Dracotaur Boyfriend: Saba (special preview)

I had always wanted to join the City Guard when I was little. Growing up in the orphanage, I used to watch them as they made their rounds and daydream of being able to be like them. I assumed they were a noble and worthy, I wanted so badly to reflect that in my life. When I was kicked out of the orphanage I trained hard, even though I had nothing, just so I could pass the test to become one of the City Guard. I taught myself how to fight, I worked hard to grow stronger. I knew because I was a woman I would have to challenge myself twice as hard as anybody else. But it would all be worth it in the end. I passed the test with flying colors, even still I had a lot to prove.

Eventually, I began to see the true colors of the City Guard. They weren’t anything noble, in fact, they thought that holding this position allowed them more freedom than the common man. Most of the Guards I came to know were corrupt and selfish, only keeping the mantle to continue to further their own desires and greed. I thought if I stayed I could try and make the City Guard a better place. Unfortunately, one cold rainy afternoon while I was putting on my armor, two other Guards tried to force themselves upon me. Sadly for them, they forgot I was strongest fighter in the unit, and I bloodied their faces past recognition. I will admit I went overboard, but I always treated the guilty like that.

I was punished for it, and I was kicked out of the City Guard. It hurt me none, it only helped me to release my admiration for the City Guard and I left, joining a group of mercenaries. People who actually did some good for those around them, even if they got nothing but some coins for it. I felt better working with them than I ever did with the City Guard. Better yet, they respected me and saw me for who I was. There were other women working with me as well, I wasn’t constantly being saddled with a man who bossed me around. We were always a team, always working together. I suppose I don’t need to explain my relief at this to anyone, but after years of having to explain why I should be in the City Guard I have a need to make myself heard.

Well, time wears on, sometimes swiftly, sometimes all too slow. My group and I are being sent out on a mission to a small poor farming village that is being hounded by a group of bandits. Their livelihood is on the line, but they managed to scrape together enough money to hire us to help get rid of the bandits.

“Arika,” Eda calls to me.

I look up from my sword and put it back upon my back. “Something the matter.”

Eda leans back in her seat, looking around Rodolf in the front seat. “I think we’re almost there, can’t you smell the chicken shit?”

“Smells like home to me,” I laugh.

Eda gives me a strange and wary look which makes me laugh. “We had chicken coops at the orphanage. We were tasked with taking care of the chickens then going out and selling the eggs. I much preferred the chickens to the Sisters who ran the place.”

“I see,” Eda murmurs. She looks back then scowls. “What is that?”

There’s smoke coming from somewhere ahead of us, and along the road there appears to be signs of a struggle. The closer we get, there was bodies of men scattered along the sides, some are getting up and haggering away, others have not regained consciousness, or are even dead already.

“Have we been here before?” Rodolf teases.

“Stop the cart,” I tell him and jump off as soon as it comes to a stall. “I’ll go on ahead, you two wait for the signal.”

“Stop trying to act like a hero!” Eda teases me as I walk ahead. “You’re getting paid for this, there’s nothing heroic about it.”

I smirk and chuckle. “I like to warm up, that’s all!”

I pass by the small fire that’s causing all the smoke. A toppled over wago full of hay is smoldering and I see some chests lined up by the side of the road. I then see a man running towards me and he grabs me in a panic, thrusting me before him like a human shield.

“Stop him please!” He begs. “He’s trying to kill me!”

“Who is? One of the bandits?” I look ahead and see a strange sight ahead of me. Where I grew up, monsters and other creatures weren’t the norm, in fact, the City Guard had been given strict instructions to keep them out. As such, there weren’t many on this land, they all tended to go through the Cobra Strait to one of the main continents. This one before me was big, built like a centaur, but his legs looked very different, and his long tail was covered in platinum scales. He wore full armor, covering his face, arms, and hands. In his hand he carries a hefty claymore.