Once through the gates, Sylvie's excitement was palpable as she cheered and hugged herself. "Oh my God!!!!! I'm finally here at the Warlord Initiation. I've waited so long to join big sis!" Caught in her own bubble, she seemed momentarily zoned out. Kage considered slipping away to explore on his own but decided against it. If this was indeed a competition, gleaning more information from her could prove invaluable.
As they ventured deeper, Kage was struck by the festive atmosphere, reminiscent of a renaissance fair. Vendors lined every corner, peddling an assortment of goods ranging from potions and magical items to weapons and equipment. Sylvie noticed Kage's wide-eyed wonder.
"First time in the capital, huh? Well, you're probably wondering about all the vendors? Lucky for you, you've got me—someone smart, resourceful, beautiful, and adorable," she boasted, and Kage couldn't help but think, 'Yep, she's definitely a handful.'
She continued, her voice animated. "As you know, The Warlord Initiation only happens once every four years." Kage recalled his mother mentioning this. "We're not the only kingdom to hold such events, but we attract the most talent. Warriors from other kingdoms, having failed their own initiations, often try their luck here."
Taking in the scene, Kage stored every detail as potentially critical information. He had much to learn about how these kingdoms operated. "Yeah, my dad is a Warlord," he shared casually.
"Oh? That's cool. Oh, look! See that tall, brown-skinned fellow over there with the tattoos?" Sylvie pointed to a man surrounded by three robust men in expensive robes. The man, bald and adorned with earrings in both ears, seemed momentarily annoyed before his gaze fell upon Haruto, who quickly averted his eyes.
"He's intimidating, right?" Sylvie noted with a smile. "If I'm not mistaken, he's a prince from the Algoro Kingdom. I'm not sure why, but they sent him here for the Initiation."
Sylvie's depth of knowledge surprised Kage, prompting him to ask, "How do you know so much about all this? Is it because of your sister?"
Her pride swelled visibly. "Well, my sister Danity is the 6th ranked member in the Vanguard," she said, her tone suggesting she had disclosed a vital secret. "Uh... what's the Vanguard?" Kage inquired, suddenly feeling out of his depth.
The shock on Sylvie's face was unmistakable. "How do you not know about the Vanguard, and your dad's a Warlord? Wow, he must have been a deserter or something." Haruto bristled. "You don't know anything about my father!" he almost shouted, defensive and hurt. "My dad has been searching for a cure to save my life. He's no deserter or whatever you just suggested."
"Okay, geez, sorry," Sylvie backpedaled quickly, realizing she had struck a nerve. "It's just that it's not uncommon for some Warlords to desert their families upon achieving their title. Some even view their old family status as beneath them and start new ones. You know, and you're taking the initiation?! Never mind! I'm getting off track. The Vanguard is the kingdom's elite force, composed of the top 10 members who are the strongest Warlords. Being a Vanguard grants them status beyond their prior guild and access to unparalleled resources. Their numbers also denote their rank."
Haruto was slowly piecing things together, especially in light of the altercation at the gate. It seemed likely that Gram's brother was also a Vanguard member but at a lower rank than Sylvie's sister. "But it doesn't make sense. Why would your family serve his?" he queried.
Sylvie looked away, lost in thought before replying, "In this kingdom, no matter the social status, financial backing, or family history... none of that matters. For the only thing that truly holds weight among the Warlords... is power."