Avelyn pouted as she rode her horse, following beside Gavin. Holding with her other hand was also the rein of Elyscia’s horse.
It had to be me… I would have preferred to be with the mistress…
It was not that she was afraid, it was because it was annoying to do, to go meet other knights. They often look down on her because she was a young, petite girl. And others would know Avelyn’s story, one who was said to be discarded by her family. Her family was famous, after all. She was not exactly discarded, more like used as some sort of political tool. She did not have a particularly respectable reputation.
There were just plenty of arrogant knights out there, especially those with noble birth. She had met a few of them, especially when she was at the capital. All of them were bothersome.
Well, I have become way stronger than before. I suppose I could go and beat them to a pulp if they try to make fun of me.
Avelyn looked around and was starting to realize where they were going. “We’re going to the castle?”
There was a castle at the center of the city with towering walls, and covered a wide area. A fortress within a fortress city.
“Of course. That’s the main command center. And considering our original mission, we should report to the highest command. They gave us that mission, after all.”
Avelyn narrowed her eyes. “Highest in command? D-Do you mean the hero?” She clenched her fists. It was the mistress’s enemy.
“Could be, or his personal aides. Depending on who we get to meet.”
“Wouldn’t he get suspicious as to why we’re here? Aren’t our roles supposed to be guarding that cave?”
“This is not really the first time that all knights left that place. Previous knights had taken vacations before.”
“Really?” Avelyn found it surprising to hear that. There were competent and powerful soldiers that were also guarding the place, so they could pretty well manage without knights. They were, to put it simply, among the elites of soldiers. They just couldn’t stand a chance against the mistress at all.
“In the end, we are of noble status. We have the privilege of taking our vacation. At most, they’ll send another set of knights.”
“Oh, to take our place?”
“Yes.”
“Wouldn’t they discover that everyone just disappeared?”
“If they decide to send knights… I’ll consult with the mistress promptly.”
It would be bad if they discovered the mistress was out. Avelyn found it a waste for the empire to learn of her mistress’s return. Having the element of surprise was always advantageous.
Avelyn nodded. “Can you do all the talking?”
“Just let me do the talking. Oh, needless to say, behave.”
Avelyn frowned deeply. “Hmph! What am I, a child?!”
“Yes, you are.”
She growled. “Fine, whatever. I’ll do nothing but stand, bow, or whatever.”
Gavin let out a long sigh. “I sure hope so.”
Why so little faith?!
They stopped by the stable that Gavin mentioned to the mistress and left the two horses there.
Later, they arrived at the castle entrance. It had a large portcullis, soldiers in full armor, and archers on top of the wall. It was tightly guarded. Avelyn had not been here before. Before being sent to guard the cave, she first stayed at an inn somewhere in this city for a night, then was immediately sent to her job location. Everything happened so fast, and she was not exactly treated as someone befitting her status.
The castle was a beautiful place. Grand. It must have cost a fortune to build a place like this. However, it was no way near the grandeur of the palace in the capital.
Gavin jumped off his horse, and Avelyn followed suit.
One of the guards approached Gavin. “Identification, please.”
“I am a knight of the empire, Baron Gavin Osonia. Here to give our report to the commanding officer.” He pulled out a small sigil made of steel from his pocket. It was the emblem of the Knights’ Order, two swords with sun rays surrounding them. Gavin’s name was engraved on the back of it.
The guard received it and looked at its back. “Baron. Forgive us for holding you back.”
“No, it’s alright. What you’re doing is important.”
“Thank you for your understanding.” The soldier lowered his head, then turned towards Avelyn. “Can we please have your identification, milady?”
Avelyn handed out her own sigil. “I am Avelyn Eluca Ismena, a knight of the empire.”
The soldier checked her emblem and nodded before handing them back. “Thank you for your cooperation. You’re free to enter.” The soldier walked back to his post and gestured to his allies to open the gates.
The gate rumbled as it slowly opened.
They walked inside and left their horses to a hitching post nearby.
Avelyn looked around in awe. There was already a garden around, filled with flowers and hedges. Then another nearby was an open courtyard where soldiers were standing by, along with some that appeared to be normal castle staff, just cleaning or looking around.
“I heard this city was destroyed during the war,” Avelyn said. “How could they rebuild something so fast?”
“Magic makes things more convenient. The war encouraged people to be stronger and learn more skills. And… the hero makes for a good leader, I suppose.”
“Are all heroes this excellent?”
“I mean, isn’t our mistress excellent herself?”
“Huh…”
They were perhaps heroes for a reason. They were among the peaks of humanity. Excellence was to be expected. And the mistress was no exception.
Avelyn followed behind Gavin as they made their way inside the castle, at least on one side of it. The place was pretty big, which could be separated into sections. And indeed, in this particular part of the castle, there was a lobby. Knights, both men and women, in their beautiful armors filled the room, talking and laughing.
The moment the two stepped in, the knights looked at the two new arrivals. Avelyn grew slightly stiff, raising her guard. But thankfully, they didn’t seem to have sensed that they were undead. The mistress’s illusion magic item was working perfectly. If they had seen through the illusion, these knights would not just casually stand or sit around.
“Who are those guys?” one murmured.
“I’ve seen that man before.”
“He’s with a kid.”
Avelyn frowned and turned a sharp glare at the one who said that. She was not a kid at all, she was just a bit smaller than average.
“Avelyn… Don’t stare. They don’t know you.”
Avelyn mildly shook her head as they approached a man in formal clothing at the front desk.
The man’s eyes widened upon seeing them before forming a welcoming smile. “Ah, Lord Gavin,” said the man. “It’s been a while. What are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be on some kind of special mission.”
“We decided to take a break for the time being. Can we meet with the hero, or at least the commander, to tell them about us being here?”
“Of course. I’ll check if they're available.”
“Even if they’re not, they wouldn’t want to miss me.”
“Oh? Is your mission truly that important?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. If you’ll excuse me, please wait.” With that, the man left.
Gavin and Avelyn waited. As they did, the latter walked around, checking out some of the decors in the room. They were quite beautiful, but it must have been expensive to create them. Avelyn loved the arts, and truly appreciated whenever she saw something impressively made. She gently touched one beautiful decoration, making sure not to push it or anything. She often wondered how someone could have such skill to create something so precise and meticulous. Really makes one envy their skills.
As she looked around, she noticed an open room. There were metals clanging, people sparring most likely. They must be knights that were training.
That must be a training room.
As she momentarily stood by the entrance of the training room, curious about what was inside, a knight suddenly exited the room. He paused when Avelyn was in his way, and he looked down at her with a stern, authoritative gaze. The moment Avelyn saw how he looked at her, she felt displeased. But she reeled in such a feeling.
“Who’s this pipsqueak?” asked the tall man in his early twenties.
Avelyn frowned, her annoyance flared. “You dare? Have some respect!”
“Really now?” He snickered. “Look guys, a shorty acting all tough.”
Three more knights came up to her, scrutinizing her from top to bottom.
“Who is she supposed to be?”
“Someone new?”
“You don’t know who you’re talking to, little girl.”
Avelyn clenched her fist. “I’m not a little girl. Take that back.”
“Why should we?” They laughed haughtily, and they were getting on her nerves.
“You don’t seem to understand who you’re mocking. I am from the Ismena family, so you better hold your tongue and show me some respect.”
“Ismena,” one guy muttered, his brow knitting in trying to recall something. “You’re a daughter of Marquis Ismena?”
“Yes, I am.”
The tall man in front of Avelyn smiled as though he realized something. “Wait… Could it… You’re that one, aren’t you?” He briefly chuckled humorously.
“... What one?”
“Haha! Yes, you definitely are. You’re that one that was discarded!”
Avelyn’s eyes widened. “I was not discarded!”
“Yes, I heard of you! What was your name…? Avelyn, was it?”
Avelyn pursed her lips, glaring at the man.
“I’m right, am I?” He chuckled. “Yes, the useless girl. She was so useless that she was thrown into the middle of nowhere.”
Avelyn closed her eyes. “I… I am not… useless.”
“Really? But that’s the story.” He casually shrugged. “If I remember correctly, that’s what your family described you as.”
Avelyn was at a loss for words.
They would describe me like that to other people? To other nobilities, no less?
She was in utter disbelief. Her lips trembled as she lowered her head. Her hatred only grew upon hearing that.
How c-could they? I… I only wanted to be what I dreamed of.
And they sent her to some place far away, then smeared her name? It pained her heart so much that her own family could do something as terrible as that, to their own daughter. So traitorous, so cruel.
“Maybe you’re such a nuisance that they cast you aside like garbage.”
Avelyn placed a hand on her sword’s hilt. “You wanna fucking die?!”
“You’re threatening a captain, you imbecile!” shouted one of his knights.
“That’s right, little Avelyn,” the captain said with a smile. “Our family is of the same rank as you. You haven’t heard about us? I am Edren Lerde Farndell. Or you never even bothered with your education?”
“I heard of you.”
“Then you know of our reputation.”
Avelyn heard they were a family of powerful knights. Where their children were trained from a very young age to be warriors. Among the Marquis, their family could be said to be higher than Avelyn’s own family household. Farndell, to put it simply, had more influence and power. Considering their strength, they contributed heavily during the war.
“Of course. But I just don’t care.”
Indeed, she didn’t care. Not at all. For she now walked a different realm from these people. She had become something even more. What they were, their ranking, their reputation, just didn’t matter anymore. They were insignificant.
“You really want to go at it, little girl? You think someone like you could defeat me?”
“You talk too much. A sign of a weakling.”
The man’s eye twitched. “That’s it. You’ll come to regret this.”
It was then that Gavin placed a hand on Avelyn’s shoulder and took a step forward. “That’s enough. No fighting.”
“Sir Gavin, but—”
“Avelyn, what did I tell you?” He gave her a strong look.
Avelyn clicked her tongue and looked away.
The man, Edren, raised an eyebrow. “I know you. You’re a veteran knight.”
“Yes, I am. So all of you stand down. Knight Avelyn works under me. I will not allow any fight against my subordinate.”
The man groaned. “... Fine, out of respect to you, we’ll let this slide.” With that, he and his crew left.
Avelyn took a deep breath. “I could have beaten them easily, Sir Gavin.”
“Yes. But this is not a place to fight. You’re only putting everyone at risk. So stand down.”
“... Yes…” She was irritated. But Gavin was right, she had to behave. Everyone was already looking at them strangely, while others were intrigued.
It was then the castle staff from before returned. “Lord Gavin, the commander is ready to meet you.”
“Not the hero?”
“He’s currently busy with another matter. But he might join you shortly.”
“... I see. That’s fine. Please, lead us to the commander.”