Three days into the week and Salvador was having the best time of his life.

For three days he had gone to Fachonlugar, to visit Sir Gerard Elwyn. The knight told him stories of all the places in the Kingdom of Sersalvon he had been to. He told Salvador another term for freelancer. Mercenary, or sellsword. Sir Gerard personally preferred freelancer to those terms. He would give his services to any Sersalvon lord that paid him the most money. He had gone to many of the hundreds of Sersalvonian islands. He had fought in skirmishes and disputes between lords. He had even gone so far to go overseas to Evrúopa and fought in their constant wars. He'd visited Nyove Royna, the northern continent of the western hemisphere.

Sir Gerard had to explain lots of the things he told Salvador. He had never heard of Nyove Royna and only rumors about Evrúopa. He was fascinated at how large Arkenheim truly was.

Sir Gerard Elwyn himself was from the northern islands of Sersalvon. Only a few miles away from the island kingdom of Barbaruda, which Sersalvon had been at war with fifteen years ago. His father had been a simple farmer, unable to make much of a living. Gerard had gone to Lady Florjes of Veroña, the Mercenary Lady. Renown for training the best mercenaries in all of the Caraíbes Isles. Lady Florjes had knighted him and given him the title of freelancer knight. Since then, Gerard had made a fortune fighting in petty squabbles between the dysfunctional Sersalvonian lords and ladies.

Late at night once he was in bed, Salvador would imagine himself in Sir Gerard's shoes, fighting with valor and chivalry. Gleaming in shining armor and his sword a constant storm. With every story, his hunger for adventure grew and grew.

Coming back from the Fachonlugar, Salvador was lost in his thoughts. The cool river breeze and the birds' song only helped fuel his imagination. In his mind, he was not in Sapinsville, but on a foreign battlefield. He was about to face off against the enemy commander, his troops parted for him. The fighting stalled as the two leaders were about to enter single combat.

He was oblivious to the sounds of snickering behind him.

It was only when someone yelled, "Hey, star-boy!" and grabbed him, shoving Salvador in the alley between two buildings.

Salvador felt his heart race and his breath became coming in short, quick bursts. It was them. Again.

"Seems like you've yur just a simple peasant boy," said one of his kidnappers. Salvador could've picked out the voice in the midst of even the loudest clamor.

It was Horden.

His torturer, his enemy, his bully.

Maximil. He had gathered his friends and they had come to harass Salvador.

Salvador slowly stood up and regained his balance. "What do you want?"

"Just wanted to keep yur head from reachin' the clouds," Maximil taunted with a smirk on his face. He was a paler boy, indicating his heritage to the northern islands of Sersalvon and the Caraíbes Isles.

"My head ain't in the clouds," Salvador protested, although he knew that was a lie.

"Then why were you wanderin' around the streets lookin' up at the sky? You almost hit half of them people out there on the road."

Salvador had no words for that.

Maximil cawed in laughter and his friends joined him. "Looks like seein' that knight has gone into yur head. Gonna have to remind ya that yur just a peasant boy." And with that, he punched Salvador in the abdomen.

Salvador keeled over and received a punch to the jaw. He fell onto his back and felt the air rush out of his lungs. All of Maximil's friends joined in the beating. Their pounding and kicking relentless.

There, a short pause in the beating. Maximil and his friends moved back and examined the crumpled up figure of Salvador. His bones and muscles ached, but Salvador seized the chance to whip out his legs and kick Maximil. He popped up to his feet and slammed his fist into the nose of the nearest kid. He heard the sickening crunch that indicated he had broken the kid's nose. He whirled back to Maximil, his leg raised and ready to kick, but was brought down by Maximil's goonies. This new beating was worse than the first.

Maximil's friends held Salvador and place and waited for Maximil to get back up. When he did, his balance was shaking but his brown eyes were ferocious and filled with burning anger.

"Now yur gonna get!" he screeched.

As each blow fell, Salvador felt a little more of his pride fall away. This happened all the time; being thrown in an alley and being beat and beat and beat. They called him peasant and mocked him all because he had a tendency to daydream. Maximil's father was a very successful merchant and even owned his own small merchant fleet. He mocked Salvador relentlessly for his dreaminess and his family's slightly lower status. All his friends had parents who were successful and they all joined in on mocking Salvador.

Maximil punched and punched and punched. He threw in a kick here or there, not relenting. Salvador felt warm blood trickle down his face and felt himself slipping away into unconsciousness.

Just as the darkness was about to claim him, he heard a familiar voice yell, "Hey! What are you doing?" Next was the sound of feet on the ground, trying to scramble away. Not soon after, the sounds of fighting ensued.

Salvador heard every sickening punch, he heard the whelps and yelps of Maximil's lackeys as they were knocked to the ground by Salvador's savior.

Salvador lifted his head and felt his heart jump in joy at the sight of Gerard standing in the middle of a bunch of falling boys, groaning and moaning in pain at their injuries. The only one left standing was Maximil. He was in a fighting position, his entire body shaking and the fear that was roiling off him was so strong you could scent it.

Gerard gave an enraged snarl and hooked his fist at Maximil's face.

One punch was all it took to send him crying on the ground.

Gerard wasted no time and rushed for Salvador.

"Are you okay?" he breathed, his hands roaming and looking for any serious injuries.

"Yeah," Angelo whispered. 

Gerard gave him a grave look and slung him over his shoulder. The next few events were blurry to Salvador. He vaguely saw Gerard asking for directions to Salvador's house. The rest of it was just black.

                                                                                               ***

When Salvador woke up again, he was in his house. He could hear voices floating up from downstairs. They were discussing something. He felt himself strain his ears to make it out each individual voice. He was able to figure out that it was his parents talking to. . . Gerard?

Yes, that deep, but young voice was Gerard's. Salvador sat up in his bed and immediately regretted that decision. Pain flashed all throughout his body and it was all he could do to keep from screaming. Still, he got up on his feet and trudged downstairs, ignoring the severe pain that racked through his body.

Now. He could clearly make out what they were saying. Salvador stopped and listened.

His father was speaking, "This has happened before but it has not been so horrible. I've even gone to Maximil and his friends' parents, but no matter how much I complain they will not do anything."

"We've given him advice to avoid them and to cool down the situation. . . but nothing seems to work! They always come after him in the end!" His mother.

He heard Gerard heave a great sigh. "I would offer to train him in self-defense, however by the time he recovers I will almost be gone."

"When will you leave?" his father inquired.

"After I offer my services to Lord Rivera of Sapinsville."

"For what? I've heard of little trouble in these parts of Sersalvon."

"There is an increasing number of pirates sailing up and down the Corriende. It's a chance to make a profit."

"Yes," his mother murmured. "I know all about making a profit."

Salvador decided to make his way down the stairs completely. His parents and Gerard both heard him descend. Salvador's parents rushed to him in extreme parental concern.

"What are you doing out of bed?" his mother exclaimed.

"You're too weak to be walking!" his father added. "The doctor said you should be resting for another three days before you can go about your normal activities. You barely escaped a concussion!"

"I'm fine!" Salvador whined. He winced each time his parents' hands touched a bruise on his body.

His mother raised an eyebrow. His father snorted.

They sat him down on the chair, making him as comfortable as possible and continued their conversation.

"How has it gone so far?" his father asked. "Meeting with Lord José Rivera, I mean."

Sir Gerard shook his head. "Poorly. The lord refuses to meet with me. I'll keep attempting, but if I do not get an audience by the end of the week, then I shall leave."

"Why come to Sapinsville and not to Rivièrra?" his mother asked.

"I've tried Rivièrra and I was unable to receive an audience. Sapinsville is the next place I decided to go. It seems no one is willing to hire a freelancer any longer."

"Hard times?" his father mused.

"Yes," Gerard said, shaking his head. "Hard times indeed."

His mother was lost in thought for some time before saying, "Lord José is coming to our place four days from now. He wishes to inspect the sword that my husband made and if he deems it well enough, he shall buy it. Perhaps you could intercept him when he is coming back from our place if he does not grant you an audience?"

Gerard smiled but shook his head. "I'm afraid it does not work that way, domiña Castellano," he said politely. "If I do such a thing, it will come off as desperate and the lord will not agree to my services."

Salvador's mother shrugged. "Oh well."

"I suppose it's the thought that counts."

His parents cracked a smile at that.

They talked a little more, eventually leading to Sir Gerard speaking of his adventures across the Caraíbes and beyond. When it was time for him to leave, they all bid Gerard a warm farewell.

Once he was out the door, Salvador's father said, "I like him."

"I must agree," said his mother.

Salvador smiled. "Good. I knew you would."

"But you, young man," his mother pointed a finger at him, "must get some immediate rest."

"But I have!" Salvador whined. Even so, when his parents lifted him up to his room and into his bed, he felt relieved and soon fell asleep.

                                                                                                ***

"Your friends are here to see you, eijo!" His mother's clear voice carried up the stairs and into his room where Salvador was intensely reading a book.

He was extremely happy that his friends were here to see him. . . but his book.

Salvador dragged himself out of bed and forced himself to set the book down. It was a history book that he was reading. It was of Sersalvon and the Caraíbes Isles and had been quite interesting.

It had been two days and his bruises had calmed enough to the point where he could walk comfortably. He kept telling his parents he was fine and wanted to return to the forge but his father strictly forbade him from even stepping foot in the forge.

Gerard had seen him twice these past two days. Salvador's friends had come to visit him when Gerard had also been visiting. The following encounter encompassed of Salvador's friends staring at Sir Gerard in pure awe and Salvador barely managing to hide his laugh.

Salvador made his way downstairs to greet his friends. He saw Arrio first. He was a shorter, plump boy who wore large round spectacles. Arrio was on the darker spectrum of Sersalvon skin, he had cocoa-colored skin and thick black hair. Salvador's other friend, Isaiah was on the lighter side of the spectrum. He had chestnut hair with hazel eyes. He was of average height, slightly shorter than Salvador, and had a fit body earned from working in the farms. Both of Salvador's friends had learned to read because of him. Ever since they had both shared his deep love of reading and they were constantly trying to get their hands on new books.

"So," Arrio began, "is your. . . knight-friend coming over?"

Salvador shrugged. "Haven't seen him or heard a word from him. He may be meeting with Lord José Rivera for all I know."

"I still can't believe you're actually friends with him," Isaiah moaned. "And I'm not!"

Salvador stuck his tongue out at Isaiah and they all shared a laugh. Then the mood in the room shifted. It became. . . serious.

Isaiah shifted on his feet before nervously saying, "You're. . . okay, right?"

Salvador rolled his eyes. "Yes, I am! Why wouldn't I be?"

Isaiah shrugged. "I don't know."

"We'll get them," Arrio vowed. "Well send those viergas back to their madierras!"

"Watch your language, Arrio, or I'll send you back to your madierra."

The trio winced as Arrio said, "Sorry, domiña Castellano." In a much lower tone, he said, "I don't feel like going back to my mother right now."

Salvador and Isaiah both laughed a little.

For much of the time, they just hung around and talked about Sir Gerard. Their conversation soon stumbled upon the prospect of adventure.

"I plan on being a successful blacksmith. So much so that I will have enough money to travel the world!" Salvador proclaimed.

"It would be amazing to see all of Sersalvon," Arrio admitted. Isaiah, however, cringed at the thought.

"What's the matter, Isaiah?" Salvador asked.

Isaiah sighed and said, "Well. . . it's just I don't really want to leave Sapinsville."

Both Arrio and Salvador looked at Isaiah with a surprised expression on their faces. "How come?" Arrio asked.

"It's dangerous out there," said Isaiah. "People kill each other all the time. While it may be epic in fantasy novels and whatnot. . . it doesn't seem like to exciting of a future."

Salvador frowned. He thought for a moment before replying, "There is danger out there. But that's a risk you should take. I don't really think I would like being penned up in the same town my entire life without seeing the grand world outside."

Arrio nodded his agreement, but Isaiah just shrugged and said, "Okay."

They awkwardly moved away from that conversation and focused on more familiar topics as they went to Salvador's room. They teased Salvador about his relationship with Lily. They then teased Isaiah about his feelings for Ana.

"Who is it that you like?" Isaiah shot at Arrio.

Arrio smiled and said, "I'm not stupid enough to think I could get in a relationship at twelve years old."

"There has to be at least someone you think looks nice," Salvador pressed.

"Well," Arrio began, "Belinda is good-looking I suppose,"

Salvador pumped a fist into the air and said, "Knew it!"

Arrio rolled his eyes. "That doesn't mean I like her though."

"Yeah, yeah," Isaiah said, waving him off. "Sure you don't."

Arrio gave a fierce scowl which sent both Salvador and Isaiah laughing. After a while, even Arrio joined in.