Chapter 61: Rise a Knight

Only an hour had passed since Artorius left the estate with Lady Kathlyn. We were done training for the day and finished with everything.

The only thing we had left now was the main mission of the day.

Alexander went back to his room to catch up on more sleep while Vincent and I took a walk around the back of the estate.

"Artorius and Kathlyn aren't back yet," Vincent says to spark up a conversation.

"Wonder how far they are going to walk,".

"Perhaps they went to the capital already?" Vincent says as a theory

His theory wasn't baseless, it's possible.

"I doubt they would walk that far. They probably took a detour around the forest," I replied to him with a logical answer.

Perhaps he will arrive soon.

Vincent trotted in front of me, taking careless steps as we walked along the paved path. He was swaying from left and right while humming to himself.

"What do you think Artorius would wear to the party?" He asked while walking backwards, facing me.

"Judging that it's Artorius… He's definitely wearing something crimson," I replied.

Vincent closes his eyes and thinks deeply. "Hm, hm. He definitely will," He nods.

"Why are you so curious about Artorius?" I asked him curiously. "Do you look up to him?"

Vincent blushes red in the face from embarrassment. "N-not at all!" He said in a panic. "I'm just curious about him. You can't lie, he's an interesting person."

There was no denying that.

"True, but it seems odd to figure out his clothing habits," I told him with a smirk.

"Gah! Whatever, you caught on," He admitted shamefully. "How did you know!?"

"Your fighting style is similar to Artorius," I explained. "When he spars he focuses on speed and agility over powerful strikes."

He scratches the back of his head and turns around. "Well, I won't lie, I practiced fighting like him. It would make sense if I unintentionally picked up his habits."

"You might be able to master as well if you practice enough," I chuckled

The sun was right above our heads by now and the heat was getting to both of us. Spring's colourful flowers bloomed but the heat increased drastically. It was difficult to stay outside.

"Let's go sit at the gazebo," I told Vincent while turning my head to it.

Vincent was as eager as I was to sit at the gazebo due to the shade it provided. A gentle breeze wouldn't save us from the heat but shade would.

We both hurried over to it and sat down, laying back onto our chairs and breathing out deeply in satisfaction.

"Haa~ This feels much nicer," Vincent groans while stretching his arms and legs.

The wind ruffled the tree leaves as it gently passed by. A symphony is created by the rustle of leaves and chirps of birds.

Amidst the natural sounds of birds and leaves, light yet quick footsteps could be heard coming towards us. Both of us turned our attention towards the sound and saw a servant coming to us.

"Sir Felix," He greets us with a bow. "His majesty wants to speak to you."

So he's finally back.

"Is that so?" I asked as I turned my gaze back to Vincent. "Where is he?"

"In the living room, sir," He replies.

Vincent and I stood up from the chair and walked past him. Both of us were curious about what he wanted to talk about.

"What do you think he wants to tell you?" Vincent asks me with a giddy smile.

"I'm curious too," I replied honestly. "Perhaps he forgot to tell me something." I laughed it off.

We entered the estate through the back entrance and found Alexander walking in the same direction. He hadn't noticed us so Vincent called out to him.

Alexander was taken by surprise hearing Vincent's voice and flicked his head back in a panic.

"Wah! Where did you two come from?" He asked with bags under his eyes.

"We were at the gazebo," Vincent said. "Did Artorius call you too?"

He nodded. "Mhm, He did," He says with a confused look on his face. "But why did he call all of us together?"

The same question was on all of our minds. Why would he call us in for a meeting?

Moreover, it was in the living room. He usually likes to keep it professional and talk in the office. Since he came to the estate he hasn't talked to us in his office that often.

We entered the living room and saw him sitting down in his armchair, caressing the back of his crimson fox and smiling back at us.

"Ah, you all came at the same time," He says with a mellow voice.

The three of us take a seat around him and lean in closer to listen to him. His mood seemed uplifted by how relaxed his body language was. Relaxed shoulders and facial muscles, speaking in a hushed voice and breathing long deep breaths.

In the corner of my eye, I noticed a scabbard resting by the armchair. The length and the handle looked similar to Warrior's Ballad. But the black-coloured leather scabbard threw me off at first.

Artorius stood up while placing Amelia back on the armchair before turning his eyes to me.

"Felix, stand up," He orders me before turning to Vincent. "You too."

Without hesitation we both stood up, skeptical but unreluctant. Alexander looked confused and had a face that begged for answers from us as if we knew what was happening.

"Pledge to me that you will agree to do everything I ask without question," Artorius says with his chest puffed high.

"Yes, your majesty," We both answer in sync

"Come to me and kneel," He ordered us.

Vincent and I willingly walked towards him and stood side by side with each other. It only came to my attention now that the table in the middle was moved away.

Both of us knelt in front of him, facing the ground and not looking up. Slow footsteps could be heard which made my heart beat faster. I could feel his presence still standing before me.

The sound of a scabbard could be heard, along with the unsheathing of a sword. An unsettling feeling grew in my chest as the unknown noises came and went.

"Look up at me, brave warriors," Artorius orders.

Our heads tilt up and we gaze at Artorius who held his sword by his side. A priest-like figure stood next to him, wearing white robes while holding a scroll up to his face.

"Chivalrous men! Your service to his majesty has been noticed by him and the people of the kingdom," The priest reads out loud in a young voice.

He was a priest but not an old one. He was quite young and looked to be around Alexander's age, or even younger.

"By the blessings of the six, his majesty would like to award the duo with the title of knight," The young priest spoke.

It took all my heart to stop myself from smiling. Though I could, it would be rude if one of us smirked at the joy of the title we would receive.

"Felix and Vincent," Artorius spoke up this time. "From now on, you two will be regarded as Sir Felix and Sir Vincent. Swear to me by the six gods that you will work towards the greater good of this kingdom and empire, and eventually the whole world."

Vincent and I looked on with determination in our eyes. "We swear by the six! We will work for the greater cause!" Both of us exclaimed, somehow saying the same words.

Artorius raises his sword above our heads and taps it on my shoulders. My eyes felt teary as I stared into his crimson eyes as he knighted me for the first time.

After he taps both of my shoulders, he moves on to do the same for Vincent. I could hear Vincent's deep breaths as he received his first knighting.

The knighting process is finished and Artorius turns to keep his sword. A servant steps forward holding his scabbard and he swiftly sheathes the blade.

"Once you rise, rise a knight. Become generous, loyal, chivalrous and courageous. As knights, you are seen as heroes to the kingdom and the empire. Acts that bring dishonour to you also bring dishonour to me and the kingdom."

Just as we thought the ceremony was over, Artorius had one last action to finish the process. A new process that was not made in the past.

A servant steps forward with a red pillow in his arms with a dagger resting on it. As it enters the light, the curved blade glitters along with the gold on the pommel. Artorius picks up the blade and turns towards us.

"This is to make sure you both remember," He says before squeezing the blade with his right hand.

He made no noise or flinch as the blade made his hand bleed. Blood starts to seep out from his hand and runs along his hand.

Artorius takes the dagger out of his hands and keeps it back. Without hesitation, he winds up his arm and slaps me across my face.

His blood splatters all over my face, covering my face and white beard in burgundy. There was more blood on his hands than I thought. The smell of blood lingers on my nose as droplets of his blood slowly move down my face to my chin.

Vincent has also slapped not soon after. He took it worse than me and nearly tipped over onto me.

The ceremony was finally over.

Both of us rise, as knights just like he said. His blood splattered across our faces as we gaze into his eyes full of pride for his new knights. A new knight and a second knight.

The two servants turn around to leave the room but the young priest stays back. Holding the script in his hands as he smiles at us.

Artorius takes his seat and takes out a handkerchief to clean the blood off his hand while both of us take a seat again.

"Now that is out of the way," Artorius says, clearing his throat. "I'd like you to meet a new priest."

The priest greets us with a small bow.

"Greetings and peace be upon everyone in this room," He greets. "My name is SvenGeoffrey. I have just been promoted to the rank of priest. My father is a bishop at the church of the six."

"Martin Geoffrey, I assume?" I spoke out.

His face lights up with a smile. "Seems like I don't need to introduce him then," He replied.

I couldn't see Alexander's reaction to the knighting ceremony but I could imagine the surprise. The ceremony's final act was new and would've shocked any onlookers. But right now he seemed tame and curious, and so were we.

"He's going to be a new priest and I thought of having Vincent and Felix know," Artorius tells us before turning to Sven. "You can take your leave."

Sven nods and swiftly takes his leave of the room. Now it was time to get down to business.

"So why did you bring us all here?' Alexander asked the big question.

"I wanted to talk business," Artorius replied. "There are some things I need to talk to you all about."

"What is it?" Vincent asked.

"Vincent, you are going to be working with Wilkins from now on. That is your main job. You are a knight and his secretary."

Vincent raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Pardon?" He says out loud.

"You will step in for me in his business from now on," Artorius explained further. "Now, moving on to Alexander." He said before turning to him.

"You will overlook another project of mine. I will give more details after the party."

"W-what!? A new project?" He exclaimed. "Wait, we didn't agree on this!"

"Yes we did," Artorius starts explaining. "It's to do with the transport of this world. Let's just talk after the party, okay?"

Alexander seemed nervous about it but agreed reluctantly. "A-alright, let's see then," He laid back on the sofa.

Artorius shifts his attention to me this time. Leaving me to be the last topic.

"Felix, you will be in charge of the elite force project. Your first work is to meet Wilhelm and take some advice from him. After which you will be working alongside Leo to train the recruits."

Each of us was assigned a job by Artorius. It seems like a plan that he had for a long time now. He took our specialities and gave us jobs specific to that skill.

Vincent has a history of working in the business. He overlooked most of Lukas' work as he was old and couldn't work long hours.

Alexander had the most experience working with Artorius on transport. Though his task is the most vague, he is the best man out of us three.

I was the closest to Artorius and the only one who has a rank in the army. Though my skills are not as refined as others, I can manage recruit training.

"What job will you do?" Alexander asked Artorius. "You seem to be giving us jobs like minions while you relax in your palace."

Artorius blankly stares at him for a moment. "I'll be busy inside the cave for most of the summer. If I wanted to, I could've done all of this work myself but it would be a nice experience for all of you to have a job."

Alexander realises his mistake and lowers his head. The room falls silent as Artorius rests his head on his arm which sat on the armrest. Each of us avoided eye contact and lost ourselves in our thoughts.

The blood on both of our faces slowly dried up and Artorius' hand stopped bleeding. Though the red tint still covered his hand, it was not as noticeable as the blood on our faces.

Vincent takes his handkerchief and wipes the blood off. I follow suit and do the same. The burgundy colour tainted our white handkerchief and reminded us of our new title as knights.

This was my second knighting, the first being from King Theo. But as far as I know, this was Vincent's first knighting. He's a new knight.