In the distant land of Kathal where peace and magic were thriving throughout the land. The world was prosperous and the world was at ease until darkness arose out of inciting sickness, violence, death, and war in the whole land. What once was a holy country is now a country of darkness in every corner. 

The sun rises and the sounds of swords clashing with each other and knights grunting can be heard in the kingdom of Okou. Alongside the clanging of swords are the screams of kids coming from the slums of Okou. In the town of Ark Village, the screams of children playing can be heard by many in the village. 

“No, I wanna be the knight.”

“Sen he won’t let me be the knight.” 

Sen, a young child with medium black hair and light skin walks outside to try and settle the argument with his little sister and his friend. 

“ Hillary you can’t be the knight.” 

“But why not?” 

“Cause knights are supposed to be guys, and girls are supposed to be princesses.”

“But I don’t wanna be a princess. Sen can be the knight.”

“Hillary, Alex is right. Knights are more seen to be boys and girls to seen as either a princess or medics”

“But that’s not fair!”

“Sorry but that’s how things work…..”

“SEN.” 

“I have to see what mom wants. Just try and play something else, okay?”

Sen turns towards the small house and when the door opens the smell of meat being cooked fills the house. Alongside the sound of a crackling fire and the creaking floorboards as Sen walks into a small corner of his house where his mom stands stirring a pot of soup.

“Sen I need you to go to the market and buy three loaves of bread for dinner, the coins are on the table next to the picture.” 

Sen walks over to the table and picks up the picture of his family that can be seen in a golden frame. In the picture, it’s Sen standing next to his mom who is sitting down with his sister sitting in her lap. 

Sen sets the picture back down and grabs the pouch of mixed copper and gold coins and walks over back to his mom and hugs her before walking out the front door. Before he leaves for the capital he says goodbye to Hillary.

“I’m heading towards the capital to get bread. I’ll be back for dinner.”

“Ok.” 

Sen pats her on the head and gives a kiss on the forehead. 

“ Be good till I get back.”

In the village, Sen is seen as a kind-heated soul. Helping people is part of his daily task alongside playing with the little kids whenever their parents are in trouble from loaning money from people. The village wouldn’t be the same without him. 

“Hey there Sen.”

“oh hey mister Mitten.”

“Say, where ya heading.”

“oh I’m just heading to the capital market to get bread.” 

“Oh, I’m heading to the village entrance to pick up my food delivery. Hop in, I’ll take you there.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, it’s the least I can do for you helping me clean out my yard. So hop on.”

“Thank you”

Sen hops in the cart as the old man starts moving it. 

“ So Sen, tell me how’s your mother doing?”

“ She’s doing alright.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. There might be a few times when things look tough, but she manages to push through it.”

“Oh, that’s nice. I can imagine that without your dad it must be hard on her. Oh, how he was such a good man. You really look like him.” 

“Really?”

“Yeah. He was such a sweet and warm man. Always offering a helping hand to those in need with such a bright smile. Even when your mother was pregnant with you he would constantly help her with small tasks just so she could relax. I remember the time he tried to make a small little barbecue out in the back for their anniversary but ended up burning the meat.” 

A warm laugh is shared between both of them as they enjoy the memories. 

“It’s just so sad to see such a man be taken too soon from his family. But even with that your mom remains strong through it all and I think that’s why your mother seems to be doing alright.”

“Because of the memories of them together?”

“Yes, and with the fact that you are the same. You remind her of what a man he was and how he would’ve been proud of the man you’ve grown to be. 

Sen gets teary after remembering the faint and what little memory he has of his father. The cart comes to a stop as they reach the entrance of the village. A man who looks in his middle age is standing next to a cart full of crates that are filled with produce. 

“Ok Sen, this is us.”

“Oh hello, mister Mitten.” 

“Oh hello.”

“This is everything. Same as last week.”

“Thank you so much. I’ll start loading them onto my cart.” 

“Let me help you.” 

“No, that’s ok. You better get going before the market closes.”

“You sure you don’t want my help?”

“Oh it’s fine. I may be getting old but I can still handle my own. Now you better run along and when you get back make sure to tell your mother I said hello.” 

“Will do! Will see you later mister Mitten.” 

Sen waves goodbye as he starts running off in the direction of the kingdom entrance as the sight of village gets smaller till it’s gone. 

Sen slows down as he walks past a thick and dense forest. An ominous feeling can be felt by whoever walks by and goes in. It’s been said that there’s something deep inside the forest, but no one ever dares go further in. He rushes past the forset to see a towering wall and archign gold gate with a line of carts entering. He approaches the entrance gate to the capital. With it's massive arch and intimidating look with multiple knights with their sharp swords and spears guarding it. The closer he gets the more you hear the sound of bustling vendors and customers arguing over the prices for goods. 

At the gate, Sen sees a familiar face that he sees every time he goes there. 

“Oh hey Degan.”

“Oh what’s up Sen.”

Degan can be seen guarding the gate entrance in his silver armor reflecting the sun and his long pointed spear. 

“You’re using a spear this time?”

“Yeah. I left my sword back home rushing over here cause I was late.” 

“When are you never late?”

“Nice joke. If it wasn’t for Jason I would’ve been in so much trouble.” 

“Oh, you don’t say.”

Jason turns and says with an obvious sarcastic expression. Jason is seen as the opposite of Degan. He has a serious and calming aura while Degan is easygoing and upbeat. Maybe that’s why they’re so close Sen thought to himself. 

“I owe you one.”

“Yeah more like one hundred.” 

Sen and Degan let out a laugh while Jason makes a small grin. 

“Hey! Was that a smile?”

“What? No.”

“Yes it was. I saw that.”

“You’re seeing things.”

“No, I know what I saw. You saw that too, didn’t you Sen?” 

“What? Umm...”

“Sen, you better get going before you’re late.” 

“Oh you’re right as always Jason. I’ll see you guys later.” 

“Hey wait..” 

Sen runs off to find the bakery in the capital to try and make it back in time for dinner. He finds the big sign of bread hanging from the front. He goes and a little bell is heard as he opens the door. 

“Hello. What can I get for you?”

“Hi. I’ll have 3 loaves of bread please.” 

“Ok, 3 loaves coming up.”

The aroma of freshly baked bread fills the air as she turns back and grabs the 3 loaves. 

“Here you go 3 loaves.”

“Thank you.” 

“That’ll be 3 silver coins.” 

Sen reaches down into the leather pouch pulls out 10 copper and two silver coins and gives it to the baker. 

“There you go.” 

“Thank you.” 

Sen turns around to leave but before he goes he takes out 5 extra copper coins and hands it to her. 

“I know it’s not much but here.” 

“Oh thank you so much.” 

Sen walks out of the bakery and is finally heading home. 

“ Ok let’s hurry and get up and get home before...”

Sen is interrupted by the sound of loud clanging swords against each other followed by the loud sounds of chanting and screaming of knight training. 

“ALRIGHT EVERYONE KEEP PUSHING. SHOW NO MERCY AS IF YOU WERE ON THE BATTLEFIELD.”

The scream felt like it shook through the gate and walls. Sen rushes to the edge of the wall to look over and see. The sight of 20 different people fighting each other with little to no armor is one that incapacitated young Sen’s mind. Even though he has seen knights on guard walking around, this has a completely different vibe from them. 

“So cool!” 

Sen goes closer to the wall to get a better look. In the middle of the arena is a young female knight training.

“Wow, she’s so strong. I should hurry back home and tell Hillary. She’d be so happy she can finally play the knight.”

Sen leaves and walks out the arching gate to head back to his village. 

“Oh hey Sen. Did you get what you need?”

“Oh hey Degan. Yeah, I got it, now I’m just heading back home.” 

“Oh alright. Be careful.” 

“Will do.”

As Sen turns around to leave, a massive shadow is cast over him followed by a gust of wind and a roar from the sky. The roar was so powerful everyone was in a state of disbelief at the sight. Sen gazes at the sky and is surprised to see a dragon flying over his head. The pitch-black dragon with its massive set of double wings is enough to make even the toughest of knights fear for his life. The onlookers are still shocked by the sight and everyone is pondering the question of what to do, everyone but Sen for he is only worried about why it was flying in the direction of his village. With no hesitation, he takes off running towards the village. 

“SEN WAIT.” 

Degan’s call can’t be heard by him. In fact, he can’t hear anything at all due to his intense internal panic. Nothing seems to be stopping Sen. Not even the ominous presence coming from the dense forests that once had him at a standstill in fear. As Sen is trying his absolute hardest to get there in time he trips over his foot and falls in the dirt. He is unfazed as he gets up with tears starting to form in his eyes and rolling down his cheek as he rushes even fatser. In Sen’s mind, it feels like he’s been running for what feels like forever, but all that running would be proven worthless for as he reaches closer, the sight of thick black smoke is seen rising by the village entrance. From what can be seen, his village was engulfed in flames. But he keeps running in hopes of reaching home to see his mom and sister. Everywhere he looked, what looked like an ordinary village was now in complete ruins. He turns to see the same cart of the old man in pieces with his crate of food on fire.

“Sen…” 

A voice is heard calling for him and as he spots the source of the voice he finds Mister Mitten pinned under the cart while on fire. 

“MISTER MITTEN!! Don’t worry I’ll get you out.” 

“I’m afraid it’s too late for me.”

“No it’s not too late. I can save you.”

“Still helpful as ever. Save your effort for someone who isn’t already knocking at death’s door. I’ve lived a young and fruitful life, I’ve experienced a lot of things. Now I think it’s about time I meet my maker.” 

“Don’t say that. I’ll get you out.” 

“It’s alright. All I ask for is that you stay with me for my final moments and deliver a message to someone later on in life for me. Her name is Abby and she was my first love. If you meet her tell her I said I’m sorry for not choosing you and that I love her.” 

Sen starts to cry at the man’s request. 

“It seems I must go now. Go now and you might save your family. Goodbye, sweet Sen. 

The man’s body goes cold and limp and his life skips away. 

Sen wipes away his tears as he gets up and starts running again to his house. In every direction he looks, all he sees is fire and destruction. Houses are either broken to pieces or completely burned and inflamed and to Sen, this is a nightmare he can’t wake up from. With constant screaming of excruciating pain and begging and pleading for help, all he can do is ignore them all, destroying him from the inside in the process. 

Sen finally reaches the top of the hill where his house sits, or where it is supposed to be. His childhood home where he grew up and made memories is completely torn down to the foundations. And what sits in the front is the blackened and charred body of his sister Hillary. Sen is left speechless and falls to his knees as the sight of his sister’s burned body leaves him sickened to the point he lets out a scream that one can only describe as true pain. And in the midst of the scream, a quiet shaken voice calls his name, and for Sen, there was no need to guess who it is. 

“MOM!! WHERE ARE YOU?”

“I’m over here.”

Sen runs over to the ruined house to look for his mother under all the piles of rubble. 

“Mom, are you OK? Don’t worry I’ll get you out. Quick grab my hand." 

“Sen, wait, that won’t work...” 

Sen grips her hand tightly and begins to pull with all his strength to get her out. 

“COME ON!”

“AHHH. Sen stop. It won’t work, look.” 

Sen looks over at his mother and is horrified by what he sees. A large chunk of wood from the ceiling has fallen and struck her straight through her into the ground. 

“I’m stuck.”

“I can still manage to get you out.”

“You can’t. Even if you try, the rest of it will come down on both of us. There’s no saving me.”  She says in a shaky voice as both of them start to cry. 

“I need you to listen to me. Can you do that for me?” Sen nods. 

“I just wanna say that I love you and I’m proud of you, for everything. You’ve grown up to be such a wonderful person to not just your sister but to everyone around you and I know that it must have hurt to ignore the people that were calling for help. But from now on you’re going to have to look out for yourself because not everyone is going to offer a helping hand, but one day someone will be grateful and accept and appreciate them for it. Thank you for making things easy for me, after losing your dad it was hard for me but you helped me get through it and life got somewhat better because of you always keeping your head up and smiling.” 

She reaches out to him and Sen puts her hand on his face as he’s letting out soft tears and she starts to wipe away his tears. 

“Oh don’t cry Sen. I need you to be strong for me, don’t let anything someone says to you affect you, and don’t cry, keep on smiling in the world. Brighten the world with your beautiful smile my son. Remember…. I love you and will always be with you”

Her hand falls to the ground as she takes her final breath and her warm soul leaves her body leaving behind a cold corpse.

The sky gets dark as a storm cloud rises and it starts raining, putting out all the burning buildings and carts. It goes quiet aside from the sound of the rain and a soft cry coming from Sen from being broken, beaten, and the sole survivor in his village. Sen, with no one by his side, is left weeping and mourning, all alone for he was too late.