Johan could hardly believe what he was reading. 'Guarding a merchant's carriage for seven silver coins,' he thought to himself, 'That's almost too good to be true.'
The details of the assignment outlined the route they would be taking, from the outskirts of Jurica City to a small town in the southeast. The merchant, a stout man named Obran, was known to deal in precious gems, which would be the primary goods in the carriage.
'My first assignment and it involves protecting a fortune in gems,' Johan pondered, 'I need to prepare thoroughly.'
He spent the rest of the day researching everything he could find about the route, the potential threats, and safety measures he could take. From highwaymen to wild beasts, he studied every possible danger that they could encounter.
'The southeast route is notorious for bandits,' he found, 'And there's a stretch of forest known to house predatory beasts.' His mind began constructing a mental map of the route, highlighting the danger zones.
Next, he tried to find information about the merchant, Obran. Through various tavern rumors and whispers, he gathered that Obran was a shrewd businessman with a penchant for flaunting his wealth, hence the need for sturdy protection.
'Flashy and reckless,' Johan concluded, 'I'll need to be extra vigilant.'
As the day wore on, he found himself immersed in understanding the layout of the carriage, the possible vulnerabilities, and the measures he could take to ensure their safety.
'Well, it seems I've got my work cut out for me,' he thought with a sigh, 'But I'm up for the challenge. This is exactly the kind of opportunity I've been working towards.'
Johan went to bed that night with his mind swirling with plans and strategies, ready to tackle his first assignment.
...
'My physical condition is crucial for this mission,' Johan contemplated the next morning, having woken up before the break of dawn.
Starting his day with a series of grueling calisthenics exercises, he focused on endurance running and strength training, making sure to stretch his limits. His muscles strained, and his body screamed in protest, but he grit his teeth and pushed through, knowing it was all part of the preparation.
'Every rep, every drop of sweat, every second of pain... it's all going to count in the end,' Johan told himself as he executed another chin-up, his muscles straining and protesting.
After his physical training, Johan turned his attention inward. He sat down in a quiet corner of his room, closed his eyes, and started to visualize the route, the potential threats, and his responses to each of them.
'Visualizing the path, the dangers... and my actions...' he silently coached himself, mentally navigating the imagined path, 'Calm and collected, I can handle this.'
He imagined being on the carriage, the weight of the merchant's gems in the carriage's secure box, the whispering trees along the road, and the sudden appearance of bandits. He mentally rehearsed his response, drawing his weapon, shielding the merchant, and deftly fending off the attackers.
When his heart started racing, he'd take deep, calming breaths, grounding himself back in the present. 'It's not real...yet,' he'd remind himself, 'It's just a possible scenario. I am ready. I can handle it.'
As Johan mentally walked through every step of the journey, he felt his nervousness giving way to a sense of calm preparedness. His anxiety was still there, but it was a small, manageable thing now. 'I am ready,' he assured himself, 'I've got this.'
...
Armed with meticulous, rigorous mindset, Johan set to preparing his gear. His room was filled with an air of quiet concentration as he carefully examined each item before placing it in his pack.
'Water, food, compass... all essentials,' Johan self-lectured, meticulously checking off each item in his head.
The sound of steel being unsheathed resonated as he held his two daggers, admiring their sharpness and balance. 'Protection, offense, survival,' he categorized, securing them within easy reach.
Lastly, he packed a compact first-aid kit. 'Injury can't be an excuse. If I get hurt, I'll have to patch myself up and continue. Miles is counting on me,' he thought, the weight of his responsibility grounding him.
Once he was fully prepared, Johan set off to meet the merchant he would be protecting.
Upon reaching the designated location, Johan found himself facing a portly man with sharp eyes that missed nothing. This was Master Ogden, a renowned gem merchant in Jurica City.
"Ah, you must be the bodyguard I've hired," Master Ogden greeted, scanning Johan up and down. "You're younger than I expected."
Johan nodded, "I am. But I assure you, Master Ogden, my abilities are up to the task."
Ogden seemed to mull over his words, then nodded. "Very well. Our journey begins tomorrow at dawn. Be prepared."
As Johan left, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with nervous anticipation. 'Tomorrow it begins,' he thought to himself, 'I won't let anyone down.'
...
On the eve of his departure, Johan sat down with Miles and Fatty, the dim light casting long shadows around their humble abode. The atmosphere was heavy with emotion, a cocktail of excitement and apprehension swirling around them.
"Miles, Fatty... I promise to return safely," Johan said, his voice steady despite the rapid pounding of his heart.
Miles blinked back tears, forcing a smile on his face. "I know you will, Johan. Just... just be careful, okay?"
Fatty, usually boisterous, was unusually quiet. He simply clapped Johan's shoulder and nodded, his eyes reflecting sincere worry.
'No matter what happens, I have to make it back,' Johan thought, an intense determination filling him.
The following morning, standing before the horizon bathed in the soft light of dawn, Johan took one last look at his home. 'Fear, excitement, determination, hope... all are part of this journey,' he acknowledged inwardly, taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart.
With one last wave to his brother and Fatty, Johan turned around, setting off on his journey. His mind was abuzz with various scenarios. 'This is just another test, another obstacle. I will overcome this too,' his inner voice echoed with conviction as he disappeared into the break of dawn.
...
As he arrived at the rendezvous point, Johan couldn't help but feel out of place. The sight before him was an unexpected spectacle of modern warfare. The 'guards' were armed to the teeth with rifles, and two even held portable bazookas casually over their shoulders. The so-called 'carriage' was a high-tech tank, complete with advanced systems and an onboard team of IT specialists and doctors.
'Is this a merchant's carriage or a mobile fortress?' Johan mused, eyeing the heavily armored vehicle with a mix of awe and trepidation. He clutched his daggers a bit tighter, feeling utterly insignificant amid the powerful arsenal on display.
Adding to the surprise, a man stepped forward from the group, a picture of opulence with a taste for high tech, further emphasizing the gap between Johan's expectations and reality. 'So, this is the merchant,' he thought, taking note of the man's confident demeanor and the glint of various jewelries peeking from under his expensive suit.
The merchant walked up to him, sizing him up before a hearty chuckle escaped his lips. "Young man, you look like you're going to a knife fight," he said, reaching into his coat. Johan's heart skipped a beat as the man pulled out an AK-47 and a couple of grenades, handing them to him. "Here, you'll need these more than your knives," the merchant said, the amusement apparent in his voice.
Johan stared at the advanced weapons, feeling the cold weight of reality sinking into his stomach. 'I might be physically strong, but this... this is an entirely different battlefield,' he thought, forcing a smile and thanking the merchant. The notion of how out of place he was becoming all too clear.
With the sudden weight of an AK-47 in his hand and the merchant's chuckles fading into the background, Johan couldn't help but feel a surge of trepidation. 'I've trained hard, but nothing prepared me for this,' he mused, his fingers tracing the cold metal of the rifle.
But as he glanced back towards where Fatty and Miles were likely still celebrating his new job, a sense of resolution hardened within him. 'This is what I've been working towards. It's a step towards a better life for me and Miles.' His heart pounded in his chest, not just from anxiety, but also from a thrill of stepping into the unknown.
With a final look around, Johan climbed aboard the tank-like carriage, his heart pounding with a strange mix of excitement, fear, and resolution. As the carriage rumbled into motion, he took one last look at the city he was leaving behind.
Suddenly, the tranquility of the moment was shattered by a shrill ringing that echoed throughout the city. It was an alarm. The city's alarm. People around the carriage, who were previously minding their own business, started to panic. The relaxed atmosphere was replaced with a state of chaos as people began to run in all directions.
"What's happening?" Johan wondered aloud, his heart hammering in his chest as the city's alarm continued to blare. But no answer came, the alarm blaring, echoing the fear and confusion around them.