Young Prince Arth and Knight Jaeger lay on a grass field on a lazy afternoon, watching the clouds go by, laughing at the weird shapes.

“ We’ll build a huge empire together, you’ll be my first knight! And I’ll be your ruler!” a young Prince Arth beams at Jaeger, beside him.

They were young and in love. Jaeger had a soft expression as he gazed at Prince Arth lovingly, memorizing minor details of his face. His soft pink lips that he bites now and then when he tries to suppress his laugh, his pale skin that turns red quickly, especially when they make love, his blue eyes that can see through his soul, he loves every part of him.

“ We’ll be together forever.” Arth words echo as they kiss under the shade of a mango tree.

They journey through wars and festivals together. Laughing and crying throughout it all.

But everything changed one day without warning. General Jaeger was deployed to a kingdom part of their empire to stop a brewing civil war. they were apart for two years, and Prince Arth stayed on the front lines of an active war they had against the Erith kingdom.

Jaeger tried to stay in contact by sending letters through messenger birds but he didn’t get any response he thought war must be tough out there so he tried to settle the brewing Civil War quickly.

After two years, General Jaeger was excited and nervous at the same time, he hadn’t heard any news from his lover for two years, and oh how he longed to hold him in his arms and embrace him.

He walked through the castle hall towards the prince’s chamber but two figures turned a corner.

And he knew that figure oh so well.

Prince Arth smiled at him, his arms wide for an embrace. They embraced briefly and  Prince Arth quickly returned to the lady’s side.

“ Brother, you must know Princess Cerces.” he said excitedly.

Jaeger just smiled at the Princess. “ Of course, your highness, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He said, bowing lightly.

Prince Arth then held her hand and raised them excitedly. “ We’re gonna get married, yes.” He said.

Jaeger stared at them for a moment, as if in shock. “ Well, what do you say, brother?” Prince Arth asked again, expectantly smiling at him, waiting for his congratulations.

Jaeger seemed to lose his voice at that moment. He fisted his hands and forced a smile. “ I– I’m proud of you, my Prince, congratulations to the both of you.” He bowed, his breath started to get heavy as his heart felt like being twisted and hammered. It’s like I forgot how to breathe.

Am I dreaming?

Prince Arth patted his shoulder as he’s smiling ear to ear. “ Thank you, brother! Should I introduce you to Princess Hilda? She’s been wanting to meet you!” He exclaimed.

Princess Cerces smiled. “ Oh yes General Jaeger, she has been visiting me as an excuse to see you.” 

Jaeger stood straight and smiled at them. “ I don't deserve such affections from a princess, I am– but a lowly knight, if you’ll excuse me, your highness, my Prince.” 

“ oh? You’re going? We haven’t seen each other for years brother! I want to catch up with you!” The Prince called but Jaeger didn’t stop walking.

No, he can’t stop walking. Like his body shifted to survival mode and he lost control of his body. He wanted to run.

“ U-uh, I have some personal affairs to do,” Jaeger said not looking back.

Prince Arth just watched him walk until he turned a corner and disappeared from his sight.

Jaeger tried to calm himself, his face was blank but tears were flowing freely from his eyes.

This must be a dream–no a nightmare, someone…wake me up.

You said, we'll be together forever—

 Memories of the past flashed before his mind. 

Young Prince Arth smiling at him as they sat under the shade of an oak tree. A gentle breeze blowing through their hair, it was chilly but Jaeger’s heart felt warm.

All the promises we made.

Arth held Jaeger’s hands as he panned his free hand across the horizon.

“ We’ll build new Kingdoms– I will name a state– Jaeger one day.” He exclaimed.

“ I want you to stay by my side, forever.” Arth lovingly leans down and kisses Jaeger’s hands.

Lies.

Jaeger held his breath as he closed the door behind him and bitter tears flowed freely from his eyes.

Not even a goodbye. You tossed me aside just like that. F*ck I feel like a fool, believing we can actually be together.

—-

Jaeger stood in front of Prince Arth in between the mana barrier. His face was blank, his eyes cold, devoid of any affections he once held for the crown Prince.

“ Why should I help you?” He asked.

Prince Arth was visibly hurt and he looked away before answering. 

“ You don’t have to, you’re a free man now– Jaeger, you shouldn’t have come.” He said his voice was almost a whisper.

Jaeger turned around and walked but before he could walk out Arth spoke.

“ What have I ever done? You suddenly became so indifferent, I thought of you like my brother, and I love you like one. When you left, you didn’t even tell me you had asked for your freedom from my father, I would have given you whatever you wanted.”

A brother? 

Memories of him and Arth kissing flash through his mind. 

Prince Arth’s face flushed as he lay beneath Jaeger, his breath ragged and Jaeger breaths heavily as he continued to thrust his hips inside the Prince.

The Prince moaned his name. “ More, Jaeger, ugghh I’m cumming–”

Do you kiss your brother? Do you fuck your brother?

Jaeger wanted to ask those questions but he held back.

I’ve moved on from you, what’s left is just bitterness from your betrayal.

Jaeger paused and turned to Arth who was looking at him expectantly. 

“ Surely brother, you know why, stop acting like a fool.” He said and walked away,

Then he jolted awake. He brushed his hair away from his face and turned to the bard that’s sleeping across him. 

He can see the bard’s face sleeping peacefully.

He’s like a delicate flower in the wilderness. He thought.

“ This bard, will not last long,” he whispered.

“  We’re moving.” He said

The bard awakes and off they go.

—

Scene 3 : 

Jaeger looked up, as he gripped his sword. He activates a skill to rapidly scan his radius. 

His breath was even as he readied himself for battle.

I know this is the goblin’s forest, but I never expected to be this many.

He thought as his eyes fell on the biggest one at the front. The Goblins are common monsters, they usually prey on animals and beasts, they’re easily defeated alone, but a horde of them can prove to be difficult.

They’re capable of using weapons and have enough intelligence to hunt together and build a pact. 

Their green skin looked dry and rough, they had huge fangs and strong jaws that could break bones, their eyes were big and wild, they are incapable of speech, and communicate only with sounds. Their noses are long and huge nostrils flare every time they make a sound. Their ears stood tall and big, capable of detecting even the smallest of sounds. The average goblin stood about 5 feet and the tallest among them stood about 7 feet. They stood on two feet like that of humans but they have longer arms and big feet and most importantly, they eat humans.

Jaeger unsheathed his sword and activated his armor, his armor was pitch black, it covered all of his body, two horns twisted beside his helmet, and his whole face covered in darkness. Only his glowing red eyes were visible and Naga the bard feared the Knight more than the hordes of Goblin.

Jaeger emits a huge pressure due to his abundant mana. It was clear to Naga why he was the strongest knight in the empire. He was hauntingly beautiful to witness.

Naga admired and feared the warrior as he clumsily grabbed a short dagger from his pocket and stood behind Jaeger, their backs facing together.

Jaeger stood his ground, waiting for an attack, he didn’t like to waste his energy– after all, he would have to slay an ancient beast soon, he had to conserve all mana that could.

He turned to look at the bard, and the bard had a dagger on his shaking hands, face pale and his whole body visibly shaking. Jaeger almost smiled at the sight. He was like a frightened bunny surrounded by hungry wolves.

Still–that’s brave of him, any ordinary knight doesn’t stand a chance against a horde of Goblins, they’ll likely pass out or kill themselves before the Goblins cannibalize them.

Jaeger thought.

The huge Goblin at the front made a loud cry, raising his sharp stick, signaling attack.

On cue, all Goblins roared, and with sharp sticks in their hands they ran to attack.

Jaeger clicks his tongue.

In a flash, he attacked-- a bang and a crackle were all Naga could hear.

Everything happened so fast for him to process what actually happened.

Jaeger’s element was fire and lightning. He moved so fast and electrocuted all of the Goblins in a split second. Smoke blinded Naga as his eyes scanned the area.

All the Goblins that were once standing, now fell to the ground, burnt to crisp. Naga covered his mouth as a strong smell of burnt meat entered his nose.

Jaeger stood there. He used a lot of mana in a split second. But it was necessary. There were too many of them, he could not fight them normally with a shaking bard behind his back. He needs an hour or two to recover, his head feeling fuzzy as deactivated his armor. He thrust his sword to the ground and leaned on it for support, breathing heavily.

The Goblin leader, unbeknownst to them, managed to survive. He was the strongest goblin in the forest. He has the strength of a thousand goblins, for Kings were made by eating their kind.

He managed to stand up and grabbed a stick. Before Jaeger could clear his mind and catch his breath the Goblin was already inches beside him but Naga saw the attack first and by instinct pushed Jaeger aside and got stabbed in his stead.

Jaeger fell back, flabbergasted. He swung his sword and killed the Goblin King, slicing his torso in half. Blood squirted as the body fell to the ground.

Jaeger caught the bard who was about to fall on his arms. The sharp stick was pushed through his small body, there was no way he could survive.

If he hadn’t stopped the attack it would’ve been me who’s gonna be mortally wounded, my skill took too much mana that it left me defenseless

Jaeger thought as he held the dying bard in his arms and the bard as he was dying smiled at him.

“ T-thank you, Sir Knight.” he managed to utter through his bloodied mouth.

Jaeger pulled out a potion and gave him an elixir.

The stick contained a highly potent magical poison that even I would die. This elixir purifies all kinds of toxins and heals all wounds in an instant. It will save his life.

He thought as he watched the bard close his eyes, breathing slowly in his arms.

I earned that elixir from conquering a kingdom, it’s a priceless potion blessed by the Goddess herself but he saved my life, I’m just paying a debt I owed.

He thought as he watched the bard breathing evenly.

His eyes fell on the bard's neck. His shirt hangrf loose and his collarbone is visible. 

He’s small and slender. I want to bite on that neck.

His eyes widened as he sighed.

What am I thinking? Have I lost my mind? How long has it been since I fck someone?

He covered his face with his hand, embarrassed by his thoughts, and he sighed again.

Scene 4.

They arrived at the lawless City.

A village of chaos. There's no leader, no rules, and chaos is the norm, but businesses are booming. Since drugs and prostitutes are common merchandise, all nobles from different Kingdoms visit often and thus the bustling crowd greets them.

They entered an inn with a bar below them.

“ I’m gonna gather some intel about the dragon, you stay here because this is a dangerous place, I cannot protect you all the time,” Jaeger said. 

Before Naga could reply, Jaeger had left the room, all he could do was sigh.

Jaeger scanned his eyes around the bustling crowd inside the bar, his large and tall figure made him stand out in the crowd as he made his way across the bar towards the corner where an old man sat alone, drunk and laughing to himself.

Jaeger watched the old man grab his pint and chug it down, some of the liquor spilling beside his mouth. He put down his pint and turned to Jaeger.

“ Aye! Young man!” He exclaimed drunkenly.

“ Have you heard anything about the dragon lately? I heard it was seen in the south.” Jaeger asked casually as he grabbed a pint from a passing waitress.

The old man looked up, his eyes half closed. A strong smell of alcohol came from his mouth as he smiled at Jaeger.

“ Those dragons! *hick They should never leave their lair! their existence itself is terrifying! Last I heard he’s done it again!”

Jaeger watched the old man as he jugged a whole pint. 

“ Have you seen its human form? Do you know anyone who did?”

The old man snickered as if hearing something ridiculous.

“ No one can even get close to the dragon, what more of its human form? ‘Tis impossible! I say! “ He exclaimed as he raised his pint.

“ Who are you? boy! Get outta here before your head rolls!” a shout made Jaeger turn. And the band suddenly stopped playing.

There he saw Naga standing between a lady and a huge man.

He watched as Naga stood between a tall and large middle-aged man, his brown beard made his face look long, and his bulging stomach almost touched Naga, the woman behind Naga looked terrified, her face flushed and eyes red from crying, she looked embarrassed as she embraced herself feeling conscious of the attention on them. 

“ I will, good sire but just a word of advice, if you want this woman to adore you truly, never leave you for anything, please, respect her, that is all that she needs and wants, she will not come here crying if she doesn’t care about you, she truly loves you, and wants you back home to your children, she misses you sire, she acts this way cause you ignore her needs, she just wants your embrace.”

The huge man grabbed and looked at his wife. 

“ Is that true?” he asked.

The room was silent as the crying woman nodded. And everyone cheers.

“ to true love!” everyone raised their pint.

The man took his wife and carried her.

“ Goodbye mates, I got a love-making to do!”

And laughter echoed in the small pub.

Naga smiled as he sighed. Jaeger looked at him as everyone around him smiled and invited him for a drink.

Naga caught his glance and waved at him. Jaeger just looked, as Naga beamed excitedly at him, seemingly glowing in this dark place, his golden hair seemed to shine in the candlelight room and his smile was gentle and warm, it was as if nothing else was there. Jaeger thought he couldn’t handle himself in this dark and lawless place, but he seemed to be doing fine, and even thriving.

Why does he seem to glow in this dark place?

Jaeger thought and immediately caught himself. He turned and looked away.

Did I–  Jaeger can’t believe himself, he’s starting to see the bard in a different light! And it’s starting to get dangerous– should he indulge in this feeling further? Or should he stop himself before it gets more dangerous–

Those were the kind of questions that lingers on Jaeger’s minds

Is this because he saved my life? He wondered.

Then he turned to look again and saw Naga laughing with some guys but refusing to drink anything.

He definitely knows how to handle himself.

Jaeger thought.