| Morning of September 5th - 1248 - Castel del Monte - Attila |
After Costanza "ran away" the three of us started talking again.
<< Don't worry Attila, we can say that you passed the intellectual "test" (even if we don't know how valid it is). Having said that you will still be a knight, so I would like to see your four years of training against a real knight >>
He's right. I can't be accepted as a knight just for answering some riddle.
<< I agree with you, Emperor. Just tell me where and when >>
<< Well, now we should start talking about serious things >> said the Emperor.
From the beginning of the reception, the master said little and nothing, yet after the sentence pronounced by the Emperor he said: << Is this the new crusade? >>
<< Yes, by now the pope is bothering me. He wants me to leave and free Jerusalem, but in reality I don't want this useless war >>
Here the developers of the game have noticed this particular. In fact, Frederick II has always done everything to postpone his entry into the crusade. From what I know he even managed to pretend to be ill in order not to leave and in the meantime make an agreement with Sultan Al Kamil, managing to get part of Jerusalem without a fight.
<< Actually I was counting on your sword Ferdinand, but you told me a little while ago that you retire. You were however a valid knight and a true friend >>
<< Your words fill me with joy Emperor >>
After a few seconds of silence, the Emperor released us.
When we went out the door the teacher told me: << You are alive by a miracle, another bullshit and I would have killed you >>
In my opinion Ferdinando hates me.
Afternoon of September 5th - 1248 - Castel del Monte - Attila |
The maids took us to our rooms, awaiting the Emperor's decisions.
Obviously my master's room was more luxurious than mine.
After the two of us had lunch outside the castle we went to our rooms to rest from the long journey.
After a few hours of quiet rest, another maid knocked on my door: << Mr. Attila, are you in there? >>
<< Yes, tell me >>
<< The Emperor has called you for the test of combat >>
<< I go out immediately, where should I go exactly? >>
<< Behind the castle, you will see them immediately >>
<< Thank you very much >>
I tried to do it as soon as possible.
As soon as I got there, I saw the Emperor, my teacher and another person.
Approaching all of them, the other person I did not know exclaimed: << So he is my challenger eh? Honorable Emperor, don't you think it is a bit too easy for me? >>
<< Our knight Sir Ferdinand intends to retire by proposing this boy in his place, I need you to evaluate him adequately >> the Emperor replied.
So is this man of about thirty that I have to face?
<< So young Attila, are you ready to face Sir Elias? >> the Emperor said to me.
<< Yes your Highness >>
I didn't know Sir Elias, and I didn't even want to know him since he started babbling his bullshit: << Hey little one, at least someone taught you to fight? >>
The master replied: << Sir Elias, I advise you not to underestimate him. I have trained him personally in these 4 years >>
<< Only four years? How do you expect to become a knight in a short time? >>
I said: << Unfortunately I am of humble origins, I had no parents who could teach me the fight right away >>
Sir Elias shook his head saying: << This is not good, honorable Emperor, I have always advised you not to take lousy plebeians to court. Of course this kid is not the most questionable thing he has done, but I feel like my advice means nothing for you >>
<< Sir Elias, I only take people who I consider talented. If he has no intention of accepting my decisions then he may very well leave >> the Emperor replied in a tone.
This piece of shit not only spoke ill of the Emperor, but also mocked and humiliated me.
By now my temperament has gone to be screwed: << Honorable Emperor, I notice that this gentleman does not consider me to his height. So I have some advice for you, do you want to hear it? >>
<< Yes tell me >>
<< Sir Elias not only spoke badly to her, but he also mocked and humiliated me in front of her. So I propose, to make things more interesting, a deadly duel between me and him >>
The three bombed in an endless silence, for them my proposal was totally unexpected.
Sir Elias replied with a serious tone: << Listen brat, if you had told me these things in any other place I would have had you arrested and killed in prisons >>
<< Precisely for this reason I wanted to challenge her. Because we have known each other for a few minutes and I already want to behead her >>
More seconds of silence.
<< Fucking white hair, I accept the challenge. But know one thing, I'll kill you >>
<< Man with the face of a jerk, without the head I think you will be more beautiful >>
He wanted to kill me and I wanted to do the same to him.
The master said: << Calm down you two I think it is not the case ... >>
The Emperor interrupted him: << Wait, here it gets interesting. I authorize the meeting with the last blood >>
That retard and I got into position. While he held his sword in his hands, I was preparing myself psychologically to kill another person.
How nice it would have been to shut him up forever.
The master, who had proposed himself as arbiter, said: << Are you ready? Get started! >>
That tough guy charged me, he was sturdy, so he was also difficult to dodge.
Even though it wasn't a problem, I simply tripped him. He fell, banging his face against his muzzle.
I laughed at him: << Ahahaha I did not know that your way of fighting was to charge people for no reason. I hope the earth is good hahaha >>
During the mockery, he got up and told me: << It was seen that you are a lousy plebeian, you do not even know how to fight between knights! I see that Ferdinando did a bad job >>
This really wants to die.
<< Jerk. This is a battle where our life is at stake, does it seem like a chivalric moment? Since you still seem to pose as a bully maybe it's better to kill you right away >>
I started walking verses of him, with a killer look and an eerie smile on my face.
He was afraid of me, but in front of the Emperor he did not want to pass as "scared".
He assumed the guard position and stood still.
<< Ahaha now you stay still without doing anything coward? Aren't you the best of me in combat? >>
I was going to provoke him because it bothered me that he had warned himself, but by his expression he knew that I was purposely provoking him.
So I decided to go heavier: << You know, you made me so angry that when I kill you I'll go and check if you have a wife and children. Maybe they could be very useful to me >>
His gaze changed after my words, it had become not only worried but also terribly serious.
<< I will not allow you to touch my family! >> shouted the idiot.
<< When dead you can do little >> I told him while I continued to approach him.
Sir Elias threw a horizontal slash, a clever move but not enough.
Since he was taller than me, his slash was at a height that could be dodged by one of my size. I reached down to avoid him and used my sword to cut off the hand holding the sword.
The man collapsed to the ground screaming in pain.
<< You broke with these screams >> I said cutting off his head. On it he still had an expression of pain.
The master and the Emperor were amazed, in a negative sense, at what they saw.
<< Sir Elias was one of my best knights. It served me for many years, now it is a headless body in front of me >> said the Emperor.
<< Well apparently in addition to being a snooty did not even know how to fight >> I replied.
<< I can not say that you are wrong. I officially recognize you as my knight, tomorrow we will do the official ceremony >>
I was delighted at that moment.
I could finally serve Frederick II.
<< Thanks for your words majesty. I swear that I will not disappoint you >>