As the sun began to set, some men shouted, "Lloyd, help us pitch the tents!" Lloyd was surprised by the demand, but he quickly realized that these men were part of a band of mercenaries who survived by looting money and resources from trade caravans. They also trafficked people as slaves.
Lloyd helped set up camp—pitching tents, lighting the fire, and cooking dinner—for a night in the heart of the forest that overlooked the capital city, Fakushin.
After finishing his meal, he made his way to a quiet corner, leaned against a tall tree, and was soon lost in the memories of his past—the memories of the mercenary named Lloyd.
Lloyd Arneath was born into a poor family. His father was a doctor who worked outside the city, mostly in remote villages. His mother was a housewife. Lloyd's childhood was harsh. He suffered physical abuse from his father, who believed it was the only way to make his son strong and capable—but that was far from the right way.
One day, Lloyd's mother tried to protect him from his father's wrath. Enraged, the father lashed out violently, and the confrontation escalated until he pulled a gun. A single shot ended the mother's life. That moment marked a turning point in Lloyd's childhood.
Shattered emotionally and mentally, he fled toward the capital, where he was taken in by a mercenary gang. They offered him food and shelter in exchange for loyalty. Over the years, Lloyd became a figure feared and admired by all—the good and the wicked alike. Everyone saw him as a dangerous man, someone not to be approached with friendliness.
He was eventually nicknamed "Cold Blood", a name earned through his utter lack of hesitation in spilling blood.
Suddenly, a voice tore through the stream of memories in Lloyd's mind. It was his closest friend, slowly approaching.
"What's wrong? You seem lost in thought."
"Nothing," Lloyd replied. "Just a few thoughts drifting in my head."
In the blink of an eye, his friend's head was split in two. Lloyd gasped in horror and vomited at the gruesome sight. Looking around, he was shocked to find all his comrades had been killed in the same brutal fashion.
Frozen in terror, Lloyd trembled. A knight stepped into view, wielding a blazing sword. He looked at Lloyd with cold, emotionless eyes and said, pointing the sword at him:
"You slaughtered your comrades without exception. You caused fear and chaos in this region. Governor Hynex sent me to investigate your group. And now, your time is up."
Lloyd couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had just arrived in this new world—and now he was about to leave it again before even completing a single day? What miserable luck.
He surrendered to fate, bracing himself for the blade that would slice through his neck. But then, the knight lowered his sword and declared:
"By order of King Hynex, I am commanded to spare your life. You will come with me to meet him. Either you accept this order, or your head will be mounted on a spike as a warning to all who dare challenge the supreme authority."
Without hesitation, Lloyd agreed. Since death seemed inevitable anyway, a flicker of hope still clung to him—one that had always betrayed him in the past.
He climbed onto the armored knight's horse. The sword was sheathed. And so, they set off toward the capital, Fakushin, where the supreme power resided.