Tonight, the children at the orphanage ate bread and roasted fish, the meat so abundant that each of them received a generous portion.
Sister Lisa looked pleased as well, for if she hadn't gone out searching, it would have been difficult to secure enough food for everyone.
Though it was said that this orphanage was funded by a Noble Family, the money that arrived was never enough. Sometimes, wicked hands would cut into the funds along the way, so that by the time it reached the orphanage, only scraps remained.
Sister Lisa never dared to protest.
"Children, tomorrow you mustn't wander anywhere. A guest will be arriving…" Sister Lisa announced once everyone had finished their meal.
The children were surprised.
"Who's coming, Sister Lisa?" one of them asked curiously.
Though rare, sometimes visitors from outside did appear—wealthy folk with kind hearts who donated clothes or food.
Naturally, the children hoped it would be someone like that.
Sister Lisa only smiled. "You'll find out tomorrow…"
She gave no further explanation, but her smile only deepened the children's curiosity.
Richard, however, didn't think much of it.
After dinner, he returned to his room.
Sitting on his bed, he once again felt his body.
What he longed for was more Aether, so he could not help but attempt to absorb it once again.
If he didn't persist, he would never become stronger at the pace he desired.
To him, absorbing even one or two Aether in a day would already be worthwhile.
So he concentrated, pushing his mind and body to draw it in. After an hour of effort, he succeeded once more.
[Aether: 11/1000
[Aether Accumulation: 11
Richard, who had been sitting upright, immediately collapsed onto his bed from exhaustion.
He was tired, but satisfied.
That small success naturally lifted his spirits.
He sat up again, trying once more to absorb Aether.
After another hour, he succeeded again.
[Aether: 12/1000
[Aether Accumulation: 12
"I'll try again tomorrow…"
His body now heavy with fatigue, Richard lay down and quickly drifted into deep sleep.
Even as he slept, his Aether rose.
(Your Aether has increased from 12 to 13!)
(Your Aether has increased from 13 to 14!)
[Aether: 14/1000
[Aether Accumulation: 14
In the morning, Richard awoke to the System's notification.
He could not have been more pleased.
"Children, wash up and put on your best clothes!" Sister Lisa's voice suddenly rang out.
At times, she truly could shout. Her voice was gentle, yet her call carried through the entire orphanage.
"Why is Sister Lisa so excited? Could this guest be someone special?" Richard wondered, beginning to feel a little curious himself.
He stepped out of his room and went to the large pond behind the orphanage.
It was the usual bathing place for those who didn't want to queue for the bathroom. Most of the boys used it, plunging straight in and even practicing how to swim.
The water was shallow, but the bottom was layered with small stones, so it never grew murky.
Of course, Sister Lisa wouldn't let them linger. After a quick bath, she urged them to eat breakfast, then gather at the front of the orphanage.
Every child had put on their best clothes, though their "best" were nothing more than worn, patched robes.
"Are they really arriving this early?" Augus muttered.
"They reached the neighboring village yesterday evening and stayed there. Now they're on their way here. Since they travel swiftly, they should arrive in no time," Sister Lisa explained.
The children only looked at each other in puzzlement.
At the same time, the villagers too had come out, lining up in front of their homes.
Clip-clop! Clip-clop!
Before long, Richard and the others heard the sound of hooves in the distance.
The rhythm grew louder and heavier, as though a whole company of horses was approaching.
Yet in the end, there were only three horses—enormous white steeds, their backs rising almost two meters high.
Each horse bore a man in his thirties, with fierce-looking faces.
They wore great silver armor that covered their entire bodies, though their helmets hung at their sides, next to the swords sheathed at their waists.
Just their presence made Richard feel a pressure, as though the very air had grown heavier.
"They've arrived—the Sky Armor Knights," Sister Lisa murmured.
"Sister, what are Sky Armor Knights? Aren't they just knights like any other?" a child asked in confusion.
The name was new to most of them, though Richard already knew from the book Tales of the Dragon Knights.
The Sky Armor Knights were not ordinary knights. They were warriors who trained to command the mysterious Sky Armor—armaments said to rival the power of Magi.
Of course, there were many tiers of Sky Armor, beginning at Tier 1 and beyond.
One had to learn to control it step by step, from the lowest tier upward.
For those without the talent for magic, this path offered an alternative road to great power. Yet it too demanded rare gifts—a strong natural physique above all.
Only those born with such bodies could hope to become Sky Armor Knights.
Richard didn't know the exact training methods, but naturally, he was curious now that such men had appeared before his eyes.
The knights rode straight to the orphanage.
"Lisa…" The man in the middle greeted her warmly, despite his grim expression.
"Brother Carlos, it's been so long since your last visit," Sister Lisa replied, beaming.
The man called Carlos dismounted, towering so tall that Richard and the children had to tilt their heads back to see his face.
"Brother Carlos, would you examine the children? See if any among them have the talent to become Sky Armor Knights," Sister Lisa asked eagerly.
"Very well…" Carlos nodded.
He drew a short silver rod from his horse and thrust it into the ground.
"We'll find out if there is any talent here. In our experience, if one truly possesses the gift, they can already command a fragment of Sky Armor, like this rod. Lisa, since you were once a Sky Armor Knight yourself, you should explain the method to them…"
"What? Sister Lisa was a knight…" The children gasped in shock.
"No wonder she's so fierce when she shouts," some whispered.
Sister Lisa looked proud, smiling as she said, "Yes, children, listen carefully. If you have this talent, your fate will change forever. If you join the Sky Armor Legion, not only will you eat well, you may even marry a beautiful woman when you grow up. In short, you'll never have to toil again."
Her words lit fire in their hearts.
But then she added, "Do not get too excited. The last time we tested, not a single one succeeded."
The children fell silent.
"Do you think it's that easy? Only the special few can do this. Now, let's begin. The method is simple—stand before the rod, imagine it as a part of yourself, then try to move it with your mind as though it were your own hand."
"Let me try first…" One of the bigger boys stepped forward eagerly.
Sister Lisa gestured for him to proceed.
He stood before the rod, eyes unblinking in concentration.
The others watched in anticipation—but nothing happened.
"You failed." Sister Lisa quickly pulled him aside.
"Next!" She pointed at another boy, smaller this time.
Nervously, he tried.
And failed.
One by one they attempted, but the results were all the same.
Sister Lisa could not hide her disappointment.
At last, Richard's turn came.
He wasn't the last, for several were still waiting and whispering among themselves.
Richard wasn't confident, but he stepped forward and did as instructed.
He thought he would know at once if he succeeded, but the truth was—it felt like nothing at all.
He couldn't sense any connection to the rod, nor did it move.
But unlike the others, he wasn't discouraged. Calmly, he stepped back.
Next was Augus, brimming with excitement.
Richard couldn't help but watch. He knew well how strong Augus was physically. Without the mind of an adult inside him, Richard himself would never have bested him in a fight.
The result shocked everyone.
The moment Augus stood before the silver rod, it lifted off the ground and floated straight toward him.
Even the Sky Armor Knights rubbed their eyes, unable to believe it.
"Is this real?" one whispered.
"High-level talent," another answered.
"We've passed through so many villages without finding a single gifted one, and now such a talent appears. The commander will reward us handsomely."
"My God…" Sister Lisa almost screamed.
"Did I succeed?" Augus asked casually, as if it were nothing.
"Boy…" Carlos strode over, lifting him with one massive hand.
"Boy, will you come with us?"
Augus hesitated, then asked, "Will you really give me delicious food every day?"
"Of course, without question…" Carlos replied quickly.
Like any child, Augus was swayed at once by the promise of food.
"Alright then, I'll go with you," he said, glancing at Sister Lisa, who gave him a look of approval to follow his choice.
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