The respect that Ferdinand held for Oliver Patrick was unnatural. He recognized that, and he very much kept that to himself. He did not know exactly why it was, or when really it had begun. He wondered if it was perhaps in the Battle of Solgrim, when he'd heard talk of the youth that had fought alongside Lombard, and been instrumental in securing their victory? Back then, he'd almost been jealous. He'd dreamed that fantasy himself so many times as a boy – of helping the adults in their major battles, and impressing them all, but he'd never had the opportunity.
The opinion grew into something approaching more solid respect, as he'd observed the boy himself from a distance, and he had heard his battling at the Academy. It was with a distinct feeling of pride that he heard every victory – he'd known since the Battle of Solgrim that such a youth would be special.
