Rein got out of the bathroom and was a little shocked to see Zolin all dressed in their party uniform but was getting used to seeing him in his room every morning. "what are you doing here" he asked Zolin as he dressed himself up.
"did you know Reinie... You roommate seems to have been avoiding us, do you know why?"
"let him be" Reinard said.
"huh..."
"it'll probably suck if he becomes friends with me, first he's going to be a northerner that befriended an easterner which is bad enough already, then the easterner he befriended is one that is hated by the whole student"
".... What do you..."
"... Many student belief I got this far by fortune. Hardwork or talent I got none, I'm just one lucky bastard that was born into a rich family"
Zolin looked at Rein as he talked, 'to think that I wanted to torment this guy... He's already well tormented on his own... I should start to sincerely help him' Zolin smiled, "you have alot of talent they jus can't see it like I do"
"I don't care... I don't care about anyone's opinion I've been living like that for a long time. I might seem rich but I've had my own share of life too. I'm not going to waste this precious time thinking about people's opinion, nor do I have anything to prove to them. I have a goal and that is all I care about"
Zolin leaned towards him, "what's that goal"
"have my own house, my guards, be strong enough to protect myself from wars and live a peaceful life till I die" Rein grinned horribly.
"eh...." Zolin was dumbfounded.
"what?"
"you lack quality... You're simple and too plain"
"I think that's okay... What about you, I'm very sure you can't be king, what's your dream?"
Zolin smiled and touched his chin. "I want to become the King of the Imperial knights"
"the knight that protect the palace and Imperial family... why would.... ?"
"no no no no.." Zolin cut in. "The imperial knight is more than that?"
"what do you mean?"
"This is a very classified information so do not tell anyone"
Rein focused on Zolin, he continued. "The empire or the emperor does not have control over the imperial knights. Instead the very reason the imperial knights exist is to control the emperor if ever he threads a path that will endanger the empire. So that means the Imperial knights is an hierarchy above the emperor. The strongest human of the empire is the King of the imperial knights not the emperor ..... the problem is... "
"... Is...? " Rein who was anxious to hear the rest looked at him with so much focus.
"To be the king of the Imperial knight, you must defeat the current... But he hasn't been defeated in two hundred years, and no one has seen him not even my father but we know he exist. He's palace is in our palace... I might have seen him once."
Zolin recalled his past memory of visiting where he shouldn't have gone and after which he was beaten to pulp. He stopped there. "oh my God we are late" He hurried outside.
'two hundred years.. Isn't that practically impossible for humans... He must've had it rough too as a child, I guess the Imperial knight is like a self destruct button for the emperor huh'
°°°°°°¬
The students gathered again but this time on a track field with their mounts. The sight was a beauty to behold. Different kinds of mounts were on the field and the only ordinary mount that stood amidst all was Belet, the spectators and audience laughed out loud. Placing an animal to race with beasts it was stupidity.
Rein had enough money to buy a beastial mount but he's love for Belet was too much. He believed Belet was extraordinary, he was different from other horses even the system confirmed it. His affinity with Belet kept increasing when the affinity concept did not appear with other horses. And sometimes it just felt like Belet could understand him. He placed all his trust on Belet and gambled his all. His party members didn't think so though, they all argued with him especially Jon who had a snow tiger which he felt was hundred times better than using a horse, but Rein was still persistent and stubborn, Zolin argued less because he had gone with Rein to see Belet a few number of times and he did agree that Belet was different with other horses but it was too much of a gamble to place Belet on the same field with its predator. This wasn't just an ordinary mount race, the beast had a mind of their own and would whatever it is to win as commanded by their master even if it's includes eating their opponents. It was a beast fight yet Rein placed Belet there. Everyone was angry especially Jon who argued and fought with Jon, even called him selfish and walked away, Sigrid also walked away but Zolin and Quetz stood there. Zolin wanted to see for himself if truly Belet was special and Quetz was bored but she knew this was not the time to whine Rein as he and Jon are angry at each other right now.
-bam bam bam-
As the drum sounded the beast and their owners began to go to the Frontline.
Rein loosed Belet saddle, "be free on that field, you don't have to win. Just show me how much you can do" He patted Belet as he spoke. Belet neighed in reply and jogged to the Frontline on his own. Rein smiled, "he's getting fired up.."
"as if... And what do you mean you don't have to win?"
"I was only taking advantage of his feelings"
"how?"
"Belet tends to pay attention a lot of times. And he just witnessed what happened, so he would do everything to make sure that he shows all of you that I'm right."
"how can you trust a horse so much"
"because he trust me too, if not why would he accept to race for me amidst dangerous beasts. He loves me and he trust me."
Zolin shook his head and mumbled, "you're crazy..."
[N]: Royal knight will be changing to imperial knight, as imperial is akin to an empire and royal us akin to a kingdom. Every other thing pertaining the empires would be used as imperial not royal, to show a clear difference between the empire and the kingdoms. Thank you for reading