30th May 1329.

Douglas, Scotland.

Earth.

Three days had passed since Liam swore his Oath of Fealty to Lord Douglas, and he had started to settle into his duties. He was now becoming versed in the life of a Page. Training, cleaning, and working in cycles with the other boys provided a companionship he'd never experienced before.

Now he looked forward to his duties like he never had before.

This wasn't a reflection on Colm. The old carpenter had done his best to see Liam had time to socialize, but this was different.

This felt like a brotherhood.

Liam ate regular meals of warm stews - often with choice pieces of meats - and the beds and clothes were far better than the straw he used as a bed in the Carpentry Workshop’s croft.

When he considered his new situation, Liam decided that he was happy. Or if not happy, then at least deeply content.

The only down-sides as he saw it were the harsh lessons with Father Doreen, and not having seen Duncan - his best friend.

The priest was holding a grudge, and since he couldn't take out his spite on Lord Douglas, he was taking it out on the pages. Over the last two days he had taught them more about taking a beating from his cane than Mathematics, Languages and - in Liams case - reading.

Duncan however, was a more complex problem. Even though Liam didn't want to admit it, he was afraid of how his friend would react to his elevation. The two boys were as close as brothers, and he didn't want Duncan to feel jealous or in any way his inferior. Liam wasn't even sure if he was allowed beyond the keeps curtain walls without a good reason.

The Feast of Pentecost two days ago had been more somber than ever. The entire town turned out in their best clothes for the service at the Parish Church, and Lord James and Lady Tatania had knelt for hours before the altar in prayer as the Priest expounded on the Book of Revelation, at one point shrieking at the congregation to stop muttering as people forgot themselves to discuss the events to come.

Liam thought the length of the sermon was meant as a way to punish Lord Douglas for confronting the priest the night before. Instead it showed the people of the town how much their Lord cared.

The subdued celebration in the keep that night kept Liam running at the high table. The Priest once more took advantage of his Lord’s hospitality to get sideways drunk. Sir Keith had two Men at Arms build a litter and carry him back to his cottage. Fortunately the clergyman had kept a mostly civil tongue, although he had glared in disgust whenever he saw Liam.

Despite the increased workload, the newly titled Page had took the time to darn the threadbare sections of his new clothing. He'd even helped the other boys with minor repairs to theirs, for which they were grateful.

It was comforting to repair the cloth; the needlework reminding him of his time in the carpentry talking with Colm.

All of his new skills were strange to him: Mathematics, Languages, Reading, Fighting with Sword, Shield, Spear and Axe. Maintaining the valuable armor and weaponry stored in the armory was his favorite task. Such a wealth of arms was rare in Scotland, and Liam would daydream as he polished, cleaned and oiled the equipment.

The only thing he didn't like was the lessons on music. But he supposed some things would just take time.

As he learned new skills, he became more curious about the flashed symbols in gold over a red field that filled his vision whenever he achieved a breakthrough.

He had asked Andrew about what the flashes of light and symbols in his vision indicated.

“If they’re anything like mine, they’re a vision letting you know that one of the ‘Skills’ you have learnt has increased by 1.” Andrew replied, when asked.

If that were accurate, Liam thought that he’d only gained Skill in languages, mathematics and swimming, but every reading, music and mathematics lesson to that point had resulted in no tangible gain. This latest lesson in reading, however, had been the breakthrough, and he now could read the numbers from his skill gains. Later that day, his mathematics skill also rose.

Unfortunately for Liam, all this work left no time to talk with Llywelyn about his statistics vision. Whatever that was.

After the early meal, the Seneschal dismissed the boys to their own affairs for the day. Darning a worn sock, Liam was sitting in the Pages chambers and listening to the other boys.

“Do you think that someone can reach level 100?” Aidan asked, speculating on the System.

“Mebbe,” Andrew replied. “Though I don’t know what good it would do ye!”

Llywelyn chimed in. “I think it tells people how much God loves you.” His deep welsh baritone filled with confidence.

“What are levels?” Liam asked.

Aidan rolled his eyes. “They are at the top of the Statistics page.” He said.

Liam just looked confused. “And what is a Statistics page?” He asked.

The other boys snickered at his ignorance.

Andrew showed mercy. “If you think ‘Show Statistics’ it will appear.” He said.

Liam tried this, and a red vision appeared in his view, gold text in neat rows before him. He'd seen it before twice. It was the same vision that had appeared immediately after the Horns had ceased, and again when he'd glowed after slaying the archer.

Statistica de Liam Lamberton Titulus: N/A Nomen: Liam Lamberton Planum: 5 Genus: Homo Ordo: Nullus Aetas: 13 Tribulatio Experientia: 127/381 Valetudo: 50 Magia: 10 Vigor: 100 Viribus: 8 Agilitatum: 9 Toleratio: 5 Intelligenti: 9 Sapientia: 4 Lepos: 12 Fortuna: 22 Fidem: 13 Firmus: 8 Artium: Restituto: 15 Pecus Agricultura: 3 Mores: 12 Ars Militaris: 1 Ars Fabrilis: 19 Levis Armatura: 1 Ascia: 3 Furtim: 3 Magnanimaitas: 4 Athletica: 14 Cura Rei Familiaris: 10 Arboribus: 19 Gladio: 4 Mathematica: 2 Sutura: 7 Natatio: 2 Lectio: 1 Equitatio: 5 Hastam: 2 Sagittariorum: 1 Gymnas: 1 Scriptio: 1

“You said it’s at the top?” he asked, “On the right?”

“As you’d see it, yes.” Llywelyn said.

“Five.” Liam said.

“You have five levels?” Aidan asked in awe. “No one else has over one!”

Llywelyn was just as surprised. “Do you feel any different?” he asked.

“No,” Liam started, “But do you remember the light when I took the oath?” He asked. "Well, something similar happened in the forest after I slew the archer."

If his level hadn’t caught the boys attention, this certainly did.

“What?” Aidan asked. “What was strange?”

“Well,” Liam paused, remembering the animalistic rage and the feeling of his blade stabbing flesh. “I…”

He swallowed the rising bile in his mouth. “It was after I killed the archer. He’d killed a few knights by himself and had glowed an evil black when he did. I thought nothing of it, but after I killed him, I also glowed.” Liam said.

The other boys recoiled from this revelation. “You glowed an evil black?” Andrew said, his eyes narrowing as he glared judgement at Liam.

“No!” Liam said quickly. “I glowed with a golden light! I couldn’t understand why, but after I glowed, all the dirt and blood washed off me as though something had dunked me in the stream!”

The other boy’s jaw dropped at this, but Llywelyn nodded thoughtfully. “That sounds a great deal like the effects of a baptism.” He judged.

Aidan snorted in derision. “A baptism? You mean where the priest dunks you in a cistern and absolves you of original sin? Hardly seems the same.”

Andrew shook his head. “Don't blaspheme," He chastized Aidan. "I think he means the original baptism. My father's confessor once told me that the washing of sins took place in a river and absolved the recipient of all sins they had committed, even the original sin of our parents.”

Llywelyn nodded. “Perhaps the levels show how many times the Church absolved you?”

“I don't think so. Were it the case, I would be level 100 at least. "Aidan joked. "But then what does experience mean? We’re all on nothing of one hundred and twenty five right now.”

The three looked at Liam again. Liam sat there looking blank. “What is….”

“It’s the two numbers with the line between them.” Aidan interrupted.

Liam once more brought up his Statistics screen. “One, two, seven, and then the line. That's One hundred and Twenty Seven!" He said proudly, using his newfound learning. "And then three, eight, one.” he said, reading the numbers carefully. That one stumped him for a moment.

“Well,” Andrew said, leaning against the wall. “It sounds like Liam killing that archer gave him experience, and levelled him up!”

“We don’t know that yet.” Llywelyn said, rather liking his own idea more.

“Well, I have an idea as to how we can find out!” Aidan said.

The other boys perked up at this, all interested to hear it.

“What do you mean?” Liam asked.

“Rats!” Aidan said, and the boys sprinted out the doorway, Liam being pushed along by Aidan and Andrew.

*******************************************

The other Pages led Liam out of the Keep and into the town. The Granaries were notorious in the town for the volume and size of rats that scurried about the place. The rats took advantage of any small hole they could worm their way through and into the unmilled barley and wheat.

As they approached the granaries, Liam realized he was close to the bakery, and strained about to see if he could spot Duncan. Fortunately, Duncan was at the Granary, unloading sacks of grain from a cart. The Baker was nowhere in sight.

"Well, we're here," Llywelyn said, still convinced of his own idea. "How shall we hunt these beasts?"

"We don't need much. Just a stick to hit them with. The longer the better!" Aidan said. "I've done it before back on my family's estate. My sisters and I used to chase the buggers around the kitchen."

As the other pages selected stout sticks from deadfall washed up by the stream, Liam approached his friend.

“Hello Duncan.” He said.

Duncan looked up with a start and bowed before he caught himself. “Liam!” He exclaimed. “You look different!”

Duncan’s standoffish tone disappointed Liam. “Well, it was a bit of a surprise to me as well.” He said. “Lord Douglas has made me a Page of…”

“Aye,” Duncan interrupted him gruffly. “I dinnae suppose you have time for the likes of me anyway, Milord.” He hefted a sack of grain on his shoulder and lugged it towards the granary, ignoring Liam. Clearly Duncan was hurt, but his attitude angered Liam.

“Don’t be a prig Duncan.” Liam said “Ye know I’m your friend as you are mine.” he confirmed.

“Well, friends meet friends when the world is ending!” Duncan spat, dropping the sack. He looked like he wanted to punch Liam. “What took you so bloody long to come and see me!”

“I have duties at the Keep, and wasn’t aware I could leave!” Liam said. “It’s been a lot to learn, and with Pentecost and the feasting…” he trailed off as the other pages approached.

“Ho Liam!” Llywelyn said, hefting two sticks. He passed the thinner of the two to Liam. “I got you a rat basher!” He proclaimed.

Duncan eyed the Pages suspiciously, but gave them a bow and stayed silent. His head down.

“Who’s this then?” Aidan asked Liam.

Liam was about to say “No one.” When he changed his mind, realizing just how much that would hurt Duncan.

“This is my greatest friend, Duncan.” He said. “We grew up together, and he's like a brother to me.” He explained, hoping that the other pages would not dismiss his friend because of the gulf in their rank.

The other squires nodded, and surprising Duncan, they introduced themselves. Moving to shake his hand in turn.

Duncan was speechless, but bowed low, his awkwardness apparent. “Honored to meet you, Milords.”

“Would you like to join us?” Andrew asked. “We could use some extra hands?”

“Hmm, maybe.” Duncan said cautiously, eyeing the clubs all four pages held. “And what would you be about?” he asked.

Aidan’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “Rats!” he said, relish dripping from the word.

“We’re seeing if we can increase our experience points by slaying rats.” Llywelyn explained. “Our fellow Page here killed an enemy archer and saved the Lord,” he boasted, trying to impress Duncan by implying slaying archers was a regular event for the Page boys, “and received Level 5 and a lot of experience. Of course, that's nothing to what we've done in times before the Horns.”

“So we decided we should find out if killing some rats will grant us experience as well." Andrew chimed in," Also, don't mind Llywelyn he is bending the truth again, trying to impress you. It's something Princes do apparently. We never fight anything, or go on grand quests. We mostly just learn things, clean or fetch and carry.”

Duncan nodded at this, far more impressed upon finding out that Llywelyn was a Prince, than at his previous words. “Aye, well. I suppose it makes sense. I’ll go fetch Lady and we’ll see if we can rouse some out.”

He set off without a backwards glance, and the pages looked at Liam in askance.

“Lady is his dog,” He explained. “Well, it’s the baker’s dog, but only answers to Duncan.”

The Pages settled in to await Duncan’s return.

A few moments later, a streak of black and white hove into view and a Border Collie leapt into Liam’s arms, licking his face as though his skin had a honey coating.

The other pages laughed at the antics of the hound, and Liam, embarrassed, put Lady on the ground fussing over her fur until she became satisfied with the attention.

The dog still stayed close by him, even when Duncan came close. “Looks like she missed you!” he said, grinning.

“That she did.” Liam laughed, putting an arm over the the baker’s apprentices' shoulder. Duncan shrugged him off awkwardly, embarrassed by the familiar gesture in front of the nobility. He eased the act by saying, “but she’s not the only one who missed their friends.”

Aidan and Llywelyn had been impatiently waiting nearby at the entrance to the undercroft, both practising swings with the clubs.

Duncan went in first, followed by Lady, who snuffled about busily, confused with what was going on. As the other boys entered the large underground space, the first rat appeared, and Lady perked up. The dog charged the rat, but instead of attacking it directly, she herded it. Andrew was the closest and swung furiously, connecting with its back.

Thawack!

The rat twitched and died.

The boys let out a disappointed groan as Andrew failed to glow.

Llywelyn merely looked at Aidan smugly. He mouthed the word "Baptism.", causing Aidan to shake his head sadly.

Duncan looked at them, puzzled. “What’s wrong, Milords?” He asked.

Andrew shook his head. “I thought if it worked I’d glow.” He said.

“It's what we suspect signals an increase in level,” Liam explained. “When I killed the archer I glowed with a golden light.”

Duncan looked at him suspiciously. “You glowed?” He asked, wondering if his new rank had left his friend touched in the head.

“Aye.” Liam confirmed. “The Lord and Lady saw it too!” he said, defensively.

“Well, maybe it’s because you killed an enemy warrior and Andrew merely killed a rat?” Aidan suggested. "I assume one is more difficult than the other?"

Andrew pulled up his Statistics screen and grinned. “He’s right!” he confirmed. “I now have 3 experience points!”

For the rest of the afternoon, the boys hunted rats. For a while, all they did was wait for Liam and Lady to herd a rat in their direction. They would then then lash out at the rat with the long sticks. Llywelyn made a discovery which changed this, however.

“Hey!” He exclaimed after killing a rat. “Try staring at something!”

He was staring at the rat he’d just killed. The others gathered around him, Lady followed, wondering why they were pausing all the fun.

“When you stare really hard at something, a vision appears telling you what it is!” he said. Immediately, all four of the boys listening began glaring at objects around the room, making sounds of excitement as their visions filled with information.

Liam and Duncan could not read them, however, and soon just watched the others.

“That isn’t what is exciting!” Llywelyn interrupted.

“Look at the rats!”

Aidan and Andrew did so, and watched as a new type of vision appeared.

Andrew saw Liam and Duncan looking uncertainly at them. “It is asking if we’d like to loot the rat!”

“Yuck!” Duncan exclaimed. “What could a rat give us?”

Llywelyn grinned. “Tribulation Credits!” He said, a silvery coin appearing from the air and falling into his hand.

“Is that silver?” Duncan asked in sudden interest. He searched for his defeated rats.

“No, it’s too light for silver.” Llywelyn replied. “I don’t know what it is!”

Duncan quickly found a rat he’d killed and looted it. “I got 1 Tribulation Credit for this rat.”

Andrew looked about. “I suppose it’s only fair to Liam if we split all our credits evenly.” He suggested. Liam was about to protest, but looked at four nodding and smiling faces agreed, although he would split his share with Duncan. It would certainly help him more.

“Thank you.” He gave a curt bow. Causing Duncan to snort before he remembered himself.

The boys continued the 'Pentacost Rat Massacre' as Aidan dubbed it. They caught and killed the rats until sometime later the Baker appeared. In a rage, he berated Duncan for failing to attend to his duties.

He was about to turn his rage upon the pages too, but glimpsed past the grime on their clothes to their quality and bowed to the young nobles. “Milords.” He said. “Forgive my son. He should know better than to lead you to such tasks.”

“Not at all,” Liam said. “We required his services, Master Baker.”

The baker nodded, not seeming to recognize Liam. “Very well, Milords.” He turned to Duncan. “Get a move on with the sacks. You're lucky these good nobles vouched for your lazy hide.” He said. “Get moving! It’ll be dark soon enough.”

The Baker left shaking his head, wondering what all four of Lord Douglas’ Pages were doing under the granary. Once he was out of sight, the boys divided the loot evenly, each receiving their share.

“That’s 10 Tribulation Credits each!” Aidan said, finishing the count.

“We’d best get back before the sun sets. We still have to clean up before dinner.” Andrew commented.

“Thanks for the help today, Duncan. You can count on us as friends!”

Duncan bowed. “Thank you, milords! I was glad to help friends, both new and old.” He said. Liam grinned and slapped him on the back. He gave Duncan half of the Tribulation credits he'd earned. His friend tried to refuse, but Liam insisted. He doubted he'd need them anytime soon, and his friend may be able to trade them for a few shillings.

Giving Lady a last pat and receiving a copious amount of licks in return, all four of the Squires made their way back to the keep and went over their gains for the day.

Liam had gained no experience, instead helping Lady to herd the occasional rat towards his peers. Duncan had done the best out of them, managing fifteen rats, but Liam did not know how much experience the baker’s boy received. Even rats varied in their given experience.

Andrew had done well also, his experience hitting 60 with 12 rats killed, including the first, which only gave him 3. Aidan and Llywelyn had tallied eight each, and now sat at 45 and 48, respectively.

******************

Despite their experience gains for the day, they had completely ruined their clothes. Upon returning to the keep, they managed to reach their chambers without anyone spotting their disheveled appearance and calling for the Seneschal.

Small tears and snags of cloth made their uniforms nearly unpresentable in public. Fortunately for the boys, Liam had become adept at quick repairs.

He had soon learned no one had taught the Pages any basic skills of self-maintenance, such as darning or cobbling. Aidan seemed to think you could just buy new shoes whenever you wanted them!

As Liam finished the repairs and was dusting off Aidan’s coat, Squire Iain entered the Pages sleeping quarters.

Iain was seventeen, and was fast developing the muscular frame of a well-built man - although he wasn’t there yet. He had been Lord Douglas’ Squire for four years, and hoped that in the next incursion of English to the region, he might win his spurs.

While he was young for that honor, it was not out of the question now that the Tribulation had begun, and everyone knew it. Many looking at Iain with respect as they expected him to be the newest Knight of Scotland soon.

The admiration of others didn’t detract from his work ethic, however, and he had diligently shown Liam several minor adjustments of technique and more intuitive systems to navigate both his duties and the etiquette expected of him.

Getting the boys attention, the Squire annonced. “You should prepare for the dinner service tonight. Lord Douglas will make an announcement regarding the visions." He looked at Liam, wincing. "The Priest will also be in attendance, as will many of the towns worthies.”

He looked over the still bedraggled state of the pages.

“I suggest you tidy yourselves up before you present before his Lordship.” He said. “What the hells were you four doing? You look like you’ve been chasing rats!”

The boys laughed and nodded. Iain rolled his eyes. “God knows I won’t ask why. Just make sure you wee idiots are clean before the dinner bell.”

All four boys nodded and set about themselves, cleaning as best they could.