The land was rough with sandstorms that blocked the sky.

The sand was rigid leaving small cuts all over me.

I saw small creatures hiding behind rocks, and the native people of this land pushed away to caves and tents out in the savanna.

I saw massive mountains of orange rock, and massive sand hills.

Then a massive sandstorm hit us, lasting for hours.

Eventually the knights had told me they had lost track of the road because it had been covered up by sand. So we stayed the night in a cave.

The cave was small from a glance but inside it seemed massive, I'm not sure how massive as all I could see was what our lanterns would provide.

I could hear droplets of water gently falling, isolated footsteps approaching a wall.

Then we laid our stuff down, setting up camp. We set a fire up first, then our tents.

I laid in my tent listening to the crackle of the fire, I thought about the natives and why they were out so far, I wonder if the townsfolk kicked them out.

I eventually fell asleep.

"Wake up sir." Said one of the knights as he shook me. "Huh? Is it day?" I replied.

"No, theres a monster, we need to leave." The knight told me.

"Why can't you just kill it?" I scoffed. "I can't kill that thing, it killed Bruce with ease." He said while pushing me outta bed shaking.

"Alright, it is dark so I suppose you're right." I said while gathering my stuff.

Im sure it's a small monster like the ones I play with at home.

Then I heard a growl stopping me in my tracks, I was stunned.

This was not like the Bronze Blob I used to play with growing up, this was a threat.

I'm going to die.

The beast leaped at me and I barely dodged out of the way.

I ran for my sword but the knight pushed me out of the way as the beast leapt at me again.

When I looked back I saw the knight blocking the beast with his sword, I could finally see it from the light of the fire.

It had a wide head with large teeth, a small but wide body. Its skin looked rough with jagged scars and its claws looked sharp as knives.

"Grab the sword on the ground" the knight said struggling. I ran over grabbing the sword, rushing back to see the beast had flung the knight across the cave.

Then it started to run at me. I dove out the way, looking around for anything that could help me.

Being unable to find anything, I prepared myself to fight this beast.

I let the beast run at me clawing at my head but I ducked, slicing at its chest.

The beast whimpered in pain before chomping at me which I would escape by dashing backwards.

I found myself trapped against a wall, so I sliced at the beast but it got caught it in its teeth before slinging it away.

I didn't know what to do.

I was going to die, my first mission and I was already going to die.

It was an easy mission too, I wasn't even supposed to fight anything.

It was those damn knights, they went off course.

Now Im stuck in this situation, while they bleed out.

No I won't die, I won't let any damn beast kill me.

The beast sliced at me again with its left paw but I rolled to the right towards the knight.

"Give me your blade!" I demanded.

He gave me the blade whilst struggling to move. I waited for the beast to attack first.

Then when it did, it charged at me which I side stepped, slicing its throat open.

It was dead.

I would drop to the ground panting, "I thought I was dead" I stated.

"I actually beat that?" I laughed.

"How am I alive?!" I laughes in confusion.

"You and me both" the knight said.

"But uh, can you help me out." He said painfully.

"Oh yeah, I'll help you up." I replied.

After taking care of his injuries and examining Bruce, I found Bruce was dead but the other knight would live.

"So whats your name." I asked while helping him up.

"Connor, why do you ask" he questioned while paining to get up.

"I don't want to call you "Knight" the whole time, feels wrong." I responded.

"I'm used to it kid, they sound the same to me." Stated Connor.

"What we need to do is make sure something like this doesn't happen again, I'll take guard first." I sighed while holding my sword in my lap.

Nothing attacked us again that night, but we were scared if something would.

I could tell Connor was like me, new to the outside world.

He had also never seen real combat, he was as shook as I was.

We both learned something that night, the world is deadly.

We stepped out the cave at dawn to find our carriage covered in sand but in good condition.

After clearing the sand off of it, we made our way to the town. We finally made it after a days of travel.

As we approached the gates, I noticed how big the town truly was, this was completely different from what I had expected, there was no small town in the middle of nowhere, but there was a big town, the size of kingdom.

It had great walls of sandstone, perfectly crafted which had statues embedded into it that resembled weaponry and their Lord I assumed.

While approaching the doors into the town, I noticed two guards approaching me.

"Hault, why are you here?" One of the guards said.

He was dressed in a yellow cloak with bandages around his head. Light wooden armor around his body and wrists. He carried a Kopesh in his hands and a bow on his back.

"We're here on business, I'm The Prince of Craedo Kingdom. My father, King James has sent me to investigate your mines." I informed.

"Ah yes, Open up the gate for our guest." The guard announced.

I waited for the doors to open, I was left with a beautiful view of huge desert stairs surrounded in statues of the Lord. Colorful clothes set out to dry covered the streets.

Long towering channels of water circling the city delivering water to thousands.

As we trotted through the door, I noticed some people being beaten by the guards.

I didn't know much of why this happened, as it never happened in my kingdom. But it didn't sit right with me.

"Do you have a place for us to stay?" I asked the Guard.

"No, we didn't know you were coming, but we can prepare one for you."

The guard replied. "I would appreciate that." I responded.

He would take us through the city, up grand stairs with trees leading up to a large building. We made our way up the stairs walking past more guards and eventually down a corridor with paintings of people across the walls.

They had badges attached to their chest with guns in their hands.

Those must be the guns they're making for us. I don't know much about them, but I don't think I was supposed to.

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At that moment the guard showed me to my room and continued to walk Connor to his.

I opened the door to find a large bed next to a crescent shaped window with drapes swaying back and forth gently from the cool breeze.

While setting my bag down, I noticed my sword had a marking on it.

I wasn't able to tell which marking it was so I took a deep breath, focused on my eyes and thought about deciphering it. I opened my eyes and while focusing on the marking, I was able to tell this was a common strength marking. Must've been my dad who put this here. I laughed to myself thinking about fighting the beast in the cave. If I had just grabbed this sword the fight would've ended sooner.

I do question why he never put a marking on my guards swords, I guess it doesn't matter to much, but I do need to get some sleep I thought.

I would wake up in a pitch of darkness, pulling the covers off of me.

Getting out of bed, feeling for the lantern when suddenly I heard footsteps outside my door.

Then the door was opening. A hooded figure was silently opening it and closing it.

They hadn't noticed me yet, they were staring at my bed intently. They grabbed their knife from their side, raising it behind their head. My heart was pounding, could he hear my heart? I thought. Then I thought if I hadn't woke up when I did. Then the figure slammed it down in my bed hitting nothing but a mattress.

The man took a step back and looked around the room. I stayed as still as possible, the man started to look around, even looking at me.

Then he looked away slowly stepping to my right, slicing the air. Standing as still as I could I noticed a slight marking on his arm. I was able to read it, my green eyes hadn't faded away, I can control them now! This was good news. Although I need to escape to my guards room, while the assassin searched the room for me I slowly made my way to the door. At that moment he threw his knife in my direction just above my head, I held my mouth to stop me from screaming.

I slowly moved towards my bed picking up my supplies and sword, before opening up the door and running down the hallway, I was running so fast it was like my lungs were on fire. I could tell the assassin was following me but I couldn't see them, or hear them.

All I could sense was their presence, I knew they were near, it was suffocating.

My senses yelling at me, and I kept looking behind me. I couldn't see them, they must be invisible, shit.

While I was running I found Connors door open, I closed it as I ran in.

Finding Connors dead body, I took a step back and paused before grabbing his supplies.

The door opened without a sign of a person, it was quiet at first, a great pause, we were both waiting on the other to make a move.

Then I saw as he dashed at me, I took out my blade and deflected his attack kicking him away, I dove out the window, landing on the roof below losing my sword and rolling and falling off onto the next roof. "Fuck, that hurt." I struggled to say as I squirmed on the ground.

The roof was rough and coarse, and it was hard to see with this dust in my eyes paired with the darkness of the night.

Damn, I thought it was a small drop. Then the assassin jumped towards me, I rolled out the way of the lunge.

Dodging the next slash by falling backwards, I was now stuck preparing myself for the next attack.

They stabbed down at me, I grabbed their wrist fighting for control.

Using all the strength in my body to hold them back, they let go with their left hand, in an attempt to punch me, so I pushed their hand with the knife back and slammed my head into theirs.

Pushing them off of me I stood up slowly, noticing my sword in the dim light, I walked over breathing heavily before grabbing it.

Then the assassin jumped at me from behind, stabbing me in my shoulder.

I screamed in pain , leaving an echo, stained across the desert.

I grabbed the knife out of me, turned around stabbing into the assassins shoulder digging deep with its curved blade, bringing them closer to me before stabbing into their chest with my sword.

"Fuck" I cried while holding my shoulder limping to a nearby window.

I opened the window seal, peaking inside. Finding nobody inside, I entered searching for medical supplies or anything.

I found wraps laying on a bed, the kind people were commonly wearing here, I grabbed them, wrapping them around my injuries with the common medical knowledge I had.

"I did it" I proclaimed. "I didn't die! I Didn't Die! I killed that bastard!"

I said laughing from pure joy. I started laughing uncontrollably, "I Won, I beat someone, Im alive!" I said in ecstasy.

I continued to laugh over my win until I started to stumble over my feet, falling onto the ground, unable to get up, my vision got smaller and eventually It wasn't there.

I woke up, squinting my eyes from the light shining through the window, my head was aching and my shoulder had been healed.

I tried to get up but struggled, realizing my hands and feet had been tied, they felt tense and trapped. I tried to free myself from the grip, but was unable to.

"Now now, let's not be hasty dear." A mysterious woman said teasingly.

I looked up to see a woman with Green flowing hair that matched her hazel green eyes. She was dressed similarly to the guards just lacking the headpiece. "What do you want?!" I questioned orderly.

"Shushh, no need for all that. I just want to talk hun." She said while giggling to herself.

"About?.." I groaned.

"I noticed you were in my room last night passed out on the floor with a knife wound. Now I could've gotten the guards to take you away, but then I noticed you had a very specific type of knife wound. It was in the shape of a Talon. Theres only a few who wield a dagger like that. A blade like this holds poison in the tip to inject its victims. You just so happened to be one. I wasn't exactly sure who it was that stabbed you until I looked outside my window and saw an assassin from the Mazoku clan."

After hearing that I started to laugh. "Why are you telling me this? I don't care what type of knife stabbed me, I don't care where he came from lady!" I protested.

"Such a rude prince." The lady retorted.

"I was trying to help, and you don't even know it." She sighed.

"Help what? All you did was explain what type of knife it was." I Objected.

"Theres more to it than that, don't you wonder who hired the assassin?" She pressed.

"Im royal, any one person could've wanted me dead, whats it matter to you?" I questioned.

"I want money, I want the benefits you have from being royalty." She proclaimed.

"Alright, untie me and I'll pay you." I responded calmly.

"You don't even have money in your bag, just a marked sword." She stated.

My eyes widened then darted down. "I can have the town here pay you." I offered as I made eye contact.

"That's not your money to use." She argued.

"My family owns this town, like hell it isn't mine." I declared.

"It's not like you earned it, you were just born rich." She scoffed.

"Why do you care so much about this, do you wanna be paid or not?" I questioned.

"I want to be paid fairly, from you. Not your little towns or family members, just you." She insisted.

"Beggars can't be choosers." I laughed. Then I felt my skull rattle as she punched me in the temple of my head.

"Listen. It doesn't matter why I want your money only, you're gonna give me the money or I'll kill you." She grilled.

"I don't have any money lady, I didn't come to buy trinkets." I said.

My head would ache again as she punched my jaw, putting my head in place again before wailing on me. Fuck, I can't wait to get out of this.

"Listen, I'll give you a few days to make up the money. If you don't by then, I'll gut you. She smiled.

"So, are you going to untie me?" I asked.

"Oh sure, but don't attempt anything without my permission. If you do escape, I'll find you." She informed me.

Like hell I'll listen to her. She grabbed me and cut through the rope with the "Mazoku" knife.

I couldn't care less what type of knife it is, a knife is a knife.

I sat up whilst rubbing my wrists. "You really put them on tight didn't you?" I asked jokingly.

"I can tie them tighter." She said with a blank face.

"I'll pass." I said while walking towards her.

"Give me my sword and bag." I demanded.

"Why should I?" She said in snarking a tone.

"Because it's my stuff? Do you want the money or not?" I said angered.

"You'll get it back after you give me the money, I don't want you with too much power." She stated.

"I thought you could "gut me" and find me? What happened? What happened to being able to kill me, and you're bluffing." I retorted.

Unfinished I started to say "You wouldn't kill me, you know the conse-"

"I wouldn't" she interrupted locking eye contact with me as she approached.

Her eyes, fierce with anger as she swiped at me with the knife.

I ducked down barely dodging, I looked behind me to find a large slash in the wall. "Thats what I'm talking about! Keep it coming! I laughed.

She held her arm back preparing to slice again.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" She asked with disgust on her face.

Then she sliced at me which I dodged by leaning left.

I attacked her back with a right hook, which was dodged as well.

Then she grabbed my wrist, went low and grabbed my leg, then she picked me up and threw me against the wall. I bounced off the wall, falling onto the floor, squirming before rolling over to see her stabbing down at me with the knife.

I jumped up as I grabbed her hands forcing them up.

I made eye contact with her, I saw nothing but hate in her eyes, there was no other thought but to kill me.

I moved her wrist back and went to head butt her, but was met with a left hook to my face that left a dark bruise.

I dodged her next attack, pushing her off of me I got up and looked around the room for my sword then darted my eyes back to her.

"I wasn't playing" she panted. I just stared at her as I panted trying to figure out a plan.

"Look I'll get the money, I just want some protection." I said.

"Alright fine, I'll give you a weapon." She replied while digging in her bag.

Pulling out a gun, handing it to me.

"A gun? How do you have one?" I asked.

"How do you know what a gun is." She questioned.

"Everyone knows what a gun is, but can't you give me a sword or something I know how to use?" I asked.

"You know what a gun is but not how to use one?" She joked.

"You know what a brain is but not how to use it." I laughed. "Yeah, forget the gun."

She choked. "So you can be a dick but I can't?" I questioned. "Hmm?!" I grilled.

She looked at me before staring at her feet sighing in disbelief. "Lot of talk from someone with a bruised cheek."

She reminded as she looked back up at me. I stared at her thinking if it was worth it. I clenched my fist as I looked for a second before unclenching them, I stared back into her eyes.

"So, whats your name? Mines Kenji." I asked.

"Martha, now take the gun and get on out Kenji." Martha stated.

"I've never used one before, it's useless to me." I informed.

"Look I don't care if you know or don't, you got a weapon don't ya?" Martha retorted.

I would take the pistol from her hand, putting it in my back pocket. "I'm gonna get my shit back." I declared while looking at my bag as I walked out.

I entered Connors room, taking his bag of supplies and sword, I soon after walked out.

I wandered the halls finding a guard posted up next to a sandstone pillar. "Take me to the Lord." I demanded.

"He's busy right now." He declared. "I don't care, take me to him now." I said fiercely looking into his eyes.

"Back off kid, you can come later when the Lord isn't busy." He said calmly whilst his eyes stared into me like daggers.

"So royalty means nothing?!" I yelled.

"Not from a mere Prince, you're no king." The guard said with sincerity.

"Im closer to being one than you'll ever be. You tell your Lord I'll be back and theres gonna be changes." I ordered before walking away.

"You mean nothing to us." He said with passion.

I looked back at him before continuing to walk away, damn guard.

Royalty means nothing to these people, it's only hurt me so far. These people, they're inhumane.

They live like animals, they act like animals, they are animals.

I walked out of the Manor, pondering the fastest way I could get the money.

I ended up on a roof somewhere in the middle of the city. I thought about Connor and Bruce, they died too soon.

My father practically killed them, he's practically killed me.

"You alright?" A voice called from behind.

I would keep my posture but look behind to see a man dressed in a sandy tight clothes that stuck to him, over that was a darker shade of armor.

He had armor around his knees and shins, as-well as his elbows. He wore gloves and boots, that matched everything else he was wearing.

Around his neck there was a necklace with symbols inscribed, I activated my green eyes again to read the language, It wasn't possible. Why can't I read it I wondered, this isn't what I learned.

This shouldn't be possible, no maybe everything I've learned isn't true.

I switched back to my normal eyes and turned around, getting up.

"Im fine, just watching the town." I replied.

"Alright I'll leave you to it then." He responded back.

As he walked away I noticed he had a gun on his back.

"Hey!" I called out.

The man would turn around. "I have a question." I blurted out.

The man walked towards me.

"What is it?." He asked.

"I saw you have a gun, I recently got a pistol, I was wondering if you could help me?" I asked.

"Sure, I got the free time." He replied.