In the forest of monsters, next to the dark barrier, there was a boy with golden hair sitting down beneath a tree.

He had his hands behind his head and his feet crossed in a relaxed posture.

His eyes were closed and his face was calm and tranquil. His golden hair reflected the sun perfectly.

There were a few leaves on his visage giving him a wild look. But the royal robes he wore said otherwise.

He had red and blue garments, which contrasted greatly with the green grass around him. The scene was an artist’s wet dream.

A handsome subject with a pretty background and synergy between them both.

As the boy lazed around without a care in the world a groan could be heard not too far away from him.

The boy opened one of his eyes to glance at what disrupted his peaceful slumber.

The groan came from a boy around the same age as the golden-haired boy. He was covered in armor that seemed to have puncture wounds in it.

The boy in armor was lying down face down on the dirt a few meters in front of the golden-haired boy. He let out a groan every now and then as if waking up.

The golden-haired boy walked up to him and stood above his shaking body. He tapped his feet as if he was getting impatient.

When the boy eventually came to, he looked up at the person standing above him.

"Who are... " His eyes shined with recognition and he backed away with fear in his eyes.

"AH! Please, please!!" The armored boy went down on all fours, bending his head so his forehead could kiss the floor.

"Please forgive me for my insolence, your highness." He shouted at the top of his lungs as if afraid the golden-haired boy wouldn't hear him.

The golden-haired boy stared at him, then looked around him.

Scattered behind where the armored boy was laying previously were a lot of other bodies lying face down.

All of them were also wearing armor with their own punctures on the armor. All of them were alive, as indicated by the rise and fall of their chests.

The golden-haired boy, referred to as 'your highness' by the first boy in armor returned his gaze to him.

"You, peasant." His voice rang cold with a regal authority that could be felt in the boy's bones.

"What is your name?" He asked. His eyes bore into the boy pressing down on him with the weight of his presence.

The boy's lips trembled with fear as he kept his eyes on the ground.

"My name is Lasry, y-your highness." He managed to say before he pissed himself.

The golden-haired boy nodded. "Very well then, Lasry. Why is it that all your party members are equipped with armor?"

The boy looked up puzzled, but he answered anyway, "I have t-the ability to make weapons sir."

The golden-haired boy frowned, "Do you take me for a fool," he said scowling at the boy.

"A blacksmith can't make armor without a forge?!" He stepped forward threateningly.

Lasry quickly shuffled back in fear, "N-N-N-N-N-No my lord, I meant I can create weapons and armor using my magic."

The boy stopped walking towards Lasry, his rage seemingly calming down. "Demonstrate." He demanded.

He quickly nodded, stretching out both hands in front of him and casting [Weapon: short sword].

The golden-haired boy watched in silence as a short sword was created in a flash of bright white light.

Lasry grabbed the short sword and handed it to the golden-haired boy, "Here, your highness."

He collected the weapon and examined it closely, "Hmm, your work is certainly well done."

He nodded, "It's decided."

He pointed the short sword at Lasry, "You will join my camp."

"... Huh??" Lasry looked up in confusion.

What camp — was this guy okay in the head?

"You have no right to refuse." He continued, his eyes sharp, "So says Leon."

Leon turned around and started walking away from the dark barrier, "We have no need of your cohorts as they would only slow us down."

He looked back at Lasry and asked, "Well? Do I have to repeat myself?”

Lasry scrambled to his feet and ran after him. Leon and Lasry kept walking with Lasry walking a few steps behind Leon.

Leon turned to his new companion, "By the way, I may have been a bit rough with you earlier."

"As my current company I apologize for that. As a way of breeding camaraderie, you may now refer to me as 'sir'."

Lasry nodded vigorously, "Yes sir!"

Leon laughed boisterously, "I have a feeling we will get along great Lasry."

Lasry smiled wryly, he didn't know where this impromptu alliance would take him...

But he didn't really have a choice, did he?