Companions

Chapter 4: Companions

"I am the one who taught him swordplay, Now I feel the urge to learn from him."

- Sir Julian Cedric Battlemoar (LS 1216)

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Lunar Severance Calendar Year 1212- Royal Mausoleum~

"Farewell Dear mother." Going out of the mausoleum only to be greeted by a gentleman with fine clothes. He started smiling looking at me.

'Oh.. I know this gentleman very well. Sigh! this will be bothersome..... Hope he at least is not my enemy.' I thought as I eyed the golden haired middle aged man.

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Lord Mavis's POV

I was part of the king's Entourage, and when his majesty told us to leave him and his son to have a private chat. Everyone left but I kept waiting outside the mausoleum. I had already made up my mind. 'This will be interesting.' I thought while a broad smile bloomed on my face.

'Dear lady Lucy, I couldn't keep serving you, and it shames me and my whole family. But believe in me when I say I will protect your son. Yes, I have confirmed him to be your son, a worthy child. The hawks will continue to serve the Phoenix's... even if he is just half a chick.' I told myself looking towards the heavens. Wherever the heavens may be, but my gaze is determined.

After the king came out of the mausoleum I confronted him, "Your highness I would like to retire from my duties as a Viscount and pursue my interests." I told him directly in a stoic voice.

The king looked at me; I was very sure he understood what I was trying to do. But he still has doubt, "Lord Blackhawk, you do know your title will become non inheritable!" I replied without any delay, "Your highness, I am without an heir to my title, I only have a daughter who is married to marquis Stormwind. But I do hope my monetary assets can be transferred to the branch families. And I have already submitted the paperwork towards your office."

*Silence*

The king looked at me for a while longer. He was trying to see if I was being truthful or was trying to harm his son in some way. Seeing so I couldn't help but chuckle and told him our family's previous banner words, "The hawks always serve the Phoenix then comes the kingdom." Hearing this the king's lips twitched in annoyance but he seemed relieved. He nodded slightly giving me his approval. Then he started walking away. I sighed audibly seeing the lonely back of the king I used to serve. I quickly turned back to wait for my new liege.

'I can't deny the fact that I am excited to serve him. I can't wait to serve our true lords again.'

After some time passed I could see a figure coming out of the mausoleum. I couldn't help but smile broadly looking at him. 'He sure has grown into a fine young man.'

"Lord Blackhawk, what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you here?" He asked me in a cautious tone. I couldn't help but feel a bit of pity towards the bright young man who was said to be the future of the kingdom.

"It's nice to see you again your highness." I bowed as low as I could, I need to show him my subservience, 'Can't make my liege uncomfortable now can I?" but unfortunately he turned even warier of me and looked at me with those sharp but kind eyes. Looking at those light blue eyes reminded me of the open blue horizon, even I was mesmerized.

"I am no longer a royalty, so you don't need to call me your highness... And even when I was one you didn't need to give me that exaggerated bow." He paused for a bit looking at me as if I was weird and continued, " Your standing isn't so low that you need to bow me that low, my lord." 'Yes, I was right he is wary of me.' But that didn't matter because I was prepared to follow him and swear my loyalty.

"My dear lord, this bow isn't because of you being the Franzer royalty. But because now you have given up that family and can accept your other noble bloodline. The blood of the Vermillion Clan! And I do have to tell you,' the hawks always serve the phoenix.'" I looked at him with shining eyes.

He seemed to ponder about something and opened his mouth to say something I didn't expect. "I'm only half a phoenix so I don't deserve that exaggerated loyalty! And even if I am not royalty anymore, I am not throwing away my Franzer bloodline or my Family name!" I could sense some hostility from his tone.

"HAHAHHAHHAHA" I laughed really loudly hearing his answer even he was surprised by my laugh, so I told him, "It's all good your highness and forgive me for my ungentlemanly behavior. But you should know we don't care about that clan name of yours. We know that you have the Vermillion blood running through your veins and we will follow a phoenix whether they like it or not! For now I can't make everyone follow you or it will cause unrest in the kingdom but allow me to follow you personally..."

I looked directly into his eyes and pleaded "Please let this old hawk serve the phoenix's once again."

When the prince heard this he looked at me as if I was an idiot. I just smiled at him while kneeling and lowering my head waiting for his permission. 'Permission or not, I will still follow you my liege.' The young prince seemed to shiver suddenly for some reason.

"Very well, Lord Mavis Koira Blackhawk I demand full loyalty to me and my lineage. And you to serve me till your time comes to leave this material plane behind. Do you accept?"

"With honor and gratitude your grace." I took the princes hand kneeling and swearing my loyalty and servitude towards him.

"Sigh.. Let's go towards the stables we need to get horses and a carriage and probably change of clothes…" The prince said and I nodded following behind him. And I could swear to the holy phoenix that I saw a smile on his highness's lips.

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Axel's POV – Whitefox Estate right after the commotion in the Hall~

Viscount Whitefox, my father was sitting on his office contemplating about something as I walked in. He didn't even bother to look at me... which kind of gets on my nerves but I do my best to keep cool. Because what I need of him, will need all my charm and his grace.

"Lord Father, I have something to discuss with you." I called my father with the calmest voice I could muster with gritted teeth and a smile. Even I felt I was being creepy.

"No!" He didn't even look at me or ask me what I wanted but just said no. I looked at him being clearly irritated, and when I was about to ask him for the reason. He started talking on his own. "You will not follow the cast away. I will not let the name of the Whitefox be merged with trash that lost his rights!"

"WHAT DO YOU FUCKING MEAN TRASH AND CASTAWAY HUH?!" I couldn't believe my ears. The man that talked fondly of Lucian, for his smarts and prowess over arcane arts. The man who was proud of me for being his friend and retainer just called him trash?

"VOLUME!! And you know EXACTLY what I mean when I say those words. Associating with him will only drag our family down. I will not let that happen, as long as I am the family head. OVER MY DEAD BODY." Father shouted those words with rage. I couldn't help but tremble a bit. I was always afraid of my father and I always wanted to get his approval for everything... But even if it's to follow my father's wishes to make him happy and approve of me, I can't leave Lucian alone. He lost everything in a single day. 'NO, I WILL NOT LEAVE HIM ALONE.'

*THUD*

I slammed my badge of identity, proof of being from the Whitefox linage and also my sword that was given to me on my coming of age day. It was granted by the clan and it was a family heirloom. "Then that just means I need to leave the family, to be able to do what I want and not bring shame to you."

Surprise could be seen clearly on my father's face but that was just for a second and then it overcame with rage. "DO YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR WORDS ENTAIL?"

"Yes. I do!." I replied with the calmest voice I could muster but my mind was in turmoil.

My father looked away from me and said with an arrogant yet cold tone, "Alex Rover Whitefox, you are now hereby disowned by the Whitefox clan. Never show your face in this compound again. GET OUT!"

I bowed to my father and go away with tears streaking down my face trying hard not to sob…

~~~ After Axel left~

"You look like a father who is very proud of his child, Lord Whitefox." Said an old man wearing military outfit. A broad smile could be seen on his face.

"I surely am proud Sir Battlemoar. The cub I was always worried about finally grew up and stood up to its father. An entity which was its respect and also source of fear." Lord Whitefox smiled as he looks at the old knight and asked him. "Did Orion really let you go just like that?"

"He wanted me to leave, I believe.... even if he never said it himself but he wanted me to protect the young prince. The Queen made some fuss but I told her straight in the face, 'I Only serve the throne not YOU!' And she almost feinted from rage.. HAHAHAHAHA." Laughing merrily the old knight replied.

"Surely… Only you can talk to the 'Queen' like that." Wiping his cold sweat from his forehead Lord Whitefox replied to which the knight just shrugs.

"Well I will meetup with your cub and go to his highness together. And don't worry that little fox is very strong and I will keep him safe as well." He said and walked towards the exit. "I trained him after all."

"Thank you." That was all that could be heard in that luxuriously decorated room.

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Lucian's POV~

I and Lord Mavis were going towards the stables but before we could reach it, I saw 3 figures standing seemingly waiting for me, I was surprised and happy to see my old friend and retainer Axel and seeing Sir Julian surprised me a bit but I could guess why he was here. I thanked my father one last time for this favor but when I looked at the third person which was a lady with cascading Crimson hair. My head started throbbing in pain.

"Greetings Sir Julian, It's reassuring seeing you here and you too Axel." I greeted them with a smile and they bowed to me. Then they nodded towards Mavis which he returned in kind. I was trying to ignore the Crimson haired beauty because whenever she is involved it always spelled trouble. And like I thought....

*Smack*

"HEY! WHY ARE YOU FUCKING IGNORING ME???!" the girl smacked my back without the shred of hesitation and opened that vulgar mouth of hers to speak profanities that even made Sir Julian and Lord Mavis surprise to look back at her. They couldn't believe there was a person in the kingdom that would 'hit' the prince and even shout profanities at him. And to take it up a notch, it was done by not a pig headed man but a beautiful young lady.

Axel couldn't take it anymore and shouted, "YOU BITCH!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HIS HIGHNESS. AND DID NO ONE EVER TAUGHT YOU HOW TO BEHAVE LIKE A LADY??? HUH?? AND STAY 10 FEET AWAY FROM HIS HIGHNESS! NOW.!!"

The Silver Haired young man and the Crimson haired little beauty were at each other's throat completely ignoring the presence of other people. While I was smiling wryly the 2 seniors looked at me questioningly. To which I could only answer exhaustedly. "Her name is Celine of the Royce family up north, she is a bit of tomboy and we all know each other from the Royal Knight Academy. She is the same age as us and she inherited her mother's battleborn bloodline, her crimson hair as well. She is EXTREMELY rude. And not even the teachers could tame her..... and they didn't even try after when she had one of the best grades on combat in the academy. For some reason she thinks of Axel as her eternal rival and will get him in trouble with her whenever she could. She one day got Axel into so much trouble that he needed to stay in the Whitefox families cellar for 2 nights. Lady Whitefox was not amused." At the end I was chuckling remembering the past 3 years at the academy.

The seniors nodded with an understanding look, then they looked towards the lady seemingly to question why she was here.

"I will go with Lucian because I don't believe anyone in this kingdom is my match other than him." She eyed me like a pray. 'Does this girl think about anything else other than fighting? What a headache.'

"What will your parents say, when they find out that you want to leave the kingdom, And with the prince that lost everything no less?" Lord Mavis asked her without mincing words.

"WHO CARES WHAT MY PARENTS SAYS? I DO WHAT I WANT." She said proudly protruding her almost nonexistent breasts.

"This is going to be a headache." Alex exclaimed grudgingly and we all couldn't help but agree while grinning.

Unknowingly there was a smile on all of our faces even though the day was anything but good but at least we found new companions and a new quest to march on.