* * * Eldron's POV

Someone knocked on my chamber door, and I stepped out to greet them. "What is it?"

"I apologize, Your Majesty, for disturbing you. You have an audience this afternoon, please be prepared to attend."

"Very well, I will get ready."

The audience grew day by day, and the issues in the land I ruled became increasingly complex. The duties of a leader never seemed to end.

I swiftly walked towards the meeting room, where people gathered to voice their complaints and concerns to me as their ruler.

"Your Majesty has entered the room!" one of my knights shouted, announcing my arrival.

The people in the room quickly bowed as I entered, showing their respect. I walked towards the throne at the end of the room.

"No need to delay, let's begin this audience," I said.

One by one, they came forward to express their needs. Some came with worried faces, some with hope, and others with burdens.

"Your Majesty, our village will face famine this winter, I beg for your assistance," a farmer said.

"As a Baron, I will not let you suffer," I replied firmly.

The person then bowed. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

I then summoned one of my advisors to handle the issue. As time passed, an elderly man arrived. He knelt and said, "Your Majesty... Please help our village. We are just a small village constantly plundered by bandits."

The raid last year had led to widespread famine. Many had died from starvation, and now some of those who had once starved had turned into bandits, robbing others.

I felt like a failure as a leader. Even though I held the position of a Baron, I didn't possess magical abilities to suddenly resolve the famine.

"Where is this village?" I asked.

"Village of Eime, Your Majesty."

"Do you know anything about these bandits?"

"They number in the dozens, Your Majesty. I apologize, that's all I know."

I called one of my knights. "Summon Dariel here."

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A while later, Dariel arrived. He knelt before me.

"Help this man... I give permission to gather troops. Take as many as you need," I ordered.

"Very well, Your Majesty!" Dariel replied.

* * * Dariel's POV

Not just the bandits... The people from the north are rumored to be returning, hopefully not anytime soon.

I walked through the corridor with some of my companions. "You, handle budget requests and needs. Make sure they know it's an order from His Majesty."

"And you, quickly gather dozens of troops from the mercenaries."

"Yes, Sir!" They both left.

* * * Kaelan's POV

Then, I returned to the inn.

In the common room, Gunnar, Elara, Runa, and of course, the innkeeper, were gathered.

They were playing cards. "Haha! I win, Elara, you owe me gold! Innkeeper, I want food for a week! And Runa, you have to bring me food to my room every day for a week!"

Runa threw her cards and slammed the table. "Nooo," she said sadly.

"Promise is a promise, you have to keep it," Gunnar said.

Then I approached them.

Gunnar noticed me coming and said, "Hey, Kai. How did your training go?"

"It's been a year since then. Oh, by the way, where's Draven?"

Elara answered, "Isn't he with you?"

I think I might have irritated him.

"Haha, don't let your skills get rusty. I know!" Gunnar replied.

"What do you mean?"

"I just received a mission from the ruler. We have a chance to take it... It will be your first mission." After that, he pulled a paper from his pocket; it was the contract.

"If you're interested, I'll sign this contract, how about it?" Gunnar added.

Elara quickly added, "After the raid incident, the bandits are starting to show up..."

"And now the Brettier Empire is trying to invade Edoria again, haha. Problems seem to be coming from all directions," Gunnar said.

The next day.

I accepted Gunnar's offer, and we decided to join this mission.

We all gathered in the castle courtyard; I was amazed by its grandeur. The castle courtyard was indeed this huge, very impressive.

As we were assembling, I approached Draven and apologized to him. "I'm sorry, I asked too many questions yesterday."

He stared at me for a while before finally answering, averting his gaze. "You're not at fault."

Then someone in full armor approached us.

He seemed to be leading this operation. He went up to Gunnar and greeted him, "My friend, Gunnar. Glad to see you joining me again, haha." They shook hands.

"Dariel, you're leading the operation!"

"Well, yes... The other knights are busy with other matters."

"I'm training this young man," Gunnar said, pointing towards me.

The knight named Dariel then glanced at me. "Who is he, a newcomer to your group? Are you bringing a rookie on this dangerous mission?"

"I am Kaelan, Sir. Nice to meet you," I said, bowing.

"Don't speak like that to him, Dariel. He's been training for a year now. Draven has been his trainer."

"Draven, the cold-blooded killer, has been training him? Haha, interesting."

They seemed quite close.

"Of course." Then they both went off to chat.

A little while later, the soldiers had gathered. Our number reached 32 for this operation.

Dariel appeared with as many horses as there were of us. "Attention!" Dariel shouted.

Everyone turned to him. He continued, "We'll be using these horses during this mission."

I tried to mount one of the horses, but I quickly realized that controlling it was not as easy as I thought. I ended up falling off the horse.

Gunnar couldn't hold back his laughter. He approached me and extended his hand. "Kai, join Elara. Let her handle the horse; you'll ride with her."

"Come on, Kaelan," Elara said from the horse's back.

"Alright."

Draven suddenly stared at me intensely. I didn't know what he was thinking; he was intimidating.