PROLOGUE: PLEASE TRAIN ME.

In a village located in the mountains, stand a boy on a hill. Beside him was a tall tree, underneath the tree was a gravestone. The Boy looked at the gravestone with his ruby-red eyes, while his white hair swished around by the wind. His puffy eyes can be seen as the Boy tries to cover it. How long has he been crying? His only family is now dead, he knows the grave is empty as he was informed a long time ago that his grandfather's body was never found.

"What am I gonna do now, Grampa?" he said sadly while looking at the sky. It was sundown when he looked at the orange sky. Letting out a loud sigh he prepared himself to go down. He would mourn again tomorrow.

"HELLPP!"

When he got down the hill he heard a scream asking for help. He quickly looked in that direction then was horrified when he saw smoke coming from the village. He ran to the village as fast as he could, dreading running through his face when he saw monsters raiding his village.

"Run!"

"Evacuate now!"

"Help!"

Many screams spread through the village as town folks ran away while others tried to fight off the monster to buy time to escape. The Boy could only stand there afraid, why monsters are attacking the village? What can he do? Why was he still standing here while others were running?

Many questions run to his mind as he tries to think of a way to help them. He was too busy in his mind when he saw two kids cowering in fear while three wolf-like monsters were cornering them on a wall. Their mouths were showing sharp teeth as they ready themselves to devour their prey. The Boy darted around and saw no one could help the two kids, they were either busy fending other monsters or hadn't noticed them yet.

Clenching his teeth and ignoring his fear, he picks up a rock and then throws it in the direction of the monsters. Lucky for him it hit one of them and they looked where he was, now ignoring the two kids, unlucky for him he was now the target of the three, while the kids managed to escape.

The fear he was ignoring soon crept all over his body as he was unable to move due to fear. As he stands there while watching the three monsters charge toward him, he can only wait for the unavoidable death. Is this how he would end? Is this how will he die, while not yet reaching his dreams?

Closing his eyes as he readied himself to his end, he waited….waited…but nothing happened, there was no pain, no bites, and no tearing off the flesh, what's happening? He slowly opened his eyes, still afraid that the moment he opened his eyes the monsters would launch at him and tear him apart.

"Hey! Are you still with us kiddo?" he heard a voice speaking to him, when looked up he saw a tall armored figure holding a bloodied sword while the corpse of the monsters slowly disappeared.

"Wha-"Still in shock the Boy tried to say something but was cut off by the armored figure.

"Run along now, while I kill off the monsters." The figure said while smiling, though the Boy could not see it because of the helmet he was wearing.

*SLASH*

*CLINK* *CLANK*

*SLASH*

The Boy was amazed, his red eyes shining as he saw a man fight a group of monsters with ease. Each slash the man did, killed the attacking monsters without missing, it was swift and precise. To the Boy's eyes, the mercenary was like….a Hero….a brave person who would face even the hardest challenges, to protect others. He could not stop but smile in amazement at what he was seeing but quickly ran to the nearest evacuation house.

It took the whole evening to finish off the horde of monsters. When it was done, many of the town folk praised the mercenary for helping them from the monsters.

"Thank you very much young man for assisting us for our village." Said an Elderly man as he walked closer to the mercenary.

The Mercenary merely released a small chuckle, and then took off his helmet. His jet-black hair showed while his face was tanned, and his eyes were brown as an oak log. He let out a large smile while scratching his head.

"It's no, problem. I was just passing by and saw your village." He said cheerfully.

The old man only nodded and then opened his mouth "Well in that case Thanks to the Gods that guided you here. Please, in return for your assistance please allow us to prepare a feast for this day's victory."

"Oh, please you don-"*GRUMBLE* before the mercenary could refuse, a loud rumbling was heard from his stomach. In the end, he reluctantly agreed, leading to loud cheers as they ready for the feast.

The mercenary sat near the barrels as he took a little rest from moments ago. He was about to clean off the blood from his armor when he saw a white-haired boy he had saved walking closer to him. Letting out a smile he looked at the boy.

"How can I help you, Kiddo?"

"I…Uhmm..want..t-to…" He replied while stammering, the mercenary only let out a small chuckle.

'Ha, looks like a rabbit' thought the mercenary before opening his mouth "Take a deep breath kid, and say what you want."

The Boy nodded then took a deep breath and bowed "P-Please t-train me."

*THUD*

The mercenary fell from the barrel when he heard the request of the Boy. He was surprised by the boy's statement, it was the first time he heard that from a young child. The mercenary could only look at the Boy while trying to stand up.

"And Why would I train you, Kiddo?" he asked with interest in his voice. No matter what the Boy's answer is, he would decline it. The life of a mercenary is a dangerous path that would only lead to despair and after all, the Boy is still young…he still has a chance to live happily.

"I want to be a hero." Answered the Boy.

The mercenary was about to decline the Boy…but the Boy has still more to say.

"I want to save others, protect them. I don't want to see the sadness on their faces, I want them to smile, continue on living, and laugh freely." The Boy said while determination filled his eyes.

To others, it would just be a foolish dream, but to the mercenary it was pure…..a dream that the Boy can fulfill. The Idea of declining the Boy soon disappeared as he let out a loud sigh.

"Anything else?"

The Boy slightly hesitated and turned completely red as a tomato, earning a raised brow from the mercenary.

" I want to go to Orario a-and P-pick up g-girls in the dungeon." The white-haired Boy replied while stammering.

"Pfft HAHAHAHA!" Laughed the mercenary making the Boy continue to blush. " What's your name kiddo?"

"B-Bell Cranel." The Boy named Bell replied.

"Well then, Bell Cranel I hereby accept your request to train you." He said with a smile. "Let's start tomorrow, let's eat."

"Yes sir!" Bell replied cheerfully then followed the mercenary.