Chapter 1 Epilogue

In the village tavern of Eineleinsdorf

There is an elderly man dressed in nobleman's attire drinking ale alone in the corner.

The old man mumbles something that others just can't seem to hear.

A young nobleman approached the tavern in search of a drink from his travels.

The young man ordered an ale and sat down on the only free seat, which was right next to the old man.

He brings his ale to the table of the old man and sits beside him.

The youth greeted the old nobleman because of the noble crest on his chest, which looked worn down and dirty from all the drinking.

The young man introduced himself as Friedrich to start a small talk, and he wondered if he could ask the old man his name, to which the old man strangely replied.

"ahh to be young full of passion and dream" the old man looks reminiscing a distant past.

Friedrich laughs at the old man's reply.

"That's a weird way to start a conversation," says Friedrich as he drinks his ale.

"Young man, would you like to hear about my story?" the old man says as he drinks more of his ale like Friedrich.

"sure, it's my pleasure to listen to an ancient one's story," Friedrich remarked sarcastically.

The old man ignores the young man, as he was about to start telling his story from when he was young.

Friedrich stops the old man from continuing and asks the tavern keeper.

"Wait, can we get three more ales, please?" Friedrich said after he finished the ale.

"So as I was about to say, it all started with..." the old man seemed disgruntled by the young man interrupting his story.

"Oh, I forgot to also bring us roast meat and bread," Friedrich said, as he wanted something to eat while the old man told a story.

"It's a bit rude to interrupt an old man trying to speak. as rude to cut off a noble man?" the old man said as he felt displeased by the young man's action.

"We're the same noble-born old man; also, you didn't even tell me your name yet," Friedrich said as he showed his family insignia. in his chest.

The old man sighs in defeat.

"Very well then," the old man said as he stood up to leave the tavern's table.

"Old man, just sit down and continue the story; here is more ale and meat to wash that displeasure down," Friedrich said as he stopped the old man from leaving his chair, offering him more drinks and food.

"You really remind me of my young self," the old man said as he continued the story with the obvious offer of food from the young man.

Friedrich just laughed at the old man's remark.

"So it all started long ago...."

------------------------------------

20 years ago.

The Northern Front, Duchy of Dornheim

My company was once famed for being the first to head into battle. We were famed, worshipped, and feared by our enemies.

We, a group of 150 strong men, encountered a blizzard on our way to our next mission; our scouts looked for shelter or any cover as the blizzard picked up more of our supplies and damaged our equipment; not that a mere blizzard can harm us strong men, but we value our beholding so we searched and searched for any shelter until we found one.

A Icy cave.

Our scouts discovered it by chance, as the icy cave was shielded in its maw by a gate of thick icicles. We hurried to seek shelter in the cave, and once our men were there, they discovered something.

that the cave quickly declines down a step slope towards maybe an underground river that has long since been frozen. Our men were curious, as some of us were adventurers and thrill seekers, but little did we know that would be the tomb for the majority of my mercenary brothers.

------------Back at the Tavern------------

The old man shivers as he recalls the long-forgotten and painful past.

Friedrich's curiosity peaked as he wanted to form his own mercenary company and discover the unknown around the known world.

But Friedrich lacks the physical strength to lead a mercenary company.

The old man continues his story with much hesitation.

------------Back at the Flashback------------

Icy cave

Underneath the icy cave, something is huddled beside a frozen underground river, hitting it with the pickaxe over and over again. The wind whistles as it grates against the teeth of the cave; my men call out to the men, but there is no response.

It will take a long time to get through the thick ice to get in; fortunately, one of my sources reports that there may be an entrance in the rear. It is blocked as well, but a group of strong men can get through the cracks and might discover something within it.

I was one of the men that got through the cracks, and I ordered my men in the opening of the cave to rest, as we have to complete the mission after the blizzard outside calms down. That was the last time I saw my men alive.

My team, led by me, heads off while the rest work on the front of the cave. I and my team tumbled down an adjacent slope and landed right in the middle of the cave. We then slid across the frozen river and rode up its embankment. We arrived at the embankment covered in dust with a childish grin on our faces.

In a flash, the huddled man slams the pickake into the ice with unhindered power, and the shards splinter from one side of the embankment to the other. The clank of the metal and shattered ice reverberates as though lightning itself had struck.

Now we finally see the stranger; he is an an barbarian, shelled in broken armor that rattles as he moves. like one that our Babarian enemies called Chosens.

The icy walls mirrored his steps, seemingly going backwards despite the advance, though his shadows were his true self and his flesh the afterimage.

Despite being in the cave, his loud voice barely echoes at all.

"An interloper in my midst, a mere moment from the mist—these things I shall not miss."

One of my men screams like a girl. shiver and sweat runs down my spine as the other men shout.

"AN IJIROK!!"

He approaches us like a cold Webknecht, unfurling from its trapdoor. We see that his face is half frozen, and a wry smile squeezes across the half that could still be flesh.

"I long to leave this body, my dear fighters. Will you help me guide me out and to something higher?

(Cliffhanger HAHAHA)