As soon as they got out of the Capital, the troops began to pick up their pace. The sun was high in the sky and the weather was hot. Sweats could be seen pouring out of their foreheads. However, rather than looking shabby, they looked dashing instead.
Their gaze was so sharp that the people who seen this sight would think of a sword. The knights were strong and valiant. Their strong image, coupled with a hundred or more people, made the monsters close by running away from them. Whenever they passed by, the monsters' instincts were alarmed with a danger sound. Though, even if they were there, the knights wouldn't necessarily do anything to them. Since it's common knowledge that monsters who live near the Capital are weak.
The troops kept this pace until midnight almost came and decided to stop. After searching for the right place, they chose to build a camp not far from a river that flows from a nearby city, Uralian City.
Azares was taking part in helping those around him to make a comfortable camp. While doing so, he was also going through the situation inside his mind.
Usually, the journey to the south region, Huran City, would take a week at most. If they keep going at their current speed, Azares estimated they would reach Huran City within five days.
If that's the case, then it should be a good thing. Yet, Azares didn't feel happy. His hunch told him that something went wrong and they would be doomed soon. Azares who couldn't shake this feeling and couldn't tell the others as well was frustrated.
His brows were knitted and he appeared to be thinking of some serious problem. The knights near him peeked at Azares. They were curious about him. Though, no one was brave enough to talk to Azares.
They were too ashamed to do so.
Since they did dislike Azares when they heard the rumors about him. Their impression of Azares had hit rock bottom. Now that they had seen Azares with their own eyes, it felt wholly different.
First, The Third Young Master was quiet but in no way he is timid. He didn't get intimidated being amongst them. He didn't show any sign of weakness either.
Second, He wasn't gloomy. Those who said he is was truly blind.
Frankly speaking, it was this lazy aura that was enveloping him instead and radiating intensely. He even made those with him, affected by his laziness. He made them too lazy to do their duty. It was really a problem.
Apart from that, Azares was like how normal Young Master should be. The knights even found him a bit charming. This conclusion, however, confused them a lot. To a knight, being swayed by rumors was a disgraceful thing.
A knight weapon was a sword and it was the most direct weapon.
They build a bond from a fight through the sword.
They talked using a sword.
They determined an ally with a sword.
They use a sword to cut those subjected as enemies.
Fast, straight, and decisive.
In line with the weapon, they hold dear, a knight's personality would be similar. They will believe what they personally experience. They only trust, based on their judgment alone. This time, when they discovered they weren't like that, their face burned with shame. It was hard to see Azares in the eyes. All the more talking to him.
Yurien was one of them. He was the most perfect example of this.
Yurien was a part of the Hayndal knights' Second Division. He had started hard from the bottom of the ring. He fought his way up to the prestigious second division. He bleeds, cries, and despairs any time he felt it was too much. He would sometimes have the impulse to quit, but couldn't bear to throw away his hard work, so he persisted.
He did the training twice as much as other knights. He asked for a sparing session every chance he got, just to honed his skills. He crawled every corner of the training ground from morning till night.
He had done so much. Until he became the new rising star of Hayndal's knights. He was young, talented, and a hard-working person. Everyone praises him as a promising young man.
When his focus was on the training he hadn't take a notice of Azares rumors. After he was on the top though, he began listening to the news around the manor.
He heard how Azares was ostracized. Initially, he thought Azares was pitiful. But as time went by, he slowly changes his perception and way of thinking. He, who was standing at the light now despised those who kept silent and stayed in the dark.
He was aware Azares didn't get much attention, but Azares himself didn't try to change himself. He didn't beg. He didn't crawl like Yurien. He didn't force himself.
Azares ... was a coward.
Yurien's opinion about Azares couldn't get any worse.
Nevertheless, being slapped with the truth in front of him was embarrassing.
How could Azares be a coward? He seemed nothing like that!
Yurien's brain was spinning with words, 'I know nothing of the Young Master.'
'How could I decided how he is just from rumors?'
Azares in front of him was like a cold wind. Yurien couldn't grasp what was going on within Azares' mind, neither his strength. Yurien concluded that Azares must have been strong enough to face everything with a straight, blank expression.
At the time, Yurien realized that glory made him forgot who he is. It made him forgot all the things he had been through, his journey, his personality, everything changed the moment he thinks he is the winner of life.
Glory blinded his judgment.
Yurien had been walking in a circle now, to avoid bumping into Azares. However, he realized soon that nobody was willing to eat together with Azares. They made their own fire and gathered around, not minding Azares.
Yurien hesitated for a moment then determinedly walked to Azares. He gave a perfunctory greeting as he was at a loss to build a conversation.
"Hello, Young Master Azares."
Azares glanced at Yurien, acknowledge him, and turned to the fire again. Azares wasn't one to care about his surrounding, so he seriously supervised the meat being burnt on the fire to take it out at the perfect time.
Azares had Sylph, anyway. Even if someone wants to hurt him, Sylph would be the first to charge forward. That guy is crazy for a fight so it went well with him, who doesn't want to do anything. Azares wasn't worried about his well-being anymore.
Yurien couldn't find any topics to talk about with Azares. Therefore he shut his mouth and focused on his meat too.
They ate in silence. After some time, they were no longer stiff with each other. The mood became amicable and peaceful. It was too peaceful, Yurien's courage began to grew bigger.
Yurien spontaneously said, "Young Master, you aren't the person the rumors describe you to be."
Azares was gleefully savoring his meal. He didn't put an ounce of importance on Yurien's words. Azares hummed softly as a response. Then he went on to say, "You should trust your heart."
"The heart knows it better."
Yurien's voice choked, "...Yes?"
The hands holding a stick of meat were trembling. Yurien's pulse all of a sudden shot up rapidly.
"What do you mean, Young Master?"
Azares answered readily as if he had been waiting, "Everything comes from the heart."
"Your heart will never lie."
"Do you trust the rumors more than yourself?"
Azares thought it was pointless to explain. If he tried to defend himself, it might go backwards. They will think he was guilty and everything about him would become like how they picture him to be. He didn't take it seriously but that doesn't mean he was comfortable being shunned at. That's why he asked Yurien back, rather than saying nonsense.
Azares would never guess such simple words could touched Yurien greatly. Yurien who was forcefully awaken from his dream, once again reminded about how he should be.
'That's right.'
'That is how I wanted to be.'
Yurien's eyes sparkled when he saw Azares. He marveled how grand Young Master Azares was. Even though he was ostracized, he never lost himself. Azares tirelessly presevered and never give up.
Yurien thought that Azares must be wanting to proved his worth in this subjugation. At this moment, Yurien felt a closeness to this Third Young Master. In Yurien's mind, he and Azares was the same. They had to go through hell first before having the strength to shut everyone's mouth.
Sylph who was watching from the side had an ominous thought.
[This child ... his eyes are too blinding]
[By any chance, does he like you?]
[....], Azares couldn't refute that.