My father was... no, is, a Hero. That's the most fitting word I can think of. This country as a whole is in his debt. His feats reached the realm of myth- or so I was told through the gossip of the townfolk. Father never told me the details himself. He liked to keep things under wraps as much as possible, he said. He mostly spent his time making sure I was staying in line, and not stepping on anyone's toes.

This is a quiet town; one with no name. One full of trustworthy people- 'the perfect location to settle down and wither away in peace,' my father always joked. I never liked it when he said that. He was always big and strong, always the type to sling me over his broad shoulders, laughing. I couldn't ever imagine him to be weak.

Until the day before he left.

His face was... sunken. His light brown skin, a trait I have myself, was unnaturally pale, as if he came out of a sack of flour. His brown eyes were crusted and eatery. His curly light brown hair was wilted like an out of season rose. I had never seen my father sick before- when I asked him what was wrong, he merely gave a choked "nothing, go back to bed," and a weak smile.

As I reluctantly did so, I slept. When I awoke, he was gone. I haven't seen him since.

Why? Why would he leave me? He was my only pillar in life- the people of this small town are kind, but he... he was irreplaceable. What did I do? Did I disappoint him? Did he tire of me? Why? Why?

I received no answer.

.

My name is Anno. I am twelve years old this year. My birthday is in just one more week- I will be headed to the capital city in preparation. In my years in this town, in my childhood, I have learned something-

I am strong.

It's the truth. I can do an adults man work, even at my small size. I have a lithe figure, which gives no indication of my capability. Admittedly, I am not the brightest, but I can treat that as a trade off. Heaven is impartial, I guess. I have my advantages and also my... clear disadvantages. My father always was exasperated in an amused manner at my lacking critical thinking skills, even as he trained me to my current state. I guess I never felt I needed them. Instinct has served me well enough. These characteristics will be what I need to piece together my fathers trail.

In this town, there are no children. I have never thought to ask why. Only now, as I consider leaving, do I ask the question internally. But, I can not bring it to voice. I can not alert the townspeople to my departure. They have cared for me, and I hold them dear to my heart, but I must find what has become of my father. I can not let myself be swayed.

It is daybreak. With my bag on my back with necessary supplies, in addition to an ordinary iron machete, I step out the town gates.

As I glance back as a final goodbye-

I see nothing behind me. No town, nothing. Nothing but the plains it was situated on.

Before I can bring voice to my distress and confusion, I hear a collective whisper on the wind-

"Good luck."

...The voices of the men and women of the village. I don't know if they truly were ever there but-

Their well wis.h.i.+ng is clear.

I resolutely turn in the direction of the spire, off in the distance- a marking of the city that is my destination. Will I find my father's trail? Or is my objective a lost one from the second it began? It doesn't matter. I will find out personally.

As I glance over the windswept, gra.s.sy, and slightly sloped green plains, a thought occurs to me. The world is open to me, for the very first time.

***

Being a gate guard isn't a very difficult job, but it sure is boring as h.e.l.l.

This gate guard couldn't help but yawn out a "next" to the cart he was currently waving through- after pocketing a pouch full of coins to expedite pa.s.sage, of course.

The capital city of Leneer is often busy- a hub of all sorts, from missionaries and clerics to rapists and murders. It is often called "the city of changed perspectives" for the bafflement and horror it gives to the naive who believed in the place being orderly and welcoming toward... "do-gooders." That is, in fact, not the case.

Thankfully for this incredibly bored guard, it seemed the line he was so attentively taking care of was winding down. At the end of the line was a tan young man, wearing an oversized traveling cloak with a hood to ward against the sun, and carrying a pack on his back, looking at the city before him with a blank face.

"..."

"..."

Neither said anything.

"..oi."

"..mm?"

The guard spoke first.

"You uh... you wanna get in? Or what?"

"I do."

"Then what the h.e.l.l are you standing around for? Pay up."

The boys blank face took on a slight frown.

"I don't have any money."

"What. Why were you standing in line then?"

"Everyone else was, so it seemed to be the right idea. Is this not the entrance to Leneer?"

"You've gotta be fuc-"

"What seems to be the hold up?"

A voice called from behind the gate guard who was steadily getting more irritated.

"Ah, sir! This idiot doesn't have any money so-"

"Who cares? Let him in."

"Bwuh? But sir uh..."

"I don't wanna hear it. I don't care nearly enough, so let's get this over with. It's getting dark, and I've got a bottle to drown in."

Anno peered over at the one the plain, pasty faced gate guard called "sir," and took a good look at the face of his "savior."

In contrast to his own, the face seemed to belong a handsome blond man in perhaps his mid twenties, with an aristocratic air that directly contrasted with his current desire to get drunk, but with a fittingly drowsy expression on his face. Noticing his gaze, the mans gray eyes snapped over to him.

"Guess it's your lucky day kid. Welcome to Leneer. It's a nice place, if you ignore all the not so nice parts. Come with me- despite how I look, I'm a pretty nice guy, so I'll show you the ropes while I get my drink. Sound good?"

"...Okay."

Looks like I'm just along for the ride, was all Anno could think as he followed behind the man that reeked of playboy.