Before Lucius knew it, a month had already come and gone. It was during the evening of their thirtieth day that Lady Bradamante gathered the players back to the stadium and addressed them with a voice filled with dry indifference.
“You’ve toiled well these past few weeks,” she began. “I was skeptical at first, but most of you managed to meet my expectations. Fast learners, surprisingly. With that, everyone here has officially passed!”
>[Chain Sub Quest has been completed!]<
*(NEW!) +10 unattributed status points
*(NEW!) 200 Cosmic Coins
Lucius felt a bit hungry, so he put all the points into endurance. The total was now at a whopping thirty-three!
The stadium descended into a cry of celebration and relief upon the announcement. Finally, they were free from the lady’s tortuous training.
“Don’t get overconfident now.” She sent a sharp glare toward the audience. “I did say you passed, but that doesn’t mean you’re competent. A mere month’s of training is far from enough to make you on par with even the youngest of our Order. However, while you may not have the reflexes of a knight, those strange skills of yours have the potential to make you no lesser our equals. Refine it—hone it. If you don’t, you’ll only serve as food for the demons.”
She stayed silent for a moment, beholding them all while pacing around in slow, perhaps anxious, strides. The paladin seemed conflicted, furrowing her brow and mouthing words that resembled doubt - as if she was forced into what would soon be announced.
Lucius had somewhat managed to grasp the language of this land by studying the way they articulated words and then cross-referencing it with their written script (thankfully there was an option to turn off the system’s automatic translation). It had a slight resemblance to early Germanic, similar grammar structure, and as a result the gentleman could now read lips—an important skill for those who fancied the art of snooping.
That was why he could confidently say without a shadow of the doubt that the lady had mumbled something along the lines of, “Damn it… must we really send them out now? They’re not ready. Those old fools of the court may as well be leading them to their deaths.”
Oh dear, that didn’t sound good.
Bradamante slumped over and sighed. The other players noticed her hesitation, and soon, a nervous wave began to spread among them. Just what was she about to say that pained her so?
“... After reviewing your progress with the elders of the faith, we have determined you all sufficient enough to contend with the demonic forces.”
Ah, so that was it: They wished to mobilize the players as part of their army. Lucius knew it had to happen eventually, but for such a decision to be made so soon… was it out of impatience, or something more malicious in intention?
At the very least, Bradamante didn’t appear to belong to the faction that wished them gone. Her hand was forced by a higher power.
“Upon the first light of the morrow, you will gather your belongings and then be taken to Roncevaux Fortress near the western border, where our defense against the hordespawn is at its most dangerous. Only the brightest of our Order are sent there, but the elders believe it necessary for you to witness their plight first hand. I cannot guarantee your safety, so it is very important that you do not stray from your assigned positions. The demons are not an enemy you can face. Well, except for maybe a select few…”
Bradamante glanced over to Marco and Mili, and to a lesser extent, Lucius as well. The gentleman had been on his best behavior ever since the lady made her bizarre declaration, but a hint of suspicion still lingered in her wary eyes.
It wasn’t as if Lucius was trying to hide his prowess; he just never saw any reason to. A gentleman had to be humble, after all.
“Still, I would advise against testing your luck,” she continued. “Your only task is to watch, and to learn. Don’t cause a fuss and you should emerge… alive, hopefully.”
The players’ faces darkened even more. How ominous.
“Further instructions will henceforth come from the stationed commander: Sir Ogier, another member of the Twelve Peers and a paladin of great experience. As much as I’d like to go and keep you lot out of trouble, my duties remain here. Don’t worry - the man’s an even stronger warrior than me. You’ll be in safe hands.”This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Bradamante turned around and called up a familiar face: Sir Ruggiero. He bowed his head, looking quite somber, and stood at attention.
“I also managed, after a very, very lengthy debate, to get the elders’ permission for Ruggiero to accompany you. I trust him more than I do myself, so it would be wise to follow his orders.”
The man didn’t seem all too pleased to part with Lady Bradamante. However, he understood the necessity of his presence. Lucius had seen few among the knights with as much proficiency in the healing arts as the foreign paladin. They either relied on those green gemstones to patch minor wounds or simply toughed it out, laughing and numbing the pain with drink. Such was the Frankish way. The gentleman found it quite humorous that these supposedly holy warriors specialized in brute strength rather than the more clerical arts.
Sir Ruggiero was the complete opposite. Even during the players' training, he diligently attended to the wounded with a benevolent smile and a serene gaze. His blessings were different from the traditional paladins - they sought to strengthen, to enhance, while he prioritized the rejuvenation of mind and body.
But though his goodwill garnered much tenderness from the players, the gentleman noticed a discomfort veiled beneath the man’s guise. He kept his head down whilst among the other knights; he overexerted himself for tasks deemed as minor, all to avoid attracting the ill will of those around him.
Even in the company of Bradamante, the only person who he truly seemed to be comfortable with, Ruggiero muted his presence and stood in her shadow.
All this effort, this purposeful groveling, for what? To remain inconspicuous? No, the Ruggiero Lucius saw was a man who yearned to be accepted. He had buried it deep below under layers upon layers of apathy and defeat, but there was no ridding a seed once taken root. The question was… would it bloom, or remain forever hidden?
What would he look like when faced with his true self?
Perhaps Lucius should better acquaint himself with the man.
“My council will always be available, should you need it,” Ruggiero said, humbling himself before the audience. “The territory we shall soon tread is a dangerous place. It is not for the faint of heart, and that is why I worry. Many of you bear a terror deep within. I am unaware of what has caused it, nor do I believe you wish me to know. Everyone has a memory they wish to keep secret, and while I will always respect your wishes, I do hope you trust me when I say thus: I am here - whether you require a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, or simply wish to be consoled of your fears.”
Ruggiero spoke not with deceit. His usual tender face was now hardened, and creased, in worry. The players saw a kindred spirit in the darker-skinned man, for just like they, he was someone who knew full well what it was like to be a stranger in a land ever so foreign.
“I know it is not easy to trust me,” he continued. “And you do not need to. Rather than scantily made promises, let my actions from hereon speak in my place: what I do, how I react, question it all. Should you come to me even after casting your judgement, then nothing would please me more than to speak as equals.”
Bradamante slowly walked up beside him, and placed a worried hand on his shoulder. The two did not need words to converse with the other - Ruggiero held her close, nodded, and then turned back towards the players.
“Take this time to rest yourselves; the mind needs nourishment just as much as the body. Come morning, we will depart.”
With that, the session concluded. This time there was no excitement—no thunder or screams to lighten the mood. Instead, a suffocating dread coursed through them all as they left the area, dragging their feet all the while.
“It’s gonna be like the maze, isn’t it?” Mili muttered. “Being scared, lookin’ behind our backs, losing friends… makes you appreciate just how good we’ve had it lately.”
Marco shook his head and reassured her. “No, it’ll be different. We’re stronger now, and the knights are there too, ya know? It ain’t gonna be like before. I’ll make sure of that.”
Mili laughed and playfully bumped his arm. “Appreciate the thought, big guy, but all you and Lucius gotta do is stand back and watch me roll. I’ll do the shooting.”
The party’s gloom soon quickly lifted, and they returned back to their dorms, hopeful of the future to come.
Except for Lucius. He had one more visit to make.
The gentleman climbed the walls and scurried over to the far end of the castle. There, Karolus awaited him right outside their usual meeting space. The boy’s usual cheerful expression was different, however, replaced by a despondent look full of despair.
“I’ve, um, heard the news,” he whispered. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
Lucius chuckled and ruffled his hair. “Only for a short while, young Karolus. Once I’ve finished my business, we shall meet again and have our tea parties - just as usual.”
The boy smiled, but a hint of concern still lingered. “Will you fight the demons?”
“It is likely.”
“I’ve heard they’re really dangerous.”
“I have your blessing, don’t I?” Lucius squished the boy's cheeks and kneeled down until the two were face to face. “I will return, Karolus. There is nothing more powerful, or elegant, or roguishly handsome than I. That is the universe's one true constant.”
Karolus was baffled by Lucius’s sheer, unapologetic confidence. He stood still for a second, frozen, and then burst out into an uncontrollable giggling fit.
“Yep, you’re the same as ever, Lucius,” he said, wiping away a tear. “It’s strange, but… when you say that, I can’t help but believe it.”
“But of course! A gentleman never lies.” Except when they needed to.
Lucius reached out and gave Karolus a firm shake of the hand. “Until we meet again, my friend.”
They exchanged one last heartfelt farewell, before leaving with silent steps.
Karolus was growing quite beautifully, but it would be a while before he fully bloomed. For now, Lucius’s target was set on another.
He smiled, eager to greet the new day.