I was on the verge of tears, holding my cross necklace as tight as I can to keep myself from bursting into a sob. My mother had just died, because of a cruel war, and a cruel kingdom. The kingdom of Ragnarok.

It's time, I thought to myself. I had turned 15, and was ready to move out. I left my small city of Geffen, to set off my perilous journey set off to become a knight. It's a shame that my own mother did not support me. "Son, you will become a mage and like it!" I yelled back at her, "Sometimes is good to have a change! What difference will it matter to you if I become a knight!" Yes, cheerful memories, I bitterly said to myself. I have no hope; will I ever make it to Izlude, I pondered.

"Hey, you!" a girl, fourteen years of age. "You seem strong, you wanna come with us?" She pointed to the group of novices. "We're all going to Izlude to become a swordsman. You'll like to join us right?" She paused for a second, not letting me respond. "Cool! Come on!" She burst into a dash, leaving all of the other novices, and me, in her wake.

I then learn that the girl's name is Rose, and the group was sucked into her party just like me, unsuspecting novice-to-become-swordsmen (and swordswomen). I smiled; I liked her already. She was full of energy. I then remember my mother - I then start to think of various things, to keep my mind away from my mother. It was such a pain. "You'll be fine, mother…" I said, almost crying, to my mother. "You're okay… you're okay…" I started to cry. Rose came up to me, and sat beside me. She let me cry on her, no questions asked. The party of novices starts to stare, but Rose merely glares at them, and they simultaneously look away.

A day later, I go up to Rose. I stammer for a moment, and then start to speak, "Hey, um, about the other day…" She puts her hand to my mouth. "You don't need to talk about it." Moments later, we arrive at the gates of Izlude. We're here, I mouths to myself. Everybody is cheerful, at the aspect of becoming a first job class. I eagerly rush over to the swordsman guide. Along with the others, I am presented with the question: Are you sure you want to be a swordsman? There is no turning back, I thought. "Yes." Along with finding my path, I found something else. Love. "I think I love you," I said to the inn's mirror. I sighed. Will I ever confess?

"Stupid, stupid, STUPID!" Rose said to me. "Never in my day, have I met anybody so incompetent, so disgraceful, and so discreditable to the swordsman class! You will never become a knight." Those words burned to me. A short crush burned with despair. I ran that day. I left with the clothes on my back, and my beloved cross necklace.

It's been a year. I have changed. My brown eyes had dulled from a years worth of suffering. My suffering has been caused by Rose. Why? was the question always asked. Was it all a misunderstanding? No matter, I thought to myself. I presented myself to the senior knight. I tapped my head, as a signal to say that the ritual is done. I am a knight – I am a protector.