With the help of Marina, the matter was resolved fairly quickly. Maybe it’s because Arthur lived in a faraway village for a long time, but he didn’t know that being a certified mercenary with the Dusty Hall guild carried real weight. Though the fact that her job came directly from the second prince might have helped.

Not everything is completely resolved, however. They still need to wait for Melvin to wake up, and while Arthur’s contract with Donald confirms he’s a new hire, the old man and Aryn are still suspects of smuggling. Neither of them is really worried, however. They say it’s not the first time they get caught in something like this, and that at most they’ll have to spend a week in a cell until everything is clear.

Donald pays Arthur for the job. Exactly the 15 gold pieces they agreed to and Arthur has to return the armor he borrowed… albeit it’s not in pristine condition.

“Thank you for your help, kid.” Donald tells him. “I’m no warrior or even have an eye for it, but I think you’ll get far. Don’t get yourself killed so early, you hear?”

The older man pats Arthur’s shoulder.

“Thank you, sir. I’m… sorry I couldn’t do more.” The boy grimaces.

“Nothing to be done. Just make sure you learn from what happened and grow from there. I might be old, but I’ll try to do the same.” Donald says, solemnly, then sends the boy off on his way.

But just steps after he exits the guardhouse, he’s stopped by Marina.

“Hey. You don’t really know this city, do you? Where are you going now?” She asks.

“I’m going to the castle. There’s someone there I have to meet.”

“The castle? You have friends in high places, don’t you?” Marina asks, raising her eyebrow.

“I wish, but no.” Arthur chuckles and shakes his head. “My mother is the one with all the contacts. I’m meeting one of her acquaintances.”

“Well, you should have no problems getting there. Just follow the main street north.” Marina nods. “Where will you be staying after that?”

“Oh. Right.” He needs a place to sleep. That had almost slipped his mind.

“If you have some money, you can rent a decent room at the Sword and Sorcery Inn for a silver a day.” She offers with a mischievous grin. “Tell them I sent you and I get a free drink. It’s close to the castle and inside the square, too. It’s easy to find.”

“Got it.” Arthur laughs. “Do mercenaries really need sponsors?”

“We take what we can get.” She says, grinning shamelessly. “And by the way, my invitation still stands. I have things I want to ask you, so I’ll be dropping by that inn tomorrow evening.”

…

Oh.

Arthur’s chest tightens and he can feel the heat going to his cheeks. But Marina notices this and punches him in the shoulder.

“Don’t go getting ideas, kid.” She scoffs.

“Kid? Just how old are you?” He asks, scowling and rubbing his shoulder.

“20. Why?” She says, raising an eyebrow and daring him to say anything else.

Deciding that pissing off one of his first contacts in this city is not a great idea, he lets it go. “No reason. Well, Ms. Marina, I better go. I’ll be seeing you, then.” With a nod, Arthur starts making his way towards Radiant Castle.

This main street is wide and long enough to be almost a 20 minute walk from the gates to the structure sitting at the dead center of the city. Said structure is without a doubt the most impressive building in the kingdom.

At first sight, Radiant Castle reminds Arthur of a three tiered cake he saw in a painting once. That said, the castle that’s home to the royal family and houses the great majority of the kingdom’s knights actually has 5 floors, each one smaller than the one below. It is made of well-polished stone and even the roof is made of stone slabs.

To reach the castle’s main gate one must go up a long and wide set of stairs. The four cardinal entrances to the city all lead to a similar set of stairs. As for the gate, it’s similar to the one at the walls, but this one has a metal portcullis for added defense.

The guards stationed at each side of it are much better equipped than the ones at the city gate. Instead of just leathers and a metal breastplate, these guards wear metal helms that show their faces, cuirasses, faulds, gauntlets and greaves over their yellow tunics and black pants. They’re probably full-fledged knights instead of just regular soldiers.

“Halt. What business have you in the castle?” One of them asks.

Procuring the latter from his pocket, Arthur presents it to the man.

“I’m here to answer the summons of Sir Samuel Alba. I was asked to come here when I was of age to participate in the Knight Selection Tournament.”

This is how his mother told him to answer the question. Arthur is not particularly fond of formal speech, but knights do appreciate protocol and formality.

The two men share a stunned look. The one who spoke first takes the letter and confirms its contents before giving it back.

“Mr. Arthur, correct?” He asks, swallowing.

Arthur nods. His name is written in the letter, so it’s not weird that he knows.

“Vice-General Samuel Alba is here at the castle today. However, he is a busy man. We will inform him of your presence, but it is entirely up to him whether he will meet with you now or later, Mr. Arthur. If you wish, you can wait until we’ve delivered the letter to him and can tell you when you can expect a meeting.”

Well, that sucks. It makes sense that the second-in-command of the knights would have more important matters to attend to, but still.

“I’ll do that. Thank you.”

One of the castle servants, a beautiful woman in a black and white maid outfit, guides Arthur through the castle halls and to a waiting room. It’s a very, very small room, barely enough for a table for two and a couple of chairs. It’s more of a cubicle than a room. The maid offers him tea while he waits.

With very little to do in the meantime, he starts to collect his thoughts over the last few days.

‘I really made it to Radiant Castle. It was supposed to be easier, though. That woman, the assassin… If I had been her target, would I have been killed just like that? If she fought me seriously, would I be able to win?’

He doesn’t think so. That woman had a different objective. If her goal was to kill him, he wouldn’t have survived. She was stronger than him and more skilled in both combat and manipulation of prana.

Knowing that, why is his heart beating faster? Why does he find himself smiling? Everything could’ve ended then and there, so why? Why does the thought of someone stronger get him excited?

The mercenary girl, Marina, also seems stronger than him. She can perform Martial Arts, something he still hasn’t gotten the hang of. His three years of training were spent learning how to use a sword and other weapons, along with learning to control the flow of prana to boost his physical abilities.

‘Mom said my prana was a lot more unwieldy than other people’s. Is that what’s holding me back? No, don’t make excuses! In return for that, my prana is naturally more intense. I can get more power than others from it. I need to learn to control it better.

‘If I become a knight… I’ll be able to learn a lot more.’

He has to learn. There’s so much he still doesn’t know. Becoming a knight will let him see professionals in action, give him free access to the castle library and training grounds, not to mention a salary far surpassing that of a common farmer.

If he climbs the ranks and becomes a captain, he’ll be made a noble. One of the lowest class, sure, but it’s the only way for a commoner to go up the social hierarchy. He’ll become stronger and acquire money and fame.

These are shallow dreams, he knows, but denying this… need has only ever made his ‘condition’ even worse. How many others have come to this castle to seek glory as warriors of the kingdom? How many have succeeded? All he knows is that he can see a path towards what his soul demands of him, and he’ll press every advantage he has to reach his goal.

‘But what is my goal? Will my soul be satisfied once I become the greatest knight and have all the money I need?’

Before he can keep pondering on such impossible goals, there’s a knock on the door. Is the maid already back? The door remains closed until Arthur remembers he needs to allow them in.

“Y-Yes. Come in.” He says quickly.

The same maid opens the door and bows to him.

“Mr. Arthur. Lord Samuel Alba will see you now. Please follow me.”

“…Eh?”