The training grounds of the Korax estate were filled with the children’s cheers. Julia stood as the children surrounded her, smiling and laughing.

  She noticed Ray standing at the side and asked, “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to become a knight like the others?”

  Ray shook his head. “Knights are honourable. I don’t think I can be honourable if my life were on the line.” Silence fell over the training grounds. “He’s weird,” one boy muttered, scratching his head. A few others nodded or looked away, unsure how to respond.

  Concern covered Julia’s face. “What do you want to be then?”

  “Nothing,” Ray replied. “I just want to live.”

  Becoming a knight was every child’s dream, even Julia’s. Ever since she could remember, she had always wanted to be one. But today, a boy stood in front of her who wasn’t one of them. He understood what it meant to be a knight. Julia wasn’t sure whether to correct him or support him.

  “I see,” she muttered. She waved one of the maids over. “Take the children over to where they’ll be staying.”

  With one glance at Ray, she walked towards the mansion. The blue-haired boy followed Julia. Meanwhile, the children followed the maid.

  Inside the mansion, the servants continued to work as usual. A bright chandelier hovered above them. A red carpet slumped over the stairs. Various paintings were hung on the walls of the corridor on the first floor leading to the duke’s chambers.

  Julia walked through the corridors, occasionally glancing out the window, the boy’s words echoing in her mind.

  She stopped and turned to the blue-haired boy. “Stop following me, Aidan. Go and train.” He looked at her with questions in his eyes, but didn’t respond; instead, he nodded and left quietly.

  Julia sighed, “I’ll spar with you after dinner.” Aidan’s eyes lit up as he hopped away.

  She continued towards the duke’s chambers. When she reached the doors, she was stopped by the two guards. “The Duke is busy, young lady.” One of the older guards said politely.

  “Busy? With what?” Julia frowned.

  Before the guard could answer, the Duke spoke, “Let her in.” The guards bowed and opened the doors.

  Julia walked in and noticed a tall man with a sapphire blade and a golden, sleek belt tied to his waist standing near the window.

  The duke glanced over at Julia. “You seem troubled.”

  The man with the sapphire blade interrupted, “I’ll take my leave then, Korax. I’ll eagerly wait for your answer.” The Duke nodded while the man turned and walked out.

  After the man left, Julia asked, “Who was that, Father?”

  “An old associate. Nothing you need to concern yourself with, Julia.” The duke then got up from his seat and walked towards the window. Sunlight filtered through the stained glass, casting a mosaic of colours across his face. “What happened?”

  Julia glanced at her feet nervously. “I — one of the children — said something that stuck with me.”

  “They are children. Don’t take their words to heart.”

  Julia looked up at the duke’s back, her blue eyes unsure. “What does it mean to be a knight, Father?”

  The duke’s eyes widened at the question as Julia continued, “Is it to be honourable?” she asked quietly. “Or to follow what you think is right?”

  She hesitated. “Or…” Her voice faltered. “Or just to live?”

  Silence filled the chambers for a moment before the duke smiled. “Honour, justice, and the will to live go hand in hand. The one who realises that is a true Knight.” The duke turned to look at Julia. For a moment, he looked like a knight from a storybook—and nothing like the man who had made impossible choices. “I used to think honour meant dying with pride. Now I know it means living with consequences.”

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  In that moment, Julia realised something: that child, through his cynicism, was ideally a true Knight.

  She smiled. “I thank you, Father. I understand now,” as she bowed down and left the chambers.

  She walked through the corridor, faint echoes of the children’s voices following through the open windows. “I’ll have to keep an eye on that boy.”

  The wind carried the children’s cheers, filling the backyard of the estate as they followed the maid. Ray walked at the very back, scratching his chin.

  He glanced back at the mansion, wondering if Julia had taken him a bit too seriously.

  The maid stopped in front of a building a bit smaller than the mansion. A shabby place but well-maintained.

  It looks like a dormitory.

  A few guards were standing, along with an upright older man. His hair was as white as the clouds and his eyes as blue as the sky. He wore a black coat with a white tie around his neck. When he spoke, the children burst out laughing. He had a high-pitched voice, one that did not suit his face.

  The guards chuckled nervously, while the maid began to sweat profusely. She tried to calm the children, but to no avail.

  Ray didn’t laugh. He simply didn’t find it funny.

  Since he didn’t laugh, the older man noticed and smiled. “You come here,” he said, pointing at him. “What is your name?”

  “Ray,” he replied, as dryly as he could.

  “I like you. From now on, you are the representative.”

  Huh? Why?

  “Thank you for this opportunity, good sir,” Ray said, bowing.

  The older man’s smile reached his ears. “You’re so polite.” He then glared at the other children. “You will receive more benefits to help you become a knight.”

  Upon hearing those words, the children immediately started apologising and crying, but the older man simply walked away.

  It seems even fate wants me to become a knight. How annoying.

  The children gave Ray hateful looks, but to add fuel to the fire, he simply smirked. One of the dark-skinned girls with white hair glared at Ray. “Listen here, you may be the representative, but don’t think we will listen to you.” The other children nodded. “My name is Elaira, and I will take that position from you.”

  Ray shrugged it off and called the guards, “Can you show us to our rooms?”

  The guards nodded and led each kid to their room on the ground floor, while Ray was given one on the first floor.

  Being a representative seems to have its benefits.

  The sun had long since dipped behind the mountains when the dinner bell rang. The children gathered in a hall in the dormitory, where the older man stood on a higher platform, giving them uninterested looks. His face lit up as soon as he spotted Ray. Before he could say anything, Ray walked up and stood right next to him.

  “You’re not only polite but also smart. Just like us back in the day.” He then glared at the other children again. “Learn from him, ungrateful brats.”

  Ray just smiled as he looked down upon the children. Heh. Feels… nice.

  The older man introduced himself. “My name is Cedric Korax. Yes, that’s right—I’m the Duke’s uncle.”

  Cedric Korax? The Timeless Strategist? I’ve seen his name in so many books.

  The children looked confused; they didn’t know who Cedric Korax was or what he did. But Ray knew only he did.

  I read that he has the Golden Eye, which allows him to see people’s potential. I know now why he chose me. Does that mean I’m talented?

  After his introduction, it was the children’s turn.

  One by one, the children introduced themselves and their circumstances and goals. It was Elaira’s turn next. “Listen here, my name is Elaira. I ran away from home but was captured by slave traders. I want to become a strong knight and protect people from such fates.” The children clapped. Surprisingly, even Cedric clapped.

  He’s clapping? Does that mean she’s talented as well?

  Ray quietly observed Cedric, who only clapped a few times after certain children introduced themselves: Elaira, the dark-skinned girl with white hair and eyes redder than the blood sea. Then, Sera, the southerner with black eyes and bright red hair. And finally, Jon, a northerner with black hair and black eyes, seemed the most intriguing based on Cedric’s reaction.

  After the introductions, Cedric permitted the children to eat while he walked outside the dormitory and towards the mansion.

  The children feasted that night, even Ray, since the food was nothing like what he had eaten before.

  The night passed, and the children formed groups around Elaira, Sera, and Jon. Meanwhile, Ray sat in his room, pondering. “Cedric Korax…” A distant clash of swords interrupted his thoughts. Somebody’s fighting? Let’s check it out.

  He jumped out of bed and walked downstairs, noticing the children talking to each other. They saw him but ignored him. And so did he as he walked towards the sword clash near the training grounds.

  The closer he got, the louder the clashes became. When he finally reached the training grounds, a dust cloud blocked his vision.

  Julia’s voice rang through, “Is that all you’ve got, Aidan?”

  The dust cloud settled, revealing Julia standing, holding a real sword, pointing down, between her legs. Before her was the blue-haired boy, kneeling and breathing heavily.

  “No… I can still… go on, sister,” he managed to mutter out between deep breaths.