Upstairs in the quiet room, Sen sat submerged in the warm bath. His first bath after 2 long years. The water shaped to the figure of his body, letting it flow washing away the years of pain and struggle. The freshness of the bath filled with healing herbs was enough to soften even the hardest edges, loosening muscles that had forgotten to rest. Later, lay on the hard straw-stuffed mattress that would cause the non stop turning for others. But for Sen, it felt like heaven. He  welcomed the roughness as a reminder that he was no longer wandering. His thoughts swirled with the weight of Gordon’s offer, a chance to reclaim a sense of purpose long buried beneath survival. The answer seems obvious, the fear of the unknown future, unknown certainty swayed his mind as he weighed his choices. As the night drew on, his mind slowly emptied, drifting off to sleep.

The early morning sun cast its golden light over the lower region, bathing the quiet streets in a warm, gentle glow. The stillness of dawn was broken only by the soft, melodic chirping of birds perched on rooftops and rustling branches. The lower region lacks the constant noise of vendors in the street and large crowds compared to the capital city. 

At the doorway of the inn stood Gordon, a striking figure in gleaming silver steel armor and hulking muscles with every plate polished to a mirror-like shine. His sword hung steadily at his side, a symbol of both readiness and power. Tall and imposing, he seemed almost carved from the morning light itself as the sun’s rays reflected off his armor, attracting the gazes of the people. 

“Is there anywhere you go where you don’t stick out so much?” Sen walks out the inn yawning and stretching, feeling refreshed with his long hair no longer a loose mess as what it was, but slightly tied back showing his face washed and cleaned, his clothes no longer torn to and ragged. 

“You look refreshed.”

“Yeah, that bath has magic in it.”

“How’s your hand doing?” 

“The infection is gone so it should start to get better.” 

“That’s good. So did you think about it?” 

“Yeah I did, but I need to visit somewhere first.” 

They travel through the lower region stopping by a floral shop before they make their way to the kingdom gates. 

“After the dragon attack, the kingdom changed dramatically.” Gordon informed Sen. “Everyone was terrified of it coming back that the people with stores and money all left the lower region to either go to the middle region or the capital for safety. Leaving the people who couldn’t afford to leave, and with the lack of businesses the lower region economy took a big hit causing it to be what it is today.” 

“The royal houses left us behind and saved themselves without a second thought.” Sen said, feeling the anger in his body from being abandoned by the people said to help the people. 

Gordon didn’t say anything, for he knew what Sen said was true. The king and royal house's job was to provide protection from any threat foreign or domestic, but they failed to achieve that, resulting in the lack of trust and support from the people. They continued walking in silence as they approached the main gate of the kingdom. With Gordon by his side it was no problem for them getting out. 

“How far are we going?” Gordon questioned. 

“It’s just up ahead.” 

As they walked it could be seen the oak wood arch gate that remained standing, one of the only things that weren’t destroyed in the destruction of his village. 

“Kid…”

Sen kept walking forward, passing under the gate into his old village and his home. Walking along the dirt pathway marveling in the destruction that occurred. Where the house would stand only lies the broken rubble, not even the foundation remains. The path Sen walked was one that was filled with memories of joyful moments where the only worry was if you got to play as the knight or the princess. Walking up he stops seeing a broken delivery cart with crates. Sen stops pulling out a singular white flower, placing it in front of the cart and closing his eyes before moving on. With Gordon just following behind him he is stunned as he goes to each broken house placing the white flower before moving to the next one, giving each person that died, setting their souls free from this devastating land and carrying them with him. Going up a hill with only two flowers left, Sen takes a deep breath upon seeing his house in the same state it was in.

“Can you hold these for a moment?” Sen asks, handing the last two flowers to Gordon. Sen walks up to his broken home to start moving the scattered bits of rubble cleaning the surrounding area. Collect some of the broken pieces of the foundation creating two stacks of rocks making a grave.

“Hey mom, Hillary. It’s been 2 years now, I miss you guys everyday. I have great news. I met a knight and he says that he’ll make me his squire, I’ll be able to become a knight Hilary, isn’t that amazing, and I forgot to tell you that I saw a girl knight, so you can be a knight too. I’d have to go to the academy first to learn everything that I need to be a knight. Mom, I did what you said, I looked out for myself and made sure I was safe, while people called me trash, rat and even threatened me. But I’m fine, because I had you watching over me. Someone offered me their hand, offering me the opportunity to do something great. To protect the people that can’t protect themselves I’ll avenge everyone by killing that dragon, I promise. So wait for me.”

Placing the remaining two white flowers, Sen bows his head as a tear falls. Gordon behind him does the same out of respect. A moment of silence is shared, the cool calming wind blows with the birds chirping. Suddenly the sound of crunching is heard coming from under the rubble. Taking a step back as the sound grows closer, a dark slimy sludge jumps out.

“That’s the malice from the black dragon.” Gordon exclaims. “But why is it here, there wasn't supposed to be any here.” 

The malice seeing Sen, sensing his sadness grew closer. 

“Sen quick get back. I’ll take care of it.” Quickly pulling out his sword standing in between Sen and the sludge. “I gotta be careful.” He says to himself, but as he gets ready to charge at it, he feels his grip loosen on his sword till his sword is no longer in his hand. Instead Sen is the one in front of him holding the sword.

“I’m not letting you take anything from me.” Sen states gripping the hilt of the sword. With his gaze sharp on the malice, Sen readies himself as it launches at him. Swiftly as possible Sen swings the sword down hard, slicing it clean in half. Stabbing the sword into the half on the floor watching it fizzle out dry and with his back to Gordon, “My answer, I’ll be your squire, go to that academy, defeat anyone that stands in my way and I won’t stop till I have the head of that dragon.” A golden light radiates off Sen’s back leaving Gordon even more stunned as he sees the light shifting, showing the people of Ark village. 

“This kid…he’s carrying their souls with him.”

…

In the middle of a giant flower field, the sight of the countless flowers blooming is enough to make one feel at ease even at the verge of dying.

“Lady Evelyn, I have a report.”

“What is it, you're disturbing my peace.”

“I heard that an incident occurred in the lower region with the resources you sent out.”

“What happened?”

“Well a kid took some medical supplies.”

“And… those resources were for the public, so why bother with some petty theft.”

“Well that kid knocked out the two 5th grade knights that were sent after him.”

“5th grade huh. And what became of the child.”

“That’s the thing, umm…3rd Knight Commander Gordon was there and claimed that the kid is his squire.”

“Commander Gordon’s squire, that’s a first.”

“What shall we do milady?”

“Nothing, if he is a commander's squire, especially one that strong then there’s a good reason for it. Go see when the academy is opening and how our squires look.”

“Consider it done.”

“Who did you pick, Gordon? This should be fun.”