A.N. this is the first time I'm trying to go through with a story so any feedback will be much appreciated, please go easy on me as I am new to this, thank you.

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1039 A.S. – South of Kingdom of Myria

 

It was raining hard with thunderstorms on the horizon, quite an ill omen for my first real mission since I joined the ranks. Being a knight in Myria should have been the highest of honor a lowborn civilian could achieve, most would say it's the first step to build and left a respected name for your sons and their sons after them. And yet…

"Stop daydreaming Lanford! We're almost reaching the village, get your gear moving!" Captain Manson's shout bring my mind back to my surroundings before it could begin to wander.

The rains make the armor all the more heavy to walk, this shackles will probably get me killed rather than protecting me. My head really wasn't in any mood to feel proud at the time.

"Captain Manson, ser, the village is insight!" shout one of the veteran knights in the vanguard.

"All troops get in position! Let's let those bandits taste our steel throughout their skins!" That was our cue to get ready for battle, all the troops rushed vigorously to the village. It was not long before they found the bandits encamped in one of the farmers' shack. Seeing their faces closely, we knew that our march was not known by them.

Caught by surprise, it didn't take long for our knights to capture them one by one. What we didn't know was that some of the bandits were taking shelter in the adjacent compartment of the hut. Being one of the knights in the back guarding the entrance, one of them lunge their axe at me from behind.

"Kyrie!" The Captain shout loudly to warn me.

Quite miraculously, the axe was stuck between my armor and shoulder guard, preventing it from advancing towards my body. While he was shaken, I took my chance to counter. I release my shield and sword and remove all my upper armor while lunging forward to avoid the slash. I can feel my body regaining its mobility, I turned towards him as I unsheathe the short sword I have in the back of my hip and grab his neck throwing him into the muddy ground.

His gaze towards me felt strangely familiar although this is my first time in this kind of situation. Yes, it was the look I see everyday from almost all the people I met, even the knights at my rank. The look of disdain towards an orphan boy being taken into a prestigious house of Lanford.

I put the sword through his shoulder and knocked him unconscious. when I regained my composure, all eyes in the room were focused on me, all knights and bandits alike. It seems even with the ambush, our troops dealt with them rather efficiently while I was preoccupied with the one sleeping behind me. I can hear their whispers quite clearly.

"What kind of fighting is that?"

"He really got no fighting etiquette for a knight."

"Guess that's what you get for putting a wild orphan in a knight's attire."

"He fights more like a thug than those bandits."

They should really try to work on their whispers, do they think I'm deaf? Then again, I guess they're not trying to be subtle about it. I stop minding the words around me when I decided to enroll in the knights' academy. I wore back my armor and picked up my shield from the ground as I was looking at the Captain.

"Alright boys! Gather and tie them up good before moving the to the carriages, let's go home for now." Shout the Captain while staring back at me.

That night, the ranks held a celebration party for their first successful mission as knights. The party was held at one of the high-end bar in the central Myria. I was drinking at the front terrace when the Captain came on to me with another bottle, I pretty much has an idea as to what he wanted to talk about.

"Not joining them?" he asked lightly while looking inside.

"wouldn't want to ruin those party now would we?" He smirked a bit after hearing my reply.

"You're a smart kid Kyrie, always have been. You could've chosen any fields of work and you would still excel at it… Why do you chose this?"

Captain Gregory Manson is the captain assigned to our squad when we just finished our training, he was also the best friend of my step-father the General Commander Richard Lanford. He is one of the few people who look at me normally and took care of me.

"This is for Richard." I answered briefly.

"You still won't call him father, even after his passing?"

"…" I sipped my drink in silence, It's not that I hate my father, on the contrary I am really indebted to him, yet in the end I couldn't even repay him or fulfill my promise to him. That's why I don't think I have the right to call him that, not yet anyway…

"Is that what today is about, you've been zoning out all day even on your first mission, you see what happened because of that, some nameless goons almost split you in two."

"Yes, that event was rather inspiring thank you, especially when experiencing it first-hand." I replied trying to shrug off his question.

"It's been a month son, It was a direct mission from his majesty, he died with honor…"

"No... People can live with honor, they can't die with it… And when are you going to get to the point with this, you know you're not getting any closer with talking about Richard right?"

He shook his head slightly when he realize that I know about what he was trying to say. "I see… that's certainly true isn't it…" He chugged the last of his wine and put it down the table.

"Kyrie, whatever you're trying to do for Richard with becoming a knight, It's not what he would want if it burdens your life so. The way the people around you look at you, the way YOU look at you when you put that armor on, you know you don't have what it takes to go down this road." He said with a low voice without breaking eye contact with me.

"That's certainly not what the academy thinks, and you do know that a knight can't discard his title until death. I'm bound by this road Greg…And I intend to follow through." I replied with my arms clenched.

"…then I shall stripped you of all your title and ranks right this second…"

"!" I widened my eyes with surprise.

"Please understand that this is not on a whim son. A knight requires a good relationship with his comrade which lets them entrust their lives to their partners, and right now you are not even trying to fix your current situation with your ranks. You are endangering your team."

Seeing his face, I know that there is no way out of this. I can't even begin to argue his point, what was I to say to change his mind… Still, the only question remains…

"What becomes of me after this?"

He still stares at me unmovingly, but this time his eyes are filled with empathy and sorrow.

"A knight who's stripped of his title will be regarded as the fallen and banned from the central Myria under normal circumstance…"

The residence of the Lanford House is located in the inner circle which is the central Myria. He probably means to banish me from the capital entirely…

As I'm trying to assess my current situation, I realize that the promise with Richard which is yet to be fulfilled just becomes the first promise I broke.

2: Prologue II ~ Pride of a Knight

1039 A.S. – Central Myria

 

I was woken up by the sun shining through my bedroom window, I guess what they say about the morning sun shines the brightest in Myria is true. I dozed off for about five minutes before being brought back to attention by the sound of my maid coming through the door.

"Lady Althea, it's time to wake… oh!" She's a bit taken aback seeing me already up and awake. It's true that I don't usually awaken by myself this time in the morning. Her name Ailie, she has been my personal caretaker for the last five years. She's a good person…except for the fact that she will most likely report to my dad about any misbehavior I do.

"It's rare to see you up this early miss, are you looking forward to today's lunch meeting with your father?" She asked with a wide smile and tilted head.

"You bet I am, nothing will stop me to convince my dad this time!" I replied.

"Oh…I should've known you were going to try that again" She sighed a bit with a worried look across her face.

"Why are you trying so hard to enroll into the academy? The house of Arlen is already a well-known nobility in Myria and you are the sole heir to your father title, what would you achieve by becoming a knight?" She asked curiously.

"You got it the other way around Ailie! What would I achieve by carrying around my father's name to the grave without my own story in life!" I explained hurriedly to her as I dashed off to the bathroom to take my bath, well, I don't really expect the people around me to understand my reasons, I just need father to approve of it.

"oh dear, I guess the lunch meeting will turn into another long debate…" Ailie whispered while preparing to clean my room.

As if the time skip itself, it's almost time to meet my father. I must admit that I still feel nervous everytime I'm about to meet him, he has a certain intimidation aura around him. Then again, he is one of the Lords in Myria, Lord of Alvn, Edgar Arlen.

As I open the door to the dining room, I see him already seated across the table waiting for me. The air is always tense around him, I can barely handle it.

"Sit Althea." He spoke.

"To even call our family time together a meeting, do you dislike me that much?" He asked while pouring his tea.

"When our family time is a monthly routine and almost certainly turn into a debate, calling it a meeting would be the most appropriate term wouldn't you say, father?" I hate this, to even hold a proper conversation with him, I must restrain myself from my normal way of speech. It's suffocating.

"Then you'd do well to not speak of matter that would otherwise turn another lovely mealtime into a 'debate'. Bring us our meal Ailie."

"Yes my lord." She replied promptly.

"You know, father, I heard there are more and more woman applying to enroll into the knights' academy every year…" I said sourly trying to start my argument.

"As a medic." He emphasized.

"That's a start. Enroll me in the medic class then" I replied.

"If you truly want to become a doctor or chemist, I'll have one of the Kingdom's royal apothecary to privately teach you. There's no way I would risk you trying to convince the academy to enroll into the knight's training class once you're in."

He completely saw through me, at this rate I won't even get to be near the academy for the rest of my life.

"… Take a look at this article Althea." Father handed me this morning's paper pointing at one of the article. It was an article about the apparent heir to the Lanford family being branded as a fallen knight and stripped off his title right after his first official mission as a knight. After reading it I know what my father was going to say.

"Becoming a knight is a commitment, you either bound by duty for the rest of your life, or you get stripped off all your honor and live as a degraded fallen knight for the rest of your life. You, Althea, can't handle either of them both physically and mentally. One day in your pursue of knighthood, you will either die on some mission or face the same fate as that Lanford boy"

I was struck. This is the first time father talk this much about the reason he is banning me from entering the academy. Most of the time he just told me to listen to him or to focus on my duty as an heir. Although I know the article is all the more reason for him to restrict me, what he said suddenly struck me deep and left me speechless. I try to answer to him but the fact that my own father doesn't hold any trust in me must impaired my ability to speak.

"What drives you right now is just your inexperienced youthful pride that blinded you with this idea of glory, honor, and whatnot. And even that isn't strong enough to keep you going." He continued.

"You don't know that…" I said while stuttered.

"There it is… Now, stop this pointless discussion and eat. It's getting cold." He replied as if referring to my current hopeless state.

That evening I snuck out of my room through the window and ran out of my house's precinct to the royal knight's barrack inside the kingdom. I do this frequently, this is one of my habit that has yet to be revealed to father, I can't afford to let him know about this if I were to retain my freedom to go outside the house at least.

"So that's what he said huh?"

"Yeah…"

Whenever I wavered from my dream, I always go to Captain Manson's place to see him lead his knights. Seeing him gives me drives to go on, it let me feels that someday I will be able to do what he does. Captain Manson specializes in training the newly appointed knights who just finished their training through an actual mission to get them to adapt. If I were to become a knight, someday I'll be assigned under him, that's what I always thought. But now I'm not sure.

"You know my lady… What your father said is basically correct on all account. We are that kind of people. And it might be true that you don't have what it takes to be a knight physically or mentally." He said while overseeing his squad's training from the side.

"You think so too huh?" I sighed as if my doubt slowly becoming true.

"But your body can be trained, and your mental can adapt. That's what the academy is for. But you can't plant pride inside people no matter what you try. That's why it is the essential requirement to become a real knight."

"Pride?" I asked with more curiosity.

"No matter how great your resolve or how adept you are at a fight, if you can't wear your armor and hold your shield with pride when you stand on the battlefield, then you failed as a knight. As far as I can see, your pride towards us knights my lady, is a good enough reason for you to strive to become one yourself. All you need is the resolve to take that first step." He answered me convincingly.

His words lifted my spirit up, it feels as if my road that's coming to an end just opened up a new path to walk on. And though I can clearly see his saddened face when he first talked about knights without pride. I decided not to pry any further into the matter.

"Oh… And also." He suddenly speak up.

"I heard that there are 3 female students from different classes who applied to enroll into the knight's course this year, apparently 1 of them is already accepted. I heard she is the first woman to ever join the knights' training in the academy's history."

"Really!?" My eyes widened with surprise, my heart suddenly beats faster with anticipation. I turned and ran as fast as I can outside without saying anything else to the Captain.

Little did I know that I was about to meet the future first female knight in Myria's history.

3: Chapter 1

Sellsword

 

1039 A.S. – Outer Myria (1 day after the first mission)

 

"That everything?" I heard the captain's voice as I was about to depart.

"… Yeah." I replied. The captain actually offered me to live in one of his houses in the Outer circle until I figure out my next step, but I'm afraid me staying around will just add to his guilt. I don't want him to be burdened by what he did, especially when I myself knew that he has a whole other responsibility than to look out for me every single day.

"By the way boy, that short sword on your back…" He point his finger towards the blade on the back of my hip.

"Yes, It's Friggnir's head… I asked some local blacksmith in town to make a sword hilt and a leather sheath for it." I answered. Friggnir is Richard's gigantic spear, after they found out about his death, they send scouts to retrieve Richard's belonging. Friggnir's shaft was roughly split in half while its head remain unspoilt. The curveless edge of the blade makes it not quite fit for anything other than piercing, but I think it suits me more than a broadsword or a shield.

"As I thought. The spearhead alone is the size of a whole dagger, Richard's got quite the frightening stuff."

"Yeah, just like him." I smiled a bit looking at the short sword on my back.

"This will be added to your arsenal then." Captain Manson suddenly put down the sack he's been carrying since he got here right in front of me.

"This is from your father, it was at his workshop when I went through his stuff this morning."

"What is it?" I curiously opened the sack. What's inside was a folding bow with a set of arrow. Folding bows and crossbows are still rare in this continent, when I saw the elasticity of its limb and the fine tuning of its string I was stunned, I knew that this piece couldn't have been made here in the capital. One thing came to my mind as I saw the masterpiece in front of me.

"Gerias Woodwork…" I whispered slowly.

"Ha! Richard's right, you do have a keen eye!" The captain smirked widely as he said that.

"Yes. I figured that thing was made by the dwarves, I heard your father was acquainted with the dwarves from Gerias Woodwork back when he was still a squire. He was never good with delicate things, that's why I figured the bow was meant for you." He continued.

Actually I am quite proficient at archery, I found out about this when I was still in training at the academy, apparently I can see things better than most people…

Even though I always told him I'm going to continue his legacy as a knight, this event made me realize all over again that he could always saw right through me. Even concerning things I didn't know about myself.

"Thanks Greg… Though it is kind of ironic to receive this on the day of my banishment." I said as I lifted my head.

"Kyrie… Please go to Sandcliff. I have a cousin who'll let you stay in exchange for some labor, you can figure out your next step while you're there, that way at least I wouldn't worry about you." His face is full of concern when he said that.

Sandcliff is the largest port city in the whole Myria territory located to the south of the capital, by carriage you can reach the city in about 2 days. By legs however it would take at least 4 days, and that's already using the shortcut through Myr forest.

"… I'll check it out." Even though I feel bad for lying, I don't think I'm going to go to Sandcliff like the captain's suggested. As long as I'm still in Myria's territory, I will always be regarded as a fallen knight, banished and dishonored by the kingdom. And even if that doesn't affect me mentally, It's still going to be a huge obstacle for me to make a living.

"Then write to me once you've settled, perhaps I'll come and visit when I have the time, until then." He said as he stretched his hand.

"Do pray for time then, I know YOU're not getting it any time soon." I replied while reaching out my hand in return and shook his.

"Tell your wife I said thanks for the meal this morning!" I said a bit louder as I walk away.

My next destination is the Merchant City of Illdar. Standing on the border between the Kingom of Myria and the Dessert Republic of Plathos, it's one of the largest economic infrastructure in the continent. Because of its geographics, The city welcomes almost all kinds of people from merchants to outlaws. I suppose they have their own systems to prevents unwanted activities, seeing as they attracts all kinds of people everyday.

This is my only chance of surviving right now, at least until the commotion about me died down. As I keep thinking about my options while walking, I reach the mouth of Myr forest.

"I guess no matter where I go, I do have to cross this place first huh?" I said to myself.

The sun was about to set when I've reached halfway across the forest heading east. I'm quite sure with my sense of direction that I could continue without getting lost even at night, but I can't risk myself with the dangers the night in this forest brings so I set up a camp in a relatively open space inside the forest.

Just as I was about to light the fire, a huge roar suddenly echoed from afar. I can hear a person's heavy breathing mixed with the roars so I can pretty much guess the situation. I walk slowly as to not make a sound to the source of the voice and see a tiger advancing slowly towards a man. I can see the shadows of two other men hiding behind the trees and the man in front. Those faces… These guys are trying to hunt down the tiger.

It seems I'm too far for them to notice me. I've actually got half a mind to leave them and go back to the camp, but if they happen to fail, I'd risk my camp being in an unsafe location, it's already too dangerous to move camp this dark in the night so it seems I've got no choice but to make sure that beast is secured.

I crouched silently and spread my bow, I must admit I am also anticipating the chance to use this thing from the moment I laid eyes on it. I took one arrow from my back and slowly pulled the string of my bow. As I widened my eyes and tilt my head to focus, I feel a slight surge of warm feelings in my eyes, this always happened when I try to concentrate on something, though it doesn't really affect anything.

I release my first arrow from this bow and it flew straight between trees and went through the neck of the tiger, the distance is around 10 meters from my position to it. I immediately fold my bow and pull out my sword as I ran towards it to assess its condition, just as I was about to put my hand on it, one of the men suddenly let out a loud voice.

"You… What have you done you stupid black-hair bum! Can't you see we almost got it!" He screamed. He looks like a man in his twenties, wearing a fur-coated breastplate and leather pants with many unidentifiable trinkets worn throughout his whole body.

("Black hair huh… I guess that's what characterized me the most seeing as black hair is almost non-existant in Myria.") I thought to myself.

"Sorry, I can't risk it. You guys are mercenaries correct? This shouldn't differ much from the outcomes you guys desire then." I said trying to avoid further involvement.

"Like hell it is! We were hired to capture it, how do you think we're gonna accomplish that now!?"

("This is getting more troublesome, It doesn't look like I can turn back now that it's come to this.") I kept thinking of a way.

"Calm down Boris, there are a number of ways this matter can be resolved, don't panic on every little things." One of the other guy behind him started to talk. He looks more rugged and slightly older than the rest, and although he dressed the same way as the other, somehow I can tell that he is the one leading them.

"Ah chief…" He stopped talking.

"I'm sorry if what I did inconvenience you in any way, but please understand that I must secure my camp for the night and so I have no choice but to do that." I apologize once again hoping to get through with this one.

"Oh I understand that lad." He immediately replied.

"then thank you for your…"

"But you still owe us though... It doesn't matter what your reasoning is, as you said you've 'inconvenienced' us, therefore we will 'inconvenience' you, one way or another. Comprende?" He continued before I could finished my sentence.

("It seems it's going to be quite some time before I could actually settle down, Greg") I silently thought to myself.

4: Chapter 2

Service and Chain

 

1039 A.S. – Myr Forest

 

The sky was even clearer than yesterday's, making it seems like the storm the other day never happened. I marched steadily through the Myr forest to my destination just as planned, well, almost…

"Pick up the pace lad, we're burning daylight!" The guy leading the way is Hughes, he is a leader of his own band of mercenaries from Illdar, his kinds are a dime a dozen at the Merchant City. Apparently he requires some sort of compensation from my action the other night, I comply seeing as my destination remains the same, I could always lose him after we arrive if his request seem unreasonable.

"While we still got time for chatter here, what exactly do you want me to do for you?" I asked.

"Work kid, you spoil my current job, I'm not letting you out of my sight before you settle my next one." He explained.

We walk a couple more paces before the sun set upon us and we were forced to make camp. The other two henchmen were out gathering firewood while me and Hughes cleared the area, the silence filled the air as the sky continue to reddens above us. Just as I started to think the rest of the night is going to be this awkward, he suddenly start to talk.

"By the way kid, what business do you have in Illdar, you don't look like a merchant… nor a sellsword, right?" He spoke.

"Oh, why would you say that?" I asked in reply.

"No merchant travel through a forest and… well, let's say when you're a long way into the business like I am, you pretty much know all the people to know." He explained while pointing his knife at me.

"Ha! You're not wrong." I grinned widely as I listened to him, he's a lot sharper than he looks.

"So…? What are you? By the way you hunt down that beast I say being a lost child is way overdue."

"Don't be so sure about that, I think the word 'lost' might best describe my current situation. Let's just say I'm a traveler?" I replied.

"…" Just as he was about to continue his barrage of questions, the other guys were finally back from gathering firewood.

"We're done boss!" Said Boris, the one being the tiger's bait the previous night.

"Good job guys, let's have dinner. We should be out of this forest by noon tomorrow." He looks slightly disappointed by their arrival.

"Yeah, good job guys, impeccable timing too." I added. He looked at me sourly as a response to my remark.

"Don't get cocky new kid! We'll see what you really got from here on!" Boris suddenly yelled at me.

"What new kid?"

"You're going to work for us right? That would mean you being one of us, for better or worse."

"Yeah, for one job, that doesn't necessarily makes me one of you. I will NOT be one of you." I stated clearly.

"What kid, you got something against mercenaries?" Hughes started speaking.

"Not really, I just couldn't quite comprehend what it even means to be one." I replied.

Truth be told, it's not like making a living by selling my swordskills hasn't crossed my mind ever since my banishment, but I don't quite agree with the idea of working along with other people. For me, entrusting your back to other people and covering theirs in return is something that would complicate an otherwise simple situations and decisions. The more people you look out for in life, the more vulnerable you are as a person. And it sure wouldn't do you or the other persons any favor.

"Well, it sure ain't as glorious or fancy as being a knight or a lord I'm tellin' ya" He started laughing hard as he was talking.

"But we do have our pride." His face suddenly turned serious, the atmosphere around us somehow tensed up, the crackled sound of the starting fire broke our silence.

"… Those knights with their shiny armor might look at us with filth in their eyes as if seeing a pack of rats scrounging around money, but at least we have our freedom, we only fight for the things we believed in and the money that comes with it. They only ever drew their swords for their country, bound by their oath like a mindless puppet convincing themselves it was for a good cause…" He continued.

"And they're wrong?" I asked luringly.

"There aren't such things as good cause in this world kid, they are fighting for their kingdom's cause that's for sure, and who's to say the good or bad it brings… We mercenaries, our actions are only binded by money and our beliefs, neither of which can betray us in life. That is our pride." In that instance, I can clearly see why this guy is their leader. In his words, he carries his own conviction towards life, the whole world might turn upside down but he can say for true that what he does is on the right without any hesitation. To me, what he said sounds more noble than any oaths or prides the academy drilled onto us knights.

"I see." I answered with a certain lack of words.

"Starting to repect me a little eh kid? How about actually joining us, I certainly wouldn't refuse a man of your skill, and I'll even consider your previous blunder as a test of sort and forget about it."

"… Well, either way, I will have to participate in your next job so my answer right now wouldn't really matter much." With that said, I really should figure out my next move if not my life's purpose. My every move ever since that day has been clouded with hesitation.

After that little talk the four of us retired for the night. When morning came we rush through Myr forest and out into the East great plain before high noon. The rest of the way is a whole day's straight road through an open field until we reach Illdar City's gate, we decided to camped our last night in the plain as to not uselessly exhaust our stamina.

 

- The next morning –

 

The next day, we finally stood in front of Illdar's gigantic Gate of Bones, the upper-side of the geat is decorated with three huge tusks on each door with a lot of skulls tied to it—Hence the ominous name. one of the gate's guards came on to us just as we reach the front door.

"Hughes mercenary?" The big man in armour asked.

"Yeah?"

"Carnius is expecting you."

"Figure that old bastard wouldn't let me slide, come on boys!" He spoke provocatively.

I've been properly warned about Carnius the day before. He is their last employer and one of the richest merchant managing Illdar's economic system, he and the rest of the high merchant pretty much in control of all of Illdar. Waltzing through the gate with me is a sense of premonition, with that kind of guy as their employer, I don't think I'll be in for a simple run-of-the-mill mercenary job.

W.N. I've been busy with some stuff these past few weeks, that's why this chapter comes a little late (…haha…). Anyway, here it is, this is the second part of Kyrie's journey. The next view chapters would be back to Althea's side of story, I'll do my best.

5: Chapter 3

The academy

 

1039 A.S. – Central Myria (Road to Academy)

 

The Academy of Myria is a facility well-known throughout the continent as a prestigious institution created for the sole purpose of developing the talent of the young and capable for the good of Myria. The Academy accepts all kinds of people in and outside of the kingdom, the only restriction is that after the completion of all the courses on the selected subject, the student must be of service to the kingdom as officials and sworn loyalty to the kingdom.

Because of the amount of received donations from the lords and noble houses of Myria, the academy prosper and has since become one of the main independent political power of the kingdom, much to the nobles' dislike. The size of the Academy stretches from the Central Myria to the outer area, making it the one place in the entire capital where lowborn citizens can crawl their way into glory and nobility through their demonstration of skills.

I run through the central shopping district as fast as I can, a couple times seeing my reflection through the stores and houses' windows placement all the while. The news about the first female student enrolled into the knights' academy is still ringing loudly in my ear. My heart is thumping loudly from the combined exhaustion and anticipation.

When I finally reach the academy's gate, I suddenly realize that I have no way of going in without stating my identification. The heir of house Arlen would definitely be granted permission to enter the ground had that been my only problem. It's been about one or two hours since I snuck out from my room to see captain Manson. If I tell them my name right now, father will definitely found out and there would be no way of knowing if I'll be let outside again.

All the while thinking these thoughts, one of the guards notices me and started approaching.

"You over there! state your affairs here!" He shouted sternly, fully equipped with a knight's armor from head to toe. It's always amazing seeing the difference in attitude from the ones who knows me and the ones who don't, well, not me as much as my family name...

"..." While standing there in silence pondering what to do next, a sudden loud thumping sound fly out from the wall next to the gate.

"Hey, you!" The other guard shouted pointing to the direction of the sound. What falls is a young girl with a slightly toned skin and a slightly messy short red hair. Her clothing is light unlike the guards in front of me with her stomach and thighs fully visible, the only knightly equipment she had on her is a long sword belted around her waist.

"hmm..." Not bothered running away after her actions, she just continue to stood upright from her previous position and look slightly to our direction as if assessing the situation. After a slight look of disinterest, she then turn her back and continue to walk away slowly.

Not knowing what to make of the situation, I ask the guards in response.

"Aren't you going to make chase?" I asked with a slight hope they will leave the gate.

"No... our duty is to guard unwanted outsiders from coming in, an unwanted insider going out actually works in our favor really..." He said while grinning a bit.

"Well, all jokes aside, we don't really keep watch over the students coming out knowing that there's all kinds of people inside, especially those in the knights' course." Said the other guard piling on.

"So, can I help you lady?" He turned towards me asking. I shook my head slightly as I turned back, I realize there is no way for me to get inside and see the female knight for myself as long as father is still cautious of me. Though by now, all I'm asking is for him to at least let me get inside the academy ground, it seems to become more impossible than before...

All these thoughts suddenly make me remembered the newspaper he showed me earlier this morning about the heir of house Lanford being stripped off his position. Thinking about it now makes me all the more vexed, not only it gives father all the more reason to refuse me, that guy stained the name of all the academy by being branded as a fallen knight right after graduating.

"If it weren't for him..." I whispered slowly thinking that my chance would've been better without that news, although I know for a fact that father isn't going to change his mind with or without it.

"Still angry at daddy's decision I assume?" A sudden familiar voice suddenly heard clearly in front of me followed by a big man shadow, I quickly raise my head in response.

"Captain! What are you doing here!?" It turned out to be Captain Manson, I voiced my surprise.

"I figured you don't have any plan to get you in since you come here without your father's permission, if he finds out you were coming to me and I let you out of my sight like that I might get a scolding... or worse." He said with a slight worried look on his face.

"Well... yeah, that's why I'm going back... right now." I replied, softly whispering the last part.

"Or you can have a coincidental meeting with a certain knight in the shopping district who insist on giving you a tour of the academy." He said with a wide grin on his face.

"You will!? Even though you might get found out by father?" I jumped up at his words, Captain Manson always supports me since I was a child even though not a few years back a girl aspiring to be a knight is unheard of.

"...And would much appreciate if the girl can keep the identity of said knight." He jest with a real worried look shown across his face, then continue to put his hand on my back and push me around towards the academy.

As we approach the gate, the guards suddenly stiffen up and stand at attention.

"Captain Manson ser!" They speak loudly while giving salutes. "That lady is...?"

"She's an aspiring student, I'm giving her the tour of the facilities, would you mind soldier?" Captain replied with a more relaxed salute.

"Yes sir! please, right this way!" One of the guards stretch his hand to give way while the other opens the gate.

"Good day knights, as you were." Seeing the Captain handled the situation smoothly reaffirms me that he really is one of the great knights of the royal kingdom. If not for the task of supervising the rookies, He could easily become one of the Royal Guards standing by the king's side, so why would he...? As I walk through the gate, the Captain continue his talk with me.

"You already know the courses divided within the academy don't you, Althea?" He asked as we walk to the center building far in front of us.

"Yeah... The academy's courses majorly divided into four types, the Medical courses, the Knights' courses, the Strategic courses, and the Economic and Political courses." I replied.

"Yes, although there will be more division inside each major courses, the main outlook is these four categories. In front of us is the administration hall that is the core of the academy's managerial system. Each major categories has its own building and area which encircles the hall." The Captain explained briefly to me.

As we arrived in front of the gigantic administration hall buillding the captain stand sideways and started to point his fingers. "To the northwest of here is the knighs' courses students training area."

"Is the lady knight there!?" My eyes widened as I asked.

"Well, she's yet to prove herself a knight, no one is as long as they're still here learning. But yeah, she should be..." He replied.

I'm suddenly filled with anticipation. As we walked through the fields to the knights' training ground, the Captain continue to explain the system and the academy, though I barely absorb what he said as my eyes was locked to the building in front of us. It makes me realize all the more how large the academy really is and how the kingdom is currently resourced to create a huge army that could possibly overcomes Plathos'.

"Captain Manson!" Suddenly a man with a long blonde hair come running towards us, he has a rather slender body and wears a light chainmail with a sword on his waist.

"Ludger, nice to see you're working hard!" The Captain shook his hand as they stand face to face.

"To what do I owe this visit?" The man asked.

"Aah yes, Althea meet Ludger, he is one of the instructors in this academy and my friend during my time as a squire." He pushed me forward as he introduced us.

"Althea, what can I do for the future heir of Arlen?" He asked as he smiled. He seems to has a lot of connections seeing as he did not flinch or even react at all to my name. Though I don't quite feel it as clearly as Captain Manson when he is instructing, he does seem to have an intimidating air around him.

"Don't be too sure of that, she might well be the first girl to swear the knight's oath. She's currently her to see the other one." The Captain smiled back at him.

"Following Alicia's footsteps are you? She does have that effect on people, she should be just ahead in the training field. Let me be your guide" He point his thumb to his back.

The three of us then continue to walk inside the building and out to the inner field. I saw many people in the academy's uniform as I passed them by, some look at Captain Manson in awe and admiration. Just as we approach the field, I then saw the first female in uniform in the short time I've been here. The uniform is just slightly visible as it is covered by the armor she's wearing. Unlike the guards' armor which gives no room for the insides to be seen, hers is fitted with her body and has a lot more joint in the stomach area. Though not enough for it to show holes in defense as the joint itself is made like bits of chain mail, but jst enough to show the uniforms inside.

The woman wearing the armor danced around the straw doll with her sword slashing it as if the weight of the armor doesn't restrict her movement, Her hair flows freely to her back, it reflects a deep yellow colour-almost makes it orange. She ends her dance with a stab through the heart of the straw doll, she then let go of the sword and exhale to express her tireness.

"Alicia V. Larchen, she successfully transferred from strategic courses 2 days ago, passing the trial which most men in the kingdom failed with a quite satisfying performance, almost breaking the academy's record for the motion swiftness trial of the entrance test." Ser Ludger explained with details her achievements.

"Wow..." I can only drop my jaw in awe of the person before me which not only around the same age as me, but also bested most of other men her age.

"Yeah, well, with the record as it is, coming in second in that particular test is probably as best as it gets for quite a while. Even that performance is still a rather long way compared to his." Ser Ludger spoke while looking afar recalling a previous event of sort, I'm too stunned with the person in front of me to give a response to his remark.

"Haha..." Captain Manson laughed sourly.

"What happened Greg, I heard the rumours, I almost couldn't believe what happened if not for the paper." He turned towards the Captain demanding an answer. I didn't really understand the conversation and by that point I was already slowly making my way towards Alicia who's now resting on the side of the field.

"~~~" I heard Captain Manson's voice replying Ser Ludger, but I was already too far away to make it when I stand next to Alicia.