Arc 3: Choosing Reality by Embracing Life
Walgonia's Capital City was split into four districts. Pushing through the north district was a mass of knights and guards from the neighboring countries of Valatroctius and Ravoria. Cheering and watching along the sides of the streets was the massive crowd made up of both humans and Demi-humans, protected and held back by the large number of Walgonian forces set up for their arrival. They were making their way through the dense streets and into the center of the capital; the other countries were traveling to the castle of Walgonia for the Knights Exam.
Edward {Ugh.}
Gray and the others had taken a carriage around the back of the castle, resting within one of the few inns under its towering shadow.
Gray: "Edward, you're up early."
After their month of training, they've officially tagged along with Edward to the Knight exam. After having spent the night in the two story stone inn, they awaited the next day for the Knight exams to begin.
Edward: "Could say the same thing for you. I was getting ready for tomorrow so I don't have to do it later."
The Knight exam is only held when there is no air to the throne of Walgonia. While the many noble families were still quite resistant, the original doctrine that solidified Walgonias creation ordered it so. So by gathering the leaders of all the surrounding countries, aside from one, in one place, they've begun the election. With the other nobles and knights voting, coming from around their respective countries.
Gray: "This whole Knight Exam thing is a little funky. Won't it just let another country take power?"
But just before the main event, the Knight exam is held to showcase the country's best yet-to-be knights to decide who seems more capable, and as a bit of fun as well. But for the participants, if they make it past the first two challenges and make it to the third, then they're automatically made knights once the ruler has been decided.
Edward: "Kinda. Walgonia, Ravoria, and Valatroctius were formed after facing a great evil together. Things haven't panned out great with our relationship with them since though, but it seems they're sticking to the rules."
Right now Edward and Gray stood beside each other in a small common space, with Gray sitting on a couch and Edward cleaning his armor on the table.
Gray: "Is that really all of the countries? Just the three?"
Edward: "At least for the continent. However there is another, a place called Athens. Though Athens is currently having issues with a civil war, so they didn't send out a candidate."
That word, Athens, instantly standing out. However he had to push that aside, assuming it's isekai' nonsense.
Gray: "So we're supposed to represent Walgonia. That's spooky. And Julius, Arthur, the two random dudes with them, they represent Valatroctius?"
Edward: "Yep, and it is scar. The candidates are people whom they see as worthy of showing to the Lords. The only rule is that they cannot be in any form of military already, and they must be sworn in after. Usually, you become a knight by taking a physical and physiological exam, this one is special and only held when a new lord is chosen. Since Kioshi was the one who killed Azalea, she had to pick four fighters. Valatrocitus had to pick three, and because of our previous conflicts with Ravoria, they had to pick one."
Gray: "Thanks."
Feeling a bit awkward and unable to move his mind away from Al he almost stood up and left, but pushed through it anyway. Feeling a bit more confident in himself for once after surviving the ordeals with anarchy two days prior.
Gray: "I'm sorry about Al. I don't really know your relationship with him but I know he was close to you."
Gray's words caused Edward to shutter. So he stopped polishing his dark silver gear and took a hefty breath.
Edward: "He was special. Like a grandpa or old uncle. He and Musashi took me in after my family was attacked, he took Musashi and my father in after their parents fell as well."
Edward had a somber, heavy feeling in his voice. But instead of smiling through it or thinking of the good moments, Edwards voice became a bit of a horse.
Edward: "The Sect took him from us. He was a retired strategist, he was supposed to be safe. He did everything right. He never hurt a soul and yet!
Edward gripped his fist, his eyes flickering with a chained fire, his fangs festering, but he stopped. Taking his armor and stepping toward the door.
Edward: "Get some rest."
Gray nodded, responding before standing and stepping toward the door himself.
Gray: "You too."
They split ways down opposite sides of the hall, never turning back to each other. As Gray walks back to his room he notices Soku standing in the hallway.
Gray: "What are you doin' up?"
But she cut straight to the point.
Soku: "He's lying yah know."
Gray: "What?"
Soku: "Edward. I can tell by the sound of his voice and that look in his eyes. He's lying and it seems pretty dangerous."
Gray couldn't help but take her words with a grain of salt. After all of the blasts of wind and snickering comments, along with his rising pride, he could only listen and chuckle.
Gray: "Oh really now, and what tells you that?"
Soku: "Look I had to get good at reading people in my time on the street. And I'm really good at telling if somebody is lying. And he was not taking Al's death well. He's suppressing it, suppressing a lot. He's gonna explode with all that emotion if something goes wrong. If that happens during the Knight Exam or during another Sect attack I don't -
While Gray didn't want to, he had to, to insure that his own soul would remain standing. So even if it wasn't very friendly or heroic, he had to put on a face of blinding optimism to keep moving and push the possibility of anything bad happening far away. So he yawned loudly before placing his hands in his pockets, annoying Soku.
Gray: "Look, just go to bed. If he needs to let that emotion out then he'll do it. And if it's powerful then he'll kick ass."
Before she could respond he had walked away, stepping into his small empty room.
Soku: "Alright."
Soku had made her way into her larger room. Inside of which was two beds, one empty, the other with Ophelia. Rosemary was holding Ophelia, who was shaking and staring toward the barricaded balcony, with tears and shakes of fear over taking her.
Soku: "Please Ophelia, it's gonna be okay. There are knights from all over all around! Musashi, Kioshi, the strongest all around! Even if all of the Sect showed up I don't think they could win."
She forced a smile and held Ophelia's hand, trying to comfort her to the best of her ability. Across the inn was Gray, staring up at the ceiling alone and content. When he looked toward his hands he found calluses, when he flexed he saw definition, and when he attempted to surge mana into his foot he did it; Gray was making real, undeniable, rapid progress for the first real time in his life.
Gray {I don't understand.}
With nobody around him he was forced to sit with his own thoughts. Clenching his hand over and over, his eyes twitching and his chest empty.
Gray {I have so many important people around me, I have a purpose and goal, I have a girl I like, hell I even have a true force going against me! Real powers dammit!}
Still he clicked his tongue and clamped onto his lip, causing blood to flow down it.
Gray {So why do I still, no, why do I feel even worse than before!?}
He had held his hands to his angry, sweating, panicking face. His mind, one ravaged by himself and the constant burning nightmares, was reaching its last legs. Leaving him unable to fall asleep at all, a curse that has returned to him since his arrival to this world. After the moon sets and the sun rises they get up, get dressed, and walk toward the back of the castle. Still in awe of its all encompassing view.
Gray: "Even if I've seen castles before this is still insane!"
Rosemary: "I don't think I'll ever get used to it."
As they moved forward Gray kept his jog to stay in the front, to lead them forward, while Edward struggled to tag along far behind. As they got closer they saw the mass of guards from all sides, welcoming them in through the massive wooden back doors. As it opened it revealed a blinding flash of light before fading to show them everything.
Gray: "It's even cooler on the inside!"
Ophelia was running and squealing with joy, causing Rosemary and Soku to light up with their own happiness. The roof was high, its walls wide and white. Its bright, clean, massive entrance was filled with well over a thousand people. The halls are filled with people in knights' armor and suits, nobles of all corners. It was so much all of their hearts, aside from Ophelias, shuttered with anxiousness.
Soku: "I never expected to be inside the castle. I always assumed I would just have gotten caught stealing and executed shortly after."
Ophelia: "It's so pretty!"
While the others were taken in by the sight Rosemary turned to Edward, feeling bad and wishing to walk and reach her hand toward him. Gray noticed this and dashed forward, getting in between the two and placing his arm around Rosemary. She was taken in by it and flashed red.
Gray: "Toward the exam!"
They jog past the aristocrats and guards further into the main hall. The walls had statues, armor, paintings, tapestries, and the many golden crests on waving flags around. Walgonias look like this world's version of a W, Valatrocitus a V, and Ravoria's a golden Raven. Hanging and lighting the room were the many golden chandeliers lit with magic crystals, the walls lined with candles and glowing gems as well.
The generic silver knight gear with hints of blue for Walgonia, dark and sharp armor for Valatroctius, and long silver glossy bird-like armor for Ravoria. At the end of the room sits Kioshi, Arthur, and the last candidate Elisabeth atop some stands, all head commanders of their kingdoms.
Gray: "It's overwhelming.
Soku: "Took the words right out of my mouth."
Rosemary: "I was here once when I was a girl, and yet it's even more beautiful than I remember."
Ophelia: "Ooooh."
Everyone chatting silences in fear when a brash old man they can't seem to see begins screaming over them.
Announcer: "OK, NOW THAT MUSASHI'S AND KIOSHIS CHOICE OF CONTENDERS HAS FINALLY ARRIVED, NOW BEFORE WE BEGIN, ALL OF THE EXAMINES MUST GO INTO THAT ROOM OVER THERE, WHERE THEIR ARMOR, WEAPONS, AND OTHER THINGS THEY MIGHT NEED WILL BE HELD! EVERYONE ELSE WHO WILL BE WATCHING, WALK UP THOSE STAIRS, WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH THE FIRST TRIAL!"
Gray looked around for anything that looked like a set speaker but found nothing, leaving him as confused as the others to just how they were hearing this man's voice.
Gray: "I hate public spaces. And how can I hear this dude's voice!?"
Rosemary: "You can say that again. And I'm not quite sure."
Edward walked through them, taking their attention, even the attention from the surrounding crowd. His towered appearance, pitch black hair, dense armor, and large blade all standing out.
Edward: "It should be a Mark of Providence. I'm not too familiar with the man's name but -
And then Edward realized just how many eyes were on him, causing him to turn as red as the others. However they quickly began to run toward the nearby guards calling over to them. Spotting Musashi in front of them.
Soku: "I hate the whole knight thing, I'm only here so I can get some clout. I'm tired of living like a rat."
Gray: "I've been obsessed with the whole knight thing since I was a kid so this is right up my alley."
Rosemary: "I would just like to use my strength to fight for a real purpose and not some false bloody cause."
They made it to Musashi, with Gray standing in front of them all and saluting to him. Musashi smiled and gently held Ophelia's small hand, stepping away.
Musashi: "Opheilia come with me, you're coming to watch right?"
Ophelia: "Oh yeah! Let's go."
Yet just before they ran Musashi motioned his head toward the door.
Musashi: "Enter through there, then get your armor and weapons Al had made for you. I'll be watching over the Exam so don't make us look bad. You're representing Walgonia but Kioshi especially."
Gray: "Alright, gotcha! See yah later."
Musashi: "Good luck to you all."
Rosemary: "Thank you!"
Soku: "Yeah, thanks."
They enter the room, seeing the other examinees that the other candidates picked; There they see Julius, Roy, and Lloyd. Whom they had met at the dinner before the attack on the mansion. Then in the corner stands one white haired woman by herself. Praying and holding a spear over her crossed legs, wearing the shining Ravorian armor.
Gray: "That girl back there, she's all alone?"
Edward: "She must be Rosine Voria, with Ravoria's Imperial army, Ravoria's examinee, and the only daughter of Queen Voria."
Gray: "Ravorian Imperial army?"
Rosemary: "They're like Ravoria's version of the Levitation army, then there's Val Atrocitus' Dragon army."
Gray: "So where's our armor?"
Soku began stepping toward the area with the large Walgonian flag blowing from it, following her and finding three boxes signed by Al.
Edward: "When Al took your measurements, he had Musashi ask a blacksmith to make armor most fitted to your fighting style. It was made pretty quickly, through already crafted goods, but once you enter the knights you should get your own specially crafted gear. "
Gray: "Nice!"
They got down and opened them, smiling in joy when they pulled out their gear."
Edward: "For Gray, Some grey medium-weight armor, a red hooded cloak, and a regular sized sword sword. For Soku, some light armor you can wear under your coat and your blade. And for Rosemary, some spare Golden Knight armor."
The sound of that made her shiver, the Golden Knights, the worst part about her life. But she held it in and kept smiling. Her armor was a light blue, a chest piece and shoulder armor along with some vambraces and leg armor atop some black clothing. They put on the gear, with Gray grabbing some throwing knives and some flame crystals, stuffing them in his pockets. He had some simple armor placed like Rosemarys atop his casual clothing. Wearing his grey jacket since the arm of it was recently stitched back on by Rosemary. Once they were done everyone in the room walked into a connectinghall to see the three candidates in front of a big door. Arthur, the old queen of Ravoria Elizabeth, and Kioshi.
Kioshi: "Hey guys!"
Arthur: "All right everyone, you all will go in the room group by group. After one group finishes the trial the next one will go in."
Elizabeth: "Alright for the first group. Walgonia! Please enter through the door! AND HURRY IT UP!"
Kioshi was waving happily, Arthur was smirking and crossing his arms, and Elizabeth was tired of it all. Then coming in behind Gray's group were the others, ready for the Exam. Their hearts were pounding when they heard the loud voices of the many people on the other side of this door.
Gray: "Of course we're first, the manner of things I guess."
Rosemary: "Yeah, it does seem to be our luck as of late."
Soku: "So what do you think it will be?"
Edward: "Most likely something unfair."
Gray: "Yeah, it seems so. That's also lucky as of late."
The big doors open, revealing a tight tan arena, the many many officials and knights observing in the many seats above. Council members watching down from balconies even higher up. The knights and aristocrats of each country were separated, the candies stood far in front of them, and each section separated by a large flag representing their country. The door shut behind them, leaving them alone to be observed by the people.
Gray: "Um…I don't do well when I'm being watched."
Rosemary: "Yeah…"
Gray and Rosemary were both quiet, almost drowning in fear and anxiety as they walked into the center of the circular arena. In the corners of the area there were slim staircases leading to the stairs above, heavily guarded and protected. Aside from that, the only other door was the massive and imposing iron gate in front of them. They then jumped and squealed along with the gasping crowd when they heard the old man's booming voice.
Announcer: "NOW RELEASE IT!"
The crowd shouts when another door opens, revealing a towering ten foot tall Ogre.
Gray: "HOLY SHIT!"
Soku: "HOLY SHIT IS RIGHT!"
Edward: "BEHIND ME!"
Edward stepped forward, Rosemary to the side, Gray in the middle, and Soku at the end, shaking and trembling while the crowd roared.
Announcer: "AN OGRE, A MID-TIER SPIRIT BEAST! FACING AND SLAYING SPIRIT BEASTS OF ALL KINDS IS ONE OF MANY JOBS OF A KNIGHT, SO GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR FUTURE!"
The massive group of guards watching could step in at any time, while the Gods of War Musashi, Kioshi, and Elizabeth could do the same. Taking out almost everybody in the room single handedly if they needed to. The Ogre itself was starved, drooling, mindless, and screaming while beating its light green chest over and over. With a chain attached to its neck, hands, waste, and ankles, it struggled to move forward, choking itself to kill them.
Gray: "Damn, well it is nostalgic, right Soku?"
Soku: "Yeah I guess."
He had turned to her and gave her a fear filled massive smile, turning back to face the beast looking down on them with mindless, maddening, rage.
Announcer: "NOW BEGIN! AND DON'T DIE NOW!"