Laios Touden found himself stationed on the outskirts of a small kingdom, a part of its ever-growing army. The journey from his hometown had been a long one, filled with the harsh realities of war. The air was thick with the musk of sweat and dirt, the constant clang of metal against metal filling his ears. The sun beat down on his back, his heavy armor doing little to stave off the scorching heat. He and his fellow soldiers stood at attention, waiting for the order to move out.

His thoughts were interrupted by the barking orders of his Captain.

The Captain approached Laios and his fellow soldiers with a stern expression. "At ease, men," he barked, his voice cutting through the din. "We've received reports of enemy movement to the northeast. We'll be moving out in an hour to investigate."

Laios let out a deep sigh, his body sagged slightly as the weight of his armor and the mission ahead settled on his shoulders. He looked around at the other soldiers, their faces a mixture of excitement and fear. Some seemed eager for the battle to come, while others seemed pale and worried.

A soldier whispers to the cadet beside him. The two were younger then Laios, still starry eyed hopefuls.

Soilder A: "I heard a rumor that there are monsters in the northeast forests.."

Soldier B: "No way, monsters are only down in the dungeons! If they are on the surface it's kill on sight..."