《Knights Apocalyptica: LitRPG, Power Armor, Academy》 Chapter 1: A Dream
Erec didn''t expect much out of the bulky rusted suit of Armor racked in the corner of the room. All it needed to do was stay together for a couple of more days; he could not care less about what happened to it after. As long as it got him through the trial and accepted into the Academy, that''s all that mattered. Dim orange LED lights illuminated the steel frame of the Armor. His fingers traced the dents, tears, and loose wires hanging from the joints and subsystems. Some of them were fresh¡ªa particularly deep gouge in the rust was a product of him pushing it past its limits in the last training session. But others weren''t. For example, the welded plates on the front were the product of a ferocious monster tearing into the frame. And likely, the death sentence from a workable model into what it was now. Provisional loaner armor that would need no small amount of tender love and care to return it to an okay state. ¡°I might¡¯ve been a little too hard on it,¡± Erec admitted. He couldn¡¯t afford to fail the trial. Not when his brother succeeded and with his whole life riding on it. Training with Armor like this was out of his grasp for the longest time¡ªbut Bedwyr passed his trial under similar circumstances. One might even argue that the Armor loaned to Bedwyr was worse. No, Erec would surpass Bedwyr. He had to. This was his one shot. With the Goddess¡¯ Blessing and this rag-tag Armor, Erec would climb out from the caves and shadow of his family¡¯s legacy to join one of the Orders. Erec treasured the couple of memories of his time on the surface. Hundreds of thousands lived their whole lives without seeing the sky. Yet, at first sight, that ocean of blue stole his heart away. Humanity had crawled its way out of this hole fifty years ago, but the privilege of living on the surface was a price paid in blood. And he was ready to help defend the thick steel walls that kept the monsters of the wastes at bay. They protected this kingdom, but more importantly, they made it possible to bask in the sun once more. If only I had better Armor. More training¡­ Getting into the Academy would¡¯ve been easy; if he were like most of the nobility. But his house had so many of their privileges and authority stripped away. ¡°I could ask Dad if we¡¯ve got a spare mechanic,¡± Garin offered. His father, Baron Jeswald, directly oversaw Erec¡¯s house. Through Jeswald¡¯s shelter, House Audentia weathered the last ten years. Erec would sooner throw himself through a rift than ask anything more from the man. ¡°No thanks, but I appreciate the offer. It¡¯s better to learn how to maintain your Armor. This is a valuable learning experience since there are few expeditions that¡¯d allow you to bring a mechanic.¡± ¡°Fair, fair. I¡¯d thought I was pushing it lately, but you¡¯ve gone off the deep end, haven¡¯t you? Why?¡± ¡°You know why.¡± Erec rubbed the back of his neck. A twinkle came to Garin¡¯s eye, and he smirked. ¡°I sure do. So how about this¡­¡± he pulled out two sticks made of real wood. Erec worked his jaw. Yeah. Those were definitely from one of the bio-caverns. It was maple wood. Erec was familiar with the exact cavern it came from since he¡¯d helped maintain it over the last three years. A beautiful bio-cavern that supported beech, maple, and apple trees, it was also filled with an assortment of other life that thrived in the temperate conditions, including squirrels. Too many squirrels, to be honest. More importantly, nothing should¡¯ve come out of those caverns unaccounted for. ¡°Garin!¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah, I knew you¡¯d do this. It¡¯s fine. Dad wouldn¡¯t care. C¡¯mon, Erec, they¡¯re just sticks.¡± The point wasn¡¯t what they were. Even if the Baron would only shrug if someone told him his son was going around taking small things from his bio-caverns. Documenting what went in and out of those controlled environments was vital. They couldn¡¯t afford to introduce an invasive species or transmit some odd virus to the bio-caverns. Too much of their industry and supply lines still relied on them. They still produced hard-to-obtain food and commodities, and Erec highly doubted his friend put in the care to sanitize and respect nature. It was a bit of a dick move and beyond selfish on Garin¡¯s part. Erec stared him down until Garin caved. ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t do it again, promise. But since I already took these¡ªhow about, we trade some pointers?¡± Garin gave an easy grin that complemented his dumb face and promised pure intentions. Erec dropped his complaint. It wasn¡¯t like his friend would listen anyway, and it wouldn¡¯t change what¡¯d already happened. They were good sparring tools¡ªit was good they weren¡¯t shaped liked swords. Practically everything was. Go figure that when the Goddess'' icon was a sword, her people went nuts over them. But the importance of swords alone was disturbing. Their only purpose was to kill. Any day of the week, he¡¯d instead take an axe or a hammer, but often the kingdom left him with no choice in terms of practice equipment. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°You know what? I could go for a nice little confidence boost. I¡¯d love to show you the concrete.¡± Erec stretched out his lean muscles. He was about three inches taller and often quicker than his friend. But he lacked the substance that Garin had. Lanky versus robust. Their typical sparring match was a toss-up, but something in Garin¡¯s eyes told him this wasn¡¯t just for fun. ¡°In your dreams, Lord Audentia.¡± Garin mocked and gave a small bow. Erec snorted. His brother and father were Lord Audentia. Not him. Erec and Garin walked a safe distance from the Armor and Tables filled with welders and screwdrivers. The dusty workshop would serve as well as any for their fight; all they needed to do was limit the arena to keep from breaking things. With the boundary established, they took stances on either side of the chamber. Erec fell into a broad stance and stared Garin down while he swayed back and forth; he knew the ins and outs of Garin¡¯s style. However, that was a double-edged weapon. Garin knew him too. Predictably, Garin launched straight into the fight and teased the edge of Erec¡¯s range with the maple stick. He ducked in and tried to bait a swing, but Erec waited. It was best to find an opportunity and strike with a solid decisive attack. In a sudden flurry of speed, Garin committed to a sudden stab. Unexpected, but Erec slid out of the way. But since he failed to anticipate the bold move, there wasn¡¯t any way to punish the aggression. Garin shoved forward and slammed a stocky shoulder into him. With his chance made and Erec on unsteady ground, Garin raised his weapon above his head to land a clean hit. Erec backpedaled and raised his stick to catch Garin¡¯s downward arc. He blocked the follow-up and then used his superior speed to put more distance between them and reset. Much more aggressive than usual. Garin circled as he searched for another opening to swoop in, but Erec wasn¡¯t about to give him another chance after seeing his first move. A sudden juke of his friend made him wince. His side ached¡ªthat shove was full force. This sort of cheap tactic and frantic fighting wasn¡¯t Garin¡¯s usual style. But then, this wasn¡¯t a spar, was it? It was a test. Which of us is better? Their rankings were similar even if the distribution of their Virtues differed. I can surprise you too. Erec flew at Garin and rained down blows in a flurry of strikes. Each bit of range he had over Garin let him control the engagement. His speed and sudden shift from wary and tactical to a violent barrage caught his friend by surprise. Garin backed up further and rapidly approached their fight''s boundary. The constant hammering of sticks brought sweat to Erec¡¯s brow. But he saw Garin grimace with each strike¡ªhis arm shook, and Garin¡¯s stick grew lower as his strength gave out. Soon the occasional whack landed on his arm. I¡¯m going to win. This fight is mine. Like tilling a patch of dirt before planting, all that effort went into preparing the soil and creating the right conditions for optimal growth. Instead of sowing a seed, he readied the battlefield for the perfect moment. There. Garin¡¯s sweat matted and caused his long black hair to cover his eyes. He shook his head to clear his vision. Erec sprang forward, double handing the stick high into the air. He swung in a mighty arc and threw as much force as he could behind it¡ªGarin tried to defend, but it was a second too late¡ªthe weapon cracked against Garin¡¯s skull, tearing into his skin and provoking a pained yell. Erec dropped the stick¡ªswearing and crouching down to look at the damage. The fight pulled it out of him and made him go too far. He¡¯d wanted to win so bad for a moment he forgot who he was fighting. Garin clutched his head and accepted a piece of cloth to stem the blood. It was a nasty gash but non-vital. ¡°Fuck. Where did that come from? I know you were angry at me for stealing from the bio-cavern but did you have to bash my head in?¡± ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t¡ª¡° Garin laughed at Erec¡¯s red face. ¡°No, no. I know I started it. It¡¯s just¡ªI wanted to know? How it¡¯d end if we both gave it our all. Whenever we practice, there¡¯s never that edge to it like they say a real fight has. If we¡¯re going to do well at the Academy and become Knights worth anything, that¡¯s a feeling we have to get used to.¡± There was a blinking notification in the corner of Erec¡¯s vision. The Blessing had given him notice. He slowly nodded at his friend¡¯s words but couldn¡¯t tear his attention from the notification. Garin squinted at him. ¡°No way. You advanced?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know for sure yet¡ªis it okay if I¡ª?¡± ¡°No, no! Don¡¯t even ask! Open it! Tell me what jumped up!¡± Garin grinned at him, still holding the bloody cloth to his forehead. Erec only hoped Garin¡¯s father wouldn¡¯t get too upset. The trial to join the Academy was a highly formal affair. As Garin was from a family with some renown, those impressions on their future classmates and the other families attending the trial mattered in the higher circles. At least that¡¯s something I don¡¯t have to care about. Seems exhausting. Erec pulled up the notification from the Blessing.
Strength Advancement: Rank E - Tier 4 ¡ú Rank E - Tier 5
It was an advancement. The last one he¡¯d had was three weeks ago. And that hadn¡¯t been to one of his higher-ranked Virtues. Erec beamed, and Garin arched an eyebrow. ¡°It was Strength¡ªTier 5 now.¡± ¡°Damn, congratulations,¡± Garin nodded, then sighed. ¡°I haven¡¯t gotten an advancement for Vigor this month, even with all of the conditioning and my trainer helping out. Sure, Cognition went up, even Agility, but no luck on the one I wanted most.¡± Vigor was Garin¡¯s top Virtue. The one he¡¯d inclined himself to and pushed further than the others, citing it gave him the biggest advantage both on the battlefield and in his life. Erec was thankful it hadn¡¯t managed to climb any higher¡ªor that trick he pulled with the unrelenting assault wouldn¡¯t have had a chance of breaking through his defenses. That and keeping up with Garin during training was already a pain in his ass. Erec stared at the junk Armor and found the prospect of the future work a heavy suppressant to the little bit of glee he felt at the advancement. ¡°I should get started with that¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Garin waved it off, still clutching the bloody cloth. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a hot bath and nurse the wound you left me. Congratulations again; I¡¯m taking the rest of the night off.¡± Garin gave one last wave before walking out of the steel doors and leaving Erec alone with the Armor. He stared at the little-better-then scrap metal. ¡°No time like the present.¡± He grabbed a screwdriver, tossed on his goggles, then got to work. Chapter 2: Glimpse Of Heaven
"A king who comes to power with the help of the rich nobles will have more trouble keeping it than the king who gets there with the support of the people, because he will be surrounded by men who consider themselves his equals, and that will make it hard for him to give them orders or to manage affairs as he wants..." - Niccol¨° Machiavelli, The Prince (1532, 2nd Era)
Erec stood still beneath the rusted plates of the bulky Armor and waited for all of the core and subsystems to boot up. It took a good minute for everything to come online¡ªgiven the make of the model and the substantial repairs, he was just happy the Armor was in working order. He dismissed all of the notifications flashing through the visual interface. Since borrowing the outdated Armor, those systems hadn''t been present or were previously corrupted. Given these types of models received software updates and no hardware upgrade, it was impossible to say what should''ve been still functional or not. The software might be searching for subsystems that never existed in the first place. Caring about any of that was an exercise in futility; this Armor already lived on borrowed time. The only important part was that it held together to let him put on a show and join an Order. From there, the Order would issue him an initiate''s model to work with¡ªit wouldn''t be top of the line, but a far sight better than this hunk of junk. If I''m good enough for an Order to extend an offer to begin with¡­ There was a small chime like a bell in his helmet to accompany the last notification, and the joints unlocked. He clenched his fingers in the heavy steel gauntlet. The servos worked well. He held his fist for a moment more and sighed before exiting the workshop. Only a couple of hours of sleep, but he did what he¡¯d had to. Walking through the underground pathways was reasonably straightforward; the Kingdom tried their best to lay it in the most logical way. At least on these levels. And heading towards the main shaft elevator was simple¡ªconsidering the large construct was smack-dab in the middle of the city. Erec ran into Garin at the base of the giant steel beams and gated entrance to the room-sized shaft elevator. Garin gave a bit of a wave, his Armor¡¯s helmet tucked beneath a steel arm. His friend was wearing his father¡¯s suit¡ªcomplete with the House Honestus eagle painted on the chest plate. ¡°Hey!¡± Garin smirked. ¡°Heya,¡± Erec¡¯s voice came from the modulated filter of the helmet. Unlike Garin, he didn¡¯t dare to detach the helmet for fear that the locking joint might malfunction when he tried to replace it. ¡°Glad you got it working after all. I was half scared I wouldn¡¯t see you. Cut it close to show time, huh?¡± ¡°Well, I tried to get a few more minutes of sleep. Was up late last night. But I¡¯m here now, so I can¡¯t complain.¡± He shrugged, the gesture more mechanical then a smooth motion within the the death trap Armor. It didn¡¯t flow like newer models, unfortunately. Erec sighed. It was going to be a long, hot, and uncomfortable day now. The vent ports in the back of the suit were open, letting a bit of fresh air in. A bead of sweat was starting to form on the tip of his nose. It didn¡¯t compare at all to a proper cooling system. I hate this Armor so damn much. The gears began to go into overdrive as the main shaft elevator rose, it stopped on their level, and the chain-link shutters slid open. Erec and Garin got on the massive platform and moved towards the back. It rose and stopped nearly every floor¡ªallowing workers to clamber on and off to their destination. Everybody in the Kingdom knew what today was, commoners to nobility, even though these trials were primarily composed of people of noble blood. The day was practically a holiday, as everyone looked up towards the Knights¡ªthe saviors of humanity. Though the potential initiates took up an increasing portion of the elevator, most came alone. Their families and retainers would head to the event in an hour or two. But the would-be-initiates were expected far earlier. A few stops later and the elevator floor became overwhelmed with nobility, displacing the poor workers. They continued to pour on with every floor. The truly greedy demanded their servants carry equipment for them. The closer they got to the top, the more sets of Armor joined their ranks, which was unsurprising. Most of the high-rankers lived towards the surface. The last batch contained the elite, or rather, the elite of those still living somewhat underground. Most had moved to the blooming city above, but there was a mix. Tradition and holdings kept some of the more prestigious families towards the top levels of the Kingdom. He took in the variety of people on the elevator. One of them was hauling stones to a higher cavern. It was hard to tell whether they were minerals or needed further processing for a project. The man had parked there before Erec and Garin even got on the lift, meaning he came from a much lower cavern. It wasn''t an easy job for the commoners, often back-breaking with long hours and a strict timetable. And the nobles were screwing that up by crowding the elevator. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Move,¡± A stern voice commanded from a smooth blue armor with a diamond-shaped helmet. Erec turned his head to see that the new figure was glaring at the poor worker with his barrel full of stones. Two pinpricks of emerald light locked onto the man through the helmet¡¯s visor, eerily like eyes. ¡°Are you deaf?¡± Diamond Head asked as the confused commoner didn¡¯t budge. ¡°I don¡¯t want any of your sweat getting on my paint job.¡± ¡°Leave the guy alone,¡± Erec called out, stepping between the two. ¡°You have no right to issue me orders, rust-bucket.¡± ¡°Oh yeah? Well, maybe if you¡¯d take a second and get off that throne of yours, you¡¯d realize that just because you were born with a gold spoon in your mouth, it doesn¡¯t make you better than anyone else. Leave the poor guy be; he was here first.¡± The prick growled and then stepped in. Without warning, Diamond Head shoved Erec and took a step toward the commoner. There was a moment of horror at the surprising amount of force behind the blow. Erec wheeled his hands as the railing hit his back, damn near almost tumbling over it. Garin rushed over and helped Erec regain his footing while the worker took one look before running off. Obviously, he didn¡¯t want to deal with any of this as he was just doing his job. Diamond Head slid into the spot he¡¯d demanded and turned away as if nothing had happened. ¡°Who do you think you are?!¡± Erec shouted. The conversations around them slowed or cut off as people looked on. The noble slowly turned to face him¡ªone hand raised to his face and tapped the side of the helmet. In a flash, the metal visor melted away and revealed a youthful, far too-fair face with curly black locks. ¡°I am Colin Nitidus of House Nitidus, firstborn son to Duke Nitidus.¡± His voice rang smoothly, no longer muffled by the heavy equipment and vocalizers. ¡°Do you still have a voice to raise complaint to me, rust-bucket?¡± ¡°Yeah, I do. That¡¯s no way to treat other people. You can¡¯t demand things and shove people around however you want.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Colin frowned, his eyebrows furrowed but with an undercurrent of amusement. ¡°And who are you to tell me what I can and can¡¯t do? With Armor like that, I had assumed you were another commoner. They usually only loan out junkers like that to commoners with a sponsor, but something in your attitude tells me you¡¯re not what I thought. They know when to be quiet.¡± There was now muttering going around as people formed a circle to watch. Most would consider it a grave error to pick a fight with a Duke¡¯s son¡ªbut Erec didn¡¯t have much to lose. Nor did he particularly want to let this arrogant asshat get his way, like usual. ¡°What noble¡¯s crotch you fell out of doesn¡¯t change a thing. Do not treat people like that.¡± Erec stepped closer; for a moment, it looked as if Colin genuinely didn¡¯t know how to respond. The cocky smile returned to Colin¡¯s lips a moment later. ¡°I treat people how I wish, as befits my station. If you aren¡¯t a commoner, what family do you hail from?¡± It was dangerous territory to throw his house in the crosshairs of someone so high-ranked, but Erec had passed by any form of logical thought. I want to punch him. So, he didn¡¯t respond. The servos in his fist whirled as his fingers clenched into a fist; a warning flooded the visual display, informing him that the digit servos were under heavy strain and liable for malfunction. ¡°Whoa, whoa, cool down there.¡± Garin stepped in between them and bowed his head to Colin. ¡°Sorry things got this far, sir. He¡¯s just a little heated under that Armor. Air coolant malfunctions; you can imagine how it is on a day like today¡ª¡° ¡°His house. Which house does he hail from?¡± Colin tilted his head. ¡°House Audentia.¡± Erec fought to shove his friend aside as he spoke. But Garin refused to budge; moving his hale friend was easier said than done. ¡°Ah, a traitor¡¯s house. I¡¯d thought they were dissolved. Oh well.¡± Colin shrugged and turned away. As if he¡¯d lost interest in the situation. His finger tapped the side of his head, and the helmet visor slid back into place. Oh no, you don¡¯t. You don¡¯t get to shove me and just¡ª The elevator jerked to a stop. Above the great steel vault shutters began to part. Almost three feet thick, they¡¯d long served as the first line of defense for humanity against the harsh world. Now the heavy steel doors slowly vanished into the sides of the shaft, letting sunlight spill down. The sight of the blue sky above stunned Erec. He gave up struggling against his friend and caring about the jackass as the elevator moved again, taking them to the surface. Everywhere around the clearing were buildings made of white stucco and concrete. A fountain sat not too far away¡ªa statue dedicated to Queen Lothria sat in the center. She raised a sword to the heavens. Erec¡¯s jaw dropped, and the anger that had welled up in him vanished in the light of the beauty of this city. It was unlike the narrow winding corridors and carved sides of the cavern¡ªthe ground was inlaid with brickwork; clumps of green foliage grew haphazardly in conjunction with the city. A clear contrast to the lack of vegetation down below: it felt almost wrong to see people move freely with nature. Men and women milled about, some laborers, but most in rather fine clothing. ¡°Attention!¡± A loud voice boomed out and cut through the distraction of people exiting the elevator and the open world. ¡°All would-be initiates, form lines!¡± The nobles scrambled off the elevator; Erec turned towards the voice but wasn¡¯t sure what that command meant. Let alone who gave it. Garin yanked him by the arm, which triggered another warning courtesy of the Markos II Armor. It seemed it didn¡¯t like the sudden jolt as Garin pulled him away. It became pretty apparent that ¡°form lines¡± was a literal command. The nobles that knew what was happening slipped into a formation of two precise lines, spaced five feet apart. Erec fell in easy enough, thanks to his friend. He watched the few unlucky workers trapped in the elevator with this mess; as soon as the way was clear, they scrambled off to do their jobs. More shouting came from what must¡¯ve been a voice amplified by an Armor. ¡°Right face!¡± About forty percent of those assembled did a heel turn to their right. Erec, of course, had no clue and sloppily moved to the same position as the rest a full two seconds after the order once he caught on. ¡°Never before have I seen such a disgraceful right face. May the Goddess have mercy on us all! This trial is bound to be a slaughter." Finally, Erec made out the guy giving commands; he had a bulky Armor model with large pauldrons with a massive two-handed sword slung over the back. What he didn¡¯t have was hair. Without his helmet, the sun reflected off the guy¡¯s scalp and was damn near blinding. But¡­ By the Goddess, that loud voice isn¡¯t from some amplification. He can just yell that loud. Erec¡¯s jaw dropped in horror. ¡°Quit gawking. You all look like a sand-geckos with your bewildered postures and open mouths. Forward march!¡± Chapter 3: Trial The bald man led the would-be-initiates to an open ground cleared by the Academy on the city¡¯s outskirts. After a grueling two-hour-long march, accompanied by a constant barrage of yelling and screaming, they reached their destination. Say what you might about the method, but they made good pace. This gave them some time to ¡®socialize¡¯ before the trial. Erec idly watched the instructors running past¡ªmen and women donned in their full Knight Armor. A few wore Armor models classic to the different Orders, but the majority owned personalized sets. Either they¡¯d earned enough money, were from a wealthy family, or had attained a high rank for a custom model. The vast array was staggering. Given a chance, he¡¯d loved to take a peek into them and see how they functioned. The sheer variety was incredible: from the angled pauldrons to the slick steel-weave on lighter models. Their formation, modular bulk, and plating depended on the user¡¯s Vigor, Strength, or Agility. Some even contained rare components to enhance their spells or prayer. Each Armor was a perfect compliment to the Knight¡¯s unique Virtues. These modern marvels allowed man to rival the monsters creeping into the world. Before humankind had struggled to maintain themselves, they¡¯d been able to grow strong enough to protect their own. But now? Now they could thrive and start to reclaim the Earth. Erec watched a man with a typical sword and shield walk by¡ªan initiate judging by the rank insignia on the Armor¡¯s shoulder. There was a white tower amid a blue backdrop on his chest, signifying the Order of the Azure Tower. That¡¯s going to be me. Well, maybe not in that specific Order. It didn¡¯t matter much to him which Order he got into; any would do, aside from the Silver Flames. He took a deep, steadying breath. Already some noble families were arriving early and greeted in the Academy proper. It sounded like a grand time for them¡ªlavish meals¡ªand then spells gave them a front row seat to the action. At the end of the trial, the would-be-initiates were to walk into the main hall and have their offers presented to them. But what was the trial going to be? There¡¯d been grand melees, tournaments, and exams in the past. Every year they shifted the design of the test to meet whatever invisible demands they¡¯d been facing. It was a notorious sour point for the nobles since they were left to prepare their children for anything. For most of them anyway. Erec took a long look at the Duke¡¯s son. I guarantee he knows what sort of trial this will be. Not that it did him any good to dwell on that. Erec pulled up his Status one more time, partly out of paranoia and partly to keep himself busy.
Name: Erec of House Audentia Health: 100% | Mana: 100% | Stamina: 100% Holy Virtues: Strength: [Rank E] | [Tier 5] Vigor: [Rank F] | [Tier 7] Agility: [Rank F] | [Tier 9] Perception: [Rank E] | [Tier 1] Cognition: [Rank E] | [Tier 3] Psyche: [Rank F] | [Tier 6] Mysticism: [Rank F] | [Tier 1] Faith: [Rank F] | [Tier 1]
His Strength was his highest, by far, with two other Virtues in the E rank. Not a bad distribution, considering there wasn¡¯t a chance in hell he¡¯d rank up Mysticism or Faith. They were the basis of spells and prayers and required specific instruction or ungodly intuition to advance. Erec had neither the time nor desire to pursue them. That was fine; plenty of Knights made their careers without focusing on those Virtues. No one Knight could be a master of them all. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Well, any regular Knight. Erec felt another line of sweat running down his brow. Both exhaustion and the heat were starting to affect him. Ignore it. You¡¯ll be fine. The rest of the nobles gathered around into small clusters to talk; even Garin had wandered off to his other friends. Erec chose to stay in place, content with his privacy and alone time. It was better to save all of his energy for the upcoming trial than waste it frivolously dealing with nobles who¡¯d either dismiss him out of hand or avoid him due to his family¡¯s stigma. ¡°Lines!¡± That same gravely yell ran across the yard after some time. Everyone scrambled to get back to position. In the rush of people, Erec lost sight of Garin. Oh well. They formed dual lines as glowing orbs circled them. Those were the ¡®lens¡¯ for the spell transmitting the image to the hall. Rings of magic appeared by the speaker¡¯s head¡ªit seemed this time they¡¯d use magic to amplify their voice for the audience. ¡°Lords and Ladies, on this May of the 307th Year of the Goddess¡¯s Rebirth, we shall begin our Academy¡¯s prestigious annual trial! You might recall the endurance test of last year¡ªwhich left our students balanced on little pillars of land for hours at a time, only to progress to a game of flag capturing between the remaining would-be-knights. What a spectacle that was! This year we have the blessing of some truly distinguished nobility seeking our ranks. Three from the duchy, and to this Academy¡¯s great honor, a prince from the Royal family!¡± He hadn¡¯t heard of the Royal Family admitting a son. Nor was it apparent who it might be. Everyone had their faces hidden with the armor. Not that Erec knew what the princes looked like, even if one was around his age. ¡°A truly distinguished gathering of talent for the Knights to choose from¡ªto meet that and test the capabilities of these individuals, we shall be having a rare sort of trial. This trial will take several days and provide a much better measure of their real-world skills and strengths. Those hosted by the Academy will be provided with proper accommodation during this event. We apologize for any unexpected inconvenience.¡± Now that¡¯s shocking. Erec pictured all the nobles tucked away in the Academy starting to complain and demand compensation. What could take several days to show? He felt a flutter of nerves. Is my Armor going to hold up that long? With the last trial having an endurance test portion, he¡¯d hoped that they would prioritize a different sort of Virtues this time around. ¡°This trial is unlike any before. Far more practical. The would-be-knights will be divided into groups and sent past the wall with an accompanying Knight Commander. Each is tasked to retrieve something of value, slay creatures, or overall display their survival aptitude over the course of the trial. The Commander will take notes of their actions and judge them throughout their time outside of the wall. Would-be-initiates will be judged on their capacity to operate in a real-world scenario.¡± There was a long pause as the whispering ran unconstrained in the crowd of nobles. The test administrator shot the group a cold glare to silence them. In a second the rings above his head vanished, and he addressed the crowd with his normal voice. ¡°Now, do understand, this is a dangerous trial. Unpredictable things can occur outside of the walls, but to be a Knight is to embrace courage and danger no matter what Order you may join. Any not up to this task are not fit to be a Knight. Any that wish to withdraw is to do so now.¡± There was a heavy silence; no one wanted to be the first to admit they didn¡¯t have it in them. Erec stood straighter. No matter what, I¡¯m doing this. For me, there isn¡¯t a second option. There¡¯s no house I can retire to and work within. I will be a Knight and surpass Bedwyr if it¡¯s the last thing I do. The pressure mounted, and eventually, a single person broke ranks. They skulked out with a lowered head and quickly retreated from the gathering. Then another. And then three at once. Erec couldn¡¯t help but note that most of the people who left appeared to be in hand-me-down Armor like himself. Not all, but most. A smart move. Going in untrustworthy Armor is bone-headed. But I don¡¯t have any other choice. A stretch of three more minutes passed as the gaze of the would-be-knights divorced themselves from one another and returned to the test administrator. The man looked over the remainder of the would-be-initiates with a grin. ¡°To the bold does the world bend.¡± The magic rings once more formed above his head to activate the voice amplification spell. ¡°We have our contenders for this year¡¯s trial! Everyone remain in place, and my coordinators will begin dividing you.¡± The next few moments were a rush of activity as Knights stemmed forward and began to break off groups of five from the overall gathering. Erec felt lucky when one yanked him aside and set him in a group with Garin and another. Then less so when that pompous asshole Colin joined their group. Why Goddess? She conveniently chose not to answer his question, though he considered himself lucky that the Duke¡¯s son seemed uninterested in conversing. After learning their positions, he¡¯d outright dismissed both him and Garin as being worthy of his time and attention. Erec wasn¡¯t sure if it pissed him off or left him relieved to be ignored. However, as another person joined, it became apparent that Colin was familiar with them. Colin snorted under his helmet. ¡°I¡¯d recognize that house symbol anywhere. Lady Lyotte of House Luculentus, still having that petty argument with your father?¡± ¡°Colin.¡± She responded with a curt and icy tone. Garin looked between them¡ªalmost comical with how his head swayed. ¡°Uh?¡± Erec asked, elbowing his friend. ¡°Erec, we¡¯re in a group with a daughter and son of two different ducal lines. Holy shit. What in the name of the Goddess is going on?¡± A third member joined our group in a set of Armor even more beat up than Erec¡¯s¡ªit was missing plating on the back that left exposed wires sparking. Oh. That¡¯s what they¡¯re doing¡­ Chapter 4: Twin Stars
¡°¡­Rifts have a variable degree of stability. Of the three discussed in this study, one remained in a permanent state of activity, while the other two fluctuated between unstable and stable states in a seemingly random pattern. At first glance, this seeming state of randomness could be a result of the nature of the Rifts themselves. However, thanks to Knight Protector Exercitus and their courageous preliminary scouting of the other side of the inordinately stable Rift, we may note that Dame Exercitus observed several key similarities to the environment in which the Rift was discovered¡­.¡± - Julia Imaginosus, On The Nature Of Rifts (238, 3rd Era)
Noble houses all drank from the same cup of poison, known collectively as pride. It led to a belief in superiority and obsession with status. In the best, it led to making choices based on their names and titles. The weight of this ego weighed on those below, even if they had benevolent intentions. We¡¯re here to make them look good. It made sense. Stick two highly trained and privileged high nobility into a group with an average initiate and two using loaner Armors? It provided enough of a variance to make it seem plausibility random, yet with the space for the two wearing cutting-edge Armors. No doubt, they also had countless hours of high-quality training to shine brighter. It might¡¯ve made sense to add a third sub-par Armor user to the group instead of Garin if it was only the judges their houses cared about. But they weren¡¯t attempting just to impress the Academy. No, to ensure their house properly displayed overwhelming power, they needed someone like Garin to represent a typical noble house. A person to set a baseline and add a little bit of deniability for rigging a trial. How disappointing. Erec clenched his hand. He¡¯d have to try to fix that in the field, twice on the same day the warning had appeared. If he got in a fight and the servos gave out, that might spell real trouble. He let it go and sighed. This is fine, it¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t let it get in your head. Erec didn¡¯t need to impress the higher nobility; he didn¡¯t care what they thought. The only thing that mattered by the end of this trial was what their examiner thought. And by proxy, what the Orders thought of his potential. The political games were unimportant. Garin twisted to look at Erec, disengaging his helmet to show a big smile on his face. ¡°Holy shit, we¡¯re in the same group as a future Duke and Duchess! Do you know how insane that is?¡± ¡°Why are you getting so worked up?¡± Erec snapped. ¡°W-what do you mean? This is a great chance to make some good connections. Besides, everyone¡¯s going to be looking in our direction¡ªway more than the other groups. I bet a lot of the Orders are very interested in¡ª¡° ¡°Garin, they won¡¯t be looking at us; they¡¯ll be looking at them.¡± Erec jerked a finger towards the two stars of the event. The grin slipped a bit on his friend¡¯s face. ¡°Well, yeah, but I mean, we¡¯ll still be on screen. If we do something, we¡¯re bound to have a bigger shot of impressing someone. And making a good connection with high nobility opens a lot of doors.¡± ¡°They¡¯re going to compare us directly to those two. We¡¯re here so they look good. And do you want to be friends with Colin? I¡¯ve already seen enough of the guy for a lifetime.¡± Garin went silent and placed his helmet back on his head to block his face. His friend turned away. I hate doing that to him. But sometimes Garin needed a reality check; this entire trial was a competition. How you did mattered when compared to others. The only catch was that you couldn¡¯t get too hung up on it and hesitate since that¡¯d end with failure. His mother had often told him about self-fulfilling prophecy. You had to believe that you would succeed, but it was a double-edged sword; your mind could sabotage you and cause a cascade effect of failure. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! "But we''ll show them that they''re wrong," Erec vowed to Garin, giving a quick shake on his friend''s shoulder, which was hard to do with him in that sturdy set of Armor. Garin didn''t respond, but his posture changed, sinking into an eased position. For a long moment, they stood quiet as a group. Lyotte refused to meet Colin''s vain attempts to engage her in a conversation further, and the newest member of their five was content to keep quiet. No doubt, the anticipation and awkward rank differentials present in the group got everyone''s nerves frayed. The boy in the worst Armor was too busy trying to tweak his Armor. Which seemed like a good plan in theory, but Erec didn''t want to risk setting off some malfunction in his before they got to move, especially with finger servos acting up. After the rest of the groups were paired together, a solitary Knight made his way toward Erec¡¯s group. His rank was above what the announcer declared for their examiners. Erec¡¯s jaw dropped as he took in the solitary tree crest of the Verdant Oak, along with the symbol below for a Master Knight. The customized Armor had a series of exhaust pipes sticking out of deep green pauldrons. The helmet was gone, exposing the bearded and wild thick-hair man beneath. He looked less like a noble Knight and more like a homeless man who¡¯d stolen a suit of pristine Armor. ¡°Attention.¡± His voice carried softly through the air, but nobody in the group missed the command. This time, knowing what to do, Erec scampered into their makeshift line. Once they faced their test administrator, the Knight cleared his throat. ¡°Alright, alright. This is fine enough. I¡¯m not one to repeat myself, so listen closely. I¡¯m Sir Boldwick. I¡¯ve been a part of this order for nigh on fifteen years, and I¡¯ve lost a lot of friends outside these walls. Frankly, I find this test a gross disrespect to their memory, but it is what it is. As such, I¡¯m setting some ground rules. One. If I give you an order, you cease what you¡¯re doing and follow that order. Two. You keep your damn ears trained on me at all times. Three. There¡¯s no such thing as a hero, only corpses and survivors; best you don¡¯t forget that.¡± Despite that grim statement, Boldwick concluded his speech with a smile. ¡°Uh, sir. There are heroes.¡± Colin spoke up and puffed up his chest. ¡°Dame Suzeth, who dived into the Render Rift to buy the priests time¡ª¡° ¡°Corpse,¡± Boldwick replied with a sigh. ¡°She never came out. No way she survived in whatever world those beasts came from.¡± ¡°What about Sir Gallen? He went out and rescued those kids that slipped the gate and then fended off a cyclops on his own to protect them,¡± Lyotte said. ¡°Ah yes, Sir Gallen. He went on to extort the merchant families of those children for his ¡®heroics¡¯ and led to them having to sell their assets. A month later, they returned to living underground as paupers. Yeah. He¡¯s a real hero.¡± Boldwick snorted. ¡°I see nothing wrong with him demanding fair compensation for services rendered,¡± Colin said, this time stomping a foot at their instructor¡¯s blas¨¦ attitude. ¡°A hero is someone who acts off altruism. Supposedly. Naturally, such a thing doesn¡¯t exist very long, kids. So quit putting people on pedestals when they don¡¯t deserve it. It doesn¡¯t do you any good and doesn¡¯t do them good either. Besides, that silly idea is deadly, seen enough naive initiates get that romantic thought in their head and end up as another corpse. Your potential and your family don¡¯t matter when your heart stops beating.¡± At that, finally, Colin had no reply. The duke¡¯s son shut up and stood with a too-straight back and stared straight ahead towards the distance. Sir Boldwick rubbed the back of his head and sighed. ¡°Now, where was I? Ah, yeah, we¡¯ll be heading out. You¡¯ll have to forage for supplies. We won¡¯t be heading out more than twenty miles from the walls. There¡¯ll be plenty of places to scavenge and some small fry to take on, probably.¡± He looked between them all. ¡°Any questions?¡± Erec slowly raised his hand. Despite the distraction of the two spoiled nobles, he couldn¡¯t help but take in the constant fidgeting of the boy in the barely-functioning armor. Boldwick tilted his head and gave a slight smirk. ¡°Oh, you raised your hand. Fair enough, go ahead and ask. For the reference, though¡ªI don¡¯t care about that sorta thing; you got a question, ask.¡± ¡°Er¡ªright, uh, are we going to be given any provisions before we head out of the gate? Like camping supplies, rations, or repair kits¡­¡± Sir Boldwick laughed and shook his head, a tear coming to the corner of his eye. ¡°Oh, by the Goddess, no. Even though it¡¯d make perfect sense for a team of Knights to leave the walls supplied to the teeth, the administrators, in their infinite wisdom, thought it wouldn¡¯t be enough of a challenge. You¡¯ll get a water flask, anything you have on you, and that¡¯s about it.¡± Grand. Erec had a horrible premonition that his Armor would break down, but would it happen before the other guy¡¯s did? He watched the guy¡¯s head sink as they stared at the dirt. He realizes it too. Perhaps the administrators counted on it; this whole thing was designed to be unfair. But Erec had a trick up his sleeve, and it might just be the thing that let him stand out enough in this group to net him an Order. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s all the questions, what do you all say to getting this trainwreck going? Some of the other groups are starting out¡ªit¡¯s going to be a long walk, even with Armor. Sun¡¯s high in the sky, and there¡¯s no time like the present.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± They all responded in near unison. Chapter 5: Outside ¡°You have ten minutes.¡± Boldwick kindly informed Rodren, the poor unfortunate boy whose Armor kept breaking apart every mile since they¡¯d left the walls. Rodren, As Erec discovered, that was the name of other unfortunate pilot of outdated loaner Armor. Even if Rodren didn¡¯t have much to say so far, Erec felt a kind of kinship in their struggle. eagerly ¡°Thank you; I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Rodren called out. He engaged the Armor¡¯s exit procedure¡ªtypically, Knights and engineers repaired Armor on hydraulic racks to access hard-to-reach areas, but in the barren wastes outside of the wall, that wasn¡¯t an option. Erec moved away from the group and also started the exit procedure. The whirring of shifting pistons blasted his ears as the plates connected to the frame came to life. Though this particular suit wasn¡¯t as sophisticated as the models the rest of the group wore, it still managed to complete the procedure in only a minute; exposing an opening in the back of the suit to allow the pilot to evacuate. At once, Erec¡¯s sweat-stained skin soaked in the hot and dry air. It felt good. He¡¯d baked in the sun in the steel death trap, and today was particularly hot. But there was an intoxicating feeling to having the light from above torch his skin. A pleasant sting that left him wanting to spend these ten minutes spread out on the dirt and sand nearby. No one else but him was suffering from the lack of an internal cooling unit, which showed. Both in the blas¨¦ attitude of the spoiled nobles and in Garin¡¯s gratingly relaxed attempts to talk to Erec. As if this were just a pleasant stroll on the surface. As much as he wished he could spend these ten minutes soaking in the rare sun and letting himself feel the breeze, he couldn¡¯t. Ten minutes wasn¡¯t enough time to patch up a faulty Armor error that caused Rodren to keep lagging behind. Throughout his training, Erec had gotten a similar malfunction in his Markos II, so he knew the culprit behind it. Diagnosing and repairing it alone would take too much time. Erec rushed over to Rodren, who¡¯d hunched over as he tried to fix the frayed wire connecting the servos behind the plate. ¡°Error message?¡± Erec asked and knelt next to the stranger, though he already suspected he knew what he¡¯d hear. But never operate without a confirmation. Rodren hesitated and frowned. Is he suspicious of me? ¡°No, none of that. As far as I¡¯m concerned, we¡¯re in the same boat; the only difference is I happened to get a little luckier. I¡¯ll be damned if I end up jobbing for a couple of spoiled brats, and I won¡¯t see that happen to you.¡± That seemed to set Rodren at ease. ¡°Right uh¡ªright, it¡¯s a servos connection issue¡ªthe left leg is err, it¡¯s overheating somehow and jamming. But it doesn¡¯t feel particularly hot.¡± Erec frowned as he ran his fingers under the plates. The wires felt frayed and several stripped. It seemed that the rats had enjoyed a feast. He got to work sorting out the jungle of cables¡ªtrying to feel where the wires connected and mostly going off intuition. If he hadn¡¯t spent all of the past month jury-rigging his Armor, they¡¯d have been screwed. There. The break he was looking for¡ªa torn spliced wire connecting the joint of the back frame and the left leg. Among several, it¡¯d be hard to tell, but this one was vital since it ran to the process safety board and collected information. With it broken, the Armor would receive inaccurate information and jam up to keep the pilot safe from the leg reaching dangerous internal heat levels. With the internal cooling all screwy, it couldn¡¯t compensate for the fake temperature. At the end of the ten minutes, Rodren re-entered his Armor and shook out the leg¡ªthe servos worked like a charm. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. Chances are that my Armor¡¯s going to bust somewhere along this trip too, and you¡¯ll be able to repay the favor.¡± Erec sighed. ¡°But this is enough for now. Hopefully, it holds up until we make camp, then we¡¯ll see if we can¡¯t patch it up a bit more.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get why you¡¯re helping me; this is a competition, isn¡¯t it?¡± Erec took a long look at the two others in their fancy Armor. Garin stood a bit away from them¡ªthey appeared disinterested in associating with a Baron¡¯s son. ¡°I already told you, but it¡¯s fair for you to feel off kilter. You know, normally, I would be trying my damnedest to crush you and everyone else to win. This doesn¡¯t feel like a competition, though. Between us, at least. More like we¡¯re against them, and I don¡¯t want to lose.¡± Rodren paused and nodded his head¡ªbefore placing the helmet on and letting the locking mechanism engage. His fist rose in a gesture of support. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°All done?¡± Boldwick¡¯s metal legs kicked up small bits of dust with each step. He barely glanced between Rodren and Erec. ¡°Seems his Armor is up and functioning. Well done. Get your suit back on, and we¡¯ll get moving again. I¡¯d rather we get to shelter before the night comes; even this close to the wall, it¡¯s unpleasant to spend the night in the open.¡± Erec sighed and got back to his Armor. In another minute, he was once more clad in the suffocating ton of steel, and the minute past that, their little group was plodding down the worn trail. Outside their little oasis¡¯s wall, the vibrant green steadily gave way to brown and decay. Converting from the lush life to an almost barren and hostile wasteland, he¡¯d known that their engineers and magic provided enough water to sustain their society, especially on the surface¡ªworking with them in the bio-caverns taught him as much. But without that additional influence, the world outside of the wall scraped by. It¡¯d never recovered. You might see patches of long and dried grass, maybe wild grains, and even clusters of anemic corn. Over time it might expand and begin to reclaim some life. But it¡¯d take much longer than the three hundred years they¡¯d had. The land had been irredeemably damaged. Those without the Goddess¡¯s blessing weren¡¯t as resistant to the changes wrought by the holy fire. Their magic could help influence the world, but expanding outward meant constant opposition against the monsters that now roamed and the increased risk of a Rift opening up in undefended territory. ¡°Erec was it?¡± the faint voice of Lyotte drifted in from his right. Erec nearly missed it due to another warning from his Markos II, but he turned his head slightly to acknowledge her. ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°Is this your first time out here?¡± She asked. ¡°No one¡¯s allowed outside the wall except for the Knights and the Church, right?¡± ¡°I meant out here¡ªbeneath the sun. I saw your face when you left your Armor.¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, it is,¡± Erec admitted and reluctantly gave more attention to her. The Armor she wore was no less impressive than Colin¡¯s, though his Armor had a more sleek feel¡ªhers was a more bulky and heavy setup. He imaged that it must¡¯ve taken quite a feat of Vigor to handle, especially at their relative level. If a pilot couldn¡¯t handle what an Armor demanded, they were using it suboptimally and putting themselves at risk. He doubted any high-noble house would risk any in their line to those sorts of injuries. He returned his attention to the road as the conversation lapsed into silence. She made him uncomfortable; he didn¡¯t want to picture her or Colin as anything but spoiled nobles to be crushed. Lyotte had a different idea. ¡°You¡¯re from House Audentia.¡± ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°I know where you¡¯re from; it¡¯s not as if your House is a secret after what your mother did.¡± Erec stopped in his tracks, as did Lyotte. ¡°Are you trying to pick a fight? I¡¯ve heard just about everything about my mother and what a dirt bag she was from enough stuck-up assholes already; spare me the lecture.¡± Erec damn near growled. The heat, Colin, and now this? His tolerance level for bullshit was hitting dangerously low levels; he needed time to himself to cool off. ¡°No, not that. I didn¡¯t mean to offend you. I, well¡ªI imagine it must¡¯ve been hard to go all this time to hear that thing. To be black-marked from something you didn¡¯t even do¡­¡± Lyotte¡¯s voice hitched a bit, and she fidgeted in a way that threw Erec off balance. The hell? Who brings up that sorta crap¡ª¡°I¡¯m not interested in talking about that, okay? I¡¯m my own person and not even the heir to our house. It¡¯s not very polite to bring that sort of thing up with someone you don¡¯t know to begin with, but¡­¡± Erec paused and let out a pent-up breath. Even though her face was hidden beneath that helmet, he could tell by the way her body was shifting she was uncomfortable. Why am I pandering to her anyway? ¡°I¡¯ll let it go. I overreacted, and I¡¯m sorry.¡± "No! I''m the one who''s sorry I didn''t mean to¡ª" "Quit stalling back there! Move it, you two. Goddess, have mercy if this is the crop of new initiates we have." Boldwick barked out from a good fifty feet away, having stopped in his tracks to glare at them. "C''mon, let''s get back to walking. I''m not here to make friends, okay? I don''t care what you think about my family or me or what any of the high-nobility gives two fucks about. I''m here to join the Academy and make my way in this world." Erec started to march ahead. Then he stopped as he didn''t hear any footsteps behind him. Lyotte froze, refusing to move despite being ordered to by the test administrator. "Are you crazy? What are you doing?" "I¡ª" she was unnaturally stiff. "I''m fine, don''t worry about me." "I didn''t mean to make you upset¡ªI don''t have the space to worry about this sort of thing or what¡ª" "I''m not upset. Go on. " Lyotte said. "You two, if I have to repeat myself for the third time, I''ll consider it an act of insubordination, and I''ll note that down on my report. Move. It." Boldwick yelled this time; his voice carried heavy across the empty waste. Erec flinched at the gesture. Thankfully though, Lyotte began to move again, slow, complying with the order with the least possible effort. Erec gave her one last look before breaking out into a slow jog to catch up with Garin. What the hell is with her? End Of Book 1 Hello all! This is the end of what is allowed to have off of Amazon for the first book in this series; it covers chapters 1-92--all edited and complete additionally with an Audiobook narrated by Roger Clark, who voiced Arthur Morgan in Red Dead 2, if you fancy audible as much as I do too. It is also subject to the Kindle Unlimited program, so if you have that as well, you''re able to read and enjoy it for free, as a superior version to what had been here before (both with extensive edits from myself, and editors to help make it as clean as possible) The rest of this book can be found below: Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Knights Apocalyptica

The Apocalypse came. Chaos reigns. A new generation of magic-wielding Knights rises.

The Earth met its end, bathed in holy fire. Rifts spill monsters into our world. Ravaging everything. Destroying civilization as we knew it. Now, the Kingdom of Cindrus is the last bastion of humanity. The last vestiges of a broken people clinging to life deep underground. But not all hope is lost. Erec has been blessed by the Goddess. From a line of disgraced nobility, he seeks to reclaim his family¡¯s honor and join the prestigious academy ¨C the institution that trains the next generation of Knights. With a power that brings him to an uncontrollable Rage, and an old-world AI aiding him, Erec seeks to reconquer the world with the remains of human-kind. Knights Apocalyptica is an action packed, apocalypse LitRPG from debut author Zach Skye. Loaded with progression, a detailed system, power armor, a magic academy, and so much more, it''s perfect for fans of The Iron Prince, Bastion, and 12 Miles Below. Chapter 185: To Burn Down A Church War never changes, just the place, the time, and the people involved. At least, that was the first claim Boldwick made to Erec as he sat down in the man''s office. It was a scarce and practical room; scarce in that only maps, a desk, and seating made up the space. Practical in the fact that the seating was truly comfortable and anything a Master Knight might need to plan was within arms'' reach of the desk. The maps lining the wall were marked up, fresh ink still on them from their latest expedition beyond the wall. A little over three weeks passed since their return from Vega, destroying the Vortex Industries facility on the coast. Consequently, the journey exposed the general public to the fact that people lived outside their walls. Not only that, but some of those people were now allies, with even more potential on the horizon. It''d be beyond wrong to say things were returning to normal. But it wasn''t only Erec and Boldwick crammed in the office; the Master Knight poured out four glasses, the clear crystal-like bottle of amber whiskey neatly divided into cups and then divvied out to the others. Dame Robin was next to him, standing on the other side of the desk. Her arms crossed and a sour expression on her face. Gwen was next to Erec, also sitting. Her legs folded, and she had a confused expression on her face at this whole event. They''d been dragged out of their morning routines out of nowhere for this little meeting. "I''ve told the Grandmaster what Erec told me," Boldwick confided, grabbing his glass. He didn''t need to tell the others that the rest of the whiskey was meant for them¡ªthey mirrored him, holding their cups. "Which is?" Robin asked. Boldwick nodded, and then a glyph appeared in his hand; the red sigil formed and a small wave of flames washed out like a pulse. Erec felt it pass over him, his skin warmed by it, but otherwise, the flames passed by; once they hit the room''s edges, they returned inward to the sigil and vanished in a puff of gray smoke. ¡°Wards are intact, short of Grandmaster Lotus listening in¡ªwhich he¡¯s unlikely to do, and even if he were, by now Oak has probably debriefed some of the Grandmasters. We should be safe to talk freely.¡± Boldwick swirled his cup of whiskey, and then tipped it back, downing the whole thing in a single gulp. Gwen and Robin exchanged a look, and Erec settled into his seat, knowing where this discussion would go. ¡°War with the Church is inevitable. I¡¯ve cleared it with Oak, and he came to the same conclusion, everything points in that direction, even without our latest revelation. I know none of you has particularly strong ties to the clergy, but it is understandable for anyone to have reservations about that statement; it has been a cornerstone of our society since the start. However, what you do not know is why this is so vital. The secret I¡¯m about to share here cannot be repeated outside of special circumstances to anyone; as my students, you have my trust, and in the coming days, I will need you to be tools to progress what must be done.¡± ¡°You have my blade, as always, Boldwick,¡± Robin said. ¡°¡¯ Course, we¡¯re with you,¡± Gwen said, with a bit more hesitation, touching the back of her neck. In another life, maybe Erec would have felt the same fear of running against the church. He knew Gwen didn¡¯t have a particular love for them, but it was an insane declaration taken without context. With what he¡¯d seen and how they¡¯d treated him and his family, this was a long time coming, even before his mother told him the truth. ¡°What we know as the Church is not an entity that worships the Goddess. Its priests are connected to a woman spawned by the silver fires that the Goddess brought upon our world¡ªour best guess is that her talent has allowed this to occur. It¡¯s a safe assumption that her Strength is well into a cataclysm level. Perhaps even Armageddon if we sat there speculating the potential results of accumulating power to rival the Goddess for three hundred years¡­ With their ritual, the priests connect to her. The full details of the mechanisms of this and her exact power, location, or even if she¡¯s still present in this world are subject to investigation. However, it¡¯s suspected to be parasitic. We do know, however, through Erec¡¯s mother¡ªa former Knight¡ªthat this secret is why she left the Kingdom in fear. We also know that anything the priests witnessed is as good as witnessed by this mysterious entity.¡± There was a hush from the two other Knights in the rooms. Gwen inhaled sharply, and Robin didn¡¯t know what to do with what she¡¯d heard, which was fair enough. Erec expected that news of this caliber and type would cause such reactions. He didn¡¯t expect Robin¡¯s eyes to turn to him, soft and with an air of care and sadness, nor that Gwen would grab and squeeze his hand. Eric shook it free and refused to meet either of their eyes. He didn¡¯t need the support. His mother, now in her heaven, was as good as dead to him. Though he hadn¡¯t found the courage yet to tell his father or brother about it either¡ªoutside of the Knights and the few reports he¡¯d had to deliver to the higher-ups about her personally, he didn¡¯t feel like letting anything about her come out of his mouth, even talking about the selfish woman brought a sour taste to his tongue. ¡°So that¡¯s why you were worried about someone hearing in,¡± Robin said softly. ¡°I don¡¯t see what we can do.¡± Gwen put it simply. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in making blades that cut blindly, and for me to show that I have trust in you is payment for the trust you¡¯ve put in me to take your lives in my hands. Some in the Knighthood would insist the point of us is to be unquestioning blades wielded by those above. Knowing why we must do something, I believe, is what makes a Knight. If we are not to see the reasons behind what is being asked of us and can square it with the vows and commitments we¡¯ve given to this world, then how can we truly act with all of our hearts in pursuing what is right.¡± Boldwick set his empty glass on the table, going to pour more whiskey inside of it. Erec nursed his glass and considered the words carefully. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Telling Gwen and Robin was a risk; he supposed it was the Master Knight¡¯s call on which risks were worth it. In the end, though, them being in the know of this change didn¡¯t affect his plans. None of this had. From the moment he¡¯d heard the truth of this matter from his mother''s lips, he¡¯d known what path he¡¯d take. That man¡ªor monster, or¡­ Whatever you call an intelligent being from other worlds that he¡¯d met in his mother''s heaven had it right about him. He would walk a path of death and line it now with the corrupting force that sought to throw him from the Kingdom. That broke his family. That even now, would hate him for the shape of his soul. He would burn the church down ashes and spread those ashes over the wasteland. ¡°The coming days will be trying, and we will have to rely on one another. Because in the chaos of what will be a defining moment for this Kingdom¡¯s future, each other may be all we have left in the end. War is like that; it takes, and that has never changed, in the old world or in this.¡± Boldwick said starkly, then finished his second glass. The rest of the others joined him. After that, there wasn¡¯t much talk, but the four found company in one another, with a common goal of finishing the bottle. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª When Erec returned from the trip to Boldwick''s office, he found Garin reclined on the couch in their dorm. Munchy was currently defacing the wall of greenery by the south-facing window. His whiskers were twitching a mile a minute as he sniffed and navigated the vines with his far too chubby frame. As for his master and Erec¡¯s best friend, Garin hadn''t a care in the world. His textbook sat unopened and unread on the table, and his coursework barren without even a scratch of pencil on it, despite being due in less than twelve hours. Though Garin slacking off wasn¡¯t a new sight or odd in any measure, Erec found it¡­ A little grating. Especially given that there was a ticking time bomb of a problem in the Kingdom that was set to explode any moment. Not that Garin knew that. Still, after what they¡¯d seen and what they¡¯d done, the ease with which his friend slipped back into non-nonchalance and court life back in the Academy was almost startling. ¡°You¡¯re losing your edge,¡± Erec said as he crossed his arms. Garin looked up at him and smiled, ¡°No, just taking a much-deserved break. Conserving my energy.¡± ¡°For what? Were you planning to ask me to go sparring when I got back?¡± ¡°No, nothing like that. I¡¯ve been invited to another gala down on the second cavern this weekend; Olivia invited me, and now that the King is talking about opening trade routes outside of the walls... I expect plenty of higher nobility will relish the chance to discuss our expedition with the people personally involved.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ Not the best use of your time is it? I¡¯m not saying to go crazy with training, but¡­ You never know what¡¯s coming around the corner.¡± Erec asked. ¡°Matter of perspective. I made some contacts, not as many as I might have hoped, you know, when we weren¡¯t out and getting into fights or stuffed in my hotel room as a punishment.¡± Garin rolled his eyes, and Erec recalled the trouble they¡¯d landed in after the first night in Vega. To this day, Erec still wasn¡¯t even sure what those people accused Enide of that landed them in so much trouble to break out into a fight with the Casino. Card counting? Wasn¡¯t that the point of the game¡ªto count to twenty-one? It didn¡¯t matter, though, he supposed. This version of Garin didn¡¯t match what his friend had been saying on the road¡ªthe guy who didn¡¯t want to fall behind. ¡°Trust me, you¡¯re going to want all the Strength you can get soon,¡± Erec promised. ¡°Connections are a form of that, Erec.¡± ¡°Connections aren¡¯t what stops a blade from landing on you, nor, as you demonstrated yourself, allow you to track down escaped prisoners. Might I remind you that you found Seven-Snakes by pushing your power to its limits.¡± ¡°¡­Might I remind you that my power involves making connections with animals, and you used me¡ªyour connection¡ªto find Seven-Snakes.¡± Garin raised a hand and sat up; his eyes had a sheen of delight to them. He was having fun with the conversation. And he¡¯d had a point, even if he¡¯d expertly danced around Erec¡¯s point. Erec sighed. His friend was in one of those moods; he knew Garin. Right now, to him, everything in the world was peachy. Not for the first time did he envy that ability to see nothing but optimism or to turn everything into a sign of good. It made him not want to rain on the parade, so Erec cut himself short. Would only that he could spell out why hard training might be the best course of action in this lull of violence, but to do so would say secrets that would endanger Garin. Secrets he¡¯d promised to keep to his chest. Instead, he went over and sat next to his friend, leaning back on the couch. Garin threw an arm over his shoulder and let out one long contented sigh. ¡°You know, the Pendragons should be back this weekend.¡± He said, with a bit of a smile. ¡°They will.¡± Erec agreed, trying to tamp down the excitement. He¡¯d made a few people he¡¯d call friends among their number, but one in particular it¡¯d already been too long without. Enide would be with them and she¡¯d be seeking him out the moment she came through that steel curtain. ¡°And¡­ I think you should take her to that gala I¡¯ve been invited to.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t invited.¡± Garin rolled his eyes. ¡°Slayer of the White Stag¡ªHero of the Kingdom¡ªwith the stories that¡¯ve been rolling through the courts about your adventures in the wastes, I¡¯m pretty sure you¡¯re invited to almost any event you wish. I can confirm with Olivia, but I¡¯m sure House Luculentus would be delighted to have you there. Besides, the more you show up at court with your girlfriend, the more the nobility will have to accept what this new future looks like.¡± ¡°No thanks, I think I¡¯d rather enjoy my weekend.¡± ¡°Trust me on this: I wouldn¡¯t push so hard to make you if I didn¡¯t think the message it sent wasn¡¯t worth it. For you and for Enide.¡± For Enide? There was a seriousness now in Garin¡¯s face, one that Erec couldn¡¯t put away. Though the idea of attending a gala almost made him want to rush back to Boldwick¡¯s office for another glass of whiskey, he could sense something to this he couldn¡¯t see. Maybe it was the booze talking or the cast of his friend¡¯s face, but¡­ ¡°Alright, fine.¡± Garin settled back down once more, relaxed again. ¡°Wonderful. Oh, by the way, we¡¯re taking Colin and his betrothed too¡­ You¡¯re in charge of dragging him along since we need him there too.¡± Chapter 186: A King Not In Yellow
¡°He smiled, saying, "Seek her throughout the world." I said, "Why tell me of the world? My world is here, between these walls and the sheet of glass above; here among gilded flagons and dull jewelled arms, tarnished frames and canvasses, black chests and high-backed chairs, quaintly carved and stained in blue and gold." "For whom do you wait?" he said, and I answered, "When she comes I shall know her."¡± - Robert W. Chambers, The King In Yellow (1895, 2nd Era)
¡°Colin,¡± Erec tried to get his friend¡¯s attention for the third time¡ªbut, like the other two failed attempts, Colin ignored him and continued leaning over on the desk in the laboratory. They were in a sterile room within the depths of the Seventh Cavern. Officially, as of Erec¡¯s return to the Kingdom, the only functioning branch of Vortex Industries left on the planet as far as he and VAL were aware. Lionel, the trusted steward of his estate, had taken great care to complete the last steps in preparing the research facility in Erec¡¯s absence. Now, they had the all-clear to start working¡ªbut Erec had yet to hire staff. Despite being back for three weeks, he still had the Academy to contend with and the fallout of their return. It was just starting to reach a point where he might pursue more personal projects like this. Yet the empty space of the lab, the fact almost no one knew about it, and Colin trying to escape the Academy had an unintended effect. Colin had claimed a space in Erec¡¯s lab. Carving out his own desk to throw himself into the work of Glyph experimentation. He¡¯d spent this whole weekend like this, hunched over with a pen, working countless slips of paper and filling them with theoretical glyph work. Erec rubbed his eyes. ¡°You missed a line,¡± VAL buzzed, and Colin paused, crumpled the paper, and threw it onto the white tiled floor of the lab amid the rest of his mess. ¡°Damn it all,¡± Colin swore, ¡°If I¡¯d included that line, it would have over-charged the glyph and looped around.¡± The two of them had developed a potent alliance and, in the confines of this lab, made it near impossible for Erec to steal either of their attention. ¡°You can¡¯t just hide in here; if I¡¯m to go to this event, then you will as well,¡± Erec said. Colin sighed. Then, finally, he set his pen down, only to shoot Erec a withering glare. ¡°As I¡¯ve informed you, rust-bucket. House Lucuentus and House Nitidus are not on friendly terms; they are curs of polite society, and I shall not grace their function with my presence. I will not attend.¡± ¡°Yeah, you said that when I first showed up, but again, that kind of falls apart when faced with the fact that your father is attending.¡± ¡°Cheers to him. If his recovery is proving well enough that he feels compelled to waste his time with our societal enemies, then may he waste it. I, on the other hand, shall stay at my desk and work.¡± ¡°Your desk?¡± Erec asked. ¡°Indeed, I¡¯ve claimed this space in your laboratory in the name of my house. Rejoice in my company, for its tie to the Nitidus line has undoubtedly boosted the value in this otherwise barren room.¡± Erec scratched the back of his head. ¡°This isn¡¯t about you wanting to avoid going to a Lucuentus event¡ªwe both know that¡¯s not it, Colin. You could care less. You¡¯d show up and insult the family, and it¡¯d be another day for you, and few would bat an eye. Hell, I know you¡¯re not much of a people person either, but I don¡¯t think that¡¯s why you¡¯re so reluctant to attend.¡± ¡°As I¡¯ve said, I¡¯m reluctant to go because I have work to do. With these eyes, I¡¯ve uncovered much about magic that leaves me with a plethora of possibilities to explore. A simplistic mind like your own can¡¯t hold the weight of such discoveries to marvel at, so I pity you the way I pity an ant.¡± Colin snorted and then moved to scratch more notes on the page. This behavior from Colin was¡­ New. On one hand, Erec was happy his friend had ignited a passion for Mysticism. On the other, he wished that between Garin and Colin, the two could balance one another out and find the in-between for preparing for the future and taking care of themselves¡ªbecause as Erec took in the rest of the lab, Erec could see a lazy cot in the corner with dirty clothes and empty plates near it. Colin might be diving into the depths of magic, but it came at the cost of taking care of himself and taking in the bags under his friend¡¯s eyes; if a fight were to break out, all of this work would have no point under these conditions. Some of this behavior was that of a fevered mind trying to track discoveries. Erec knew VAL well enough to see that echoed in his friend. But the difference was that Colin was also using this to escape reality, much like Erec had thrown his all into the expedition to run from what the Kingdom had been demanding of him. ¡°You can¡¯t avoid her forever,¡± Erec said. Colin¡¯s pen tore through a new bundle of paper, which he promptly balled and threw into his pile of garbage. ¡°That one wouldn¡¯t have worked anyway,¡± VAL¡¯s voice buzzed through the room, finally gliding away from Colin. It¡¯d manifested a smaller cube than its main ¡®body,¡¯ secured in Erec¡¯s Armor. It left a duplicate in the lab to facilitate operations, but Erec made it swear to keep its presence here unknown to those outside the Order. The last thing they needed was the Church marching into his land and jump-starting a war with the Count of Audax for harboring illegal tech before they were prepared. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. As eager as he might be to kick start that, he knew it wasn¡¯t the right time yet. But he was determined to start learning¡ªhe didn¡¯t want to be a piece in others games anymore. ¡°I can, and I shall,¡± Colin swore, ignoring VAL. ¡°How is that?¡± Erec responded. ¡°We will marry, I¡¯ll give her half of the estate to dwell, and I shall reside in the other half; there is no reason we must see one another nor act any more cordial than demanded.¡± Erec sighed, pulling out a lab chair and sitting in it, resting his hands in his lap. ¡°Alright, so you¡¯re not into her¡ªI get that, Colin. But I don¡¯t think ceding half your ¡®estate¡¯ to a woman you¡¯re not interested in is the right path. I¡¯ve talked to Alexandra; I get the feeling that if you were honest with your feelings about this to her, she¡¯d probably be right there next to you fighting against this entire thing proceeding¡ªif that¡¯s what you want, then I¡¯m by your side too. I don¡¯t care much for the formalities of nobility. Never have. But you have to have the courage to take what you want for your life.¡± ¡°It is not that. My betrothed is overbearing and obnoxious, and I don¡¯t care much for her attitude, but a life together isn¡¯t the worst thing imaginable.¡± Colin rolled his eyes and gave up on working on the glyphs. As well, he should. If Erec learned nothing from the expedition, it was that you couldn¡¯t run from your problems. ¡°Sounds like a great basis for a relationship,¡± Erec matched Colin¡¯s tone, and also, to drive his point home, he rolled his eyes the same way Colin did. ¡°I will marry her. It¡¯s fine for our families to unite, and of all the potential suitors, she¡¯s independent enough that I will have little interaction with her daily affairs.¡± ¡°That is neither good for you nor her. You should seek a partner that supports you and can lift up with one another.¡± ¡°All I need is myself. And space to conduct my research.¡± Colin replied. ¡°Science is a respectable choice.¡± VAL¡¯s mechanical voice cut through the space as it settled on the table near Erec. ¡°However, if you wish to go down the path of a lone researcher who gives it all to science and their career¡ªexcellent choice, by the way, go-getter. Then, it¡¯s best you be upfront with your intentions. The last thing you need is a spouse who¡¯s not on the same page, ruining your work ethic by dragging in unnecessary dramatics and relationships.¡± Eric glared at the machine. ¡°That is not the goal here, VAL. Colin does not need to be a loner doing research constantly.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see why not. There¡¯s a certain category of humans who dedicate it all in the name of pursuing research! Why not bring that tradition into the modern era? He also has a wealthy family, so if he needs start-up capital, they can provide the seeds for that venture as well.¡± VAL retorted. ¡°It¡¯s not that!¡± Colin shouted, standing up, huffing, ¡°I like Alexandria. I do. I¡­ Don¡¯t know what to do with her, and I can¡¯t stomach admitting that in her presence, the woman is abhorrent in her overt affections. If she got the inkling that her attentions returning to me after the wasteland was welcomed, Goddess knows when I would find spare time to work. I¡¯ve seen you and Enide, and Garin and Olivia¡ªyou waste time that could be spent learning other trades colluding and whispering sweet nothings.¡± ¡°As I said, he¡¯s the type of human that would rather sit in the darkness grinding away. Respectable.¡± VAL once more encouraged. ¡°I am not. I am not them, and I am not that. I want my space and my independence to be me, and I¡¯m not about to forfeit that.¡± ¡°No one said you had to. But I am saying that if you want that, and you want to proceed with this marriage, this is a conversation you should have with her.¡± Erec pointed out. ¡°Everyone changes when they get to know another on that level. And I do not want to change. I¡¯m already the prime example of peak nobility¡ªthere is nothing another can bring to my character that would enhance it instead of diminish it.¡± Colin beat a hand against his chest, his eyes wide and livid. The worst part about that statement was the flush on his face. Part of him believed that. He truly did. Not all of him. Erec had seen in the field that there was more going on in that thick skull of his that could change for the better¡ªbut¡­ This was like the same kid that Erec beat the hell out of in their trials because of his annoying self-obsession. ¡°By the Goddess¡­¡± Erec groaned. It was going to be a long night. Garin gave him the task of sorting Colin out and completing this plan. According to Garin, Colin¡¯s attending wasn¡¯t an option. But, after some prodding, what had been an option was whether or not Colin needed to accompany his betrothed. He didn¡¯t know what his friend had planned for this Gala, but there was more to it, and when it came to societal functions¡­ Long ago, Erec had learned to trust his friend. But staring down the defiant Duchy-Spawn in front of him now, Erec had to muster his courage to face the challenge ahead. Not for the first time did he whisper a small curse to Garin for putting this job on his shoulders instead of doing it himself. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª Bedwyr reclined on the couch in Erec¡¯s study; his brother had his arms slung behind his head and feet kicked up on the table. For once, and for the first time in a long time, his brother was actually relaxed. ¡°Welcome sight to see you down here this weekend; I would have thought you busy training,¡± Erec said as he walked in; the study was barebones, given he¡¯d taken the treasury of House Audax and instead launched a bunch of projects intended to enhance the Seventh Cavern instead of furnishing his manor more. Given how little he intended to stay down here and that he¡¯d grown up with nearly nothing¡­ He didn¡¯t see the excessive need to throw a bunch of useless crap everywhere, aside from what was necessary to pass his house as respectable to judging visitors. This room could be described as one of the most comfortable in the manor. Any artwork he took a shine to¡ªparticularly the stone carving of a phoenix¡ªleft by the previous enhancements had been moved here. There was a fireplace in the center of the room against the wall, a modest red and gold-trimmed rug, and the most comfortable seating. Erec¡¯s desk for trips down here was tucked in a corner, which still had his school books propped open. Bedwyr opened a heavy lid and looked at Erec. ¡°Gwen made me take a break.¡± ¡°Gwen¡¯s smart,¡± Erec said; it was good to push yourself to your limits, but he¡¯d learned that recovery was also a piece of the puzzle when not amid war. That balance was hard to find; Colin, Garin, and even his brother struggled. Though, Erec was doing his best to moderate himself. You had to hone your edge for battle but not dull it through overuse. ¡°But typically, you stay in the Academy for your breaks, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I do,¡± Bedwyr said and then sat straighter, his eyes locked on Erec. ¡°But I heard something about that trip you took.¡± Erec¡¯s breath caught. This was it, a moment that had been coming for a while. He¡¯d known he should¡¯ve been the one who reached out first, but til now, he kept putting it off. Before Bedwyr even spoke, he knew what his brother was here for. ¡°Did you see her?¡± The air grew heavy; Erec rolled his shoulders and tried to pick his words carefully. Ultimately, he gave up and opted to lay it out there. ¡°I did. Mom¡¯s alive. And she isn¡¯t coming back.¡± Chapter 187: Brother Beatdown Bedwyr paced in front of Erec, a wooden sword gripped in his hand; they were in the depths of his estate, a small training hall. Which was in all actuality¡­ Just a long disused parlor with a fine wooden floor that Erec had thrown a rack with sparring weapons into and called a day. After revealing that he¡¯d met their mother, his brother hadn¡¯t had the best reaction. Bedwyr demanded that they come here to test their metal against one another in the fallout of that all-too-brief conversation and its revelations. Or, in this case, wood. All of this, instead of breaking down their real issue, which was that their mother ran away in fear. Erec had tried, but Bedwyr didn¡¯t want to hear it. No. Not in a mood like this. ¡°Tell me her exact words,¡± Bedwyr demanded. ¡°I don¡¯t have her exact words,¡± Erec replied, ¡°And they don¡¯t matter. We both know that actions speak louder than what she might say¡ªshe ran away instead of fighting for the kingdom, for us. For her family. All on the words of people that aren¡¯t even human.¡± ¡°Yet you refuse to tell me what she is so afraid of.¡± Bedwyr¡¯s eyes grew dark, and he gave the wooden sword in his hand a practice swing. ¡°That I cannot tell you. Not now.¡± ¡°I am the older brother; even if we put that aside, I have as much right to know as you. Don¡¯t I? Why did she leave Erec? What was she afraid of?¡± That hate swirled in Bedwyr¡¯s face. The same bottled feeling echoed in Erec as he thought of his meeting with their mother. ¡°She¡¯s a coward.¡± Erec spat back. If only he could tell Bedwyr, could say to him the details of what their mother had run from. But he knew. More than anyone, he knew that the why didn¡¯t change the results of what she¡¯d done. To tell his brother wouldn¡¯t make these feelings better; it would just put Bedwyr at risk at a time when Erec couldn¡¯t defend him. But his brother refused to see that, couldn¡¯t see that. Not yet. To think how the times had turned. ¡°You persist, then I suppose I shall find my answer in this fight,¡± Bedwyr said. ¡°I promise you, even if you knew, it wouldn¡¯t make you happy. Nothing can replace the hole she left in our family. No matter what excuse she might yield, and believe me, she did. She hefted it like a shield. The only people we have are one another. She isn¡¯t coming back¡ªit would have been better if she died out there instead of what she did.¡± ¡°Take. It. Back.¡± Bedwyr growled, then cut through their conversation. Literately. He slammed forward through the space between them, wooden sword slashing at Erec. It was a sloppy, overhead swing, which Erec caught with his practice axe. Still, the weight of the blow made his arm numb¡ªnot an easy feat. He pushed his brother off and gave him a weary look. With a skill like his brothers¡ªbalanced growth¡ªfor such a sloppy attack to be so strong was concerning. Not many people came close to Erec¡¯s Strength, and though he was confident that attack wasn¡¯t his equal¡­ Who knew what the rest of Bedwyr¡¯s skillset had evolved to? His brother had been training hard, even before going on the expedition; that had been where his brother¡¯s dedication lay. But this was clear proof. But it wasn¡¯t a singular attack¡ªthe second he pushed off the first hit, Bedwyr followed with another. This time, he aimed at his midsection, which drove Erec back. Then another. They were following in a rapid pattern of less than a second, each slice decisive and growing more controlled by the moment. A hit would sting, but the implication of being hit by his brother¡¯s sword carried far more weight than that. If any of these were connected, it would mean his brother bested him or was close to it. A prideful buried part of Erec flared in response to that revelation. He spun out of the reach of his brother¡¯s flurry of blows, committing to maneuvering his body and deflecting swings instead of pressing his attack. This was his first fight with his brother for quite some time. He¡¯d grown, oh so much since then. But deep within him, the same question he¡¯d wanted answered concretely bubbled to his mind. Who was Stronger? That question compelled the fire within him to catch and burn, his eyes turning bright red and flooding the world with the same blood-drenched hue. Like it or not, Fury was coming into this fight. No. With a challenge like this, he couldn¡¯t help himself. ¡°Tell me what she said!¡± Bedwyr screamed; though his attacks were growing more composed, the rage in his face was only blooming. The blows grew in intensity, but their weight felt lesser with each growing second. His brother moved with the grace and expertise of a Knight beyond both of their years¡ªlike his hands were meant to wield a sword, even if this one was but a poor imitation of the greatsword he preferred. An average first-year Initiate would have had no chance against this string of blows. Hell, a second-year initiative shouldn¡¯t have been capable of them. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. But if his brother were born to wield a sword, then Erec was born to wield an axe. His instincts kicked in, flaring to life. Born of multiple desperate life or death struggles in the wasteland and fueled on a fire burning so bright it could consume the entire room. ¡°Speak!¡± Bedwyr demanded. ¡°Drop it,¡± Erec growled. ¡°It¡¯s my job to manage this family!¡± ¡°We all make our choices. She made hers. And you are not in charge of managing me. I am my own man.¡± Erec yelled; he was fraying away, and all this talk. It was pointless. The words didn¡¯t have a purpose. They didn¡¯t do good for either of them. If Bedwyr wanted to talk, he could do so with his sword. Erec let loose a scream of pure rage¡ªkicking off the ground with a sudden speed fueled purely by the Strength in his legs, popping through Bedwyr¡¯s defense in a sudden jerk that caught his brother by surprise and closing the superior reach of the sword. So close, in fact, that Erec¡¯s axe was too long to use effectively. But that was fine. Erec didn¡¯t intend to hit him with the practice weapon¡ªinstead, he shoved his shoulder right into his brother¡¯s center mass, flinging him across the training hall. His brother recovered with a grunt and a deep breath as the blow no doubt hurt, which was good. Erec wanted it to hurt. In his brother¡¯s eyes, he saw that what he¡¯d wanted to communicate was over. If he thought himself the head of the family, Erec would show him. He had enough Strength to stand on his own. They would discuss the finer points of this over bruises and pain. Bedwyr came in like a flurry of wood¡ªthe series of blows between them strong enough to chip the weapons¡ªbut the strength behind them was consistent. The speed with which Bedwyr delivered them was the same, and as Fury ran loose in Erec, that Strength and speed was rapidly growing to be too little. The fight turned, and Bedywr dodged and weaved to dodge his blows¡ªa single hit of his wooden axe against his brother would break the weapon and fling him away. If it did, then Erec would turn to his fists. It wasn¡¯t as good. But if they got to that point and Bedwyr still needed more of a demonstration, then he was happy to provide. Beads of sweat ran down his brother¡¯s face as he pressed his advantage, his wicked axe swings tearing into the older man, not leaving him space to return to his assault. Each attack drove his brother back further in the room towards a wall where Erec would hem him in and end this. The conclusion was inevitable. As Erec relished in his Fury, in his delight, it was obvious that the truth of the situation was that his raw power had surpassed that bullshit Divine Talent of his brother¡¯s. By the second, his movements only grew in strength and speed. So much for Atlas. A mad grin came onto Erec as the revelation sparked him further. His weapon told the story he¡¯d wanted to tell for so long. No longer. No more was he a child in the shadow of his older brother, constantly chasing after a star he could never catch. There no longer was an excuse for that bastard to try to throw it all on his shoulders. Axe swing by axe swing, he cut into that facade the way he might fell a tree. If his brother saw that, then he might realize Erec was right and trust what he said about the woman who¡¯d run away from their family. Bedwyr blasted away from Erec on a switch in a single bound, his back hitting the wall behind him. Driving him right into the position Erec had been working him into for the last minute of their fight. Erec stepped to spring his trap; all it would be was a single push forward. An easy distance to cross with his Strength, then Bedwyr would be cut off. Cornered and defeated. But he never managed that step¡ªbefore he could take it, he was forced to throw himself to the side, dodging a ball of fire spawned from a quick glyph; worse, even as he hit the floor and managed to propel himself forward, Bedwyr was already reciting a prayer. A barrier of white light flashed between them, once more cutting off Erec¡¯s attack before he could close the gap and defeat his brother. A single smash of his axe broke through the damn thing. But the moment he did, a pillar of ice slammed into his midsection, driving him back and smashing him into the opposite wall. Erec winced, but the blow was nothing¡ªthen another pillar of ice smashed into him¡ªa barrier of light blocking him on either side from dodging. Erec threw himself above the magic, his feet pressing against the pillar to toss himself forward at his brother¡ªbut he once more didn¡¯t have a chance. Bedwyr was there, taking a slice at him with his wooden sword even though the pillar of ice they were on crashed into the wall and shattered. The blow hit, throwing Erec through the room, twisting on the ground as he was forced to dodge again, even more flame tunneling towards him. Every attack¡ªevery movement now¡ªhis brother was swapping tactics, throwing spells, prayer, and physical blows in between. Even for Erec, it was too much. The way all the forms of abilities weaved together was bullshit. Flawless, not leaving a gap for him to find. Even as Fury burned deeper, the sheer variety and confines of the space they fought in cut off his options. Would that he had his Armor, had the Q.A.P¡­ He might have found the path forward through all of this. All he needed, he was certain, was one good hit with his axe to claim victory, but as his brother unloaded every tool, trick, and prayer within his vast disposal, that window had vanished. It was too much. It was too much that only a single person should have been able to throw out, short of a Master Knight. Bedwyr had certainly been busy. This was what he¡¯d spent his time on¡ªthis goddamn flawless blend of attacks on a high level¡ªvariety on top of power. Being so capable of everything was useless if you didn¡¯t take advantage of the opportunity. In a way, it was like rich soil. One could plant crops in it, but it would grow useless if they didn¡¯t weed and water. But if they took care, they could bring about a harvest that defied imagination. His brother has spent his time well. Leveraging his talent by shoving every tool he could in his considerable toolbox. Flames, electricity, ice, and prayers that were made to bind and restrict. All of it lobbed at his brother in a spray of bullets that Erec barely adapt to, not like this. Even with his formidable power, there was only so much Erec could do to keep pace with everything coming at him¡ªhe was one person¡ªbut he wasn¡¯t about to give. If Bedwyr was willing to push this far in this spar. Then Erec would, too. He would burn himself away for victory. He felt at the silver fire beneath the surface, feeling it stir as he called to it. He would show his brother. Before he got the chance, right as he started reaching into the depths of that inferno, Bedwyr struck in a gale of lightning, lightning, holy energy, and lightning. His sword smashed into the side of Erec¡¯s neck, snapping the weapon as silver fire gathered on Erec¡¯s fingertips. ¡°That is my win.¡± Bedwyr declared, even as within his brother, all hell broke loose. Chapter 188: Higher Education
¡°The Rank of Knight Errant is a peculiar one within the orders. On one hand, you are no longer a student charged with learning with courses within the Academy¡ªand seen as a viable Knight who can act independently of others. Some might use this role to learn leadership, teaching skills, or a slew of other essential, more field-work-oriented tasks that are only touched upon in the Academy¡¯s curriculum. The education one receives with this rank has far more variety than what the Academy offers, both in the nature of what can be learned and the quality. Therefore, it is vital that an Initiate pick their mentor carefully upon graduation and that they have plenty to learn from the Knight they serve under. Not only does it form the foundation of their education in a practical application, but the morals and values of this relationship often have far-reaching effects on the type of Knight they become as they grow. Still, there is no shortage of Knights willing to offer their services in this role¡ªif nothing else, then because it signals to the Orders their responsibility and may grant them opportunities to advance.¡± - Dame Nova, Summation Of The Ranks (295, 3rd Era)
Silver fire danced on Erec¡¯s fingertips. His eyes flared red while taking in his brother¡ªthe remains of the broken wooden sword decorating his wrecked training hall. Taking this further would be easy. So easy. He may have declared his victory, but he hadn¡¯t had his chance to show his brother what truly was beneath the surface. Erec took in a deep breath. With considerable effort, he stepped back from that edge, fingers starting to shake as he let Fury burn off. Exhaustion came in place of the rage. Might things have been different if it were a real battle? If he¡¯d had his Armor? Maybe if he¡¯d pulled the trigger with his silver fire quicker? But it wasn¡¯t a real battle. Those details¡ªtrying to kill Bedwyr would never be part of a fight with his brother. Those were all mights, maybes, and excuses. Erec tossed them aside. [Ooof. That loss has to sting, but don¡¯t sweat it, Buckeroo. You¡¯ll get him next time.] As Erec steadied, he took in more of the training hall. Bedwyr hadn¡¯t held back. Thanks to his brother''s magic, the place had been wrecked in the short spar. Holes in the wall, torn wooden floors, and fire damage made the place a mess. If anything, they were lucky it hadn¡¯t spread. ¡­Maybe anger issues ran in the family? It would all need repairs. But, for now, he didn¡¯t have the spare money in his treasury to waste on something like this. That would have to be fine. They mostly trained in the Academy to begin with. Until he became a Knight Errant, things would survive left this way. It wasn¡¯t like visitors to his manor needed to see the training hall. ¡°You won,¡± Erec admitted, throwing away the excuses. ¡°But we both know it isn¡¯t long off until that is no longer the case.¡± Bedwyr stared at his brother with a deep frown. ¡°And when that day comes, then you can be in charge. Until then, I am.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get it confused. I¡¯ve long stepped out of your shadow, and I do not answer to you. But I still love you. You¡¯re my only brother, and when I say that our mother is out of our lives¡ªthat it was her choice, even if I cannot tell you why you should trust that I have your interest in heart¡­ If I learned anything from that journey, it is that the family I have¡ªyou, Garin¡­. They are what matter. Not a woman from the past who no longer is the same person.¡± His brother wasn¡¯t happy with that; Erec could see it on his face. But at the very least, this spat had quelled the part of Bedwyr that refused to accept such an answer. Perhaps, even if it had been a loss, there might be some small victory to take from it. ¡°¡­We should look towards the future. Together. Neither of us is a ¡®head¡¯ of the family as brothers. Ones that can rely on each other¡­ Because I¡¯m going to need people to rely on. This Kingdom will. Sooner than you might imagine.¡± Erec continued as his brother glared. Bedwyr tilted his head at that. ¡°Erec, you always could call on me if you need me.¡± Those words would have filled Erec with annoyance and anger a year ago. He¡¯d buck at that thought he¡¯d ever need to rely on Bedwyr¡­. Now, though, they provided a small measure of peace. Even if Bedwyr didn¡¯t see him eye to eye on this now, it was only temporary. Once he could, he¡¯d share the truth with his brother. He swore he would even if he didn¡¯t think it¡¯d do any good. ¡°In the spirit of pulling together what family we have left, how about this: there¡¯s a Gala I¡¯m attending. A Luculentus event¡ªI know you and Father aren¡¯t directly in my house anymore, but I think I could swing an invitation. I don¡¯t know what exactly is planned for this thing, but Garin made it sound important. I could use more allies in such an unwelcome battlefield.¡± Erec confessed. Oddly, Bedwyr shifted his position¡ªa note of uncertainty in his eyes. ¡°Listen, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve heard¡­ But I¡¯m not exactly proficient at these sorts of things, and regardless of my standing in the second year, we¡¯re still a landless House. Are you sure you want me to come along?¡± For a second, Erec was on the back foot. Growing up, he¡¯d seen his brother at the same courtly affairs, granted, never at one of this rank¡ªbut at those Bedwyr always looked at home in those hellish social gatherings. Far more than himself. He saw it there, that same trepidation and fear of public gatherings hidden away deep, in contrast to Erec, who wore it on his chest. ¡°Yes, and don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll be in good company.¡± Erec gave his brother a firm pat on the shoulder, even if he couldn¡¯t manage a smile. Whatever hostility had been there before worked itself out in their fight¡ªwhich was better. The two of them had found a common ground to work out their emotions¡ªa fact he would tuck away for later when the next inevitable conflict arose between them. Maybe it wasn¡¯t the healthiest way, but if it worked for them, then who could judge it? Bedwyr pulled back to leave the training room, and Erec noticed the blinking in the corner of his vision. He pulled up the notification, surprised that a Virtue had improved¡ªthe first since returning from the expedition.
Agility: Rank D - Tier 5 ¡ú Rank D - Tier 6
A small smile played out on his face. Perhaps more training with his older brother was in order for the future. Looking at the wrecked hall all around him, he resolved to keep said training above ground. Far away from anything he¡¯d have to pay for when it inevitably got wrecked. Neither of them held back when it came to a fight. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª The next couple of days managed to fly by without another serious fight with his brother. Yet, there was only so much he could do. The mundane part of his plans was proving simple to sort¡ªnow that the merchants understood their new relationship, he found them much more cooperative to get what he needed. There was still much to do, and after three weeks from their return, the Kingdom had begun to settle into a new normal. Among the Initiates, outsiders and rumors of Vega were all that left their lips. Erec could only imagine what people were talking about. But he still had no clear view of the Church¡¯s path. This lack of knowledge and not seeing how the wind blew had set Erec on edge. Whenever he sat too long in one place, he needed to move. So it was he found himself striding through the verdant and overgrown hallways of his Order¡¯s Academy building; sunlight spewed in and hosted a stunning amount of plants. But not even the beautiful vines and variety of life here eased his soul. No. He had a destination in mind. With quick steps, he headed directly for Boldwick¡¯s office. He passed by unaware Initiates as they talked in the hall¡ªcareless. They were also careless; they weren¡¯t cursed with the knowledge that the Kingdom and the Church were like powderkegs set to go off. As far as he¡¯d heard, the Church hadn¡¯t made a move¡­ But then, where would he have heard anything at all? From Boldwick? The Master Knight already had far too much on his plate to debrief an initiate. If he were in the priest¡¯s position¡ªErec would¡¯ve started his attack when people entered the Kingdom with guests from outside. But they hadn¡¯t. Tomorrow, Enide would be back at his side. The Pendragon would return to the Kingdom. Yet she and her family would be walking in blind to the situation, and he could do nothing to help stung. The truth was that Erec had no idea when the fight would come to a head. And maybe that was understandable. This was his first year in the Academy, still. However, it would draw to a close sooner than later and, by far, hadn¡¯t been a ¡®typical¡¯ experience of a Knight Initiate. And that was, he had to admit, as much as he hated it, a blatant dark spot. One that he couldn¡¯t entirely blame on a lack of ¡®courtly affairs,¡¯ though it stung to admit that was part of it. But with a closer examination of the issue, the lack of decorum wasn¡¯t exactly what was missing. Polite society didn¡¯t agree with his temperament, but his interactions with the Merchants revealed he could leverage his own way of dealing with that as an advantage. Only there was still a piece missing. And today, he was determined to take his education into his own hands. Erec¡¯s knuckles rapped on Boldwick¡¯s door, and the Master Knight ushered him in with a gruff acknowledgment. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you until next week,¡± Boldwick said, leaning back in his chair, rubbing at his eyes, a couple of books open on his table, marked with notes in the margins. ¡°Why would I be by next week?¡± Erec asked, momentarily caught off guard. Boldwick waved it away and gestured towards the chair. ¡°I¡¯ll let that be a small mystery for now. With the Pendragons back in tomorrow, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have your fill of events to take up your attention until then. That¡¯s what you here about? Want time off to spend with them? Because even if I¡¯m lenient with my students, don¡¯t think you¡¯d get that kind of special treatment. The fieldwork has hardened you, but the knowledge you can get at the Academy is vital. You¡¯ve missed plenty enough for the actual work, and the lessons will still serve you well in the future.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I came¡ªeducation. I¡¯ve realized I¡¯m missing something and want to correct it.¡± ¡°You want another course?¡± This time, it was Boldwick¡¯s time to look surprised. ¡°No. Well. Maybe. I¡¯m¡­ Sick of being a piece on the board, Boldwick. Since I¡¯ve come back, I¡¯ve sat in my room thinking of how things will go with the Church¡ªwell aware that other people, people with great power, are sitting there, making their plans and moving about, preparing for what¡¯s to come. And I don¡¯t have the barest idea of what they¡¯re thinking or might happen.¡± Boldwick sighed and rubbed his temple. ¡°You¡¯re an initiate Knight.¡± ¡°One that has slain a Cataclysm-level threat achieved the rank of Count, not to mention that monster in Muerte¡ªone that, as we both know, has no choice but to be an enemy of the Church who is plotting in the dark. I need to learn to be more, not just to be a piece of others¡¯ games. If I¡¯m going to get strong, I can¡¯t just be a puppet whose strings are pulled by others. I need to learn how to use myself best and see what¡¯s happening around me.¡± Erec said, the words coming out from him in a stream. Boldwick let that statement hang in the air as he leaned down and pulled out a drawer in his desk. He brought out an amber bottle of brandy with a clang, setting it on the table. Next came the glass. He poured one out for himself, then nursed the drink, letting Erec squirm in front of him. Just when Erec thought he had nothing more to say, Boldwick spoke. ¡°In another world, I¡¯d have assigned you to a Knight and given you the rank of Knight Errant. Your usefulness and capability have made it obvious that you deserve such a rank. That said, the Academy can still impart lessons to you that if we¡¯d skipped that part of your education, you¡¯d be missing. It has a way of rounding you out and giving you tools inside and outside of combat that would be useful. However, you don¡¯t need the help inside of combat. Outside of combat, the tools you will get should prove useful, but¡­ Your intuition is right; you wouldn¡¯t learn what you want there. It¡¯s the type of thing you might learn from a senior Knight when operating, and also a weakness of yours I¡¯ve seen for a long time. To be frank, this is the type of thing that some might learn as a Knight Errant if that¡¯s their inclination, and they had the right guide.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying I have to wait years?¡± Erec deflated. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t say that. I said it¡¯s what you might learn from a senior Knight when operating. The type of thing you might learn as a Knight Errant. But I have a question. Before I give you an answer for what we can do, Why do you want to go this route, Erec? You have raw power and potential for it in spades. It isn¡¯t magic, but the type of power that could form the crux of everything you need. You¡¯ve shown that it¡¯s the kind of power that could carry you through almost any challenge you encounter. Paired with the right team, you¡¯d be capable of meeting any situation without going through what is sure to be a very challenging path for someone like you.¡± Boldwick settled back down, swirling his glass, a dark interest in his eyes as he considered his student. Even before joining the Academy, Erec felt his mentor had been prodding him. Piecing together all the bits that made Erec what he was, trying to figure out the best way to sculpt him. Until now, Boldwick had guided him and picked the parts of his education to focus on. He adapted to what Erec displayed and did his best to guide him. This was that style of teaching once over again, figuring out where Erec¡¯s natural inclinations went to try to guide the boy he¡¯d taken under his wing to the best possible future. Erec thought about the question deeply and then answered only once he was sure. ¡°On a battlefield, I¡¯m powerful. I¡¯m only going to get more powerful. We¡¯ve both seen that, but that power has consequences. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the King moved right away to take that power and position it where he wanted¡ªothers will do the same. I can be powerful on the battlefield, but if I¡¯m not the one to know which battlefield to wield that power, to pick where I need to be strong, then that power will be wasted or used by others. Worse case, it could be used against me. The best way to protect what I care about is to be aware of what¡¯s happening before I lose it during a fight and it¡¯s too late.¡± Boldwick nodded slowly. ¡°That makes sense. If you were a different person and were still the version of you before, scared of society and conflicted with how you act towards others, I doubt you¡¯d have seen this so clearly. You¡¯re right. People want to use you. That isn¡¯t always bad as a Knight, but with so much power, it could be dangerous not to take some of it into your own hands¡­ Maybe not the direction I¡¯d have thought you might look to grow further. Yet if you¡¯re interested, then it could end up being a good thing.¡± He took a single breath and then shook his head. ¡°But there¡¯s a downside.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°With power and knowledge comes the call to action. For someone like you, if you don¡¯t think it all through before acting after learning things you wouldn¡¯t have otherwise, then you can cause some real damage. And even then, you¡¯ll have to learn¡ªyou¡¯re just one person. Stuff like this doesn¡¯t come naturally to you, so it will be challenging; some might be impossible.¡± ¡°I can do a lot with just me.¡± Boldwick slowly finished the rest of his glass, setting it down on his desk with a clink; his instructor cracked his neck and exhaled deeply. ¡°Guess we¡¯ll see. I¡¯ll contact Dame Robin¡­ If this is the route you want to go down, then maybe it¡¯s time to start taking a bit more of a look at the domestic side of information gathering. Our Order may serve as the eyes trained outside the Kingdom, but perceptive eyes are always useful inside and out.¡± Boldwick said, a bit of amusement as he poured himself another glass, this time pulling free a second for Erec. Chapter 189: Knock Knock There were at least forty Knights on the Steel curtain as they watched the Pendragon¡¯s cars stall outside the walls. Among them were several members of the Academy¡ªVerdent Oak, and even a few Knight Commanders from that order and a couple of Master Knights. But notably, the Grandmaster Knights of the Verdant Oak and the Azure Tower were among the ranks. By far, the Order of the Azure Tower had the majority of people in the situation, and right now, they were the only ones outside the walls. They had to search the Pendragon¡¯s Vehicles before letting them in. Erec did his best to stay patient. But it was a struggle. Down there, he saw Enide leaning next to Yniol while someone went through the car, affectionally named ¡®Betty.¡¯ He could see her Uncle there too¡ªBors, though he looked far less sure of the search. This search was more than anything symbolic. Security fell within the Order of the Azure Tower, and they¡¯d outlined this new procedure as mandatory for any entrants seeking to cross into the Kingdom. Were it another group, it¡¯d make complete sense. With these people, Erec knew the measure was only a waste of time. He¡¯d lived among the Pendragon¡¯s for months. The ties that now bound them to the Verdent Oak were powerful; even now, they were returning from the wasteland from a mission assigned by the King. That wouldn¡¯t always be the case. Now that the Pendragons were back, they expected to see a delegation from Vega arrive any day. After a half-hour of needless search, which almost drove Erec mad with impatience, the Pendragons were cleared for entry. Erec and the rest of the Verdent Oak knights filtered down the wall, but none were as fast as Grandmaster Oak, who walked off the side and landed at the base with a plume of dust. Seemingly unharmed. When the gate opened, Grandmaster Oak was the first to greet their guests with a broad smile. ¡°Well, well, well. If it isn¡¯t our friends from the wasteland¡ªY¡¯all left some monsters out there for us to kill, right?¡± Grandmaster Oak said. ¡°No, killed them all. Took a lot of bullets. Think we could tear down the wall for resupply?¡± Rochester said, his car coming for a park and a grin on his face. The man¡¯s skin crawled with tattoos, and as leader of the Pendragons, there was no confusion over who Grandmaster Oak wanted to talk to the most. As it stopped, he leaped out of his car, shooting a wink at the man in shotgun with a quick instruction to park it with the rest. With the logistics sorted, he walked over to join the Grandmaster. But Erec didn¡¯t have long to focus on that¡ªhis eyes were on Betty. Filled with Yniol, Bors¡­ And most importantly, Enide. The woman he loved. ¡°Nice to see you again!¡± Garin greeted, tearing Erec¡¯s gaze away from the gate. His friend was walking off towards a car with Corey, of all people driving. The young Pendragon who¡¯d played soccer with them¡ªwhen had he gotten a vehicle? ¡°Take it things are fine in Vega?¡± ¡°More than fine; the city¡¯s buzzing with news that your Kingdom is opening its walls. With some talk, they¡¯re delivering on sending the news out. A couple of months and your little isolated bit of wasteland will be flooded with interested tourists.¡± ¡°That good or bad?¡± Garin prodded. Erec did his best to ignore the two talking and plotting. He was sure it was good information, but his heart wasn¡¯t in it. Besides, the actual context of Pendragon¡¯s mission would be shared in the confines of offices and backrooms. After this, Rochester was headed towards the palace to deliver a report to the King along with the Grandmasters. And whoever Rochester trusted would be heading back with the Master Knights of the Verdent Oak. While the Azure Tower now had the pleasure of securing outsiders coming in and ensuring they didn¡¯t bring any significant threats inward, the Verdent Oak was taking its new responsibility as the ¡®face¡¯ of the Kingdom in stride. No, what had Erec¡¯s heart was the sight of a particular Pendragon car. He doubted a charging monster could have captured his attention when it crested the gate. Enide didn¡¯t even wait for it to stop; her eyes met him, then she vanished. Reappearing right before Erec, throwing her arms around his shoulders and pulling him into an embrace. ¡°Long time no see, hero.¡± She said into his ear before planting a kiss on his lips. Erec welcomed her, the piece to the chaos he craved in his world. Or, maybe it was the other way around. Maybe it was that this woman was the grounded one, and he brought the chaos they needed to soar¡ªor maybe it was them together; their company might tear reality aside and make any possibility come true. They broke their kiss at the cue of polite coughing from Olivia. ¡°Truly a vagrant and deplorable display of impropriety. As if the rumors of you courting an outsider needed more confirmation, here you two go insisting on putting on a show for the public,¡± Colin said. ¡°It is a pleasure to see you again, Enide.¡± Olivia gave a half bow. Enide gave them a half-concealed grimace before replacing it with a polite smile. ¡°Ah, yes. I suppose you two might be here. It is a pleasure to be back.¡± ¡°There is no need to play nice, wasteland wench,¡± Colin said, shaking his head. ¡°We both are aware of our lack of friendship.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t doing it for your benefit. I shoot straight, but if someone¡¯s going to go through the effort of playing nice, I¡¯ve got enough in me to keep it civil.¡± Enide sighed. ¡°I¡¯ve always considered you polite.¡± Olivia nodded, ¡°Though, I think we may have gotten off the wrong foot during the expedition. My concerns for your¡­ presence¡­ revolved around Erec¡ªsomeone I consider a friend. I admit, I was worried about you hurting him, and not just emotionally. Your relationship certainly affects his standing in the Kingdom, as it¡¯s unheard of. Yet, this is our chosen path, and you¡¯ve saved his life. If you wish to say, ¡®shoot straight,¡¯ I¡¯m not convinced this won¡¯t end with pain from outsider intervention, but now I¡¯m willing to hope. If you¡¯re willing to forgive me, then I¡¯d like to say I¡¯m sorry. Enide. I was abrasive, skeptical, and rude to you. I hope that we may repair this rift between us and become friends in the future.¡± Enide lifted an eyebrow. ¡°That apology real or practiced? You had a good couple of weeks to work on it.¡± ¡°Genuine, though I did practice it. I wanted to be sure the words I said were what I wanted them to be to show how I felt. If you¡¯re willing, I¡¯d like you to consider me a useful friend to your new life in the court¡ªa life that, willing or not, you¡¯ve signed onto by choosing to become involved with a renowned Count.¡± ¡°¡­Don¡¯t take it personal, if I keep a bit of an edge with you, given the past. But, if you¡¯re apologizing, then I guess we can give it a shot.¡± Enide replied. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°It is the most I could ask for. Speaking of which, shall we make plans to shop? We have a gala to attend to in a couple of days.¡± ¡°¡­We do?¡± Enide shot Erec a look. ¡°Unfortunately.¡± He confirmed. ¡°I was going to tell you and see if you wanted to go later, but yes. It¡¯s for the Duchy of Luculentus; if you are willing, I¡¯d love to have you at my side.¡± ¡°I know we don¡¯t have trust yet, but I¡¯m sure Garin will confirm when he returns later. But I think it is a very good idea if you attend.¡± Olivia said softly. ¡°Yeah, I suppose I could go to a party¡­ Though this place does them odd. And hang on, Luculentus, why is that name familiar¡ªwait, is that the one the spoiled brat hates? Could¡¯ve sworn he ranted about them to his pa on the road.¡± She said. ¡°Careful there, such hostility, and I might mistake your tongue for an enemy, but yes. They are a wretched House who hardly deserves to be the same rank as mine¡­¡± Colin stopped, and then a stupid smile took over his face. ¡°Hey Erec, Knock Knock.¡± Erec stared at Colin at the sudden left turn from him complaining about another house. He¡¯d expected a drawn-out rant. Not this. ¡°Knock, Knock?¡± ¡°You are to say, ¡®whose¡¯s there?¡¯¡± ¡°Why?¡± Erec asked. ¡°Just do so; I found it in an old world book. I¡¯ve been perusing the thing when I¡¯ve found spare time away from my vital research. Believe me, the build-up is worth the delivery. They called it, and I quote, ¡®a punch line,¡¯ which, on this occasion, seems a suitable name.¡± ¡°¡­Whose¡¯s there?¡± Eric replied; while he didn¡¯t trust anything about this, he knew there was only one way out. If he didn¡¯t go along, Colin¡¯s complaining would be insufferable. And, well, with Enide at his side, he¡¯d rather this distraction than go into the details of what a gala at a Duchy would be like. Besides, Colin had captured all of their attention at this point, including the overt staring from a couple of nearby senior Knights. ¡°A monster.¡± ¡°¡­A monster?¡± ¡°You are to say, ¡®A monster who,¡¯¡± ¡°¡­A monster who?¡± Erec replied. ¡°Is Enide¡¯s tongue.¡± They all stared at him in complete silence. ¡°Get it? Because her tongue is an enemy? We slay monsters; they are the most numerous of our enemies.¡± ¡°¡­Dear Goddess.¡± Erec couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. ¡°¡­May she scorch whatever twist of fate brought this development upon us.¡± ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª After bringing Enide back to his dorm¡ªa presence he was grateful that his roommates accepted. Erec made a quick excuse for himself to leave her in the company of his friends. While the biggest part of today he¡¯d been looking forward to was the arrival of the Pendragons in the Kingdom, another appointment changed the very course of his future. One that, unfortunately, he wasn¡¯t allowed to have Enide tag along for. It worked out alright since Olivia took the news in stride and took it upon herself to take Enide shopping for their dresses. If it were for anything else, other than this, Erec would¡¯ve been sorely tempted to ditch and spend the time with her¡ªbut this wasn¡¯t a simple class. This was his meeting with Dame Robin. Arranged by Sir Boldwick and a lesson he needed. Girlfriend¡¯s arrival or not. At least she understood. Though, leaving her shopping with Olivia made him nervous for many other reasons. But there wasn¡¯t much to be done about that. Erec made his way out of the grand building that made for the Order of the Verdent Oak¡¯s Academy building, rapidly passing through the fantastic buildings and onto a dirt road leading out from the Academy and towards the city¡¯s outskirts. It was odd to be going so far from the school. Sure, Dame Robin didn¡¯t have an office there¡ªshe wasn¡¯t one of the instructors, even as a Knight lieutenant. The further the dirt road took him, the more Erec turned over her position in his head. Boldwick trusted her; he¡¯d always considered the woman very caring and astute. From the missions she¡¯d run with them¡ªand Sir Alister¡­ It¡¯d made sense. But outside that context, he couldn¡¯t be sure what she did. This kind of work? He had a hard time squaring the image in his mind. Yet, when he reached the outskirts of a farm, there was Dame Robin¡ªleaning against the wall of a well-built home. Out in the field, a man was working to harvest. This made sense; sunlight dropped by the day, and the temperature followed suit. Anything left in the field had to be brought in soon. ¡°Dame Robin,¡± Erec balled a fist and put it against his chest, a salute of respect as she noticed him. She gave him a slight nod, her eyes still trailing the man working out in the field. ¡°Do you know why I requested our meeting here?¡± she asked after letting silence reign for long enough for him to follow her gaze. ¡°I¡­ Don¡¯t have a clue.¡± ¡°These people¡ªthe ones working the fields, bring us food. They work both above ground and below, striving their hardest to provide for the survival of our people. With a Kingdom this size, so many mouths must be fed. If they lapse in their job and a harvest goes foul, people might suffer. We, and others, can do their job through their diligence and dedication. From the seed of their labor, we are allowed to be more than stragglers roaming the wastes, too focused on the struggle of trying to feed ourselves to settle down. Without them, there would be no courts of nobles. No Knights to protect the fields they labor on. No King to rule the administration to bring them comforts in return for their efforts. It all begins with them.¡± She said. Erec stared at the man laboring, an odd feeling in his chest. This revelation wasn¡¯t a new one to him. For much of his life he had helped worked the biocaverns down below. Though those didn¡¯t have the farmers'' fields and natural growth cycles on the surface, he was well familiar with the concept of supply lines and cultivation. Though, what this had to do with the education Boldwick had promised him, that part he was uncertain. Dame Robin must have seen the confusion on his face because she let out a small laugh. ¡°I¡¯d like to set a reminder before we talk about the games people play: We must never forget the roots that bring us life. Both in yourself and in society.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve known this lesson¡ªI thought I¡¯d told you about my family. We helped Garin¡¯s father down below.¡± ¡°You did. But then you became a Knight. Not just a Knight, but one with vast power and a future that will lead you to places far away from these roots. Don¡¯t forget where you came from; whenever you get lost, remember these roots and let them guide you through the challenges the future will bring.¡± Erec gave a slow nod. ¡°Now then, onto more practical lessons. I know you¡¯re not much of one for the intricacies of the court, but you grew up on the lower end of society. That, among a myriad of a dozen other reasons, makes this a good place to start. So let me ask you, what is it about people like this that might be useful to people like us?¡± ¡°You said as much already. People like this are the backbone of our society. Without them, we wouldn¡¯t be able to function or wield our swords in the name of this Kingdom.¡± ¡°Yes, but in a more practical aspect. The common people can do something that we would struggle to without disguise, great efforts, or more time than we can afford to spend¡ªfor people whose names become increasingly well-known, this applies especially.¡± She prodded him along, but Erec still struggled to see what she was grasping at. He¡¯d known Dame Robin since becoming an Initiate. He¡¯d seen her as soft and welcoming but also a force of destruction on the battlefield. But this side of her. Her eyes gleamed with a nuanced intelligence he barely grasped, leaving him confused. Ideas filtered through his head, but they seemed wrong. Was she talking about specific acts of labor? To recruit them on behalf of his Cavern¡ªto spy? He was afraid to settle on a solution. Luckily, Dame Robin beat him to the chance to give a wrong answer, her soft hand landing on his shoulder and giving it a comforting squeeze. ¡°People like this farmer blend in. They can see and hear things that never reach our eyes or ears. That can make them good friends. Come, let me introduce you to Basil. One of my many friends, one which keeps those wonderful eyes and ears of his open to tell me the sort of information that might interest a Knight.¡± Chapter 190: Shake The World
¡°Gone is the day, Long is the night. So long you¡¯ve been gone, yet still I wanna say: You were right. Would you forgive me? If I asked? Would you forgive me? If I went to task? Would you forgive me? ¡®Course not. Nobody¡¯s left but my flask.¡± - Old-Man Jones, Farewell Lucy, (303, 3rd Era)
¡°A pleasure, King Crisimus,¡± Rochester said, bowing low; he felt remarkably light. No gun at the hip, his people and car tucked a long way away. Of course, they could always find trouble, but they should be on good behavior. Still, having none of his Pack behind him always sucked, especially since this place was decked out with armored and weaponed Knights. The room itself was extravagant. Unlike the hotel suites of the Arch-Magi, which Rochester had the pleasure of exploring a few times in his many trips through Vega, compared to there, this place had a much more refined and elegant touch. That might be natural; Vega was dramatic and overt¡ªso its leaders were, too. There, the gold gilding of furniture and the excessiveness of their seats of power had a simple reason: show wealth. The point was to smash your face into the conclusion. To scream that you had money since chips bought power. But in this room, the wealth bought luxury and beauty from the refined artwork and the trim of the throne on which this King sat. The money here spoke that it was, of course, expensive. It was quality. The result was the resources they could afford in the kingdom and its refined culture. A depth of culture somewhere like Vega filled with a bunch of wanderers and scavengers couldn¡¯t come close to. To an untrained eye, the dull king filling the throne would look nearly wrong. Or get lost in all of the culture. The man had grey hair, his deep blue eyes empty as he stared at Rochester. An almost unremarkable presence to most; there were no waves of overwhelming power that radiated off him. Unlike an Arch-Magus, the image this man presented didn¡¯t bring to mind the word danger. It would be easy to mistake him as a figurehead. An uncalculating puppet on a throne born into the role. A mistake that from the first or second Rochester met this man, he knew was unintentional and carefully cultivated. It is a trap meant for the heady and egotistical sorts of people born into a position of power within a society like theirs. ¡°You all may leave, aside from Oak and my guards.¡± the King said, his voice soft as he dully looked over the rest of his court¡ªa handful of nobles and an accompaniment of other Knights. These people no doubt had important titles. Had curried favor in this court for most of their life to their appointment. And within their ranks were rats and spies aplenty. Ones that this seemingly uninspired man had pegged years ago and took advantage of. The nobility filtered out without much protest since the King¡¯s word was law. Why wouldn¡¯t they? How could they refuse an order like that, much less be concerned about leaving the King with his royal guards and an unarmed outsider? They might not trust Rochester, but he was scarcely a threat to the King, even if the King didn¡¯t appear all that strong. Once the room cleared, the King cleared his throat. His signal to begin. ¡°Your message has been delivered. The council was surprised by the announcement so soon after opening your borders and is contemplating how to distribute the news.¡± Rochester reported. ¡°As long as it doesn¡¯t stay within their sphere of influence, their response is scarcely the top of our concern. I¡¯m sure they¡¯ll send participants and spectators. How could one not when such an opportunity to view such a great potential ally or enemy presents itself freely?¡± the King replied, resting a head in his hand. ¡°On the account of it not being suppressed, as I said before. There is no need to worry. A couple of the other Packs met up with me in Vega. I spread the word, and they were willing to let the rumor fly. Even if the Magi wanted, the news is out.¡± ¡°So the world will know of our tournament. As I hoped, your lot proves to be a stalwart alliance and a dependable relationship.¡± ¡°Aye, a welcome boon in times like this,¡± Oak announced, slapping Rochester back. The Pendragon leader couldn¡¯t help but contain his grin. ¡°I mean, your lot has been generous. And to drop this event? Hell, what kinda man would miss it? Dunno if I told you about Vega¡¯s history with soccer and how big the cups get, but this. This is gonna be way bigger. To think the boogeymen of the wastes would break out of their wall and open them wide to welcome contestants and viewers to a competition? Nowhere else I¡¯d wanna be.¡± The King shrugged. ¡°Better to make a splash to one¡¯s arrival than to appear in quiet without an impression. Besides. Such an event can be a key facilitator. Once word has been let fly, we can make the same announcement internally. News takes time to travel outside of our walls, but inside, I don¡¯t doubt it will have a much more profound effect.¡± Rochester couldn¡¯t tamp down on the smile as he stared at the seemingly dull man. For a King in a world like this, his presence wasn¡¯t the overwhelming image one might expect. But, his actions, and underneath that surface, it was clear from the start. King Crisimus was the type of person who wanted to shake the world. He was the type of man who wore such a disguise to keep others from suspecting just what he might be capable of so they couldn¡¯t stop him when he shattered the curse of familiarity. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª The education Robin provided¡­ It turned out to be a lot more hands-on and social than Erec anticipated or was prepared for. By the minute, Boldwick¡¯s ominous warning that this path would be difficult for someone like him began making much more sense. After introducing him to her friends, Basil, and his husband, she brought Erec to more of her ¡®friends.¡¯ The first couple of people were also farmers on the outskirts. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Then, after meeting them, she brought him to the middle of the city on the surface¡ªtalking to a few merchants she¡¯d known for years. She called him her student the entire time, telling them she was showing him around. As taxing as the back-to-back conversations were, they were all pleasant people. And they¡¯d had a fond opinion of Robin¡ªshe was known to them as compassionate and always willing to lend a hand or give a favor. Friendly, cordial relationships. When she first mentioned that these were the sorts that kept eyes in places Knights couldn¡¯t see¡­ The nature he¡¯d pictured was very much cloak-and-dagger. But that was so far from the truth. None of these people thought of themselves in any way as spies. Nonetheless, they were full of information, mainly as Robin steered the conversations. Asking about their lives and the going-on. Eventually, the topic would turn to the things they saw with a natural flow, and that was the source of information she needed. With Basil alone, he told them that the Order of Silver Flames had been running drills more often lately. A selection of nobles Basil rarely saw before making more trips to the surface and the walls than he¡¯d seen before. Robin didn¡¯t pay for this information. The nature of the relationship wasn¡¯t transactional at all. As she said, they were friends. And the conversation flowed like that¡ªshe, to them, was a warm and welcome break in their day, a breath of fresh air for a time of year so consumed with heavy fieldwork. Or for the merchants in dealing with shipping logistics. Erec wasn¡¯t sure what he was supposed to take out of it as they went from person to person, and Dame Robin made introductions, then talked, and talked, then talked some more. Those conversations had a lot of information. A lot of it was, frankly, uninteresting. Try as he might, and he did try, after the third friend of Robin, his battery for social conversations ran dry. From there, it was a struggle to track everything since most of the content that Dame Robin was after came in the cloak of investment and detail in the mundane lives of people she knew very well. Were it not for a small tap on the side that Robin gave him during the conversations¡ªa signal she gave for him to pay close attention¡ªhe would¡¯ve started to miss some of those tidbits of information she flagged as useful. Things like merchant sons deal with particular houses or all of the small little bits she let slip by after parsing only to fill him in afterward for why there was significance. Unfortunately, remembering these details wasn¡¯t the only thing she would quiz him on after they left the conversations. She made sure to bring up those information points and have him infer connections or fill him in¡ªbut she also quizzed him on the people. On their personalities. What he thought about them, what they thought about others¡ªall so exhausting. By the time he was walking back to the Academy, his brain felt like mush, and he¡¯d instead burn himself out on Fury fighting an army full of monsters instead of the pressing migraine that had built in his exhausted head. ¡°You do this every day?¡± Erec asked after Dame Robin gave him fifteen minutes of walking in quiet to build some of himself back into a functioning human again. ¡°People are power, and your connection to them is precious. Maintaining those connections takes more concentrated and directed effort than one might think.¡± Dame Robin said as she walked, ¡°But no, even this much would be too much for me. Besides, there are other ways of gathering information. Different methods of looking into details to pursue will be covered in due time. This way, I just happen to be on the better end of what works for me. Others, you might find, are more suited to you. Regardless, the more ways you have, the more things you can learn, and you¡¯ll learn that one piece of information at the right time can make all the difference. But I¡¯ve never regretted making more friends. They can always surprise you in ways you¡¯d never imagine.¡± Erec scratched the back of his neck, hoping that what she said was right. While Garin might excel in a place like this, even with practice, he doubted he¡¯d ever get close to that level of endurance for social interaction. ¡°How did you even start?¡± ¡°Like we did today. A mentor of mine brought me to some of these people; I made an effort to continue that connection, which will be your homework. You¡¯ll continue some of the connections you made today.¡± ¡°Homework?¡± ¡°You thought that this would be any different than your coursework? Of course, there is follow-up. I¡¯ve heard you dropped out of Courtly Mannerism, but this game you want to play, unfortunately, has a very human and present connection if you¡¯re going to play it correctly. There¡¯s more to it than that, but I¡¯ve found that working on your weaknesses and learning them first is the best way to improve. Your lessons with me will be more demanding and asking than most in the Academy because they will be real-world lessons. Field lessons, much in the same way that fighting monsters has taught you to be stronger, and once you¡¯ve gotten better, there will be stakes. You asked for this. And after having your first brush with it, I¡¯ll ask you if this is something you¡¯re willing to commit to. If you don¡¯t, then that is fine; I¡¯ll make sure Boldwick understands. This path isn¡¯t for everyone, and neither of us will think less of you.¡± Dame Robin continued; her voice was soft and welcoming. There was no judgment there. She knew this work was not the sort that naturally lent to him; she¡¯d known it from the start. He¡¯d asked for it and wanted to see how it might suit him. And, frankly, he didn¡¯t have a clear picture of himself ever becoming the type of person as Dame Robin or Garin. He wanted to see the board, the pieces, and how they¡¯d moved. But to get there, it would require skills he was not good at. Push him in ways that made him uncomfortable¡ªbut her words. Working on and learning your weaknesses was the best way to improve. He wanted to improve. Why, for example, had the Silver Flames been diligent about drills? It could be simple training, but the more he thought about it¡ªthe fact they were doing so on the outskirts of the Kingdom instead of near the Academy Grounds or down below. They didn¡¯t want people to know they were making extra preparations. Then there was the bit that Basil said about nobility heading out to the wall; he didn¡¯t imagine that said information couldn¡¯t have been followed up on. If he went to the wall or had a ¡®friend¡¯ in the Azure Tower, those little pinpricks of people''s movements could be followed. Maybe he wasn¡¯t good at this sort of thing. But seeing someone like Dame Robin and what she could do¡ªthe difference was in skill. He could learn to be better. He couldn¡¯t learn to be Garin or her, but he could learn how to do this his way as long as he was willing to push through the uncomfort, to set aside the exhaustion, to fight his way to claim the skills that weren¡¯t handed to him in a silver-flame coated Fury. ¡°I appreciate that. But I¡¯m willing to go through with this. As long as you want to keep teaching me, I¡¯ll take as many lessons as you can give. I can¡¯t promise I¡¯ll be the best at it, but I can swear I will try my best.¡± Erec said, knowing already, based on this homework alone, there would be times soon when he might regret this decision. But growth, especially fast growth, demanded a bit of suffering. Dame Robin gave him a warm smile. ¡°Very well. If you¡¯ve survived a brush with the demands of this path, then we shall continue. For the specifics of your homework, you are to follow up with five of the people I¡¯ve introduced you to today within three days. You will approach them independently and try your best to spark your friendships with them. After that, I will expect a report on my desk. You are the detail of your conversations with them¡ªas much as you can recall. The contents must include whatever information about their life you can gleam, along with a summary of how the interaction went and five new things you learned about them.¡± Erec worked his jaw. That did not sound like fun at all. Already, his mind was turning over the overwhelming number of encounters and how to approach them on his own, trying to pick which of them would be the best to¡­ talk to. How would he even introduce himself? What would they think? A shudder went through him. ¡°Will do,¡± he said, firming his resolve. If he could face down monsters, making new connections should be simple in comparison. No matter how taxing it might be mentally. Though he promised himself that he¡¯d keep these lessons from Garin for as long as possible. The last thing he wanted was for his best friend to roll his eyes after hearing the news and saying the dreaded words, ¡°I told you so.¡± Chapter 191: Party People Erec adjusted his collar. The dorm''s common room wasn¡¯t exactly quiet¡ªnot with Garin nearby, humming a tune to himself as he pieced together his suit. That small measure of music was interrupted whenever he turned a critical eye to Colin and Erec¡¯s outfits as they prepared for the Gala. As for Enide and Olivia, both were sectioned off in Olivia¡¯s room, as promised, and they¡¯d picked dresses together. However, Olivia said that Enide¡¯s would be a surprise. What shocked Erec more than anything was that although he¡¯d said he¡¯d foot the bill for anything Enide needed in the Kingdom, Olivia covered the cost of the dress with her own savings. Another gesture of goodwill, on top of that, she¡¯d gone out of her way to invite Enide out on several little trips together. Enide was still suspicious of the other girl, but she was starting to warm a bit now that the former maid no longer presented an iced-over front of hostility. For his part, Erec didn¡¯t know what to think. Maybe it was a lingering doubt in him, but he couldn¡¯t forget her weird nature when they first met, nor her ties to house Luculentus or the overall odd impression he¡¯d had from the daughter of that house¡ªLyotte¡ªwhom he hadn¡¯t seen for quite some time. But past warning her, Enide would make her own decisions on what she wanted to think about Olivia. The thoughts roamed by as he stared at himself in a mirror. His red hair was growing a touch longer¡ªhe¡¯d need a haircut soon. So much had changed since he¡¯d first become a Knight. Looks aside, he could see he was bigger. Stronger. His face hardened with the conflicts he¡¯d seen. But that wasn¡¯t the only thing that differed from when he was an Initiate. Numbly, Erec pulled up his Virtues.
Name: Erec of House Audax Health: 100% | Mana: 100% | Stamina: 100% ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Virtues: Strength: [Rank C] | [Tier 7] Vigor: [Rank D] | [Tier 8] Agility: [Rank D] | [Tier 6] Perception: [Rank E] | [Tier 7] Cognition: [Rank E] | [Tier 6] Psyche: [Rank D] | [Tier 1] Mysticism: [Rank F] | [Tier 4] Soul (Aspect: Fire): [Rank C] | [Tier 1] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Divine Talents: Fury
There were significant changes there. His hardships had brought two of his Virtues into the C Rank, though he knew full well those were deceptive. The truth was that with Fury and his advancing Soul¡¯s rank, it would be folly to consider them the absolute power he could wield. Somewhere above that lie what he was capable of. But those quantifiable differences did him no justice. In the same way, they didn¡¯t reflect his changes as a person. Erec let the Blessings vanish and once more fiddled with his collar. To kill time, if nothing else. ¡°Still can¡¯t get it right, huh?¡± Garin tittered as he finished his outfit¡ªmuch more elaborate and stylish than Colin or Erec. Embroidered vines made for an eye-catching pattern on the suit; Erec had opted for plain black with a simple, understated white dress shirt beneath. A classic look, if understated. Yet, neither of them came close to the overall price point that Colin was wearing. On the surface, his suit didn¡¯t differ much from Erec¡¯s. But the difference lay in the details¡ªthe fine material, the lined thread of what was likely gold. Including a couple of rings on his fingers that Erec never swore he¡¯d seen Colin wear before since the boy wasn¡¯t much one for jewelry. Then again, most of what Erec had seen was Colin on the road. Garin cut between Erec and the mirror, fixing the collar and patting his friend on the shoulder. ¡°Just don¡¯t touch it anymore, alright? Let¡¯s go over it once more; we walk into the gala and then¡­¡± ¡°I offer to get Enide drinks, then mingle,¡± Erec said, rolling his eyes. ¡°Mhmm, after that?¡± ¡°I will dance and accept the conversations of whoever approaches us, and I will do my best not to punch any haughty merchants in the gut again.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ That part is pretty important, but make sure you¡¯re seen. I need you to make an impression tonight. But, there¡¯s one thing you need to keep in mind.¡± Garin paused as he glanced at Colin, who was scowling at the door of the women¡¯s room. He¡¯d been done first, well used to putting himself together for these and not seeing much of a need for style aside from throwing on his fine clothing. ¡°¡­You need to think of yourself as a mentor. Whether or not you like these kinds of events, you¡¯re the reason Enide is being dragged into them. She¡¯s capable and, for better or worse, is as reckless as you, but don¡¯t forget: this is out of her depth. A couple of courtly gatherings attended with the rest of her family is an entirely different situation than being on the arm and presented to the nobility as the date of a Count with the title of a hero.¡± Erec stopped himself from immediately responding by saying that he thought Enide could handle herself well enough, probably better than he could in such an event, and instead, went with a different question. One which he¡¯d been wondering since Garin first proposed this. ¡°Why push so hard for both of us to attend if you¡¯re worried about her?¡± Erec asked. Given time, he was sure Garin could¡¯ve given her a few lessons on approaching this kind of thing. ¡°You love her, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Erec said simply. ¡°And I know you, since she feels the same, this isn¡¯t going to end soon. Rumors have already spread, and it¡¯s better to control the narrative and make the impact you want than to let them spiral out around you without a say.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Erec¡¯s first instinct was to brush off the words. But instead, he set that aside, turning them over in his mind. Garin had a point. If she were going to be part of his life, she¡¯d have to adapt to this. He¡¯d have to make her existence and their relationship come into the public eye. This¡ªshowing up to a gathering for a Duchess¡¯ event¡ªwas the exact type of brash move that appeared natural to what he¡¯d been presenting to the court since coming back. In another circumstance, the nobles would squirm, whisper, and try to find a way to exploit his connection to an outsider. But by taking it into their own hands, they arrived confidently and put others on the back foot. Too slowly, the logic came to him, and his eyebrow raised as he considered his friend. He still felt like he was missing the complete picture, but now, he could¡¯ve sworn he saw a part of it. His following words were chosen carefully. ¡°I¡¯ll be doing my best, but it¡¯s clear that I¡¯m not the only social bridge she¡¯ll need to cross this gap. You and Olivia will help us, right?¡± Garin looked surprised, then fixed his expression. ¡°Well, that was a given, man. Listen, don¡¯t stress too much about it, alright? These kinda things flow more smoothly when you¡¯re relaxed. As much as I¡¯m sure to be keeping an eye on you and Enide¡­ There is another couple we¡¯ll be attending with that has the potential to cause even more trouble.¡± He gave a knowing look at Colin, who caught it. Like a monster, Colin turned from Olivia¡¯s door to provide them with both a scowl. ¡°I can hear you speak of me, and I am more than capable of handling myself. Though this house is also a Duchy, they do not have the renown of the Nitidus name to them. They will, without a doubt, prostrate themselves before my glory.¡± Colin said. ¡°That attitude and the fact you¡¯re heading in with the daughter of House Doctus¡­ Yeah, I think even you can see why I might want to keep an eye on you,¡± Garin offered. Before Colin could fire another rant or quip at Garin, there was a knock on the door to the common room. Colin¡¯s scowl transformed into a practiced neutral expression, and Olivia called out softly from her room, asking them to take care of the guests and that she and Enide would be out in just a few more minutes. Gathering himself and sure that at least Garin had approved his outfit, Erec took the lead and went to the door. On the other side, Colin''s betrothed was the first person to greet him, who gave him a casual thumbs-up and brushed past into the room. Out of everyone, her attire was the most off-putting of all. Despite her status as the daughter of Duchey, she¡¯d chosen to wear her Academy formals. It was not necessarily frowned on. At times, military people wore their formals to gatherings¡ªso similarly, Knight attire was accepted. But it was scarce that people went in ranked formals at events of this status. In a way, even for someone like Erec, he immediately flagged at either a slight or complete lack of decorum towards the Luculentus household. Garin watched her enter, his jaw dropping, a hand going right to his face as Alexandra Doctus gave Colin a goofy grin and strode right over to him. Unlike Alexandra¡­ The other two people waited on the other side of the door to enter. Bedwyr stood there, hands stuffed in his pockets, looking anywhere but at Erec, also dressed in the same type of restrained and ruffled collar black suit that his brother wore. Gwen, at his side, opted for a casual light pink gown¡ªnone spoke of wealth or much style, but none could argue they weren¡¯t dressed nicely. Erec invited them in as Garin had already set to smoothing things out between Colin and Alexandra, as the former had already started to pick a fight with his date. Alexandra seemed bemused by him but was interested in conflict, as always. Thankfully, they only were trapped in the small room for a couple of minutes longer until Olivia¡¯s door opened, and the last two to join their party were ready¡ªEnide clad in a tight-fitted light red dress with a slit up one side. It wasn¡¯t too far off from what he¡¯d seen her in, within Vega, but certainly within the more stylistic and refined style of the Kingdom high courts. Not that Olivia reigned back her outfit¡ªa similarly show-stopper light blue dress ending in long sleeves with a back cut out. It was all Erec could do not to drop his jaw at Enide and want to abandon this entire thing entirely for a more romantic evening down in the caverns below¡ªbut before he could put the pieces of that half-baked plan together, Garin pulled them out of their room and outside of the Academy¡ªto a carriage, which would take them to the gala. With Garin and Olivia herding them off like a bunch of wild cats, they headed to the gala. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª ¡°Your Kingdom sure likes to show off,¡± Enide muttered as she stared at the manor outside the carriage¡ª a large structure. And, on the surface. Unlike House Nitidus, House Luculentus was not shy about abandoning their ancestral home in the caverns. The moment the Kingdom reclaimed the surface and secured it with the massive steel walls, this Duchy made their home above. ¡°Great houses are meant to show the height of what wealth and prestige can get you. Being earned or not isn¡¯t their point,¡± Alexandra Doctus said, her arms stretched out on the cozy backrest of the carriage¡¯s interior, draped not so subtly behind Colin. Erec¡¯s friend was straight-backed and more on edge than Erec had ever seen him in the midst of a fight. ¡°A noble acts with their station and has much power invested in them,¡± Colin replied. Alexandra gave him a lazy grin and leaned in closer. If Colin were a cat, Erec swore he would¡¯ve seen all the hairs on him rise, and his ears shoot up as she effortlessly raised his hackles¡ªas it was, his friend did his best not to meet the eyes of his betrothed. ¡°We are born with our titles to live up to them in the name of the Kingdom. It¡¯s not for show but a trust that we deserve through virtue of our station.¡± Colin continued, trying to pretend he didn¡¯t see her. ¡°And¡­ What have you done for your house, my sweet Colin?¡± When she called him her ¡®sweet,¡¯ Colin¡¯s face turned red. As tempted as he was to let her continue her odd way of shattering through Colin¡¯s outer shell, Erec felt compelled to correct Alexandra on one account. Since Colin couldn¡¯t find his tongue to speak directly to her now, ¡°Colin has done right by his house. First and foremost, which I don¡¯t think anyone will disagree with, is the part he had to play in taking down the White Stag. Without him, we wouldn¡¯t have been able to track it down as fast.¡± Erec said. Alexandra¡¯s eyes never left Colin¡¯s face, even as she listened. ¡°Of course. I didn¡¯t forget that; I know this one has quite a lot under the surface. I intend to peel him back and see every little bit underneath.¡± She set a finger on Colin¡¯s neck and trailed downward, tugging at the shirt. Garin laughed awkwardly and stood up, throwing the door to their carriage open. ¡°Well! Time is wasting; let¡¯s get on with it.¡± He waited for Olivia to follow, who was just as eager to get out of the suddenly too-cramped carriage. She let him help her down, not that she needed it. Still, they got out one by one, cutting the conversation short. Erec offered an arm to Enide, who took it. They pulled behind the rest of the group, letting Garin and Olivia lead the way into the social Warfield, hand-in-hand¡ªbehind them was Alexandra, pulling along Colin, who seemed determined with every step to drag his heels, if nothing else than not to show the woman he might marry that he did not embrace this event, nor her teasing. Though Erec began to suspect, based on Colin¡¯s stubbornness to hang on to their betrothal, something about this appealed to him. Gwen and Bedwyr even passed by Erec and Enide as they slowed, firm, but both seemed intimidated by the sight of the Duchess¡¯ home in front of them. It was shocking to Erec that even Bedwyr looked intimidated at the sight of the grand manor. A crack in the facade of what he saw his brother as growing up. But, understandable. All of them, including Erec, grew up so low on the nobility scale that something like this was always out of grasp. Gwen hadn¡¯t even been a landless noble. Now, Erec was more adjusted; he could¡¯ve sworn he felt more at ease with the situation than his brother looked to him. Though, those tells were only perceptible since they grew up together. Slowly, Enide and Erec fell to the back of their group. She was pressed at his side, her eyes never leaving the sight ahead. It was one of the few times he saw her wear a forced expression, a brave face to deal with a situation that scared her. She wore the same sort of mask when seeing the Vortex Industries facility. Erec leaned in and whispered in her ear. ¡°Shall we burn up the courts together?¡± She snorted. ¡°Dramatic. But if you wanna play that game, sure. How about this hero: you pick the biggest, meanest son of a bitch there and start slugging. Then, when you get him nice and distracted, I¡¯ll hit him in the back of the head. If we go full scorched Earth on this thing, best to go in with the right game plan.¡± ¡°Pick the guy, give me the cue, then I¡¯ll start it off,¡± Erec promised, and a smile slid on her face, replacing the worry. He wasn¡¯t like Garin or Robin. Even if he worked on court skills, his way of dealing with these events and his life would never be the same. But no matter what happened, he would do his best to keep her feeling secure at his side if he had to drag her to this part of his life. She gave him Strength, so it was only natural that he should give her Strength, too. Chapter 192: Dressed To Gala
¡°One day the Giant came back. He had been to visit his friend the Cornish ogre, and had stayed with him for seven years. After the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say, for his conversation was limited, and he determined to return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden. ¡®What are you doing here?¡¯ he cried in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away. ¡®My own garden is my own garden,¡¯ said the Giant; ¡®any one can understand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself.¡¯ So he built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice-board. TRESPASSERS WILL BE PROSECUTED He was a very selfish Giant.¡± - Oscar Wilde, The Selfish Giant (1888, 2nd Era)
Nobody threw an event like a Duchy. No matter all the courts and political events Erec attended growing up, nothing came close. While the Crown might hold more elegant affairs, the flexibility of their station truly allowed a Duchy to do whatever they wanted to. Dancing, drinks, and live music were a given¡ªbut the quirks were where the Duchies differentiated themselves. And House Luculentus did not choose to hold back in the least for tonight. Erec followed the plan; he¡¯d gotten Enide a drink and one of his own. But the second step, mingling, came to a grating halt as their entire group took in the scale and choice of events. They huddled together and meandered, taking in and understanding what was going on. Past the main decor, House Luculentus decided to host various games¡ªone of the primary ones was card games with decks from Vega. As could be imagined, the novelty of a game from a different society swept through the nobility like a storm. The Pendragons must¡¯ve hauled supplies back in their latest mission. How Luculentus found out about these games, namely poker, and blackjack, were the stars of the show, but Erec thought he saw what was called a roulette wheel; Erec hadn¡¯t a clue. Yet their appearance and the thrill of gambling brought a positively electric atmosphere to the evening. Despite all that, though, Erec and Enide still caught some looks from the attending nobility. As predicted, a Count like him coming in with an outsider had no choice but to grab attention. It was inevitable like the sun cresting the horizon line in the evening. But it didn¡¯t stop at gambling and card games¡ªneon lights were in select rooms. Outside on the lawn, however, was the biggest show-stopper of the evening. They¡¯d set up small soccer fields. Yet, as far as Erec was aware, Enide was the only Pendragon there, and they didn¡¯t have a single soul from Vega. So, all of the hosting staff, dealers, and referees must¡¯ve spent nights being drilled on the rules over the last couple of weeks. The why, Erec couldn¡¯t piece it together. To show their house as fashionable, making a tone, or was it a deliberate impression? He mused over it as Enide, Garin, and Olivia stood on a balcony, watching a group of nobles play on one of the fields. ¡°Whoa,¡± Enide said, shaking her head. ¡°That guy sucks.¡± Erec watched the guy in question as he missed the ball with too ambitious of a kick and then landed on his ass from the failed effort. Another stole the ball, kicked it forward, and sent the thing sailing out of bounds. The group of about ten nobles watching outside the field politely clapped at the failure. Not that Erec was particularly good at what Corey had dubbed ¡®the champion¡¯s game,¡¯ but he and his friends were Knights. That demanded a lot of athleticism and coordination, and even in their first year, Virtues surpassed the general population. ¡°Yeah¡­ They really kind of do,¡± Erec grimaced. ¡°Why are they bothering to do this anyway?¡± Enide asked. ¡°House Luculentus is making an impression,¡± Garin said from their side, smiling as he watched one of the nobles run after the ball. ¡°Or they like nicking things from other places and calling their own,¡± Enide replied. ¡°It was a deliberate choice for exposure,¡± Olivia tried to keep her voice polite, but even Erec could tell it was strained. Erec knew she was still connected to this place, but getting snippy with someone she was trying to bring peace with wouldn¡¯t go far with that mission. Slowly, Enide nodded and then managed to tear her eyes from the field to look at Garin and Olivia. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll bite; why?¡± Olivia answered this one, ¡°House Luculentus has always had one directive: to serve the crown. Hosting this event has a dual purpose, one of which will become apparent later in the night, but the primary purpose is deliberate. Adjustment. Accepting that other people exist outside of the walls is a massive change for the people of this Kingdom. Naturally, the first thing people must think of when they find out is what is ¡®what must their life be like?¡¯ given our history and civility, the natural assumption for the nobility is that those outside the walls must be loners and scavengers. People born in a harsh society and thriving by the skin of their teeth.¡± ¡°They met us, didn¡¯t they?¡± Enide replied. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say, but I don¡¯t think the Pendragons fall too far out of that image.¡± Erec cut in, saving Olivia from accidentally saying the wrong thing. Though that part about your Pack is the most appealing to me, I¡¯m also not exactly the standard these people see as civil, especially the nobility.¡± ¡°Erec is exactly right. While the Pendragons are stalwart allies to the Crown, your Pack, and its ties aren¡¯t the sort of novelty that would capture the interests of the Kingdom¡¯s high society. Worse, it might offend some of the more delicate among them. Vega, however, presents just that. Think of it as a preemptive move to drum up excitement and acceptance for people otherwise unknown to us.¡± Olivia said. Enide snorted. ¡°Not sure to be insulted or complimented that these people find the fake flashy front Vega puts on as more palatable. Anyway, that makes enough sense to me to carry on for the night. Who wants to play some blackjack? If they¡¯re gonna throw out a fine game like that, maybe I should show them how to play it right.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Erec rubbed at his eyes as he imagined how that might go. Not that house Luculuentus would have servants capable of flagging whatever she¡¯d been doing to anger the Casino. Still, her coming into a sudden windfall at this place would draw the wrong sort of attention. ¡°Maybe later, there¡¯s still some things to accomplish¡­¡± Garin promised, giving her a quick grin before turning toward the rest of their group, located a bit away and divided. Gwen and Bedywr had holed up on their own in a small conversation with one another, as had Colin and Alexandra. ¡°Speaking of which¡­ how about we get this started¡­¡± It was really fascinating as Erec took in the four of them. While he dreaded these things¡­ Well, he didn¡¯t nearly have the amount of nerves on his face that Gwen wore. Her head constantly jerked about as she scanned around for eyes to see if anyone was taking her in. It made a sense that she was from a commoner family, and part of becoming a Knight meant occasional attendance to noble affairs, as went with her new title. But events hosted by the Duchy¡­ They were a different beast entirely. Flooding around them was the highest of society or the most connected members. They were dressed up in everything they could muster to put on a show for one another. There was fun; this event, in particular, had no stops pulled for entertainment, but this was also a place to form connections, propose plans, make alliances, and show allegiances. A year ago, Erec would have been right in Gwen¡¯s shoes. But now, he was more concerned about the girl on his elbow, who had no idea what sorts of traps were hidden in these things. At least Gwen had some idea, and she had Bedwyr. Erec¡¯s brother looked stiff, more straight-backed, and alert than ever. Though he didn¡¯t show the nerves, if they were on a battlefield, that posture wouldn¡¯t look too out of place. For a brief second, Erec saw through the Armor brother wore to the world. In a way, he was trying to protect Gwen from the courts in the same way Erec was, but beneath that, Bedwyr was the slightest bit afraid. Am I not? Erec dug deep, annoyed. Sure, he felt worried about ensuring Enide made it through the event without starting a fistfight. But scared? No. Nowhere inside was that cold twist of fear and anxiety that generally came along with these kinds of things. He didn¡¯t care if he said the wrong thing and offended someone¡ªhe only worried that it might impact the people around him. But those two were one thing. Colin and Alexandra¡­ They were entirely different. Neither was necessarily uncomfortable here. It was almost the opposite. Despite being the invited guests on this occasion, they seemed a little two at home. He wasn¡¯t sure why, but they¡¯d camped near a small table filled with appetizers. Little rolls of cheese, processed meats, and bits of sour-dough bread. Which neither of them touched. Nobody touched it. Colin was making sure not a single soul laid a finger on them¡ªany noble who dared to approach received a scowl and a glare with such severity that they retreated almost immediately after trying, thinking better of the attempt. Meanwhile, Alexandra was talking his ear off, her loud laughter and almost scandalous jokes inappropriate for an event of this caliber. If Erec didn¡¯t know Colin better, it almost felt like the two of them conspired to make a deliberate insult at the hospitality of House Luculutenus by putting up such a disrespectful front together. ¡°They¡¯re going to be a problem, aren¡¯t they?¡± Erec asked Garin as his friend led them away from the overhang, looking out at the soccer fields and back towards the two who¡¯d chosen to dominate a table full of food. ¡°Oh, definitely,¡± Garin said, ¡°They¡¯re trying to anger House Luculentus.¡± Erec blinked. ¡­It was deliberate. ¡°It is rude, and I expect both of them to receive a complaint from their Houses after tonight for the behavior, but it is well within expectation for the event,¡± Olivia remarked. ¡°I¡­If you knew they would cause trouble, why did you make me drag Colin to this thing?¡± Erec asked. ¡°Because that¡¯s his job for tonight, to stir up a bit of dramatics. For one, it softens the blow of Enide being accepted into the court as the date of a count; for another, it gives people something inane to whisper about¡­ But the most important thing is that it bonds the two of them,¡± Garin cut the explanation short as they finally got back within hearing distance of Bedwyr and Gwen¡ªcollecting them on the way to join Colin at the table. It wasn¡¯t long before they reached the guarded table. Colin spoke first, ¡°At last, you¡¯ve returned from outside. Eat. I¡¯ve taken great care to ensure you¡¯ve plenty of options for food at this goddess-forsaken event. Can you believe they¡¯re gambling? In a noble household? How far they¡¯ve fallen from Her grace.¡± And he gestured to the table. ¡°It is stunning, isn¡¯t it, huh, Colly-Wolly¡ª¡° ¡°Whoa. Stop. You¡¯re calling him Colly-Wolly?¡± Enide put up her hands, eyes wide, before bursting into a gut-deep laugh. Erec mouthed the words in the same level of shock. His friend¡¯s face grew bright red as everyone stared, including Bedwyr and Gwen, their senior Knights. ¡°Eat your food and put these foolish ideas to rest,¡± Colin glared at them darkly. ¡°The best of the offered goods disappears within the first two hours, and it¡¯s better to eat preserved meats and cheeses while still cooled.¡± ¡°¡­Are you just letting her call you that?¡± Even Garin seemed off his stride at this development, looking at Alexandra, who wore the widest grin. ¡°I think he likes the teasing; you have a bit of that in you, don¡¯t you?¡° ¡°Cease, wench. I will not allow you to utter such words in public.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ll ask me to when we¡¯re alone tonight, maybe when I drag you out into the gardens for some quality time. Won¡¯t you, my dear Colly¡ª¡° ¡°Please, please, stop,¡± Enide begged, wiping at the sides of her eyes and leaning heavily on Erec. ¡°I could never have imagined. This is too much. I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s disgusting or hilarious; I don¡¯t know how to feel.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot you don¡¯t know about him,¡± Alexandra continued. Waving her hands toward all of them. ¡°Do continue,¡± Garin said. ¡°For one, he talks about you all constantly when I manage to get him alone. Once he drops the tough guy act, he¡¯s adorable. You know, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever known another boy who cares quite as much as him. However, he hates it when you call him on it. Between you all and me, I think it might be because of his sooooo obvious daddy issues.¡± ¡°I-I couldn¡¯t care less about this lot. They are all beneath me. Aside from perhaps Erec, because he appears to be going places¡ª¡° Colin protested. Alexandra grinned and leaned towards him, already cutting through those excuses. Numbly, Erec watched the two of them continue like that, deciding to cash in on the food that Colin had been protecting. Needed or not, seeing her chase and tease him around like a cat might play with a mouse was a welcome distraction to the night¡¯s start. It added a bit of levity to the occasion that lightened the mood. Eventually, Garin cut them off since it seemed Alexandra had no limit to where she was willing to delve into teasing Colin in front of his friends. While Colin protested, he did not put up the fight he posed to anyone else, which naturally let her steamroll him over and dig deeper into teasing him. It was also interesting how much Colin seemed to go out of his way to try to avoid her; she appeared to have a deep knowledge about him that left them all suspecting something was going on under the surface. As the brief time together rallying and preparing for the night around a table and food drew to a close, Erec knew what the next part was. With a look, Garin set his plan in motion. ¡°Well, we got a little distracted by all the lights, potential fun, and games, but it¡¯s time to get on track again. Shall we mingle?¡± Chapter 193: Four Houses Divided Erec roamed the halls; his armor was a charcoal grey suit. His weapons? Nothing but words and the fists at his side were things to shake out incorrectly. But he didn¡¯t do so alone. At the very least, this wasn¡¯t a battlefield that he had to wade into with nothing but his axe¡ªthough, right now, he wished he could have the weapon on his back dearly. Lately, it¡¯d grown more familiar, more comfortable. A welcome friend in any circumstance, and to be without it left a pang in his heart. ¡°He reeked,¡± Enide said as she pinched her nose while they walked away from their latest conversation. It was with a bald man with deeply tanned skin who¡¯d opted to put on far too much cologne. She was correct; he¡¯d smelled like distilled oranges fermented and half-rotted. Worse than the odor of choice, he¡¯d applied to his body in what had to have been paste to achieve the effect. He¡¯d been a fellow count¡ªbut not someone Erec could imagine as one of the ¡®friends¡¯ Dame Robin had cultivated in the farmlands. So far, these people seemed like something other than the sort Erec wanted to develop that connection with. They were all so self-interested. None of the ones who¡¯d spoken to him so far had joined the Military or Knighthood, so finding a thread to relate was already hard. At some point, he¡¯d changed. Being a Knight and slaying monsters had a way of transforming one¡¯s perspective on things. While every Knight was made a noble, even if they joined from the ranks of commoners¡ªthe firstborns of many houses were not expected to join the Knighthood or military. Second sons, thirds, or daughters who showed promise and would give their house renown through their service were more likely to join the ranks of Knights or join the military. With those, at least, he imagined it¡¯d be easier to get a hold of the conversations. So he held out, hoping he¡¯d meet someone tonight. Yet so far, none of those approached Erec. It was a monopoly of the heads of houses who had to be the first to make their acquaintance at the event. Some of whom he was sure he¡¯d met before were already trying to gain his favor. Until now, though, Erec had let them flood by in a wave of faces, drowned among the flood of people that came with these sorts of things. But tonight, he worked on changing that, trying to take his first shaky step into the deeper levels of the courts, much like a child took theirs on those two wobbly legs at the start of their lives. ¡°He did reek. Count Hastrifus is fond of his cologne. Oddly, I found it familiar. Growing up, I always knew other boys in the Baron¡¯s court who swore it made them more appealing. Though, even then, I didn¡¯t quite believe them,¡± Erec said, slowly still drinking his first cup of wine¡ªEnide was on her third, and he didn¡¯t blame her. He''d have eagerly joined if he had not been trying so desperately to keep his wits straight. She shook her head. ¡°How¡¯d you even remember the name? I couldn¡¯t keep track of anything since he kept talking about his eligible daughter to you. I almost punched him out then and there. If you hadn¡¯t grabbed my arm, I think I probably would have.¡± ¡°He was certainly eager to try that tactic; I¡¯d have thought you would dissuade them from trying; ever since the Stag, there¡¯s always been that sort. But they¡¯re foolish, and it would do us no good to dip into violence yet. But, if you still have a bone to pick later, maybe we can track him down and get revenge later.¡± Erec remarked. It had annoyed him as well. Barely not enough to spark into Fury, with each interaction like the one with Count Hastifus, that line was getting a little easier to think about crossing. ¡°Two so far,¡± Enide counted on her fingers. ¡°I thought they might just marry you off. The one before Mr. Oranges even mentioned being fine with me as a¡­ Concubine? Is that what they said?¡± ¡°Too brazen, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Erec rolled his shoulders, his eyes scanning the nearby groups. He and Enide were sectioned off in the hall outside of the ballroom, and the soft guitar strumming and the lively lyrics of a singer were filtering out from the interior. It was a relaxed melody that matched the occasion. Too early in the night for anything with a bit more energy to it. No, usually, those came when people were a bit deep in their cups, if at all. Given the show the Duchy had put in so far, Erec almost counted on it. Despite having his eyes peeled, there wasn¡¯t anyone Erec could think to make a friend in the same way he had Basil, the farmer¡ªmaybe it was just these people were too unrelatable, but their friendships had the sort of strings attached that Erec wasn¡¯t sure were worth the cost. Whatever, he¡¯d try his best. The constant thrum of conversation and feeling out people was valuable practice. If only the level of concentration it took him to pay attention to them and their motives didn¡¯t carry such a steep personal cost. Less than an hour after splitting from their main group, Erec had a pounding headache, and his eyelids felt like lead. Enide settled next to him, her hand clasping his. She looked concerned. ¡°This wears you out, huh?¡± ¡°Obvious?¡± ¡°Well, I mean, I saw you around my family; you¡¯d get the same way. Just not as quick.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a bit more effort going in this time, but these people have a way of getting to me. From being unwelcome as a second son to a disgraced family line to¡­ Well, a praised hero¡­¡± Erec trailed off and shrugged his shoulders, closing his eyes for but a brief moment. He could remember his time before this; the Garin¡¯s father, the baron, still had them show at his functions, and the occasional noble family invited them due to their close ties to Garin¡¯s family. But he¡¯d been alone. A child without his mother, a father who always seemed haggard and working to please his boss¡ªat those courts, all he¡¯d had was Bedwyr. Who took the attention from him and shifted it on himself, letting his younger brother hide in the shadows. Now, there was no escaping the light. Enide squeezed his hand and mentally worked himself up to get back to the task at hand: making friends. He needed friends, which was a good time to start making them. His friends may not be Knights, but nonetheless, those relationships could go far. For a second, he delighted in the calm and dreaded the future. ¡°Count Audax!¡± A woman called, her familiar, though it had been quite some time since he last encountered her. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Erec¡¯s eyes snapped open, and he saw Lyotte Luculentus walking directly to him and Enide¡ªher eyes bright. She wore a shimmering gown cut in a style closer to Vega than anything in a high court. A detail, no doubt, planned by her family for that exact reason. Enide cocked her head as she regarded the woman, no doubt seeing the recognition in Erec¡¯s eyes. The two had gone through the trial together, and she and Colin had been thrown into their group¡ªat the time, he thought it was a move to make both her and Colin come out looking better. Of course, after joining the Azure Tower and the events following the expedition, Erec hadn¡¯t seen much of the girl. Though the odd interactions when he first became a Knight came to memory now, he¡¯d never pieced together her game, and by association her Houses¡¯ game, it made him distrust the entire Luculentus Household. ¡°Lyotte,¡± Erec nodded, ¡°Your family has hosted quite the event.¡± ¡°Her family? So she¡¯s part of this place.¡± Enide asked, looking Lyotte over once more. ¡°She is part of the Duchy, yes. Second daughter, I believe. But more important than that, Lyotte is an Initiate in the Order of the Azure Tower,¡± Erec smoothly introduced her, including her rank. There had to be other Knights here¡ªhigher than an Initiate, too, but they hadn¡¯t approached him. Let alone someone from the household. ¡°¡­ There are four of those Orders, aren¡¯t there?¡­ And the Tower ones are the group who run the wall?¡± Enide asked. Lyotte gave her a warm smile¡ªgenuine, too. The type that said she was thrilled the Pendragon was at her family¡¯s gathering, unlike any other nobles. Even the one who¡¯d tried to toss a compliment Enide¡¯s way hadn¡¯t shown any actual warmth to it. That alone¡­ Made Erec reconsider his thoughts about this girl. He hadn¡¯t even truly understood her end goal. This whole family, too, from Olivia to her, had always felt out of reach. As if they were flitting on the edge of what he could grasp. Butterflies in a bio-cavern garden, flying too high to catch in a net. ¡°Indeed, the Order of the Azure Tower is responsible for maintaining the defense of the wall and aspects of the internal defense of the Kingdom. We deal with matters of keeping stability and peace for the people below. Our first oath is this: ¡®I shall use my strength to face the tribulations of this world first before they fall upon any other,¡¯ I think that gives a good idea of the foundation we are taught to hold ourselves to.¡± Lyotte explained. ¡°So, your lot is the protectors; his lot is the ones who go outside and do stuff,¡± Enide jerked her head towards Erec, ¡°And the other two¡­Yeah, the fact you¡¯re all this jumbled together and split up is a bit of a headache. Our family has people who are good at some stuff and bad at others. Seems simpler if you all were just tossed in one big ¡®Order,¡¯ right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about Balance. The Silver Flames are a faction meant to represent the Goddess¡¯ interests for the Knighthoods, and the Crimson Lotus is there to raise keen minds specialized in combat and magic to leverage them where the Kingdom needs them. However, with the current Master Lotus, their Order has fallen towards Mysticism to achieve the potent power they seek. The goals of the Orders are related but distinct, and the actual Knights within could belong to multiple Orders depending on their talents¡ªtake your partner Erec in another life; he could¡¯ve gone quite far under the doctrine of the Crimson Lotus. But he¡¯s shown a lot of promise for the Verdant Oak.¡± ¡°¡­So the Orders are drawing pointless distinctions?¡± Enide scratched the back of her head, looking at the empty cup in her hands. ¡°You all like to make everything so complicated.¡± ¡°No. They serve a purpose on a higher level, and within them, the Knights are their own persons with their own talents and leverage them best to achieve those goals. But because the Knights are diverse yet accountable to their Order, it is a way to divide power and balance it so that no one Order is ever too strong, even one supposedly focused on pure combat, like the Order of the Crimson Lotus.¡± Lyotte went through her explanations with great care, always with that same warm smile as she talked to Enide. The entire time, though, something itched at the back of Erec¡¯s mind. Four. There were Four Orders and Four Great Duchies. How the similarity hadn¡¯t hit him before, he didn¡¯t know¡ªHouse Nitidus had an obvious connection to the military itself, House Doctus was well known for healing and their ties to the Church, he didn¡¯t know much of House Resolvere, other than their associations to a lot of industries within the caverns¡­ But House Luculentus¡­ To him, they didn¡¯t pursue an obvious goal as a House. Following the same logic as the fact that all of the Orders had a distinct aspect of the Kingdom, they were tasked with, and drawing from what he knew about the Noble houses¡­ Erec¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What does your House do, Lyotte?¡± They¡¯re trying to make the Kingdom accept the outside. That much is clear from what Garin and Olivia said, but why? She gave him a pleasant smile. ¡°Whatever do you mean? We¡¯re a Duchy; my mother, the Duchess, does a lot, including hosting such pleasant occasions for the nobility to gather at the behest of the King. Actually, I think the announcement is coming soon, and I¡¯ll be needed. We¡¯re very pleased that you could make our event, Erec, and that you¡¯ve brought your wonderful other with you. We¡¯re honored to host you¡ªand I also wanted to add another thing.¡± At this, she stopped. Her confidence seemed to waver, and her eyes took on the edge of sadness. She frowned. ¡°I heard that you ran into your mother outside of the walls. And that it didn¡¯t end well. I¡¯m sorry for that. Your family deserves better. But I¡¯m glad at least that they have you. And your name is now enough to recover from the injustice that was done.¡± The way she said it, like she had before. She knew details of it that Erec suspected weren¡¯t common knowledge. His mind turned over the pieces, Olivia¡ªher¡­ Her family, and this. What does her House do? Information. They dealt with information. Before thinking about how to collect it himself, he couldn¡¯t have seen it or thought of it. But they collected that information, then leveraged it for the Kingdom¡¯s sake. He wasn¡¯t sure, but his gut pointed in that direction, which meant¡­ There was a lot he wanted to know about Lyotte and her family all of a sudden. Many questions circled in his head about what they knew about him, his family, his Kingdom¡­ He¡¯d known Colin¡¯s father was a major player on the board, but this House¡­ A magically amplified voice cut through before he could test his theory and start asking questions, ¡°Hello all! This is Duchess Lusia Luculentus. It is my pleasure to announce that the Crowned Prince, William, has graced this occasion with his presence; he has, to our absolute delight, requested a gathering of the nobility to hear a speech. At the behest of the Crown, he is here to deliver a message that will be of great interest to us all. Please, proceed to the gardens¡ªthere will be refreshments and fruits to enjoy while we gather, where we might all be delighted with his announcement.¡± Lyotte gave Erec a soft smile. ¡°It seems I must go. Boy, things have surely gone a little faster than expected. But, that¡¯s the Crown for you lately. They seem to have become incredibly motivated.¡± She dipped her head and swept off like a spent wave receding from the coast. A sight Erec never would have seen if not for his time on the expedition last month. Enide raised her eyebrow. ¡°Weird girl, but she seems nice. She acts like you''re closer than you are, though, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°I think she¡¯s sympathetic because she knows things others don¡¯t,¡± Erec said, chewing over his thoughts that, for now, he couldn¡¯t touch. But, maybe. Maybe Lyotte was someone worth stretching a hand out to¡ªa potential friend. The kind that would open up far more avenues to make the sort of acquaintances Robin talked about if he did it right. One whose motives he thought he might have just understood better. But that was a potential path for the future. For now, the mingling had a great interruption. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the garden, shall we?¡± Enide nodded, slipping her arm in his again; together, they made their way to an announcement that would rock the Kingdom. Chapter 194: Chess
¡°Though this course of action wasn¡¯t my first choice, I have been convinced. It begins. All that remains is to set the board.¡± - King Restfos II, Closed Discussion Following The Return Of The Vega Expedition, (307, 3rd Era)
¡°Three months from now, the Kingdom of Cindrus will open its wall to outsiders. A cultural exchange the likes of which has never been seen within the Kingdom. This may be shocking, we are aware, but to embrace the change that the future brings in the light of the glows of her Fire, we must be willing to face the future head-on. We are no longer a people who cower under the surface but a people content to live under the sun above; to that effect, and facilitate an atmosphere of growth and to show our might to the world, this event will revolve around competition, games, and the capstone of it all, a grand tourney,¡± Prince William¡¯s voice rang through the ballroom like the crack of thunder¡ªamplified by the same magic the Duchess had used to make the announcement that gathered them all here, to begin with. But it was the words. What he said had the effect of a storm crashing into this fine estate, the winds of change tearing through the room and smashing into everyone who heard those words uttered by the crowned prince and, therefore, spoken by the crown. This was the first time Erec had seen the crowned prince, the man who would one day rule the Kingdom. He¡¯d met his younger brother, Soren, and even kneeled before their father¡ªthe King. And William could not be more different from the unassuming ruler sitting on the throne. Already, there were hard lines worn on William¡¯s face. Muscle aplenty. And as he addressed the crowd, he stood in the same way that Erec might when facing down a massive monster. Not a trace of fear, but full of pure resolve. ¡°You may have already assumed, but I¡¯ll clarify it here. While we have a long history of tourneys to allow our Knights and members of the Army to compare themselves in the Kingdom, this one shall be of a different kind and not limited to only Knights and Military Personnel. Anyone is welcome to join¡ªincluding our guests. My Father has already sent word to Vega through our wasteland contacts, and they have promised to spread the word even further to their allies. The main event, of course, will be organized melee. However, it will be split into several brackets determined by age. Prizes will be announced for each bracket at the start of the tourney. I¡¯m sure there are many questions. House Luculentus has been kind enough to host this announcement, and the Crown has bestowed them and their staff with the publicly available answers. Further information will come out throughout the next couple of months. Housing for the guests will begin construction tomorrow¡ªa temporary ground near the wall for camping and other structures to host those that require it and wish to take place in our cultural exchange.¡± Gossip and rumors filled the Ballroom as the nobles took in the near-unbelievable information provided directly from the prince¡¯s mouth. What were they thinking? ¡°Damn,¡± Enide said. ¡°Yeah, damn is right,¡± Erec scratched the back of his neck and tried to make it make sense. Why would the King take such a bold action? The Church hadn¡¯t made its move yet since they let outsiders in. Was this to bait them? Because something like this was like lighting a fire inside of the Kingdom. He couldn¡¯t see any way that this went which didn¡¯t cause a shift in public perception and cause unrest. Boldwick had known, too. Of course, he¡¯d known. He¡¯d hinted as much when Erec went in and asked about his special training. ¡°The bravest among you are likely already asking how you may compete¡ªThose within the Military and Knight Orders are allowed entry, contingent on an allowance from their superiors, and at the rank of Commander Knight or Centurion. I would highly encourage said superiors to make an allowance for such a once-in-a-lifetime tourney. As for nobles or citizens¡ªthey are not beholden to an organization and therefore are free to sign up as they wish.¡± ¡­And that was why Boldwick said Erec would be talking to him soon. Because, of course, when presented with something like this¡ªhow could Erec not join? ¡°To think Rochester and the others kept this hidden away? Explains why they were so busy in Vega¡ªand why the Pack split after we left the city, with promises to meet up here again.) Enide said as the Prince continued with his speech. After the Prince¡¯s initial proclamation, he went over the barest details. The organized melee would be the most significant event, with several brackets based on age. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡®Rising Stars¡¯ were those between the ages of sixteen and twenty-two and would be the category all of the Initiates fell into, along with some Knight Errants; after that came the Proven Warriors, which ranged from twenty-two to thirty-two. Past that, and the broadest category, was the Veterans tier. The fiercest competition would be in the Veterans bracket. Anyone who still wanted to compete at that age likely spent a lot of time developing their Virtues, especially if they were a Knight who¡¯d fought against monsters and trained for so long. All of the Grandmasters fell into that category, but whether any of those would compete was a question. Then again, any wastelander could join, so maybe the Grandmasters would also show off their power to an audience of those outside the walls. They had to show their power to their guests. The King had to have a lot of confidence in his people to open themselves like this. But Erec didn¡¯t believe that only their Kingdom held the strongest. He¡¯d seen an Arch Magi in action. If one of them were to compete if they were to face off against a grandmaster¡­ Erec shivered at imagining such a glorious conflict. While that may have been the biggest part of the upcoming cultural event, it wasn¡¯t the only one. Smaller games and tournaments would serve as intermissions and entertainment to compete and facilitate connections outside the walls. Including a secondary soccer tournament that Erec suspected from his knowledge of Vega might just eclipse the excitement of the melee for their guests. Debates, recitals, dances¡ªthose scratches the surface. Considering they planned this to last over two months, there had to be much to do. During those two months, all who swore to abide by the Kingdom¡¯s laws would be allowed entry into their walls. After covering the games, the prince addressed the logistics of welcoming their guests. He covered responsibility and limitations for how the nobility would be allowed to interact. Namely, they were supposed to act with dignity, befitting the Kingdom, and consider themselves ambassadors and hosts to outsiders. Without the Crown''s approval, no outsider would be allowed into the Kingdom proper¡ªbeneath the surface and into the caverns¡ªfacilitated by a noble family vouching for the guests, with the exception of the Pendragons, who were already an established ally. William went on for a while, though he didn¡¯t do much to alleviate the crowd''s overall uncertainty and curiosity as they fathomed one fact. This is happening. In another stroke of their sword, the Crown cut through the steel curtains and let the wasteland into their home. And the reactions around the room ranged from burning curiosity and joy to protest and disbelief. Eventually, William gave a nod to the Duchess and left the stage of the Ballroom. A moment later, the Duchess¡¯ smooth, practiced, and curt tone took over with the enhancement of the spell, ringing out of the attending people and spreading like a balm to the itch that was their collective unease. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯re all delighted and filled with questions, brimming with the desire to see such a renowned competition by our very own Kingdom¡ªbut that is a matter for the future. As the Prince said, immediate questions can be brought to my house. Further questions can be brought to the doors of the four Duchies, who have agreed to collect and voice further concerns to the King on behalf of the nobility¡ªtomorrow, the announcement will go out to the rest of the Kingdom so you can rest assured, that you, the most important of our fair Kingdom have had an extra day to consider your preparations for this grand event before the public. Very generous of our gracious King, don¡¯t you think?¡± She paused at that, digesting that they¡¯d been given an advantage. It was a slim advantage, and Erec noted that it also served to redirect concerns in favor of plotting. That was to appease the Nobles who wanted to vie for power or whatever they wanted to find in such a moment of chaos. ¡°For now, let us content ourselves with the festivities of the Night. As we¡¯ve found out, soon we shall see what this wasteland has to offer us¡ªVega, namely, one of the most interesting places outside of our walls. Let yourself sink into the neon nightlife they live in and discover the entertainment of entirely different people¡ªpeople that soon you will be able to meet! Isn¡¯t that fascinating?¡± With this, she let out a warm laugh and gestured to someone in the front row. Music began to take over the ballroom¡ªmusic from Vega. Though he¡¯d never heard this particular song, he¡¯d heard a few like it there; the nobility splintered apart after that, breaking into their little groups. Erec noticed that many people filtered out from the ballroom directly towards the gambling tables. They were indeed ready to embrace Vega culture. [Well, that has been quite informative. Not that it alters our plans at all¡ªin fact, to quote an early 21st-century author who spent far too long writing books, Chaos is a ladder. I believe these conditions are just the disruption needed to see our new branch of Vortex Industries come into its own and once more soar into being a titan of scientific progress!] Erec tried to tamp down the uncertainty, swiftly followed by a burning emotion of the coming chaos and his sureness that a massive fight was approaching. It was a toss of denarii whether or not the Kingdom could even make it to this so-called tournament. Enide squeezed his hand and brought his attention away from the future and back to her, to that killer smirk on her face. ¡°I¡¯m gonna wipe the floor with you during that tournament.¡± He blinked, trying to put himself back in place and stop predicting the coming chaos that would radiate outward from the Kingdom. ¡°¡­No.¡± He finally managed and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± ¡°Oh yeah? Wanna make a bet?¡± Chapter 195: Duke And Crown Two hours later, Erec found himself seated at a green felt table. He had to admit, even though he was in the Kingdom, it sure felt like he¡¯d been teleported back to Vega¡ªthe room was lit only by neon lights. Or LEDs made to look like the bright neon lights he¡¯d grown accustomed to in that otherworld. That, the table, the cards, and the chatter of people gambling around him made for a surreal experience, considering he knew he was nowhere near that place now. No, he was with his friends in the middle of the Kingdom of Cindrus. Garin leaned next to him, his head cupped in his hands. On the other side was Enide, and facing her directly was Olivia, opposing ends of the same table. Directly opposite Erec was a maid, maybe around sixteen. She patiently waited for them to place their bets before she dealt more cards or slipped. This wasn¡¯t blackjack. It was Poker¡ªVega Hold¡¯em¡ªEnide picked this game and challenged them to a small pot. Not that money was the aim. They were playing for ¡®bragging rights¡¯ and to spend time unwinding after the announcement and even more dreaded mingling. Erec had given that his best bet for the night. But it became apparent quickly that most of the nobility had shifted gears after the announcement. They swarmed to their allies to plan and weren¡¯t as open to seeking new ¡®friends¡¯ like him. Sure, the odd one came up and had tried to curry favor, but most, if any, that talked to him was fishing for information. Often, they only had a couple of questions to ask him¡ªthe first always was, ¡°Sir Erec, will you be competing in the tournament?¡± What could he say but yes? He didn¡¯t have the same social navigation skills as Garin, but he was aware that with his reputation, he was, in a way, forced to compete. But forced was the wrong word. Since he looked forward to it, he couldn¡¯t imagine a world where he wouldn¡¯t compete. But it wasn¡¯t only his place in the competition he was interested in. ¡°You joining the tournament?¡± Erec asked Garin. Both of them had been knocked out of the game already. Neither was good at bluffing. A must-have skill for Vega Hold¡¯em. Compared to the two girls at the table, they might have been children telling fibs for how easily they saw through the hands. Now, though, those same girls were eying one another the way two generals might glare at one another on a battlefield. ¡°Me?¡± Garin raised an eyebrow. ¡°Not sure why you¡¯re surprised I¡¯m asking.¡± ¡°Because why would I? Of course, I¡¯m not going to compete. Even in our bracket, in the initiates, there is you, Bedwyr, Lyotte¡ªnot to mention Prince Soren. Goddess knows what Knight Errants I might have to compete against. Even Colin would be a hell of a fight with his advances in Mysticism. Don¡¯t know how that¡¯ll play out in a tournament, but I¡¯m sure he¡¯d figure something out. Think about it, Erec. Do I stand a chance? No. There¡¯s no point. Maybe I¡¯ll join some of the side games they mentioned, but I¡¯m not someone who belongs in the spotlight of competition like that.¡± There was a careless edge to those words, as if Garin were waving around a knife with abandon; casual surrender in a battle before it started was unacceptable. It made Erec¡¯s blood boil. ¡°Poor excuses. They do not befit you.¡± ¡°Excuses? They¡¯re facts, man. If something is pointless, why subject yourself to effort and pain? Especially when your time is better spent pursuing what you¡¯re good at. Instead of wasting my time joining a tournament I stand no chance of winning, I can spend it connecting with people in the crowd. Talking to those on the sidelines who came to our Kingdom to spectate.¡± A pretty excuse. And it was just that. Garin added another layer to defend his choices and hide behind the confrontation these battles could bring. Maybe his friend didn¡¯t have a strong chance of winning the tournament¡ªbut that wasn¡¯t the point. He wasn¡¯t weak. Garin had seen plenty of conflict during their expedition and the hunt for the White Stag. And his friend had grown in his own ways. What frustrated Erec was this. He shied away when testing his limits to seek greater heights. Garin had Talent and training. Once, Erec might have let this excuse slip. Still, now that he¡¯d begun to walk into the world that his friend was most comfortable in, that of other people and the horrendous realm of social obligations, he saw this additional defensive excuse for what it was. ¡°No,¡± Erec responded dryly, ¡°Even if you competed, you¡¯d still have enough time to do that. You¡¯re doing it again, exactly what you did with your Divine Talent. Trying to hide behind what you¡¯re comfortable with instead of pushing yourself to grow in areas you could fail. But I¡¯m not going to let you this time. You¡¯re better than this. We¡¯ve been through too much together.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± Garin didn¡¯t meet his eyes. Instead, he watched Olivia consider her cards. The girl looked up, then tossed two black and white striped chips into the pot. To which Enide grinned and threw four chips in. Raising the bet and tossing the challenge back at the maid. From what Erec learned of this game, shortly before losing all of his chips, these betting rounds lasted until one side ¡®called¡¯ and moved the game forward. ¡°Garin. Be honest with yourself. If it¡¯s not failing that you¡¯re afraid of, I can¡¯t imagine what it is. We¡¯ve been beyond the walls. Fought battles that I didn¡¯t think we¡¯d walk away from. Even now, this Kingdom is teetering on an edge and might fall into an abyss. Who knows if this tournament will even happen? But if it does, then it¡¯s an opportunity. A chance to train and grow stronger. That kind of change is the type that might make all the difference the next time our lives are at stake.¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Connections are important; it¡¯s not that I¡¯m afraid to fail. I¡¯m just best utilizing my skills.¡± Garin insisted. ¡°I didn¡¯t say they weren¡¯t. If anything, I¡¯ve been learning more daily how important they are and that the information they bring is another tool to use. But they aren¡¯t the only tool. It would be best if you had more than that. When things are catching fire around you, the streets burn, and monsters flood outward from every building¡ªyour friends and allies can only do so much. To protect them and to protect yourself. You need strength. So let me ask you, if you aren¡¯t afraid of failure, then what are you afraid of here?¡± Erec said. Garin shot him a sour look. Turning his attention fully from the poker game, which had only heated up further. Four cards were shown on the table. Yet Enide and Olivia were still going back and forth with their bets. Doubling one another with slight pauses between both, eavesdrop on Garin and Erec to feel out if their opponent was bluffing. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid.¡± Garin once more stubbornly insisted. Maybe the night had worn Erec out. All of that damn socializing. But his patience was as thin as a sheet of paper¡ªbut this problem had existed almost the entire time Erec knew Garin. The Academy only really highlighted it for him. And the most perplexing part about it was that he knew he could rely on Garin in the field. His friend would always fight by his side. Garin was never afraid of the monsters and shedding blood. But when it came to things like this, he choked up. Erec needed him to be stronger and wanted to support him in growing and becoming that. Deep in the dark insides of the Vortex Industries, facing off against MOLLY, Erec came face to face with the fact that while Fury gave him power, that power wasn¡¯t one that protected. Even if he could fight the monsters and tear them to shreds, it didn¡¯t let him look after the people around him. The best way to protect those people was to help them grow stronger so that they might protect themselves. Things would get dangerous in the Kingdom, and they needed to be prepared. If only Garin would accept¡ªwould join the tournament¡ªthen maybe he¡¯d train for it. Whether or not the King¡¯s plan came to fruition and they actually fought, that training might make all the difference when the trouble that lurked under the surface exploded outward. Erec kept staring at his friend, his jaw locked. Garin finally broke. ¡°Alright, damn, Maybe I am afraid.¡± Olivia frowned and moved to join their conversation, but she was quickly shushed by Enide, who shook her head and pointed at the pot in the middle. ¡°Focus on me, then you can cheer your guy up after this. While I walk away and celebrate with mine,¡± she shot the other girl a wink, but¡­ Enide had successfully diverted Olivia back to their game. She knew this was a critical moment, that Garin had to face this on his own. Thanks. Erec tried to say to Enide with a quick nod, then returned to address Garin. The two girls went right back at it, going through the last couple of bets they could make before they were all in. ¡°The way I see it is that there¡¯s not much to lose.¡± Erec said, ¡°And that you¡¯re far stronger than you give yourself credit for, I think you¡¯d benefit far more by focusing on training for the battlefield on occasion, then assigning yourself to the background like you¡¯re trying to do now. We¡¯ve been outside the walls together long enough to know that sometimes you¡¯ll run across a situation where you need your own Strength to let you survive through it.¡± He tried to keep his tone neutral but could already feel the heat rising. In the back of his head, that information, the knowledge that the priests belonged to some other entity than the Goddess¡ªthat at any moment, the Kingdom was prone to exploding if that secret got out¡­ It was like a ticking clock on an explosive down below to clear out rubble. ¡°I¡¯ll consider that,¡± Garin promised, and Erec heard in his voice that he meant it. ¡°Oh¡­ They¡¯re about to flip.¡± Erec wanted to say more, but sure enough, as his gaze slid away from his friend trying to worm out of the conversation back to the two girls at the table¡­ All the chips they were playing with were in the pot¡ªthis would be the last hand. It was past time¡ªthe night was starting to draw towards a close, and after all of the day''s events, Erec felt ready to get back to their dorm and finally shut his weary eyes. ¡°Flip,¡± Enide said, tugging at the corner of her card, eager to flip it. There were no more bets to place. All that was left for the two girls who¡¯d been playing a game of bluffs to show their cards and put it all on the table. In the middle were two queens, a king, a jack, and a seven. When they first started playing the game Vega Hold¡¯em, Enide went over the ¡®hands¡¯ you could build. If he understood right, based on the two cards in the middle showing, they had at least a pair. But the two cards in their hands would change everything. ¡°You first,¡± Olivia said, giving a polite smile. Enide shrugged and flipped her cards with the barest bit of a show. Two kings. ¡°Full house.¡± The smile on Enide¡¯s face could¡¯ve killed a woman¡ªspecifically, Olivia. Though the two had been making amends, Erec could tell that Olivia, standing on equal footing to her in gambling, a domain in which Enide thought she had the edge, had gotten under his girlfriend¡¯s skin. ¡°Damn good full house too. Bet you didn¡¯t think I¡¯d have pocket kings. Go ahead. Flip your three-of-a-kind with that queen you got. Or maybe you have a full house too¡ªcan¡¯t be higher than mine.¡± ¡°Appearances can be deceptive,¡± Olivia said, then also flipped. Two queens. She had a four-of-a-kind. ¡°¡­Is that better?¡± Garin asked, squinting. Enide released a soft curse as Oliva pulled in the rest of the chips¡ªwhich translated to all the money. Seeing his distraught girlfriend, Erec threw an arm over Enid¡¯s shoulder and gave her a squeeze. This wasn¡¯t going to be an easy thing for her to forget. The Pendragons had a distilled sense of pride that only paled when compared to the nobles of the Kingdom. And losing to Olivia¡­ Even if things were improving, the tension was under the surface. Enide didn¡¯t like to lose. Not somewhere she saw as her domain. ¡°Good game, guys; we should get going, though. Starting to get late. People are getting really drunk now; there¡¯s not much left for us here.¡± Erec began to say until he was interrupted by a loud and horribly familiar voice. ¡°I don¡¯t care whose son you are; apologize to my betrothed this instant!¡± Colin shrieked. Hardly a second later, a voice Erec hadn¡¯t heard in a while carried over. It was lower than Colin¡¯s, another horribly familiar voice. A voice Erec hadn¡¯t heard in quite some time. ¡°I told her to leave me be; I did not insult her further than what it took to reinforce that message.¡± It was Soren. One of the fucking princes with a Kingdom, and Colin was picking a fight with him. Chapter 196: A Prince Who Slays Monsters
¡°The Prince looked into her face, and said gently¡ª ¡°Thy son is well, and hath not lost his wits, good dame. Comfort thee: let me to the palace where he is, and straightway will the King my father restore him to thee.¡± ¡°The King thy father! Oh, my child! unsay these words that be freighted with death for thee, and ruin for all that be near to thee. Shake of this gruesome dream. Call back thy poor wandering memory. Look upon me. Am not I thy mother that bore thee, and loveth thee?¡± The Prince shook his head and reluctantly said¡ª ¡°God knoweth I am loth to grieve thy heart; but truly have I never looked upon thy face before.¡± - Mark Twain, The Prince qnd The Pauper, (1881, 2nd Era)
There were two things that brought Erec to a jog the moment he heard Colin yelling. The first was the tone¡ªthe anger. It screamed fight. His instincts, honed through their adventures together, were to go and reinforce his friend in battle. No matter who the enemy was, by now, Erec¡¯s body moved on its own accord to get involved. The second, more logical reasoning, as his brain caught up with his legs, was a realization. Out of everyone in their group, Colin was the person with the least social aptitude. Which said a lot, considering he counted himself among them. Therefore, Colin had the absolute greatest room to cause an accidental massive scandal. His rank was his friend¡¯s only saving grace, which allowed him to get away with such social gaffes. But this wasn¡¯t against some random count or viscount. Nope, he¡¯d picked a fight with a prince. Erec ran out of the gambling room, aware his friends were following right behind. With a burst of speed and careful maneuvering to avoid nobles grouped up in his way, Erec tumbled out of the gambling room on the second floor and into the upper level of Luculentus Manor¡¯s grand hall. It was a spacious interior, filled with people even as the event was nearing the end of the festivities. A large carpeted staircase led from the entryway to the second floor¡ªErec hit the ornate wooden railing of the second floor and got a perfect view of what was happening below, right near the main staircase. The gathering crowd of nobles forming a circle around the conflict made it impossible to miss. Colin stood, fists balled with Alexandra at his side, glaring at Prince Soren. ¡°Warranted or not, I shall not suffer from hearing another man levy an insult her way. You do not have the station nor the authority to call her an irritating trollop from an inferior family.¡± Colin almost growled, his voice radiating¡ªeither some magic was at play, or Erec¡¯s perception was in overdrive. ¡°Authority, or station? Might I remind you, Duke Nitidus''s son, what is the difference between a prince and a duchy-spawn?¡± Soren asked. ¡°If I do not have that level of authority, then whom does? All families are inferior to the royal family. A concept I¡¯d have thought you of all people familiar with, given your history in the court.¡± ¡°I am nothing if not a shining example of the duchy¡ªand she is irritating, sure. I¡¯ll concede that point. But I¡¯ll only accept someone calling her that if it were, I, as the one who said such a thing. Not you. And even less so for this. She was simply asking you for details about the upcoming event. You know, the one the crown declared imminent and hit us all like a blow to the gut. That event? The event that we, the regal and refined nobility of the duchy, deserve more information about since we¡¯ll be playing go-between for the Crown and those beneath us. She deserved an answer to those questions. Yet, that is not the most grievous of your insult. Trollop. Alexandra has no such history.¡± Soren stared at him, his expression blank as those dead eyes of his considered Colin. The lack of a response, if anything, only made Colin angrier. His face reddened, his fists going white. Though, if Colin was looking to start a fight¡­ Erec didn¡¯t exactly get why he was resorting to fists instead of tossing out an unexpected spell¡ªbut the pause the prince gave was something Erec couldn¡¯t afford to let slip away. Erec capitalized on the break, cutting through the crowd near the railing to make his way to the staircase and downward, taking two steps at a time. Shoving past the gawking and rumor-mongering nobility that cluttered the stairway as they stared. Of course, the peace couldn¡¯t last long enough for him to reach his friend. ¡°You are aware of her personal history, correct? House Doctus doesn¡¯t hold to traditional values and has had two previous broken engagements. I admit that perhaps I used the word to get her to back away for a moment and earn myself a moment to breathe without sufficient justification. But it was a leveled response, given she wouldn¡¯t break her campaign of harassment for information. My brother did make you all aware that not all of the information of the upcoming event is meant to be available to the public¡ª¡° ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of your words; your ego has grown far too large! You are no better than us, and it is time to bring a stark reminder of that fact, tyrant!¡± Colin spat and then rushed the prince. Just like that, in a public gathering with a vast crowd of witnesses, the heir to House Nitidus threw a fist at a prince; a storm went through Erec¡¯s heart as he gasped along with the rest of the crowd, nearly slipping and falling down the rest of the staircase he was running down to try to prevent this very thing from happening. Colin¡¯s curled fist slammed right into Soren¡ªuntil it didn¡¯t. In an instant, Soren was next to Colin, his fist whipped out and hammering into Colin¡¯s side, sending him flying with more force than Erec had last seen the boy capable of¡ªan activation of his Divine Talent, one which Erec had his own previous trouble handling. Colin stumbled back with a curse as the wind was knocked from his lungs, his head whipping around to look at the prince. ¡°A waste of energy. As you are now, your loss is inevitable. Repent and ask forgiveness, and I¡¯ll grant it for daring to rise against your betters,¡± Soren said. ¡°Go fuck yourself with that crown on your head, dipshit; no one hits my Colly!¡± Alexandra shouted as she crashed into Soren from behind, tackling the prince and bringing him to the ground. Only, as she hit the ground, Soren wasn¡¯t there. He was next to where he¡¯d been, lashing out with a foot and smashing it into the heir to the duchy of Doctus¡¯ side, sending the girl rolling away with a pained grunt as she took the blow full force. And, just like that, somehow, the situation went from bad to worse. Now, two heirs to the four duchies of the Kingdom had risen against the crown in a public display. Soren looked between them as they collected themselves, his face still blank. ¡°One last chance. Renounce your intent to come to blows, and I shall forgive you with my royal authority. Continue, and consequences will be greater than those already inevitable from this shameful display.¡± Stolen novel; please report. ¡°I demand a verbal apology to my betrothed,¡± Colin growled. ¡°I¡¯m not taking an apology; some insults must be repaid with bruises,¡± Alexandra rebutted. ¡°Let¡¯s calm down,¡± Enide said, twisting into the air between the prince and the two other nobles who were about to devolve this into an even greater conflict¡ªshe spun around, her eyes wide as she¡¯d realized that her action had thrown her front and center on a grand stage of nobility¡ªwhispers asking who she was, harsh insults that an outsider dared to enter into the conflict of the highest of the nobility, and people commending someone interrupting the fight ran through the crowd. Enide coughed, catching herself, and looked at the two who¡¯d already taken blows. ¡°Way I see it, this isn¡¯t the place for fighting. And that guy just gave you a chance to hash this out in a way that isn¡¯t going get you all screwed up with your families.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to strike him as I see fit for such a bold and arrogant act. His station does not allow him to insult his lessors due to the mere fact he was born a prince!¡± Colin shouted. Enide turned at him and gawked. ¡°Are you, of all people, really dying on that hill?¡± ¡°Of course I am! This is a disgrace to the name of the royal family¡ª¡° Erec finally reached the ground floor, ran up to Colin, and slammed a hand over his friend¡¯s mouth, stopping him from devolving into insults and pushing this further. But he only had two hands¡ªand as strong as he was, and sure he was that he¡¯d stopped Colin in his tracks or ensured that his friend would have to fight him first before targeting the prince, he was only one man. Alexandra Doctus wasn¡¯t about to let the fight drop. She rushed towards the Prince, who swayed slightly. Her form duplicated, and there were two versions of her sprinting forward as she activated her talent. The speed of both was tremendous, although, to Erec¡¯s eyes now, slower than he remembered. Then again, the last time he¡¯d seen this quantum-entanglement-esque ability in action had been right before the expedition to Vega. Even then, he¡¯d wondered how it¡¯d fare against Soren, whose¡¯ ability wasn¡¯t all that dissimilar. But he didn¡¯t get to see that fight. Alexandra didn¡¯t make it to Soren. Enide appeared. Her leg snapped out, and she tripped one of the two versions of Alexandra running towards the prince. The blurred form fell on its face, skidding forward, then vanished, snapping into the other, still-running copy. Then, in a twist of space, Enide was once more there and threw a kick right at Alexandra¡¯s midsection, rebounding the girl and sending her spilling back onto the ground on her ass. Colin struggled in Erec¡¯s grip, trying to break free to help his betrothed. In response, Erec tightened his hold, letting out a deep breath as he tried to stamp down the spark of Fury in him. Colin didn¡¯t have anywhere near enough physical power to bring out that tool, and this situation would only ignite if he were to add more fuel to these flames. Enide looked down at Alexandra. ¡°Now, I¡¯m not on this guy¡¯s side¡ªif what he said was what he said, then fuck¡¯em.¡± Enide¡¯s words drew angry shouts from the crowd of nobles¡­ ¡°But we need to take a step back. And calm down. This isn¡¯t your battlefield to fight on. Not yet.¡± Alexandra didn¡¯t respond to Enide; her eyes scanned the space around the girl, clearly looking for a way to break through and resume her assault on the prince. Erec didn¡¯t know her well but knew that if she failed to find a way past Enide, she¡¯d try to go through Enide. Better to end this now that they¡¯d taken control of this back into their hands. ¡°Prince Soren,¡± Erec called, flexing as he kept Colin from breaking free to shoot a bolt of electricity at the ruling class. ¡°Sir Erec.¡± Soren acknowledged. ¡°Did you insult her?¡± he had to ask, even knowing the answer. ¡°I did confirm that accusation.¡± ¡°Why?¡± At this, the prince was silent, only tilted his head. ¡°If you won¡¯t explain why, then would you offer an apology? With such a move, I am sure these two will be willing to profess their own. We can walk away from this, not happy, but better off.¡± ¡°I will do no such thing.¡± Erec felt another spark of fire run through him. And at this, he couldn¡¯t help it. His grip tightened on Colin, and he felt the ember catch, a bit of him burn away with annoyance. Soren wasn¡¯t like this, as far as he¡¯d known the prince. They weren¡¯t particularly close, but he¡¯d trained with the boy. Like it or not, Soren was the type of person who did nothing without deliberate intention. So his intention here was to piss off Colin and Alexandra. This, in turn, pissed Erec off. What was he thinking? The Kingdom could ill stand such a public display right after the heels of the announcement tonight. This would only sew further division at a time when they needed all the resources they could to deal with the mounting threat that would be the Church. ¡°If you will not apologize, then I can scarcely request my friends apologize for their actions.¡± ¡°If that is how you wish this to go, Sir Erec. Then so be it.¡± You¡¯re trying to get under my skin too? ¡°Though I have heard stories of you, Erec. Of your opportunisms on the field and during the expedition. Though we are equal in rank as Knights, and I am your better in rank and previously won against you, I must admit, I¡¯m curious. Do I still win in a direct conflict with one such as you? A man who has embraced the monster to defeat monsters? I should think so, yet it is within my nature to wonder.¡± ¡°Are you trying to fight me?¡± Erec said, fire fanning stronger. Enide shot him a raised eyebrow, splitting her focus from Alexandra. She was undoubtedly wondering if they were about to turn on the crown and join their allies in their battle. A rebellion spawned in the depths of the Kingdom and was more than likely to end up with them all thrown in a dungeon to rot if allowed. ¡°Yes. But not here. Your partner there¡ªEnide, I believe her name was, from the reports¡ªhas made an interesting proposition and pointed out things appropriately. If we are to do such a battle to satisfy my curiosity, it should be done on the proper field. For now, I won¡¯t retract my intent to punish House Doctus and House Nitidus. Considering their heirs¡¯ refusal to submit to the crown and utter their apologies, it would be foolish to. However, I¡¯ll suspend my judgment pending the tournament results. While I doubt they¡¯ll be able to accomplish this goal, I want to encourage growth. If either is able to best me in the tournament, then they shall both be forgiven. If they are to fail, they and their houses will receive justice. Simple. Clean.¡± Prince Soren was playing to the crowd now, no longer even focused on the two who¡¯d he¡¯d just lain the proverbial gauntlet down before. A dim part of Erec was aware that they were still on a social stage. This was one of the types of social games he was trying to learn¡ªand hopelessly out of his depth already. Not knowing what role, if any, he was supposed to play. Or what could he say to turn this around? But that part was outweighed by the anger running through him. The hot magma in his veins wanted to let go of Colin so he could be the next one who got to throw a punch at this smug prick. ¡°I doubt you¡¯ll make it to them,¡± Erec said, ¡°You¡¯ll lose to me.¡± ¡°Will I Sir Erec? Please. My life has been dedicated towards eliminating monsters; if you¡¯ve given up humanity to slay them and become one among them, then I¡¯m assured in my victory,¡± At this, Soren stared directly at him. For the first time, ever, maybe. Erec could have sworn he¡¯d seen a smile on the prince¡¯s lips. ¡°By the decree of the crown, all are to return to their business. This matter is not settled but shall be set aside for tonight. May we see if redemption for these two can be found on a more suitable battlefield,¡± Soren said, his emotionless tone waving over the crowd as he dismissed them all. Not that it stopped the nobles from breaking apart to discuss what just happened¡ªbut Soren turned and walked to the exit of the manor, leaving them all to deal with the fallout. Erec let go of Colin. ¡°Pompous jackass, he was born with a golden spoon hanging from his mouth and struggled for naut; blood does not set him above us, and it is past time he is reminded of that,¡± Colin muttered darkly, staring daggers at the princes back. ¡°¡­Hey, you realize that you¡¯ve done several times worse than that, right? And that¡¯s just what I¡¯ve seen.¡± Enide asked, scratching the back of her head. ¡°Nonsense,¡± Colin replied. ¡°I am nothing if not polite to those beneath me.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Enide replied before they swiftly tried to extract themselves from the spotlight with as much grace as they could manage. Even as Garin and Olivia rushed in and smoothed their way out of the manor, Erec kept thinking. Back to that slight smile on the prince¡¯s face. That surety of his victory. Colin wasn¡¯t the only one who wanted to put him in his place¡ªafter all, what had Soren had to struggle for to get what he had? What gave him the right to challenge Erec, who was doing his best to help this Kingdom? There were better things than focusing on this. He knew it. But a part of him couldn¡¯t help it. He¡¯d been challenged. And that needed an answer. Chapter 197: Pleasent Stroll Before Hell Only two days after the announcement, the Kingdom had become a full-blown explosion of mixed emotions. Enthusiasm, criticism, and curiosity ran through them like a spilling wave of monsters from a Rift. Of course, the news of the upcoming tournament leaked to the general public well before the eighteen hours it took for the Crown to make the official announcement to them. The nobility of Cindrus was many things, but it could not be kept a secret for long. Overall, the reaction was surprisingly enthusiastic. After so long thinking they were the only humans left in this world, for many common people, there was a sense of shared camaraderie and wonder¡ªor, maybe, that was the atmosphere encouraged by the crown. Though Erec couldn¡¯t see it, Dame Robin mentioned that many were wary of what was happening and didn¡¯t trust the outsiders. Regardless, the day after, classes were not productive because students were asking about the tournament. As a result, the Academy posted an immediate five-day break in lessons to coordinate their staff on how to process the flood of Initiate and Knight Errant requests to participate. Faced with a break, Erec chose to head back underground and perform his noble duties: he owed Cavern Seven. But he didn¡¯t go alone. Colin and Garin accompanied him this time; Colin was a given since he¡¯d taken to using Erec¡¯s new laboratory for his Mysticism research, but to Erec¡¯s surprise, his best friend asked to tag along, as Olivia had made plans with Enide for a camping trip. The people of Cavern Seven had their own odd way of celebrating the tournament¡¯s announcement. His return was met with his banner¡ªthat of the White Stag overlaid on a purple Vortex Industries logo¡ªplastered to walls, hung from flags, and even painted on the glass; every corner and person he walked by shouted out encouragement as he and his friends headed toward his manor. His effect on the merchants and reinvesting in his people had bought him a lot of goodwill; and the general morale of having a Kingdom¡¯s hero as their count; If he had any lingering doubts about the fact that he had to join the tournament, this dispelled them. He was their hero. His joining and winning was their forgone conclusion. The winning part¡­ He wasn¡¯t so confident about, but that wasn¡¯t what mattered. With the rampant enthusiasm in his cavern, Erec saw no dissenting voices to the tournament. No one was panicking about outsiders within their walls. They trusted him to lead them with unwavering Strength. The three passed under a large banner across the road from balconies on the third floor of the stone-brick houses on the Seventh Cavern¡¯s main street. In bold black lettering, it said, ¡°WELCOME HOME, FUTURE VICTOR OF THE TOURNEY.¡± An old man on one of the balconies hosting the sign saw them, gawked, and then called back through the open door to his family. ¡°As if Erec shall win the tourney,¡± Colin scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s likely; odds are on him, the Prince, Bedwyr, his brother, and a handful of promising Knight Errants,¡± Garin replied smoothly. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare mention Prince Soren in front of me. As I said, there is no chance Erec will see victory in the tournament since I shall be competing after all.¡± At that, Erec stopped. Flicking a look at Colin and raising an eyebrow. It was a silent question, but he didn¡¯t think the point was missed. Wanna take back those words? Colin gave him a deeper scowl in reply. ¡°Alright then. I¡¯ll bite. What in the Goddess-scorched-earth, makes you think you¡¯d win against me? If I were you, I don¡¯t think I¡¯d even be concerned about winning but focused on my chance to beat the royal, who I shall not name in front of you,¡± Erec tried not to be cocky. But it was Colin. Some deep part of him couldn¡¯t help but shine in response to that, and out of all the people he had the potential to face¡­ Colin wasn¡¯t high on the list he was worried about in a contest of power. ¡°For one, it is a tournament against humans. A brute like you cannot refine your tactics and efficiently reign in your clumsy power enough to use it practically. Let us not pretend this isn¡¯t your weak point. As annoying as the Prince is fluffing his ego in public, he does have a correct argument. But perhaps the meaning of his challenge went above your brutish brain. So let me say it clearly, friend, so you¡¯re prepared. You will have trouble against humans. These are not monsters whom you do not have to worry about killing. This is why, with my preparation and cutting-edge spell craft, I will win against you with my magic. A tool far more directed and adaptable to the circumstances.¡± [Wow. Colin just called you out and has a valid argument for once. Dang, buckeroo, I¡¯m insulted on your behalf. Should we offer him an internship so we can bully him by making him get you drinks?] Erec just stared back at Colin and worked his jaw. ¡°¡­Yeah, I suppose you could see that bit about Soren not having difficulty beating a man who becomes a monster might¡¯ve had that implication,¡± Garin said. ¡°What did I say about using his name before me?¡± Colin quickly shouted at him. Erec looked back up at the banner behind him¡ªand saw the old man and the rest of the family were now there. A young man and his wife were next to their grandfather. The young woman had stark black hair and a child at her hip, with another tucked in her elbow. All of them were busy waving down at him from up there as he looked up. And why wouldn¡¯t they? His count? Their Hero? These people believed he would keep them safe and win the tournament. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Colin was right. Participating would have its challenges¡ªsomeone like Bedwyr would have an easier time with his talent in those conditions, as his Talent was less directly geared toward turning its user into a killing machine. Winning would be difficult. But when had Erec shyed from difficulty? ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯ll win.¡± Erec said, ¡°And if I don¡¯t, I¡¯ll have given it my all.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of hurting someone?¡± Garin asked. ¡°Of course I am, but I¡¯m not letting fear control me. My talent is no longer new to me, and though my control of it isn¡¯t perfect, it¡¯s nothing that I¡¯m afraid of any longer. Nor is it some grand secret I¡¯ve kept from the Kingdom. If I lose control, then I suppose I¡¯ll have to request that it¡¯s a forfeit on my behalf,¡± Erec let out a deep sigh. Of course, given time to think about it, he had to consider how to approach this safely. They didn¡¯t know all the rules, but he was sure Boldwick¡ªor someone higher up on that matter¡ªwould consider his ability and what it brought out in him. He just hoped that consideration wouldn¡¯t make them forbid his entry. After giving a slight wave to the people above, he and the rest of his group continued deeper into Cavern Seven, following the cleanly laid out main brick road¡ªlit by glowing lamps at the end of simple black-metal poles, with stores decorating most of the scenery on the first level. ¡°Despite what he may believe, for that oh-so-obvious reason, I¡¯m rested and assured that I will prevail against rust-bucket. None shall stand in the way of facing my mortal nemesis, the crowned prince,¡± Colin declared. Garin let out a small laugh at that, which earned him a sharp glare from Colin. But Colin wasn¡¯t done. He swapped the target of his ire from Erec straight to Garin, who dared laugh at him. ¡°Inevitable loss or not, at least rust-bucket sees fit to try his hand at the tournament. Even if it will result in his embarrassment. Yet here I am, staring at a coward with insufficient spine to try. Or do you think that your hiding away from committing to this would slip beneath the notice of my discerning eyes? I didn¡¯t take you for a coward, Garin. But I suppose those of lower stations are more prone to cowardice since they do not have to rise to face the difficult things their stations demand from them.¡± At this, Garin stopped, yanked Colin by the shoulder, and shoved him against the store''s wall. Inside the store, Erec could see several of his people turn in alarm. ¡°I¡¯m not taking that crap from you.¡± ¡°Then prove me wrong, coward.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to prove anything.¡± ¡°Do you think that this is set to impress me? Acting tough and mighty? That is not your place, baron¡¯s son. And if you¡¯re going to act without dignity that befits a higher station, then I see no reason to treat you with such.¡± Colin continued. ¡°Me? Coward? That¡¯s rich coming from a guy who was afraid of bugs¡ª¡° ¡°That fear has been faced time and time again, yet it is you who refuses to commit to a simple harmless tournament? Pitiful. How proud your family must be of you, Garin Honestus. When you finish playing as a Knight, I wonder, shall you proudly fiddle away what remains of your life as a glorified manager to the bio-caverns while Erec and I make legends of our names?¡± Erec sucked in a breath, feeling his blood start to rush at the conflict. The two stared at each other, hate swirling in their eyes. Most of the time, Garin didn¡¯t take their more abrasive friend seriously, but¡­ Yeah, Colin wasn¡¯t holding back the verbal punches today, not after being angered by the prince. If Erec were in Garin¡¯s shoes¡­ Well, maybe that¡¯s why Colin had chosen to let out his frustration on Garin and not Erec. While harsh toward Erec, he was careful not to cross any true lines, not like this. Colin was trying to cut deep. ¡°Damn you.¡± And Garin shot a glare at Erec. ¡°¡­And damn you too. The both of you. Fine, if you¡¯re both not going to stop talking about this, then FINE. I¡¯ll compete. For whatever good it does. A waste of time.¡± Colin smirked at him, the anger vanishing off his face. ¡°Pressure is good. I knew you would fold, and now we have another chance to place that lowly prince in his spot. The only thing more fitting for him to be crushed under my heel would be to suffer a loss at the hands of a baron¡¯s son.¡± Garin gave him a look of pure horror, realizing Colin had plucked his strings like a guitar. ¡°I¡¯d intended to work at Erec¡¯s new facility this weekend if this ploy failed, but considering things¡­ Erec, would you mind sparing your resources to foster a training environment? There is a long road ahead of us until the tournament, but if I am to crush Prince Soren, I must ensure that I crush him with such enthusiasm and might that the spoiled curr never thinks to look me or my family¡¯s way again.¡± Erec ran a hand through his hair, looking between Colin''s beaming expression and Garin''s horrified realization. His friend was still processing that he¡¯d been played socially by Colin, of all people. ¡°You want to train?¡± Erec asked. ¡°I wish to train in a way we¡¯ve never trained before,¡± Colin confirmed. ¡°¡­Alright. But I want commitment from both of you right now. No matter how hard this training is, we see it through to the end; these five days, we will give it our all. No quitting. No matter what. Erec decided to push it, ideas already running through his head¡ªfor now, he had both Colin and Garin on board. But he needed commitment. Colin might be appalled by the harshness of what Erec sought¡ªor Garin might double back on his promise given enough time. Hell, all of this training might not be useful at all for the tournament. There was a chance the Kingdom never managed to reach the tourney to begin with. But these days of direct training could be immeasurably valuable if they could wring out every ounce of effort Erec could get out of these two. They might lead to more time training¡ªor, in these hours themselves, if motivated properly, might make all the difference between life or death on a battlefield. ¡°Easy commitment. I shall train without limits. With all my considerable talent, it shall be an easy thing.¡± Colin answered. ¡°I already said I¡¯m in,¡± Garin replied. That should be enough. Of course, I¡¯ll see this academic break through to the end.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s settled,¡± Erec turned on his heel, walking back the way they¡¯d come. No longer headed toward his manor. No. Things had changed. Colin sought him out as the one to train them, but Erec knew full well that he wasn¡¯t the right person to truly understand how to push them to their limits. That evil Goddess above willing, there was one person who would know. Hopefully, that person wouldn¡¯t have his hands too full to spare these five days to take advantage of the commitment his two friends had just thrown into Erec¡¯s hands. With his friends in tow, Erec doubled back. From the Seventh Cavern, back to the surface, and through the bustling and growing city above. It was still sunny, early in the morning. The sky was a bright blue with happy clouds floating above. It was a fantastic way to mark the start of a short break that was likely to be a time of relaxation for most of the Academy''s initiates. For them, though, it would surely not be. Erec suspected that if the man were willing to help, this would be a hellish 120 hours. Together, they strode through the city¡¯s paved roads, to the dirt roads of the outskirt, back onto the paved cobblestone that led to the Academy, and then straight to Boldwick¡¯s office. Chapter 198: Duotheistic
¡°We Will Slaughter Her. Burn. Burn. Burn. She will Burn. She took my family. They are gone¡ªmy sweet daughter, my innocent son. Taken away in a breath by those unholy fires spewn from that eldritch horror. And then she further dares to mock me? After taking them? She said she would burn them again, and again, and again, til their skin boiled and their blood popped out in clouds of steam. MONSTER. With my last breath, I curse you. We curse you. And what you¡¯ve done. With my hands¡ªwith my brothers and sisters, we shall kill you a thousand times over. Tear your unholy skin ashred with my fingernails. Until they break free from my fingers, and then I shall bite your face until my teeth crack and turn to dust. You¡¯ve made a mistake. Whether you believe so or not, you¡¯ve made a mistake. You have yet to learn what humanity is capable of. Together, I¡¯ll show you our pain, me and those who listen to my words, who make my pact. And in doing so, I¡¯ll make a mockery of your name. Haunt my dreams all you want, Lavinia. One day, I¡¯ll haunt yours.¡± - Vindicta, The Commandment, (5, 3rd Era)
Boldwick expected the three Initiates to show up at his door. More specifically, he¡¯d expected a single initiate to show up at his door. And he¡¯d expected Erec to appear much sooner, with his inevitable ask to join the tournament. A request Boldwick had turned over in his since he¡¯d known there would be a tournament. It was a risk for someone like him to compete; he had to acknowledge that much. With his pupil¡¯s overwhelming Strength and disposition for violence, letting Erec fight others, especially outsiders, was a dangerous proposition. Not something he wanted to take lightly. But Grandmaster Oak gave the go-ahead, so he was well prepared to approve it. Boldwick leaned back in his chair as three boys filtered into his room. He gave them the barest tip of his head, a gruff noise, and kept his face neutral. A type of no-nonsense expression that was good for developing Knights to see. The exact sort of expression they needed to see when they went and bothered a Master Knight like himself, in a time meant to be used by the Academy staff to organize for processing tournament requests. Not-withstanding-that excuse was partially a lie for Verdant Oak, who already had a plan in place. But still, these kids didn¡¯t know that. All three cleared their throats and stood up straighter as they read his face. Good. Boldwick let the silence hang and drape his office with the weight of quiet. His office was much cleaner since returning from the expedition. He¡¯d taken the time to tuck away the important maps into drawers, dust off what little furniture he had, and straighten up a couple of personal effects left here. No more bottles were hidden in drawers to get through the hard days. Well. Aside from one. But there wasn¡¯t time to drink that, the way things were. Boldwick stared at all three of them. Putting the pressure on the Initiates to be the first to break the silence. Erec, bold as ever, spoke first. ¡°Sir.¡± ¡°Erec.¡± Boldwick decided to respond, letting a light of the facade slip with a slight smile; the boy had grown quickly. Too quick, to be honest. A talent like that, which made him a powerhouse which broke limits, was both exhilarating and dangerous. Even now, Boldwick recalled when he first met the kid. Erec was now square-shouldered¡ªfar more muscular than the first scrawny tall kid in a set of loaner Armor Boldwick ran across. Now, that same indignant kid had a face filled with hardship and eyes full of determination. Those eyes were exactly the same as the first day they¡¯d met. But the lines of pride and worry were new. Worn onto this poor kid¡¯s face after being thrust into the role of an influential noble after the Stag. Yes, Erec was growing. Unfortunately fast. ¡°We have five days before classes resume,¡± Erec said, ¡°as you guess, I¡¯m here. About the tournament. All three of us are actually, we want to join.¡± ¡°The Academy is still outlining the procedure for accepting these requests. I can note it down, and I¡¯m doubtful they would deny your ability to participate. But if you¡¯re looking for me to say, ¡®You¡¯re good to go ahead,¡¯ I¡¯m afraid that will have to wait a couple more days for the official confirmation. Also, I¡¯m happy to see that Colin and Garin have also decided to compete. You do service to Verdant Oak by putting yourselves up to this challenge.¡± Garin shuffled and refused to meet Boldwick¡¯s attention as he shifted it to the two. Colin though, the young brat gave him an eager, hungry expression. I suppose the Prince stirred him up, according to the reports. So that¡¯s not unexpected. ¡°Thank you, Sir. We eagerly await official confirmation, then. But that isn¡¯t the only reason I came today. I¡­ Have a big favor to ask. I was hoping you might train us over the break¡ªreally train us so that we can be ready for anything.¡± Erec said, stressing the word. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Boldwick rubbed his head as he knew the boy¡¯s worries well. They echoed his own, and they were so reasonable he didn¡¯t find it in him to argue against the need. Still, he had to try, if nothing else, then to let the youth enjoy what time they had. ¡°Sometimes, breaks are as important for developing into a rounded and strong Knight, as is training.¡± ¡°As is knowing when time would be better served to gain Strength.¡± ¡°You could be gaining strength in other areas. If you insist on keeping yourself busy¡ªDame Robin perhaps, if you so wish. Life is not all war, Erec. We must learn to treasure the times of peace when we can.¡± There was sadness in Boldwick¡¯s words even as he said them. He didn¡¯t even believe them, and these words continued this argument¡­ It wasn¡¯t necessarily for these boys. This attempt to sway them was a backlash to the world and how things needed to be. Every vowel and syllable were strung together to buck the truth of their situation. In another time, another world, hundreds of years ago, these three could have lived a lifetime of peace, died happy, and lived a life full of friends and family. But not here, not now. Boldwick stared at the book on his desk. It was an old-world story, ¡°The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,¡± a book he¡¯d tucked away after their trip to the western coast, one he¡¯d found in the city full of lizards. Would they have lived a life as carefree as that? Erec¡¯s words cut through his argument like Boldwick knew they would. This boy wouldn¡¯t think twice before speaking to them since that was the prerogative of youth. ¡°There are times of peace. But this is not one of them. Please, Boldwick. Train us. All of us.¡± His eyes went to his friends, ¡°Or if you can¡¯t¡ªdo you know anyone with the time? We have to make the most of what we have and are willing to give it our all. Five days, no rest To grow as much as we can, as quick as we can, so we can be prepared.¡± Prepared. Of course. We¡¯ve all been doing that of late, from Grandmaster to Initiate, it seems. Colin and Garin stood straighter at his sides, and Erec glanced at the two of them, reaffirming his resolve and giving strength to those two. He was right and wrong. This was a kind of peace, like the peaceful moment one had as they stood at the edge of a cliff, staring out over the horizon and seeing the beauty of the sky. Clouds might decorate it; the blue above might be splashed with oranges and purples as the sunset. But at the same time, it was the kind of peace that once that sun sunk in the distance, the waves would crash against the cliff below with a hidden might, the rock beneath your feet was liable to give out, the edge of the cliff might collapse and send you tumbling down from a great height, surrounded by nothing but the darkness of the night and fall to your death. Erec wasn¡¯t asking for this training just for himself, though. Boldwick was sure that he was as eager, if not more eager, than the other two to hone his axe blade and prepare for the coming trouble since he was the only one of the three with intimate knowledge of the exact trouble. Boldwick let out a tired sigh. ¡°Very well, to be so young and eager for growth should be encouraged, not stopped. So I shall not get in your way and force a break. Though I cannot promise I will have the time to be present for personal training for these five days, if you¡¯re all as devoted to this as you claim, I¡¯ll make arrangements to test you to your limits. But make no mistake, if you want to see substantial growth in that short time, we would need to take you to your limits and beyond. Do you three understand that?¡± Boldwick said. ¡°Of course,¡± Erec said first, as he was no stranger to their destination. Boldwick didn¡¯t expect anything less than that from someone such as him. ¡°Then it shall be. As long as you all are resolved to this.¡± There was a chorus of agreements; not one of them, though, was tainted by uncertainty. Above all else, that motivated Boldwick to rise from his chair and start making arrangements. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Forgive me.¡± ¡°Please, dear Goddess, stop.¡± Gregory cried out to no one but everyone. Precisely, everyone was, in this case, his Goddess. Gregory spasmed on the ground of the dark confessional room¡ªthe place the clergy called confessionals, tucked away in the depth of the grand cathedral deep in the Kingdom on the third floor; when the ¡®tremors¡¯ hit a priest, they were quickly escorted here. It was where they could see and hear Her voice true and confess their sins directly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sorry, sorry,¡± he kept crying out, each word louder than the last. His eyes burned like charcoal shoved in their pits. Pitifully, Gregory clawed at his eyes, surprised the liquid inside wasn¡¯t gushing out and spilling all over the stone floor with the pain he felt. The ache, too; it was just as bad. Every part of his body twitched, every muscle burned, and blood moved slowly through him like hot, thick magma through a pipe. ¡°I know nothing about him¡ªabout them! Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing!¡± He screamed out the last nothing, his body writhing of its own will¡ªthe back of his head smashed against the stone ground, and for a second, he felt nothing but the sweet relief of unconsciousness. Then the fire revived him, brought his burning eyes back open as She wasn¡¯t done with him. Yet. ¡°Stop. Please. Oh Goddess, stop.¡± Gregory begged. She was cruel. And she didn¡¯t believe him. That much bounced around in his skull as he felt her fiery fingers plucking him apart, untangling within from the depths of his soul outward. She¡¯d already taken over so much of him, but not enough to completely own him. Her Pact prevented her from going quite that far, but for some of the clergy, Gregory had never been sure. Maybe there was another ritual later. But him, oh, he was fucked. Gregory committed himself to Her, like every priest. Was branded by her. Willingly entwined his soul with hers¡ªhis Goddess. It was forbidden to speak her name, for she was not Lavinia. If you did, your tongue would burn out of your skull, and you would drown to death in your blood; he¡¯d seen it happen once and only once. And never dared think of even thinking her name. No, no, no. Not Lavinia at all. His Goddess racked him with pain once more, tearing his body apart from the inside, pressing her will against his. It was like standing against a storm, a whipping barrage of nature that could flay skin and take him apart piece by piece. That will be indomitable, non-human. If Gregory knew, if he had anything he could tell her, at this moment, he would. Even if he no longer wished to serve this Goddess. But it was too late. Too impossible to undo what had been done. He was Hers. ¡°I know nothing of Sir Erec besides what I¡¯ve shared,¡± Gregory whispered, his voice hoarse and his body wrung out like a used dishtowel. She wasn¡¯t happy with that answer, and once more, his whole body shook¡ªanother scream left his lips, hoarse and raw enough to tear more of his vocal cords apart. Reality faded away, and yet Gregory still kept screaming. He lost track of where he was and what he thought. And he caught a glimpse of Her in those burning eyes of his. Her face was screwed up in a rage, a pure rage divorced from the remains of humanity. A being made to hate, to seek revenge, to tear apart anyone and everything in her path to get what she wanted. Inch by inch, she stole bits of his soul, stripping them from him with little care for his pain, taking what power he had. A living sack of meat to fuel her was the covenant he¡¯d entered; over time, this was to be expected. Over time. Not this. She was to be slow in asking for sacrifice and to lend back power and guidance to her flock, for that had made her into the Goddess she became. Vindica no longer cared about that. No longer cared for the humans in her thrall. People like Gregory, who¡¯d outlived their usefulness, were to be treated like the sacks of useless flesh they were. Regardless if she¡¯d been little more than one among them. ¡°I know nothing. Please.¡± Gregory begged as he felt the last bits of himself coming apart, burning away. She¡¯d broken their covenant and then used the hold she had on him to take more still. Her presence in this confessional was a real thing; he felt the heat of her in his mind, almost present in this reality, in this very room. It was true. He knew nothing. Erec had committed sin in front of him, true. But why did his Soul burn like the Goddess Lavinia? Of that, he knew nothing. Vindicta took it out on him anyway. After an hour, the confessional no longer contained Gregory. All that was left was a pile of ashes that, maybe once, had a name. Chapter 199: Training Begins Erec hung upside down, wire wrapped around his ankles and digging deep into the skin. His feet throbbed, and the blood rushed to his head; all around him, shadows and fog swirled. Now and again, he caught a suggestion of wolves in the mist, spiraling through the fog in the warehouse Dame Morgana brought them to. Without straining to listen, Erec heard the cries and grunts of his friends. After a second or two, he¡¯d see a flash of light through the fog that marked the use of lightning magic. I have to give it to him; they are impressive. When Colin used his lightning, it cracked through the air with a violent light, cutting through vast swaths of fog and hitting with a force Erec would find difficult to match. Since returning from the expedition, Colin had been working to improve his magic, using his newfound Talent. But until now, Erec had never seen practical results from the training. Below, Erec caught a fat squirrel scrambling by, rushing around and avoiding the paws of a foggy wolf; in five seconds, both the squirrel and the wolf returned to the haze that dominated the warehouse once more. Utter chaos. A fog wolf appeared right below; jaws extended as it leaped to bite Erec¡ªhe curled up, flexing his abs and narrowly avoiding it and consequently not having his face bitten off. ¡°Come on,¡± Erec swayed, relaxing as the wolf vanished, moving back and forth to gain momentum and getting himself out of the way of another fog-wolf apparition. The more he moved, the harder it was to control his swinging body while upside down. Coordinating like this was nearly impossible. Even worse, Dame Morgana had forbidden him from using his axe; without it, and with the near-infinite supply of her shadows, he felt like a sack of dangling meat for their dinner. With each dodge and his lack of control over the situation, he felt his inner control disappear. They came thicker by the second¡ªhe kept swaying, dodging, but eventually, with the number of wolves and their sheer volume, he began to catch wounds, stinging, cold bites as their ethereal teeth cleaved through his flesh. Blood started to flow, and the anger built. It was like hot coals in his stomach; each little nick and wound roared them into a heating inferno. Useless. Without his axe, he couldn¡¯t reach them. He couldn¡¯t cut himself down. Which was Damn Morgana¡¯s point, but when they¡¯d first gone to Boldwick, Erec had assumed the Master Knight would be the ones training them. No, though. He brought them to Dame Morgana, who within five seconds came up with this crazed plan to begin her ¡®five-day sojourn to form the foundation for the rest of your exceptional lives¡¯ and hanging here acting like a sack of meat for ghost-wolves to take bites out of wasn¡¯t the type of training Erec banked on when he first begged Boldwick for this specialized training. What was he supposed to get out of this? While Dame Morgana had her merits, especially regarding the matter of the soul, that had not been what Erec thought to be the most important thing his friends lacked. Lifting heavy weights, fighting to the brink of exhaustion, blood¡ªadmittedly, he was already bleeding¡­ That was the type of training they needed to prepare for the inevitable battles headed their way. A wolf jumped at him, twisting in the air as Erec moved to dodge; the fang cut the skin above his eyebrow, leaving cold, searing pain. It landed with a howl as warm blood gushed from the injury it left. The veins in him seared, anger building like that of a volcano. Beneath, he heard scampering, and Erec was already twisting, trying to get a look at the next conjuration headed this way¡ªbut it wasn¡¯t a wolf. No. Just a fat squirrel beneath him, its whiskers twitching as it grunted and gestured at him. Munchy? A wolf appeared next to the squirrel, jaws wide as it flew at it. ¡°Move!¡± Erec yelled. Munchy heard him, then threw itself to the side, letting out a massive squeak as the incorporeal fog wolf tripped over its failed attack and vanished. A second later, the fog bent away from Munchy, then from Erec¡ªwolves circled in a ring as Garin walked through a bubble of empty space, holding the mist away as if by a spell. His face was screwed up in a look of concentration, but as he laid eyes on Erec, there was pure relief; he reached out and steadied Erec, stopping the wild swaying all of the dodging had brought. Seeing a second of peace in the storm, Munchy scampered up Garin. All the while, Erec watched the wolves in the distance, circling, testing the perimeter. The fog tried to find a weak point in the invisible barrier to attack once more. ¡°Hanging in there?¡± Garin asked. ¡°No choice but to,¡± Erec sighed, the fire in him burning brighter. The whole solution to this wire problem was his axe¡ªbut Morgana had taken it away. The only solution was to summon that silver axe of his and to call upon the fire he barely understood. If he could wield that power, blowing away these pesky wolves and freeing himself would be trivial. That power was his¡ªaccording to Morgana. Until he could learn to grasp it, he would stay hanging here. Both Garin and Colin had strict instructions that he had to free himself; they were to try to deal with the wolves on their own. This game was a competition between the three of them. Morgana said they each had a way to deal with the fog; they just had to find it. Erec knew his solution. But it wasn¡¯t that simple. The last time he called upon that power, he¡¯d gotten the distinct impression it wasn¡¯t his power. When he fought the former CEO-turned-monster of Vortex Industries, Dan, it felt like another person joined him. Even now, the memories he¡¯d experienced from the depth of that inferno haunted him and left a spark of wariness; if he used that power, would he even be himself anymore? Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Since then, trying to dive too deep into the silver fire was impossible. A mental block. Fire roiled in him, but Erec feared what might happen if it boiled over. I can¡¯t let this continue. Not with what could happen. Garin twitched as five wolves tried to breach his invisible barrier at once, flinching but maintaining their flawless defense once more. How that power translated to Garin dispelling this mist¡­ Erec could see how, but his friend would need much more power than he was currently straining to muster. ¡°And how are you hanging on, down there?¡± Erec asked, letting the fire in him burn, trying to focus and concentrate on it, to let it grow. ¡°It¡¯s too difficult, I can¡¯t do it,¡± Garin replied, sweat rolling off his face¡­ The skin on his friend¡¯s hands was flaking away. A sign of his body¡¯s impurities being flushed as his skill with his Soul virtue increased. ¡°This is harder than talking to the rats. It¡¯s like those wolves have voices¡­ But they don¡¯t. They want to bite us, attack us, but it¡¯s not like a hungry animal, and they aren¡¯t alive¡ªthey don¡¯t even have individual memories, more like a collection. And trying to ¡®talk¡¯ to that and convince it to stop is¡­ Difficult.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll get out and end this,¡± Erec vowed. ¡°Will you? Hurry then, I don¡¯t know how much longer I can keep doing this,¡± Garin said, his face screwed up further¡ªoutside in the fog, several wolves appeared, running straight towards them. Munchy uttered a cry of fear as they leaped¡ªclearing through the edge of the fog held at bay and into the bubble of free space that should have kept them out. A bolt of electricity tore through the three from the fog, vanishing them in an instant. In the wake of the attack, a channel was carved out of the warehouse¡¯s fog, through which Colin ran until he was in the protective bubble. As Colin looked at them, sparks danced from his eyes¡ªthey glowed a brilliant gold as his gaze shifted left and right. Without even saying a greeting, he raised a pointed finger towards a condensing part of the fog barrier; a purple glyph formed quicker than Erec had ever seen his friend muster before. The spell discharged into another bolt of lightning, dispersing the thickening part of the mist. Only this time, part of it looped back, shooting into Colin and slamming into his chest; Colin convulsed but stood his ground, more sparks flying from him. Like Garin, Colin seemed to have yet to break past the threshold where using his Soul virtue stopped taking a physical toll. With that last blast, Garin established a solid hold over the area; the fog retreated at the edges and became less dense. It was only a matter of time, though, before it regained strength and attacked once again. ¡°Work quicker, rust bucket,¡± Colin said as the electricity started to ease. No more bolts were running from his eyes, but sparks were still dancing between his fingertips. ¡°Damn, that woman. ¡®Defeat the spirits of the world before¡ªfor we are in the world of now, my lovelies,¡¯ as if such drivel makes any sense. At least her pointer about focusing on lightning has worked. I get far more for my mana by using it than other spells.¡± Colin¡¯s golden eyes narrowed¡ªhe raised those hands, already sparking, and then yet another purple glyph formed and firmed, blasting off and cutting a line through the fog this time. He stood for a second, a smug look on his face before his body convulsed, and he fell to his knees. ¡°Colin!¡± Garin said, rushing over to him to help him back up. Erec swayed above as his friend helped the once spoiled noble, who then took a deep, shuddering breath. ¡°I am alright. That was another trouble spot brewing; I could see it with my eyes. You both may offer me gratitude now, considering Erec has failed to end this task for us, like he should have done twenty minutes ago.¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying. Alright? It¡¯s not easy to wield that much firepower,¡± Erec growled, letting his temper flare at the clear goading by Colin. He wasn''t sure whether or not his friend was trying to help or make a jab. Either way, might as well use it. The fire inside stoked brighter, and he could catch flickers of silver. But as he dug deep, trying to grasp the silver flames, they flickered out of his hand, sensing his fear. Instead, he was hanging upside down inside the massive warehouse¡ªthe place was large, primarily used for storing crops, yet currently empty. It¡¯d been purchased and repurposed for future trading good storage by the merchants below just a couple of days ago, likely for an ambitious bid at establishing surface trade. Dame Morgana deemed it perfect for their first ¡®step along the path of enlightenment.¡¯ Still, it was just a convenient sealed location where her power could be used without affecting innocent bystanders. Still, since it was so large, this was the first time all of them managed to regroup since the test started thirty minutes ago. And Erec was quite glad to see his friends¡ªeven if they were forbidden from cutting him down. ¡°If you cannot muster your power to end this, then I suppose I must,¡± Colin declared, taking a deep, sagging breath, ¡°I, the son of a great Duke and heir to the House Nitidus¡­ Yes. This is where I surpass you, Erec.¡± An edge that wasn¡¯t usually there. There was something to his tone. Erec swayed as much as he could to get a good look at the noble. ¡°Behold.¡± A glyph appeared before Colin as both hands raised¡ªpurple lines began to streak outward from the extended palm, circling back upon each other and forming complex angles and curves; yet, even as the first glyph appeared, a second came into existence in front of it. A second layer that instantly took Erec¡¯s mind to the last time he¡¯d seen such a formation, back within the depths of the Vortex Industries facility, wielded by an Arch-Magi. In an explosion of lines, both glyphs expanded, intertwining in a way Erec had never seen before¡ªthe air felt thicker, and something intangible drew him towards the glyph. From Erec¡¯s understanding of Mysticism, it was a power supplied by the mana within. It was one of its fundamental teachings in class. Faith was the opposite, power provided by the goddess above and brought into the world through the pathway of prayer. But as the glyphs developed, as they glowed brighter, they pulled, adding weight to the room. The glyphs beyond them wavered and retreated further, afraid of what Colin was calling. There was a sudden bang, and the glyphs vanished¡ªa lance of pure crackling thunder tunneled out of Colin¡¯s palms directly into the mist, branching off in a thousand pathways like a temporary, split-second network of plant roots. Each line split, breaking, twisting, and tearing through every inch of the warehouse¡¯s interior; Erec¡¯s eyes ached as it was filled with a blinding white and purple flash that seared itself in his retinas even as he closed his eyes. A second later, the light was gone. Pockets of mist existed¡ªseparated, loose, and rapidly dispersing. All at once, shame, anger, and the hate brewing in Erec retreated in complete awe of what he¡¯d witnessed. ¡°Colin, what was that?¡± Erec said. ¡°I solved the problem you couldn¡¯t, hero. My training had a purpose, and this is it. These eyes are the key I needed to step onto the stage of the greats finally,¡± Colin boasted, setting his hands on his hips and giving the smugest but most deserved smile Erec had ever seen across his face. Then, a bolt of lightning appeared above and smashed into Colin, crashing him into the ground as it kept surging into the man¡ªblow after blow hit, sparks flying and somehow, by the grace of the Goddess, not catching anything on fire. Erec knew what he¡¯d seen. The backlash of overextending on the use of his Soul and Talent¡ªSimilar to the early days of his using Fury and accessing the silver fire. Colin went too far and broke through some kind of barrier. But there was a price to pay for that. The rest of the mist withdrew as Colin suffered. Garin jumped to try to help Colin but was helpless as more bolts of electricity rained down from above¡ªthen, at once, began to shout for help from Morgana, from anyone, to try to stop this barrage of the heavens. Erec struggled, feet bound by steel wire. Helpless. For the first time in a long while, he realized his well-being wasn¡¯t the one in concern after a big, grueling fight. Actually, for this one, he¡¯d managed little at all. A fact that tore at his heart, even as he watched a convulsing Colin get hit for the seventh time by an overwhelming streak of lightning. Morgana rushed in, set him free, and they waited for the storm to cease above Colin. Chapter 200: Ducenti
My dearest Lily, I do miss you. Conversing with what is left is different. My brief encounters with you since then have been brief. I''ve had nothing but sorrow since you gave yourself to the church and left this shell. I wish I understood better than what I do now that I might warn you. We¡¯re all lost lambs, crying into the night to She who looks on above our flock. Only, she isn¡¯t interested in the lambs, for she is the biggest wolf, looking only for another wolf to turn into her plaything and hoping that a wolf may rise among the sheep. If I had told you that, let you know the Goddess you held in your heart thought that, would you have fallen for the deception like many others? My love, I don¡¯t blame you. Even now. I¡¯m scared to put a voice to what I know¡­ The Church is not for the Goddess. I wonder who they serve and what their purpose is. Do we even truly know? All that swirls in my mind is how I miss you. Would that I could hold you and once more hear your soft laughter. One day, I hope you find peace. When you do, I¡¯ll burn sage and honor the memory of the Lily that I once knew, - Dame Morgana, Unsent Letter To Priestess Lilliana (3rd Era, 308)
Smoke curled off a pile of logs as a stash of ash, and embers burned brightly below. Erec found comfort in the heat on a crisp and cold night like tonight. But it didn¡¯t smell like a typical fire, and Morgana didn''t throw sage onto it every five minutes. Erec let out a contented sigh and looked upward, taking in the orange sky as it faded to purple. For their first day of training, it had been¡­ Quite slow. After the warehouse, it was this. He¡¯d expected to be working through the entire night. Boldwick had promised to push them to their limits. Then again¡­ Erec looked at Colin. His friend convulsed on the bedroll closest to the fire so Morgana could check on him in the moments between her work. As she steeped tea over the fire in what looked to be a cauldron, Erec vaguely recalled a picture book in his family home¡ªof a woman much the same, though she had a long nose, a pointed hat, and green skin. That woman liked to eat children in the book and had died in a fire. Thankfully, no one here was a child, so Erec didn¡¯t feel compelled to push her into the fire. ¡°Today, you¡¯ve taken your first step on this sojourn of personal growth that you have set for yourselves. Look above and see the moon and how she shines upon us, blessing her with her beauty. Do you feel it? The Chariot is rife in the air, a sign of great things to come.¡± Dame Morgana said. ¡°Is Colin going to be alright?¡± Garin asked, stepping right past their teacher¡¯s nonsense. ¡°He will be fine. This level of exhaustion is to be expected¡ªafter all, he reached deep within to dispel the voices of the old world. It would be best to focus on your inner world, not on him. I suspect, for you all, the first trial has shown you where you stand and given you a sight of how you must grow.¡± Where I must grow. Colin and Garin had looked to him to be the one to get them out of there. After all, shouldn¡¯t it have been him? He was confident that if he called to that silver fire, he could have taken care of the fog, and if it had been him, then Colin would never have pulled out that card that left him in this convulsing mess. In a way, Colin¡¯s current state was his fault. Then again, hadn¡¯t this been the point of this training? The two of them wouldn¡¯t be able to always rely on him, especially since when he tapped into Fury, he didn¡¯t have the level of control needed to ensure their safety. Still, I need my power when I need it. There couldn¡¯t be a repeat of what just happened. Were this a real battlefield, and he¡¯d failed to call upon Fury because he was afraid he couldn¡¯t lend aid to his friends. Erec rubbed it as his eyes and listened to Munchy chitter. The chubby squirrel was on Garin¡¯s shoulder, trying to get him to share a carrot. Which, of course, Garin placidly delivered from their very limited pack of rations. After they finished training in the warehouse, Dame Morgana gave them each a bag. Inside were simple camping supplies and food¡ªall the food Dame Morgana said they would get for the next five days¡ªafter doing a quick stock, Erec counted eight meals in his¡­ Meaning he had to ration carefully. Garin had to have known that, too, but Munchy¡¯s pudgy little face was too much for the man to resist. And I¡¯ll end up giving some of my food to Garin. Erec mentally adjusted himself, knowing he couldn¡¯t let his friend go hungry for the sake of a fat squirrel. But we¡¯ll talk about putting that damn squirrel on a small diet this week. ¡°How long until he¡¯s fine?¡± ¡°By tomorrow. This tea will be the catalyst to solidify his changes. Once more, I¡¯ll remind you, do not worry. Turn your attention inward and relax; he is on his path, and you are on yours. This is but the first of your steps and likely the easiest. Tomorrow, something new will be at stake. Boldwick told me he has big plans. And I¡¯m sure you¡¯re all aware that might entail all manner of challenges.¡± [There isn¡¯t much you can do to help him, so I¡¯d take her words to heart. Good rest is essential for physical performance, and you did ask for a challenge.] VAL buzzed in Erec¡¯s head. After a long look at Colin convulsing near the tea, Erec gave in. It was difficult to watch another suffer, and since Colin¡¯s soul was different, it was hard to picture just what he was going through. Ultimately, the expert on these matters wasn¡¯t worried, so he shouldn¡¯t be either. Erec adjusted himself in his spot, leaning against the warehouse wall behind him. With a yawn, he rested his head in his arms and closed his eyes. Listening in silence for minutes to the sound of the fire crackling in the night. There was peace in the popping and the slight warmth of the fire that touched him. It let his worries drift away, the blame on himself. It could go into that fire with the rest of the world and burn into the useless ash it was. Today, Colin had stepped up and proved himself a capable ally. Things could only be better for them if Colin managed to wield powers like that on the battlefield. Today was fine, and tomorrow, Erec would do better. ¡°How did you control the wolves so easily,¡± Garin asked, breaking the silence. ¡°It is quite simple: the stronger you understand the spirits of the earth, and the bigger your connection, the more receptive they will be to your requests. Think. What do you know about wolves?¡± Dame Morgana answered. ¡°Only what the stories say. Not exactly a common animal in the wasteland or the caverns below. They have fur, roam in packs, and love to eat meat?¡± ¡°That is a fine starting point¡­ But, even if you don¡¯t know the animal, have you considered asking them about themselves or their past? I suspect your gift lends itself to be a bridge of understanding, and if you cross that bridge, it will bring much more utility than you give it credit for. So, let us talk about an example¡ªyour companion there¡ªthe adorable squirrel. What do you know about him?¡± Erec cracked open an eye just in time to see Munchy chewing on his carrot and ignoring Morgana. Why would the little guy care about a thing going on with them? No, the squirrel had a much more important business: eating. ¡°His favorite healthy food is carrots¡ªhis favorite not-so-healthy food is pumpkin pastry, which he manages to get way too much of thanks to Liv. When you scratch him, he likes it when you get behind his ears the most. Also, he hates loud noises, especially when Colin raises his voice to argue. If he had it his way, he¡¯d bask in the afternoon sun all day long.¡± Garin kept rattling off details, and if Erec didn¡¯t know any better, it seemed that Munchy was nodding to each of them. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Morgana smiled, listening even while she raised a mesh from her teapot. On the mesh was a mishmash of steeped plants that Erec could no longer identify, which she tossed into the blazing fire. Throwing wet stuff on fire had predictable results: a rush of smoke plummeted outward, accompanied by a flurry of peculiar smells that made Erec reel. The smoke flew out from the fire, but it didn¡¯t disperse into the world around them. Instead, it worked outward in a stream, circling the group as more of it came free from the fire. [Now that is not natural.] VAL warned. Erec blinked, and Morgana was pouring her tea into three earthen mugs that had not been there a second before. Each of which looked to have been burped up by the earth itself. We¡¯re in a ritual. Erec snapped his attention to Colin¡ªall the while, Garin continued to rattle off facts about Munchy, oblivious to the change in the atmosphere around them¡ªhis friend had stopped convulsing, and Colin¡¯s eyes had opened, glazed, but awake for the first time. Though he trusted Morgana, Erec couldn¡¯t help his hackles rising at the magic. It never sat right to walk into magic. Maybe it was his lack of knowledge, and it wasn¡¯t as if this type of magic was anywhere in his grasp to understand. No one in the Kingdom would get what was happening here since this kind of magic wasn¡¯t the type anyone used except Dame Morgana. ¡°Ah, my disciple. You know so much of your companion, Munchy. That bond has formed strong, nurtured by time, love, and loyalty. It¡¯s not difficult to imagine that were you to request it, he would do any task¡ªthe two of you are linked. You understand one another. And those connections for people like us are powerful indeed. Think again of the name of your Talent, Animal Friend. Two simple words, but with such depth,¡± Dame Morgana smirked, ending Garin¡¯s chatter. She started clockwise, filling the earthen mugs with dark amber tea. As the liquid poured, Erec felt his heart calm and his head numb. Colin steadily sat up, staring directly at Morgana. This, too, was part of the ritual. Garin didn¡¯t respond to Dame Morgana. No, he couldn¡¯t have. Erec didn¡¯t think he could work his tongue if he wanted to; silence lingered over them. Anticipation as Dame Morgana floated to each¡ªhanding them a mug. When the clay mug hit his hands, Erec locked his eyes on the liquid below, seeing the reflection of the countless stars above. It seemed a portal to a different world. Moments slipped by, and time lost meaning as he stared into its perfect surface. ¡°Once more, we shall cross from the outer world to the inner with one another; this time, I encourage you. Think. Process. Absorb. What makes you, you? How does the world shape that image? How do we shape the world with whom we are? Both inner and outer, they must be in alignment to have power over this reality. Consider who you want to be, and the impact of who you were will affect this world once you¡¯ve moved on to others. To know yourself is Strength, and to catch a glimpse of that is my gift to all three of you, my promising disciples.¡± Dame Morgana raised a glance, finally tearing Erec away from his own to see her wide grin. He found his cup rising, as did Garin and Colin¡¯s. Then, she drank, and so did they. When the cup touched his lip, it felt wet as if the clay of which it was made had never set or dried. The warm liquid inside didn¡¯t taste much different from mud and dirt, but it went down his throat without protest. And from where it touched his throat, it began to burn. Not an unpleasant burn, though. No pain came from the sensation; all he felt was the heat and fire, which, to him, was a comfort like the sun¡¯s rays whisking sweat from his skin or the embrace of Enide. Erec sank to the ground, his eyes turned skyward to the stars above. Their brightness grew, going from little dots in the sky to massive glowing giants, pushing out the black canvas around them into nothing but light. Like that, once more, Erec slipped from the world. As did the rest of them, held tightly by the ritual. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª Colin awoke to find himself on the Steel Curtain. Long since he¡¯d been a child, he¡¯d loved this place. All who saw the giant wall surrounding the Kingdom had to have felt a sense of awe at the scale and promise of protection it offered. This wall was unbroken by monsters. It kept them safe and let them return to the sun. Only one threat threatened this wall¡ªthe Rot behemoth, which had been slain before even reaching the wall by the Unbroken General. His oh-so-humble father. To Colin, much like any kid who saw it, the Steel Curtain was their safety, a symbol of their power to stand up against a world that wanted to eat them alive. Colin rubbed his hands together as he moved to the edge and looked towards the Kingdom below. So high. Here, he saw the world for what it was from the spot he deserved to be. Freedom and view to see all those below; farmers toiled in their fields, sweat beating their brow. Wagons moved along the road, moving valuable construction materials to put up new homes. Smoke rose from the chimneys of the buildings¡­ It was a cold day, Colin realized with a shiver as a particularly gusty bit of wind hit him. That had to be his least favorite thing about this height. The cold was a joke. Still, he belonged here. They all did. The feeling he¡¯d first realized when he¡¯d begged his father for a trip to the wall as a child was still ever present, even now. Humankind deserved to be on the surface. This was their birthright, as was his birthright to look out upon them from above as a swath of humanity toiled to accomplish their jobs. Yet, it was different now. He¡¯d thought as a child that he was better than them. This pleasure of watching them work was what he deserved, and though he was better than them, his understanding of what it meant to be up here changed. Even now, he scanned the farms, wondering if they had the resources to finish the vital task. It was getting cold, after all, and so many had begun to depend on the additional crops grown above. If they couldn¡¯t do the job, he would need to call upon more workers from below to help with the harvest. Growing more crops on the surface helped ease the vast energy strain below. The truth was that their current model of life was unsustainable. Few nobles and virtually no peasants knew that the move to expand to the surface had been one of necessity. The Kingdom had grown and was rapidly approaching the limits of what could be supported by the power they had below. Within the decade, they had to move so many above to adapt. Colin would make sure they did, that none went hungry in the transition to life as it should be. A firm arm wrapped around his shoulder, instantly making Colin tense. It was familiar, yet how long had it been since he¡¯d received such a casual affection from the man this arm belonged to? Slowly, Colin turned to his father. The Unbroken General¡¯s eagle-like gaze was also scanning the people below. ¡°Do not worry. The Kingdom is fine for now. This is not the direction we must face, even though you are right to be concerned. Keep in mind that our duty is different. We are the hands that must hold the sword, not the dagger. " His father¡¯s words were soft but left no room for argument. He pulled Colin away from the edge of the wall facing the Kingdom and brought them to the other side. Giving them a clear view of a vast and empty wasteland. Only Colin knew it wasn¡¯t empty. Dreadful bugs through damned other worlds lived out there¡ªamong other, also horrible things. Now, though, the most startling sight of the dead wasteland wasn¡¯t its lack of life. No. The entire sky in that direction was filled with clouds¡ªblack and grey twisting things wrestling in the sky as they flew and crashed into one another. They twisted and churned, darkening the landscape below into darkness nearly as black as a moonless night. That shadow below the wall of clouds was broken only on occasion by a wild strike of lightning, which would slam into the earth with enough strength to spew sand and dirt and leave only craters and glass where it struck. ¡°A storm comes, son. Only you have the eyes to see it, to help us shape a way through it which doesn¡¯t leave us destroyed. You take pride in your nobility but don¡¯t understand your role in our society. We must face this storm since others cannot. They cannot see it from behind the wall. House Nitidus must raise the sword to strike this down, to be ready to slay it once it arrives, or all else will surely be doomed.¡± Colin stared at the churning storm; mile by mile, it was approaching closer, drawing near¡ªthe black clouds in the forward stretching and racing towards them like eager hands. The air grew heavier, laden by the pressure of the storm. Beneath that, though, was more. A stirring of magic. Colin shifted his vision and peered into the world beneath the surface. Using his eyes was like¡­ Seeing a different set of colors, the dark bellowing purples that ran wild through the clouds in the distance brought forth an electrifying feeling to them that resonated with his soul. Below, the broad swath of blue¡ªwater mana. That wasn¡¯t to say that all water had mana¡­ Or any storm was charged with magic. No, actually, the opposite. Magic did exist, and parts of it might play into forming storms now. Given the way the world was. But it would be more like traces in the weather. This. The storm in front of him was entirely a different beast. All of it was mana. Every bit. A vast quantity and sum of mana that was hard to imagine, much less contain or prevent. The wasteland was drenched in a neverending rain as the whipping and howling wall of water and winds raced towards the wall. An eye appeared in the clouds, gold mana tracing out its outline in the purple mana above, as Colin felt something observing him right back¡ªand then it made sense. He¡¯d seen this before. Back on the expedition¡­ That¡­ There was a flash of lightning, brighter than the rest, as the winds finally crashed into the steel curtain. Colin fell to his knees, grabbing the chain anchored to the side; the wind whipped him straight from the wall and threw him into the empty air beyond, knowing that if he let go, he¡¯d fall to his death. ¡°Father!¡± he screamed out to the rain and cold. But the Unbroken General was nowhere to be seen. Another massive strike of lightning hit the steel wall, cutting through it effortlessly like a hot knife through butter. Then he saw it, lit by the glow of the burning metal¡ªthe Storm Giant, its massive blackened figure walking steadily towards the Kingdom. ¡°You must be strong enough to face it. You must be the sword which will slay giants, behemoths, and stags. If you wish to be a Nitidus, that is what your noble blood demands of you. Else, you have failed your namesake.¡± His father¡¯s voice came from nowhere, yet everywhere. With that¡ªthe Giant raised a finger; a pillar of lightning sparked towards Colin. Then, the vision ended. Chapter 201: Vision Quest Garin was beneath the earth again. So, this time, it wasn¡¯t a complete shock and not a horrifying burial. This time, he didn¡¯t feel the earth pressing into him like that awful peyote trip. So the sensation wasn¡¯t unfamiliar, not to someone who grew up underground. Garin awoke to find himself in caves, like the Kingdom¡¯s, but not quite. Having spent his whole life in caves like these, it was quite eerie not to have the signature LED lights lining the walls¡ªor any artificial source. And the walls themselves were different too¡ªchalky. By no means was he an expert in stone and the Kingdom. Some men and women could rattle off all the other minerals in even the deepest expeditions, and rocks besides that could only be samples outside of the Kingdom. Yet, Garin knew these stones didn¡¯t belong to the kingdom. Being trapped underground, without a light, in a strange cave he knew wasn¡¯t his home but felt familiar enough was unnerving. Moreso, given that he had no idea how he¡¯d gotten here in the first place. ¡°How did I get here?¡± Magic, probably. Very shortly, he had another realization. ¡°I¡¯m alone.¡± No Erec prowling around, whose Strength was a welcome blanket of security. No Colin snorting and complaining. No Olivia, to comfort him and tell him things would be alright. Just him, trapped underground in a place that might be his tomb. ¡°I¡¯ll just find my way out, then, back to them.¡± The words sounded hollow as they echoed off countless walls and tunnels he couldn¡¯t see, where no one might hear him. That realization twisted inside him, somehow even more frightening than the idea he was lost here without food, and if he couldn¡¯t find his way out, he was likely to die. No, what sunk into him was that he was in the shadows without anyone else. He thought of his friends, then strode forward, passing through the shade and emptiness countless times. Garin ran his hand along the chalky wall, always walking forward, step by step, moving through this lonesome eternity. Had he died? Was this all there was to an afterlife? As the minutes ticked by, the idea of finding an escape and getting to his friends seemed further away. Garin persisted. Countless hours passed, in a place like this, time had no meaning. Garin stopped walking, folding himself against a stone wall, feeling the chalky stone rub the back of his neck, but it didn¡¯t matter. He covered his head, tears welling as he tried to convince himself to stand back up, to keep going. Sitting here crying wasn¡¯t going to save him, and the only way to get out was to move ever forward. That, above all, was the only chance of being free. Yet doing that was next to pointless, right? What if he was going deeper¡ªcould he use magic? Maybe that¡­ Garin perked up, raising a hand and focusing. A red line appeared before him, barely cutting through the ever-consuming darkness. All he needed was to call a spark of fire. It was an easy survival spell¡ªone of the few that Dame Juliana taught her Wilderness Survival class and drilled into them¡ªand a simple one with such utility. With it, you could light a fire or hold the spark in your hand as a light. At the time, he didn¡¯t appreciate the versatility and was never interested in learning magic. It seemed almost ridiculous that he might find himself relying on Mysticism for a simple spark for a fire. The expedition had cured him of that dumb assumption. Right now, there was an even more perfect application for the spell. To Garin¡¯s relief, the line of red spread, further spiraling in a proper glyph. As it grew, he felt heat with his fingertips. It would work; he would have light, then¡ª The glyph vanished. Plunging him into pure darkness. Confused, Garin tried again. Once more, failure. Again. Same result. Only then did Garin give up, feeling sorrow in earnest as he felt his magic blocked. Something about this place was snuffing out the spell before it began, and he didn¡¯t know enough about Mysticism to counteract it. Alone, in the dark, was his death. Time passed as Garin let himself sink into the pain of hopelessness. It was pathetic to give up like this, not even to find the strength to keep going. Erec certainly would have kept moving until his last breath¡ªColin would have devised some plan and tried it. He had no clue whether or not either would have escaped, but they would have tried in their way. He though¡ªas the sorrow and loneliness struck him, knowing he would never see either of them again, nor Olivia¡­ It was too much. He couldn¡¯t even stand back up. His chest began to ache as if his heart was intent on leaping out of his body. Panic. That¡¯s what it was. When your panic grew big enough, they said you might not even be able to breathe. But this feeling in his chest had an odd quality to it. Otherworldly, unlike the rush and numbness he¡¯d heard about. His breath wasn¡¯t growing sorrow, and he could still breathe. Yet that could have been him simply accepting the inevitable, the peace before death reached him. Garin tried to stand once more but couldn¡¯t. I¡¯m¡­ Useless. Olivia¡ªwhat would she think? What would his friends think? Poor Munchy would probably starve to death; he¡¯d given the little guy too many ¡®special foods¡¯ that the damn squirrel now refused to eat typical squirrel food. He¡¯d never get to see those plump cheeks again. Munchy. His heart jolted, and the feeling in his chest radiated as something caught hold and ripped at it. It was as if a chain were anchored to his chest, and someone had just given it a firm, powerful yank. Garin gasped as a silver ghost leaped straight out of his chest. The see-through form of a fat squirrel landed in front of him, surrounded by a bright blue glow. Munchy¡ªno doubt now it was Munchy¡ªcircled in front of Garin before sitting down and tilting his head as it looked at him. The stocky creature¡¯s cheeks puffed in and out as it took him in. Garin wiped at the tears in the corner of his eyes. Why play underground? Munchy seemed to say, head tilted. The voice came through Garin¡¯s mind, each word squeaky and leaving a headache in their wake. ¡°M-munchy?¡± No food here. ¡°Y-you can talk?¡± More important. Pumpkin Pastry. Where is? ¡°Munchy!¡± Garin exclaimed. Quiet. Food important. Stop talk. Munchy stomped a little foot on the ground and stared his human down. His cheeks puffed, and the light streaming off him only increased in intensity. Garin withdrew, almost having leaped at the squirrel to hold the little guy. The shock of the talking and the squirrel ran its course and let him take a step back; the light Munchy brought with him was confusing but brought comfort. Sure, they were still trapped deep in a mysterious cave. But now, he had a companion. Someone to be with if this was to be the end. Though, Munchy never had¡­ Communicated. At all. Not with a voice; sometimes, Garin would get little ideas and feelings of what the squirrel wanted. More than other animals, he used his talent on them. Here now, it was crystal clear. Every little twitch of the chubby squirrel was understood as Munchy stared at him. The little guy wanted his breakfast, and it made sense in a way that he¡¯d never truly felt before. ¡°There isn¡¯t food here; I don¡¯t even know where here is.¡± Garin tried to explain to the hungry squirrel. Thanks to light, he could see several different twisting pathways through these tunnels, any of which might lead them deeper or to the surface. Stolen novel; please report. Garin focused, trying to feel any drifting air, but there was no cold or current wind to show a way out. Dame Juliana had given them tools to track their progress through a cave to ensure they didn¡¯t get lost, along with instructions that they should never crawl into too tight of a space, lest they get trapped and die without help. Go figure. With her limited time, she didn¡¯t choose to cover this very niche and the unlikely possibility of them being abducted without warning and thrown into a cave alone. No food? Wrong. Munchy stopped standing, stared Garin down, ran a circle, and then sat down. Where we? ¡°No idea, little buddy. We need to get out of here, back to our friends¡ªthen I¡¯ll have food for you.¡± Garin need help? Munchy¡¯s squeaky voice asked. ¡°We need help.¡± Garin corrected and gestured towards the many openings spread out before them. ¡°Which way is out.¡± I lead to food. Trust? ¡°Trust? Munchy, what do you mean?¡± Trust? With this, Munchy stood like a human and puffed both chest and cheeks; his little pot belly hung in full glory as he stared at his master. Behind those glossy eyes, Garin saw a level of intelligence for the first time and thought he hadn¡¯t thought the little troublemaker capable of. Sure, Munchy had always been more intelligent than other squirrels, no matter what Colin said. But right now, for the first time, Garin realized just to what extent that squirrel was intelligent. Munchy truly believed he could get them out. Did he trust him? ¡°I do,¡± Garin answered, and once more, he felt a yank in his chest. Something tore free¡ªa spiral of light shot into Munchy, swirling around him and heightening the silver glow. Munchy grew, his size increasing as the light swirled quicker, turning into a dazzling display of energy; for a second, Garin thought he saw a smile on the squirrel¡¯s face before the light slammed into Munchy¡¯s chest. The blow didn¡¯t seem to hurt the little creature; it only grew brighter as it launched towards Garin, scampering up his leg to his chest, where Munchy pushed his head against Garin¡¯s heart. The piece that was missing a moment before returned and changed, leaving Garin feeling more complete. Munchy leaped off him. And Garin felt as if a tiny thread still connected him, immutable and robust as their connection solidified. As he focused, he could¡¯ve sworn he felt what the squirrel felt¡ªincluding a rumble in his stomach from hunger and the strong desire to eat a pumpkin pastry¡­ And the floor. There was a slight glow on the cavern ground, invisible before, but now, he saw it. A pathway. Without an explanation, Munchy began to run after the path they both saw¡ªit was the way out, after all. Together, they could escape. And after they did, he owed the chubby squirrel many treats. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª Erec expected to find himself in a burning hell after falling under the effects of Morgana¡¯s spell. It was only natural. Wasn¡¯t the inferno his home by now? As he felt the scorching tea go down his throat, his soul responded and flared as a reaction; he knew where he was headed. Burning, fire, and rage¡­ That was the shape of his soul. It was who he was. Unlike the other two, who hadn¡¯t yet grasped the nature of the Soul Virtue¡ªthat it reflected the nature of themselves. Not him, though. Erec understood and accepted who and what he was and knew deep down the destiny in which that fiery path would lead him. When he awoke, he was surprised that he was not in a burning hell. There were no sulfurous pits, no raging tornadoes made of fire. No, he was seated and reclined in a comfortable chair in a cozy yet war-posed room lush with weaponry, maps, and glorious decor¡ªMost prominent in front of him was a massive round table whose top was cluttered with so many things. Books, maces, a skull¡­ The windows let in a soft breeze, and with it also came the delicate song of a bird. A¡­ Chough? The name came to Erec, along with an image of a red-beaked bird he¡¯d never seen before yet now recognized. He focused and took in the weapons again; they were made of mysterious silver, not far from the axe he could conjure. And as a warrior, he knew them to hold a quality the best smiths in the Kingdom would struggle to reach. Again, his eyes were drawn to the round table and the chairs around it. Each seat had a throne decorated for the owning Knight to suit them. His chair had notches in the old oak wood as if hit with a weapon. Its cushion was bare¡ªyet none of this made it less comfortable. Each blemish, scratch, and notch enhanced it and made it feel right. This was a warrior¡¯s chair, fit for one such as he who was drawn to the love of battle. The rest of the thrones around the table ranged wide in design. From decorative seating made of pure gold to a simple stool that he¡¯d expect to find in a poor common folk¡¯s kitchen¡ªvery far from him was a chair that seemed alive, vines growing off it, and whose legs seemed to be made of a living plant. Each brought with them a sense of comfort and longing. Because these chairs were empty, they should be filled. This whole table should have a Knight for every seat; only, right now, he was alone. ¡°Thou art not alone,¡± A voice echoed. Erec¡¯s head whipped around to behind¡ªa Knight sat on a window sill, his long, fair red hair drifting in the breeze; he held an easy smile¡­ And Erec was flabbergasted that this man was almost like looking in a mirror; only the difference in the set of their eyes, jaw, and the man¡¯s much paler skin marked him as different. ¡°Tis us who sit at our throne near the round table, true? Our mantle is claimed, as is the Kings. Though that one tis, not the Arthur we hold dear.¡± ¡°You,¡± Erec said. There was a tie between them. He felt it and knew it to be accurate; they shared a soul, and their link was almost physical. They were the same person. With a broader smile, the features of the fair Knight shifted¡ªgoing from similar to the same as his own in a second¡ªthen, it returned; he had the fair face of a man born into high nobility, his teeth a perfect white and a smile filled with both joy and madness. ¡°Aye, we are the same. Wielders of this mantle. Thou are born to wield our title and hold our axe, so the mantle has passed. Yet I ask, why shy away from your birthright? Tis it not a power sorely needed in your realm? Do you not seek glory to bring to the round table? We must, of course, confront the mantle of King Arthur to free the throne for one more worthy.¡± The words spoken made sense, though they shouldn¡¯t. They brought memories of a time before him, of the perfect world. One was filled with honor and trueness, of which he only touched a part. Yes, he had been this man. Erec, son of Lac, and this table was a familiar home. His eyes drifted to the simplest chair of all. The stool is so ordinary you might find it in any peasant''s kitchen. A simple sword sheathe rested against it; this chair was the most deceptive of the lot, as was the sheathe made of cheap brown leather. For he knew it contained a sword without equal. This sheathe was Excaliburs¡¯ home; this chair was that of a King of Kings. It belonged to the greatest of their number. ¡°Arthur,¡± Erec repeated, the word like lead on his tongue; it held a real weight to it. ¡°Yes, Arthur. The greatest and most noble among us, yet now, it is a mantle wielded in the name of the former and not the latter. To wield Excalibur and seek only greatness is a sorrow indeed, depriving reality of the full glory of the King. All in the name of waging endless war and reveling in the sensation of pure might. May I ask thou a question, fair noble Erec?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know that I can answer. I¡¯m only¡­ I¡¯m struggling to understand all of this,¡± Erec motioned at the round table, feeling it thrum with glory deep into his soul, ¡°You know more than anything I might say.¡± ¡°Worry not. You will consider the answer: thou who shies away from your mantle. Imagine us, fearing power,¡± For a second, the Knight paused and chuckled, almost like he was laughing at the antics of a child. Erec firmed his spine and shot a disapproving frown at the Knight. ¡°No need to do that¡ªhere, let us go to the question, then I¡¯ll provide further to understand: Fair knight, does might make right?¡± Does might make right? No. Of course, it didn¡¯t. Then again, didn¡¯t he use his might to make right? Erec thought of all the times he¡¯d charged into battle, tapped into his soul, and called upon this place and this power¡­ Even now, he could see the silver flames, those fires that were his; this was their home, where they spawned from. That might, that power, that mantle which he¡¯d used to make right time and time again. To save, defeat, and put the world in a place where it might find peace. It can. Erec circled that answer, wishing to deny it, yet he proved himself that it could. In some cases, one might need to fix something wrong. Had might not overcome the Stag, how many would have suffered? Had his might not put Dan to rest, would MOLLY not have put the remains of the poor man through an everlasting living hell? Might had made right. The Knight smiled wide at him as he saw Erec thinking, unable to answer his response. ¡°Worry not, young Knight, tis a question we must always contend with. As we do very much, hold much of might.¡± The other version of Erec¡¯s nodded toward the King¡¯s chair, ¡°Yet, tis not all of it. None are as mighty as Arthur, as much as wish otherwise, tis the truth of the matter, for being the greatest is his mantle¡­ If you accept this quest, there tis one thing you must keep deep in mind. It is not one we shall conquer alone. Putting that mantle back into rightful hands will take much of the table. And if the glory and peace of Camelot is to rise once more, so too must this round table have more of the mantles which doth belong here. That of birthright gives some; other mantles must be earned.¡± The Knight stretched out his hand, and the silver axe burned into life¡ªtheir axe. The same Erec conjured before¡ªeven now, he saw the same engravings along its living silver. Himself chasing a stag. He, hand in hand with a woman¡­ More¡­ Even as he stared at what came after, the images refused to latch into his mind, slipping away even as he saw them. ¡°If thou are to find others to sit here and share the glory of this table, you must not fear thy mantle. Does might make right? Thou must decide, but mistake not, might is within our mantle.¡± With that, the Knight jumped, clearing Erec¡¯s head; he whipped the axe back and crashed it into the table before them. A wave of fire spewed outward, flooding everything in a silver inferno. But it didn¡¯t burn. The waves of silver heat were soothing, welcoming, and comforting. It whispered to him. Might was his to wield. His to have. But, he could not shy from the axe; he had to embrace the flames, the inferno, with eyes wide and a heart open and willing. What was he, if not Erec, son of Lac, Knight of the Round Table? Chapter 202: Oz
They got along quite well at first, but when they reached the middle of the river the swift current swept the raft downstream, farther and farther away from the road of yellow brick. And the water grew so deep that the long poles would not touch the bottom. ¡°This is bad,¡± said the Tin Woodman, ¡°for if we cannot get to the land we shall be carried into the country of the Wicked Witch of the West, and she will enchant us and make us her slaves.¡± ¡°And then I should get no brains,¡± said the Scarecrow. ¡°And I should get no courage,¡± said the Cowardly Lion. ¡°And I should get no heart,¡± said the Tin Woodman. ¡°And I should never get back to Kansas,¡± said Dorothy. - L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, (1900, 2nd Era)
The air was chill, despite waking up to a sun burning up his skin. Erec¡¯s nose was numb and dry as the cool of the morning took its throne with the season. Winter was coming in full now, and by the time the tournament reigned, this crisp air would be king. The changing temperature was unfamiliar; given his life below, he did not have to worry about the cold. However, he¡¯d heard stories and knew this was coming. Erec groggily raised his head to look at their campfire. It was long burned out, and now, it is nothing but a pile of ash. The mugs made of clay Dame Morgana manifested last night no longer existed¡ªthe bits of rock near his hand, though, made him suspect they¡¯d simply returned to the earth after fulfilling their purpose. Dame Morgana was gone too, replaced by a rather surly-looking Boldwick staring at him. Erec immediately climbed to his feet, hand pounding his chest in a balled fist of salute. His two friends, however¡­ Were not as quick on the uptake. Colin no longer convulsed and instead now snored softly to his right; Garin, though, was waking, his eyes fluttering as Munchy desperately pawed at his face¡­ Almost as if the squirrel were trying to help him get up. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t say I¡¯m all that pleased to find the three of you so soundly asleep in the open.¡± Boldwick began shaking his head, ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯m all that surprised either, for her to leave you in such a state.¡± ¡°Apologies, sir,¡± Erec answered, raising his voice more than strictly necessary in order to wake his friend. Colin snorted, and his eyes opened as Erec¡¯s plan worked ¡°Who dares disturb my rest?¡± Colin muttered. Boldwick gave him a dark glare. Colin¡¯s eyes widened as he realized what was happening, then stumbled to his feet¡ªbeating Garin by a handful of seconds as his other friend fought off a chubby squirrel to navigate his way to an upright position. It was only when all three of them were lined up and giving a proper solute that Boldwick finally cleared his throat to speak again¡ªduring which Erec noted a blinking dot in the corner of the vision. After. Whatever the ritual was, it had led to a Virtue increase, which, if Erec had to guess as he glanced at Garin¡¯s skin flaking, the others had some gains as well. Images of him of the other Erec still circled in his head, but he pushed them away. Right now, he had to pay full attention to Boldwick. ¡°Today, I have a special lesson in mind; I reached out to some friends willing to spare their valuable efforts to pass on some much-needed training to the new generation. All of these Knights, you will not find within the confines of our Academy, as they do not teach. No, with their skill sets, they are often in the field, running missions for the Kingdom and for their orders. You¡¯ll find them highly skilled, each formidable in their own right.¡± He let that hang in the air. ¡°See, the thing is, while I do consider myself an apt teacher¡­ I, like every other person, am limited by my own abilities. Often, it is a benefit for perspective Knights to see examples of the type of archetype their Strengths lend them towards, people who operate off the same type of Strengths and with similar talents. They have perspectives to provide, which may be a key to fueling your growth,¡± Boldwick continued, pacing in front of them as the teacher picked up a certain levity and steam with each word, ¡°So, today is a rare and excellent opportunity, not often afforded to initiates. A personalized day of one-on-one training with established Knights, who I hand-picked. I expect each of you to provide them with nothing but the utmost respect and courtesy.¡± Boldwick paused with that statement, then loomed over Colin. He leaned in, dark eyes glaring; Colin retreated and gulped at the unspoken threat. ¡°¡­Am I understood?¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± All of them said, though it took Colin two tries to get the words out. ¡°Now then, after me. We have some time before we shall meet them¡ªand I think a good ten-mile run is what this morning calls for. I don¡¯t know what they will show you, but I promised a trying week to develop you. What better to shape metal than to heat it before giving it to the smith? The last one to keep up will face another ten miles tomorrow,¡± Boldwick smiled a deep, wicked grin before taking off from their hap-hazard campfire. The Master Knight kicked up a pile of dust, forcing the three of them to burst into sprints to follow. It seemed that this run would not be easy, and it was not if they wished to keep pace with a Master Knight. No way will I be last. Erec promised himself. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª Less than an hour later, they ran back towards the Kingdom. It was an invigorating run from their campsite to the edge of the Kingdom¡ªalong the steel curtain for most of the trip. Seeing that steel giant always gave Erec a welcome and protective feeling. There wasn¡¯t quite anything like seeing the reflected glory and rivets dotting their shield from the outside world. At the end of the run, Boldwick led them back towards the city proper and took instead a curious route, dragging them by the new construction near the outskirts. The three of them piled on after the Master Knight, sweat pouring from them in buckets; the whole of Erec¡¯s back was slick, and every couple of steps, he saw a drop fling off his elbow and into the sand below. The wind and the cold air of the morning had faded away to the heat of the midday sun; though it would be winter soon, it wasn¡¯t yet. Boldwick ran them through the site of grand construction, where the tournament arena was being built¡ªthey jogged past piles of lumber, ran near canvas with all colors of the rainbow and so much metal bracing that Erec lost count. Only when in the center of it all, surrounded by the vast working crew of people putting together the behemoth of an arena, did Boldwick pull them to a stop. ¡°Good forms, all,¡± Boldwick said with a laugh. He noticeably had breathed easy the whole time despite their struggle. ¡°You may have grown fast, but it will take quite a bit to have the Vigor to keep up with me. Still, one day, I expect you all to give me a run for my money.¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Colin collapsed on the ground, caught between trying to breathe and consequently almost dying from laughter over a bad joke; for his part, Erec just focused on trying to get air. He¡¯d had an easier time keeping pace, but this marathon was not easy despite how far Fury had stretched his Vigor; it made sense. His eyes slid to Garin. His friend was glossy-eyed and looked near dead, but he kept standing. Munchy, on the other hand, was fast asleep on his shoulder, not having lifted a paw the entire run. Boldwick seemed content to give them a minute to recover. Given the reprieve, Erec finally addressed the flashing signal in the corner of his vision, willing the notification to appear.
Soul (Aspect: Fire): Rank C - Tier 1 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 3
That¡¯s a lot. Erec almost joined Colin on the ground as his breath caught at a time when he needed to keep breathing to keep himself upright. Dame Morgana really is an expert in the Soul... If I only understood what that vision meant. Might makes right? King Arthur? The memories of that tea-filled vision seared into his memory. Not for the first time that day did he wonder what Garin and Colin saw¡ªboth seemed unusually stoic. Did they, too, gain more Tiers in that Virtue? Did they finally break through the threshold where it no longer brought them backlashes when using it? Later. He promised himself he would ask them later. When his attention finally returned to what was in front of his eyes, it was because Boldwick clapped his hands. ¡°Right then, onto further training¡ªSirs and Dame¡¯s, if you would!¡± Boldwick called loudly, his voice echoing over the construction site, and paused more than a few civilians hard at work. Those not already staring at the four Knights who jogged onto the work site. The bystanders were only given more to stare at as three Knights seemed to slide out of thin air; if Erec hadn¡¯t seen odder in his time on the expeditions or gotten used to Enide, he would have sworn that they appeared from nothing. But no. His eyes were quick enough¡­ They simply dropped from the sky; unlike he might expect from three people dropping down from above, there was no plume of sand nor broken ankles, and it happened instantly. The old man in their midst wore a wicked grin, dipping his head and stroking his beard, a gleam in his eye. ¡°You called, Sir Boldwick?¡± Ancient laugh lines were etched on his features, and on top of his head was a hat with the crest of the red lotus on an orange lake. The Order Of the Crimson Lotus. ¡°Which one of these is mine? The one with muscles, right? I have a lot of stuff to move today, so a strong set of arms is much needed, what with my weak and brittle bones,¡± he raised a shaking finger toward Erec, that smile of his never leaving his face. ¡°Sir Adam,¡± Boldwick greeted and then shook his head. ¡°No, that one is not who you will be training today.¡± ¡°Ah, so who¡¯s the brat?¡± Boldwick didn¡¯t voice an answer, but once again cleared his throat, looking toward the other two Knights who the old man arrived with. In Erec¡¯s opinion, they couldn¡¯t have looked any more different. Naturally, his eyes were drawn towards the largest, a man who might as well be two men, given his size. He damn near towered over them all¡ªat least clearing eight feet if Erec had to guess. Which, in no way, could be a natural build. His talent must have had some kind of physical manifestation¡ªwhile rare, it wasn¡¯t unheard of for a Talent to physically alter the body and have a permanent effect. Not only was the man tall, but he was nothing but pure muscle; on his arm was a tattoo of an Azure Tower, yet he did not wear any proper Knight attire. Instead, opting for a gray tank top, which only showed off more muscle. His beady eyes took them all in with a glower, and as the old man turned to look at him, his face darkened further. ¡°We are not here to play, Able.¡± He said his voice like gravel. ¡°Mhmm, besides, Boldwick said that your charge has been on the mend, and a bit of tact would go a long way for you if you actually wanted to teach,¡± said a soft voice; there was a small woman next to the behemoth of a man. She wore the green cloak of the Verdant Oak; her hair was a deep brown, and her eyes were constantly scanning around them as if she took in every single worker about and marked them; upon her back was a bow¡ªrare to see a weapon like that wielded in the Kingdom. Usually, one only saw bows in the niche noble sport of hunting in the upper caverns. When they booked a biocavern to take down game for sport. Otherwise, the weapon was unheard of. Especially for a Knight. ¡°Though, from the way that one glanced when you said, ¡®brat,¡¯ I think your charge is the one on the right,¡± she pointed a finger correctly at Colin. Erec had given Colin a brief look¡ªthe barest of a thing, really¡ªit couldn¡¯t have been less than a split second. She has good eyes. ¡°That is correct. Thank you, Dame Elke¡ªAble, she is right, that one is yours. ¡° Boldwick walked over to Garin, putting a hand on his left shoulder since Munchy was on the other one. ¡°And this one is yours.¡± With a nod, Dame Elke, the only one from their Order, strode towards Garin, reaching out to shake his hand while also reaching in to give Munchy a quick pat on the head¡­ As for the big behemoth, who Erec could only conjecture was his Knight for the day¡­ Didn¡¯t move at all. Instead, his beady eyes stared at Erec, not offering any introduction or compromising in the least. It was as if Erec stared at the personification of Strength; raw brutality was etched in every muscle of this Knight, but why, then, did Erec wonder, was he in the Order of the Azure Tower, the order primarily focused on defense? Boldwick looked between all of them, chewed his lip, then spoke. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you to introduce yourselves and to take charge of your Initiates. Best of luck; I hope you all have long-lasting insights from today. One of my greatest pleasures in teaching new Knights is just how much I learn from them,¡± Boldwick said, giving an odd look to the other three established Knights before leaving. Quick on the uptake, the Dame in charge of Garin led him away from the group, intent not to waste a single second. Erec could only guess what her specialty was or what sort of training she intended to put his friend through. He only hoped for the best¡­ As for the other two... ¡°Alright then, I wasn¡¯t kidding. Come on, Brat? Colin? That¡¯s your name, right?¡± the old man snapped his fingers, ¡°Get a move on. I have a lot of stuff to move out of my house, and your young manual labor is going to do just the trick.¡± ¡°I require training. I am not hauling your junk. Do I look like a peasant to put to task on your useless manual labor,¡± Colin glowered at the old man. Instead of returning a frown, the smile on the old man deepened. ¡°Oooooh? Is it only peasants who should be doing useless manual labor?¡± ¡°That is their station. While I am meant to defeat the deadly threats outside of this wall.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°That is so,¡± Colin confirmed, crossing his arms. ¡°Raise your hand if you defeated a monster known as the White Stag?¡± The old man called. Not wanting to trivialize his friend or get involved¡­ Erec decided to keep his hand down. As much as that achievement was his, he didn¡¯t see a reason to flaunt it. Only, his hand didn¡¯t stay down¡ªten small odd-looking glyphs appeared on each of the old guy¡¯s fingertips¡ªand Erec¡¯s hand shot into the sky. ¡°Oooof.¡± The old man shook his head. ¡°So that¡¯s to say that a great and lordly Duke¡¯s brat¡ªsorry, the Unbroken General¡¯s brat, couldn¡¯t manage to slay a mangy mutant deer? Doesn¡¯t sound like your job is to defeat deadly threats outside of the wall, after all. That job already got taken.¡± The old man snickered, and Colin¡¯s scowl grew deeper. ¡°Are you trying to goad me?¡± ¡°Here¡¯s some advice, kid, it isn¡¯t trying if you succeed.¡± The old man now laughed right in Colin¡¯s face. ¡°I would not have found the stag if not for Colin,¡± Erec cut in, not appreciating where this was going. Normally, he was fine with Colin being taken down a few pegs, but this seemed excessive. Especially for a man they just met. With how this was going, Erec was absolutely sure his friend wouldn¡¯t get anything out of working with this old coot. ¡°Oh yes, oh yes, I¡¯ve heard. Still, I think this noble-spawn might need to find out, just what a peasant is capable of. Given I came from such lowly stock, you¡¯ll begrudge this old man the simple pleasure in life of poking an entitled youth who doesn¡¯t know the struggle of low birthright in the craw.¡± ¡°Stay away from my craw,¡± Colin threatened. ¡°Enough.¡± The large man rumbled, finally stepping forward. Each step he took shook to the ground, ¡°I¡¯ve had enough of this nonsense. It¡¯s time to begin. Your test begins now.¡± Erec¡¯s attention snapped to the man¡ªonly to see that large lumbering mass of flesh run right at him; then, only then, did he realize that one of those massive curled fists the size of a sledgehammer was flying through the air, right at his midsection; having crossed the distance between them in a blink. Without any time to react, the blow caught Erec and launched him into the sky, knocking all the air out of his lungs. Chapter 203: Stone Giant Erec hit the ground in a roll, then tried to return to his feet. Only the force of the blow kept him going, stopping him from catching himself. His back smashed into a pile of wood¡ªand even that cost too much time. The ground shook beneath, and it only meant one thing. That giant man was right there, ready to throw another blow. All of this happened in a split second. Not enough time to process the pain. [Duck.] As he heard the giant''s labored grunt, Erec dived for the ground, feeling the air displace above his head. [Roll to the right] Erec did just as VAL commanded, but he could not see the guy attacking him. The ground beneath his feet gave way as the giant man stomped the place Erec had been. Dirt cracked and shifted as Erec forced whatever Strength he could into his legs, jumping with all his might. He felt a fire stir within his gut as he kicked out, flying further. The sting of his chest, of bruised bone where the cheap shot hit him, served as great fuel. [By Dan¡ªwhat kind of performance-enhancing drugs is this man on? Erec, jump again.] Erec¡¯s feet touched the ground, and he launched off once more, finally getting a sight of his purser¡ªthe giant behemoth of a Knight who Erec didn¡¯t even know the name of. Those tiny beady eyes betrayed nothing, and it did not make much sense as the Knight once again kicked off after Erec. Each of those massive steps was like a strumming chord in a melody of battle, each powerful movement a note of absolute strength that launched him forward, kicking up dust as he effortlessly closed whatever distance Erec could put between them. There was only one way in which this song would end: death. [He can¡¯t be trying to kill you, right Buckeroo?] ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Erec growled, sensing the challenge. This man, this beast, this monster¡­ It took the fight to a place where Erec was all too familiar. However, the massive eyes betrayed nothing, the way he¡¯d approached this fight, the attempt to overwhelm and force Erec into submission through raw brutality. That spoke all that Erec needed to hear. This was a challenge. Not a civilized duel, not a matter of noble Knights. No, this man wanted a raw brawl where they would bash another guy¡¯s face until his enemy cried on the ground. The type of fight that Erec was certain this Knight had never lost. Might makes right? Did it make it right to introduce yourself to your new charge with curled fists? I suppose it does if he wins since I can¡¯t do anything about it. So too, then, might must make right. If said initiate managed to turn the tables and destroy the overgrown man¡¯s oversized ego, then pity on him. ¡°We will win, VAL,¡± Erec said, feeling the sparks catch, they flickered silver. [Uh.] For a brief second, a moment of alarm rang through Erec, telling him to pull the breaks on this before it went too far. He pulled out far too much firepower for what the situation warranted. ¡°If you hold back, then your training is over, and I¡¯ll send you home with broken bones,¡± the loud voice boomed, ¡°So perish the thought and show me what type of steel I¡¯m working with.¡± [I would generally advise caution, but¡­ Well, he did ask for it, didn¡¯t he?] Let go. Erec hit the ground again and let the fire burn him out from the inside. In a flash of heat and power, he felt his muscles tense. The world seemed to slow as the wall of moving bulk and flesh rushed him again. One giant fist extended to land yet another crushing blow. This man was so confident that it would land and any defense beneath his overwhelming power would be crushed. So Erec didn¡¯t defend. No, he took the blow¡ªletting the fist slam right into his chest; both hands snapped out to grasp the curled fist of the monster after it hit; instantly, all of the oxygen left his lungs, he gasped for air, and the pain radiated outward from what he suspected might be a devastating hit to his insides. None of that mattered. Nor did the buzzing voice of VAL as it listed the damages accrued. Pain was power, and as his fingers dug into the flesh of the monster he was facing, the most important part of the trade was there¡ªhe hadn¡¯t flung Erec off into the air once more with the hit. Erec skidded as the blow kept coming, using every bit of his power to stay upright and hold the fist. The only reason it worked is the blow¡¯s pain fed him, fueling his fire. His insides burned brighter; his skin felt hot; it might boil away any second. As the momentum of the strike faded, Erec flexed his legs. Shifting the grip of his hands to hold onto the bottom of the guy¡¯s fist, and then with a sudden jerk that strained every muscle he had, Erec flung upward, using his own considerable Strength to force the arm up towards the sky; the giant let out a laugh of surprise as the maneuver succeeded, flinging the fist. And more importantly, it left an opening for Erec to close the distance and get at his target''s body. Not thinking of the crippling pain of broken ribs, Erec darted in, screaming as he sent a whistling fist into his enemy. It felt... like punching steel. No. More than that, the resistance there and the explosion of pain and broken fingers reminded him of that wall in the Vortex Industries underground, the one that VAL said was made of one of the hardest materials known to man. Erec let out another cry of pain, once more converting the heat of that injury into more fuel. There was a lag in the fight. The hit wasn¡¯t for nothing. With a grimace, the giant took a step back; it was in his face that he felt the blow. But he was no green initiate, and then, in a fluid motion that betrayed countless hours of practice, the big guy snapped out a kick, hitting Erec in the skull and sending him twisting into a pile of lumber; the piece of wood went flying, dimly, Erec was aware of angry calls and alarm from the workers. All he saw were stars. ¡°Apologies. I¡¯ll replace the wood,¡± The giant said, moving in on Erec¡¯s collapsed position to pacify the poor people around them. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The casual disregard, the fact that he knew none of these people would challenge their fight, pissed Erec off. Erec tried to stand up again, finding that his legs were jelly¡ªhis brain rattled and mush from the direct hit to his head. [Concussion?] The words didn¡¯t even register. With a wave of his hand, the poor citizens who were hard at work trying to construct this damned tournament ring fled, calling out to the rest of the hapless workers in this place to make space for the two idiots brawling in the middle of a work site. When you¡¯re powerful, you can do whatever you want. Erec, too, had learned that lesson with the merchants below. Yet, when he used his power, he did not try to make it a habit to interfere with others going about their lives. This was pointless¡ªan abuse of that power. Prick. Erec thought, once more trying to stand. It would be seconds until this guy reached him and then beat him to a bloody pulp; his punch, while enough to give a pause, hadn¡¯t drawn blood or left a lasting impact¡ªand he knew why. Burn. The silver fire was there, within his fingers'' grasp. And this time, Erec didn¡¯t shy away. He let the fire into him, let it turn into an inferno. Reason left his mind, replaced with the knightly desire to test his strength against this beast of a man. How would the likes of this guy fair against those he¡¯d prevailed against so far? Let him see the true worth of a Knight of the Round Table. A silver coat of fire flared around Erec, causing the giant to step back; the fire condensed into a layer of Armor. Erec¡¯s eyes burned as he stared at his foe, feeling the bones of his fingers snap back into place as his mantle fell around him. A second presence lingered in his mind, an identity that was his, just as he was his own person. He was Erec, son of Lac. And before him was a strange blue knight. Whom among them had more might? ¡°Ye shall fall,¡± Erec promised, the words strange to his tongue. [Again, speaking weirdly. Or maybe that hit to your head really had lasting damages¡ªno, you did this during the fight against Dan. Ugh. This anomalous energy and its odd attachments. How can you do concrete variables when it makes so little sense?] ¡°Ah, so there it is,¡± The big man said, standing back and slipping into a defensive posture. His beady eyes regarded Erec, yet they held no fear. As was acceptable, if he intended to see the true worth of a Knight of the Round, he had no idea what it meant to fight one¡ªErec was more than happy to provide him a lesson. ¡°Right, then. Quit putzing about and staring at me with that silver armor you¡¯ve manifested. Let¡¯s see what you can do.¡± Erec flashed him a grin and then kicked off, fire exploding outward from his feet in a silver burst as he rocketed at the man¡ªErec hit, fist extended, pushing past that metal-like skin of his foe and hitting beneath, the momentum of the movement carrying them both forward for several feet as the big guy skidded over the ground. Yet, it didn¡¯t knock his foe down; all it earned was a grunt of pain and acknowledgment. When they came to a stop, the man launched his counter, swiping at Erec and knocking him in the side¡ªwhere he hit, the living silver fire armor crumpled, breaking the bone beneath¡ªas it reformed, as more of that heat entered Erec¡¯s veins, the bones healed, the pain didn¡¯t ease. Still, it became a conduit; the connection between him and his other self grew more steady. Their actions were in sync; Erec launched another blow to respond, smashing past the big guy''s guards and sending him tumbling over the ground. With another flash of silver fire, Erec was there, ready to pounce on his enemy on the ground; only it was a trick. The big guy was prepared, kicking Erec¡¯s legs out from under him, once more snapping bone with a nasty crack. A meaty hand grabbed Erec by the hair, tearing through the silver helmet that formed and then shoving Erec¡¯s face a foot deep into the dirt. How dare he? Erec¡¯s legs healed, and he pulled himself free from the earth¡ªonly to catch another kick to his skull, flinging him head over body across the wasteland; only about half of a second passed before he felt a meaty palm grab his leg, then spin him around and toss him through the air. [Ah, we¡¯re flying, and he does seem to be trying his best to kill you.] VAL warned, and so they were; the wind whistled through Erec¡¯s disoriented skull as they sailed the sky, hundreds of feet up and traveling rapidly away from the work site¡ªout towards the empty wasteland inside the steel curtain. ¡°Quiet, squire,¡± Erec commanded. [Excuse you, Buckeroo?!] Erec sent out a pulse of silver fire through his feet, twisting in the air as he scanned around, his body already mending from the devastating blows¡ªhis foe, where? There. The big man was rushing towards him on the ground still, no doubt calculating where the arc of his throw would land his target; with the pace of his jog, the way he threw himself across the ground, it was clear the big guy would easily reach Erec when he crashed. ¡°Try again, monster; I shall not play by thy rules,¡± Erec declared, pulling further on the silver fire¡­ In his mind¡¯s eye, he could see his chair, his seat at the table. He could envision Camelot and its endless energy of strength and honor. Just a fraction of it, a taste of what was his¡ªthat is what he needed to win. The fire around him, the armor unraveled as he concentrated; that was fine. His connection only allowed so much through, and this amount of Might, condensed and used to its full potential, should surely be enough to conquer the foe in front of him. The silver fire broke, spiraling towards his feet. Still flying through the middle of the air, Erec kicked off once more, burning downward towards the Knight who dared to challenge him; there was a boom as he accelerated, a rocket headed straight towards the massive mound of flesh down below. The silver fire flared around Erec as he sped towards the ground; seconds stretched as more poured outward, coating him a second later. He was a silver comet, a star that came down from the earth to crash into the titan below. Those beady eyes regarded him, an eyebrow raised, the big guy braced No matter your defense, thou shalt burn beneath my glory. CRASH. Erec slammed into the Knight, driving him to the ground as he cratered the landscape around them. Dust plummeted as his fist connected, breaking the raised arm of his foe, who tried to brace against it. There was a snap as bone broke. Blinded by the dust, Erec flew back with another pulse of silver; the silver fire crashed into the spot where his enemy had been, putting distance between him and the impact site. Erec hit the ground and stumbled. Bruised, his muscles torn, his eyes locked on where his enemy had been. Inside, his instincts screeched at him. The foe was yet to be finished. More? Truly? Instinctively, he reached outward again, stretching a hand towards the silver fire, trying to call more of it upon himself; yet the connection there was withered, scorched, and unusable by the quantity of power transferred through. His awareness, that picture of Camelot, of his Strength, the surety of his might and who he was, faded. The silver fire turned once more to that burning mortal hell, and even that was spent; the last flutters left as his body grappled with what had happened. No. More. Erec spat out blood¡ªat some point, he¡¯d bit his tongue, and his body hurt like hell. The dust cleared. As it did, it gave a lovely view of the massive Knight staring at him, broken arm hanging by his side. Then, that broken arm snapped once more, with a flex of his muscles pushing the bone back into place. Veins ran from the guy''s forehead, and he gave a grunt. He rolled his shoulders, the muscles beneath like a flesh mountain, his skin going red as he took a deep inhale¡­ All of his muscles tensed, and he took a step towards Erec. More. Erec panicked, reaching for the silver flames again, trying to dig it out in time to save him; all he needed was to launch himself away and gain more time. What manner of monster is this man? [Move!] VAL called, and Erec stumbled, trying to backpedal as the silver fire refused to come and the regular fires sputtered. ¡°Good. You are steel worth working with, and I¡¯ll have to beat you into a weapon deserving of that steel.¡± The Knight''s voice boomed, crashing through the air and hurting Erec¡¯s ears. He lifted his fist and snapped it into the ground in the blink of an eye, hitting the rock and dirt beneath the feet. If Erec had left them in a crater¡ªthis was something else entirely. A hole goddess knew how deep; his eyes went wide as the land beneath him collapsed, as he fell, dirt and stone burying him and the Knight. The last thing Erec saw was dust. The last thing he felt was a rock smashing into his head. Chapter 204: Anvil
ATTN: INSTRUCTORS AND TEACHING STAFF Training is individual. That is the stance we¡¯ve taken historically, especially in context when moving onto the rank of Knight Errant. That stance is appropriate at that rank. There, the mentor of the Knight will set the schedule, determine the strengths and weaknesses of their Knight Errant, and develop them on an individual basis. However, the path towards that individual training should not be based on individuality... There are standards that must be met; the truth is that some Knights fail the academy. As a general rule, we don¡¯t like to speak of it to the Initiates. Yet, it does happen. The best method to get our initiates through the Academy is to teach to a standard and train to a standard. Anyone accepted to the Academy is seen as a promising candidate and has a perceived future as a Knight. This is reflected by the fact that becoming an Initiate grants a rank of nobility in its own right. The tragic truth is that people fail. If, within two years, an Initiate doesn¡¯t meet or exceed standard metrics determined by a panel of qualified Knights of their Order, they will be honorably discharged from their order. From there, of course, they will retain this granted status of nobility, retain their Armor after it is stripped of affiliation, and then be given a written recommendation to the rank of officer in the military. Sure, the number of Knights who fail is few. Only an average of ten percent of Initiates fail, with some years seeing more or fewer, but this is due to rigorous academic standards. That does not count those who choose to go no further in their Order after two years. We must be aware of and work to counteract this reality, the chance of failure. Every potential Knight represents yet another golden opportunity for humankind to thrive on the surface as we were meant to. Even if they don¡¯t begin to shine in their career in the Academy, they may go on to become bastions of glory and save many in the future. It is our duty to give them this opportunity to benefit the individual, their Order, and the Kingdom as a whole. As instructors, you must never forget this. - Sir Oflux, Memo to Academy Staff, Reminder of Duty (3rd Era, 295)
¡°Your issue is that puny body,¡± a gravely voice cut through the darkness of reality that Erec had sunk into. His eyes snapped open, and a pulsing green light ran around him. A woman leaned over, a concerned look on her face as she looked at Erec. ¡°What?¡± Erec called, the words he was certain he¡¯d heard, but they couldn¡¯t have been from this lady¡­ And¡­ Where the hell were they? Everything, absolutely everything, was in utter and complete pain. ¡°Your body. It¡¯s not up to snuff to deal with the kind of power you¡¯re throwing around. It¡¯s not fast enough, doesn¡¯t hold up enough, and is not powerful enough to withstand the pressure you¡¯re putting on it. It¡¯s like me swinging around a steel sword. Pointless since the damn thing will just break. S¡¯why I gave up on steel, and swapped to fists. Erec focused on the speaker¡ªthe looming giant of a man was tucked in the corner of the¡­ room? It looked to be a relatively simple living room; a pot on a small hearth above hung a slew of herbs; not too far away was a small bed tucked in the corner¡­ The roof was patched, and a bit of light shone through, but if Erec had to guess¡­ They were in a farmhouse on the surface. And the lady frowning at him was wearing a plain dress, further confirming his suspicion¡­ ¡°Matt, you should take it easy. I don¡¯t think he¡¯s got it in him right now to understand what you¡¯re talking about,¡± the woman said softly, the green light increasing in intensity. Erec felt his wounds closing, the soreness of the muscle easing by the second. It was clear she was healing him, but the degree of potency he felt was something else entirely. This was clearly a practiced and precise skill, one that none of the priests had managed with their prayer. ¡°No need to coddle. Especially not this one. You know who he is, right Gem?¡± The woman sighed, the green light fading away. ¡°Of course I do.¡± ¡°Then you know it aint his best interest for me to pull punches,¡± the man¡ªMatt, given how the woman addressed him¡ªmoved forward, each step a quack on the house as he reached out his big meaty palm to grab onto Erec and yank him up from the mat on the ground. ¡°Hold up,¡± Gem said, stepping between Erec and the Knight of the Azure Tower, who had beaten him to a pulp¡­ Goddess knows how long before. Erec saw where this was going and got up of his own volition. His legs wobbled, but he was put enough back together to prepare for a fight. He rolled his shoulders and glared at the Knight beyond. I lost. Unacceptable; he hadn¡¯t burned away everything. Hadn¡¯t dived deep¡ªat the end, when he felt the sputter, he realized why. Part of him knew this man wasn¡¯t out to kill him or his Kingdom; the silver flames had brought enough logic to realize it. Yet that didn¡¯t make it any better. The loss left a sore bruise on his pride. ¡°You¡¯re just going to wreck him again!¡± Gem accused. The beady-eyed knight nodded. ¡°Yeah, his body needs to be stronger. I¡¯m the right hammer for the job.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t just keep healing him if it means you¡¯re going to take this poor boy outside and beat him bloody again and again¡ªhow many times? How many times until you¡¯re happy?¡± Matt shrugged. ¡°Until Boldwick comes back to grab him. That¡¯s the job today, hun; I know it isn¡¯t pretty, and maybe its morality is a bit iffy. But I was told, ¡®make him stronger the best you know how,¡¯ and that fight showed me how.¡± He raised a finger at Erec, his cold eyes staring him down, ¡°You¡¯re swinging around too much power and don¡¯t have the foundation to support it. Lucky you, I can get you closer. Assuming Gem here is willing to cooperate¡ªdon¡¯t think you¡¯d find a better healer to suit your needs; her Talent is Stasis. She heals you, I beat you, we make a weapon. Think of her as forge, me as the hammer.¡± ¡°Forge my ass. No way am I agreeing to that; look at him; he¡¯s shaking,¡± the woman warned, glaring down at the big Knight, who was multiple feet taller than her. Erec looked at his hands. She was right, but now wasn¡¯t the time for it. He forced them to stop with great will, balling them into fists. The worst part was that this made sense. Even though his body no longer hurt, the memories of what remained burned through him. Erec felt his body heat, but the sensation of the silver fire was distant, spent. The pathway to it scorched. That was the issue. Even if he could grasp that power, training with it went nowhere when he couldn¡¯t properly utilize it with the current limitations of his body. If he ignored those limitations, he could drive himself into the grave. He couldn¡¯t deny that the results of the previous training had left a blinking dot in the corner of his vision. Not breaking eye contact and still thinking through what he wanted to say, Erec willed the notification to appear.
Soul (Aspect: Fire): Rank C - Tier 3 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 4 Strength: Rank C - Tier 7 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 8 Vigor: Rank D - Tier 8 ¡ú Rank D - Tier 9 Agility: Rank D - Tier 6 ¡ú Rank D - Tier 7
Erec¡¯s eyes bulged. He expected something. This was obscene. This kind of push and strain on his body to cause such a difference should have been enough to wreck him for a couple of days. A vague memory of the fight ran through his mind, though he couldn¡¯t quite picture how it ended¡­ ¡°How did you heal me so well?¡± Erec asked, stunned. That kind of healing was the type of thing that even only the best among their healers might accomplish. Yet this woman didn¡¯t wear red robes, was clearly not a Knight¡­ The big Knight looked away at this, rubbing the back of his head. ¡°Hey, so listen. Gem¡ªher house. Stays between us, alright? If you cause her trouble, I¡¯ll be on you quicker than you can blink. And no, the goal won¡¯t be to help train you, and no, your jaw won¡¯t work anymore after.¡± ¡°Matt!¡± Gem shouted, grabbing a book nearby and hitting him on the shoulder, ¡°No threats of violence in my home.¡± She then looked at Erec, her eyes wide but her mouth firm, ¡°But I would highly appreciate it if you could¡­ Maybe forget I exist, if you would, alright? I want a nice and quiet, peaceful life. That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°He will forget you exist,¡± Matt pounded a fist into an open palm with a resounding meaty thwack. Erec took a step back, chewed his lip, and then came to a decision. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. ¡°I will forget you exist; I¡¯m not here to upend your life or cause you harm. It¡¯s obvious you have a potent talent for healing, and I¡¯m sure you have good reasons for not spending that talent locked into service for the Kingdom¡­ That said, I would appreciate it if you could let Matt beat me up more and keep me alive after.¡± Gem¡¯s jaw dropped. [Wow. You sure you know what you¡¯re doing with this business proposal? Are you a masochist, buckeroo?] ¡°You want him to beat you up more?¡± She repeated what he said, drawing out each word, second-guessing that he knew what he meant. ¡°Did you give him brain damage? You know it might take more time to recover from those injuries.¡± ¡°No!¡± Matt said, then stopped himself, ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t believe so. Maybe? Ah, shit. I did clock him in the head.¡± [Nope, no brain damage. Her healing covered that, combined with my nanites.] ¡°I¡¯m fine, thanks to you,¡± Erec dipped his head towards Gem and then turned his attention toward Matt. ¡°I have to be stronger. He¡¯s right. And after I woke up, thanks to your healing, I saw an incredible result from our fight. If I could manage that, even a few more times today, that would go a long way for me to be able to wield my talent and save lives.¡± ¡°Kid, didn¡¯t you slay the White Stag?¡± She asked. ¡°And else, yet it isn¡¯t enough. Not with what this talent has thrown my way. It¡¯s a potential to do a lot of good, but if the limiting factor is me, that is what I need to work on.¡± ¡°Well said!¡± Matt walked past Gem, setting one of his palms on Erec¡¯s shoulder, nearly toppling him. ¡°Well, Gem, you heard him. He¡¯s asking me to beat him to a pulp. Can you keep him alive? It¡¯s in the name of the good of the Kingdom.¡± Erec decided to bite his tongue and keep it to himself, saying that he did not intend to simply roll over and let Matt destroy him without a fight. Though he didn¡¯t feel at the moment that his silver flames, nor the ¡®mantle¡¯ which lay at its source, was available to draw upon, that wouldn¡¯t stop him from trying. With how ridiculously strong Matt was, it would be a waste not to try to go out and break more limits¡­ Of course, that depends on this person who could keep him together. Gem worked her jaw. ¡°Insane. You¡¯re both insane. All of you damn Knights are insane.¡± She shook her head. ¡°And?¡± Matt prompted. ¡°And what? You¡¯re completely nuts. You¡¯ve been since you first joined that damn Order, and it¡¯s only gotten worse.¡± ¡°Annnd?¡± ¡°And fine, I¡¯ll do it. Because I know if I don¡¯t, you¡¯re just going to wreck him and toss him to some other, worse healers, and the injuries might not go away. I can¡¯t deal with this,¡± Gem said, stalking away and mumbling. She turned after reaching a door to go further into her house, ¡°Get the hell out, and bring him back the second he goes unconscious, and keep your fists from his head¡ªso help me if you kill that boy¡­ One more condition: don¡¯t you dare beat him to unconsciousness? I want him to be at least able to nod and understand what I¡¯m saying when you drag the poor kid back here. Am I understood?¡° ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am, and don¡¯t worry about that. He¡¯s in good hands!¡± Matt called, scooting Erec out. It seemed the giant knew when to beat a quick retreat. ¡°Insane,¡± Erec heard the woman mumble one last time before they were free of her domain and back out into the wasteland. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª Erec spat up blood on the dirt and sand; in front of him was a vast swath of dug-out dirt and rock. The landscape was filled with pits and more blood than it deserved. Almost all of it was his blood, yet to his immense satisfaction, it wasn¡¯t all his blood now. In this last bout, he¡¯d drawn some of Matt¡¯s with a wicked punch to the nose. The massive Knight had halted shortly after, rubbing at his broken nose and trying to clean it up. Citing that, ¡®Gem won¡¯t heal me like she¡¯s been tending to you¡ªshe¡¯ll say I deserved whatever I got.¡¯ Which Erec found a little bullshit. Considering that he was fighting past broken bones in two of these rounds, Matt hadn¡¯t let him call it quits then. The training was paying off. Within their first spar, he¡¯d already seen the notification appear. Part of Erec was tempted to open it when he healed back with Gem, yet he¡¯d held off. Better to see the overall gains after this grueling hell of pain and combat was over, lest it demoralize him if the returns weren¡¯t quite as good as the first fight. After all, since then, he hasn¡¯t been able to call the Silver fire. And his ability to fight without it fell quite short of what the massive beady eye Knight in front of him was capable of. ¡°Who are you,¡± Erec got out, finally having a reprieve from the battle. It seemed Matt wasn¡¯t much for talking, aside from with Gem, who he kept profusely apologizing to whenever he dragged Erec¡¯s broken body back for healing. ¡°Matt,¡± the big guy snorted and then winced. ¡°Damn, this hurts. Why¡¯d you have to sucker punch me?¡± Erec raised an eyebrow, looked down at his bruised arm, and could barely flex his fingers. ¡°Alright. Fair point. Fine, let¡¯s take five. I think we got about another eight or so fights until we gotta turn in.¡± ¡°Not training through the night?¡± Erec asked, surprised. ¡°Hell no. I mean, I¡¯m treating you harshly, but from what I understand, this is the second day of a whole five of this kinda training, right? I break you too badly and don¡¯t let you rest tonight; what will you get from the other days? Gotta leave time for the body to adapt. Regardless of taking you to a healer with quite the talent,¡± Matt said, shuffling over to an upended lump of dirt he¡¯d ripped clean from the ground earlier in the day. ¡°Sit right here,¡± he patted a spot next to him. Erec hobbled over, finding his left ankle weak and probably sprained now that he wasn¡¯t in the midst of Fury. Maybe VAL would be able to correct that before they re-engaged. ¡°Right. Who am I,¡± Matt began, drumming his fingers on the dirt. ¡°Yeah, an Azure Tower Knight¡­ But what rank¡­ and why this? Who is Gem? How do you know Boldwick? How are you so damn strong?¡± ¡°Some of those are loaded questions, kid.¡± Matt pointed out. ¡°I¡¯m thankful for the training, but I can¡¯t help being curious,¡± Erec asked. ¡°Mhmmm. Let¡¯s start with the simple stuff. I owe Boldwick we go back plenty of years, old sparring partners if you can believe that; I¡¯m a Master Knight for the Azure Tower. As to why I¡¯m helping¡ªwell, of course, Boldwick asked, but can¡¯t lie. I was curious about the Kingdom¡¯s fastest ¡®rising star.¡¯ Do you know that other Knights have noticed you and your friends? Mainly you, but given your involvement in some fast and massive changes¡­ Stuff like that doesn¡¯t escape the public eye, much less in the Orders. As to the two helping your friends, they aren¡¯t Master Knights, but they are closer to what kind of Knights their paths might lead them on, and this, for them, is a way to gage if they can have a Knight Errant assigned, so it¡¯s a double test,¡± Matt answered calmly, still rubbing at his nose. ¡°And your friend?¡± ¡°My wife, well. Ex-wife. We¡¯re¡­ It¡¯s complicated; she wants a simple life, but I don¡¯t think she has it in her to resist the call of what she can do for others. That is where we¡¯ll leave that; you will forget about her after this is over; keep in mind, I¡¯ve been holding back.¡± he said rather sharply, shooting Erec a glare. That frightening thought made him wonder just how strong the scale went. Maybe it was foolish to consider himself at the height of power with Fury, as it was¡­ But, well. ¡°Well, maybe I had to let go a bit when you got the silver fire. Tell me, why haven¡¯t you brought that out again?¡± Matt continued after a lapse of silence. ¡°Can¡¯t, wish I could.¡± Erec said, staring at his feet, ¡°It¡¯s¡­ The connection with it can appear, but the pathway is all burnt up after use. This time, I scorched it, but it¡¯s not¡­ Well, it was destroyed, like it was after coming back from the wasteland. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s getting stronger, and I could force it further, but if I did so, Gem¡¯s healing might not be enough.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know about that. Talents come in all sorts. Yours doesn¡¯t strike me as a ¡®one and done¡¯ kind of ability, which carries a recharge. I don¡¯t know if they still teach it after taking a priority of teaching instruction away from Talents and instead doubling down on flinging magic and prayer. Still, maybe you¡¯ve heard the four basics¡ªShifter, Enhancer, Projector, and Skill.¡± The categories did ring a bell; during the first couple of months of schooling, Boldwick had taken him and a few others with particularly potent talents and put them into specialized training. Now, though, those courses had been all but canceled for him following his return from the expedition. Erec wasn¡¯t sure why but knew his own talent development had far exceeded anyone else, aside from maybe Prince Soren. ¡°Tell me then, what category are you and me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an enhancer,¡± Erec confirmed right away; it¡¯s what Boldwick had called him, and given the conditions of activating Fury, it made the most sense. It brought out more Strength, Agility, and Vigor. Mostly Strength, but the others were a consequence of keeping up with such a vast difference in Strength. Sir Matt said nothing; he only put a smirk on his face and then asked, ¡°Oh, is that so? Then what is that silver fire? It seems like using a Skill since you¡¯re pulling it out of nothing for attacks. But then again, doesn¡¯t it also give you regeneration?¡± Erec wracked his brain to connect the dots. Skill-based talents leaned towards more specific external effects at the cost of stamina. The Silver Flame let him make attacks like that style, but it also amplified his Fury even more, making it an Enhancer talent. At least, according to what he could remember. Erec frowned. ¡°Boldwick mentioned there are more advanced ones and that classification is just a loose representation of what is there.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an outdated and flawed system,¡± Matt clarified. ¡°Then why are you asking me about it?¡± ¡°Because it gives a good foundation to understand the types of Talents you could run into. But it fails to tell you that many talents crossover or are too rare. Using that system, I might be considered a Shifter-Uncontrolled-Permanent.¡± ¡°Uncontrolled-Permanent?¡± ¡°Classifications with their system can add modifiers; in this case, it¡¯s saying that my type of shift,¡± Matt indicated his body, which was far from human norm, ¡°Is an uncontrolled talent. If I gave you one of their titles, I¡¯d maybe call you an Enhancer-Abnormal.¡± Erec leaned back on the rock, taking in the clouds above as the words slid off him. The terminology of what he could do thanks to his Talent was, in a way, meaningless. Given how it was affected by his Soul, he doubted it could even be split into its source of power to begin with. It seemed to be ever-evolving, too, given the linkage; that made him wonder. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying the classifications don¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Pretty much,¡± Matt confirmed, ¡°The reality is that I grew into my Talent. I got stronger, my body changed, and I was drawn to the Strength Virtue even before my Talent appeared¡­ I was taller and stronger, and my muscles went far more than others from the start. What came first? My body? Or the talent? You see it now and again with the rare talent; it changes your body as you develop. Not that people like to talk about it, folks like us¡­ The stronger we get, the closer we begin to remind them of monsters, then of other people.¡± ¡°And your faith virtue?¡± Erec asked. Matt worked his jaw for a long time and then responded. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about that?¡± He said, standing up. ¡°We have a few more rounds of beatings to get through before I¡¯m comfortable enough to let you go after you broke my nose.¡± As Erec climbed to his feet, nearly toppling over, he took in Matt¡¯s eyes. There was concern there, as well as a mask. He doesn¡¯t have a Faith Virtue. Erec wasn¡¯t sure why, but he was certain of it. The revelation came with just the barest spark of a silver fire in him, the first true spark since their first fight. He, Colin, and Garin weren¡¯t alone¡ªand maybe if Matt and Dame Morgana had access to the Soul Virtue, they were far from alone. Chapter 205: Forged Once the moon went down and Sir Matt dragged Erec back from their latest round of training to the tiny farmhouse on the surface, Erec finally took a deep sip. It was a credit to whatever Gem¡¯s talent that he could go for so long. But after each round of healing, he began to feel more worn down and weak. So, it was with great relief when Matt announced they were done for the night, did he celebrate. Gem healed him, then escorted him to a tiny cot near the fire, sucking on her teeth and shooting the occasional glare at Matt as she prepared a mulled wine. Erec accepted the cup generously, finding it hard to talk or think as the full depth of the exhaustion began to sink in. ¡°You¡¯re staying the night, then?¡± she asked, her eyes directed at Matt. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°If I don¡¯t mind.¡± She repeated while shaking her head, ¡°Where else would you stay.¡± ¡°Could drag him back to Azure Tower bunks, suppose.¡± ¡°You could buy a house.¡± ¡°Mhmm. You know Grandmaster Towers has said enough: the new one and the one before. Not a year goes by before she tries to give me land and an estate,¡± Matt chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t care for it though. Didn¡¯t start as a noble, not going to end as a noble either.¡± Gem glared at him, ¡°It isn¡¯t wrong to be paid for what you¡¯ve earned.¡± ¡°Sure, I don¡¯t disagree. I think they should pay me in peace, not in more work,¡± Matt settled into a chair near the fire, an oversized thing that must have been custom-made for him. Still, even with that in mind, the legs squeaked, and it protested having such a massive weight suddenly put onto it. Gem sighed and pulled another plush chair next to him, setting one of her hands on his. ¡°When are you going to be done?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve had this conversation already,¡± Matt answered sharply. Erec took a deep sip of the mulled wine, his eyes heavy as he listened to the two. At this point, he realized they¡¯d gone into their own little world. Not dissimilar at all to those brief but precious moments he got with Enide, when the seconds seemed to blur together, and the moment and emotions took overall. It was like stepping into your own private little bubble, isolated from everything outside and, thankfully, only with that person. No doubt about it then, these two were together, and that much was painfully obvious. ¡°And I told you, we won¡¯t stop having this conversation until you pick a day. This isn¡¯t a job you can keep doing forever, love,¡± Gem answered. ¡°It isn¡¯t forever, nothing is.¡± ¡°And I don¡¯t want your end to be at the hands of a monster. Retire before then. Some Knights do. You¡¯re talking about being paid in peace, but you can¡¯t be paid if you¡¯re dead.¡± Matt shrugged. ¡°What kind of life is there for a man like me? I¡¯m meant for this, and if I¡¯m not doing it, then what is the point?¡± To this, the woman didn¡¯t respond, only clutching his overgrown hand tighter. The flames in front of them in the fire popped and cracked, the warmth touching even Erec, further away on his borrowed cot. The silence stretched in the room, though Erec knew he was long forgotten in their minds. Compared to the problems they faced together, he was but a footnote. Erec took one last sip of the warmed wine, feeling the popping flavor of cinnamon, cloves, and apple; his eyes rested on the fire, swearing that he could see little flecks of silver in it. Just as he began to slip away to sleep, he finally let his curiosity win and willed the notification in the corner of his vision to expand.
Soul (Aspect: Fire): Rank C - Tier 4 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 6 Strength: Rank C - Tier 8 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 9 Vigor: Rank D - Tier 9 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 3 Agility: Rank D - Tier 7 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 1 Cognition: Rank E - Tier 6 ¡ú Rank E - Tier 8 Psyche: Rank D - Tier 1 ¡ú Rank D - Tier 3 Perception: Rank E - Tier 7 ¡ú Rank E - Tier 9
A small thrill of success from the effort ran through him, followed by a profound slumber. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª The first thing Erec felt when waking up was pain, along with a thump as his body hit the dirt. Next came the overwhelming sounds of people chattering, hammering, and working away in the distance. He groaned, pushing himself up from the ground; his eyes blurred as he tried to make sense of what was happening. The corner of his eyes ran with tears as he wished for nothing else but to be able to sleep just a little bit longer. Next, he realized that he was no longer tucked away in a cozy farmhouse; it should have been obvious, given the sound around him. But the whiplash from watching the embers of the fire while curled up on a cot to finding himself thrust into the middle of a public space and in the dirt was making him slow. ¡°Come on, rust-bucket. Get up.¡± Colin hissed to his side, grabbing him by the arm and helping haul him to his feet.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Matt stood in front of them. The stoic Master Knight had his hands tucked behind his back and not even a smirk on his face. Next to him was the sour old man from the day before who¡¯d taken Colin. He, however, kept shooting angry looks at the boy. ¡°Don¡¯t offer him assistance,¡± The old man commanded. Colin scowled, ¡°You are no longer in charge of me.¡± ¡°Care to test that again? Do you need another reminder of how inferior your spell-slinging is to this old master? Or do I need to put you out again and reintroduce you to the waste facilities?¡± At that, and to Erec¡¯s surprise, Colin balked and let him go. Erec stumbled, barely avoiding falling onto his face again on the dirt below. He took a moment, blinking out the tiredness and soreness of his entire body, to understand just what was happening. They were back where Boldwick had left them the day before. Around them were the workers hammering away at fixing the tournament ground. More than a few were looking their way, and to Erec¡¯s embarrassment, he could still see the remains of where Matt had fought him the day before¡ªsome holes being filled in with sand and dirt hauled by a team of men and women. His eyes ran over the large Knight, who, if he had to guess, had been the one to haul him here and toss him onto the dirt. [Wakey wakey, have no fear; I took care of your unconscious body while you recovered. You should find muscle soreness but no lingering effects. That anomalous energy¡­ Or magic, as you call it, from his wife¡ªwife? You know, I never pieced that together¡ªregardless, it is quite potent. But had I not been there to direct the healing¡­ Well, you might have needed a few days. Lucky you, buckero. Oh, and yes, he carried you here. Rather alarming how out of it you were. Don¡¯t conduct this type of training outside of a safe area. Dangerous.] Well. Erec scratched the back of his neck and turned his attention to Colin¡­ Who was burnt worse than any piece of toast, he¡¯d seen the noble cook. Burn marks lanced across all of his clothes; patches were missing from his uniform, and both dirt and¡­ Oh, goddess. Erec gagged from the smell. Colin was positively rancid, and by not paying a bit more attention to the stains on his friend''s clothes, he had become human waste. What kind of training did he go through? Before he had too much time to examine his friend, the third and last member of their party arrived. Cutting through the groups of civilians at a measured and delicate pace, Garin was likely the least damaged. In fact, he sported a green Verdant Oaks cloak that was definitely not Academy Standard and followed right behind the lady with a bow. Munchy stood on the head of Garin¡¯s cloak¡­ Somehow, it¡¯s even bigger than a day ago. How such a thing was possible, Erec wasn¡¯t sure. His friend gave them a grin, sliding into line with Erec and Colin, and then gave a salute to the woman with a bow as she launched into a small, quiet talk with the two instructors. ¡°Well, we¡¯re all back in one piece. Definitely not fine and healthy, though, dear Goddess. What did the two of you go through?¡± Me? Erec looked down, and sure enough, he¡¯d been so consumed with the aches and pains, and then in taking in Colin¡¯s devastated state, he failed to realize he looked quite a sight, too. Dried blood on what was left of his Academy training uniform¡ªholes missing everywhere¡ªat least one or two bruises that must not have healed since Gem¡¯s talent was more restrained in what she targeted. Yeah, he looked the part of a man who¡¯d been beaten to a pulp multiple times if they somehow evaded the lasting injuries that normally came with such rough treatment. ¡°It is not fair. You got it easy,¡± Colin complained, ¡°He made me haul things and took his time torturing me.¡± ¡°He tortured you?¡± Garin asked. Colin looked at the ground and spat, ¡°According to him, who was born low at birth, it was his job to ¡®take me down a peg¡¯ and get the ¡®grandiose unaired air of magic out of my mind,¡¯¡± Erec grunted, looking at the wizened old man busy discussing with his peers. So, the guy came from low birth and saw it as a chance of revenge¡­ ¡°Did you learn anything?¡± Erec asked, cautious. ¡°Yes. He drilled glyphs into me¡ªnot the typical ones the Academy teaches. He called it ¡®practical shortcuts,¡¯ dangerous magic if you ask me¡­ But effective.¡± Colin gestured towards the air, calling forth a rune¡ªthe lines jutted in odd directions; it was atypical of the normal work he¡¯d seen his friend perform. Before the glowing lines could complete, they vanished. ¡°As well as a few methods of control. So, the torture, in addition to some unique perspectives. He just made me earn everything. Tell me, what sense does that make? Is not learning the goal in itself of this exercise?¡± Erec didn¡¯t have anything to say, but taking in his friends¡­ Already, he could see changes in them. Felt changes in himself. He didn¡¯t know just what these changes might bring to their lives long term, but they were everything he¡¯d asked for. All he could hope was that in the coming days, they would solidify the basis for what they might become. Garin and Colin were launching into more training details, but Erec decided not to engage, conserving his strength. His mind circled back to the vision. That table had many seats. The Knight had said that some mantles could be earned while others were birthrights. Erec looked at his two friends with a critical eye. No, he wouldn¡¯t go alone into this; these two would be coming with him. If that meant that they, too, would join him at the round table¡­ Then so be it. ¡°Attention,¡± The old man cackled, causing them all to form up¡ªit was clear a second later, as Boldwick strode past the workers at the edge¡ªconstructing what appeared to be stands to view the tournament ground; Boldwick looked just about as tired as Erec felt. Outside of this training, the Master Knight must have been going through quite a lot to make preparations. If Erec had to guess, he and Dame Robin were far more busy than usual, sorting through the problems and logistics; once more, he felt grateful for the Master Knight for making this time to train them amidst what surely must be such a busy time for him. We¡¯ll make it worthwhile. Erec promised. ¡°Well,¡± Boldwick said as he reached the rest of the senior Knights and gave the three initiates a critical eye. ¡°You didn¡¯t hold back with your training regimes. I appreciate it.¡± ¡°My pleasure,¡± Sir Adam grinned wide. Erec felt Colin tense at his side. ¡°Aye,¡± Sir Matt agreed. ¡°You were right, a hidden talent indeed,¡± Dame Elke said, shifting her gear and giving Garin a pleasant smile, ¡°Just need a bit more confidence and creativity. Don¡¯t forget what we talked about, and train diligently.¡± He gave a small nod¡ªBoldwick took them all in, his face a stone mask, and then turned towards their instructors. ¡°As requested, Dame Elke and Sir Able, I think you¡¯ve done a fine duty with this; I¡¯ll be sure to write a favorable report for your goals. I think you would make wonderful mentors for whatever Knight Errant was lucky enough to end up in your charge.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sir.¡± Dame Elke bowed her head. ¡°Of course, was there to be any other end?¡± Sir Able added. Sir Matt stayed quiet because, as Erec knew, unlike the other two, his participation as an instructor came from a favor called into Boldwick and a desire to teach the next generation. With that, the mentors bid their farewells, with Dame Elke making a special promise to check in with Garin over the next few months. It seemed that she had taken a liking to him as a person and was interested in helping him grow. Another good sign that she is meant to teach, Erec thought to himself as they bid their farewells. Soon, they were left with Boldwick, who cleared his throat. ¡°Gather your things¡ªwe¡¯re going to run back to Academy. We¡¯ll be needing your Armor for this next stage of training. The last one to reach it owes me a hundred weighted push-ups.¡± Giving no more explanation, the Master Knight took off, kicking up dust behind him as he ran. Chapter 206: Texas Walker Ranger
TEXAS WALL COLONY COLONY STATUS: ALIVE / SUCCESSFUL DISPOSITION: UNKNOWN POPULATION: UNKNOWN (EXPECTED: MASSIVE) TECHNOLOGY: ADVANCED-INTERMEDIATE DEFENSES: FORMIDABLE DETAILED REPORT: Civilization. Theoretically, the biggest we¡¯ve encountered of survivors from the event while searching. Per orders, maintained distance and utilized Light-Worth cloaking to evade detection. It¡¯s not difficult to clock, though, from a distance, given they¡¯ve somehow constructed a massive wall that you can see from miles away. This appears to be a primary defensive structure¡ªand would theoretically work well to keep any ground-based aberrations from attacking. Remains to be seen how they handle air-based aberrations, as no guns were spotted during observation. Technology level to manufacture such defenses, along with what appears to be high-tech armor(?) reminiscent of theoretical combat frames was spotted. This, despite a lake of traditional weaponry or artillery is the reason behind the current designation. Unit observed for a week¡ªrotating staff on the wall, unable to determine the size of the colony without finding a way inside. However, theoretically, based on the area, there could be a highly populated civilization there. RECOMMENDATION: PASSIVE OBSERVATION, FUTURE INFILTRATION. - Ranger-Captain Nottingham, Texas Wall Colony Report to Roswell (3rd Era, 306)
Being back in his Armor was like returning home¡ªsince his time back in the Kingdom, he¡¯d poured extra resources and time into making repairs. Following the expedition, it had needed quite a lot of repairs indeed; fighting Dan had broken much of it, but even before that fateful fight underground, the entire expedition had been a long, extended affair of fights and patchwork repairs. If nothing else, it gave Erec a vast appreciation for the Scavenging and Armor Modification class he¡¯d taken¡ªa class and line of education he was sure to pursue when given a choice next year. Still, putting the Armor back on didn¡¯t lead Erec to guess they¡¯d inherently go outside the walls just because they were wearing it. There was a lot of training a Knight could do in their Armor. Oftentimes, classes and exercises would have them use the Armor for sparring practice, both for safety, the ability to engage in higher-level combat, and to get the Initiates used to wearing them since the bulk of fighting as a Knight was conducted in their Armor. Boldwick had no time for that nonsense, however, and as soon as they were Armored, he had them run to the steel curtain, where Dame Robin was waiting, also in her Armor. Then, it was a short conversation with the guards operating the gate¡­ And just like that, exhausted, Armored, and sore beyond belief, the five of them were once more in the wasteland, plodding along at a slightly slower pace as Boldwick made them keep their eyes out for any threats. About seven miles out from the steel wall, Boldwick finally debriefed them. ¡°Today, we¡¯ll be taking care of pest control,¡± Boldwick explained, ¡°Obviously, being a Knight entails fighting monsters. So today, we fight monsters. Recently, the aftermath of a particularly nasty Rift was detected outside of our Kingdom from a scouting expedition; however, as you¡¯ll see, the threat of this monster spawn has been relatively low, so we¡¯ve not spent resources in pursuing a clean-up. Given that our Kingdom will soon be seeing an influx of visitors, the King has requested the Knights to tamp down and control the lands around our border with increased control. This location now needs cleanup. I¡¯m aware that you¡¯ve seen more than your fair share of monsters, especially when compared to equivalent initiates; still, this training and the ability to conduct it yourselves, teach valuable lessons that can only be learned in real scenarios.¡± ¡°Boldwick has decided that your group has enough power to tackle this particular problem alone,¡± Dame Robin said; though Erec couldn¡¯t see it, he was sure there was a proud smile on her face underneath her helmet. ¡°Once we are half a mile away, I will relinquish all control of this expedition. Dame Robin and I will remain as observers as you conduct your scouting and your planning and then take care of this issue.¡± ¡°We fully trust you to be able to handle this. But it does not mean it will be easy,¡± Dame Robin warned. ¡°There is always risk when taking on the unknown, regardless of intelligence ahead of time. In this case, other than the location, it will be on you three to determine the capabilities of these creatures and to handle them¡ªin addition, a second nest of a different sort is near here, which will also be on you to handle; both of these nests must be finished, and we must be back within the walls by sundown, as that is our expected return time. Failure to do so will result in another expedition being sent outward for retrieval. Is that understood?¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± All of them uttered at once. ¡°But I want to make one last thing clear: Just because we¡¯ve said these should be within your ability to handle doesn¡¯t mean that you should take this lightly. You should treat every foe as if they might be your last. Or you might very well die from underestimating them.¡± With those grim words, Boldwick set to leading them forward again. They cut through the vast dead lands surrounding the Kingdom, a familiar sight for Erec. From the cracks that ran into the dead sand and earth to the weedy and unhealthy yellow and brown plants that tried to make this place home and failed in the process, he was well and used to the waste more; he was used to monsters. Out of everything so far, this felt¡­ A little like a trivial challenge. A practical lesson from Boldwick; the kind of lesson that he might expect as normal training. Appreciated, but, well. It didn¡¯t quite play into the dynamic that this weekend had been so far. Both days ahead of this one had been very taxing in their own ways. Try as he might, this didn¡¯t give him the same feeling of pushing himself that he might expect. He appreciated that in this scenario, Boldwick was giving them full authority within the expedition, and while the gravity of that was understood¡­Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. With that nagging feeling, they plodded along. Moving at a fair clip until they reached the chosen destination. From there, Boldwick pointed where they were headed¡­ And left them to it. Colin and Garin¡ªto Erec¡¯s surprise for the former¡ªimmediately fell into line behind him, an unspoken agreement as they defaulted to letting him take the reins, which suited him fine. This formation was a comfortable one to him, and he¡¯d know no other Knights as fine as his friends. With the sun beating down on his metal chassis, he led them the rest of the way to the scene of their next trial. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª ¡°Dear Goddess,¡± Garin muttered, staring at the gaping hole of glass that made up the ¡®nest¡¯ of the monsters. All three of them stood as close to the edge that they dared, looking down a pit that stretched four hundred feet down¡ªas calculated by VAL using what it referred to as ¡®extremely easy and common math equations, it embarrassed the board director of Vortex Industries couldn¡¯t perform.¡¯ The sheer depth of the pit alone made this an issue; it also explained why exactly the Knights hadn¡¯t seen fit to climb down this hole and deal with the problem. It seemed an impossible task. Above, in the sky, more than a few vultures circled. From the height above, Erec could just make out a squirming mass at the bottom¡ªan overcrowded thicket of moving appendages and haunting moans that echoed their way out from below. It would be easy to mistake all the moving parts as belonging to a single creature, but upon further guided observation and using the built-in enhancements of his helmets, he could make out the fact that it was a pile of monsters on top of one other, each about half the size of a human. An absolute swarm of things¡ªtheir bodies were thin and sunburned red, with bits of scorched and irritated skin as they languished about in this hole for Goddess knew how long, suffering. Was this a kindness in disguise to put these dreadful things out of their misery? ¡°How do we get down?¡± Garin asked, stepping away from the sheer drop. ¡°No idea,¡± Erec said, chewing on his lip. They had three big problems, which were quite clear. ¡°But even if we did¡­¡± The first was¡ªhow did one safely get into the deep pit whose sides were completely glass, a sheer wall of lined glass¡ªmore than a few feet thick, at the edges. The second, as equally problematic, was if they somehow managed to get down there, they would have to kill all the creatures below. Erec thought that problem relatively simple. They didn¡¯t seem that strong. There was an overwhelming quantity, but if these creatures had any real strength, they would have surely found a way to escape the pit or caused more damage than what he could see below. The third problem, which he didn¡¯t know how to wrestle with, is if they finished getting down there, killing everything, they would somehow have to get back up the slick glass wall. Add in the fact they had a time constraint¡ªthis wasn¡¯t the only nest of monsters they had to kill today, and Boldwick expected them to be back to the Kingdom by the time the sun went down¡­ Yeah, now he understood why Boldwick thought this challenge was big enough to include in this difficult training week. Colin let out an annoyed sigh, standing up and stretching, ¡°Well, it is quite clear how this formed. Glass has remains of mana imbued all throughout it¡ªthe type similar to a Rift; the magical energy was released in a burst when these pests crawled into our world and damaged the landscape. Some kind of transmutation were I to guess.¡± ¡°Huh,¡± Erec said, impressed with the conclusion. To be honest, he wasn¡¯t as concerned with the how as much as the what they could do with the problem. ¡°Do you have anything that lets you fly¡ªcan you shoot them with lightning from here?¡± Colin snorted. ¡°Of course I cannot fly. Yet, you can, can you not?¡± ¡°That isn¡¯t flying,¡± Erec answered, while the burst of silver flame propelled him in the air¡­ It was more equivalent to shooting him off like a rocket, an uncontrolled, unhinged rocket of glory and rage. A very different thing from flying. ¡°Don¡¯t be absurd; we¡¯ve seen it twice now. Do so now and take care of the monsters below.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ Difficult to summon that energy without being worked up. Not to mention, I haven¡¯t exactly mastered that part of using my talent. Whenever I used it in the air, it was instinctive. I¡¯m not sure I can get that heated up here, staring at those pitiful monsters. But¡­ I¡¯ll try.¡± He squinted, looking down, trying to conjure up even a spark of Fury. The barest bits were there, from the simple existence of these monsters. Erec let that feeling of indignation catch, trying to at least give it a try. This was their world, and these creatures had trespassed and destroyed the land in their invasion¡­ But the anger¡­ Vanished like trying to strike a flint and steel against bad kindling. There was simply too much pity, not enough personal investment for him to really conjure Fury. Let alone the much deeper and stronger silver fire it would take for him to launch down there, kill those things, and launch back up. Erec sighed. ¡°Well, did it work?¡± That conjured more sparks of irritation and anger, but it wasn¡¯t enough. ¡°No,¡± Erec answered, choosing not to punch Colin into the pit. ¡°Shame. Have you been speaking to a therapist? I would not advise such a course of action; your anger issues are vital to our continued success. Please continue to have mother and family issues; this team can ill-afford you working through your low-born familial trauma. Does reminding you of them do anything?¡± Colin prodded. [Jeesh, Buckeroo. He¡¯s hit the nail on the head there, hasn¡¯t he?] Erec turned toward Colin. ¡°Are you trying to pick a fight?¡± ¡°Will it hurt your feelings enough to complete the objective?¡± Instead of answering, he looked away and rolled his eyes. Embarrassed to admit that Colin insulting him had done more to catch Fury alight than it should have. The issue was that to get to the silver flame needed, they would have to actually fight, and Colin had to present enough of a threat to get him to that level; a risky and dangerous strategy, that was if Colin had enough power in him to even meet Erec there instead of getting wiped out early on by how much more power Erec had. Still, it was maybe a solution. Better than the nothing he had before. ¡°Can you reach them with a spell?¡± Garin asked. ¡°The range is too long. The glyphs I know now are more suitable for medium-range. That is quite a long distance, and I would run out of mana before I managed to finish off the creatures below, as loath as I am to admit.¡± Colin said. Garin looked up above¡ªthere was a pause¡ªand Garin stretched out his arm. Out of the sky, a bird dived down and perched there, a vulture circling above the pit, no doubt flying down to feast on the death and decay below¡ªthe two of them stared at one another¡ªthen it flew into the pit. ¡°Not going to solve our problem,¡± Garin explained, to their shocked expressions, ¡°But more information on the enemy can never hurt.¡± [It seems he¡¯s finally gotten a handle on his odd talent. Remarkable. I think I¡¯ve found the solution to your problem. Care to hear?] Erec stretched his arm and looked over at Boldwick and Dame Robin, who was watching them in the distance¡ªwould it be cheating to take advice from VAL? No. VAL was a part of him, and, well, this mission was supposed to include all of their resources to accomplish it. ¡°I¡¯m all ears.¡± [Tell me, do you know what happens if you strike glass with lightning?] Chapter 207: Glass-Shatter Reckless. That¡¯s what this plan was¡ªa beautiful style of reckless that Erec could only be in awe of; the tactic that was so crazy, it might work or get them killed. Still, after going over the plan with VAL and conducting some tests with Colin¡­ He was posed to pull the trigger. All five of them were much farther from the pit than before. After Garin sent the vulture, they¡¯d confirmed what it appeared like from above. There were layers of these crawling monsters down there. They festered below, their mucus-lined bodies squirming against one another. According to the vulture, they were akin to maggots¡ªbut with several hands and arms on each¡ªmalformed limbs. Garin¡¯s connection with the bird gave him a visceral image of them squirming in bulk like they¡¯d infested a wound in the land. It once more reinforced the idea that they couldn¡¯t be that strong. Typically, monsters such as these weren¡¯t a great threat in a singular one-on-one fight. They simply overwhelmed. If ordinary civilians were to fight one, they would likely win. Against five? Ten? That¡¯s how swarms like this presented a danger. In this case, falling down the hole was much more likely to kill a person before they fell prey to the monsters within¡­ Which is what made VAL¡¯s plan so recklessly beautiful. In one simple move, they would eliminate two hazards at the same time. After running the calculations, VAL estimated it to be within acceptable safety perimeters for their ¡®advanced human physique,¡¯ but Erec was still tense. Colin raised a hand and looked towards Erec for confirmation¡ªeven further away were Garin and the two senior Knights. Positioned to be well out of the danger zone. As for himself¡­ Erec couldn¡¯t let Colin be here alone. Not when he was the one asking him to take this risk. The plan was simple. Hit the thick glass on the side of the pit with a blast of lightning powerful enough to send cracks running down the whole thing and break it like a giant maggot-containing vase. Erec looked up at the sky. With the testing, consultation, and talking Colin into this¡­ They¡¯d spent a good hour or two. Plenty of time left. But not a ton to waste since he had no idea how far the second location was from where they currently were or what threats might be located there. Erec inhaled deeply, tensing his body and feeling the adrenaline spike inside him; a shot of pure fiery energy lanced through his heart, which he let stoke. This, more than insults, got his blood boiling. Danger. Thrill. The specter of death. ¡°Go,¡± Erec commanded. Colin turned away, the entirety of his focus on his spell¡ªpurple lines spawned in front of him, the glyphwork of it altered now, with angles and twists in the pattern Erec wasn¡¯t used to seeing; a second layer formed above the first; the linework more narrow on the glyph. And then¡­ A third glyph in front of that, even smaller. Layered together like that of a magnifying lens¡ªeach more compact and nuanced than the one before; sparks flew from the purple lines¡­ He¡¯s using his Soul. Erec realized, feeling another cold shock of adrenaline. During the testing, Colin hadn¡¯t gone this far when using a spell¡ªthere was a charge to the air as the pressure mounted; the hair on the back of Erec¡¯s neck stood up, even though he should be insulated from any change outside of his Armor. He felt a pull toward the glyph work in his chest, being drawn in like a vortex. CRACK. A burst of blinding white light in a pillar shot from Colin¡¯s palm¡ªfor a split second, time slowed as Fury kicked into higher gear, reacting to such a dangerous threat; everything in Erec told him to get away, yet his body couldn¡¯t move fast enough. It was as if twin bolts of lightning erupted from the spell, circling and twisting around one another. Pulled and repelled by the existence of its twin. Unlike what he¡¯d seen before, no branches came from; they were sucked together into a twin dance of death that flashed forward right into the edge of the glass pit. The impact was accompanied by yet another blinding flash of light, followed by yet another loud snapping sound¡­ Then the earth started to move beneath Erec¡¯s feet, collapsing towards the hole as the land beneath flooded in to fill the space. ¡°Run!¡± Erec said¡ªbut it was as he feared. Colin sank to the ground, his whole body trembling after casting a spell like that. He¡¯d overextended since he wasn¡¯t used to wielding this kind of power. Fury sparked in Erec¡ªat his friend''s stupidity, at his refusal to allow this to be the end of them; he let it burn, his eyes turning red as he dashed towards Colin. It would have been easy without Fury to lift him if he weren¡¯t in his Armor. Yet clad in all the steel, Erec had to strain, pulling even further on his Strength to toss Colin on his shoulder. With a yell, he succeeded and began to book it as fast as he could from the collapsing hole. [Odd. The range of effect is larger than the calculations anticipated. Perhaps there was an unknown variable?] ¡°Run!¡± Erec shouted, his voice cracking as he strained to push out the words with as much power as he could muster. The rest of the Knights obeyed¡ªGarin turned tail and fled, the two senior Knights having an easier time retreating backward; yet, they kept checking on him. Erec pushed off the sand with as much as much force as he could muster, but with each step, he found the sand to be more and more difficult¡ªwith all the sand pouring backward, it was almost like trying to flee out of a vortex, with all of the dirt and landscape beneath him dragging him to return to the center.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Colin groaned, and Erec pushed further, his veins burning as he dragged out all he was worth. A few more steps. Each one, he launched himself a good five or so feet. The surface of the ground once more began to feel solid, but he couldn¡¯t be sure of anything. Keep moving. [Re-running calculations to account for the vastly increased displaced volume. Oh¡ªby the way, Buckeroo, I think you¡¯re now safe.] With that, Erec pulled to a stop. And turned. The hole¡ªit was now gone. There was still a pit, but the depth was much smaller in comparison. Still, maybe a travel hazard and certainly not a patch of ground the Pendragon¡¯s cars could traverse, but not one containing the remnants of a rift. [Ah. I think I know what happened. Based on modeling, I believe there to have been a second glass chamber beneath the first¡ªwider, and likely also going for some depth. The displacement and impact must have also shattered the walls of that. Making the size of the danger zone much wider than originally anticipated.] Erec dropped Colin onto the ground, taking a deep puff of air. ¡°Well, there was a reason I was there for backup.¡± [Appropriate. It never hurts to have secondary safety controls in an experiment.] With a slight nod and feeling the effects of Fury begin to fade¡ªErec turned to Boldwick to let him know the mission was complete. CRACK. Dust and dirt plummed outward from the pit; just as Erec whipped around and tried to figure out what was happening, he was hit with a pelting rain of dirt. Training kicked in, and he yanked the battle axe off his back; the hair raised on him once again as his blood rushed. In the smokescreen of dirt, he made out a shifting form of something big¡ªmultiple limbs. VAL, he thought, helpfully began to highlight the shifting mass in the distance. This was not one of those squirming maggot-like creatures. Beneath the pit, it seemed a real monster slumbered. ¡°Good,¡± Erec said, heat rising, ¡°We needed a real challenge¡ªGarin, protect Colin; provide support if you can.¡± What support his friend could muster didn¡¯t matter. This new enemy was his. Garin had given them the information they needed about the creatures below and could provide support. Colin had cracked the glass and ended all of the small-fry. This. Taking down the big bad thing¡ªthat was what Erec lived for and thrived in. Erec flew forward, kicking up dirt, finding it much easier to move now that the ground wasn¡¯t like a loose sea of sand; he closed the distance much faster while the dust settled. Like a bullet, Erec cut through the dust, raised his axe, and struck the first blow against his foe before it even knew what happened, turning the dust screen into an advantage. His axe slammed, and didn¡¯t quite cleave the way it should have. Instead, it bounced, and Erec heard a loud crack. With QAP, he made out the form of a shadow that would strike him; and leaped backward, evading a blow from a mysterious limb as it struck where he¡¯d been. After hitting the ground, there was a blast of light. [Plasma?] Erec stepped back further, and the dust settled, giving him a look at his foe. It was¡­ Well, a ball of hands and arms; in the middle of the was what appeared to be a mass of flesh, densely encased in glass. Strobes of light shot out from the center to each of the many limbs of the transparent surface of these limbs, the light flowing through it like blood through veins; Erec could see the damage he¡¯d done to the limb¡ªthe hand snapped off and broke nearby¡ªbut the limb was plunged into the dirt and sand of the landscape, flashing with light. As the massive glass arm raised out of the dirt, it was adorned with a new glass hand. [Melted the sand in the landscape in order to reform an appendage. Do not get hit by the Plasma¡­ And deal enough damage to counteract its healing factor. Simple plan; you can do this Buckeroo!] ¡°Simple,¡± Erec said, letting out a chuckle¡ªtaking three steps to move out of the way as a massive hand pointed toward him¡ªaccompanied by a flash of light. When he looked at the spot he¡¯d been, there was not a streak of melted glass. Danger. Another hand poised from above¡ªaccompanied by yet another blast of light; three more. Erec¡¯s vision began to fill with beams; VAL processed and transmitted where this thing would be attacking¡ªall he had to do was move. Yet, it was all he could do to get himself out of the way. Once the hands of this monster got into position, they could launch the attack almost immediately. But, after it let out a flash of light, it was several seconds before it could fire again. He dodged and weaved, narrowly missing hits that would do untold damage; the ground beneath him turned to glass, shattering as his Armor hit it while moving, circling the enemy. All the while, Erec pulled further on his Fury, his speed increasing along with Strength¡ªuntil it no longer became a struggle to dodge. Now, I attack. Erec crashed into the enemy, weaving through openings left by the beams and the time it had to spend recharging, crashing his axe into limbs and shattering them off completely. Immediately after taking off a limb, the monster would plunged it into the ground to reforge it, having its weapon back in place within seconds. It mattered not. He continued to hack away, reveling in the sound of cracking glass, dancing with the flashing lights. His axe was a weapon of death and pain, and this monster had asked to taste as much of it as he could muster while he worked up the killing blow. Fury burned brighter, and his movements quickened. The monster held its own: a deadly dance with two participants, both fueled by heat that would scorch others away and leave them as nothing but ashen husks. As the bright beams flashed near Erec, he fed off their heat, letting them stoke his own higher and higher. He felt the flickers of the silver flames and knew that they had reached the fight''s finale. Erec leaped into the air¡ªsoaring past a beam that missed him by inches; and pulled his hands behind his back¡ªhis trusty battle axe wreathed in silver flame as he let it loose from within, building as his height kept increasing. Below, he could see the glass monster, its many hands rapidly moving to point toward him in a pitiful attempt to blast him out of the sky. ¡°Be gone from this world,¡± Erec yelled, lashing out with his axe and unleashing the sea of silver flames from himself. It flashed forward, a silver moon of flaming energy. The beast got off a single blast of light, which was promptly cut in half by his fires. It only took a half-second for the attack to hit the monster, cleaving it in half and splitting the organic matter within it as it slid through like the point of a blade into flesh. There was a horrible scream, followed by a vast crack as its glass membrane shattered; ooze spilled out on the wasteland as Erec fell back to the earth, summoning just enough silver fire before hitting to break his fall. With a plume of dust, he was back on the ground, staring at his conquered foe, along with a strike of understanding. Here. Might did make right; it ceased the existence of yet another monstrous blight upon his world. To be Sir Erec was to be might and to use it to bring righteousness. Chapter 208: Doubt
To this the king: ¡°Fly, mighty warrior! fly; Thy aid we need not, and thy threats defy. There want not chiefs in such a cause to fight, And Jove himself shall guard a monarch¡¯s right. Of all the kings (the god¡¯s distinguish¡¯d care) To power superior none such hatred bear: Strife and debate thy restless soul employ, And wars and horrors are thy savage joy, If thou hast strength, ¡¯twas Heaven that strength bestow¡¯d; For know, vain man! thy valour is from God. - Homer, The Iliad (1st Era, 800)
Erec leaned back; the night sky above dotted above with countless stars, his back pressed against the sleeping mat, the fire not far away. It was an excellent way to relax after a challenging day in the field. The second monster encounter had been a familiar foe¡ªthe same bugs that they¡¯d first run into out in the field during their trial, oh so long ago. Before he was even a Knight. Only this time, Boldwick had forbidden them from using their typical weapons. Erec had to use his hands¡ªColin could only use weapons¡ªand Garin had to fling spells to defeat the enemy. Compared to now, the bugs were easily squashed and proved more a war of attrition than anything else as they cleared out a nest and queen. It was not any kind of meaningful challenge, unlike the first fight. Erec got the impression that Boldwick had thought they¡¯d take longer to solve the first encounter than they had; even worn out from expending so much power to eliminate the unfamiliar threat, they returned to the Kingdom with about two hours to spare before Sundown. To capstone the day, Boldwick had taken them on a jog again¡ªthe miles had worn by beneath their feet, yet they kept going until they¡¯d sweat out just about every drop of water. Only then did Boldwick halt them and make camp. Which led Erec to his current reclined position, staring up at the night sky near their campfire. Erec finally addressed his notifications, willing them to expand so he could take in his gains; he¡¯d wanted to wait until tomorrow to wake up on a good note after such a draining day... But being unable to sleep had changed matters.
Agility: Rank C - Tier 1 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 2 Perception: Rank E - Tier 9 ¡ú Rank D - Tier 2
¡°Less than with Sir Matt,¡± he remarked. It was still considerable... Erec focused and called forth his entire list of Blessings.
Name: Erec of House Audax Health: 100% | Mana: 100% | Stamina: 100% ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Virtues: Strength: [Rank C] | [Tier 9] Vigor: [Rank C] | [Tier 3] Agility: [Rank C] | [Tier 2] Perception: [Rank D] | [Tier 2] Cognition: [Rank E] | [Tier 8] Psyche: [Rank D] | [Tier 3] Mysticism: [Rank F] | [Tier 4] Soul (Aspect: Fire): [Rank C] | [Tier 6] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Divine Talents: Fury
He took in every Virtue with tired eyes¡ªhis highest, of course, was as it had always been. Strength. Right now, it was on the capstone, near the verge of breaking into B tier. They said that the higher a Virtue got, the more difficult it became to surpass these bottlenecks. Reaching the next tier up was very much a leap and bound in the scale of power from the tier below. Yet, up until now, he hadn¡¯t seen that. Even facing down and breaking into the B-Rank, he didn¡¯t worry about the length of time it would take to get to the next stage. All he needed to get there was a single solid fight¡ªone that stretched out Fury and pushed him past that barrier.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. At the current rate, it was inevitable he would be there, and soon. The rest of his Virtues, though... Were catching up. ¡°Balance,¡± Erec said, amounting to the most valuable of those he could gain. Agility. Vigor¡ªto a lesser extent, Perception and Psyche; increasing those would let him more effectively use his power. If Strength and Soul were the basis of his Strength, then the rest of those virtues were the ram-shackle supports that helped hold him together during a fight. ¡°Balance?¡± Garin called out, mumbling as he woke up from his sleep¡ªMuncy also woke up, disturbed and none-too-happy his master was back awake based on the grunting and complaining Erec heard over there. ¡°Who are you talking to?¡± ¡°Uh. Myself,¡± Erec admitted, rubbing at his eyes, not looking over at his best friend. ¡°Goddess, Erec. Really? You should be busy getting some sleep, not acting crazy and talking to yourself in the middle of the night. We need every last drop of it for tomorrow.¡± Boldwick had promised them their most challenging day yet. Escalating to the penultimate test of their growth on the fifth day. Getting rest and nutrition was just as important as pushing yourself in this situation. It was what it was. ¡°Can¡¯t. Blood is too pumped.¡± It was a lie, but he wasn¡¯t sure how to explain what bothered him. Those empty chairs kept turning around in his vision; deep inside, the question of the Knight who was him circled like a crow. Push yourself, gain your might. Erec. But then what? The Knight had said Arthur¡ªGoddess knew who even that was¡ªwould be stronger than him. Why does that even matter? Erec asked once more. Why any of that stuff about his mantle, about his power¡­ Most of all, about the Round Table could have such a deep and lasting impact on him. The things in front of him¡ªthe church, the Kingdom. And the tournament which could spark an unstoppable fire¡ªthat should have been the core of his attention. Not this¡­ Soul nonesense. ¡°Just take a few deep breaths, count them. That always does the trick for me,¡± Garin said, after some silence. ¡°And think of sheep jumping over a fence, right?¡± ¡°Maybe for you, landing another axe swing into a bug, if that¡¯s more peaceful.¡± ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Erec snorted, then sat up. Looking around the fire. Boldwick had left again, letting them get their rest while he went back to the Academy to make yet more preparations. Colin was fast asleep. Out of them all, he was the most exhausted. The first fight drained him completely physically, and the second, since they were facing bugs, took out the entirety of his enthusiasm for the day. Still, his friend had been tapping into his Soul deeply in order to channel magic of that capacity; Erec was sure that level of firepower wasn¡¯t purely from his mastery of Mysticism. For Colin, that particular Virtue must be tied to his overall strength of magic, just like Erec. Soul¡­ It was like pouring fuel on a fire, Erec thought. Deepening the Talent and abilities of its wielder. Yet it manifested just about as uniquely. ¡°What¡¯s it feel like to be like that anyway? I can¡¯t even imagine.¡± ¡°Hot. Like there¡¯s a burning inferno in my chest that goes through my veins. Everything becomes vivid and detailed, and all I can think about is fighting and battle¡­ Except when I feel the silver, then it¡¯s more. I become more¡­ I¡¯m still wrapping my head around what that even means, to be honest. It¡¯s like being me, and another me from somewhere else at the same time.¡± Erec laid his head back down and looked back up at the stars. ¡°That¡¯s how your Soul manifests, isn¡¯t it? The cut-off between the Talent and the Soul.¡± ¡°Mhmm. If I had to guess, yes. It¡¯s like going past the inferno into a deeper heat. Both are me, yet the silver is like a more condensed version.¡± ¡°So the real you is constantly angry?¡± ¡°No. Actually¡­ There is a lot to be happy about. I have you guys, I met Enide; we have Boldwick and our wonderful Kingdom. I think those things, the desire to see them safe, it¡¯s what lets me dive so deep into the inferno and use that power. I must be strong, or else everything I love will be threatened.¡± Exactly how Bedwyr felt. If Erec had to guess. Comparing himself to his brother, now, he could see that the similarities just went on and on. Not long ago, he would¡¯ve hated that conjecture. Now, it was almost a relief. ¡°That is the source of your Strength? Huh. You know, I wouldn¡¯t have thought it, with the way you fight. Like you have nothing to lose.¡± Garin said. ¡°Might is an odd thing. I¡¯m just starting to understand what any of it means, I suppose we could go years before I find it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m still trying to find mine. Did you know Munchy can talk¡ªI¡¯m starting to hear his voice. Now that I know how to listen¡­ I think he¡¯s growing too¡­ I don¡¯t know what to make of it. Or what my Soul is doing¡ªit broke into the next Tier, now. But what does that even mean? I¡¯m not seeing a massive boost in Strength. I¡¯m not any quicker. My spells aren¡¯t more focused.¡± Garin¡¯s voice was becoming more strained, ¡°I¡¯m exhausted Erec. I can barely even keep up with the two of you. I didn¡¯t have anything at all to do with fighting that monster¡ªand the bugs were mostly swept aside by you.¡± ¡°You scouted out the hole. Neither me nor Colin could do that.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t notice that beneath the pit was an even worse monster, which could have gotten us all killed in the field.¡± ¡°Use a mole too, next time,¡± Erec shrugged, ¡°Your Talent is strong, Garin. I¡¯ve always told you as much¡ªyou just need to be creative with it.¡± ¡°And if I was alone¡ªwhat then? How do I take down a monster like that.¡± ¡°You would¡¯ve ran, if you were alone.¡± It wasn¡¯t an insult. No. Garin was trying to view himself in the same lens as his friends¡ªbut that wasn¡¯t his Strength. Gaining power for a guy like Garin meant he needed more awareness. If Erec had an ability like that¡ªthe idea of being a general, a leader that changed the tide of war instead of that of a battle¡­ The potential for a talent like that was an untold kind that Might alone could not accomplish. ¡°You think too much of me. I appreciate you trying to hype me up, but I don¡¯t know, man.¡± ¡°Shut up. Garin, I promise you, what you have is something many would die for. Just find confidence in it. Trust yourself and trust the people around you, and everything else will fall into place. Now, get back to sleep. We¡¯ll need rest tomorrow.¡± Erec closed his eyes. Two more days, then normal life again. Except, this had already changed him. Already left him too many questions¡ªit had changed both of his friends too. How much, then, could the next two days change them further? ¡°Only if you promise to sleep, too.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± ¡°Swear it.¡± ¡°I swear. I¡¯ll count my breaths and picture killing bugs til I drift off, promise.¡± Erec vowed and settled down, letting the air of the night in. Rest was important, and somehow, reassuring his friend of his place in the world made Erec find it just a bit easier to reconnect with reality. Soon, he was asleep. Chapter 209: What It Means To Keep Going Endurance. The theme of the next day was endurance. When Boldwick awoke them, he greeted them with the cheerful morning hello of a cup of coffee and the good word of Endurance. Which, of course, made no sense at all to the three-bleary-set-of-eyes of the already exhausted initiates. Other than that, Boldwick was being nice. Suspiciously nice. He brought a mysterious green rug sack with him and pulled out two bottles of water for everyone¡ª he demanded they get their full contents down. Boldwick leaned in towards their dying fire, poking the embers and kicking up ash as he sipped from his steel canteen. After his sip, he had too-happy of a grin on. In the light of the early dawn, Erec thought he looked a little too close to a demon. ¡°Right? Everyone done with their water?¡± Boldwick announced, taking a deep swig of his coffee. ¡°No,¡± Colin replied. ¡°Then drink the rest of it now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already full. One bottle was enough.¡± ¡°Drink it.¡± Colin downed the rest of his leftover bottle, to which Boldwick gave one bark of a laugh then stood. ¡°Right. Endurance. What does endurance mean, young ones?¡± ¡°Vigor,¡± Erec replied, the most obvious answer. Of all the Virtues, it was the ability of your body to both sustain damage and to keep going longer than normal. Stamina, in the world before. But now quantified and taken to a nearly extreme level¡ªto him, it meant the ability for his body to keep up with his overwhelming Strength and contend with the power of any foe who shared a similar power. Boldwick simply shook his head and grinned wider. ¡°Next.¡± ¡°The ability to cast magic without tire.¡± Colin tried. ¡°Next.¡± Garin scratched his head¡­ ¡°To keep going?¡± ¡°Closest. By the end of today, I expect you all to have an appreciation for what that word means. Now¡ªhere.¡± Boldwick walked over to his bag and pulled out more backpacks. At least, at first glance, that is what they appeared to be. On a second take, Erec realized they were more like vests¡ªBoldwick let out an ¡®oof¡¯ and threw one towards Erec¡ªwhich he tried to catch, only to be knocked flat on his ass as the sudden weight hit him and threw off his sense of balance. It was heavy. So heavy. [Weight training?] ¡°Put that on,¡± Boldwick commanded¡ªthen fished out two more, tossing one to Colin and one to Garin. Based on their reactions, they also had a load of weight attached to them, though, Erec thought, not quite as much as his own. Struggling, Erec put the best on, having to secure several straps to get the loose weight conformed around his body and as comfortable as possible. Standing wasn¡¯t the most comfortable thing; he could feel the tension in his muscles, but it was possible; already, a small sweat was breaking out on his chest as he moved back into position to face Boldwick. ¡°Today, we¡¯re going on a run again. This one, though, isn¡¯t about distance. We¡¯re going to run laps around the steel curtain. And you¡¯re going to run until I say we stop. You won¡¯t be taking a break until I say we are. And those breaks will end exactly when I say they do.¡± Boldwick said. ¡°Run? With this?¡± Colin asked, tugging at his own vest and wearing a mask of shock and confusion. ¡°Endurance. You will persist until you cannot, until your body breaks down and fails you. On a battlefield, you must keep going until the end. Whether that be the end of the fight or the end of your life. You¡¯ll have no choice but to keep dragging yourself forward. Today, we¡¯re going to all experience what that feels like. If you want to complete today, you will dig deep.¡± ¡°And if we fail?¡± Colin asked. ¡°Good point. I¡¯d love to say, ¡®You will not see the growth you¡¯re looking for,¡¯ but I¡¯ll be realistic. Today will test your limits. All of you will want to quit. To dig deep, to really dive deep down into the depths of motivation and find the will to pull through, the endurance to keep going, there must be the threat of a loss. So, if you fail, you will not be training with us tomorrow. After tomorrow, should you make it, there will be a reward. One which I promise you all want. After that, and listen closely, if you fail this, I will personally deny you the right to compete in the tournament.¡± There was a shocked silence at that. ¡°We didn¡¯t agree to¡ª¡° Garin tried to contest. ¡°I hear a lot of talking. This is the way things are, and this is the training we¡¯re doing. Do not question it. I suggest you quiet down and focus on yourself. Believe me. You¡¯ll need to look deep inside yourself if you have any hope of finishing this challenge.¡± With that, Boldwick clapped his hands and then turned toward the horizon. ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to keep pace with me. But you must keep jogging. You must always go forward. Stumbling, falling, whatever¡ªas long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward, then you are still alive and in this.¡± With that, he took off at a very slow pace compared to the previous runs. Erec looked at his friends, rolled his shoulders, and took off after the Master Knight. The rest fell in line shortly after. Boldwick led them rapidly out of the city¡ªright to the steel wall once more. His pace was at a relaxed rate, slowing to meet the three of them where they were at. And damn, did he need to slow. With the weight of the vests on him, Erec struggled to put one step in front of the other. After ten minutes, his breath was labored, after thirty minutes, his legs ached¡­ After an hour, enough sweat coated his body to make him wonder if he was going to die. The sun took its place high in the sky¡ªdrying out the liquid on his skin at just the right rate to keep him going. Next to them, the steel wall they ran laps around, both a welcome friend and enemy at times. A friend when it let them have easy access to wind, Eeemy when it blocked off any fresh air from giving them a reprieve. Another hour later, Erec was sure he was going to collapse at any moment.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Sweat coated every little bit of him; his lungs ached, and every so often, as he ran, he felt like the world was slipping away from him, disappearing from consciousness. Behind, when he could summon the energy to look, he could see Colin barely stumbling forward. Garin had fallen twice. Both times, Boldwick didn¡¯t even stop¡ªit was on his best friend to give his best effort to catch up with them. Still, both times, Garin managed to catch back up, his face red. We might die. The thought circled in Erec¡¯s brain as they kept going two hours in, and not a single break. Two hours in, and his legs felt like jelly. The third hour in, his thoughts changed. We will die. Inevitably, at this rate, the frequency at which they fell kept increasing. After the fourth hour, Erec had his own first fall¡ªhis weak legs trying to push forward and finding the wrong spot in the sand, sending him tumbling over as his calf muscles gave out. [This is absurd.] VAL buzzed. ¡°Back up,¡± Colin huffed as he jogged past Erec. ¡°Keep it going, Tin Can.¡± Garin was next¡ªgiving Erec a look of sympathy and his own grimace as he pushed his muscles well past what they should have been capable of. Erec shoved both hands under him; the sand warm, his body exhausted, his mind blank, then he pushed himself back up again. There was too much at stake. He¡¯d asked for this and wouldn¡¯t abide by letting himself not even compete in the tournament, let alone fail in front of Boldwick. No. He had to keep going. Thirty minutes later, when he fell again, that resolve was tested. Yet, he got back to his feet. Fifteen minutes after that, by the grace of the Goddess, Boldwick had them pause and drink more water; he wasn¡¯t sure how long he sat there, upon the sand, with water pressed to his lips¡ªno one talked. They all focused on making use of every precious second of recovery they had before it began again. [You are already dehydrated.] VAL reported. ¡°I¡¯ll drink more water, then,¡± Erec shot back and did just that with another sip. [For what? In another two hours of this, you¡¯ll be back to dehydration. Not to mention the number of calories spent. Tell Boldwick to cancel this training¡ªI can tell you¡¯re better off then your friends. Can¡¯t fathom how they are even still moving. Regardless of him giving them less weight.] Erec set down his water for the first time, trying to take in both Colin and Garin. Colin was pale, his jaw set, and his eyes resting on Boldwick as if challenging the Master Knight to a fight. In his eyes, Erec saw common fuel for himself. Out of spite and hate, Colin had found his way to keep going this far, but this was only the first break. There would be more running. The Goddess knew how much running. The sun was still bright in the sky¡ªnot that its going down was a guarantee that they were done. Garin, on the other hand, almost looked non-responsive. He was already a walking corpse, staring deeply at his water, Munchy chattering in his ear. The big squirrel stopped and pressed his head to Garins, nudging his best friend again and again, trying to get a pet. But Garin only stared at the water, drinking more every handful of seconds. Lastly, he turned to Boldwick. The Master Knight looked impassive, not a single bead of sweat on him. He wasn¡¯t running with weights. And this pace wasn¡¯t challenging in the least. There was no compassion there, no worry. Only the stern eyes of a judge as he took in their conditions, as the seconds filtered by before he ordered his exhausted soldiers to get back up and begin the march again. ¡°What can we do?¡± Erec asked. [Give up. By Dan, this sort of labor isn¡¯t worth it. While the desired statement is understandable, I highly doubt this is the best methodology. There is such a thing as over-training, Buckeroo. You have time to grow and shouldn¡¯t be subjected to this.] He shook his head. Not an option, no matter what VAL thought. His friends were still going, so how could he be the first among them to give up? Two minutes later, Boldwick gave an order, they finished their water, and they returned to the running. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª Thing very quickly became¡­ Hard to track. Time stretched and lost meaning beyond the brief periods of respite that Boldwick allowed them to drink more water; Erec could¡¯ve sworn there were pockets of it in which it stood still, and no time passed at all. Sometimes, he fell. When he did, Colin and Garin ran by, always offering their own comments, telling him to keep going. When they fell, he did the same, pushing them forward. They ran around, the only constants to this was the feeling and smell of sweat¡ªthe huffing of all three of them carrying onward with their charges. And the pain. The pain never went away; at times it came with the sparks of Fury. When he first tapped into it, Boldwick stopped them and offered him a choice. He could use it, could fall into the depths of Fury and find Strength in it, if he needed. But Boldwick would add more weight to compensate for his boosted Strength. How much weight, Boldwick wouldn¡¯t say, but Erec got the impression it wouldn¡¯t improve his situation. Fury was not the key to endurance; it didn¡¯t matter one way or the other, and this challenge didn¡¯t burn him up and make it impossible not to use it¡­ So Erec would let the sparks die whenever they appeared from the pain, not needing them to catch. Not that it mattered. As he ran, as the steel curtain accompanied them with every single mile, he fell into his own kind of peculiar trance. A state of being of pure exhaustion and pain that reminded him very dearly of Fury. Whenever he fell, he broke out of it and was forced to consider each time: why. Was there a point to this suffering? He saw the blinking dot in the corner of his vision, sure, but that was a consolation prize. He knew that, eventually, his Virtues would grow. They didn¡¯t need this form of torture to keep expanding. Yet, each time, he saw his friends run by, saw their backs as they got further and further away, and found it in him to crawl back to his feet, tears and blood ignored as he returned to the jog. Hours passed. The sun went from rising in the sky to sinking beneath the steel curtain. With the coming of night, he thought they would be done. His skin felt cool and slick with sweat as his brain buzzed, and his stomach felt empty like it had never felt before¡ªsurely now, now that the sun was gone, they could rest and call it a day for training. No. They didn¡¯t. The moon rose, clearing the steel curtain beside them, and the four kept running. Did I die? Is this hell? That was the thought in his head, watching his friends suffer beside him, feeling the aching pain in both his lungs as he ran. The breaks only included water, yet a full day without food like this¡­ Erec didn¡¯t understand how Garin could keep himself from just biting that fat squirrel on his shoulder. Well, maybe just tossing them onto a stick and making a quick flash fire with one of Colin¡¯s spells. One time, he vaguely recalled, Colin asked about food. Boldwick said there was no point, since they¡¯d just vomit it out anyway, then, after that, they had been back to running again. By the time the moon reached its full height in the sky, Erec forgot all else. Who he was. Where they were. What the point of even living was. All that mattered was that his friends were going forward. They didn¡¯t give in, and neither would he. The air began to thicken with mist; in it, Erec began to see the faces of the people in his life. Enide¡ªBedwyr¡ªhis father¡­ Even his mother. They stood, silent figures of water, watching him go on, and on, and on¡­ Expressions blank as he ran by, kept moving. What did they think if they really existed? The mist stretched into an endless maze¡ªBoldwick disappeared ahead; gone¡ªthe world began to spin and swirl around him, a blended mixture of reality that unraveled and split. VAL buzzed, but the words didn¡¯t track. Beneath him, the dirt became mud; slick¡­ His feet sank into it. Next to him, he saw his friends still going, slowing. Lost, now, all of them. The mud below became deeper, and deeper, his legs harder to move. Then, Boldwick appeared, his teacher had a sad smile on his face¡ªhe spoke to, his words not reaching Erec nor the rest of them¡ªthen he pressed a hand to Erec¡¯s head¡­ The last thing he knew was blackness. Chapter 210: Follow The Fire
It¡¯s odd, to think about that fact that these natural ecosystems around us used to teem with life. The earth looked far different back then, and both reports and historical evidence show the destruction which occurred following the silver fire. The thing is, with the introduction of magic, and the appearance of rifts, we¡¯d expect for there to be far more of a rearrange then we¡¯ve seen in the local environment. The fact things are still so bleak, and the destruction is just now starting to show signs of reversal speaks to a sort of contamination that the destructive fires brought. When they say that the goddess scorched the earth, really, they aren¡¯t even getting close to how much lasting damage she managed to achieve. The question is then, why some places have been able to see a return to natural life quicker then here? - Dame Starlest, Local Environmental Report (3rd Era, 289)
It¡¯s a funny thing, collapsing from exhaustion. No matter how many times it happened, it never got any better. You woke up with a pounding headache and a sense of disorientation. Erec was familiar enough with the morning after an exhaustion collapse to guess what happened. The sensation of keeling over after pushing himself too hard wasn¡¯t a new one to him. Though the mist and the odd hallucinations before it had been. Now though, he wasn¡¯t still outside, rotting away to the sun. Truly, some part of him expected he might have been. That could have been part of the challenge¡ªwaking up, utterly spent, and having to deal with the fifth day. But no, he was in a cozy bed. One with a plush pillow; no IV. And he wasn¡¯t alone either, Garin and Colin were there as well. Both of them still knocked out. How much of that run had even been real? And endless pacing through the sun? ¡°Awake, then,¡± Boldwick shook his head. The Master Knight looked tired in his chair; an open glass of whiskey next to him as he stared at Erec. ¡°Well done kid. You all made it through the last day¡­ Rest, you see, is just as important as training. Especially when you push yourself all the way to the brink like you lot did yesterday.¡± ¡°¡­Huh?¡± Erec asked, still gaining his bearings. [You¡¯ve been out for sixteen hours. There¡¯s been monitoring and nutrients added to your blood to revitalize you¡ªBuckeroo, I will not approve this training method in the future. Bad enough you must fight to the death again and again. Next time, we will go to a gym, check what is an appropriate amount of weight, then make a plan with plenty of protein. No more of this.] ¡°I¡¯m sorry for pushing you as hard as I did. You¡¯ve all gone so far, and I am beyond proud of your resolve, but this is your last lesson. Make time for your friends, make time for your rest. Do you think that any of you were in any state to deal with a threat at the end of that? I told you, ¡®stop me if you can,¡¯ and yet you stared at me with blank eyes.¡± Boldwick shook his head and then sighed. ¡°All this training, all of this extra effort is meaningless if you are only in survival mode; to consolidate Strength and really gain milestones, you must balance periods of intense strain with rest. These next two weeks¡ªI expect you to attend your Academic classes, but push no further outside of it. Only after you¡¯ve recovered should you make a measured amount of time for extra training.¡± With that, Boldwick leaned back, having said his peace and finished his lecture; he looked at the other two, still fast asleep in their beds. Despite the words, Erec felt a thrum of pride at what he and his friends accomplished. The progress they¡¯d made in such little time¡ªnow, more than ever, he understood. Having people by your side who kept pushing themselves just the same¡­ With all of you racing toward a goal, it gave you a type of Strength that not even Fury could replicate. A collective willpower that forged together made bonds stronger than that of the most durable steel or titanium. ¡°What do I do then, if not train? Things are not going well in this Kingdom.¡± ¡°Learn what you can, at the pace I and Dame Robin provide¡ªSince I¡¯ve seen, now, and over the past months how close you three have become, it appears that I now have two more additional students to take under my wing. I¡¯ll be the one who tells you when to jump. When to train. You and your friends, however, I will charge with the responsibility to find events and activities to keep yourself occupied and not risk your future through exhaustion from overtraining.¡± ¡°Events? Activities?¡± ¡°Erec, what month is it?¡± Erec scratched his head¡ªit was obvious, of course. ¡°October sir.¡± ¡°What comes at the end of October?¡± A festival. Sure. There was that. Boldwick saw that Erec understood what he meant in regards to the festival, then shook his head. ¡°Then after that?¡± ¡°November,¡± Erec stated simply. ¡°In which is the grand feast¡ªthen the month after that,¡± Boldwick rolled his eyes and shook his head. ¡°Yule, in December,¡± Erec still didn¡¯t get the point. It wasn¡¯t like he hadn¡¯t celebrated these holidays before. Everyone did. This time of year was chock-full of traditions and events¡ªthe Academy also facilitated some, not that he¡¯d looked into it. Simply put, the perspective of the upcoming conflict made these things have almost no impact. He didn¡¯t care. ¡°Those are the festivities and personal events that you and your friends should focus on. The tournament will be in late January¡ªyou will have plenty of time between now and then for training and to enjoy your life. If all you focus on is the next conflict, the next fight, then you miss out on the point of what it is to live; at that rate, you will be no better than the monsters we slay.¡± Boldwick rolled his shoulders and stared at the other beds for a long time. [¡­We would call this a forced sabbatical. Too much work and you burn out; of course, the training manuals only really cover this kind of leisure and mental health nearness for executives and senior researchers. Expectations include turnover at lower job scales. Like I¡¯ve been saying all along, take a rest.] ¡°Tell me when those two are up. I¡¯ve got early presents for the lot of you¡ªI won¡¯t be far, and Dame Robin is the room over; let her know once you¡¯re good to go.¡± Boldwick gave him a long searching look and then turned and left; Erec sat in his bed for a long while, staring at the blank ceiling above him. A tan-like color that reminded him of the sand; while he¡¯d never been here, he began to suspect Boldwick brought them back to the Academy. Most of the initiates would be gone¡ªlet alone using one of the recovery rooms. Most people, unlike him and his friends, wouldn¡¯t have taken this break to push themselves to a point where they shattered. They likely saw this as a welcome reprieve in their training. Erec did his best to ignore the blinking notification in the corner of his vision. Until he couldn¡¯t. With the soft snores of his friends nearby, he pulled the trigger and willed the information to appear.
Strength: Rank C - Tier 9 ¡ú Rank B - Tier 1 Vigor: Rank C - Tier 3 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 5 Agility: Rank C - Tier 2 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 3 Psyche: Rank D - Tier 3 ¡ú Rank D - Tier 4
The numbers floated there. Proof of his training. All of his Virtues had seen massive gains over the past five days¡ªhis Strength, in particular, had broken into a whole new Rank; hauling all that weight for so long had been the last little hurdle he needed to cross so he could see that particular achievement. ¡­As he considered his gains, he realized Boldwick had a point. How many Initiates over the entire course of the Academy achieved a Virtue in the B rank halfway through their first year? How many of them even had a Rank like that into their second year or as a Knight Errant? That was ignoring the rest of his Virtues, which were all boosted to an absurd degree as a byproduct of the constant challenges and growth brought about by Fury. Frankly, his growth had been nothing short of meteoritic, yet despite that; he never felt like he¡¯d done enough¡ªtackling the never-ending challenges of this dangerous world required Might and Strength untold, and even now, Erec felt afraid of the monster he knew lurked in the dark; how might he face them alone if he did not have the entirety of the Strength to do so? I¡¯m not alone. Erec looked at his friends, sleeping, and thought of the empty spots at the round table.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. He didn¡¯t need to be alone. Not anymore. But¡­ They couldn¡¯t keep pushing at this pace; his friends and even he would fall apart. For now we will walk, then when the time is right, run together again. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª It wasn¡¯t until the day after that the three of them felt well enough to crawl out of their beds and go see Boldwick for a review of their training. As Erec suspected, they¡¯d been taken back to the Academy for rest; that made it easy to get from their current location in the depths of the Academy proper back to the Verdant Oak building and to Boldwick¡¯s office. After exiting the central fortress that made up the Academy, they saw that most of the Initiates had returned. People talked excitedly, drifting about as they got in their groups and discussed the return of school¡­ Like Boldwick said, though he wasn¡¯t trying to eavesdrop, Erec made out the main focus of the conversations¡ªthe tournament and, to a lesser extent, the upcoming Hollows Eve festivities that the Academy put on. When he was a kid, Erec remembered the tradition. At least, when his mother was still around, he and Bedwyr would dress up, and go from house to house, asking for candy. Adding to that was the annual pumpkin explosion and the cave-maze that they were always taken to. Growing up, though, after his mother disappeared, those traditions began to filter off and die away. No longer as important in the grand scheme of things. Bedwyr, though, always made it a habit to bring home a bag of candies for Erec, even if they stopped going to the maze or seeing a pumpkin burst. Still, eating chewy taffy with his brother long after their tired father went to bed had meant a lot to him. ¡°What are your guy¡¯s plans for Hollows Eve?¡± Erec asked as the three of them followed Dame Robin across the campus on a whim. Colin looked at him and blinked. ¡°Who cares about that?¡± ¡°Whoa, hold on there,¡± Garin said, looking between the two, ¡°With everything that has happened¡ªI almost forgot about it. We have to do something; maybe we see the Pumpkin drop¡ªor go to a bar down in the caverns? You know, celebrate the way we should be. I was meaning to bring this up.¡± Dame Robin chuckled ahead of them as she led. Maybe it was just Erec, but all of them seemed more aware of the things around them than they had before. Is this how his Soul works? ¡°Sure.¡± Erec agreed, taking Boldwick¡¯s words to heart. This last round of training had brought about insane growth, as promised, but he would abide by the Master Knight¡¯s words. They could grow quickly. But only so quick. ¡°Truly? We¡¯re going to celebrate a nothing holiday¡­ Why?¡± Colin asked, ¡°Especially now, when we must prepare for the tournament? I will shatter that brat of a prince and make him eat his words to me; there is little time to waste with trivialities.¡± ¡°You heard Dame Robin,¡± Erec warned. She had given them the same speech Boldwick gave him once the other two woke up. Though coming from her, the warning was more delicate than the Master Knights had been. The point was clear, as was the fact he¡¯d allotted a whole day to recovery in the regime. Even if Erec was having his own problems grappling with that part of the lesson, he would try his best to make Colin see the logic, too. ¡°I did, yet I¡¯m surprised to see you agree. We must gain Strength.¡± ¡°Does it look like everyone else is busting their asses to the point where they collapse from exhaustion¡ªlisten, before this week, I¡¯ll admit. I was scared to explore my powers¡ªnow, though, I see potential, and I¡¯ll try. I get what Erec was driving at, but at the same time, they have a great point. You need balance in your life. You can¡¯t go too far either way.¡± Garin cut in and then turned his attention solely to Colin. ¡°What that means is that you will go your betrothed and invite her out with us. If we¡¯re lucky, Enide should be back by then, too. Triple Hallows Eve date.¡± Colin tried to make several arguments, but each fell short and failed to sway Garin. The plan had been set by the time they reached the Verdant Oak building. As much as it could be, given that the Pendragons were outside running errands for the Kingdom and goddess knew if Enide would be there to celebrate. [It¡¯s too bad you don¡¯t have cell phones nowadays. I bet it would make planning things with your significant other much easier, huh? Hmm. You know, I wonder if we could lay the foundations to resurrect that particular communication technology¡­ Of course, after your mandatory sabbatical.] Erec sighed and then lapsed into silence. The sight of the Verdant Oak building was a welcome relief after all the training. Compared to the time spent roaming and running through the wasteland outside the city, the lush and vibrant greens nestled in the interior made Erec once more feel at home. A certain calming sense came from being surrounded by life¡ªa sense of belonging and peace at one''s small place in the world that put things in perspective and let him breathe easily. Now, as they came into fall and the cold was coming, a lot of the plants were undergoing a shift. Switching to either multi-colored leaves, or for the interior plants, some of them shedding theirs as they braced to go dormant for the winter. A couple of the caverns below were built to reflect this kind of natural light cycle; for others, it wasn¡¯t necessary. But it did mean change was thick in the air, both with the season and what was soon to come for the Kingdom. It didn¡¯t take long to arrive at Boldwick¡¯s office, where Dame Robin bid them goodbye and left them to debrief with the Master Knight¡ªthe three of them stood outside the door, eager to go in and talk to him but filled with a sense of levity and respect that it meant. Bursting the bubble, Erec took charge and led in. Boldwick was reclined in his chair¡ªit was as his office always felt lately. Put together and complete, organized with notes tucked away and buttoned up to look professional. A natural state lately, but there had been a time when it fell apart. Now, though, it seemed the Master Knight had everything together. A feeling that gave Erec a small sense of relief, given all that had been happening. Aside from the usual decor, there were three wrapped packages¡ªloosely covered with brown parchment paper and then tied with twine. The biggest was beside his desk¡ªalmost the same size as it. Next to it leaned another package¡ªclearly wrapped many times, which obscured its shape to the naked eye. Lastly, there was a small parcel shaped like a rectangle on his desk. ¡°Welcome.¡± Boldwick settled back, his eyes scanning them. ¡°Let¡¯s keep it short and sweet; I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already had enough of learning for the month with our training. I promised you a reward for completing what I¡¯ve put you through, and I¡¯m a man of my word. As much as the training and the gains from it are rewards themselves, we must always take notice of special effort in our Knights and divvy out rewards appropriately. The Yule celebrations have come early. Before that, though, I have to say, I am proud of each and every one of you. The three standing before me are assuredly different. If you maintain course, I am sure that we will see incredible Knights out of all of you.¡± All of them gave him nods¡ªand he invited them closer, to the desk. The first one to receive their reward was Colin. It was unceremoniously delivered as Boldwick took the small parcel wrapped in paper on the book and tossed it at him. The noble hesitated. ¡°Open it. We¡¯ll do this in order of smallest to biggest.¡± Boldwick prompted. Like that, Colin unwrapped the thing. Inside was a leather-bound book, the sides of the pages inky. As he opened it, Erec made out the front page: ¡®Property of Sommers Able.¡¯ Colin scowled and tried to push the book back onto Boldwick¡¯s desk, only for the Master Knight to reject it. ¡°Take it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m taking nothing else from that foul-mouthed old man.¡± ¡°There are few with as inventive of a slant in their use of Mysticism in the Kingdom. Save for perhaps Dame Morgana. But if I had to guess, his unique approach to tackling magic and the way he makes his glyph formations will be far more useful to you than anything that woman can teach. You¡¯ll find that this old research tome of his goes into great depth as he wrote it he mastered his craft. Use it. You don¡¯t have to like him to steal his research and make it your own,¡± Boldwick waved away the complaints. The suggestion of stealing his secrets made Collin shut up, but Erec noticed that his hold over the arcane book turned a lot greedier. Next, Boldwick nodded at Erec to come over. At his approach, he shoved the large package¡ªthough not as large as the big box¡ªto Erec. With confusion, Erec began to tear away the thick parchment paper. Shedding through it as fast as he could to get the attention off him again. What was left behind, was an axe. A beautiful axe, not like the black war axe he¡¯d been using for ages, which, while a handy weapon, had already seen the results of too much conflict. This was an almost silver-like damascus, making fire-like waves on the blade. Yet it wasn¡¯t Damascus; the color was too light for that. This was a type of metal unfamiliar to him. Yet the shape wasn¡¯t. No, this had been crafted in a similar style to the wicked-crescent-shaped axe that came with the silver fire. Though it lacked the etchings of a stag and a woman on the side¡­ Moreover, when Erec touched it, a small shudder ran through him. The weapon felt more than just a weapon; it felt like a missing limb. ¡°Whoa.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find this one is responsive to magic¡ªThough Dame Morgana assured me that the properties that let it channel mana are similar to that of the soul if you give this weapon enough care. Given what happens with Fury, a weapon like this is far more suitable to you than what you¡¯ve been using.¡± Boldwick answered. ¡°Responsive to magic?¡± Colin asked. His eyes lit up to a golden sheen, and then he let out a soft, ¡®Ah,¡¯ ¡°¡­Care to explain for the rest of us?¡± Garin nudged him. ¡°It¡¯s a magically conductive metal and inside of the layers of metal and glyphs to further enhance those properties. I¡¯ve seen stuff like this in the King¡¯s palace¡ªor used by some heads of noble households. And of course, more advanced Knights. A weapon like that costs a fortune. How fortunate, indeed, to receive a specially made weapon while I receive the old forgotten notebook of a bitter old man.¡± ¡°I can return the notebook to Sir Able,¡± Boldwick offered. ¡°No, this is fine. I just wanted tin can to appreciate just what you were handing him.¡± Erec turned the weapon over in his hands; it felt light. Far lighter than his old axe, to the point where he was wondering how it would hold up in battle. But given that Boldwick had handed it to him of all people, he must be confident in its durability. With reverence¡­ Erec held the axe and dipped his head; ¡°I swear to do good with this weapon.¡± ¡°Mhmm. Try not to go too wild with it from the start. Weapons like these take a little time to adapt to the user over time; let it get used to you slowly before going all out.¡± Boldwick then turned to Garin, raised an eyebrow, and gestured towards the largest package in the room. ¡°Well,¡± Garin said, walking over¡ªable to take a few steps around the package; Munchy moved around on his shoulder, chattering and anxious as they approached the gift. ¡°My little guy doesn¡¯t like it much, to be honest.¡± ¡°Jealousy is to be expected. Go ahead. Open it.¡± Garin did just that after giving him a weird look; as the bits of packaging paper flew aside, they were treated to the view of an animal crate. Within which was a curled-up¡­ Dog? No, it was not a dog. Its ears were far too pointed. It was leaner and more wild-looking than any mutt Erec had seen, legs longer too, in proportion to the rest of its body. This one had deep golden eyes and a grey strip running down its back. Munchy was flipping out at the sight of it. Coyote. They were said to live in these lands rarely if one encountered them. It used to be their natural habitat until the Goddess took away most of what made natural natural with her silver fires. Right now, the coyote was staring deep into Garin¡¯s eyes, its ears alert and head cocked to one side. ¡°It¡¯s about time you added another companion, don¡¯t you think?¡± Boldwick said. Chapter 211: Brotherhood II Bedwyr stared at the sky above; sweat ran down his brow, his shirt long thrown into the dust. In the distance, he could see the lights of the Kingdom. Lights to keep the streets alive, even in the depths of the night; though there was the sun cycle on the surface, the people had long adapted to working in three separate shifts. The tradition still continued, even up here. ¡°Not enough.¡± He said quietly¡ªa boulder was nearby, along with several others¡ªhis only decoration in this wasteland; training of this sort didn¡¯t tend to do well when inside the Academy. Too much attention. Some of his class had ideas on what being a Knight meant; their ideas weren¡¯t his. As they filtered out, they found their niches and applications, and this raw Strength training was often abandoned in favor of more specialized or more practical training geared to help their marks in class. Unless, of course, they were going for power. To him, though, with his Talent¡­ This kind of training was often the most simple way to advance everything. Want to get stronger? Lift heavier things. Over and over and over again, he kept lifting heavier and heavier things. Tedious, sure. But every time he gained an increase in his Virtue¡­ All of his virtues advanced. ¡°Another set, then,¡± his muscles burned with pain, but the tournament was coming up. In it, he would face several strong Knights, and that was from the people in the academy alone. Who knew what was outside of their walls? It was hotly debated in the second year who the strongest among them was. His name often came up in the rankings, but regarding raw singular Virtues, at least a few other Initiates exceeded him. Including, he suspected, his brother. Focusing on a specific area, complemented with a Talent that might lead to better growth, could do that. Still, he knew when it came to a straight fight¡­ He would likely win. It wasn¡¯t a sure thing, but none among his peers had found a way to compete in an even fight against him. ¡°Only because I work like this,¡± Bedwyr sighed, massaging his arms. The pain was a dull constant ache. In the last couple of weeks, he¡¯d had to go to a healer since he¡¯d overdone it and torn muscles; still, he¡¯d seen two increases in his tier. For him, that kind of growth was unprecedented since hitting the C-Rank. At this rate, if he kept pushing, he would reach the B-rank in time for the tournament. Passing that bottleneck, though, was admittedly quite intimidating. No, Bedwyr wasn¡¯t training because he wanted to stand at the top of his class. When he lifted that boulder, when his muscles spasmed and tore apart, when that pain flashed hot and hurt him more than any fight had, the only picture in his mind was his brother. He¡¯d heard the stories. Sought them out. The Knights who¡¯d seen him fight, the Pendragons who talked about their time on the road with the ¡®crazy kid.¡¯ All of that pain, all of the suffering his brother went through. If Bedwyr were stronger, then he could share that burden. He should be protecting his younger brother, but to date, he had failed that job; he was stronger, sure. But Erec was right. The day was quickly approaching that his brother would surpass him... and probably, more likely than not, find himself in even deeper and deeper danger as he kept going down this blood-soaked path. ¡°Stronger.¡± Bedwyr rolled his shoulders and walked over to the massive boulder. With a grimace and a scream of his muscles, he lifted it above his head. Then, as sweat beaded his brow, he slowly bent at the knees¡­ Then he stood back up and put it back down again. Thrice, five times¡ªeight¡ªfifteen. He kept going, the pain only increasing as his tendons wanted to give in and give up, yet Bedwyr persisted, his eyes on the moon above as he shouldered the massive boulder, squatted, and then put it back down to lift again. The pain was temporary. Necessary. If he was to compete in the tournament, he must show Erec¡ªmust show his brother that he needn¡¯t be alone on this quest. She left us. Made her choice. The last image he¡¯d seen of their mother crossed his mind: the sorrow as she said goodbye to him. Disappeared. He¡¯d caught her late at night before she¡¯d fled. He remembered seeing the pure fear on her face even as she told him everything was alright and there was nothing to worry about. He remembered his last promise to her before she put him back to bed, and he never saw her again. ¡°I¡¯ll look after him,¡± he said to her, to her ghost, even as he lifted the boulder for the twentieth time, his legs screaming and shaking as they threatened to give out, to fall and let him be crushed underneath the might of the stone. ¡°Erec will be fine.¡± Again. The boulder went up, then came down. His body wanted to die; it curled up in pain and broke. But, as long as it could still lift, he would lift. How many now? Thirty? The last set had ended at twenty, yet he kept pushing. The memories were so vivid as they swirled around him, an almost tangible thing in the night; the rock in his hand felt right. Familiar. The barren earth around him was his home since he¡¯d been born.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. As he lifted again, as sweat dripped down from his body and joined the earth below, he remembered the days after she left. The fear and nervousness as their family separated and the Kingdom treated them with the utmost suspicion. He¡¯d made sure to go to Erec¡¯s room every night to read the crying boy to sleep and promise him they would be fine. They would see their mother again one day. Again. It went up. It came down. His muscles were like steel. A notification flashed in the corner of his vision, no doubt telling him that all of his Virtues had advanced once more. That would put him at Tier 8. Yet another step closer, but not enough. Protect. Beneath him, he felt the earth beneath his feet, the weight of the boulder above pushing him deeper and deeper. With it, rooted to this ground, he felt a strength rise from his legs. Embracing the feeling of Strength. He went again. Fifty. Seventy. A simple jump at this tier in Strength wasn¡¯t enough to justify this. Nothing could, yet it was inexplicable; the pain was there, yes, Goddess, more pain than he should have been capable of. Before, when he¡¯d felt like this, his tendons had snapped, and the healer had needed to perform emergency prayer on him. A whole week of recovery; he¡¯d hid that from his family. Not from Gwen, but no one else had found out. But now, his body wasn¡¯t giving out. His vision was clear as if his muscles were made of stone and steel, and his mind calmed, pressing back against the pain. Defying logic. Again. Ninty¡­ Ninty Eight¡­ One hundred. Something snapped; the boulder cracked in his hands, raining dust and rock down on him; his vision burned, doubling as both a notification and the world shifted around him. Layered with a scene of a different place, a different time.
Soul (Aspect: Earth): Rank [NULL] - Tier 0 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 8 Faith: Rank C - Tier 7 ¡ú Rank NULL - Tier NULL
The notification vanished, accompanied by pure fear as the wasteland vanished. The boulder disappeared from his hands. Bedwyr found himself at a round table. He saw only a man with a black beard staring at him, one hand holding his head up. ¡°Ah. Took your sweet time, huh?¡± ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª Above, the lights that blessed this reforged earth burned in flames, their flickering candles a symbol of that which scorched the earth¡ªa tragedy, but one which would be rectified. ¡°We are close,¡± the Cardinal mumbled, his head bowed. His eyes alighted with vision as she saw through them, rifling through his mind with her fiery fingers as she combed his memories. ¡°We¡¯ve been investigating, and those marks of Her presence are¡­¡± WEAK. Yes. They were weak. She¡¯d ripped the reports from his congregation''s investigation from his head, but they weren¡¯t just weak. By all accounts, they weren¡¯t the same since she¡¯d last interfered in this world fifty years ago. SIMILAR. KILL IT. RUIN IT. CRUSH IT. Each hate rang in his head like a bell, the intensity increasing as her fiery grip on his soul clenched; the Cardinal gasped, leaning forward. Sweat curled from his heat, then burst to smoke as his skin burned; he looked at his hands; the veins throbbed with red, and the pain curled in. The eye above. Her eyes. All of it was pressing in, staring at him. Her chosen piece in the Kingdom. He scratched at his skin, reassuring her. Promising her in his head they would find this little silver flame and snuff it out. Just yesterday, there was a sighting at the worksite for the arena.¡ªhis men were asking questions. Looking into it. KILL IT QUICKER. ¡°We don¡¯t have the control,¡± he begged, curling onto himself on the floor as he directed more of the whirling tempest at him. Her sight refined at his explanations, pressing down like a hot brand in his skull as she scoured him TAKE IT. TAKE CONTROL. They were. They did. They continued to. But it took time; nobody wanted to oppose the crown openly without good reason. Not when it had the backing of the Knights and the military; it took time and resources to convince them and then more time still to coordinate. WORK BETTER. BURN IT. KILL IT. FIND IT. KILL, KILL, KILL, KILL, KILL, KILL. The word seared itself through the Cardinal¡¯s skull, and he screamed, curling in further, wondering if this was it. If she was going to dissolve him into ash and take his already-damn-near gone soul and burn it as she did with all of them eventually. But the heat subsided, and she withdrew, pulling back further. Her rage was an inferno as always; her vengeance and necessity lingered as an overwhelming presence that suffused his entire being. As the pain receded, the Cardinal stopped shaking on the ground, pulling himself up and dusting off his cloak as her attention turned elsewhere. He dusted his red robes off, taking in a deep, racking breath. And then he let her blessed feeling run through him, let it saturate his skin and bones, let the heat of that hatred warm him. Love. It was love. That hate was love that squirming gut-clenching pain; it was her love. Her love for them. For her people, for the pieces of her vessel. Part of her hole. ¡°Love, love, love.¡± The Cardinal said, a smile spreading wide across his face as he itched his skin¡ªthe still-warmed skin that had come to a breath away from combustion. She needed them. Needed her reds to go and stomp out that little silver flame; he would deliver that. They would deliver more than that, too. This whole Kingdom, he would bequeath onto her, along with crushing that pesky little silver fire which earned her hate. Whether it belonged to that bitch Lavinia or what his reports led to believe, some off-shoot in a young Knight, it didn¡¯t really matter. What she wanted, her flock would deliver. Her love was what sustained them until she burned them up in fuel to face the monster above. She was their savior. She clashed with Lavinia, but once that false goddess, that monster that ruined their world, died, they would be free, and She might ascend to the heavens and claim her place on the celestial throne. Then all might feel her love. All might bend the knee to her and let themselves become one piece of her far greater and vast whole. The Cardinal scratched at his skin, hot red blood coming free as he continued, his grin only growing wider as he strode out to his congregation¡ªfaster. They needed to be faster. The King had given them all the fuel they needed to start a fire in this Kingdom and had supplied all of the ingredients in his haste to embrace the outside world. It would be child¡¯s play to fan those embers and grow the flames. From there, they could deliver all She wanted. And her love would be. She would shower him with her affection. They might be together, one, as he longed and dreamed of. ¡°A lot of work. A lot. A lot. A lot. Yes.¡± Chapter 212: Wine and Dine
Dear Lord Audax, It was my supreme pleasure to run into your distinguished presence at the Luculentus event; it was an even greater pleasure to have such a brief and enlightening discussion with the one that the Kingdom has dubbed ¡®Stag Slayer.¡¯ While the evening was certainly busy with the unexpected announcement, I regret that we didn¡¯t have much time to talk about the future business that could be between our houses. I see your great potential and will say that House Hastrifus is no slouch regarding Kingdom business and affairs. Though at the time, you seemed less than receptive to my offer to meet my daughter because of your¡­Guest. I do appreciate your tact and restraint in pursuing better opportunities while in the presence of womenfolk, regardless of their status. Setting aside the potential for marriage, I see no reason for us not to become friends. So I would like to extend to you an invitation to join me at my manor; I will treat you to fine wine and even finer company. To our future Friendship, Toddren Hastrifus - Count Hastrifus, Invitation To Count Audax (3rd Era, 307)
Days bled into a week, and then a week after that, time slipped by like grains spilling from a bowl as Erec bowed his head and sunk into the regular course schedule that the Academy set; he and the rest of the students spiraled to the end of October. Since returning to the Academy from all of the expeditions and upheaval, juggling regular classes and trying to keep himself at ease could present a full-time task. It was a bit of a relief that the Schedule he¡¯d had before remained clear of Basic Prayer and Theology and the dreaded Courtly Mannerisms. Though, he missed Talent Development. Where those time slots remained clear in his schedule, though, he hadn¡¯t been simply allowed to rest on his laurels and relax. Nor could he get an advantage over the other students and finish out whatever work needed to be done. With the way his schedule worked, the gaps of time made room for his extra-curricular¡ªDame Robin took him aside and gave him her lessons on people. It is far more effective in learning how to process information and collect a feel for how the Kingdom was doing. She didn¡¯t trust him yet to go and collect information on his own, but she set him on task to make friends, introduce himself in warm approaches, and let him adjust to a variety of situations she threw him into. This time didn¡¯t always correlate to his open schedule slots and far exceeded the time that would¡¯ve been spent in a classroom learning with the rest of the students. In the end, thanks to that, he often found himself extremely busy on a day-to-day basis, leaving only a couple of hours at night to unwind and relax. As for his weekends without class¡­ Well, VAL dominated that time slot, as long as it didn¡¯t have to compete with Robin¡¯s lessons. That time was spent in the Cavern, getting the new branch of Vortex Industries going. And it was there that they had two conflicting approaches to exploring what they should be exploring in introducing technology. They were stretched thin with limited funding and the need to produce things that could accelerate their growth, yet they couldn¡¯t make anything that would be too big of a gap in technology to enflame the already growing influence and rage being spread by the Church. Erec insisted they focus on Armor improvements¡ªmaybe replicating some of VAL¡¯s original functional purposes and finding a way to integrate it with the magi-tech that made their Armors work. One of their biggest limiting factors was that the Armor couldn¡¯t keep up in combat; there were better models, and they could steal design tips from those and fuse them with their own research. VAL didn¡¯t outright reject this branch; instead, it insisted they focus solely on chemistry and building up supplies while exploring Mysticism, a branch of knowledge that Erec had no possession of. It was too much work for just Erec. So Colin became an unofficial part-time employee of Vortex Industries, with the researcher position, tasked with performing magical experimentation. As the board director, Erec credited his time spent working on Armor with starting the baseline that might lead to more nanite production¡­ And then they hired a third employee. A man named Thomas, who Erec¡ªthe proxy of VAL¡ªtasked with conducting chemistry experiments. The issue was that the practice of ¡®chemistry¡¯ was very limited, and knowledge was very protected in the Caverns. It often dealt with oxygen and gasses¡ªventilation¡ªwith some branches falling more into biochemistry since their experts dealt primarily with biocaverns. They couldn¡¯t afford to have one of those experts, so they had to make do with a man who had a keen intellect and the willpower to sit there and learn chemical reactions, make stock chemicals, and work further to advance his technique and knowledge base until they could move on to ¡®more sophisticated and dangerous reactions.¡¯ The product of these three branches of research could have been faster going if they¡¯d focused on only one direction instead of these three. But given only two weeks had passed, and they had all the gear in place to move forward, at least it had begun. Goddess knew if any of it would amount to an advantage when the Church erupted, and they had to push back against the inevitable issues that were even now uprising. During his work with Robin, Erec started to see glimpses of that brewing conflict, which led to today¡ªa meeting he was not looking forward to. ¡°Count Hastrifus,¡± Erec bowed his head, Dame Robin at his side. ¡°A pleasure to meet you once more.¡± It was a lie. The smell of whiskey cologne dominated his nose, taking the living room in a stranglehold. Better than the night he¡¯d first met the man at the announcement of the tournament. That night, the Count chose to wear a cologne best described as a citrus-hell. The perpetrator, Count Hastrifus, gave him a wild smile and stared with those greedy eyes. It made Erec feel unwelcome and nothing more than a prize to be won. His instincts screamed to get out of this Manor as fast as possible. But he couldn¡¯t; the Count had sent him an invitation to have him over, and after telling Robin about it, his teacher told him in no uncertain terms he should accept. He hadn¡¯t forgotten the man after their introduction at the Luculentus gathering, nor had he forgotten how the Count insisted he marry his daughter. Whom was currently sitting nearby, reading a book, trying desperately not to look their way nor to look awkward or annoyed with the occasion. ¡°Ahhh, Count Audax, I was beyond thrilled to see you had responded to my invitation; it¡¯s my pleasure to host you at our humble home. Though, it¡¯s not so humble¡ªI¡¯m a fifth-generation count, and the ties of House Hastrifus run deep through these cavern veins, sit. Sit.¡± He gestured to the nearby chairs¡ªthe one closest to his daughter. Erec opted instead to sit closer to Count Audax, leaving that recliner open for Dame Robin, who gave a small yet polite greeting.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it The count responded gracefully but much more curtly than he had to Erec. ¡°I didn¡¯t know your family had such a long line; I¡¯ve never asked my father how far ours went back,¡± he responded, watching as a servant entered with a bottle of wine; she set it out and poured it. The servant doubled back in the count¡¯s direction and filled Erec¡¯s cup again to the brim. ¡°Of course, of course. See, the Hastrifus household operated the first winery in the Kingdom. People began to get bored after figuring out survival, and soon they learned how to grow grapes in the caverns¡­ One thing led to another, and my ancestors opened the first winery¡­ It didn¡¯t take many generations for the Royal family to appreciate our efforts and grant us a rank, and then when wine flows, it flows, no? As for your family, bah, it hardly matters. That line¡ªAudentia? Was that it? It¡¯s not really relevant to the Audax name you founded. A hero of the Kingdom.¡± The count gave a light smile, swirled his wine, and then took a drink. Erec stared at his cup. Right now, the right thing to do was to accept it. Even though all of him felt unfamiliar and contested this moment, he knew what should be done. Thanks to Robin. So he did just that, raising his glass and taking a deep gulp. It had a chocolaty taste, with notes of fruit that were different from what he was used to. It was smooth, and even he could appreciate the quality. [He¡¯s trying to impress you. Based on an analysis of the quality, that is one expensive glass of wine. At least back in the old world.] That much is obvious. ¡°Tell me more,¡± Erec said. People liked to make themselves feel important, so he¡¯d give him the space to do it. Dame Robin gave a subtle nod. ¡°Well, we went up the ladder. Unlanded to landed, a generation later, Barons, after that Viscount¡­ Then you see us as we are now. There is not much to tell other than that we have perfected what it means to make wine. Sometime I¡¯ll have to show you our bio-caverns and facilities. A tour of them is heavenly¡ªwe have some noble families contacting us yearly for a visit, given how much beauty and fine vintage they can taste. Even just three years ago, the King reserved a day to enjoy our facilities.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s incredible. You weren¡¯t kidding when you said your ties run deep,¡± Erec shifted in his chair, taking a more relaxed posture. ¡°Deeper than you might imagine, wine smooths all things,¡± he had a glint in his eye¡ªthen shifted his focus to his daughter, ¡°She¡¯s set to inherit, you know. Has gotten all our knowledge, with a Talent around wine that impressed even me; I could arrange a tour for you, led by my lovely daughter, as soon as next week?¡± The girl stopped reading and gave Erec a once over, then a frown. She sat up straight and took her wine, then took a deeper gulp than any of them, clearing it in one go. ¡°Of course, father.¡± She agreed, killing the emotion from her voice. Erec winced as the tension coated the air. Family drama and watching a father push his daughter on him was not the point of this visit. For him, at least. It made him miss Enide. Briefly, he wondered what she was up to right now¡ªif she would be back in time for Hallows Eve¡ªand then he shook his head and focused. ¡°We can discuss that later.¡± Never. Erec lied through his teeth, ¡°I am curious, though; you have pointed out quite an interesting thing. Your family is well-connected. I¡¯ll admit, as a new Count to a household that is new to this position, I¡¯ve had some trouble navigating these social circles.¡± This was a show of weakness. In a fight, it was like showing his neck to the enemy¡ªwide open. The count grinned and bit down, seeing the weakness. ¡°Ah, I did wonder how you were faring. You must be a busy man, Count Audax. Between your duties as an Initiate and trying to lead your new house and cavern. I¡¯d heard you¡¯d begun to restructure your businesses to your benefit, but it must be difficult to make time for these social gatherings, where the real power of the Kingdom lies.¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t had the time. I¡¯m not sure who to trust or what to think; if you could advise someone in my shoes, what would you say? I¡¯m looking to make the sort of ties that your family has, yet I don¡¯t know where to start. I¡¯d rather House Audax become a generational power.¡± At this, the Count leaned back, his smile showing all his teeth as if he¡¯d been handed a big gift on a silver plate. He snapped his eyes towards his daughter. ¡°Hun, how about you show Lady Robin the sunroom? I believe we have some business to discuss that is not suitable for women-folk¡¯s ears.¡± The girl scowled, and Dame Robin, for her part, didn¡¯t react in the least. But, nonetheless, his daughter complied without complaint, leading the older Knight out and leaving Erec alone with the count, a wolf with his prey. ¡°The first thing I would do is marry,¡± he began, gesturing to Erec, ¡°You¡¯re currently at your prime. Your fame is at a height that many want to welcome you to their family. It would be unwise to accept just any invitation, though. No, you want the type of proposition that merges households. No second daughters, no loose ties. You want to connect yourself directly to a well-established family, and then, riding your Knight career and your partner¡¯s previous foundation¡­ Well. You might have the chance to gain enough influence. In, say, ten years, I could see you earning the rank of Earl.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time for a wife,¡± Erec answered, trying to deflect away. I need to get this on track. ¡°Time for a wife, bah. Let women-folk tend to women-folk. Marry her, and send her to watch the household while you complete your Knightly duties. You earn the honor and fame, and you can let your woman manage the estates. It¡¯s what they are good at, isn¡¯t it? So, you need to marry. My daughter, for example, is an ideal candidate. You want a woman trained from birth for this tedious administration work; she would have what it takes to get your affairs in order. Then, when you¡¯re done earning your honor, ready to rest and retire, you can take the reins where you belong.¡± Erec leaned away, his skin crawling; not only the idea of betraying Enide such a revolting gut-wrenching proposition but the way he bargained with his own daughter¡­ ¡°I¡¯m a bit uncertain with the way the Kingdom is going.¡± ¡°¡­That is a fair point.¡± The count swirled his glass and took another sip. Erec mimicked him¡­ Then the count took another gulp. He could see it in the man¡¯s face. On the edge of spilling¡­ Something. How do I get him to talk? ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of letting the outsiders in,¡± Erec hedged his bet. The man stopped, snapping his attention to Erec. ¡°I knew it. I knew that barbarian woman you brought was a way to spy on them! Of course. It makes sense. Yes¡ªI don¡¯t know what the gods-damned King is thinking. Those outside of the wall are dirty and trouble. Not good for our business and community.¡± ¡°Awful people, I should know, having seen them on the expedition,¡± Erec felt terrible saying it, but the wine was flowing now; they were moving right where Erec needed them to be. This river of red could lead to the information he wanted. ¡°Awful, you say? I¡¯m eager to hear these stories. I¡¯m sure the Church is as well. The sermons lately¡­ They¡¯ve been warning us about the danger, diseases, and famine these people bring. They say they have been trying to petition the King to make him stop this madness, but he¡¯s gone off-the-wall with his power, refusing to concede.¡± ¡°How do you make him see sense?¡± ¡°How, indeed? How indeed?¡± The count finished his glass¡ªrefilling it with the wine left on the table and adding more, then taking a deep pull from the cup. ¡°Well. You gather together your nobility, and you make him listen.¡± ¡°If he¡¯s been denying your and the church¡¯s petitions. How would that work?¡± ¡°Anything can be bent with a strong enough wind. All you need is enough force behind it to get it to bend¡­ And if it doesn¡¯t? Well, sometimes a tree snaps. Sometimes, a batch of wine is bad and must be purged.¡± Erec leaned in, drinking more of his wine. His eyes lit up. She was right. Dame Robin had made him come here and made them take this opening since Count Hastrifus was the perfect contact to witness the brewing hostility in the nobility. A perfect in for him to gather useful intelligence about just what the Church had been up to and what, if anything, they were planning. ¡°Tell me more.¡± Chapter 213: That Time Of Year A week later, and a week before Hallows Eve, a detachment of the Pendragon Pack arrived back to the Kingdom¡ªto Erec¡¯s great relief and joy, Enide was one of the people along for the ride¡ªshe made short order of crashing in his dorm with him, and making herself at home; apparently, this part of the Pendragons was tasked with staying a couple of weeks. She¡¯d be here for Hallows Eve; a tradition in which they had no basis for out in her pack, but a tradition in which she rapidly was looking forward to. ¡°So we go in costumes,¡± Enide confirmed, leaning in on the living space couch, her eyes glittering as she looked at Garin. ¡°Yeah, sure do. In fact, it¡¯s a tradition for couples to pick a costume set together and go in pairs,¡± Garin said. ¡°Oh, hell yeah. Anything we want?¡± ¡°As long as you can make a costume for it.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Enide tapped her chin and looked at Erec, ¡°What did you go as last year?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± He said, arms folded. Still not sure about this plan. Garin planned to take them to a tavern down in the Thirteenth Cavern¡ªa public cavern known for its massive Hollows Eve celebrations. They decorated the whole place every year to attract as much holiday commerce as possible. And things often got a little out of hand. It was one thing to go to the Hollow''s Eve parties and gatherings in noble circles, but an entirely different thing to go to parties like this. It spelled out trouble, and as much as Boldwick practically pressured him to take it easy with his over-training, this didn¡¯t seem the most relaxing pass time. ¡°You didn¡¯t?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t exactly make it a habit to go out much, and at that time, I was trying to figure out how to get a piece of loaner Armor together for the trials next year to be a Knight. I still don¡¯t think this is a good idea.¡± ¡°Come on, Erec. It¡¯s just Hallows Eve; what kind of trouble can we get into?¡± Erec raised a hand, set to begin counting off the various ways this party could go bad or had gone bad in the past. Throw enough costumed people together in an overcrowded tavern flush with alcohol¡ªand what kind of recipe was that for? Then, introduce the tradition of ¡®tricks¡¯ that Hallows Eve was known for¡­ It was a wonder the Royal Family hadn¡¯t banned this particular tradition long ago for all of the historical trouble it had caused the Kingdom. Just as he was about to begin to make his points, the door to the dorm room slammed open, Colin waltzed in with an unhappy expression, followed by a woman with a shock of red hair. Alexandra, his betrothed and the last member of their little Hollows Eve group. ¡°Sorry we¡¯re late. Colin kept telling me how much he missed me and was starved for attention. So I couldn¡¯t help but give my Colly-Wolly the personal attention he had been sorely missing with his new weekend job.¡± At this, she winked at Erec. ¡°We did nothing of the sort. She insisted she needed to put on makeup before seeing the girls, wasting my precious time.¡± Colin argued. ¡°Awww, no need to lie to them. They know us, isn¡¯t that right?¡± ¡°They know that every word out of your mouth is an exaggeration,¡± Colin said with a deep sigh before entering the room and collapsing on the couch next to Erec. He pinched his nose. ¡°She wants to go as salt and pepper. Commoners spices.¡± ¡°Cute!¡± Olivia said, with a small clap and a smile¡ªshe sat in a lone chair at the end of the dorm; next to her was Garin¡¯s new animal, the little coyote pup that Boldwick had given him. They hadn¡¯t picked a name yet for the little creature. They¡¯d tried a couple out but had yet to settle on anything. For now, it went by pup. The pup had taken quite a shine to Olivia; she came second to Garin, of course, but it was already quite protective of her. ¡°It is not cute. It is absurd. We might as well put on face paint and rainbow wigs and label ourselves as clowns.¡± ¡°¡­Clowns?¡± Enide scrunched her eyebrows. ¡°That sounds cool. Erec, should we go as Clowns?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Face paint and colorful wigs! Do you have any other better ideas?¡± She insisted, moving closer to him and grabbing his attention. He, in fact, did not. And without answering here, he felt the dooming sensation in his gut that he would end up having to paint his face and wear ridiculous clothing to this tavern. ¡°Scientists.¡± Olivia tilted her head, ¡°Oh, like the Bio-Cavern researchers?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Erec said; the idea of the white coats and professional clothing seemed a bit more dignified than clowns. ¡°Come on, tin can, not very original with your new business, isn¡¯t it? Too on the nose.¡± Colin scoffed. ¡°He has a point,¡± Garin agreed and then stood up, ¡°Well, Liv and I already know what we¡¯ll be dressed as¡ªI¡¯ll leave the details for your costumes to you. Just make sure you pick something, okay? I doubt anywhere in the Thirteenth Cavern will have us if we¡¯re not at least dressed up. And remember, this is for fun. Don¡¯t take it so seriously¡­ Speaking of which, let¡¯s go over our options for bar hopping.¡± Garin grinned, pulling out a map of the Thirteenth Cavern with a wide grin. Bar hopping? I thought it was just a single tavern. Like that, the six of them planned out Hollows Eve. Leaving only several days to prepare for the festivities. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª ¡°Well, we look good,¡± Enide said, admiring her outfit in the mirror next to Erec; in the end, she had relented on the desire to go as a clown and chose a different costume, which felt a little too on the nose. With Olivia¡¯s help, though, she¡¯d been able to put together a matching set of barbarian clothing. Erec adjusted the tufts of fur on his shoulder and played with the leather straps; he looked like he had run out of one of those old-world stories, the type with vi-kings, those odd ones that even today people speak of as the epitome of uncivilized behavior and rudeness; they sailed around on boats and raided. Some of the wastelanders Erec had heard tales of from the Pendragons were pretty much the spiritual successor to these historical relics. Erec played with the axe on his back, his new gift from Boldwick; the flawless silver weapon looked at odds with the grungy, wild look of the fur and leather costume he wore. Where there was fur and leather. A large part of these costumes was the vast display of skin and muscle they were meant to show off. In his case, it revealed his impressive physique and more than a few war scars earned over the past few months. Erec was grateful for his axe. Considering they were going into uncomfortable territory, he welcomed it as a companion. His axe was safe, with or without Armor, but nothing made him feel more secure. Enide snuggled into his side; she had as much of a wild look as she had less fur and leather covering her, and she showed just as much skin as Erec. However, in her case, she¡¯d also chosen to use black body paint to make lines and an overall mystical aesthetic. They weren¡¯t glyph tattoos but looked something like a cousin to them; at her sides were his old hatchets, which he¡¯d retired. Not that they weren¡¯t effective weapons, but they just began to pale in comparison to his axe and the strength he could put behind each swing of the bigger weapons.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re about to steal from those spoiled nobles.¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± Erec agreed and then rolled his shoulders, ¡°Shall we get on with it?¡± ¡°Lead the way, my barbarian Knight.¡± Erec led the way from their room to the common hall of his Manor. All of his friends had stayed there overnight, and when they eventually made their way back home from the Hallows Eve celebrations, they¡¯d be crashing here tonight as well. Knowing the city, the Academy had given the Initiates Hallows Eve and the day after off; they often scheduled holidays to be free or did their own events to celebrate. Yule had the dance, and the feast had a Knight-wide gathering where all the orders dined together in a grand celebration of comradery. On Hollows Eve, though, they preferred to let their Knights wander outward and celebrate in their own way. The first to filter in was Colin and Alexandra. Colin¡­ He was wearing a large cloak, beneath which was fine noble clothing; his hair was streaked with white and dark eyeshadow on his eyes; as he scowled, Erec saw the most critical part of his costume. Fangs. Alexandra stood next to him, her mischievous eyes alight as she took in Enide and Erec; on her back were tiny bat wings, along with a wispy black dress, and she, too, had the fangs, along with streaks of fake blood running down her face. ¡°Vampires.¡± Enide snapped, her eyes wide, ¡°Whoa, you guys have them too, huh? I thought they were just a Vega story.¡± ¡°Yes, vampires. From the old books. A very traditional and refined costume, suitable to the tastes of my picky and stubborn fiance.¡± Alexandra confirmed and then did a twirl, the half-see-through black strands of her dress dancing through the air. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid you¡¯re going to piss them off, though, going around dressed like that?¡± Enide asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°¡­Vampires are real¡ª¡° she stopped and then took in everyone else¡¯s expression. ¡°¡ªor so they say, in Vega.¡± Of course, that sparked a quick discussion with them. Enide revealed the stories of bodies missing blood in Vega. Every few months, a corpse would turn up in an alleyway, drained. The problem had been ongoing for around thirty years in the city. In the end, Erec wasn¡¯t entirely convinced of the existence of vampires of all things but did find the prospect a bit odd; it made him take a different look at the city, the vampire of Vega, yet another oddity to the already supremely strange place. The discussion bought time for the last of their companions, and when Garin and Olivia arrived, they were dressed in elaborate animal costumes: that of a dog and a cat. Complete with ears, tails, and chosen tufts of fur, and in Olivia¡¯s case, sleek black fabric that complimented her figure and did a pretty decent job of letting her blend into the shadows, should she wish. With all of them gathered together, it didn¡¯t take long for Garin to take the lead, get them out of the Manor, and head to the party. The journey didn¡¯t take long, but as they went through the Seventh Cavern, Erec could see all of the decorations. Orange balls with lights in them in place of Pumpkins were reserved for more wealthy households this time of year. Biocaverns could not produce enough crops to meet the demand. Children were already going around, decked out in their little costumes. Erec and Enide got more than their fair share of attention on the way to the lift; their little group didn¡¯t take long to arrive. The lifts were busy, people hopping on and off, stopping on every floor. Even the auxiliary lifts would be filled with crowds tonight. It was like this every Hollow¡¯s Eve. But as the lift rose from the seventh floor, more and more people got on, and the gears of the elevators slowly began grinding as they brought them upward. The elevators ground to a halt on every floor to collect more people, arriving at the destination for most: the Thirteenth Cavern. The first thing that hit them as they rose up was the fog. The entrance to the Thirteenth Cavern lift was absolutely filled with fog. Dim gas streetlights that marked some of the cavern''s tell-tale decor stood out, casting the carefully curated street with an eerie and distinctly Hollows Eve vibe that made this Cavern the ideal place for the season. Garin led the way off the elevator, cutting through the crowd of milling costume people with an expert''s ease; looking closely, one could see an outfit of every sort. Distinct ones of past Kings¡ªsome dressed as Rift monsters¡ªothers from professions around the caverns. More frequently than he imagined, Erec saw the garish and flashy colors that he had grown used to on the streets of Vega. Word of the city''s fashion and culture had spread even to the commoners, making for a popular choice tonight. Cutting through the main thick entrance led to a wonderland of Hollows Eve delights; machines sat on every corner, playing spooky music or animations meant to scare. Of course, though, with Erec¡¯s perception and training, he managed to spot the upcoming spooks far before they happened; the actors, too, weren¡¯t quite enough to scare him. Compared to some of the things in the wasteland, the imaginations of men kind of fell short. Still, he had to admit, as they passed fake cobwebs and a woman stirring a cauldron and cackling madly next to a sign that said, ¡®WITCHES BREW - 10 DENARII,¡¯ there was a charm to this place. ¡°Crazy,¡± Enide said, shaking her head. ¡°They do this every year?¡± ¡°Some of them spend most of the year planning out how to capitalize best, throwing smaller events throughout the month to lead up to the big night.¡± Garin said, stopping briefly at the witch¡¯s stand to pick up a set of glasses of said ¡®brews¡¯ to pass out. Erec took a sip of his. A green apple liquor¡ªwhich fit the bright green colorations. Better than wine, in his opinion. They drifted along the street for a good while, observing the costumes and crowd, passing a few ¡®haunted houses¡¯ which lined the street. Tonight, the only things open were places to get scared and to get drunk. So it wasn¡¯t long until they made it to the first bar for the night: Haunt. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª Erec sat in the back of the ¡®bar,¡¯ which turned out to be a lot closer to a nightclub, similar to that of Vega than he¡¯d expected; it turned out Garin had taken the funds and time to go ahead and book a private booth for them in the back of the place, which was good. Every other open table was filled with people; even back here, Erec could smell the booze as music played and people danced. But, overall, his impression of Haunt was that he disliked. With too many people, he couldn¡¯t examine everything that was going on. He felt on edge as he sat waiting in his booth; eyes constantly going over the costumes, confirming no real monsters were in their midst. A silly thing. But his mind kept tugging at the uncertainty. There was, every now and again, a classic Hollows Eve song¡ªalong with Vega music, made for this type of thing. Fascination was the name of the game, and considering Vega had perfected this type of dancing environment, places like this were well and truly pleased with all of the music they could siphon off and add to their repertoire to party. Garin, Olivia, Enide, and Alexandra were all out there, mixed on the dance floor of ghosts and haunts, and had been for the last half-hour of the night. ¡°It reeks,¡± Colin said, frowning as he watched the people move, ¡°And the magic is thick in the air; I dislike such sloppy spellwork. It clouds my vision.¡± ¡°Spellwork?¡± Erec asked, perking up. He was trying to ready himself mentally for when Enide came and dragged him out there with her. ¡°Surely you feel it. The fog. The atmosphere. The lack of inhibition.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just describing a party.¡± ¡°No¡ªthey are doing it with glyph work; you can feel the enchantments. It¡¯s not illegal levels of manipulation, but it¡¯s present. To get you to relax in order to drink more and to dance. But the magic is sloppy, and too much energy is being wasted.¡± It was odd to think about, but as Erec examined his emotions¡­ He did feel it, that unease. Fury was pushing back against the manipulation, and that is what was setting him on edge. Without Colin, he couldn¡¯t have pinpointed the exact why. ¡­He looked out at the crowd. Someone at the bar. Staring at him, they wore a black mask. As Erec met their gaze, they didn¡¯t look away. Staring. ¡°Colin? Do you see that?¡± Colin turned his scowl towards the stranger in dark clothes. ¡°Yes. Boring costume. Black mask and robe; awful and plain. What is that even supposed to be, ¡®freighting shadow figure?¡¯ very low effort.¡± ¡°Yes, and they keep looking at us.¡± Colin paused. ¡°Yes, they are staring. Did you anger someone?¡± Colin asked. No. As Erec got another drink, he sat back there, talked to his friend, and let them go to the dance floor. He didn¡¯t feel particularly social today after all of Robin¡¯s lessons. Boldwick had told him to relax, and this, to him, was as relaxing as a night out like this could be. He¡¯d made it point to avoid talking to anyone or to get involved in anything. ¡°Ah, they¡¯re coming over to pick a fight,¡± Colin said, as the figure in the black mask moved towards them¡ªErec couldn¡¯t help but notice they didn¡¯t come alone. Three other men were approaching as well, flanking the black figure. All of them were in a mixture of costumes; all of them looked strong. At least, that¡¯s what his intuition told him. ¡°Why us?¡± Erec said, standing up and rolling his shoulders. ¡°You have a way of attracting danger and attention; it¡¯s one of your more questionable qualities.¡± Erec scanned the dance floor; his friends and girlfriend were busy having fun. Fine. Whatever these people wanted, he and Colin would solve it; there was no need to ruin the night of everyone else. And just in case it got dangerous¡­ Erec shifted his axe on his back, happy to have his loyal tool on him. Chapter 214: Heart In Darkness
¡°They swore aloud together¡ªout of sheer fright, I believe¡ªthen pretending not to know anything of my existence, turned back to the station. The sun was low; and leaning forward side by side, they seemed to be tugging painfully uphill their two ridiculous shadows of unequal length, that trailed behind them slowly over the tall grass without bending a single blade. -Joseph Conrad, Heart Of Darkness (2nd Era, 1899)
The black figure took the lead, and the rest of its followers formed a wall, cutting off the line of sight for Colin and Erec from the rest of the party. All Erec could do was raise an eyebrow and sip deep of his cup. It tasted like candy, and the alcohol within burned up and heated him more. Not that he needed the heat; the four people now looming over him were enough to get the heart pumping and the blood stirring. He wasn¡¯t sure whether or not he wanted it to devolve into a fight. Part of him wanted to start trading fists; another part knew it would ruin the night. The two wrestled within, the emotions and desires rolling over and entwining in his heart, so let fate decide then how it would end; Erec was content with either. No matter what, though, at least this would be more interesting than drinking and dancing. The ball was in their court. ¡°You¡¯re blocking my view. Do you know who I am?¡± Colin asked with a scoff. ¡°Colin Nitidus, of the Duchy Nitidus, one of our retainers and a servant to the crown, and thus a servant to me.¡± Soren¡¯s voice came from the dark costume; as always, it was flat as he said it. Matter of fact. Completely at odds with the fact that a prince would be in a bar in the Thirteen Cavern. Erec did a double-take and checked the man he was with. Sure enough, the build and power radiating off them was real. These had to be an escort of Royal Guards, only, this time, they were decorated in costumes. ¡°You.¡± Colin stood up, spilling his drink on the table. Erec leaned back, taking another deep sip of his. ¡°It has come to my attention that your troop has undergone quite some training recently. It is a compliment to you to make preparations and to work on your weaknesses,¡± Soren replied, folding his arms. ¡°I¡¯ve come to deliver a message.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve come to irritate me; that much is clear and evidenced, prince. And I can assure you that whatever insight you think my training had led to lacks the true depth and nuance of my advancement. I am a different man standing before you. And I will crush you in the tournament.¡± Colin¡¯s voice raised. Erec tried to lean past one of the blocking bodyguards to get a glance at the dance floor; the man he tried to peer past blocked his view and glared down at him. ¡°Mind moving? I just want to make sure my friends are fine.¡± Erec asked. ¡°You will pay attention to the prince, he is where your attention will lay.¡± The man replied with a booming voice. Soren ignored Colin and turned to Erec. ¡°My message is thus: you are a concern for this Kingdom in a showcase to those outside of it. It would be a tragedy if you lost your temper in a fight, as you are prone to do, and therefore do serious harm to an outsider. It could damage our potential future relationships. After some thought and discussion, I¡¯ve come to agree with this assessment; several of us have raised such a concern. But your order is refuting it. As things stand, you will be approved for participation in the tournament, and that is a potential tragedy for this Kingdom as a whole; therefore, as a Knight, I order you to withdraw.¡± Erec sighed. ¡°Listen, you¡¯ve clearly an issue with me. This doesn¡¯t go both ways, Prince. Frankly, I don¡¯t care much for what you think. My friends are competing in this tournament; this is a good place to grow and make connections outside of the Kingdom.¡± Erec said, picking his words carefully. ¡°I agree. It is a good place for such things, for people who can act with restraint. It is not the place for monsters, which you turn into. We must be aware of the places in which we belong¡ªit is fine to send such a man to face down our foes; he may turn into what he must on that field of battle since it is even, and there are no rules. In matters such as these, monsters must know they cannot participate in the same field as men.¡± Soren continued, ignoring Colin as the noble tried to interrupt him as he spoke. ¡°Earlier, you said you wanted to fight me, were curious as to how I stacked up.¡± Erec was starting to feel the fires flame inside of him. The judgment and the hypocrisy of what he was hearing now, compared to what the Prince said earlier, was starting to get him pissed.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°That remains true. It just happens that the right battlefield for such a conflict is not in the eyes of an honored and respectable new tradition. Your place as a monster is to face off against other monsters. Surely you understand this? We all have our places in this puzzle.¡± Soren shook his head. Colin stood up, his face red as he worked his jaw. ¡°How dare you say that to your betters? Truly, you still think you are capable of facing off against my friend, let alone me? What have you seen within that little palace of yours, prince? Do you think your achievements amount to anything compared to his? Compared to I? And here you are, ignoring me, who will be the one to thrash you in this tournament and send you running back to the King with your tail tucked between your legs like a pathetic animal. It is beyond time your reckoning comes.¡± Colin raised a hand; sparks of electricity ran off his digits, sparking into space and vanishing in an instant, like little galaxies forming and then returning to the void. A glyph didn¡¯t form, but it felt like it could pop into existence at any moment, as if the spark of the boy¡¯s soul was inches away from flashing the linework into space and hurling a spell at Soren. Not that the prince or his men recognized the spell primed and ready to go. They didn¡¯t know about Souls. Nor did they have any insight into how Colin¡¯s functioned in conjunction with his Mysticism. So, Colin had flown off the handle. Erec stood up too, and cracked his neck. If he couldn¡¯t defuse this by talking, he had to resort to other tools. ¡°You want me to withdraw from the tournament? That¡¯s why you chased us down to the 13th Cavern to harass us on a holiday.¡± Soren blinked; though his face remained neutral, he did look a little put out by that. ¡°I had hardly thought something like a simple holiday mattered to you.¡± ¡°It does. You thought wrong. You label me a monster at every turn, yet here you are, acting hardly civil. Everyone deserves a rest and time with their friends. And this has violated mine. You owe me satisfaction.¡± Erec pressed in, stepping closer. The royal guards on either side bristled. Not for a second did Erec think he could take them all in a fight¡ªeven fully burning his Silver Fire. Those men were picked for their aptitude and high virtues, and they had more training than he could cram into his immediately adventure-filled time. ¡°I owe you?¡± ¡°Yes. You owe me.¡± ¡°He owes me!¡± Colin also cut in. Erec shot him a glare that shut his friend up. ¡°You want a fight, Soren? Is that why you keep harassing me? I¡¯m not going to give you what you want. If you want to fight me, then you fight me in the tournament. Protest and whine all you want, but if deep down, you¡¯re looking to test yourself against me, the big bad monster, then it will be there. If you somehow get me tossed from competing, then I won¡¯t be fighting you at all.¡± Erec stepped back. The fire inside was raging, upset at his withdrawal from the conflict. But it was bait. What kind of man was this prince? Soren stared at him with dead eyes. ¡°Unreasonable, as I could expect.¡± He remarked. ¡°You wanna fight me? You know, the only place where you will get the chance, now. Everywhere else, I¡¯ll simply withdraw. I don¡¯t care enough. I don¡¯t have anything to prove to you.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t get the chance to fight him since you¡¯ll face your inevitable defeat at my hands! Spoiled brat!¡± Colin yelled, his fists balled. ¡°Stop ignoring me!¡± Soren turned away from them and gestured to his escort. The four of them left, leaving a shadow in their wake. Colin kept complaining for minutes, but Erec simply let the words wash over him, sitting back down in his seat and taking another deep sip of his drink. Inside, his heart hammered, his blood rebelled. More than anything, he¡¯d wanted to call out Soren then and there, tell him to walk outside and have their little fight in the street. He wanted to crush the prince. To show his challenger that his words were nothing but hot air. But then, he knew that would give him the confirmation and satisfaction he sought. Sure, call Erec a monster. Call him a brute or a thug; enough in the nobility did so. That was a weapon of his, a tool to wield as he wished. Little did the prince know that now, with Robin¡¯s lessons, they weren¡¯t the only tool in his arsenal. Restraint, properly applied, could make the space for as much violence and retribution as one¡¯s heart could desire. If they met on that tournament field, then the fight would be all that much more satisfying. In front of the entire Kingdom, he¡¯d put the prince in his place. That is, if Colin didn¡¯t do so first. He let his friend complain¡ªthen the rest of their friends came back, it didn¡¯t take long for Olivia and Garin to get involved and investigate what happened. They got the full story because Colin couldn¡¯t shut up about it. Garin promised he¡¯d look into whom amongst the nobility was calling for him to be banned from the fighting and why. Erec thanked him but let it filter away. They got more drinks. Enide called Erec out to the dance floor for a few songs. He could only refuse for so long before giving in and heading out with her. The flashing lights, the mist, and the night itself went a way to him for getting the prince. When they returned to his dorm, he¡¯d let most of it go. Deep down, though, an ember still burned. And it would stay there, simmering and smoking in his pit, more fuel to drive his growth. Soren had done little else but set the stage for more of a fight in the future. So be it. The tournament wasn¡¯t much further away. Chapter 215: To The Tourney A couple of months can be a short time, or it could be a longer time than ever imagined. It depended on what happened, who one was with, and how hard they pushed themselves. For Erec, the couple of months following Hollow¡¯s Eve went in rapid succession. Between the training and being forced to take time for himself, Erec found a small joy in the comfort of the Academy for the first time in a long time. He eagerly awaited Enide¡¯s return, often making a flurry of plans with her and the rest of their friends when she was back in the Kingdom. Dame Robin put him through his paces, meeting more and more nobles. This included meetings with Count Hastrifus. Who was, as Dame Robin liked to refer, ¡®a useful idiot.¡¯ The Count gave away information about the church that he knew that he and his friends talked about. But being such a willing person to talk to a stranger like Erec to court and start digging into points bordering on rebellion against the crown¡­ The point was that Count Hastrifus was an example of some of the nobility. A tool to practice information gathering on, and later, Dame Robin hoped, an option to expand his social circle to other like-minded counts as a source of better quality information. Nothing the guy gave was anything that Dame Robin didn¡¯t know, but for Erec, it was a direct resource for some points of key information. The church has stepped up its efforts lately in visiting key figures in the nobility, making house calls, and coordinating groups and sermons with more directed effort than anyone was used to. They often preached of the core values of the Kingdom¡ªthe isolationist obeying of the Goddess. ¡­For Erec, focusing his efforts on training, friends, and preparing for the tournament was enough. He saw a couple of gains.
Vigor: Rank C - Tier 5 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 6 Agility: Rank C - Tier 3 ¡ú Rank C - Tier 4 Perception: Rank D - Tier 2 ¡ú Rank D - Tier 3
They were the result of hard work, without overworking himself. With the new year and the tournament, he¡¯d be allowed to step up training a bit more. But three gains in lesser Virtues to shore up his body was well appreciated. Every bit counted. As December rolled around, the Academy canceled classes for the second time that month in observance of Yule. Luckily, Enide was back shortly before this break and had agreed to stay for the holidays. Erec packed his things in the dorm¡ªwatching as Garin and Olivia did the same. Colin didn¡¯t bother; he would spend the first half of their break in Erec¡¯s manor instead of his own home. Opting to work in the laboratory until the actual day of the holidays, he¡¯d be back home with his father. Yule was a special time; even the Academy had been decorated in preparation. At the start of the month, it was like magic. Pine trees¡ªreal ones cultivated down in a deeper layer¡ªwere put up everywhere, decorated with magic ornaments and lights. Even just walking into the Verdant Oak building was accompanied by an enchanted sound of winter-time music. At first, Enide was blown away by the change. Out in the wastes, December was just cold. Vega did a big banger to celebrate the new year, but not this. It was a relic of the past. To the people of the Kingdom, it was a symbol of their connection to that which was. They were in a different world, yet the spirit of Yule transcended the fire. Enide sat on his bed as he packed. ¡°We¡¯re taking grumpy with us?¡± she said, meaning Colin. ¡°Yeah, he has a room. Though, on Yule morning, it¡¯ll be you, me, Bedwyr, and Dad.¡± Erec said, folding a shirt and tucking it away. ¡°You picked out a gift already for me?¡± she said with a smirk. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I think you did. I have something for you from the wastes. Didn¡¯t pick it up for this¡­ But hey, if it works, it works, doesn¡¯t it?¡± There was a light in her eyes as she said it, a curl to her lips that set his heart on fire. Before he knew what he was doing, Erec laid a kiss on her lips and forgot about putting his clothes away at all. It took a bit longer than they needed to leave the Academy. All of them went back down into the caverns; for Erec and Enide, it was their first yule together, a fake tree in his manor, as the real things were expensive, and their budget for their cavern was dedicated to business and lab work for now. When it came yule-morning, with all of them by their tree, Bedwyr was oddly absent. Still, as Erec opened his present to find a ¡®good luck charm¡¯ in the form of a Vortex-Industries figure¡ªsome kind of weird robot, which VAL insisted was an outdated and discontinued relic of bad marketing¡ªErec couldn¡¯t help but feel contentment. Here, in his home, with his father and Enide, he¡¯d never felt so much peace in his life. It was a moment of relaxation before a storm, he knew, but with the people around him he¡¯d cultivated, they would weather the storm together. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. When Enide opened her present to a key to their manor on the seventh layer¡­ Well, he couldn¡¯t defend himself when she attacked him with affection and love. It was an invitation to stay and live her life with him¡ªwhen she wanted. Enide was the wind, she came and went as she pleased. But, he was happy to give her a house with him when she wished. For the first time in many years, Yule felt right. ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª - ? - ¡ª Garin rubbed his nose as he sat outside of the Nitidus manor. He¡¯d gotten a cold the last week, which sucked but, well, being back home and seeing everyone had maybe brought it on. The manor had taken down their trees already. He could still see the spots in the fake snow of their lawn, along with the multitude of footprints that showed what they¡¯d been up to. Leave it to the Nitidus household to not waste a single day to look out of order. He waited. And he waited a little longer. Then he sneezed, and Munchy chattered on his shoulder¡ªhe¡¯d left Fido back with his dad¡ªthe little coyote was growing quick, and the two animals didn¡¯t much get along; today was better to have Munchy to be eyes and ears. Finally, the guard came out; the man gave a deep bow. ¡°Apologies, Sir Honestus, I wasn¡¯t aware of your connection to our young master.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a problem; it¡¯s my fault for dropping by unannounced,¡± Garin said with a small smile, enough to placate the man. He¡¯d just been doing his job. Without further prompt, the guard took him deep into the manor. Garin held the present tight at his side. They wandered deep into the Nitidus household¡ªa place that, as a kid, he¡¯d have dreamed of making his way into. Everything was so ornate. The history here was crazy¡ªall the times that the Nitidus house responded to the Kingdom or hosted grand events¡­ To think of the conversations and relationships formed in these walls. He was humbled. And soon, they reached a minor study Colin had claimed all his own. When he entered, he saw his friend hunched over the table, eyes golden as he poured over the spellbook gifted to him by Sir Boldwick, which had once belonged to Sir Able. Colin didn¡¯t even look at his entrance. Garin gave a polite cough. His not-so-polite friend either didn¡¯t take the hint or was so absorbed in his work that he missed his arrival completely. Garin shook his head with a rueful smirk and moved on over, sitting right down in front of Colin. This earned him a glance but little more. ¡°Come on, man? I know you¡¯re not that big on people, but it¡¯s been a week or two. Did ya miss me?¡± ¡°It is not that I missed you or didn¡¯t. I¡¯m simply in the depths of work. I¡¯ve come upon some applications for these glyphs that will prepare me to take on the Crown Prince. His dismissal is most absurd and¡ª¡° ¡°Sheesh, you learned nothing from that week of training, did you?¡± Garin shook his head. Munchy jumped off his shoulder and launched himself at Colin¡¯s book; there was a short fight between him and the fat¡ªalmost doubled-sized squirrel, in which Garin tried to brush aside the animal, only to find himself petting him. In the end, Munchy was covering the words and Colin was scratching his chin with an annoyed expression. ¡°You¡¯ve come to my home to tell me to work less? I would¡¯ve thought a trip to rust bucket¡¯s would¡¯ve been a more prudent goal for such ambitions. If I am putting too much of myself into training, I shudder to think what he might be.¡± ¡°Erec¡¯s taken his lesson to heart. He¡¯s found a better balance now. You¡¯re the one I¡¯m worried about now.¡± Garin folded his arms. ¡°And you¡¯re the arbiter of overwork? Do you not think I¡¯ve noticed you waking up early in the mornings and going on runs with your litter of animals? Do you think that I¡¯m not aware that you¡¯re out there doing more than running?¡± Garin shrugged. ¡°We¡¯re in the same boat. I¡¯m worried about the tournament. I¡¯m putting in the work. So are you. But we have to enjoy the holidays.¡± ¡°The tournament begins next month.¡± ¡°At the end of next month.¡± Colin frowned while petting Munchy; the big squirrel had crawled up past the book and into his friends arms, soaking in the attention. Garin took a long look at the room. The library was full of books on Mysticism¡ªall of it looked new. Some of them were splayed out on tables; others were sorted or stacked near the bookcases. Even though his friend hadn¡¯t spent his whole holidays here, it seemed he¡¯d stepped it up in the learning department. Colin would probably return to the dorms with a whole stack of books. ¡°Here. I have two presents.¡± Garin put the first on the table¡ªa small letter. The second next to it was a wrapped-up thing with pretty dotted paper and a silver bow. Though, it only looked good because Olivia was the one who wrapped it. She had a talent for it after spending many Yules wrapping the presents of the Luculentus household. Colin sprang onto the pretty present first. Inside was a spellbook much like the one he was currently pouring through. He made a face. ¡°Another of Sir Able¡¯s books.¡± ¡°Aye, I asked Boldwick if he could talk him into a second, given that you¡¯ve become such a dedicated disciple,¡± Garin said with a straight face. Colin sneered more. Though, in his eyes, he saw the glitter of excitement. He would be eager to get a crack at whatever magical theorems were within. The truth was that those two had a similar mind when it came to magic. Two sides of a coin. They might hate each other, but he had the feeling from talking with Sir Boldwick that Able had been impressed with Colin¡¯s capability. His friend tucked the book away, then moved to the letter. As he read it, his eyes widened. His mouth narrowed. And he glanced at Garin a couple of times. ¡°He offered you this too?¡± ¡°Yes. Both you and me, buddy. Boldwick is giving us specialized training. We are not to tell Erec about it. Something about ¡®catch up¡¯ lessons. Now, I don¡¯t know that we can catch up in raw strength or if this is a pity move¡ª¡° ¡°Too critical of yourself,¡± Colin shook his head. ¡°Stop it. He recognized that we also have latent talent and wanted to prepare us for a display to the kingdom. I will be accepting; you will be too.¡± Garin kicked his feet up and studied the ceiling. ¡°Yeah. We will. You know, seeing you grow so much and put it into yourself¡­ I want to be like that. Erec feels out of reach, but you? Well, if you¡¯re putting in this work and making these kinds of steps, then I could be, too.¡± ¡°There are few I consider an equal. Certainly not by blood, son of a baron,¡± Colin snorted. ¡°Hey.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not done. I consider you an equal, Garin. We¡¯ve seen battle with one another and been places I could¡¯ve scarcely dreamed possible. You¡¯ve been at my side. I consider you a brother. I¡¯ll admit¡­ I was wrong.¡± There was a profound silence. Garin stared at his friend as he said something he would have never pictured. ¡°¡­I was wrong about both of you. You are¡­ My friends. I¡¯m thankful to have you in my life. When we face this tournament, I¡¯d rather have no one by my side other than you two.¡± Garin didn¡¯t know what to say to that. Thankfully, he didn¡¯t have to. Munchy''s loud squeaks at his lack of attention, and attacking Colin bought him enough space to be stunned. Yule miracles were real, Garin supposed. Chapter 216: First Offical Day
Down into the darkness. We dive down into that dark rift. Within it, they say, we find our freedom. But what about the world we¡¯ve left behind? -Jon Silas, Scrap Paper found in the Endless Cave (3rd Era, 21)
Erec stood in line with countless other Initiates. The wind was cold, and he wore a warmer jacket issued to the Knights of the Verdant Order to compensate; the Initiates were only the first line. Divided evenly into their four groups. Ahead of them were other lines¡ªKnight Errants, Knight Protectors, Knight Lieutenants¡ªall the way to the Four Grandmasters themselves, who did not sit at the head of their respective divisions but rather were gathered in front of the open gateway to the Kingdom of Cindrus. The Knights were one of several groups¡ªa vast swath of nobility and the Army¡ªall of them arranged and determined in preselected places by the King himself as a show of his force. Of his Kingdom. Not that all the Knights were here. Nor military. Some people were running vital jobs; some of the higher-ranked Knights and military personnel were even now on the other side of the giant steel curtain, ushering their guests into order. Today was the day. The first official day of the tournament¡¯s start. Ten days of festivities as people arrived¡ªthose who had not arrived early¡ªto greet and welcome their new future allies into the fold and embrace a spirit of friendly competition. It also gave practical time for their new arrivals to sign up for their chosen games and conduct all of the various events. After the ten days, the tournament proper would begin, though not with the main tourney, but rather, the smaller games leading up to the grand event. As a premier and historic event¡­ Well, it felt like a third of the caverns below cleared out and made their way to the surface for a good look at who would be coming. Every noble who called themselves a noble had arrived¡ªthe entirety of the King¡¯s courts, every servant who could talk their Lord or Lady into letting them witness¡­ And a fair few commoners who had made the special trek all the way up here for perhaps the first time in their lives just to witness the occasion. Erec tucked his hands in his pockets, the chill creeping into his bones and making his skin tingly; he tried to look through the crowd to see the cars of the Pendragons inside and, therefore, Enide somewhere in there. No luck, though; she was hidden away deep in those crowds. ¡°Ten days before I can begin to wipe that smug expression off that spoiled prince¡¯s face,¡± Colin sneered next to him, his hate-filled eyes on the royal family. Soren, specifically, stood next to his father with the other princes. ¡°Careful, you get too obsessed, and you¡¯re not going to do very well. You have to focus on the enemy in front of you.¡± Garin warned. ¡°I am in peak form. Never have I been stronger. In this state, I could even take down the rust-bucket.¡± Erec snorted and shook his head, ¡°How are you so sure that you¡¯ll get the chance? He keeps trying to call me out, and I¡¯ll let him have it if I get to it first.¡± ¡°It is fate that he falls by my hands. That much I think we can agree.¡± Erec let it drop, rolled his shoulders, and shared a look with Garin. Seeing their friend so obsessed had both been entertaining and vexing. Out of anything, Colin chose to label another person as ¡®spoiled¡¯ and needed an attitude adjustment, which was quite the turn of events. But hey, if it got him up and going, then so be it. Then, there was an amplified trumpet sound¡ªsome mysticism being flung to enhance the noise, and it was the cue for the event to go. The first group began to filter in from the waste, a group of about thirty men and women. These people weren¡¯t too dissimilar from the Pendragons¡ªthey looked hard, with worn clothes, guns, and sun-ripened faces. The most distinctive feature about them, though, was that each of them wore some kind of paint on their faces¡ªreminding Erec of various animals he¡¯d seen in books. They eyed the army arrayed around them with curious and cautious eyes; then, before the King and the Grandmasters, they stopped. There was a shaking of hands, and then a Knight peeled off from their ranks to escort the first set of people to the newly constructed buildings that would house their guests for the next two months. Most of this was purely for show, Erec knew. As soon as the tournament arrived, they¡¯d been receiving outsiders, and those outsiders from new groups had already been escorted inside of their walls, introduced to the king, and then occasionally preemptively greeted and made contact with the nobility for future plans. He saw red priests on the sidelines and mingled among the common folk, none of which looked too happy. The next group inside was expected. People from Vega¡ªyou could tell from the flashy clothes and the escort of Magi within; he even made out some of the Arch-Magi in the group, who¡¯d tagged along to see the Kingdom from their dessert city¡ªthe one who had a pompadour took particularly long in his time talking to the king, accompanied by the old guy with the long white beard. Given all of the already existing ties to Vega as a result of their expedition, these people weren¡¯t unexpected. Overall, they brought hundreds out of such a massive city, but there were still many people to transport across the waste. With the Arch-Magi, it wasn¡¯t too dissimilar to having someone like Grandmaster Oak waltz them across the deadly lands. Erec was sure they were well-equipped to handle anything that came their way. Next came the nomads¡ªcollectively, that¡¯s what he¡¯d heard Enide refer to them as. Wanderers and other groups like the Pendragons broke apart and traveled in packs together for safety and exploration. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Their sizes varied, but generally, the representatives of these groups were smaller. Coming in one by one, in a grand procession. Each had their time to greet the king publicly, and all of it was one grand statement from the Crown. ¡®We have opened the walls. See as those outside come and greet our mighty king.¡¯ And think, too, nobles, of which groups catch their eyes and for them to take an interest in. All of the groups were split into parts, though¡ªleaders, deal-makers, gawkers, and the actual warriors. Warriors and leaders were easy to split out based on how they carried themselves. Erec got a sense of general strength when he looked at some of the young, proud Magi from Vega¡ªor a bruiser or two from one of the casinos there who fancied themselves one of their city''s best and brightest. Those, those people Erec flagged as warriors, were the ones he paid the most attention to. Wondering from a glance just how strong they were. Some came in the shape of a similar style to Boldwick or the Master Knights¡ªwizened fighters who had likely spent their whole life in conflict. What had they learned out there in the waste? What could he learn from seeing them fighting? His blood burned every time the thought crossed his mind, and excitement to see their steel tested. But they paled in comparison to the other warrior that caught his attention. Those around his age. People who fought on a level near him. Whoever these groups sent to compete¡ªit would be the best of their best. Were these warriors like him? As strong as him? Erec wanted to dash out of line right now and challenge some of them to a fight, just to see and witness where they lay, to let his fires burn bright as they faced off against one another. There was no greater purity to life than to see such action play out on a battlefield. Yet he didn¡¯t. Playing the good part of a Knight. Refined in line. A statue and decoration for the King. Time wore away, the sun became bright in the sky, and the coldness evaporated just a bit more. Hours of this, some of the nobility had sent their servants for chairs or to carry shades. Small little blankets were thrown down on the soil, and picnic baskets were erected as they feasted, not only limited to the upper class. The common people had settled down for their show, and the general buzz of excitement was palpable¡­ But, if you talked too much in your row as a Knight, someone would yell at you. Erec¡¯s job was to look tough. To observe. They were the disciplined force the King used to show their arranged military might. The stick to the carrot that opened the wall was. The various nomad groups turned to more¡­ Interesting parties. One of which wore dusty-colored shirts with various tan blobs and an old-world style flag on their chests. These people moved in a cohesive unit¡ªthe leader of which had a tan duster, a pistol, and some kind of sword. [US Army?] VAL asked. No. Erec thought as the men and women of the group moved in. Arranged and moving in such a practiced and orderly manner that none of these were a deal-maker or gawker. No. All of them were warriors. And seeing the way they moved, the assured and practiced manner was like they¡¯d undergone Academy training, one and all. Erec¡¯s blood caught fire. These people, he thought, would be interesting to see the fight. They arranged themselves in the most disciplined manner he¡¯d seen yet, and their greeting to the King was the most brief. After that, they went off. Next came another group he wasn¡¯t familiar with. They wore deep reds, not unlike the priests, with chains hanging off their necks and masks. The leader removed it to speak to their King, and they spoke at great length¡ªeven from here, Erec saw a bright and warm smile on the man''s face as they bid each other hello. Then, they were off. Another group, these ones flashing fancy tech and black-colored clothes, the most mysterious of the bunch¡­ Tribes¡ªfor lack of a better term, too. There were a bunch of smaller groups like this, living out in caves near Vega. Sometimes, they got absorbed into Vega proper for safety and security and kept to their own tight-knit communities within the great city, marked by a general demeanor and an odd assortment of symbols or clothes to represent whatever particular flavor of belief and community they represented. Smaller groups. Then came the individuals, the last of all, to enter the walls. A collective total of hundreds of random waste-wanderers who¡¯d heard stories and then chosen to compete. These people didn¡¯t have a strict representative, so the King greeted them collectively and escorted them to their housing. After nine hours of ceremony and honoring their new allies, the grand start to the tournament ended. Erec sighed and looked at his two friends; Garin was positively glowing and beaming with delight at all the new people he was undoubtedly looking forward to meeting. Colin, meanwhile, looked annoyed and bored by the whole affair. Since their roles were intimidation statutes¡­ Yeah, it was fair. ¡°You have my thanks for coming to witness such a historic moment. Since the event of my grandfather¡¯s grandfather¡ªwe have not had such a chance to so fully embrace the world which is outside our walls. We have long been in the dark, unaware that life continued outward. Take this as a sign that not only are we not alone in this world, but that there are others, ready and willing to embrace the fight for humanity against the monsters that dwell outside of all of our walls,¡± The King¡¯s voice radiated outward under the effects of some spell-work, and then he clapped his hands. It was accompanied by another amplified trumpet¡ªthe signal that the ceremony was at an end. Knights began to bark out orders, and the Verdant Oak, along with the rest of the initiates, was marched in a steady yet controlled manner back to the Academy; they left the citizens and nobles to their own devices. Well, that wasn¡¯t quite true. The military was there to keep order. But, for the Knights, their place in the show for the ceremony was complete, and for the Initiates specifically, it was time for them to return to the Academy and make preparations; training had ramped up since the return in Yule. Three-fourths of the Knights in the Academy had enrolled in the tournament with heavy encouragement from their Orders. At all levels of this thing, the King wanted a grand showing from his people. So, as the group marched slowly back through the farmlands and the greenery that was starting to come back to their little patch of dirt that the walls sealed in, Erec expected the ceremony to be the highlight of his day and to hone down and get back into renewed training¡­ After all, he had about three classes rescheduled for the afternoon. Instead, after everyone had returned to the Academy and were dismissed back to their dormitories by a Knight Commander, he, Garin, and Colin found a note pinned to their door. It contained instructions to Boldwick. They were to immediately don their Armor, gather weapons, and meet the Master Knight outside of the Academy building. Their absences in the afternoon classes were forgiven, and they were being called to undergo ¡®special training.¡¯ Sparks ran through Erec as he reread the note, a smile on his face. Maybe they would undergo another harsh training session¡ªa way to gain power quickly. Maybe in the light of seeing the groups enter with his own eyes, the Master Knight thought they needed a little more. It both terrified and delighted him. In fact, just watching those people enter had gotten him revved up. Unable to help but wonder just how powerful they were.