1053 PCE
It was the end of the harvest season. The days had started to cool and the sun rose later than normal. The sun had started to peek over the horizon, illuminating the sky in hues of red and orange. Sparrow was already preparing for her journey using the flickering light of a candle. She had already packed some food, clothes, and money for the trip. She wrote a note saying 'Goodbye' to her parents, because he wasn't awake yet, before making her way outside to her horse that was already saddled, bridled, and ready to go. The sun reflected off her auburn hair,highlighted her freckles, and light brown eyes.
As she started leaving her small village on the outskirts of the city the other houses started to stir. She waved to members of her community as they sat on the porch preparing for another day of work. Sparrow had grown up here and knew everyone well.
The sun rose ever higher as she continued her journey, it wasn't too long, only a couple of hours, but too far for her to consider walking. It was a trip that she was used to but didn't much enjoy.
The city of Dementire didn't have a wall or many soldiers stationed around its circumference, but it was intimidating nonetheless. Tall buildings lined the streets, as people and children filled them, all in the middle of their own journeys, or just causing havoc for everyone else.
In the centre of the city lay a large mass of rock, a guard carved out of stone stood either side of a long, white staircase that led up to a castle that could only be described as awe inspiring. A circle made of white stone with a radius of about ten norml-sized carriages, detailed with a compass in black stone, surrounded it.
Sparrow was speechless evertime she saw the castle and its beautiful spires, but today she was here for another reason. Off to the side, at the eatern edge of the circle stood a large hall that had consistent flow of people entering and exiting. The cheers and laughter that made their way out of of every crevice it could created an atmosphere of joy and comraderie. Sparrow approached the reception, behind which a few people worked, each wearing a white shirt that fit loosely around their arms but tightned at the wrist, accompanied by a black button down vest, snug fit trousers, with a single gold pin on their lappel.
"Good day, Ma'am. How may I help you today?" one of the workers said as Sparrow approached the reception.
"Uh.. Hi, I'd like to put in a request"
"Of course, and do you know what kind and what level?"
"Ah, one months protection for our village. The harvest wasn't great this year so, could you make it bronze level?"
"Of course, may I take your name for our records?"
"It's Sparrow"
"Sparrow? Hmmm, do you usually come here with your father?"
"Yes, I do!"
"Ah yes, now I remember, I apologise for not recognising you at first"
"Oh no don't worry"
"You said bronze level this time? Protection jobs are usually silver, but luckily for you we currently have someone who is supposed to be promoting" the employee continued as he gestured towards a young man that was crouched atop the reception desk and, obviously, very angrily talking to another employee who seemed less than interested in his complaints.
Sparrow was surprised that she hadn't noticed it, but just accepted it was probably the noise that drowned him out... and the tunnel vision that prevented her from seeing her surroundings.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the employee throwing a pen at the young man.
"Oi, Lucas. Get over here!" he shouted.
The young man seemed to move faster than his shadow as he appeared in front of Sparrow.
"What do you want, Barty?" Lucas asked.
He looked similar in age to Sparrow, black spiky hair, a dark red bandana wrapped around his head, dark green eyes that showed wisdom beyond his years, but still retained their adventurous sparkle, and creases in his face evidence of stresses that should not be experienced by any child. His armour was comprised of a dark leather breast plate, with iron plates on his shoulders, forearms, and lower legs. He wore a single book at his side in a leather pouch, along with a few other leather pockets around his belt.
"This young woman is Sparrow, she has a request. Now be nice and introduce yourself"
Lucas spread his arms, palms faced towards Sparrow, she noticed circular patterns on each, but couldn't see what they were for or said.
"Lucas, wizard, adventurer, lover, loved by all, tolerated by most, feared by none" he said as one arm swung forward, and he bowed before her.
Barty rolled his eyes as he explained the request "It's a one month protection request for their village, should be easy enough"
The trio exchanged a few more greetings and formalities before Lucas and Sparrow started their journey back.
"Do you have a horse for the trip back to the village?" Sparrow asked.
"How far is it?"
"A couple of hours"
"Nah, should be fine, I'll just run"
*
True to his word Lucas ran the entire the way back to the village. It was very simply in appearance; the farms made it impossible to put a wall around its perimeter, but it was close enough to the city to get regular protection from adventurers. They walked through the centre; villagers greeted the pair, Sparrow happily waved back, Lucas simply nodded.
By now the sun had started to set.
Near the rear edge of the village, at the end of a long path way, atop a small hill stood a solitary house. On the porch stood a pair of middle aged people. The man had a kind face and a very distinct farmer's tan, he had a straw hat that hung around his neck, and wore a loose fitting overall with patches sewn on here and there, and some tools hung along his waist. The woman had a similarly kind face, she wore a dress made of a light material, and a loose fitting shirt underneath, her clothes were much cleaner than the mans, she had a shoulder length auburn hair, similar to Sparrow, with a patches of grey starting to show through.
"Lucas, these are my parents, Donald and Edna" Sparrow said gesturing towards her parents.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir, Ma'am"
"Dad, Mum, this is Lucas, he's the adventurer I hired" she said gesturing towards Lucas
"It's nice to meet you too" Donald said as he shook Lucas' hand, "aren't you a bit young to be an adventurer?"
Edna and Sparrow both shook their heads in embarrasment.
"Potentially"
"Oh, well... what can we do for you"
"I just need a chair"
"You can take that one" Donald said as he pointed to an old wooden chair near the end of their porch.
"That'll be perfect, thank you very much" Lucas grabbed the chair "I'll be heading out and setting up for the night" he continued as he started back down the pathway.
*
The sun had now fully set. Torches and lamps lit the village. Just inside of the village gate sat Lucas, cluthing his knees against his chest, a spear leaning against the chair.Three figures slowly made their way into the light, just outside of the gate, revealing their identities, the butcher brothers. A trio of ruthless murderers who were infamous across the country, while never considered a serious enough threat by the justice systems to require intervention. Their appearance was grotesque, each varying in body shape and size; in fact the only similarities between them were the swords shaped like cleavers they held at their sides, the human remains that hung around their waists like trophies, and their blood splattered clothes. Lucas, leaving his seat, stepped forward, blocking their route forward.
"I know who you are, and I know what you've done" he started "I have no qualms if you choose to commit your atrocities for I have been charged with protecting this village. But if you choose to take another step forward you will not only lose your leg but also your life"
Silence.
The brothers were no strangers to resistance. All of their victims resisted.
It was their favourite part.
The tallest of the three stepped forward.
As his foot landed, Lucas' spear sliced through his femur with a light whistle. While toppling over, Lucas swung again, removing his head. In a matter of seconds, Lucas had defeated the first of the three brothers. His body fell to the floor with a loud FWUMP. While the dust continued to rise, Lucas moved past the his body and attacked the second one. His spear moved in a 'X' motion slicing the second brother into quarters. The third brother realising he was next decided he was going to escape. Before he had run five metres he felt a sharp pain at the back of his left shoulder, followed by a hard thump that knocked him forward.
He lay on the ground, motionless, a mixture of dirt and blood coated his mouth. He could hear rocks grinding over each other as someone slowly walked past him. He felt the pain in his shoulder once more as a weight was lifted from his back. He looked up to see a figure standing in front of him.
"P-p-p-pleasepleasepleaseplease don't kill me" he begged
"You forget, I gave you the option to leave, this is the fate you've chosen." Lucas replied as he ended his life.
And thus the first night had ended.