This world for all I know is called Linderal, back when this world is starting, gods and goddesses used to have a war with each other, fighting with their own reasons and at one point one god decided to make creatures to be used to kill other gods and goddesses. Then the other gods and goddesses thought it was a good idea as well to make their own creatures for their wars. Later in time these creatures are called Von, each with their own characteristics, strengths and weaknesses to use against each other.

At one point in these wars, an unknown god named Shiran appeared out of nowhere and defeated all other gods and goddesses. He made them vow to each other not to do any wars again in all eternity, if they made war with each other he would come back to set things right, whatever he means by that I do not know.

Time after the gods made that vow the Von they created began to have a mind of their own, becoming sentient and forming their own kingdoms, eventually having wars with each other, some of those wars are still continuing today.

During that time a group of some devious gods decided to make creatures for the sole reason of chaos. Now they’re called as the Zokun, creatures of chaos to mess with everything the other gods and goddesses made. Then there are other realms other gods made, I only know the spirit realm, and the afterlife. This has lasted for hundreds of years, and here we are still in the middle of it, slowly technology rises in this day and age, one day maybe the things we know today will be gone.

Now here we are in Winstow, this town doesn’t have any relations to any kingdom, the town that has the most variety of Von mingling in it. Quaraman my Von thank you very much, The animal characteristics humanoid Iristika, the fairest Folorn with their pointy ears who go on living in forests, the short but hearty Meran who lived in the mountains, the green skinned warring Binma, the Zaran whom nobody really wants to get close to their hairy and smelly bodies and the fact they almost killed everyone with disease, and lastly the Tima who has the wings and beak of the bird on their back and face respectively and can soar through the skies.

There are other Von who nobody mostly sees nowadays due to some circumstances like the robotic Dumana, the deadly Deshar, the rivals Bashiran and Rotani, and the gigantic and the large scaly fire breathing Yemokan. These Von at one point in their time, created this city to ensure a lasting peace with each other, who knows how long that peace lasts.

By the time it is noon, the large steel gates of Winstow are already seen and its high and mighty wall it has that can defend from any attacker, I wonder if any kingdom even dared to attack it.

I went to the gates and the guards there you see, they have the best equipment and skills to protect this city from any threat, just not a great thing when you just stand there all day and try to make sure all the people that comes through these gates aren’t people who are wanted or even suspicious.

2 of those guards asked me for an id and I showed them my license as a mercenary. They take a good look at it and let me pass. Being a mercenary isn’t exactly easy nowadays.

I head for the mercenary guild so I could finish this contract and get my pay. This contract that I took on earlier is just a simple job, find some bandits who stole a merchant’s money, kill said bandits, lastly take back the merchant’s money and bring it back to the merchant. It’s these simple jobs that take a part of my life as a mercenary. Go do that, and do this while you’re at it, kill some guys who wronged a fellow, take out the Zokun hanging around this area.

Sometimes kingdoms ask for troops in their wars and some mercenaries go for it because of the pay, sometimes they get rich, sometimes they get killed in battle, but most of the time they somehow grow stronger by participating.

The true downside of joining those wars is this, seeing a hell they never expected in the first place, most mercenaries that go to those wars experience that trauma from what I heard from them anyway. This is what I didn't expect when I became a mercenary, I expected it to be livelier and have that happy vibe, and reality just hits you hard in the face when you realize that life’s not that simple.

As I go along my way I noticed that there’s a commotion between a Tima and a cat-eared Iristika, I try prying further to their conversation to know what’s happening.

“You can’t just walk away like that without apologizing to this Quaraman who’s just doing her job.” The Iristika says, as I look around I see one of my brethren crying.

“You think I’d have the time to just care about the people who can’t simply do their job? Of course not, as a matter a fact I have some important things to do for the city.”

Well I think I’ve wasted enough time listening to this arguement.

I’m in front of the mercenary guild, a place where all sorts of people come through, a spellcaster trying to make some money, naïve people who only cares about other people other than themselves, people seeking to have a better life, people that have nothing better to do than to lay down and die.

Well being a part of it comes with its own benefits. I push the door and see the receptionist Sylia, my dearest friend who’s been handling me for many years, near the counter. Walking towards her, I asked her.

“Where’s the merchant Sylia.” I said with my naturally rough voice.

“Oh Santi you’re already here, the merchant is in the tavern upstairs. He only arrived a few minutes ago before you came here.” As she was doing paperwork on her desk.

Nodding at her I proceeded to go upstairs to meet the merchant.

The moment I’m in the tavern the merchant is sitting in an area where most people would normally meet and he’s clearly visible as well, I approached him and took a seat across him.

“So I presume that you have what I asked for merc?” Saying with a hoarse voice. I take down my backpack, get the pouch I got earlier and handed to him.

“I’ll wait here while you count your coins there.” Hearing that he puts down the pouch and starts counting the coins. 1 silver, 5 silver, 10 silver until he reaches to 50 silver.

“I guess this is all those thieves took from me, thank you merc for getting this.”

I replied back while leaning to the chair with my arms crossed “And my reward?”

“Don’t worry here’s half of the money from the pouch” counting again but this time to 25, he gave the silver to me.

“I guess that would be sufficient enough for you?”

“As long as I get what you the contractor promised.”

I take my backpack and head towards the front door of the guild. Time for some errands. I make my way to a blacksmith I knew a while back in this city's market district. The market district is unique in its own way. The market district has a circular boundary that separates itself from the other districts of Winstow. The boundary looks like this, one side of the street is filled with stalls filled with items and trinkets, maybe some food here and there, but the other side is filled with buildings made to accommodate people.

The district also comprises stores of all varieties like some taverns specializing in serving food such as Kominus, a nice place if you ask me. The blacksmith's name, who I’m going to is Kio a Meran who unexpectedly has some hatred against his own Von.

He doesn't talk much about his background but sometimes he gives a slip of the tongue here and there. I met him because of a contract he gave a while back when I was just starting my job as a mercenary. But I'll talk about it another time.

When I got to the market district I went to a building somewhere in the boundary with the sign “Kio's blades and axes”. I get to the newly furnished door and open it. I see a desk for transactions and rows of weapons that are mostly swords, daggers, axes, handaxes, battleaxes, greatswords and other such things.

There's nobody inside the room except that there's a Meran in front of the desk that can be easily mistaken as a Quaraman midget, not much facial hair his body build is lean, has auburn shaggy hair.

“I see you're back Santi, so you got anything for me?” says the Meran.

I replied “Just let me get the stuff from my bag Kio, these might be useful to you.”

I put down my bag on the desk and proceed to take out the swords inside my bag.

“You know that backpack of yours always surprises me whenever you take out something from it, be it small or big it always fits.” Kio remarked.

I take out the swords I got from the bandits and lay it out on the desk. He inspects the swords and says

“These kinds of swords again huh, I’m happy that you can bring me these weapons, but I can make tools from this at best, they're not useful to be practical weapons.”

Knowing him he just wants to make weapons that'll be useful to people rather than making tools. I guess that's the only thing he prides on from being a Meran.

“Well if you want to if I ever got some metal during my contracts, I could probably give it to you for a good price”.

“That would be preferable Santi, either way you could still keep bringing me these kinds, I need to make a profit somehow with these. By the way, for these I'm going to give you 4 silver.”

“I'll take it.” I immediately took out my hand and he put them there making a clunk noise. Then I put them in one of my pockets

“Either way I'd appreciate any materials you can give me Santi.”

“Don’t worry one of these days you might make something for me, I'll be on my way give me a heads up if you need an escort.” I say as I take my bag and leave the door.

“Will do.”