The Town

The scene starts with a little red-haired girl being dragged into a room by maids while her brothers watch.

"No! Please, it wasn't me, I swear!!"

"To steal someone else's belongings, despite coming from the slums. I wonder why Father chose someone like you."

"Yeah, aside from having similar hair color, there's nothing else."

"I didn't steal it! Please, believe me!"

Her brothers don't care to listen. The girl is locked in the storage room as punishment for a crime she didn't commit. As the door slowly closes, the girl shouts.

"I didn't do it!!"

[DUNG]

The scene shifts to Harith, who has just arrived at his destination. Multiple races cooperate with each other in this vibrant place.

"Woah, I do want to visit the blacksmith for a better sword, but first things first."

Harith heads to the stable to let his horse rest, then tries to find the location his father mentioned.

"Now, how do I find this place, 'Solomon's Store'?"

"You look like you're not from around here. Looking for something, sir?"

A young boy sitting on a crate asks Harith.

"Huh, um, yeah, I'm looking for this place."

"Let me see. It's not far from here. I'll guide you."

"Ah, please."

As they walk, they chat.

"So, you new here?"

"Why the sudden interest?"

"I've been to a lot of cities, and I recognize faces. But you, you're new. Just who are you?"

"I'm Harith, Harith Zashchitnik."

"Zashchitnik?"

"Yeah, ring a bell?"

"Are you kidding me? Your dad has been guarding this town for decades, and others as well!"

"Man, that's crazy."

"Yeah, right. But when the First Armageddon broke out, all the men had to be on the front line. That included him, even though he—"

A loud noise from the tavern interrupts them, sounding like a fight.

"Ugh, not again."

"What's happening there?"

"Since the war ended, the situation here has been unmanageable."

"How so?"

They peek inside the tavern. Seven to nine people wield swords and crossbows.

"Don't think you can fool me, old man. See this?"

[Shows a piece of paper]

"I am the most wanted bandit in the capital. I've murdered hundreds, especially Aetherians like you."

"I'm sorry, but we've run out of the drink you want."

"Then how about you pay for it so we don't cause any injuries?"

The bandit points his sword at the trembling old man, who gives up the money.

"I hope you won't make the same mistake again."

"Y-yes."

The bandits leave the tavern. Harith and the boy take cover.

"Man, that bandit keeps coming to this town all the time."

"I don't understand. Where are the guards?"

"Because the town is too far from the capital, they didn't send any. That's why your father and other volunteers keep us safe. But now—"

"Why don't you fight back?"

"It's not that we don't want to, but—"

The boy feels guilty for their inability to act. Harith changes the subject.

"So, when will we reach this place?"

"Oh, yeah, right. We're almost there."

"I never asked your name."

"You can call me Charbel."

"All right, Charbel. I'll be in your care."

"Hehe, same here, my friend."

Harith makes his first friend in the town but starts worrying about his brother.

{I wonder if Brother is okay.}

In the forest, Hekal and other knights prepare to ambush the bandit campsite. The bandits have looted a lot of money from another town.

"Today's mission is a success."

"Yeah, buddy. I didn't know that old man from that village had so much gold in his carriage."

"If he'd just surrendered instead of acting brave, he'd still be alive."

"Don't forget, the boss wants no prisoners, you idiot!"

"Hahahahaha, I forgot."

The bandits drink and party, unaware they are being watched by the knights.

"Heh, it can't be helped, after all, it's all the Canon Eve—"

[SHUUK]

"Aa, what the—"

A crossbow bolt from the forest hits one of the bandits in the head.

[SHUUK] [SHUUK]

"We're under attack! Kill them!"

"CHARGE!"

Both sides charge at each other, and the battle begins.