1 Prologue

Some people existing in this world, are capable of wonderful acts. In arts or in fights, everyone finds their place, and their goals.

And among all these people, there is a young man who, since his childhood, never stopped training to make this talent grow and exploit it to the maximum. This talent, it's this strength, and his fighting abilities that are useful to him for one thing, protect those he loves. The woman he loves.

- "And here goes the last slash !"

Silver Slayer slices the air with his sword one last time, before putting it back in its holster. This bodyguard, renowned for his strength and efficiency across the realm, is seen most of the time training to get stronger every day. Some might say it's pointless, but he knows the reason for such hard training. This reason that accompanied him all his life.

"- You're still training, as I see.

- Oh, mademoiselle. It's a pleasure to see you, as always.

- Pleasure is shared, Slayer."

This young woman, so smiling towards the one she nicknames Slayer, is the one the latter must protect: Mirai, the king's daughter. They have known each other since childhood, and have shared a large part of their life together. This life, Slayer wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

- "Tell me, you got up very early, today.

- Don't mention it. I thought I would be having a good day, then there are already two people that scratched my name," Mirai replies annoyingly. "You know how much that annoys me."

- "I understand," says Slayer.

- "How many times must I tell them it is pronounced "Me-ra-i-ye" and not "Mi-raie"…

- Your Japanese origins make your charm, Mademoiselle."

Mirai smiles. That smile that Slayer promised to protect even if one day he had to die for it. That smile which, in Slayer's eyes, makes his guard-master much more beautiful than she already is. It's that smile that he is lucky enough to admire every day. Yes, he's a frozen lover, but that's precisely where the whole problem lies.

- "Aren't you supposed to go see the other guards in your faction today ?

- This is true. I should probably go, now that we mention it.

- What a shame. I wanted to talk with you a little more.

- Are you going to sulk me for this?

- Of course not, you idiot."

Mirai walks over to Slayer and hugs him. Even though he's wearing a metal armor covering his entire body, including his face, Slayer can feel Mirai's warmth by looking at her. It's like a sort of magic, except none of them is using it.

- "I should really go now," says Slayer. "I will be back as soon as possible, mademoiselle.

- See you soon !" she says on a happy tone.

These little moments are the ones Slayer will always cherish. They are also those who, during hardships that seem insurmountable to him, help him to hold out. One of those hardships awaits him just behind that large solid wood door, which he passes through every week. Yet even after doing it so many times, he's still not used to the welcome that awaits him...

- "HEY, FELLA!" shouts a bodyguard with most of his clothing green, and his face covered with a gaz mask. "How's friendzone going?"

- "Ah, Winston, always a pleasure."

This guy named Winston, also known as Green Science, is part of the bodyguard faction of which Slayer is also a member. He is known to be very intelligent, but is actually one of the biggest kids in his group, someone always full of energy, which also contributed to his fame.

- "I already told you not to yell like that as soon as I arrive. And then you stink of alcohol! Shino, don't tell me that pint of beer on legs has already drunk at such an hour!"

An individual in a large red tunic, decorated on all sides and whose hood covers his face with a shadow, stands up, and before anyone can see him, grabs Winston by the collar.

- "I swear, that idiot could drink alcohol at any time.

- Screw you all," answers the one designated as an alcoholic. "And let go, Shino, that hurts."

The so-called Shino lets go of Winston, the guy finally starting to breathe. Slayer sighs and glances at the table in the center of the room: his faction comrades are visibly already there, unresponsive to the scene, out of habit. He sits down with them.

- "So," he says," what is the subject of today's meeting ?

- That falls at the good time, because you're the first concerned," answers Winston sitting directly opposite.

Suddently, everyone has their eyes on Slayer.

Shino gets up and takes a big breath.

- "Silver Slayer, known across the kingdom for your strength and bravery, I, Shino, known as Red Wizard, and all of our comrades here, have a question for you.

- I listen," says Slayer.

Silence sets in, and Shino finally asks the question.

- "What is your name ?

- I HAVE ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT IT IS A SECRET !" Slayer says, in an annoyed tone, not giving a chance for a second silence to settle in.

- "Oh, come on, says one of the guards sitting at a table, we've been waiting for years !

- And you will be waiting for many years more !

- So put your visor up, we've never seen anything of your body, not even your face," Winston said, his mask down and a mug of beer in his hand.

- "STOP DRINKING, YOU !"

Now, laughter is flowing at the faction table.

This is one of the particularities of Slayer. He is only known by his bodyguard name, and although the envy burns him, he cannot tell anyone his first name, not even Mirai. This is one of the things that itches him, one of the things that keeps her away from him.

- "And Mirai, how is it going with her ?" asks Shino.

- "Do not say this out loud," retorts Slayer. "I told you before that the king was too picky on the subject. What's more…"

Slayer can no longer contain himself. He stands up suddenly and hits the table with his colon, his threatening look completely gone.

- "If I try anything, I lose my job! I've been working hard to protect Mirai for all these years! I haven't moved my sword all over the place since I was five years old to give it up like this!

- Well say, friendzone sure makes you really angry," says Winston before taking a sip of alcohol again.

- "Stop with this "friendzone" story! AND LEAVE THIS BEER FOR A MINUTE!"

This is the whole problem with the feelings Slayer has. A guard cannot afford to have a romantic interest in the person he is protecting, and the king would banish Slayer from the kingdom. Despite the fact that the latter has erased all traces of his real name and wears full armor at all times, the king does not wish to take any risk for his daughter. So here is Slayer stuck in a dilemma: if he confesses his feelings, he will never see Mirai again.

- "Wait, did you start learning the sword at five years old? asks a fairly young guard, sitting not far from Slayer at the table.

- Oh, that's right, you arrived recently," Slayer replies sitting down, "you sure haven't heard of that. Apparently, I was good at fighting from a young age, at least that is what I was told. I joined this faction very early on.

- Much earlier than all of us," Winston says, his mask back on.

- "That's how I got closer to Mirai, too," Slayer continues. "I was hired as his guard at a very young age, and today I'm here.

- And has she seen your face before?" asks one of the guards.

Every look is back on Slayer. He cannot avoid the subject.

- "No, she has not seen it. Nobody has seen it.

- Is there a reason why ?" asks Shino.

- "Let me remind you that I am the most wanted guard of the enemy kingdoms, of course there is a reason. And then…" he sighs before resuming, "I don't want anyone to be able to hurt Mirai.

- Aw, how cute it is", says a guard at a table, followed by everyone's laughs.

In that burst of laughter from all his comrades, Slayer sighs. His comrades, although they are the best faction of guards in the whole kingdom, are and always will be utterly stupid. For years now, Slayer wondered how the King could manage to have all these people together into one group.

- "Oh lord, Mirai, I'm so glad you can't overhear this conversation…" he says.

After several minutes of more or less useful discussions, Slayer leaves the table, greets the other guards and resumes his journey. His job is to protect Mirai in all circumstances, so he must hurry to come back and watch her even more. Especially since he couldn't wait to see her again, even though it had only been a short time.

For Slayer, Mirai has always been an energetic person, but only with him. The rest of the time, she had to give that image of the king's daughter that the people expect of her, which annoys them both. Mirai could assert herself and be the pride of the kingdom alongside Slayer, if the king was not one, as her daughter puts it, "stuck old man who thinks getting on the throne is the only way to assert himself in this kingdom".

However, once arrived at the king's residence, Slayer hears metallic noises coming from the courtyard where he is training.

- "Strange," he said. "Usually it's quiet around here when I am not... Unless-"

A dark idea crosses his mind. The king never sets foot in this courtyard and Mirai spends most of her time in her room, there is only one solution: a potential intruder.

Without thinking more about it, Slayer runs to reach the courtyard as quickly as possible. There was no way the individual would run away, at least not without facing Slayer.

But, once he arrives in the courtyard, it's a pleasant surprise that awaits him: it's Mirai standing there, sword in hand, staring at Slayer.

- "Oh. You are home.

- Oh dear lord, I am relieved," Slayer says. "But what are you doing here?

- Well…"

Mirai sighs and sets the sword down with the other old training weapons, while Slayer stares blankly at her. Before he can say a word, she crashes in front of him.

- "I'm training.

- What do you mean?

- I want to become a bodyguard. Like you."

Slayer takes a step back, surprised at such news.

- "You do not think about it all the same? It's dangerous ! You-

- Look at you. You are strong and brave. You have protected me all my life. I too want to protect those who are dear to me. I want to join your faction."

Slayer doesn't know what to say.

Mirai has always been vague about her dreams. She's always been in his books, and Slayer knows every little thing about her other hobbies. He's not just a guard for her, he's also the closest person to her, they know everything about each other. No one knows Mirai better than Slayer.

- "Why do you want to become a guard?" he asks.

- And why not ? she replies. Why should I be immersed in my books and not all around the world? I want to prove my strength, I want to fight against those who harm my kingdom! Certainly, I told my father that I do not wish to take back the throne, but contrary to what he thinks, I can defend my lands without a seat and a crown!

Never had Slayer seen such confidence shine in Mirai's eyes. It is this same assurance that the king recognized in him when he was five years old, one of the things that allowed him to become a guard, to become strong. One of the things that now keeps him standing here in front of this woman he loves.

- "Do you promise not to say a word about it to your father?

- I promise you.

- So I agree to show you some things."

Mirai's gaze is suddenly filled with immeasurable joy as she throws herself into Slayer's arms. She doesn't seem embarrassed by the armor between them, and neither does Slayer, as he hugs her back.

Now it's up to Slayer to think about training for Mirai. One thing is certain, whether she becomes a guard or not, he will always protect her. Becoming a guard might even solve some issues with his own feelings.

This is how the adventures of Mirai and her guard begin.