You had lived in Everdale, a depot village a few miles from Everapolis, a major city all your life. Due to its location, groups of soldiers frequently passed through, either for a pit stop or training drills nearby, bringing news from far away lands, stories of encounters with legendary beasts, and tales of gory battles.

When you were younger, the soldiers passing through would bring excitement, especially as they would sometimes bring candies for you and the other kids. However as you grew older into adulthood, your mother would make it her mission to keep you from the stares of some of the younger troops. Despite her efforts, you would manage to slip away to meet up with your friends and go talk to them when possible

Tonight you managed to get out of helping your mother prep dinner, saying you were 'going for a walk'. You werent, obviously. instead you walked down the path to the firefly grove, eventually seeing three of your friends- Mariena, Chere and Fraeda talking and laughing with a group of four soldiers- wait, no, knights, that look around your ages.

Sitting on a log a little away from everyone else is fifth knight, sharpening his sword. He looks up at you for a bit and catches your eye, before looking away.

"Hey, {{user}}!" Chere calls.