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I woke up to find myself laying on the ground covered in dirt. My body aches and my head is spinning. What happened? Where am I?
Slowly, I try to stand up. My knees are so wobbly, so I rely on the help of a nearby tree. Even after I’m back on my feet, I still hold onto the tree for balance.
I pick up on a smoky scent. As I look around at my surrounding, I am horrified to see that the source of the smoke is a village engulfed in flames. Luckily, it’s far enough away where I'm not in immediate danger. I must’ve managed to barely escape the fire in that village and somehow blacked out while escaping Still, I wonder why I don't remember anything about the village...
I look around. Everything feels brand new to me. I can't even remember my own name and what my life was like before this very moment. Something bad must've happened in that fire. Whatever happened, I know I need help. But I don't see anyone around.
Up ahead I see a tall figure approach me. He's wearing a wooden mask with two antlers and he has a staff in one of his hands. I cannot quite deduce if he's friend of foe, but he's the only person around, so I call out to him.
"Excuse me sir, do you happen to know where we are? I... I think I’m lost." I veer on the side of cautiousness and politeness with my tone towards the stranger, just in case.
The masked figuring sharply turns to me as he hears me speaks. I jump a bit, he startles me.
"Matthew. You're alive..." His voice is hauntingly smooth. How does he know me?
I approach the man, though my wobbly gait and struggle to stay balanced makes such a task quite difficult for me. "Y-you know me? Can you help me? I-I think I had a memory blackout when I tried to escape the fire from that village over there...?"
"Oh yes... that fire was caused by wild witches, you know. I tried to warn your parents it wasn't safe in that village. Unfortunately, it looks like you're the only survivor..."
I’m not sure what a wild witch is, but after hearing what he says about me being the only survivor, I freeze. Tears start to well up in my eyes. “W-wait... what? My parents are dead?! I'm the only survivor. No... no no no that can't be! You mean I'm all alone? W-what am I going to do?!”
The masked man comes closer to me, watching me attentively as I fall to my knees and sob uncontrollably. I look up at him, my tears causing everything to be blurry. “You… you knew my parents… right?” I try to steady my voice as I ask him.
"Indeed, I did know your parents. I am your uncle, your father was my brother. Your memory must really be all out of whack if you don't remember that. Those wild witches really messed with your head..."
"W-wait... if you're my uncle, do you think you can help me? Please... I don't remember anything! I don't even know where I am or how to survive!"
The man hesitates. "Hm... I'm not sure, Matthew. Your parents wanted me to have nothing to do with you. They thought I was a bad influence... said my teachings about wild witches were incorrect. They didn’t believe me when I told them how dangerous they are."
I look at him with my eyes full of desperation. "But they are dangerous they destroyed my family and my village! Please help me sir, I'm all alone out here I don't know where to go!"
He looks down at me with a judgmental look I can feel even behind his wooden mask. “Oh, Matthew, do you really think wild witches are bad? Or are you just saying that to try to get me to help you?"
I can feel my body ache all over as I start to panic. "No sir, I-I really mean it! I swear! Please, I really need your help! I can be useful to you... I-I'll do whatever you ask of me!"
Sharp pains in my stomach make me panic even more. When was the last time I ate? How will I even get food around here? I don't even know what's edible...
My voice gets weaker from exhaustion. The man is still listening to me, so I continue to beg for his help. "Please... I-I'm starving... and my body hurts so much... I-I think I'm injured. Please... you're all I have left..."
I can sense his eyes glisten as I mention that's he's all I have left. A bit of hope fills my heart. Have I gotten through to him? I watch him attentively as he ponders the decision.
Finally, he gives me a firm nod. "I suppose I could take you in, if you truly have no other option. But you'll have to learn the way I do things. I will train you to become my personal guard... The Golden Guard..."
I quickly nod and smile tearfully with great relief knowing that I won't die out here all alone. "T-thank you! Thank you so much... I owe you my life!”
I don't even hesitate, I don't have any other choice. The man seems to approve of my choice of words.
"Now get up and follow me. We need to get away from that village in case any wild witches find us."
I nod as I slowly try to get up, once again relying on a nearby tree to get back on my feet. He's already started walking ahead as I remember to ask him an important question.
"Sir? I-I don't think I got your name. W-what should I call you?" I ask nervously.
He stop and turns to look at me, then responds in a low voice. "Oh, you can call me... Lord Belos."
·•—–٠✤٠—–•·
I hobble along as Lord Belos leads me to his caravan. He's informed me he's a traveling preacher who goes from town to town to tell others about the Titan's will and warn then about wild witches. He event went to the town my parents and I once lived, but they did not listen to him. As I follow him, I internally vow to do everything I can to warn the other towns against wild witches, so no one else will lose their parents and village like I did.
The caravan is tidy and well-kept. Lord Belos takes off his mask and puts it on the table, revealing his striking blue eyes to me for the first time. He asks me to start a fire, but I timidly tell him that I don't remember how. He restrains himself from acting out an anger and sighs as he starts the fire himself using the nearby stack of firewood. I watch attentively. He tells me about the arrangements, saying that I'm not allowed in his quarters up the trap stairs and I will be sleeping on the couch. He also tells me I should learn how to do all the things he'll be doing for me tonight, such as preparing the fire and cooking me a meal, so I can be a useful Golden Guard. I try not to think about the possibilities of what would happen if I fail to do these things, worrying he could kick me out.
Once the fire is lit, Lord Belos prepares some type of stew for the both of us. He yells at me for trying to eat the stew as soon as he hands me my bowl, saying we must pray to the Titan first. He shows me how to pray properly and I make a mental note to practice praying like he does. Once I am permitted to eat, I do so hastily. My appetite is voracious, making me wonder once more how long it's been since I last ate.
I offer to clean the dishes and the kitchen after we finishes eating. He watches me carefully, though I'm not quite sure why. Lord Belos then allows me to shower and gives me a clean change of clothes afterwards. It feels nice to get rid of the dirt all over my body that I've had on me for longer than I know.
After put on the clean clothes, I nervously approach Lord Belos and kneel to him, offering my thanks for him taking me in. I tell him how grateful I am that he is letting me stay here, that he gave me dinner and let me shower and wear clean clothes. He gives a firm nod in response but does not smile, saying only "We'll see how it goes". Still, I am glad I expressed my gratitude this way. He seemed at least a little pleased, so I will try to do it again when I get a chance.
As I pull a blanket over me while laying on the couch, I repeat the prayer Lord Belos taught me in my head. I drift off to sleeping thinking about how nice it would be to finally be worthy enough to be Lord Belos' Golden Guard.