Drac hurried into town, excited to get home. The slip of paper wizzed and flapped, nearly tearing on several occasions because he took long strides, walking as fast as he could to get home, the wind whiping past his face. He burst through the door, and slapped the paper onto the desk. Crewe, stunned, finished his sentence, put down the feather, and picked up Dracs paper to read it.

      "Drac, has proven to the Lands of the Millennium that said individual, is worthy to join the ranks that make up the defense of the Millennium. The Millennium are in much need of fresh blood, to counter-act the citizen revolts. The individual is of 15 years of age or older, and is hereby legal to join the Millennium ranks. Should said individual join, he should report to Captain Galleon, the head of the Recruiting and Training Division, at the fourth moon, at the 11th phase.











    "I really want to go. I can bring justice to the people for once! I can be a soldier!" Crewe stared off for a moment. He looked at Drac, and replied simply. "No." Drac immediately protested, "But Crewe! This is my dream! This is my story! I have to do this!" Crewe's hard ungiving start gave for a moment, showing a hole of sorrow and understanding for Drac. But it went as fast as it came. "I can't let you. You have a life here. Responsibilities to get too. The villagers need you. We can't abondon them."

   Drac only nodded. He understood. And Crewe was right. He hadn't just said it because he didn't want Drac to get hurt, and Drac knew it. The towns-people needed him. Sinse he came, they've begun depending on him. Although he saw the truth behind Crewe's words, it did not lessen the pain that he could not fullfill his dream.

   He turned around, and walked into his room. There, lying on the desk, was a request sent from one of the villagers. Thinking Crewe must have put it there for him, Drac picked it up, reading something on how a man needs an escort through the woods to get through the brush with his wagon  so that he can deliver his goods to the next town. In the woods, allot of creatures roamed, and k nocked trees over, many of which block the path. The man would need Drac to help remove them so that he could continue his journey uninterrupted.

   He grabbed his things, ready to head back into town. Just because he wasn't ready to get back to work, due to the depressing incedent with Crewe, didn't mean that the villagers didn't still need him. He had to do what he always had. He headed into town, to find the traveler.

   The big buildings began as he left his property off into the woods. He could smell the sweet bakery coming from the right, from Hellena's Bakery, and could see the women at a clothes shop hanging up new dresses for today's display to his left. At a cross section, surrounded by shops, stood a man at a street corner, looking for Drac to help him. He didn't look familiar. Must be a newcomer to the town.

   The man looked a little skittish, as if he didn't know what to anticipate. The man spotted Drac immediately, and looked like he was about to turn and run. Drac, confused, finally reached the man, and handed him the paper. "Oh thank god. You're just the guy who the old Prophecy Keeper up in that shack told me would help me. I thought you were another mugger. On the previous town that I passed through before moving here, I move allot, I saw a man get mugged out in the middle of the street! And then I saw a big built guy like yourself walking down the street and I almost lost it. I guess I'm just a little jumpy. It's been a long ride. Er, sorry, Jack Gunnle is the name. I've been moving from town to town trying to find a good place to set up my bussiness. I think this town is calm and quiet enough."

   "Yea, this is a peaceful town, good small place to get a business started. Not much competition. And don't worry, there aren't any muggers here. I make sure of that." Drac replied, wth a reassuring smile. "So, what is it that you sell?"


   "Oh just some remedies for small sickness. Not really any real medicine, just a few plants and herbs that relax and soothe the body. I had heard that a little flu outbreak had happened in the next town from a local, not too big of a deal, but a little bit of a fever and few reports of stomache aches. I thought it might be a good way to start off."

   "Ahh. Well, let's be off then" Drac said flatly. He wasn't exactly going full-heartedly. His mind lie on what Crewe had said.
                                        --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   They had set off as early as they could. Jack tied everything down to the wagon and made sure nothing was lose, then they set out before all the shops out on the streets were even open. Even though there were many creatures out in the woods, most had learned that the townspeople were harmless untill provoked. And those who were hostile, learned right quick that this town wasn't one to be messed with. The townsfolk were always on edge with the whole war finally coming to an end. 

   "So, bussiness is pretty rough huh?" Drac eyed Jack curiously.
   
   Jack yanked at the horses reins a little, keeping the animal from veering off the trail. "Yea, it's not so easy. The folks back home pushed me out before I was ready. What with my little sister still in the house, and them having a baby, they couldn't support a family of five. We're simple folk. Don't have much.  Our family line has had it rough like this for quite some time, and this war sure isn't helping bussiness. Everyon'es on edge, afraid that my remedes are some kind of poison. 'Course I couldn't kill someone even if it were to save my own life. It's a crazy world out there."

   "Aye, that it is. Don't worry though. The people at RedWood are a little on edge, but everyone knows everyone. All the guards are good friends, no one has reason to be suspicous of one another in town."

   "Good to that friend. I arrived at this town and was shocked with all the people out and about on the streets chating like all is 
we-" Drac abruptly pushed his head down.

   "Shh. I hear something. Be very quiet, and get back into the wagon. There may be trouble." Jack started back towards the wagon when he was suddenly thrown back. A group of men emerged, the lot of them looked like thugs. The biggest one, Drac figured was the leader, stepped down off of a horse, likely a stolen one. His thick cloth shirt was ripped at the sleeves, although it didn't look like the man did it intentionally. There was blood rimming the arm holes of the shirt, as if the shirt had once belonged to a man who had his arms cut off, and then the man stole it. No, the man probably was the one who did the cutting.

   He heard a half-witted groan from Jack. Good, he survived the blow.

"We've been looking for you for a very long time Merrit." Said the leader of the thugs. "Now, I think it's about high time you give us what we want, before we are forced to hurt your poor sod of a body guard.