The clatter of plates and laughter from breakfast still lingered in my ears when Father announced the next step.
"Shellia," he said, his voice steady and carrying a weight I had come to know well. "Kaelin will need proper guidance if she is to grow strong. The Emerald Dukedom Knights are the shield of this land. She will train under the head commander."
I froze mid-sip of tea. "The… head commander?"
Father nodded, folding his hands behind his back. "Sir Reinhardt himself will oversee her growth. And not just hers." His sharp violet gaze softened as it shifted toward me. "Your spirits will be included."
I nearly dropped my cup. "Excuse me?"
Orielle, perched elegantly by the window, arched a brow. [Orielle: That doesn't sound like a request. More like an order.]
[Yuki: I assume it is not to test our worth, but… to strengthen the knights?]
Father nodded once. "Correct. The Emerald Dukedom Knights must adapt to new threats. Sparring against demons or corrupted monsters is unpredictable, but training with spirits—beings of great power bound to Shellia—gives them the edge they need."
Sylas stepped forward before I could react, his pale-blue eyes gleaming with unmistakable fire. [Sylas: Excellent. Finally, something meaningful. Combat is where one proves their strength.]
I groaned quietly. Of course he would say that.
Orielle sighed, sipping tea that had long since gone cold. [Orielle: Hn. You sound far too eager. Knights will not treat this lightly, you know.]
[Sylas: And neither will I.]
Yuki fluttered nervously to my shoulder, her little hamster body glowing faintly. [Yuki: If this is truly to aid the knights in protecting the dukedom, then… I will participate. But I dislike unnecessary violence.]
I muttered under my breath, "This day is getting stranger by the second."
Kaelin, seated beside me, lowered her gaze. Her fox ears twitched anxiously, but determination shone in her pale eyes. "I… I'll do my best," she whispered.
I reached over and placed a hand on hers. "You don't have to carry this burden alone, Kaelin. You're not a weapon—you're someone learning to stand again."
Her small smile was enough to steady my nerves, though Sylas's grin reminded me that he was probably planning battles in his head already.
---
The Emerald Dukedom training grounds were alive with motion when we arrived. Sunlight gleamed off polished armor as knights sparred, their swords clashing in rhythmic cadence. The grounds themselves sprawled wide, enclosed by high stone walls and dotted with wooden dummies, archery targets, and weapon racks. The air was thick with sweat, determination, and discipline.
Kaelin's carriage ride had been silent, her hands clenched on her knees. Now, standing before the towering gates, she took a deep breath as if inhaling courage.
We were greeted by a man whose very presence commanded respect. Tall, broad-shouldered, his scarred face weathered but not unkind, Sir Reinhardt exuded strength honed through decades of battle. His emerald-green cape, embroidered with the dukedom's crest, rippled behind him.
"Lady Shellia," he greeted, bowing with knightly precision. His deep voice carried across the grounds, quieting nearby knights. "Duke Gerald has entrusted Kaelin's training to me. I shall not fail this task."
I returned his bow with a small nod. "I place my trust in you, Commander."
His gaze shifted toward Kaelin, sharp yet not cruel. "Step forward."
Kaelin obeyed, her steps hesitant but steady. Reinhardt's eyes scanned her, lingering briefly on the faint marks where her slave collar had once been. For a moment, his jaw tightened, but he only said, "Strength lies not only in body, but in the will to rise again. You will train under me as a squire until I deem you ready for knighthood standards."
Her fox tail flicked nervously, but she bowed deeply. "Yes, Commander."
Satisfied, Reinhardt turned to me. "As for your spirits…"
Before I could explain anything, Sylas stepped forward, his aura chilling the very air. [Sylas: I accept.]
Reinhardt raised a brow, clearly unshaken by the frost-laden pressure. "So this is the ice spirit. Eager, I see."
[Sylas: Battle is the forge of growth. I will grant your knights the sharpness they lack.]
I nearly groaned aloud. "Sylas—"
But Reinhardt only chuckled, a low rumble that matched the grinding of steel. "Good. A soldier should hunger for the field. It will serve us well."
Orielle flicked her crimson hair with a sigh. [Orielle: Don't expect me to swing wildly like some brute. But… if this strengthens the Emerald Knights, I will lend fire to the forge.]
[Yuki: I prefer to heal rather than harm. But… I will not refuse if my strength helps shield the dukedom.]
Reinhardt's gaze lingered on me. "You've bound yourself to remarkable companions, Lady Shellia. I assure you, this is not for their assessment. It is for my knights to learn how to stand against powers beyond human reach."
I exhaled, relief washing through me. "Then I will trust you, Commander. But know this: if any harm comes to them—"
He raised a gloved hand. "You have my word. The dukedom thrives only if we protect what is precious."
---
Training began at once.
Kaelin stood at the edge of the grounds, wooden sword trembling in her hands. Reinhardt himself guided her, correcting her stance, adjusting her grip. She stumbled often, but his patience never wavered.
"Feet wider. Don't cower—press forward. The enemy will not wait for you."
"Yes, Commander!"
Meanwhile, across the field, the real spectacle began.
Sylas faced three Emerald Knights at once, his frost magic encasing the ground in thin layers of ice. Their swords clashed against barriers of frozen mist, their armor rattling as they tried to push through. His movements were precise, his strikes calculated—not wild, not merciless, but undeniably overwhelming.
[ Sylas: Strong. But strength without adaptation is useless. Again! ]
His laughter echoed across the grounds as the knights regrouped for another round.
Orielle, in contrast, fought elegantly. She danced around opponents, her flames flickering like ribbons, never burning flesh but always forcing knights to adjust their strategies. She seemed more teacher than opponent, each dodge and parry a lesson in precision.
[Orielle: Do not chase fire. Control your footing. Anticipate, don't react.]
Yuki… was another matter entirely. She refused to engage in direct combat, instead standing in the midst of knights who pretended to be "wounded," her glowing light knitting fake injuries while simultaneously pushing them back with barriers when they tried to rush her.
[Yuki: Your enemy will not allow you time to heal. Protect your healer first. Repeat this exercise until it becomes instinct.]
I stood by the sidelines, stunned. They weren't just training the knights—they were shaping them. Sylas hardened their endurance, Orielle sharpened their skill, Yuki reminded them of strategy. It was… perfect.
Kaelin glanced toward the sparring fields often, her eyes wide with awe. I stepped beside her, whispering, "They're not here to overshadow you, Kaelin. They're here to show you that strength takes many forms."
She nodded quickly, clutching her wooden sword tighter. "I'll catch up to them. Someday."
I smiled faintly. "That's all anyone can ask."
---
By the time the sun began to set, the knights were exhausted, sweat dripping from their brows, but their eyes burned brighter than before. Reinhardt dismissed them with a booming, "Well done! You've faced spirits and still stand. Remember this strength when demons come."
Sylas crossed his arms proudly. [Sylas: Acceptable. They will do.]
Orielle smirked. [Orielle: Hn. They improved. Slightly.]
Yuki floated to my shoulder, glowing warmly. [Yuki: They worked hard. That is enough.]
I laughed softly, shaking my head. "You three… you're impossible."
Reinhardt approached, Kaelin trailing beside him with dirt-smudged cheeks and tired but determined eyes. "She learns quickly," he said with rare praise. "In time, she may stand as one of our own."
Kaelin flushed but bowed low. "Thank you, Commander."
Then his gaze met mine. "And your spirits… they've given my knights more in one day than months of routine drills. For that, the Emerald Dukedom is in your debt, Lady Shellia."
The weight of his words settled on my chest. For all the confusion, the ghostly panels, the endless headaches of spirits arguing—at that moment, I felt proud.
Because together, we weren't just protecting ourselves. We were protecting home.
And Sylas, of course, had to ruin the moment.
[Sylas: Tomorrow, we train again. Harder.]
Orielle groaned. [Orielle: Spirits save us from his enthusiasm.]
[Yuki: …I knew this would happen.]
I pressed my hands to my temples, but I couldn't hide the smile tugging at my lips.
"Welcome to the Emerald Dukedom, Kaelin," I said softly. "Looks like you've joined quite the family."
Her tail swished shyly as she whispered back, "I… think I like it here."
And for the first time in a while, I believed we were building something worth more than power. We were building unity.
---