't exactly go and do his patrol job. He first headed towards the Town Hall. He had to confirm his presence before going to work or else he won't get paid. Of course, for every absent days, or just being late, his pay gets reduced. After showing up in the Town Hall, he had to do his usual routine. Patrolling around his assigned area, nothing much.

He started walking. He had to walk slowly so he would not waste much energy. The day will be long.

Calig headed to the market. He had to slightly increase his pace to arrive there faster. He didn't want to get there before evening. The market usually gets crowded in the evening.

He casually looked around the neighborhood while heading towards the market. He was quiet surprised that nothing is happening.

Calig didn't know how it was in other towns but this town was somehow "vibrant".

Maybe that is another reason why he's happy that his patrol area is the market beacuse "Vibrant" things keeps him healthy in a way.

If he wanted to go to a quiet place, he would have gone to the church. The church is not "vibrant" at all. Strangely, he rarely goes to church althought it is in the market's area.

'Wait, have I already gone to the church?' He thought. Calig realised he never stepped a foot inside the church during the years he has been in this town. He casually tossed away such funny thoughts and focused on his way.

Just as he entered the market's area, he slightly smiled. He immediately knew that his headache would soon disappear. Maybe he could even get some money to pay himself some food. He still hasn't eaten yet. 

"Stop this! I won't give you a coin!". A middle aged man was struggling from the grasps of a burly man while a thin one was throwing his vegetables on the ground.

"What is going on here?!" Calig shouted at them as he slowly approached there.

Of course he knew what was happening. Just the usual morning: thugs collecting protection fees. He just shouted to get their attention.

Still, he was surprised to see the thugs. He didn't expect to see any today because he woke up later than usual.

When the middle aged man saw Calig approaching, he was immediately overjoyed. The burly man also let him go when he saw that a guard was approaching.

"Sir! Aren't you of the Towns's guard!? Please! These men are forcing me to pay them money!". The merchant cried.

He just moved in this town recently and immediately got threatened the day he opens his stall for the first time. Fortunately, a guard appeared just in the right moment.

The burly thug's partner sighted when he saw Calig coming.

'Damn! Him again!' He thought. Today, he came later than usual just so he could avoid him. It seems like luck wasn't on his side.

He let go off the middle aged man's goods and threw a leather pouch towards Calig before signaling his companion to apprehend their "client".

Calig easily caught the pouch with one hand as if he has already saw it coming and walked away, pretending not to notice the merchant's astonished face.

'Nothing I can help you with old man?' He though as he walked away. Even if he wanted to, he couldn't.

The salary of a guardsman is clearly not enough to keep his life going. Sometimes Calig just wanted to get promoted and get stationed at the gate. There, you can get some peace and "real" easy money.

Calig didn't even go far before he heard a loud bang behind him.

He turned around and saw the merchant on the ground. He was clutching his stomach in pain.

The burly man just kicked him down.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

The cause of events really started to annoy Calig. Normally, he would ignore such things but the more he tried to take his eyes off the merchant, the more the pain in his head got more powerful.

He decided to endure the unbearable pain and walk away. He didn't want the incident from two years ago to repeat again.

"Aren't you a Guard!? Your job... your job is to protect us!" The merchant shouted in pain, fiercely glaring at Calig.

Calig stopped his steps when his voice resounded in his ears. He was clearly quiet shaken by his words.

He was starting to feel strange. He tightly clutched his head with both of his hands. He felt like his brain was about to explode!

Strangely, within all this pain, he kind of smelled the smell of burnt wood in the surroundings.

When the merchant saw that Calig stopped his footsteps, he thought that Calig was hesitating to help him or not so he decided to provoke him more.

"Aren't you a man? Don't tell me you're scared? You're just going to run away like that!!" The merchant berated with all his breath.

When he thought that Calig would react, the burly man behind him sent him a kick on the face, immediately knocking him out.

"Let him be. Let's get someone else. I can't believe he tried to make Calig act. He got scared shitless when boss beat the crap out of him. He's just a coward. " The thin thug addressed to his companion.

Although he was insulting Calig, a slight trace of fear could be seen in his eyes when he looked him.

'just a coward' His voice resounded in Calig's ears.

'just a coward'

'you failed to protect, you ran away'

Calig didn't even know what was happening anymore. Many voices started to echo in his head. He shut his eyes tightly, trying to clear his mind and keep calm but nothing seemed to work. The more he tried calming down the more his head hurt him.

When he opened his eyes, everything around him was nothing but fire. Judging by his expression, Calig was clearly confused. He understood nothing.

Where is he? Why is he angry, why is he sad? Why is everything burning.

He turned around, checking the blazing surroundings. He saw someone. A woman.

Her whole body was on fire, yet she stood there coldly looking at Calig.

"You ran away." She said coldly. The fire dancing around her fiercely.

Calig took a step backwards when he saw her.

"I...I didn't run, you..you" He was stuttering, trying to make the words get out of his mouth. Yet, they couldn't.

She raised her blazing hand and pointed a finger towards Calig as a fire shadow manifested near her. 

"You coward." Said the shadow as it pierced his dark hand towards the woman.

Great anger immediately assaulted Calig. An unknown power erupted within him, making his mind and soul explode.

Before he knew it, the surroundings were no longer blazing.

The first thing that caught his attention was the big corpse laying right in front of him.

Calig felt something cold in his hand. It was his sword, covered in blood. He unconsciously dropped it when he saw the blood on it.

"No! No!"  

Calig quickly looked around, and saw that the thin man disappeared. The merchant was still out cold and the burly man was lying in a pool of blood, dead.

"No! No! No!" He whispered frantically. How did all this even happen? He did none of this? He remembered that his head hurt when the merchant provoked him but nothing else.

'They're going to come for me! I have to hide!' Calig thought.

'No, I just have to stay within the Town hall's area and avoid the Market's area and I'll be safe."

His home was within the town's hall area. It is best to stay there because it is also there were the noble ruling this town resides.

The Baronet ruling the town didn't care about the existence of gangs in every area of the town. He even gets money from them for letting them do what they want. Still, the action he let them do were still restricted.

Calig started running with all his might.

He had to enter the town hall's area before they found him. Fortunately, it was quite near from here.

Calig was relieved when he saw that he was very near.

What he didn't know that people were already waiting for him.

As he ran, an arrow pierced his leg, making him fall down and roll on the ground.

'Shit! They have already found me! Fucking useless body armor!' He cussed at his armor that barely provided any protection.

Calig didn't even have the time to stand up because several men were already slowly surrounding him.

They opened up a path for a long bearded man. He slowly approached Calig and glared at Calig.

"You only brought this much with you? Aren't you underestimating me?" Calig was actually relieved when he saw that he only brought 4 men with him. He only had to fear their leader and the one with a crossbow.

Brant laughed when he heard what Calig said.

"I wouldn't dare bring up them useless thugs. They'll just die by your hands. You think I forgot what happened last time?."

While Brant was monologuing, Calig quickly pulled out the arrow off his leg , stood up and attempted to run away.

Seeing his actions, Brant just signaled his crossbowman and he aimed for Calig, successfully piercing his other leg, making Calig fall down, for the second time.

"I forgot to tell you these are my most powerful men. Three awakened warriors and an awakened archer." Brant looked at Calig with disdain.

"You know Calig, every men has their own weaknesses, no matter how strong they are."

Calig's both legs were injured so he couldn't stand up. Brant knew of Calig's great reaction speed. He lost almost half of his men due to that 2 years ago.

It was as if he could predict the direction all of their attacks. Fortunately, he arrived in time and subdued him.

Just the price of subduing him was very high. He lost most of his powerful runes and even popped an eye!

Since Calig was a guard it would be very problematic if he were to die because the baron was very eccentric on of men.

Still, Grant managed to beat the shit out of Calig to he point he couldn't even stand up. He left him in the middle of the market half dead.

Despite all that, Grant was given permission to kill Calig if caught causing trouble a second time.This time, he took precautions so he wouldn't lose any more men by immobilizing Calig's legs.

Calig knew he couldn't run nor walk with these legs so he started crawling. He was so near the safe zone. Even if they were allowed to kill him, they wouldn't dare to let a drop of blood fall on the Baronet's area.

"Do you know how ridiculous you look? What are you? An animal?!" Brant and his men laughed as they mocked him.

"If you want to crawl that much let me help you."

Brant raised his hand and a wind blade manifested on his palm. He was an awakened Wind mage so such spell would not affect his energy that much.

"What do you think you're doing right in front of the church mister Brant?" An old, peaceful voice a interrupted Brant.

Brant turned around and saw that it was the Priest.

"He killed my underlings. You know I have all rights to kill him while he is in my territory." Brant glared at the priest as he cancelled his spell.

He had to be careful around the members of the church. You offend them, you offend the whole Light Union.

"Do you think you are permitted to do anything not only in front of the church but also right in front of a Priest?" The old man slightly raised his eyebrow.

"Of course not! No! We were just-" Brant just to explain himself but the old man raised his hand, waving it as if he was telling them to go.

'That damn priest!' He glared at the priest before bringing his men away with him.

'Now, now. What should I do with our young hero?' The old priest asked himself as he played with his beard.

He looked down and saw that Calig was still crawling, trying to head towards the Town's area.

He approached Calig but as soon as he touched his head, Calig fainted.