Ten Years Ago, The town of Merca

Drake, 8 at the time, was being Homeschooled by Nord when a Powerful roar echoed through the Town. It left in its wake, Shattered windows, Crying Children, Confused Townsfolk, And an Earthquake that was Gradually building in magnitude.

Nord shot up from his chair and scowled his face.

"It's a Stampede! to the Roof, Quickly!"

Nord dashed into his room and Grabbed one of his swords. He met up with drake near the Ladder leading to the roof

After exchanging nods, They headed up the ladder to the Terraced roof

They saw a massive plume of dust rolling down from the southwest, Tiny moving dots spotted across the near-opaque cloud caught the Attention of Nord

"It's a Herd of Stygian Bulls, That Roar must be from whatever startled them"

Nord observed

"How are you so calm about this Nord!"

Drake's little body kept being thrown out of balance when He tried to stand on the shaking house

Nord Grabbed Drake by the back of his collar and lifted him up

"Look"

Drake saw what Nord was showing him

Six unknown figures on horseback gathered just outside the Town's edge, The deadly cloud of Beasts seemed not to falter on its Approach

One of the riders Dismounted, and Drake saw Copper wisps of Mana being entwined around them, The Figure raised a fist clad in a large metal Gauntlet, The mana converging to a point just beyond their Hand.

The Mage Punched the Ground and a Massive wall of earth formed around the Southwestern side of Merca, The wall sloped forwards as if to prevent it from being climbed

The stampede of the beast diverged from the front of the wall and scurried along the edges of the town. a cloud of death cut in two.

Then the point of the wall that was originally in front of the stampede Cracked open and a Collapse of Stygian Bulls fell forward

Two of the Mages Dismounted their horses and Raised what appeared to be staves

Two vertical whirlwinds grew out of thin air Rotating in opposing directions to each other, The beast that made it through the earthen barrier were now being flung up and outward, away from the town

"Windwheel Vortex…. Never thought they had mages that strong stationed here"

Drake, still being held up by his collar looked at nord with a puzzled expression

"Mages? Those are Battle Mages?"

Nord met the eyes of the Hanging boy and Nodded

The rumbling gradually lost power as the Stampede subsided, Drake was returned to his feet.

"Thanks"

He said to Nord as he looked at him

Nord's Attention was Occupied by something else as he was staring off into the sky with a serious expression

Drake tried to see what he saw

a dark elongated shape with wings, Silently gliding in a circle above Merca, as if it were surveying what was below.

"That's a Lesser Wyvern! that thing must've caused the Stampede."

A bead of cold sweat ran down Nord's face.

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a shrill whistle coming from the direction of the Squad of Mages caught his attention back.

the whistling came from one of the Mages with a Stave as they were conjuring a hollow tube of wind in Midair as another Mage was preparing their bow, the Nocked arrow burst into flames as they released it in an Upward trajectory into the Wind tunnel.

The arrow entered the Tunnel and Blinked out of sight in a Flash of red.

Drake and Nord looked back at the Wyvern to see one of its wings become engulfed in an Explosion.

The Reptile lost all momentum and began to plummet down to earth.

The Wyvern broke its fall with a powerful flap of its remaining wing and Crash landed to the northern side of town, where the last two Mages were approaching the grounded creature, Their horses in full stride.

They Dismounted ther horses brandishing their weapons, A Sword and a War Hammer respectively.

The Mage wielding the war hammer picked up Incredible speed as they ran towards the Wyvern.

The creature cocked its serpentine head and whipped it at the attacker only to be hit with a Ball of Ice the sword wielder shot

The Hammer-wielding mage capitalised on the moment and swung the hammer Infused with explosive power, Landing a square blow onto the Wyvern's Side, sending the creature barrelling away. A split second later, The Sword mage closed in on the creature and drove a Spike of Ice clean through its Head.

"Effective"

Nord Muttered to himself

The Mages hauled the creature back to town to greet the folks and Began to Portion off the Wyvern's meat.

Upon insistence from Drake to meet the mage who dealt the finishing blow, Nord reluctantly went along with him to where the Mage Corp soldiers had gathered

Drake Immediately saw how the townsfolk who hated his guts, made a complete turn on their personalities. They were singing praises and compliments to the soldiers. They were handing precious souvenirs and Local produce as a Thanks to the Warriors who averted a massive crisis for their Backwater town

Drake stood Quite a bit far from the commotion, Fearful to take a single step forward

"let's go home, Drake"

Nord softly said to Drake as he lightly tugged his hand

Young Drake hung his head and obliged, and as he turned to head home, and walked headfirst into a wall.

"Whoa there kid, Watch your step."

Drake had collided with the Muscular mage who wielded a Warhammer during the previous battle

"you really gotta look ahead when you're walking you know"

Drake felt an enormous hand perch onto his shoulder, He lifted his head to take a look at a woman's face gently beaming upon the child

"Hi there, I'm First Sergeant Alicia, nice to meet you."

Drake's Face had drawn a confused expression, Alicia's face was Beautiful and Feminine while her body was Rugged and Masculine. His 8-year-old brain Was being sent for a loop

Nord, Turned around and witnessed the boy experiencing an existential crisis right before the Soldier. He laughed to himself as he spoke

"Nice to meet you First Sergeant, This boy is Drake, He wants to meet the someone from your squad but it seems he's a little preoccupied"

"you're referring to Leftenant Gregory, He's our squad leader. Yea, he gets a little 'occupied' when people give him attention. heh… "

Alicia confirmed, Motioning with her head toward the direction where Gregory was.

"well, come with me, I can help you cut through the crowd"

She offered

Drake was still unable to form words, so he just nodded in response and followed Alicia as she led the way. Nord trailing closely behind.

Gregory was chatting about with the townsfolk when the hulking sight of Alicia entered his view, But what surprised him was the sight of the man Walking just behind her

Nord noticed and immediately put a finger to his mouth, an Indication for Gregory to Keep his mouth sealed

"Leftenant, There's a Boy who wants to meet you"

Alicia said to Gregory, Referring to drake who barely reached upto her hips in height nodded, ending his chat with some elderly folk and leaned toward the boy, His face level with Drake's.

"Hi, I'm Leftenant Gregory Lemiel. I am the leader of Naga Squad."

"M-my name's Drake, I saw you slay the wyvern with Miss Alicia's help"

Drake managed to converse with Gregory

"But more than that, I want to know why Heroes like you are treated so much more differently than people like me. What do I need to do to be Respected like anyone else?"

Gregory's expression turned sour for a split second

"Kid, listen. If you have the luxury of complaining about how poorly you're being treated or whatever, Then you have the power to take it upon your own hands to change the status quo. The only thing that will stop or propel you is your determination or the lack of it. Determination makes the world go round."

Drake was taken aback, Not once had he ever been lectured to the way the Leftenant did

"Do you want to earn reverence, boy? Maybe Work hard to become a Battlemage Soldier, Find your purpose in life."

He stood up away from Drake, and gave Nord a nod.

Gregory's words resonated with Drake, at once he felt as if he was in control of his life, and that his life fell apart all the same.