Stars.

Arthur sat cross-legged on his bed, flipping through the worn pages of an old book. The cover was faded, its edges frayed from years of use. The title, "The Code of the Law and the Hunters", was barely legible.

This book had been his father's, passed down through generations of Law officers. It detailed everything—how the Law ranked their own, how bounty hunters operated, and the differences between the two.

Arthur traced his fingers over a section that described the star-ranking system of the Law:

1-Star: New recruits, barely trained, often used as scouts or town guards.

2-Star: Capable of hunting minor outlaws with bounties over 120 gold coins. Recognized by their superiors.

3-Star: Seasoned veterans, at least five years of service. They could take down criminals with bounties up to 480 gold coins.

4-Star: Warriors of legend, either through sheer strength or exceptional skill. Some took 15 years to reach this rank, while others earned it through extraordinary feats.

5-Star - The Chiefs: Only 50 exist in the world. Each one had taken down criminals worth 7,000 gold coins or more. They were the highest enforcers of justice, feared and respected.

Arthur smirked.

"Feared and respected, huh?"

His father, William Bethonen, was a 4-Star Law officer. Respected across the land.

And yet, when his mother died—killed by a Law officer's mistake—William remained in the system. He did not rebel. He did not seek revenge. He continued to uphold the same Law that had taken his wife away.

Arthur shut the book with a quiet thud.

His father's belief in justice was absolute. He had no doubts in the system, no hesitation in following orders. But Arthur did.

He didn't want to be a Law. He wanted to be an Outlaw.

To carve his own path. To live free.

But in a world where bounty defined a man's worth, what did freedom even mean?

---

Arthur left his house, stepping into the bright afternoon sun. He could already hear voices from the town square.

"Arthur!"

Lenn's voice rang out, calling him over to where a group of kids had gathered near the well. Mira was sharpening a wooden stick, pretending it was a sword, while Orin kicked at a pile of dust with his bare feet.

"We're playing Laws and Outlaws again!" Lenn grinned.

Arthur smirked. "You already know what I'm gonna say."

Orin groaned. "Nobody wants to be an outlaw, Arthur. Just play as a Law for once!"

Arthur crossed his arms. "Where's the fun in that?"

Lenn sighed. "Fine, fine. But if we catch you, you have to sit out the next round."

Arthur laughed. "Then you better catch me."

The game began.

Arthur darted between buildings, kicking up dust as he ran. Mira chased after him first, her wooden sword waving wildly. He dodged into an alleyway, pressing his back against a stack of crates.

"Where'd he go?"

Orin and Lenn ran past, scanning the area. Arthur smirked, waiting until they were distracted before sprinting off again.

For a while, he managed to stay ahead. But eventually, Lenn tackled him to the ground, pinning him in the dirt.

"Got you, Outlaw!" Lenn declared. "You're under arrest!"

Arthur huffed, lying flat on his back. "You win this time, Law."

The kids cheered, helping him up. Even though they thought it was weird that Arthur always wanted to play the outlaw, they never held it against him.

They were friends first.

And for now, that was enough.