Knights Apocalyptica

Chapter 66: Soldiers And Knights

Chapter 66: Soldiers And Knights

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Before they left, Erec had one major order of business to take care of. One he’d dreaded since he’d gotten up and recovered. He’d used dulled weapons and training tools during the army or sparring practice drills. The horror of returning to the quartermaster lived in the back of his head.

But the unfortunate reality was that he’d lost all of his weapons following the expedition. Including a beautiful war axe, the poor man had a sentimental attachment to, and he couldn’t very well wander out into the wasteland barehanded.

Erec dragged his heels down the long halls of the Academy, picking a late time in the day to head here. Thoughts about what to say spun in his head as they’d had the past few days. He’d intentionally picked a period of time he knew most of the initiates would be stuffed away in their dorms, trying to cram down their independent research. Their teachers wanted to hold exams before the hunt to ensure their students were capable and prepared.

Yeah, great. At least there’d be no one to witness this sorry interaction.

Soon, he came to the armory. The quartermaster was paging through a book; he looked up at Erec, his tired eyes settling on the boy. “Ah, you again.”

“Yeah,” Erec shook his head slightly and cleared his throat. “I’ve, uh, come to request some weapons.”

“I see.” The quartermaster stood up and frowned. “What happened to the weapons you had?”

Erec paused. He saw that trace of sadness in the man’s blue eyes. Both of them knew his answer, yet, he had to give it. “I was careless. I underestimated its power and used it to fend off a blow I shouldn’t have. I broke it, and the remains of it were lost in the middle of a battlefield.”

“So, you brought it to war. And in the process, you destroyed it.” The man hung his head. “And with that, the last reminder of him is taken from this world.”

“I’m sorry.” Erec felt the sadness from the man; a deep burning shame welled in himself. He may have used it to save Olivia, but there wasn’t much he could’ve done otherwise. If he’d had better control or more power—perhaps it would’ve survived, but then… He could only do so much with what he had. “Truly, I am.”

“Did it go to a worthy enemy?”

“Yes, a stone giant, if you’d believe it.”

“He would’ve liked that. To fight against something like that, he’d considered himself a giant among men. A damn brave soul and I suppose it makes sense for his weapon’s inheritor to have the same.” The quartermaster nodded slowly. “I’ll confess, I did fear such a thing would happen in time… That is the nature of life. So, there’s something I sent for shortly after you’d taken it…”

The quartermaster vanished from the desk—going deeper into the supply room and out of sight. When he returned, he slammed a heavy axe on the table. As long as the crescent-shaped weapon before, this one had an edge on either side—and was a deep black tone. Wickedly sharp edges all around. Erec’s jaw dropped.

“So, axe-wielder. Whenever he broke his weapon, I’d always have one prepared as a backup. He broke them often. Said it was his way of growing stronger. Are you stronger now?”

“I—“ Erec looked at the gorgeous weapon.

“Pick it up.”

Without hesitating any longer, Erec grabbed the battle axe. Indeed, it was sturdy and had a lot more heft. Whoever made it composed the weapon from a denser metal—and having a dual-axe head added that extra weight and power. He imagined swinging this thing into a creature—how badly would it destroy?

“Use it well.”

“Thank you,” Erec bowed—his arms straining to balance the weapon as it shifted.

A better weapon than any he’d touched before—one to bring as much honor as the last, if not more.

— - ? - — - ? - — - ? - —

With the sun high above, its rays burning down on the world below, the Kingdom Of Cindrus sent half of its army out of its giant steel gates. Once more, mankind forsook the steel giants they’d shed countless blood to build to forge into the deadly world it protected them from. Somewhere outside lurked a White Stag.

And they, Knights, soldiers, and humankind, would hunt down that Goddess-damned thing and lop its head off for the king.

Weeks spent dedicated to training tended to pass in an instant, and Erec felt the flow of time slip by. Between the classes, his rehabilitation, and the countless military drills, it felt like he’d blinked and trod out into the dust of a dead world once more.

This time, things were different. The combination of Knights and Army made their first expedition look like a child’s game. While Erec didn’t have a firm number, the rumor was that nearly twenty thousand men and women were sent out for this hunt.

All in the name of killing evil.

Garin marched at Erec’s side; he’d been cheerful the entire morning. Ever since discovering that everyone in their dorm was assigned to the same centuria. Along with a couple of Knight Errants they didn’t know and a Knight Protector to serve as their ‘leader,’ that was to say, for the Knights. Not the soldiers.

An odd thing, but the distinction was a firm line in the sand. The men around them in the Army obeyed the stringent commands of the captain and his lieutenants, who organized their troop of eighty men.

But all the Knights reported to the Knight Protector, whose name was something like ‘Yuvia’ or ‘Juvia.’ Despite the introductions, Erec'd never actually caught it, and at this point, he felt embarrassed to ask. One could only hope it came up naturally in a conversation.

Yet everyone only referred to the short orderly woman as ma’am, so to Erec, he supposed that was good enough for now. They had a rather simple job, purely scouts for the main force. There were to be no direct engagements. They were to withdraw and report for further orders if they encountered anything or a monster of significant threat.

With great organization, the main host of the Army would press outward towards Worth. All the while, they would send this smaller scouting centuria to determine any threats.

So it was that they marched with the Army yet were distinctly set apart from the commoners who’d given their lives to serve as soldiers. They are braver than Knights, in a way. They walked out without a ton of steel plate Armor to protect them.

“Nice day, right?” Garin asked, adjusting the pack on his back carefully. Somewhere inside was Munchy. Unless the squirrel shoved its fat body into the Armor with its master again. If he understood right, that’s how Garin smuggled the critter to safety during the battle before. He let the creature inside with him when he’d learned they’d have to throw away backup supplies.

How, or where, the little fatty squeezed itself into that plate wasn’t ever answered conclusively, but, for some reason, the squirrel enjoyed the experience.

Something was tragically wrong with that creature.

“Fine enough,” Erec said as they plodded along.

Oddly, they seemed to be going in the direction of the same town from the trial. If he understood their bearing correctly. Erec tried to keep himself from thinking about it.

“It’s a dreadful day,” Colin remarked. “Did you see my father on the wall? So damn smug. I hope the Grandmasters slay it first and fast. Then we may return to the Academy. My Courtly Mannerisms grade has been slipping further away with all this damned training.”

“Somehow, I doubt the additional training is the true reason it’s plummeting, Sir Colin.” Olivia shook her head. “I’ve eavesdropped on you and Erec studying with one another. The slights you two would cause in a high court are downright scandalous. It begs me to wonder how you’ve survived so long with your family’s standing.”

“If you must know, wench, the people flock to me at parties,” Colin said.

“Really?” Garin said, “They do, huh? And so why was it that at Earl Rufus’ manor that someone challenged you to a duel—“

“That was jealousy!” Colin stomped a foot on the ground. “Besides, they misunderstood how to handle a sword and were deftly defeated.”

“Ah, I bet you’re quite familiar with handling your sword,” Olivia said carefully. “Men with your disposition are quite adept at such things.”

“Why, of course, I am; I spend long hours alone training.”

“Of course you do; Olivia’s right. That sound’s about what I’d expect.” Garin asked, starting to snicker.

“And just why are you laughing—“

Erec shook his head as he kept walking. One foot in front of the other, right where they took their trial. A place where he’d smashed a hatchet in Colin’s face. When he’d first walked this path, his mind had swirled with the constant worry of his Armor falling apart and costing him a chance as a Knight. And now, he walked back with his friends.

He glanced at Olivia—taking note of how close she was to Garin after their mockery of Colin went over the stubborn boy’s head.

Yeah, even her. As much as he was left wanting to know more about her house’s motives, he strongly believed that she cared deeply about Garin. His friend meant something to her, just as he knew Garin returned those feelings. It might not be entirely possible to put his trust in her, but then again, there were parts of him he could never be honest about.

At least, not at the moment.

Much like his instincts and knowledge told him, they reached the small town from their trial, setting up camp just outside of it as the sun began to set. They had an excellent view of the place—some fields were still littered with decayed bug parts. Nature had taken its course as the mute stags, and other natural wildlife tested the edibility of the thrashing mites.

But with the numbers that died and the burned buildings that remained from the fighting, it was a far cry from their first sight of this town.

It’d changed, just as they had.

The camp went to sleep, posting a couple of guards from the military and at least two Knights in their Armor to keep watch.

They were good at their jobs, as they had to be, knowing there might be monsters lurking. But they had their eyes entirely outward, focused on something coming in from outside, expecting a roaming monster.

It made it easy to slip out of the encampment.

Erec took a wide berth from the town, quiet as he moved, emulating the way he saw Boldwick slip around without a sound. He entered the small town from a side hidden from view but, more importantly, closer to the Vortex Industries facility.

All the while, he ignored the questioning robotic voice inside of his head.