Lyse sat on his bed, only thinking for the past few hours. Not even unpacking his things, as he understood there was a good chance that it would be useless to come the following day. He has the day to prepare himself, and they told him this. He seemed motionless as he peered at the ceiling, the breeze making his curtain wrinkle and flap. He doesn't know what this obstacle will be, so his only choice is to prepare mentally. The event will make or break him and his dreams and his life. Any search for his sister will be handicapped by what he will do, and his life might be in great peril due to this pendant he now possesses. He lifts it into his hand, the two gems still pulsing ever so faintly. Again he felt that overwhelming power as before, but no visions came to him, and his mind drifted as to what exactly this thing was and why his mother had it.

He thinks back to the moment she gave it to him, thinking it was only a token of her faith and gratitude at the time. Then, remembering the cautious but thankful expression, she dawned on its deliverance. The same presence of the pendant, now that he thinks more about it, always surrounded her. Her explanation is that being around it and her essence may have rubbed off on it. It was a way for her to always keep an eye on him. Now he questioned how much of that was true, who was watching him. Are they watching him even now? He knows little about magic beyond what he was taught in training. The closest they have is harnessing their internal aura to perform feats beyond human capacity. This definition, he knows, translates to the magic used in Torlak, but to a much higher degree. He wondered if this pendant came from Torlak, perhaps.

Before he knew it, the sun had risen higher into the sky, and the afternoon heat began to bake itself into his room. He decided now would be a good time for a bath. It did not take him much effort to find a tub, as the nearest person was eager to point it out. A facility closer to the mountain but conjoined with the rectangular tower of the Knights. Within were several baths, probably a dozen or so. Only half were occupied, and the matrons were quick to assign him a room. He thanked them and bowed his head, a gesture that made them pause a bit before sending him on his way. With a fresh set of clothes prepared, he finally removed his armor and sat them in a bin to be cleaned along with his other clothes near the entrance. The cobblestone floor was slick with steam that rose from the creamy water. Water was dispensed from four bronze lion sculptures. As soon as he dipped his foot into his bath, he felt every muscle shiver from a sudden shock of slackening that enveloped him. He found himself at immediate ease as he submerged himself in the translucent waters. His mind was put to more straightforward thoughts. The soft trickles of the waterfall next to him. He had never felt so at ease, and he thought that he could stay here forever.

Peace was short-lived.

A person yelled excitedly before he could process it and slammed himself into the bath, causing a huge splash that engulfed Lyse, who was pulled from his relaxation. When the waters finally died down, he saw his toothy grin of Edlund.

"I have not seen a bath like this," Edlund said, squirting water out of his mouth. "Smells a bit different, like a newborn calf."

"Thanks for the image, lad," Lyse said as he wiped the water from his eyes. "Didn't take you long to find me. I hoped a little longer."

"You know you'd be bored otherwise," Edlund told him with a chuckle. Lyse honestly likes having Edlund around. Especially now, the last piece of home to follow him here. And it was more than reassuring seeing him unphased by this place. This world is utterly alien to either of them but expected to be owned by them. Edlund was a simple man; he has always been pretty simple, which he liked most about him.

"What will be your weapon?"

The carefree smile faded a bit, and Lyse was reunited with the reality of what was to come the very next morning. He answered surely. "Sword and shield."

"Of course," he sighed, no longer looking at Lyse but the slight haze that was around them now, staring off into the distance. "You're pretty nasty with that. I might just go with a mace, something meaty."

"Yeah, you can sure hit," Lyse told him. Then, silence took a strict hold, as both became trapped within themselves for the moment. The silence was unlike anything they had experienced before, and a deep tension lay thick in the air. Edlund was thinking too. He has worked even more challenging to be here. Lyse had his mother and father, his father teaching him some small things, and his mother teaching him reading. Both he used in training and finding strategies. His tasks always supported him. However, Edlund was alone. Edlund didn't prove himself with his fine swordsmanship, but with his rugged brutality and resolve, his tremendous physical prowess that Lyse mostly lacked. And so far, these sets of skills are what kept them going and hopeful. However, the nerves were overwhelming. They had no idea what to expect the next day. What challenge lies ahead. He has heard many tails of men and women dying during these trials—some kind of famous warriors and champions meeting a demise in trying to become a knight. Only the most stubborn survive these trials.

"So, what do you think awaits us for these trials?" Edlund asked after a long while of self-inquiry.

Lyse sighed and sunk even deeper into the creamy bathwater. "Monsters, most likely. Or perhaps we have to fight someone. If we're lucky, we get an obstacle course."

"I don't think we're that providential just yet," Edlund told him. "But hey, we will be invincible as long as we're together."

"And what if we're not?" Lyse asked him. "What if we separated."

Edlund shrugged at this worry. "Then we will have to stick to our guts and faith. Cause I have no clue how else we are going to get through this."

"Fate has it we be ready," Lyse squirmed somehow, surrounded by the still-warm waters that soothed as he tried to fold into himself. "What if . . . we don't make it. What if we die?"

"Die," Edlund said the word as if it was foreign. He stood directly under one of the bronze lions, allowing the water to spill over his head and shoulders. "What's with you thinking about that now? Even when we faced literal assassins and we were a few steps from death, you did not let it weigh on you. So I didn't let it weigh on me."

"That's the thing," Lyse sighed. "We were lucky. Two farmhands trained in the sword and of aura, and we nearly lost to an assassin each. If they sent anymore or used another strategy, we would be dead for sure, and we can not forget that. It was a curious gamble for them, taking on the sage four versus one. If I were their priority, two would, or three should have been the bare minimum. I surely could not handle more than one, and we could handle four together. Perhaps. . . "

He caught himself rambling. He was rambling like an air-headed librarian or child ranting on his favorite stories. Edlund had an airy quality to his stare as if focused on anything else, yet keen on what he was saying all the same. He shook his head in confusion. He never rambled like that before. Usually, he kept his comments quick and precise, and thinking of a strategy like this was not his way of thinking. It felt like some outside force was momentarily using his mouth, speaking on things he held within like an aged tactician seeing a battle map. He almost pictured the methods they could have used but didn't. How they could also end up dead perhaps, or him captured. He even considered letting them capture him to see his sister and play from there.

He sighed under the thoughts and let them seep away into the void of his mind. "Anyway, we will have to bring our best, won't we?"

Edlund gave him that confident smile. "Of course. At least I will. You can ramble battle strategy while I bash the head in of whatever beast they throw at us. I much prefer my methods, I suppose."

(X)

The evening was very much restless. Neither slept. Lyse stayed in his room, not going out to eat or catch more of the city. In his mind, he may not have the time. Right now, he stood in a simple cotton shirt and pants, staring at the pile of gambeson ad chainmail freshly prepared and his sword he had carried from his village. He had requested chainmail along with his gambeson, a bit more protection than he had, and to his surprise, it was provided with little fuss or comment. His toes wanted to dig into the wood as he went deep into thought. Only a single candle flickered on the lamp over his desk tucked against the corner of the room.

"I wish I had some enchanted armor," he whispered to himself in a slightly desperate tone. He has sometimes heard of particular armor, much like swords, having unique protective properties. But those are so rare. He doesn't even know why they came to mind exactly. Then again, seemingly every single advantage was rolling in his mind at the moment. Meanwhile, Edlund managed to find himself asleep, although short, with his sword at his side. He has decided that there was nothing really for him to prepare for, so he might as well rest to be as ready physically as he can.

Very early in the morning, they both awoke to the sounds of metal fists pounding at their door. Within a few minutes, they both had put on all of their armor, strapped their swords at their hilts, and were now being escorted away from the tower of the Knights. Again, Lyse saw that same woman downstairs. She was also being led out, along with more than a few dozen other knights who made their way to the exit. Several knights watched them silently leave, their eyes reluctant, as if not entirely anticipating most of these recruits to come back now. Ten other knights flanked them in impressive complete sets of armor. Lyse counted 67 new knights, all from various areas of Liontari.

Not only that, but he saw a few from the colonies, from the Aeros, Odis, and Versk lands, wearing grabs that symbolize their heritage through leather cords decorating their forehead or an owl's feather behind the ear. They did not go back towards the center of the fortress, surprisingly. Instead, they headed deeper into the mountain. They found no one else following this path, and it didn't look trodden. Passing through the Southern gates, they entered a trail that snaked its way up the mountain. The morning sun still hadn't broken the horizon, but a hint of dawn began to lighten the sky. The air got noticeably thinner the higher they climbed, but both managed to power through the harsher environment. However, he could see a few of the other students breathe a litter deeper than before. Seeing the nicely cleaned armor, well-trimmed color, and a few pieces of jewelry, he guessed that a lot of these people were nobles already, and they all seemed to eye out Edlund and Lyse immediately. Edlund looked mostly oblivious, and Lyse tried not to notice but was uncomfortable. Lyse looked behind him one more time, down to the entire city, still grand from his high vantage. The forest hangs around it like a necklace, the walls smooth white in the darkness, lit with hundreds of light. He wanted to see this again. He wanted to be a knight. And more importantly, he tried to save his sister and avenge his family.

"So, where are you guys from?" One of the other knights in training fell back. Although he didn't seem much of a noble at first glance, the lovely black shirt and well-made pants made him distinct from a peasant. He wore a single iron earring in his left ear, partially covered by jet black hair.

Lyse was a little comprehensive giving the conversation, but Edlund did not hesitate.

"BrokenArrow, right on the edge of the Forest of Silence," Edlund stuck his hand out in greeting. "Edlund."

"Gray Mouser," he smiled and gladly shook, then extended it to Lyse. "And you?"

Lyse sighed and shook. "Lyse Opal. Same."

"So you guys lived on the edge; that's pretty tough," Gray commented. "I hear the raids are more intense there. You have to worry about the valley and forest-dwelling monsters. Bet you get good training, though."

"Yes, mostly," Lyse admitted, loosening a bit. He had been so enveloped in thought that his whole body was as tense as a tree. "My dad helped out the local guilds so that he could bring back some useful things."

"Man, I wish my dad was that adventurous," Gray nearly chuckled. "My dad is a Weaponsmith here in the city. Gets all kinds of good materials from the guilds. Even forged this here for me."

He tapped the sword dangling from his waist. The sheathe was a gorgeous design, with intricate iconography of waves and fish, leading to the hilt, with a metal guard protecting the grip. It certainly didn't look like any regular sword that the knight guild would give you as the one Edlund wielded. This was enchanted and specially made for the wielder, and Gray seemed to consider it with pride. Lyse wondered how it compared to his blade and what creature and components were used to create it. Nemean lions are rare but far from the best you could get. And loot from guilds tended to be a lot more precious than those found in the hills.

'"So what about you?" he almost excitedly took Lyse's sword out of its sheath, but Lyse took an uneasy step back. "I can tell you're pretty skilled; why don't I just take a quick look at it and-OW!"

A sudden jab quickly shut off his glowing words to the side of his temple. The woman that Lyse spoke to was suddenly at his side, which Edlund didn't seem all that bothered, but Lyse was all too startled. He didn't sense her presence until she struck. He usually could at least sense when other people were around. It was like she was a ghost. Gray rubbed the side of his head, turning to her with an almost bowed head.

"Come on, that was unnecessary; I was just seeing what the guy was holding," he griped.

"Then don't be so grabby," she nearly shouted. "Come on, and you're almost as bad as your dad." But, instead, she turned to Lyse, bowing her head, then grabbing the back of gray's and forcefully blowing it as well. "Forgive him, and he's a bit of an airhead."

"Rude," he complained.

"Relax, it isn't nothing," Lyse told her. "So I assume you're his sister or friend."

"Just a friend," she said in an almost offended tone. "I'd killed myself if I found out we're related. We were raised in the capital, trained by the same master. Hopefully, graduate together. Although I have no expectations from this one here."

"Why are you so cruel?"

"Well, I hope we all make it out then," Lyse smiled loosely and absent-mindedly clutched his pendant. "Do you have any clue what the challenge will be all about?"

"Before we get to that stuff, allow me to introduce myself," she said. "My name's Elena Rosenwald, daughter of Atticus Rosenwald, General of the third company."

Both Edlund and Lyse looked shocked. It was hard to reconcile that. She had such a warm presence as they spoke, but as soon as she mentioned her name, it seemed all sounds of conversation had ceased. Both Lyse and Edlund knew that name, the General of the Third Company that protected the borders of Liontari during the war. It is a respected company, and a revered man leads them. Lyse almost laughed as soon as he heard this but instead hid it with a chuckle. Elena was a bit impressed by this. Usually, when others listened to her name, they would look at her with fear, treating her as some sort of lord.

"I knew you were a little off," Edlund told her. "Pretty neat. So I bet you are pretty skilled as well. So what's your poison?"

"Longsword," she patted the pommel of her blade. She carried a circular shield at her back, along with her plated metal armor of formal design. It was made for use, and fair use at that. "Look like one yourself. That's nice. It isn't all that often those below the artisan class become knights."

They both knew that well and need not be reminded. It took almost everything they had to get this far. Sir Gabbes was more than generous in granting them the right to participate in this event. Now, they have to prove themselves one last time, among those like Elena and Gray, nobles who had better starts, better teachers, better equipment, and taught more. Although, that was arguable. Lyse was, in fact, gifted, born with a talent for the sword. Edlund was the hardest of workers, a human beast of burden. But, they were not scared, and they were ecstatic.

They continued to talk with Gray and Elena, the path getting thinner and thinner the more they went. Lyse and Edmund didn't feel much different, but they looked around at all the other to-be-knights. He noticed some were losing breath up here in the mountainous areas. The air thinned, forcing deeper and deeper breaths. Lyse knew this was the very first test. Those who cannot even walk a pass will undoubtedly be at a disadvantage in the task at hand. The snow had long settled into the ground, yet no new flakes made their way down. An occasional spruce tree, leafless, would pop out of the land now and again, along with some withered plants. He looked over to the knight leading him, carrying a lantern that guided everyone. Every so often, the candle within would dim, the cold wind ripping at it. The air was crisp with the coming winter, and every breath produced moisture. Lyse was glad he had on a gambeson instead of iron and steel, like Elena. Although she did not look much bothered, others were cold. The knights were no doubt noting every one of them, searching for signs of weakness.

"A bit chilly, is it?" Lyse casually asked, then looked over to Gray, who was shivering like a drying fish.

"Not a fan of the cold," he shivered, trying to shrug it off. "Anyone has a cloak or something?"

"We were ordered to bring nothing but gear," Edlund told him. "Must be a test or something. Those guys sure are impatient."

Elena took a deep breath in and let out a low sigh. "Reminds me of a camping expedition with my father. We used to trek these mountains all the time. So the cold isn't that bad, surely?"

"To hell with all of you," Gray shouted. "Where is this meeting we are supposed to attend? Is it at the peak or something? I'd rather fight Basilisk than deal with this any longer. I'll even take a nice cage."

"Shouldn't be that far now," he looked over to the knight once again. Although he was wearing a full mask, including a face mask, Lyse saw him look back at them for a moment, noticing them. The stare lingered for almost an uncomfortable amount of time, and then suddenly, a booming voice shouted above the wind, ceasing all chatter in an instant. They had come to a crest in the path, the wind still whipping and lashing violently—the knight sky bright stars showering around them. Fifty knights to be made have now assembled at one of the highest points in Liontari, where six people waited patiently for all of them to arrive. And the sight of these six managed to shake the boots of everyone who stood among them.