I was used to people treating me poorly and bullying me so I wasn’t really afraid of other people.

I would be able to predict what the next form of torture the other seven year olds would put me through.

Sally was different though, we met when we were only five. She had short black hair and deep blue eyes. Her parents had been in an accident and didn’t make it back home, so she was sent to the orphanage.

Nobody ever even asked her if she was okay.

It was right after my brother left to go study, so we were both alone, but I didn’t think much of it.

I just happened to sit next to her in the library while reading.

“What kind of book is that?” She asked

I was quiet for a moment and just looked at her.

Then I looked back at my book. “It is a book about common Magic spells used in everyday objects.

“Oh?” She said curiously. “That is a big book, aren’t you five too?”

“Yes… but I like reading and learning about new things. The books they give us that are ‘our age’ are just fantasy books with a lot of pictures. I prefer to read actual real life stories. They are more interesting.”

“Oh? So… What is your favorite story?” I could tell she was just looking for a friend to talk to since everyone ignored her, but I was wary since people liked to say they wanted to be my friend and just lead me into a trap.

“It is the one about the Feathered Knight.” I said hesitantly.

“Feathered Knight?” She was intrigued. “Why would a knight have feathers?”

I was hesitant at first when talking to her, but she seemed to be genuinely interested in what I was saying and hung onto every word.

She was lonely and had no choice but to become friends with me. Nobody else wanted to be friends with her because that was the age where ‘girls are gross’ and if you weren’t interested in certain things then you wouldn’t be welcomed among the girls either.

She was unlike anybody I had ever talked to though, she was interested in archery and learning, while the other girls only played with dolls and talked about the princes in fairy tales. 

“The Feathered Knight was amazing, she was said to weigh lighter than the air itself, so she wore heavy armor to stay on the ground, and even-”

“The Feathered Knight was a girl? That is so cool!” She said excitedly.

“Yes, these days it isn’t common for girls to be on the battlefield, but a long time ago, there were more female soldiers than there were men because they were more knowledgeable with magic. Instead of staying home and doing whatever girls do at home, they would be the ones to go off on great adventures!” Before I knew it I was just as excited to talk about it and even standing up and pretending to hold a sword into the air.

Once I realized, I quickly sat back down embarrassed and blushing.

She giggled

I laughed “Sorry, I got excited, The Feathered Knight is my hero. She was responsible for keeping her village safe from monsters, but everyone thought that she was a monster because she couldn't stay on the ground. So they outcasted her for being different, but she didn’t let that stop her! She could slay a monster with one swing of her sword without any effort, so she went to towns that were in danger from monster attacks to protect them, even though they hated her and didn’t do anything for her in return. She was a real noble person. It took a long time for them to finally come to respect her and be thankful to her.” The more I talked, the louder I got.

“She sounds amazing! That’s what I want to do, I want to protect people, especially those I care for! Monsters BEWARE!” She shouted while jumping with her finger to the sky mimicking me.

All of the other kids looked at her with angry faces but I just laughed.

“That’s right!” I stood up and posed along with her. “Monsters Beware!!”

We both burst out laughing and we started to play together during playtime and reading stories together on the floor of the library.

When we would go outside we would find sturdy sticks and pretend to fight monsters. 

We quickly became best friends and relied on each other. We started doing everything together.

Even when one of us would be bullied we would stand up for each other, although it would always end up with both of us on the floor getting the same treatment from them.

The adults didn’t do anything about it because they also didn’t like either of us.

After we both turned seven, she got adopted by the Butcher family and I would end up coming over a lot and barely spending any time at the orphanage. They didn't realize it was something of a two for one deal.

Although, they never adopted me, so I always had to go back, but I didn’t care as long as I could play and read with Sally at any time.

I just happened to be playing with Sally at the time of the attack.

Sally ended up begging her new family if I could stay with them since I didn’t have anywhere else to stay.

They said yes on the condition that I didn’t cost them anything, so that meant that Sally had to share all of her meals with me so that I could eat and share a bed.

She agreed to the conditions and I started living with Sally. We learned from books on how to trap and hunt for food. I picked up on a sword quickly and found I had a unique talent for magic.

Even though the butchers never treated us well, we didn't tell anyone we had to hunt for our own food. We didn't want to be separated or go into another orphanage. 

When we turned nine, they told Sally that it was time that she learned to fight. So she was taught to pull a bow and draw a sword. I eavesdropped on her classes and got even better. Sally let me practice with her bow with her and I found it was also easy to pick up on. 

Sally's older adopted brother was already 13 and he was still having trouble while we were both thriving. We practiced day in and day out until our hands were bleeding. 

We would also go to the library and read about anything and everything, that’s how I knew about the BRT Magic tool. 

It is an enchanted bottle that you put water into. That is what the clear liquid was.

Everything was going so well for a while, until I turned twelve and the Butcher sent me to the battlefield instead of his son. 

To him I was just a nuisance that was able to replace his son in the arms of death. He was his biological son after all.

“It’s not fair… Why should you have to go? Instead of that dumb imp! Hmph!” Sally pouted while I packed a small bag of clothing. 

I am used to this level of treatment from the Butcher, his wife, and their son. As well as the neighborhood kids.

“That is an insult to Imps, Sal.” I laughed.

“That’s true haha.” She laughed nervously. “But still… Why do you have to go alone? We are much better as a team… “

“We are better as a team, but this isn’t a game sadly… I won’t risk your life to play.”

“It’s not playing if we can use swords better than the adults.”

“You have a point, but just because we can beat a few adults in combat, doesn’t mean we would be able to fight an enemy soldier and win. We just don’t have that kind of experience yet.”

“Hmph!” She is still upset.

I wish I could tell her I will be fine, I know that it is highly likely that I will die in this war, then Sally will be alone.

I hate it, but I am not strong enough to fight him on this. So I have to go along with it for Sally, I know that if I don’t go then he will hurt her.

So I am going to die at war…