MERCENARIES

The palaces of the great families are located in separate areas of the empire, with the aim of protecting the borders, and also reducing friction between them.

The Bardo family palace is located on the sea coast in the east, which separates from the neighboring empire, and the Aeolus family is located in the south, which is characterized by strong winds and hanging bridges.

As for the palace of the Herodotus family, it is located in the west, in a semi-mountainous area full of forests, where monsters abound.

Every spring, Herodotus sends out expeditions of knights to comb the unexplored forests and also to fight monsters, which are very active in this season.

This is my means of escape suggested by Sir Evon.

Now I am hiding inside the supply cart, I crept out of the side woods until I entered the cart with his help, I am waiting for them to set off, fortunately no one will suspect me of my disappearance now, because I am used to hiding for long periods, by the time they discover my absence I will have gone too far.

I can hear the sound of the traffic as he organizes the knights of the expedition, the preparations lasted for a while, until the chariot started moving, we set off.

The road is bumpy, the cart is shaking badly, I was peeping through a small hole, this is the second time I go out.

To pass the time I tried to use my senses while moving, I had a very hard time identifying things, this is another thing that I have to work on later.

The journey took two days, and at last the wagons settled down, it was dark, and it was time to camp.

I heard four continuous beats, that is a signal from the Sir indicating safety and the possibility of exit.

After I got out of the carriage, he gave me a bag containing medicine and food and whispered to me:

"Take this. It's a short supply. Head South. You will find a group of mercenaries. Tell them that Evon sent you. I told their leader about your condition."

I took it from his hand and smiled.

"Thank you, Sir Evon."

Sad expression on his face

-"After all this time, you still call me Sir, please call me by my name."

Despite his huge build and solid personality, he is very sensitive. He reminds me of my brother Adam a lot.

I approached him and hugged him

-"Thanks Evon, thanks for everything."

-"Young sir"

-"After all that happened, you still call me that."

His eyes welled up with tears and he patted my head

-"Akir I hope you live happily, and fulfill your dreams"

-"Why do you talk like it's the last farewell, I will grow up and become stronger, then we will meet again".

I raised my hand and said to him:

- "The Promise of the Knights?"

Evon smiled and took my hand

"The promise of the knights, never back down"

And so it was my farewell with Evon.

I started running as fast as I could.

Two full days, they must have started looking for me, I kept going until dawn when I met them at the end of the woods, the mercenaries that Evon spoke of five people, three men and two women.

They looked dangerous, looking at me with terrifying scrutiny.

Are these really his friends?

... Time ago...

Evon's friend Sir Edgar was waiting at the end of the woods with his four followers Dara, Elvis, Donelle, and the last of them was Honor.

Dara said in a calm tone

- "Edgar, tell me who is this important guest you will be hosting."

Elvis followed her saying:

-"Yes, tell us. I am curious about this person. I hope it will be of use."

Edgar sighed

-"I do not know him"

Everyone was shocked, Elvis blamed him

-"You don't know him?? And you want to join him, ignoring the league's conditions?"

His eyebrows furrowed in anger

-"Yes, I don't know him. I agreed because he was the first request from an old friend."

-"old friend?"

Dara said:

"Is he that knight you keep talking about?".

-"Yes he is".

While the three were arguing, Donelle and Honor watched silently, spinning a clue about this guest.

Suddenly, Donal got up and looked into the woods

- "Someone is approaching."

Everyone is ready

Elvis exclaimed

-" what is this?, child?!".

... Now...

I am in the middle of a dispute between these people.

One of the men spoke, in a sarcastic tone

- "Who is this little boy?"

One of them ignored him and came forward in my direction looking like their leader and said:

-"Who sent you"

-" Evon sent me "

He was silent for a moment, then he continued:

-"Okay, follow me"

The rest were astonished and began to grumble.

said one of the two women:

- "You mean this child is the important person we were waiting for?"

One of them with a tall build and a huge body approached, bent down to take a closer look

-"What's wrong with this kid? He looks so pale and skinny. How old are you, boy?"

The other man said while admonishing his commander

-"He is a child of no more than eight years of age, for whom we will abandon the terms of joining, does this seem logical?"

said the other woman who was quiet from the start

-"Boss, are you sure he will join us? It seems that he will die at any moment."

"Silent, we've talked about this before, and I'm not going to change that decision."

He approached me and said:

-"My name is Edgar, what about you?".

- "My name is Akir, and I'm ten."

There was a little silence, then he introduced me to the rest of them and we started moving on the horses.

I rode with the person with a strong build or as he is called Honor. He did not seem bothered by my presence, or rather he was not interested, unlike the rest.

Edgar told me that we were going to the nearest village, which was about three days away, to organize our affairs.

During which I got an idea about these mercenaries, and from my observation Edgar really seemed like a friend of Evon who was checking on me and taking care of me.

Finally, we have now reached our destination, the village of "Manvis".