With a yelp, Kaisenberg’s mind was transferred into Lawrence’s mind. Lawrence was still seated in a chair in the darkness in front of Kaisenberg. However, Kaisenberg’s face had turned pale.

“W-What sorcery have you used!?” Kaisenberg roared, looking around for his sword in the darkness that is Lawrence’s mind.

Would you like to confine Kaisenberg Orion to one section of your consciousness? Warning: You can release him by removing the spell.

Quickly, Lawrence quarantined Kaisenberg to that area of his consciousness and with that, he announced, “Then let me show you my history.”

Playing the cutscenes that he had selected, it was stitched seamlessly together, clear as day, as if Kaisenberg himself was there.

Lawrence sat still in his chair as the first scene began.

Kaisenberg watched as the blackness around him seemed to dissolve to a training ground. Lawrence was still sitting in his chair, he could see that. However, there was something odd about the scene. The sky was blue, the trees swaying as if the wind was immensely strong. Kaisenberg could see a much less armoured Lawrence compared to the armour set he saw in the market, walking along the road, beside a knight that seemed to almost glow with a divine light, a greatsword on his back.

“Follow the path of the Guardians well and you shall protect the weak… That is our highest calling.” The man with the greatsword said and Lawrence nodded and replied, “Yes, Sir Arthur.”

At that point, as a pack of wolves howled, the training ground scenery dissolved once more and this time, Lawrence was with a slightly better set of armour, as Kaisenberg could tell it was a proper steel plate instead of iron, was with a group of companions.

Would you like Kaisenberg Orion to view the cutscenes by himself?

Out of curiosity, Lawrence selected that option and he realized what he had done. He and his chair turned invisible. However, Kaisenberg was too engrossed with the scene in front of him to notice.

“Rally to me!” Lawrence shouted, banging his tower shield as a mage, an archer as well as a barbarian-like man went behind him.

The mage had a hair of gold, holding a staff that belched forth toxic green clouds that obscured Kaisenberg’s view of who were the ones they were fighting. Meanwhile, the most distinct feature of the archer was his large bow that once fitted with an arrow, the arrow will suddenly burst into flames. The barbarian-like man had a massive beard and a huge Warhammer which he swung around as he roared as if attempting to scare his enemy into submission.

A horn that screeched Kaisenberg’s ear blasted and from the noxious films, Kaisenberg took a step back, gasping in horror.

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Men, women and children alike, with their pale rotting skin as well as missing body parts that would be fatal to a living person, swarmed forward, screaming.

“W-What are those!?” Kaisenberg yelled, scrambling backwards. However, he saw a shadow charge past him, a man clad in heavy armour and carrying a tower shield.

His sword lobbed the head of the first zombie’s off—

Then as the scene dissolved, Kaisenberg found that he was now sitting on the ashen ground. Beside him lay the same mage, archer and barbarian that he saw earlier.

Looking up, he saw a very badly battered Lawrence on a knee, clutching onto his sword and shield which are both firmly placed on the ground, as if for support.

“You shall fail, Guardian!” a massive serpent with a human’s body screeched and lunged forward. With a roar, Lawrence had stood up, slamming the shield into the serpent’s face and sending her flying. He then leapt forward and plunged his sword into her belly.

Then, as the ashen ground vanished, Kaisenberg was sitting on wood, no, to be precise, the wooden supports of a port. Lawrence was clad in the same armour that Kaisenberg had seen earlier in the market. The same sword that Lawrence had laid down earlier was on his waist as well.

A group of men in long white robes bowed respectfully as he boarded the ship.

“Farewell, Saviour of Atlantis!” one of the robed men shouted as the ship sailed. Kaisenberg then felt a falling sensation and the colours of the world returned as he found himself sitting in the same chair he was in earlier.

“Do you believe me now?” Lawrence smiled, looking at Kaisenberg who was panting as if he had run a marathon.

The usually calm, cool and collected demeanour of Kaisenberg was gone.

“Y-You don’t seem to leave me with a choice but to believe you,” Kaisenberg said after a moment, the sight of the zombies still particularly fresh in his mind.

“Please, I will report to Lord Black that you are a man of upstanding character. I apologize for my rudeness, Lawrence Carstein!” Kaisenberg said loudly, bowing his head in apology.

Lawrence waved his hand quickly, “No worries. Guardians such as I am often mistaken and rightly so that we are here to upset balances of power in the region. I swear no allegiance at the moment to anyone aside from the people.”

“There are more of people of your skill?” Kaisenberg exclaimed, plunging his head into chaos. Any nation that had these guardians may very well become a formidable force.

“Across the sea and beyond. However, in this region, I may or may not be the only one.” Lawrence said, walking to the kitchen and returning with a glass of wine.

“T-Those things… Those… People you killed.” Kaisenberg stuttered after downing the entire glass.

“Zombies, undead. They are not people.” Lawrence replied, staring at Kaisenberg.

“You can leave that part out when you talk to your lord if you please,” Lawrence said and Kaisenberg fell quiet.

“Then… Perhaps with your strength… Would you…” Kaisenberg started a dangerous line of the question but Lawrence shot him down straight away.

“I will not be reduced to a lord’s puppet when I have not judged him to be a man of character. We, the Guardians, are very choosy when it comes to picking people to serve and even then, it is a contract that we can break almost instantly.” Lawrence laughed and Kaisenberg clenched his fists, biting his lip. Only if he can get this amazing warrior into the ranks of the household knights of Lord Black!

“I am, but a mere merchant at the moment.” Lawrence smiled and Kaisenberg stood up after a few moments.

“I will gather my men and return to Lord Black. Thank you for your hospitality.” Kaisenberg bowed deeply and Lawrence returned in kind.

“Should I welcome all of you with wine next or with my sword and shield?” Lawrence asked and Kaisenberg laughed.

“Well, you do know the answer, do you not?” Kaisenberg laughed as Lawrence scratched his head embarrassingly.