The Fateful Mission

Tatsumi and his knights are heading down the road in multiple carriages in a caravan formation.

"We will reach the edge of the woods shortly, captain , be ready." The driver of the carriage says worriedly.

The carriage comes to a halt as the knights pour out of the back of each carriage grouping up at the edge of the forest seeing dead bandits hanging from the trees one half on the ground, the others in the tree, arms and legs littering the path leading deeper into the woods.

"Be careful and stay vigilant." Tatsumi says pulling out his sword.

The knights march through the woods coming across more bodies the deeper they go. They come to a rock hill that has a cave at the top of it, they near the cave seeing a body at the entrance as the sun rises behind them Tatsumi stares,

'Your lives are worth more than the dead bandits here, prioritize your comrades over killing them, let's head inside." Tatsumi says calmly as they march into the cave.

After fifty minutes in the cave out runs only a few knights covered in blood as Tatsumi stares at the monsters eyes horrified and speaks softly,

"You will pay for what you did beast, mark my words, my men will be avenged."

The Shriekers laugh echoes through the cave as the eyes slowly disappear. Tatsumi and the survivors march out of the woods and back to the carriages as the drivers stare bewildered and ask,

"Sir.. Where are your men..?"

"Let's go home now." Tatsumi said coldly staring downwards.

The carriages start moving back towards the capital as Tatsumi sits in the carriage holding his wound, a yellow aura appearing as if it was poison. The carriage enters the capital city and the survivors except for Tatsumi begin to walk towards the barracks to be treated and healed. Tatsumi started walking towards the palace. Tatsumi enters into the hall where the king sits eating with the future queen smiling while talking with his advisors. 

"My king. I told you we shouldn't have gone, your plan and your mission was to go kill the bandits and against my advice you sent us and all our men were just slaughtered and we couldn't do anything against that beast!" Tatsumi said, screaming at the king.

"Tatsumi watch your ton-" The king is cut off

"SHUT UP! I watched my friends and my men cut down, there was no mercy there, if you listened to sense and my advice none of this would have happened. I hereby relinquish my position as captain and the queen's bodyguard, I am no longer a knight of the kingdom, I will not serve a king who does not value lives."

The king grits his teeth his veins bursting as he stares with hatred and resentment towards as he prepares to speak,

"Very well, Tatsumi. You may leave."

"I wish to go with him. After the time I have spent with him I know he is a great man, I wish to help him build a new life and ensure his and my happiness. My mother will agree with me on this, she will fight for what I want, for it is a worthy reason to fight." Suzumi said calmly

The king stares with even more hatred as he says with a fake smile

"That is fine. Go live your lives." 

Tatsumi and Suzumi begin to leave as the king asks his head advisor 

"How long was left in the alliance?'

"A couple years, my king." the older man says

"Shu, after the alliance is over, wait a few years and go kill them for embarrassing me not once but twice. That bastard also took my queen to be, I will use her as ransom and a threat, who knows what else." The king smirks monstrously veins still bursting from his anger.

----FLASHBACK ENDS----

Ankoku is standing in a great building, it resembles a tavern, men and women gathered around laughing, drinking, and eating food while they talk about their adventures. Ankoku walks towards a central desk and asks the elf lady working the counter,

"Is this the adventurers guild, may I sign up please?"

"Aye it is, what is your name and job?" The lady speaks softly to him

"My name is Ankoku, I am a warrior, I know a couple magic spells as well."

"Very well, you will be placed in the lowest rank, F Rank, the ranks go from, F rank to SS rank! Work hard and you will be able to progress fast. You are only able to take F rank jobs until you take the advancement test which will be available after thirty quests completed!"

"Thank you!" Ankoku smiles at her as she hands him a bronze plate with a square and an insect inscribed in it.

Ankoku heads to the board seeing the urgent listings not seeing any so he walks back to her and asks,

"May I please see the available F rank quests?"

"Yes one second please." She lifts up a stack of quests and lays them out before him.

"I will take the pick medicinal herbs in the great valley, and kill five wild boar." He says calmly

"Okay, also if you ever get a party, make sure you register back here, okay? Stay safe." She smiles at him softly

Ankoku begins to walk away before turning and asks softly,

"What is your name, I realized it was rude not to ask, I'm sorry."

"My name is Azriea" She speaks softly smiling, her smooth blonde hair covering her green eyes as she watches him leave.