"Hey! Did you hear!? About the visiting platoon?"
The boy speaking was Andel. He's an acquaintance I made while stealing from the baker. We'd been thrown into the village jailhouse together.
Since then, he joined the group of kids that lingered around me.
"What about it? Don't they visit every few months?"
"No, you idiot! Not like this! I heard there's a knight with them this time!"
A knight...?
"What!? No way! That's just some dumb rumor. Why would a knight visit some backwater place like this?"
They wouldn't do that unless they really needed recruits... but there's been no news of war?
"I don't know! But it's true, the mayor's making a big fuss about it in the town center. Come and see if you don't believe it!"
I chased after Andel. I couldn't believe a knight would go out of their way to visit a place so far out in the sticks.
Knights were said to be unfathomably powerful, rivaling even the greatest wizards in strength, despite magic themselves. I'd seen magic before, but never had I been witness to the uniquely powerful knights.
"EVERYONE GATHER ROUND, QUIET NOW AS THE FAIR KNIGHT APPROACHES THE STAGE!"
The crowd gathered around a large wooden stage, quiet and holding back all breathing in anticipation. I squirmed through the crowd, making my way to the very front.
Finally, a large person wearing shining armor appeared on stage. Their feet were heavy and shook the stage with each step.
"BEHOLD! THE FAIR KNIGHT!"
The fair knight took a bow, and the crowd erupted into maniacal cheers. I cheered with them. The fair knight was silent and professional, and we could all easily recognize their strength.
I was certain that I could never touch such a creature. The fair knight barely even registered as another human in my mind. And they hadn't even drawn their sword yet.
"WATCH IN AWE AS THE FAIR KNIGHT'S SWORD LEAVES THE SHEATH!"
The fair knight unsheathed their sword, and we all held our breath.
"WHO WANTS TO SEE A DEMONSTRATION OF THE FAIR KNIGHT'S STRENGTH!?"
"WE DO!" we all shouted in unison.
"WHO WANTS TO SEE A DEMONSTRATION OF OUR NATION'S STRENGTH!?"
"WE DO!" we all shouted in unison.
"WHO WANTS TO SEE A DEMONSTRATION OF OUR KING'S STRENGTH!?"
"WE DO!" we all shouted in unison.
The fair knight turned their back to us, and faced the empty and sprawling wheat fields. We waited in anticipation, and watched as the knight swiftly swung the blade across the air.
Certainly, a wave of pressure was sent through the air, blowing the crops as if there was wind. But... besides that... it was anticlimactic.
"..." the crowd whispered in confusion.
"Oh? Was that not entertaining enough for you people? Tsk, certainly, backwater country folk like you see people that can send gusts of wind across massive fields, right?
How foolish of me. Fair knight, sheathe your sword, these people are too good for our king's army."
As the knight turned back towards the crowd, they sheathed their sword. As the sword clicked into place, a loud cracking sound filled the air.
In the distant scenery, the towering mountain range stood tall. We all watched as the tip of Old St. Ann, the tallest mountain in the range, fell cleanly down the mountain, leaving a flat, unnatural plateau behind.
The crowd erupted into cheers, in disbelief about what they'd just witnessed. I, for one, was shocked beyond words, and my mouth hung wide.
"THAT'S RIGHT! THIS IS THE TRUE STRENGTH OF OUR FAIR KNIGHT! LINE UP TO THE LEFT TO JOIN OUR INCREDIBLE ARMY, AND YOU TOO CAN BECOME STRONG LIKE THE FAIR KNIGHT!"
Countless young men rushed to the recruiter, more than there had ever been before at the other platoon visits. If I was older, I might've rushed over too.
To become strong like that knight... what would it feel like?
"Andel...?"
I looked around for my acquaintance, and saw him messing around with the other boys of our group, playing with sticks.
"Guys! Wasn't that incredible!? I couldn't believe my eyes!" I said, rushing over to them.
"I know right! I'm definitely joining the army when I become of age... they say anyone can become a knight with enough effort!"
"As if... knights are no different than wizards. It's all luck and talent... no amount of hard work could make us country folk into something like that..." Andel groaned.
I suppose it was more disappointing than motivating for him. It was hard to fantasize about knighthood on an empty, starving stomach.
In the corner of my eye, I saw the fair knight sitting behind the stage, alone. No one else seemed to notice them. My curiosity got the best of me, and I snuck closer.
"Boy, I see you. Come here."
The voice shocked me, and I looked around in confusion.
"Yes, boy, it's me. The fair knight."
It's the fair knight!? But—
"Does it surprise you so that the fair knight is a woman?"
"...Yes. You don't look like a woman."
I walked closer to the knight, revealing myself.
"You—! Of course I don't! I'm covered in armor, after all!"
"But why didn't you speak on stage?"
"Well, the goal of these visits is to recruit young men. What good is showing off a woman knight?"
"I guess..."
"Aren't you interested in how I did it? That's why you were sneaking around, isn't it?"
"Not really... I sort of know. I just wanted to see why you were all alone."
"Ha! You 'sort of know'? Go on then, how'd I do it?"
"You're no wizard, so it wasn't magic. It's simple then, isn't it? If you're not a wizard, then you just did what any other human can do. You worked hard and believed in yourself."
"Hmmm... so anyone can split a mountain if they just try hard enough? And believe in themselves?"
"Of course. Is there any other explanation? You're human just as I am, right?"
"You're well-spoken for your age. But why are you so filthy? You and that bruised up boy you were with, I noticed the two of you in the crowd."
She means Andel...
"I'm filthy because I don't bathe, naturally. And I'm not as young as most think I am, just small for my age."
"Can't bathe, huh? Are you an orphan?"
"They call me a feral boy."
"And how old are you, boy?"
"I've just turned fourteen."
"Fourteen!? You're so small! What's your name?"
"I've already told you. I'm the feral boy."
"...You don't say."
I couldn't see the knight's face in that moment; she still wore her shining helmet after all. I didn't want to see her face though, since I could tell she was pitying me.
"It's all right. I live a good life. I'm clever, you said it yourself."
"I said you were well-spoken, that has nothing to do with cleverness. If you were really clever, you'd go to the church and become an orphan."
"I already tried that. They kicked me out before a week had passed."
"A week!? What'd you do so bad that the church kicked you to the street."
"I killed the pet rabbits the other orphans had been caring for."
"What? Now why'd you go and do that...?"
"I was hungry, that's what rabbits are for, aren't they? What's the point in having animals if you don't eat them? It's their fault really, they hadn't let me eat supper for three days."
"Why not?"
"They said I was possessed. That I acted like a demon, crawling around in my sleep. They even found out that I don't feel any pain, and it scared them even more. They thought I brought bad luck."
"Demon? You said you can't feel pain?"
"Yeah, that's right. Nothing hurts, not even a blade like yours would."
"Hmm... kid, I've got to go now, but I'll be back in roughly six months. Do me a favor, will you?"
"What is it?"
"You and your little friend, the both of you stay safe for me, okay? This village... it isn't safe or right at all, so if you need, seek shelter in the barracks a half mile west from here and tell them I sent you. If you're still a 'feral boy' by the time I'm back, I'll take you with me. Would you like that?"
"Take me with you? Really? You'd do that!?"
"I will. But you have to stay healthy, I don't want to come back to a skeleton, okay?"
"I'll do it! I will! Thank you, Mrs. Knight! I'll be waiting!"
The knight patted my head and turned towards the rest of the platoon. They were packing up their things and getting ready to move on to the next town.
I was off to find the other boys. I decided against telling them what'd happened. I doubted they'd believe me anyway.
I ran through the streets, grinning widely, not paying attention to my step.
"Watch out, rat!"
The tall boy stuck out his foot, tripping me onto my face.
"Hey! What was that for?!" I shouted.
"What's the rat so happy about? Did that knight make you hopeful or something? You think you can become like him?"
I bit my tongue. The boy, Darren, was seventeen. He was part of the majority that liked to pick and beat on me.
He was also the baker's son, and much bigger and stronger than I was.
He spat on me. "Keep it moving, rat. I don't want to see you any longer than I have to."
Darren walked off, kicking rocks as he went. From within the alley he'd emerged from, I heard coughing and soft groans.
I peered in, trying to see what was happening, and I gasped at the sight.
Andel, who'd been fine only a little while ago, was beaten and bloodied to a pulp, and lying on the ground.
"Andel...?"
He sputtered and coughed on the ground, unable to respond. It was clear that Darren and his friends took turns beating him, like they often did.
This time though, they went way too far.
Not like anyone will care...
I dragged Andel out to the stables we'd been staying in for the past few weeks. Then I set out to do what I'd meant to do for a long time.