Long time ago, 18 years or so, our beloved emperor died, no sign of him afterward. He is emperor Jollus, rule upon our peaceful land.

The throne has passed down for many generation. However, Jollus' son, Aalzaleth, was very tyrannical, vicious, merciless, and show no pity toward others. He officially, awoken the second generation of, the dark age.

I, a fellow scoundrel, steal to live. Back then, i lived in a dream village, Viltaria village. No pollution of rotting rubbish, no stench of manures, just an old and classic village. Even if we are pacifist and ludicrious, we aren't weak.

Our chief, defend our village for ages. Untill... a group of marauders, called the Raiders, attack us up and down, strike from side to side, burn everything in path. Untill what left, ashes of our beloved village.

Their sole purpose is unknown, but i wager it had to involve with our precious trinklet. The gloomy sapphire, i nicknamed it.

It was a cyan gem with gloomy dark violet clouds covering the true light of it color. Whatever is it, it must be precious and provoke havoc and danger.

Before i fled, i saw a glimpse of man, holding a spinning saw, wrecking havoc. His eyes glow dimly in the messacre. I can't illustrate it well, because it's been a long time.

Enough of storytelling! this world is waiting to be discovered, nevertheless, vengeance shall be mine, because after the foulful and miserable attacks that was attempted by the Raiders, our chief sacrified himself to save some villagers, however, both of my parents don't show up. I presume they.. wERe......k-K-K-kiLLeD... i never met them after the raid, i was full of rage, anger, sadness, and passion to find them. But i suppose, dead people can't be brought back. Unless we were talking about necromancy stuff. WHICH is why i never intended to bring them back, even if i can. I will not cross my league to be a necromancer.

My time has come. I, Elliothe Ryadrill, is a grown man, well, half adult if i be honest here, i'm not the manliest man, nor the clever scholar type of guy. But i can say, i got some luck and dexterity on my side. Just need pair of daggers, a clean dark hood, and self confidence. I shall start my journey.

By the way, i was banned- er, maybe even "hunted" from the last city i visit. The Groundmill city, many miners, dwarven, and other people live in the residence, live by gouging out pile of clods, not my hobby.

One day, i met a couple, they dressed in peasant outfit. Rag if we were seeibg them from thr backside. But, i should have learn; never judge book by the cover.

that day, i don't know they are nobles, don't know why dressed up like slaves, maybe they was expiriencing the life of their slaves? curiosity? jest? or even tried to blending in. So, i threatened the man for some gold, he refused and pull out a dagger. Long hilt, shiny edge, and a red gem on the center of the hilt.

I disarmed the man, and threaten him for a last chance. He refuses again, he frown, bite his lips, "If you wished to become a rougish scoundrel, i shall refuse your nonsense. Just get a job, like us humans". I was not expected to be lectured by cow fodders. Deftly, i slice his left throat, blood dripping on his back.

The woman cried, tears cascading from her beautiful face. I wasn't aimed for the throat, but the shoulder. The man request the woman to lean down, he hold her hands, blood stain to her arms.

"Take care of your self... Kellia...my love" his eyes shut closed, no motion of living, stumbled to his chin. And his smile faded after he fell.

"Kellia?" I whispered, wondering and scratch my head. "I've heard of that name once" I muttered.

Suddenly, i remembered. They are nobles of the coal and silver mine district, one of the high ranked people in the city. Rich and luxurious. Then, the woman throw me a pouch. I peek inside, there is golds.

She mutters words that i can't hear properly. "Satisfied? people like you never know innocence and love between peoples, even if they were royal, noble, slave, or elven" she said with her eyes shut, "Leave us alone, i'll give you 5 minutes to run, then i shall hunt your head and burn it to the ground"

I cleared my throat and wonder why didn't she just order the guards to slay me at the last second. But suddenly, a guard approached us and point his spear at me.

Luckly, i managed weave through him and fled. But unluckly, he shouted and cup his hand on his mouth, "That man is an assassin! after him!"

"I guess my 5 minutes turned out to be nothing" I muttered, although a slight pang of guilt says i desserves it.

3 guards shocked and ran toward me, carrying short swords, wearing chain plates. But onr of them carries an axe, and wore a full chest plate, it glimpse on my eye for a second. i'm not an assassin, and nevet will be one. Just an unlucky man who killed noble by accident! assassins never killed by accident, right?

The guards yelled again and 2 more shows up, carried and clutches crossbow. They notched their arrows, aimed at me, and fire. One of them misses, the other one barely missed me, only glazes my shoulder, a drip of blood flows down. "Ahha, missed me!" i yelled full of confidence. The guard that call for reinforcement ****** his spear on the air, throw his spear, it zips toward me. I summersault around, dodged it quickly, and clutches the spear. Feeling delighted, i kept the spear. The guard who threw his spear halt, panting, "You cunning bitch, you heartless scrotum-faced marauder!" he swore, he surely easly gets taunted and short tempered.

With this golden opportunity, i leap to a wagon, jump up, and climbed to the roof. A bad idea actually, because one of the arrow hits my elbow, i screeched in pain, and pull out the arrow. Blood on the pointy edge, i toss it down and continue to run.

Shortly after, i escaped through the outer gate. And fled from this town.

In the different place, the woman named Kellia, grief to her beloved partner. "You always justified and stubborn, even you're not a skilled guardian of your partner, i love you.. always love you.. gods blessed you, and you now may be in their grasp, in their divine heaven. Johan" she whispered in grief.

Even after i get out of that damned city, the guards chased me down, one of them riding a horse, it hooves and gallop it ways to me.

Aftering me with no mercy in his eye, i turned back, hope for the best of luck. And ****** my spear.

It had 3 outcomes, either will it hit the horse and stumbled the rider, hit the rider and steal the horse, or misses horribly.

I thrusted my spear and pointed it to the horse and the rider. Tightened up my stance, and ****** forward, pushing my momentum through the winds blowing in the background.

I hit the horse, it fallen down ,and writhing down on the ground in pain, as i sever the horse's face in half. Now, the problem is the rider. I lost the other guard, and safely only met the horse riding one.

He carried a spear either, he prepared his battling stance, and point his spear to your throat. Just like how you killed the noble man.

I hit his legs with the shaft of my spear, unfortunately, he didn't stumble and strike forward, kick my groin.

I immediately scarmble to my feet, spin around, and slash the guard. He blocked the hit with his spear.

I motion my spear from down, both of our shaft make a tug noice. He tried to pull his spear back and strike, but i pulled both spear towards me, pull his body closer then me, i step on both spear, snap both spears. Then i stab the guard's stomach with a dagger, he spits blood, and blood flowing down from his unguarded stomach.

He fell down to his chin, motionless but bresthing intensively, and i stomped his face. His face now facing the ground. No sound of breathing afterward.

After the action i've caused, dozen of guards heading toward me, killing on their eyes blazes bright mercilessly. Two of them support and treat the fallen guard i defeated, and ten more chased me down.

All of them in chain plates, one of them carries a pike, the rest is clutching swords and spears. I was in panic, never mess with the nobles, mother said.

As they were following me, i caught a glimse of woman in my eye, then disappeared from the far view. Not long after that, i began to lose breath, i slowing down. Each seconds i was thinking that this is my final moment, no more running, no more avoiding, just accept the fate.

Miraculously, a woman shows up out of nowhere, she then appears on my vision, hooded in a black cloak, her face is hidden, but i can see her long blonde hair swinging right and left. Before i blinked my eyes from her, i was not in the path of the forest, i was inside the woods, hopefully hidden from my head-admirer. It safe to say that my head is safe and sound, for now.

The woman squint left toward the path to see the situation, the guards running forward, didn't noticed us at all.

Then the woman sits down and cup her hanf into a fist.

"Hey you, how the hell did you got so many fans chasing you down like that? there's like dozen of them. You must be doing something 'mischievous', i wager".

"I did nothing, problably they just admire for how handsome i was, you should've seen the last guard with the horse, a loose cannon if you asked me"

She chuckles, and wave her hand on me, "I watched you killed him, and stomp on his face. What a cold one"

"Cold, i suppose, but i'm more of bold and steady myself" i said, "So, i think i shall take my leave".

She took off her cloak, revealing mesmerizing long blonde hair, cascading down to her shoulder. Her bright green eyes shine in emeralds, her face reminds you of an angel. "You quite skilled with that spear, do me a favor, stranger, meet me at Vigartum city. We shall have a word"

"What word? we can j-just talk here", I stammer.

"Shh, now is not the perfect time, nor a good place to have a word. Meet me in the next city ,i will be waiting you, mysterious one. At the narrow alley, the nearest from the gate entrance." She said while she wore back her cloak.

I sigh, "Very well. I'll be glad to have a word with you there, my lady" I bowed down to her, look up to see her smile.

She then take her leave and walk away from you mysteriously. Perticularly "Suspiciously" if you watch closely.

End of the story, now i am striding my way to Vigartum. Stealth is my priority.

I've arrived to my destination. Ahh, the Vigartum city, full of blacksmith, weaponary and forging. It is their main economy. Often make a deal with Groundmill. I must be careful and hide my identity here, they might hunt me aswell and be shared about the information of me.

I'm approaching the gate, it made well with hard steel, a carving of minotaur was carved gently.

Getting closer, each steps drains my energy, as before i got shited by an arrow, i need to improve my dodging skills, what if the next foe i faced can lobs fire or shoot lightning, pretty handy if i can improve it.

I walked to the gate and greet the guardsmen guarding the gate.

The gate blocked my way, and demand me to show my arsenal to him. He scanned my body and rummage it. He accidentally touched my injury, i wrinkled my in pain, supredd my sign of pain, and show confidence.

He found my gold pouch, knowing i'm new to this city, he asked me for 4 gold pieces, typhical guards, snatching gigs from newcomer and insist on bribing.

I gave the gold he seek, from my last expirience from the previous city, i want to make a good impression, and don't show my identity to others. Keep it cool, chill, and mysterious. The basics.

I enters the city, it looked glorious! wagons and horses rushing here and there, all sort of fighters scattered holding their weapons. Luckly, the guards here is fewer.

Street vendors, inn, merchant, etc. Everything is here. I doubt vigartum only sells weapon. Because there is grilled porks, chicken ****** and beef scent near the inn. But, i need to meet this lady first, don't want to be rude to a charming woman.

Before i went to the dark narrow alley,

BOOM!

An explosion sound occured out of nowhere. I turned back, my eyes are widen. T-they, are... the Raiders!

To be continued..