The Dragon-Knight
Chapter 1: Awakening
The sun was just starting to peek over the buildings of Hara, casting a warm glow on the streets below. Billy slowly opened his eyes and stretched, getting up from his creaky bed. His golden hair glimmered in the sunlight that streamed through the window. He shared the small room with his fellow orphans, all of them taken in by the brothel for a safe place to sleep.
Today, Billy and his friend Fredie were on a mission to buy new sheets for the brothel's beds. As they walked through the busy streets, they gossiped about their fellow orphans and the trouble they got into.
"Did you hear about Wynn? He stole a whole case of beer from the brothel last night," Fredie said with a smirk.
Billy rolled his eyes. "Wynn's always causing trouble. He's gonna get caught one of these days."
As they walked, they stumbled upon a crowd gathered around a street performer. The musician, a bard, was singing a ballad about the Dragon-Knight, a legendary hero who wielded a red katana and fought for justice.
"And with one swift blow of his sword, the Dragon-Knight struck down the thief and declared justice for all!" the bard sang.
Fredie scoffed. "Yeah, right. There's no such thing as the Dragon-Knight."
But Billy couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope in his heart. Maybe, just maybe, there was a hero out there who could save Hara from the corrupt council and rampant crime.
After searching through the market stalls, the boys finally found a merchant selling high-quality linens.
The shopkeeper greeted the boys as they entered the linen store. "How you doin' today, Fredie?" he asked.
"We're fine, how about you, old man?" replied Fredie.
"Who the fuck are you calling old, you little bastard?" the shopkeeper chuckled.
"You are old, old man," Billy chimed in.
The shopkeeper laughed. "Ha ha ha, what can I do for you boys?"
"Well, Katie asked for new sheets for five beds," said Billy.
"Five it is, alright boys. Ten coppers will do," replied the shopkeeper.
"What about eight?" Fredie asked.
"You cheeky bastard, get outta here!" the shopkeeper joked.
"That's all my master gave me, sorry old man," Fredie said.
"Alright, alright, give me eight," the shopkeeper relented.
"Here it is," Fredie said as he handed over the money.
"Say hello to Silvie for me," the shopkeeper added with a smirk.
"We will, thanks," said Billy.
After the negotiation with the shopkeeper, Billy and Fredie left the store and began to walk towards the brothel. Fredie turned to Billy and asked, "So, what should we eat?"
"Eat?" Billy looked confused.
Fredie smiled. "Well, Katie gave me ten, but I sealed the deal with eight, so we have two coppers. What do you want?"
Billy's face lit up with joy. "We have two coppers! Let's go to that tavern where the bard plays."
"Why do you want to go there?" asked Fredie.
"I don't know, I liked his stories," replied Billy.
"Alright, let's go to that tavern," agreed Fredie.
"Fredie and Billy made their way towards a nearby tavern with excitement in their hearts. However, their journey was halted by an old man with a single eye who stopped them at the entrance.
Old Man: "Where do you think you're going, lads?" he asked in a gruff voice.
Fredie: "Inside, of course," replied Fredie confidently.
Old Man: "Well, you can't," said the old man.
Billy: "But why?" asked Billy, confused.
Old Man: "Because you're too young, lads. That's why," replied the old man.
Fredie: "Listen to me, old-timer. I am a bastard of a brothel, and you can't tell me what I can and can't do," Fredie retorted.
Old Man: "Alright, alright. Do as you wish," said the old man, giving in to Fredie's will.
Thanks to Fredie's persistence, they were allowed to enter the tavern. The bard's voice greeted them as they walked in.
Bard: "He saved innocent lives, shielded the weak, and fought with a heart full of might. He stood tall and brave, the Dragon-Knight, a beacon in the night."
The song inspired Billy, and even Fredie was moved by the bard's performance. They made their way to a table, and the waitress greeted them with a warm smile.
Waitress: "What can I do for you boys?" she asked.
Fredie: "Well, we've got two coppers. What can we buy?" Fredie asked.
Waitress: "Hmm, two coppers. Let me see. Alright, I can give you half a chicken," she replied.
Fredie: "Sounds good, right, Billy?" he asked.
Billy: "Yeah, I'd like that," Billy replied.
Waitress: "Alright, I'll be back with your chicken," she said with a smile."
The waitress heads into the kitchen and returns with a delicious, roasted half-chicken for the boys. As they enjoy their meal, the bard finishes his song, thanks his listeners, and heads over to his own table to dine.
Billy notices the bard and can't help but be drawn to him. He musters up the courage to approach the bard before he sits down at his own table. Fredie starts to get annoyed and quietly warns his brother.
Undeterred, Billy approaches the bard and nervously asks, "Um, mister Bard, would you like to sit with us?"
The bard turns and smiles, putting Billy at ease. "Yeah, I would like to," he says, and joins the boys at their table.
"Hey there, young man," the bard greets Fredie.
"I'm so sorry I couldn't handle my brother," Fredie says apologetically.
The bard chuckles. "It's okay, don't worry about it." He signals to the waiter to order his food
The waitress comes to the table and addresses them with a flirtatious tone. "Hey there, handsome. What can I do for you?"
Bard plays along with a smirk. "Well, I can't say right now, can I?"
The waitress chuckles. "Alright, beautiful. What would you like to order?"
Bard winks at her. "I'll have the other half of this chicken, and bring us three baked potatoes."
Fredie interrupts. "Sir, we can't pay for the potatoes."
Jesse waves a hand dismissively. "Don't worry, lad. It's on me."
The waitress continues to flirt with the bard as she says, "What a honorable act, congratulations. Let me go grab your chicken and potatoes."
The bard responds with an equally flirtatious tone, "Please do, beautiful. And don't take too long
Billy pipes up. "Thank you, Mister Bard!"
Bard chuckles. "Call me Jesse. And what are your names boys?"
Fredie introduces himself and his "brother" Billy as bastards from Katie's Brothel. Jesse raises an eyebrow. "So, you're not really brothers?"
Fredie bristles. "It doesn't matter who our mother or father is. He's my brother."
Jesse nods in understanding. "I see. Well, He had a brother and sister just like you."
Billy's eyes widen in excitement. "Who had?"
Jesse smiles. " Dragon-Knight."
Fredie is suspicious. "How do you know him?"
Jesse enhales to start his long and annoying story. "Well, let's just say he's come to me before and wanted me to shut the fuck up. But I need to make some money, you know? Since he and his brother and sister fucked up my ship. So he said, 'Don't talk about my past. Do whatever you want with now.' I can sing about the past, but I can do whatever I want with now."
Fredie keeps suspecting. "Alright..."
Billy, still starry-eyed, asks, "What was he like?"
Jesse's expression turns wistful. "I miss his young self. I think he does too."
After a quiet moment, the food arrives. The waitress sets the plates down and says, "Here you go, handsome."
Jesse perks up and replies, "Oh, thank you, darling."
Fredie and Billy chat and eat with Jesse for about half an hour before leaving the tavern to run back to their so-called home, the brothel.
As Fredie and his little brother arrived at the entrance to the brothel, they were greeted by a towering door. Fredie knocked three times, and soon it was opened by Derek.
"Where the hell have you been, Fredie?" Derek asked.
Fredie grinned. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"I know you're gonna lie, so spare me the trouble," Derek replied.
Fredie and Derek chuckled. They had been friends for as long as they could remember and made a good duo - Fredie the more mature one and Derek the laid-back one.
As they walked, the brothers kept up their conversation.
Billy: And Bard told me that he knew Dragon-Knight.
Derek: Is that right?
Fredie: Nah, he's just a lying prick.
Billy: No, he's not. He bought us potatoes.
Derek: Seems like a good guy.
Billy: Yeah, he is. He's just grown up version of you Derek. He talks to girls.
Derek: Hehe. No wonder Fredie didn't like him.
Fredie: Yeah, yeah. Think what you want, brother. Where's Katie?
Derek: She's upstairs questioning Wynn.
Billy: Oh no.
Fredie: Don't worry, brother. She won't harm him. Besides, Wynn needs to learn a few manners.
Fredie knocks on the door and enters the room, where he sees Wynn sitting on a wooden chair and Katie in the middle of a lecture.
Katie says sternly, "Now leave. If you ever steal beer again, I'll sell you to a slave masters. Do you hear me?"
Wynn quickly responds, "Yes ma'am," before leaving the room.
Fredie greets Katie, "Hey Katie, I brought some new sheets for the rooms."
Katie responds, "Oh, thank you, darling. At least you do some good around here."
Fredie continues, "Katie, if you don't mind, I want to ask you something."
Katie nods, "Sure, what is it?"
Fredie says, "We saw a bard singing at the marketplace. He was really good. Since our bard left and Derek can't play yet, maybe we could hire him."
Katie asks, "Who is he?"
Fredie thinks for a moment, "I think his name was Jesse."
Katie chuckles, "Jesse, huh? Why do you want him to play here?"
Fredie responds, "I think he's a good fit. And Billy really liked him. He was singing about Dragon-Knight."
Katie considers this, "Maybe we could hire him. Let me talk to Sylvie tonight."
Fredie nods, "Alright, thank you. Is there anything you want me to do?"
Katie nods, "Actually, yes. Find that case, Fredie. If you do that, I'll give you a bottle."
Fredie nods and says, "Will do, ma'am."
As Fredie made his way to the back of the brothel, he found Jonas and Billy engrossed in conversation.
"Wow, I wish I had met him," Jonas said.
"Who?" Fredie asked, feeling exasperated.
"You know, the Dragon-Knight," Billy answered.
Fredie rolled his eyes. "Oh, for fuck's sake, are you guys still talking about that stupid legend?"
"He's not a legend," Jonas protested.
"Sure he is," Fredie retorted. "And you're just a thieving little shit."
"Hey, shut up!" Jonas snapped.
"You shut up, thiefling," Fredie shot back. "Where's the case?"
Jonas mumbled something incoherent.
"I know Wynn stole it, and you probably hid it," Fredie accused.
At that moment, Wynn and Derek joined the group.
"No, he didn't," Wynn interjected. "I did all the work."
"Really? So where's the case?" Fredie demanded.
"I won't tell you," Wynn said, crossing his arms.
Derek chuckled. "It's behind the cabinet."
"How did you know that?" Wynn asked.
"You always hide your treasures there, little one," Derek explained.
" We'll give back the case, and Katie will give us a bottle," Fredie said, getting the case from where Wynn had hidden it. "
With the case in hand, Fredie made his way back inside the brothel.
Fredie: Hey Katie.
Katie: Yes, darling...
The door clashes open as a group of armed men enter the brothel. Fredie recognizes them and his heart races as they approach Katie.
Terrified, Fredie drops the case, causing it to break open. Katie quickly takes Fredie to her back and confronts the lead man.
Katie: What are you doing here, Neal?
Neal steps forward, clad in a beautiful black and white outfit and wielding two black and white blades.
Neal: Just visiting, darling.
A voice calls out from another direction.
Silvie: Your visit has to be short, sadly.
Silvie charges her wheel and casts fire, threatening Neal.
Neal smirks and draws his blade, holding it to Katie's throat.
Neal: Lower your wheel, Silvie. I'm not here to shed blood.
Silvie: Why are you here, then?
Neal: The rogues need supplies. I need your "Tears" and every slave boy you have.
Silvie and Katie exchange worried glances.
Fredie can't believe what's happening. His heart pounds in his ears.
Suddenly, there's a loud knock at the door.
Neal lowers his blade and tells Katie to answer it.
Katie: We're closed!
The door knob rattles and the door opens. A tall, heavily-armored man enters, making the ground tremble beneath his feet.
Katie feels intimidated by the man and says:
Katie: We're not serving tonight.
The man responds with a cold, sharp voice.
Man: I'm not here for your services.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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