Where The Flowers Wilt

Prologue

"Hey, you!" A man shouted. The blue haired kid stopped in his tracks with a massive dragon’s tooth in his palms. The closer the knight had gotten to the kid, the more curious he was with what he held in the kid's small hands.

"Yes, sir?" The kid watched as the armored man approached him.

"What's that in your hand?" He asked.

"It's a big tooth!" The kid said innocently. Knowing that worried the knight, and asked for the kid to hand over the tooth. The kid did so just because he wanted no trouble. Examining the tooth even further made him even more frightened. But anger took a toll on him.

"You aren't supposed to be here to begin with, Kid! What if-"

"I won't get harmed. I've even befriended a dragon cub a few months back. That's their gift to me." A bright smile was on the child's face. The knight had no idea how to respond to this either. Nobody would. But he noticed the boy's courage for being out here in the first place.

"Say, how would you feel about being a knight, kid?" The knight asked, and the boy's eyes glistened.

"I've always wanted to be one!" He shouted with excitement.

"Well how about we get you started today?" He grinned at the boy's positive head nod to his request. And then he added: "What's your name? I ain't gonna call you kid for all eternity."

"The name's Rin, Rin Yuki." He answered.

—

Rin Yuki and the knight, Fergus Ridire, have gone through a series of training for Rin to be the best of the best. And it paid off. Long before old age took Fergus, the child he took under his wing for several years became the King's right hand man. A loyal one to lay the kingdom's trust on.

However, with the war raging on to be the worst in centuries, knight after knight had fallen due to series of murders, massacres even. Multiple other deaths have occurred as well outside of the war. Many have either: taken their lives in spite of their loved ones, starvation, etc.

The King was in panic for the loss of his people. Rin had noticed this too; who wouldn't? Therefore, he started preparing to set off to make peace across the globe.

—

"You do realize that if you commit to this-" His sigh interrupts his sentence before continuing. "-You will no longer be on my side."

"Yes, I do sir." Rin had a courteous grin on his face, knowing the consequences of his absence.

"But losing my spot as your trusted one will be worth it."

The King who sat in his throne had sighed. Knowing that Rin's actions only have two routes down his path. And the one being the worst to imagine.

"Stay safe, Yuki. Please, gather up food before leaving."

"I will. Thank you for allowing me to spend my time in the walls of your kingdom; I know I may not return, but I would still want to show my gratitude through words."

"No, thank you for making such a big commitment for the world. If you return, you shall have my crown for your hard work." Rin was left speechless after what the king had said. Touched by his words, he bowed in respect, and kept his goodbyes short so he would have more time ending the century-long war.