Troy had a turbulent life to bring him to the point he was at.
He was born the son of a laborer- a farmer who worked under a wealthy landowner- into an excessively poor household.
He had four other siblings for his parents to take care of, and his father would often leave the home early in the morning for work, only to come home at a late hour of the night after being slaved all day in order to make a certain quota.
The family lived in a tiny wooden shack on a sliver of land, which their father had begged and pleaded with the landowner to loan to him in order for his family to live. The landowner had eventually agreed, under the condition that the land was paid back with 20 years of labor for both him and his son, among other conditions.
While his father was reluctant at first about this offer, the alternative was being thrown onto the streets without a home to live, and no employer would hire him that way. He had no choice but to accept, for the sake of his family.
And so, Troy's father worked countless hours each day, without any days off for years. When Troy was 8 years old, as the oldest male in the household, he too went to work with his father, and was worked like a slave. While he was not forced to work nearly as much as his father, and while his tasks were less demanding, he still worked 12 hour days without any days off until the time he was 15.
At 15, on his birthday, his parents celebrated with him his coming of age ceremony. It was the time in which every man was considered an adult, and his father and mother both congratulated him with emotion and zeal.
"My son... Troy.... I am so proud of you... you've worked so hard all your life..."
His mother hugged Troy, and cried. However Troy could sense something strange.
They didn't seem to be happy.
They seemed to be torn apart as they congratulated him, worried and terrified.
His father tried his best to keep a smile while fighting his emotions, while his mother covered her face and left the room, barely able to contain her emotion.
Troy sat in silence as he ate the entire potato in front of him- all for himself. It was the only time in his life that he had been able to have such a feast, and he even felt quite guilty about consuming such a large portion while his younger brothers and sisters watched in hunger.
'This isn't right.... this should be a celebration... yet something is off... nobody seems.... happy... everyone seems so distant and far away...'
Troy soon found out why everyone seemed so gloomy on that day.
At the end of the day, a soldier showed up at the front door.
"Excuse me, I am here on official military business. I assume you all have been expecting me?"
"Ah.... yes... please, come in. He is right here."
The soldier shook the dirt off himself before stepping inside the small shack, which he could barely fit inside without hitting his head on the roof, even after removing his helmet which donned a light blue mane.
"I am here to receive the draft replacement for the landlord of this parcel of land. I was told that he would be here. Is it this young lad?", the soldier asked, pointing to Troy.
Troy's mother was in another room. She didn't want to see her son leave.
His father nodded with a bitter smile on his face, biting his lip and furring his brow.
He didn't want his son to leave, but that too was a part of the contract.
The Empire held a military draft, and a number of men each year had to be taken from each parcel of land. Landowners would often offer homes and jobs for their workers, in exchange that their sons would be sent off as a part of that draft. It was of course, a security measure so that the landlord themselves would not be sent off.
"Gather your things, son. Were headed to the wall."
Troy was speechless. He didn't know what he could say or do, so he looked to his father, who couldn't seem to match his eyes.
It tore his parents apart to have to give up their son, but it was their only choice. The world was not one where the poor could so easily live.
Incidentally, the farm-plot in which Bella owned was not large enough to be considered for military draft. It was only domains that exceeded a certain size which were subject to such rules.
"I... I understand. I will do so."
Troy obeyed, after seeing his father in such a submissive and apologetic state. There was nothing to be done.
He gave his brothers and sisters a hug before he left, and gathered the only few pairs of clothes he had to his name before seeing his mother in the hallway, tears covering her completely red face, and unsure what to say or do.
"Troy... I'm so sorry... I'm so sorry..."
Troy merely breathed in.
"I love you. I will return someday a hero."
This only made his mother cry more, and Troy went back to the room where the soldier was waiting.
"Are you ready, son?", the soldier asked, with a sympathetic look on his face. He too understood the harsh feelings that his family must have about this, as he had been through this scenario many times over. He was simply the bearer of bad news in this circumstance.
"Yes."
His father still couldn't look him in the eyes as Troy left the household.
When Troy exited, the soldier led him to a group of four other men who were stationed outside the house, ensuring that nobody fled, with two other young boys about the same age as him- likely from a similar scenario.
"We're all headed to the wall. I know that this is sudden, and I understand that you are by no means a soldier yet, but I intend to form you into one."
After saying this, Troy was led with the military convoy to the wall, where he was initially stationed and trained.
He ended up being put into the same squad as the other two boys, along with another soldier under the command of Corporal Wexus, the man who had picked him up that day.
Corporal Wexus' training was tough, but he was a kind man who cared about his subordinates, and taught them well in order that they would become fine soldiers. However, he taught his pupils that they should always keep their humanity.
"In war, the most terrifying thing is to become accustomed to it... to get used to the chaos... to be able to kill a man without blinking an eye... while it is necessary to be able to kill, never forget that the person in front of you is another human, just like you, and that when you kill them- you are taking a life. I don't want you all to become mindless drones who are mass produced killing machines. Retaining your humanity is just as important to a soldier as being able to obey orders."
The three- Troy, Barnabas, and Uriarus, were all trained by Wexus to become able soldiers. They learned how to use swords as well as spears, and coordinate with strategic maneuvers. They were also taught scouting techniques and strategic signaling, and eventually were sent on missions into the monster realm.
They had done some basic scouting, and at one point they encountered a group of walking humanoid slimes, watching them from inside the bushes as the slimes seemed to be sitting on a log while consuming some plantlike material inside their bodies. One of them was green, and the other purple, and they were just sitting there... as if they were relaxing or taking a break.
"W-what is that thing!?!?", Troy whispered, surprised.
"Shhh... those are slimes... some of them like to take human forms.... I'll take care of these ones myself, you all just stand back and watch.", Wexus said as he jumped out from the bushes.
The slimes looked surprised, as Wexus held his spear forward, ready to fight.
The two slimes shivered, and scrambled to get up and run away, however...
Stab! Stab!
Wexus stabbed their heads with a quick set of motions, and they both fell back to the ground.
When they had fallen, they became an inhuman mass of goo, and both of them seemed to be slithering around aimlessly, trying to escape, however Wexus wasn't about to let them escape.
He started rapidly stabbing the masses of gel, until they were completely unrecognizable.
His spear sizzled from the purple acidic goo as he stabbed one of the slimes, however the acidic sizzling seemed to be countered by the effects of the green gel. It was a strange phenomena, but Wexus did not take note of it.
Eventually, he had killed and dispatched the two slimes, and he waved for the four to come out of the bushes.
"Are these... monsters? I've never seen any before..."
"These things are common in this realm... the further you go in, the crazier and more terrifying they become... always watch your back when scouting out here, and only ever take on an enemy you can be sure to win against. I've taken out a number of these slimes before, and so I have the confidence to do this, but always remain diligent."
"Yes, Sir!"
Many expeditions like this one occurred, and eventually, Troy and his companions were able to kill weaker monsters with skilled movements- after much training, practice, and observation of the patterns of the monsters.
They didn't ever go too far from the wall, but they became reliable soldiers known for their expeditions and Troy was eventually promoted to Corporal rank and assigned the task of leading a scouting force of 5 men, with his comrades under him.
At that point, Wexus had gone on to do some service in the capital under a different legion, however when Troy was 25- after he had worked his way up to become a Lieutenant of a scouting force of 25 men- him and his two comrades were called to the city of Githard under the orders of a Senator, as his force was ordered to perform a duty as the primary guards during the execution of a criminal.
"This is certainly a change of pace, Lieutenant. After all those scouting expeditions into the monster realm, to perform a more civil duty like this is... different.", one of his squad members noticed.
"Yeah... I suppose we should hurry up and get this over with and get back to the front."
The group headed to Githard to perform the execution, and when they arrived they met up with a Colonel- a leader of a 1000 man squad,
"Lieutenant Troy, reporting for execution duty, sir!", Troy exclaimed while saluting to the man who wore a helmet with a dark purple mane.
"At ease soldier. The execution is in 2 hours, and as you can see the platform has already been set up and people have started gathering. I assume you already know what to do?"
"Yes, Sir. My unit is to be stationed on standby while the criminal is taken up to his post, and I am to wait until I am given the signal, before chopping off the criminal's head. After that, I am to assist in the removal of the body, and then we will help clear out the crowds."
"Very good, soldier. Please stand by here until the criminal is led out."
"Sir, may I have permission to ask a question?"
"What is it, soldier?"
"Forgive me if my question is blunt, Sir, but who is this criminal and what have they done?"
"No, your question is reasonable, seeing as you are the one who will be taking his life. This man was a former soldier, and he was caught stealing food from the Senator's personal storehouse and sending it off to people living in a poor sector of the capital. His hands were cut off as a punishment for theft, however the Senator of the capital made the case that he should be executed for such treason. The Emperor was not informed of this, as it would be too much of a burden to busy our leader with such a small matter, and so the Senator's decision has been confirmed and the soldier will be executed."
"Is that so..."
"His name was Wexus. He was a soldier under me, but I clearly was too light on him, and he began getting these idealistic views for how soldiers should act. I have accepted his execution due to my failure as his leader."
A sting of terror came over Troy.
Wexus was the criminal he would be executing?!
"I... I see... then, I will take my leave, Sir."
Troy took his position at the side of the execution stand, where people were beginning to gather with his subordinates behind him, but his hands were quivering.
Why?
Why had Wexus done something to get himself executed?!
He knew that Wexus was a kind man- one who was perhaps too caring to be in the military, however... to think that his kindness would take him this far...
It was absurd.
And now, Troy had to be the one to kill Wexus with his own two hands.
Could he do it?
'No... no... no no nonononononoononono!!! I can't... that man is more of a father to me than my own father!!! I can't kill him!!! I can't do it!!! I have to save him... I have to save him!!! That's it!!! I will save him!!! But... how?! No, wait!! My squad is the one who has been assigned to the execution of this man!!! If we all worked together... the only other soldier who will be present will be the Colonel himself and maybe a few of his personal guards... this could work... we could save him...'
Troy created a plan, but could he convince his men to go through with it?
There was only one way to find out.
"Men, could you all lend me an ear?"
"What's wrong, Lieutenant?"
"You're quivering... is something bothering you?"
"Men... the man who is being executed... he is like a father to me... I want to save him."
Barnabas and Uriarus looked up. They too were disturbed and concerned for Wexus, and wanted to help.
"I'm in."
"Me as well."
"If the Lieutenant and the Corporals are doing it, then we will help as well!"
"Me as well! I will do what I can to be of use!"
"Over here too!"
All the men slowly decided to assist Troy in saving Wexus. They had heard the reason which the Colonel had explained behind his execution, and many of them who knew him personally believed that Wexus had done nothing wrong. Perhaps he was being framed, or perhaps he had a good reason for his actions. Others had such respect for their leaders that they didn't want to leave their side, even if it meant treason and desertion.
"Thank you men. I can't believe I have such a loyal group with me... thank you all.... in that case, I will now explain the plan to save him. First of all, I would like to make one thing clear... after doing this, we will all become criminals. We will no longer be able to freely roam the Empire. Wanted posters will go up with our faces on them, and we won't be able to work for the military anymore, nor will we be able to work regular jobs. If you have something to lose, then I would like you to pretend as if you are fighting against us when we try to save Wexus."
"Lieutenant... I'm sorry... but after hearing that... I can't do it... I have a family to return to..."
"Me as well... I cannot leave them..."
Two men stepped back.
"That is fine. Is there anyone else?"
"No, Sir! I am with you till the end!"
"Me too!"
23 of the 25 men were going to take part in the plan.
"Now, for you two... all you have to do is pretend like you didn't know that this was going to happen, and mock a fight against two of the members who are in on the plan... if it's only 2 on 23, it should be a given that you won't be able to stop us from escaping. As for everyone else... well... I will pick up the executioners ax, and before I raise it above his head, I will whisper into the ear of Wexus that we're getting out of here. When I raise the ax, that is the signal to pave a path for us to escape."
The men all nodded.
"We will have to live as criminals from now on, and I don't know where the future will take us... but I can't allow something like this to weigh down on my conscience for the rest of my life... If I were to allow the man who taught me everything to die here, then I wouldn't be worthy of my position as Lieutenant. Even then... I am sorry to you all... because I am such a selfish leader, and because you are all such good subordinates... you are all going to go through with my selfish plan... thank you."