25

Jisarila turned to Jace once more as they were drawing close to their destination, "So all that blood, is that a spell or a skill of yours?"

Jace blinked and scratched his beard, "I don't know actually let me check my notifications."

He opened his sheet and was bombarded by a slew of system messages. He frowned and read through them.

[Powerful emotion detected, Wrath. New class force unlocked : Berserker]

[Extremely high mastery detected, Shield. New class force Unlocked : Shield-sworn Berserker]

[Magical capabilities detected. New class force unlocked : Arcane Shield-sworn Berserker.]

[Inner connection with blood detected, new skill formulated. New skill added : Blood Lord]

[New skill incompatible with class. New class force unlocked : Blooded Berserker.]

[Emotions reigned in, Wrath is under user control. Incompatible with berserker class. New class force unlocked : Bloodsoaked Shieldmaster.]

Jace's eyes widened, "Well damn, I went through like five forced class unlocks."

Jisarila, the captain and the nearby guards stared at him with wide eyes. "Force unlocks are extremely rare and you went through five of them?"

Jace nodded, "Yea first it unlocked Berserker, which turned into Shield-sworn Berserker because of my shield mastery. Then it turned that class into an arcane version because of my limited magical capabilities. Next I got a skill that gives me unconscious control of blood, granting it a semi-sentience, according to the skill. That turned me into a Blooded Berserker, then because I reigned my emotions in to save the girl, Berserker became incompatible and it turned me into a Bloodsoaked Shieldmaster."

Jisarila stared at him and sighed, "By the gods I have never even heard of such a thing. What level are you, it sounds like a third tier class."

Jace blinked and looked at her, "I'm level zero, I'm walking the path of mastery."

Jisarila blinked, but showed little surprise. "If I'm not mistaken that class is third tier. It is extremely rare for people to unlock higher class tiers before reaching higher levels. But it has been known to happen. The queen, may she prosper, started with a tier two class. She is a powerful ruler and her skills affect the entire kingdom. Her youngest is said to be an even greater prodigy, starting with a third tier class similar to you. Other than the royal family I know of only six others that have started with a higher tier class."

The captain nodded and scratched at his chin, "People that do start with higher tier classes tend to become incredibly potent combatants. Even should they not be a combat class, they stand at the fore of whatever discipline they choose."

Jisarila started laughing, Jace raised an eyebrow and stared at her. She grinned at him, "I just realised that it is good for us that we got you in our clutches early."

Jace smiled back at her, "Treat me right, act with honour, and you will find me good to have in your employ."

She smiled at him, "I have no doubt."

"I haven't even asked but what actually would it mean for me to become a knight of your family?"

She paused and chuckled, "Yes, you do seem the type to dive in headfirst without finding out the details. First you would need to spend a year at the Knight's academy. Normally it would be longer but you have the combat skills down. So I this is based on my estimate. Most of your time would be spent on learning how to ride your mount of choice, learning etiquette. Once again you are, abnormal, normally one would be a page for a knight before sent to the academy. You will be doing things slightly backwards, you will be sent to the academy first, then spend half a year under a knight. Not as a page but as a, sergeant, I suppose."

She tapped her chin. "After that you will have to select a page yourself who will serve you for two years. Each knight must have at least one page to serve them at all times. This helps our kingdom make sure we have sufficient knights. They serve mostly as our elite troops, unlike other kingdoms you are not entitled to a fief or land. You're more of an elite soldier, than a knight in that perspective."

Jace shrugged, "Works for me, doubt I'd be good at managing a fief anyway. Not my thing."

Jisarila nodded, "Which reminds me, You said you spent two years in the scout division, but you spent six years in the military, what did you do for the last four. I never did ask."

Jace frowned, "No you didn't"

Jisa waited for more, when Jace held his silence she nodded and folded her hands behind her back. "I see."

The rest of the trip was completed in silence. Jace was put in a cell, gently, the guards had been listening after all. There was a slight sense of approval in their actions, a lot of them had wives and children themselves. If slavers got their hands on them, the guards could only shudder at the thought.

Jace spent the rest of the day sitting in the cell, it was a large one filled with a few other criminals. One had tried to assert his dominance on him, his teeth had flow through the air. The rest got the message and left him alone. He slept and woke up the next day to a guard calling his name. Apparently they were ready for his trial. Jace shrugged and followed as the guard led him up through a few stairwells and waved him into a room. The guard put cuffs on when Jace entered the room and was instructed to stand behind a small wooden desk. He looked around, in front of him was a taller wooden construction with chairs on top. Five people sat in these chairs, from left to right sat. Jisarila, a man with a thin and immaculately maintained mustache, an elderly woman with her hair in a bun and a stern look on her face, a man so humongous and muscular that Jace was surprised the feeble looking chair could hold him. Last but not least was the captain of the guard.

The elderly woman stood, "We shall now start your trial, would you like to summon someone for your defense?"

Jace shook his head. "No need."

The woman nodded unsurprised, and sat back down. She motioned to someone standing to the left of the room, a clerk of sorts. The clerk stepped forward, "I will now read the charges against the defendant."

He put his finger on the paper he was holding and started listing the charges. "Destruction of property, frightening and threatening civilians. Multiple accounts of murder of the first degree."

As the clerk finished with that sheet of paper he grabbed another, "I will now read the defense of outside parties against the defendant. Note that all the reports are quoted and have been unaltered."

The clerk coughed, "First account made by madam Laila Bristiem : Jace and his family are really nice people, honest! Sarai always helps out when people need a hand and Aziva is a walking bundle of happy energy. Jace I don't see as much because he works hard to support his family, but just the way his wife and daughter speak of him means he's a good person. He really is! Even if he was really scary when he dragged that corpse through the wall, he walked right through the door as if it wasn't there. He didn't threaten me! Just because he scared us doesn't mean he threatened me!"

The muscular man chuckled hearing the report, the others glared at him and he raised his hands in surrender. The man with the extremely long mustache motioned for the clerk to continue.

"The second account is from one, Gripplesticks Pundersnuff." The man with the mustache's interuppted, "The new and upcoming, wine and juice brewer? The one who's business is expanding so fast he threatens the former Filmar kingdom's monopoly on the wine trade in our country?"

The clerk nodded, "The very same." He was waved to continue, "Jace is my patron and a true connoisseur of the arts. He invested eighty percent of my start-up capital. Eighty! Do you know what he asked for in return, a mere ten percent of profits and a lifelong supply of merchandise. A mere ten percent! Because of his magnanimous behavior I have been able to grow my small business into what it is today, and it will grow much larger! Such man could not be evil. I demand his freedom!"

The judge stroked his mustache and looked down at Jace, curiosity in his eye. "Why only ask for ten percent?"

Jace shrugged, "Grip has a true mind for business, asking for only a little would allow him to expand that much faster. He puts around ninety percent of what he earns back into the brewery. Plus I get a lifetime supply! The only reason he agreed with my investment was most likely because I was a true fan of the taste of his juice, reminded me of the smoothies back home. Truly delicious."

The man nodded and motioned for the clerk to continue. "We have a few more accounts of locals who defend his honour. Frank and his wife Mili from the Goofy Geese, the local baker, butcher, weaver, blacksmith. It's quite a laundry list and we would be here all day if I continued to mention them one by one, with your permission I would like to present only those that would have a significant impact." The clerk raised an eyebrow at the judge panel, they gave him their permission.

"The Brass Maiden, Leader of the all-female mercenary group Metal Petal had this to say. Should Jace be incarcerated or heavily punished we would like to forewarn the kingdom of Kritva that we shall launch an assault to save him."

The elderly woman leaned forward frowning, "Why would they do that?"

The clerk rustled through a few pages, "It seems that his attack on the gang lair has lead to his freeing of six members of the Metal Petal, one of them being the leader's cousin."

The elderly woman sat back and sighed, "That could be an issue, they are a small band. But powerful."

The clerk nodded, "There is more." The panel muttered among themselves and listened, "The Lyncan tribes Silver Paw and Crimson Threat have sworn a blood oath to follow Jace into battle. Their leaders have named him their battlemaster."

The muscular man stood up, he smashed his hands down on the tables causing the wood to splinter. "Why on earth would they do that!"

The clerk didn't have to search for an answer this time. "The shaman of the Silver Paw tribe and a member of the Crimson Threat were also saved from the slavers. This normally would not be enough for a blood oath, but the shaman swears he felt his blood resonate when he spoke with the defendant. This is of major importance to the Lyncan tribes, the shaman stated that the other tribes will convene as well and would like to meet the defendant in person."

Jace blinked, "Huh, the old werewolf I guess. I don't wanna be anyones battle master."

The panel stared at him and Jisarila giggled, which she quickly stifled. "The last report of import and perhaps the most… disturbing is this."

The panel leaned forward, Jace could almost feel their anxiety. "The Zor Clan had only this to say. We Approve."

Full blown panic swept over the panel, even Jisarila was shouting as they yelled at each other. Jace didn't understand a word of what they were yelling. The elderly woman smacked the wooden table, smashing it to splinters. "ORDER!"

The rest of them settled down, but kept staring at each other and the clerk. Before all of them finally settled their gaze on Jace. The elderly woman stood up and hopped down in front of him. "It seems it is a good thing that we already planned to name you innocent of all charges, it seems you have managed to stir quite a pot."

Jisarila spoke up, "He's also the adoptive grandson of Trishla Hillmor."

The old lady sighed in defeat, "Of course he is."

The muscular man jumped down himself, landing decidedly less gentle than the elderly woman. "You have no idea what the approval of the Zor Clan means do you, I wonder when they will come with their challenge." The man leaned forwards and moved in much to close for Jace's comfort. "You are an interesting man Jace. I look forward to the day you are under my employ."

Jace must have looked obviously confused because the man grinned, "I am Edur, head knight. Commander of all those in shiny armour."

Jace saluted, "Looking forward to working for you Commander."

The man grinned, "Like wise."