Eddy noticed the men around him undergo a baptism of Silver light. Although this time, it was much more personal. Some, like the man Eddy thought highly of, passed it in but a moment. But others? They took up to 2 minutes.
Rodrick was slightly panicking when he noticed how long they were taking.
Captain Howard passed intrinsically, as did he, but the rest were slacking in their faith in their Lord.
Rodrick recalled what Thaddeus had said but minutes ago, they WERE slackers. A child was able to discern their flaws, a person that hadn't had a full day in the life of a noble was asking questions that struck at the foundation of Knighthood.
That was the first moment that Rodrick thought, maybe, just maybe, Thaddeus could surpass the legacy he inherited.
He stared at the boy, he had concern on his face. His eyes darted, clearly taking note of passed quickly.
Rodrick knew, the boy was special. He had the heart of a warrior, to discern important bits of information at a glance, then instantly act upon them.
'Sofia was right.' He thought as the man beneath him struggled.
Rodrick looked over to the men he could trust, "Trust nobody. We leave nothing to chance, nothing to tradition. ALL WORDS ARE SUSPECT!" He yelled to them.
The froze and then enacted his will.
-------------------------------
Eddy felt awkward about his cursing, he probably did something wrong with the looks from Rodrick and the boys...
Eddy thought it would make him blend in better, a kid from the gutter is very likely to use those words.
He smiled.
The lock down began around 10 minutes ago as a squad of Knights escorted him to his room, they were among the quicker Knights to pass his 'test' of the soul.
Eddy felt like he knew what each of these men meant to him, not like a reputation, but more of a relationship. He could ask one to kill and he would not hesitate, but another would fracture the mark at the refusal.
They sat outside of his room, the five speaking softly about what was happening.
Eddy poked his head out, "Uh, guys?" One turned, "Milord, please return inside, it is not safe."
Eddy rolled his eyes, "Is it ever going to be...SAFE?" The Knight had no rebuttal and had to accept the Lord of the floor taking his rightly spot.
Eddy got comfy in crisscross applesauce and asked, "What is happening, I feel like some of the Knights were unloyal."
They nodded but one spoke, "Milord? Something within you has accelerated the final stage of the Mark of Allegiance." A few frowned, they had no idea.
"It is the reason it is a Mark of the Soul." He gestured, "It slowly gains power over weeks and will erupt in a "test" for those that are worthy." He continued after a quick scan, "I, myself, had to slay a Dragon. I was a Hero of Humanity and I picked up my sword and cut its head clean off."
Another added, "I slayed a Basilisk while wearing an anti-personification stone." Then one at the back had a look of shame fall across his face, "I fought a pack of wolves...."
They all turned to the short man.
"Okay..." Eddy nodded, he felt like the power had been building this morning, but why was it so quick? He felt like the answer laid behind the wall in his mind, 'The fucking system.'
Then he remembered, 'The notification this morning said I stabilized a part of my soul. That has to be it.'
Eddy felt a flash of pain, he was nearly pushing the system around. He nodded, 'Perhaps the system wants me to know? No way it fucks up like that after I roasted it, right?'
[Ding! User, you have unlocked your final statistic, please select them!]
The voice rang out...conveniently.
Eddy asked, "So, what the heck is a bodily statistic?"
The men noticed Eddy suddenly spin and stare at a wall, some were stunned by his words, but the leader of the squad spoke, "Milord, the statistics of the Great System are mysterious in origin, but they are descriptive of the body's maximum capabilities." He continued, "You will likely unlock your selection of "Stats" on your 18th birthday."
Eddy shook his head, "Nah mate, I just unlocked them." He was staring off into space, reading his list of notifications.
The men were baffled, but the squad-leader spoke, "Then it is a miracle of the Great System." He was shaking slightly, the boy was talented, frighteningly so, he needed to stay on his good side.
Eddy felt his bond with Sofia increase in strength, he could sense the frown she wore on her face as she combed the documentation in the lower sections.
Thaddeus was staring off into a wall and the Squad of men were looking at him as Rodrick walked upon the scene.
"What are you doing?!" He yelled, they were slacking off again.
"Oh, sorry Uncle, that is my fault!" The Lord spoke, "I got lonely in there and had questions..."
He looked shy, but Rodrick knew better, the boy was an actor.
Rodrick smiled, "Then it is fine. What snapped up your balls?" He turned to the man at the back, he was shaking a little too much.
"Th-the Lord, he has..." Rodrick leaned in as the squad leader finished his sentence for him, "The Lord has reported that he has unlocked his "Stats."
Rodrick nodded, "Not tooooo bad." He winked at Thaddeus, "Your father was faster by a day, though."
Eddy shook his head, "Wait, my father unlocked his stats on the same day he awoken?" Rodrick nodded.
Eddy looked confused, "How?" and Rodrick simply shrugged, "He was a monster."
He ruffled Thaddeus' hair as he felt the affirmation from the System, he had unlocked it.
Eddy felt the probe of energy and ignored it to think about the list of stats he might encounter when he started. It was a fucking MESS. There were so many Stats to pick from, it wasn't funny.
Rodrick smirked, "You are not to pick your Stats yet, I will guide you when we have secured the keep of traitors." He smacked Eddy on the back and vanished as the wind blew down the hall of the keep.
"How does he do that?" Eddy wondered out loud.
The men just shook there heads, he was a monster.
------------------------------------------
Sofia picked up her final document, it was marked for "Missccellanneous" transactions, she cringed at the spelling and swept it.
It was marked, "Lord of Blackstone Fortress, Cameron Jeru has requested aide from a planned coup."
They had a copy of the faked Decree.
It was of high quality, but Sofia could flake the golden lettering off with her fingernail.
Her eyes narrowed.
There would be a number of masters involved in doctoring an old decree.
She placed the papers in her bag and bolted up stairs.
-------------------------
Thaddeus was speaking with the guards as Sofia rounded the corner looking confused, "Lord? Why are you up here, what is happening?"
Eddy smiled, his friend was back.
The Knight spoke softly, "Lord Blackstone's Mark of Allegiance has begun testing the subjects of the Province." He looked awkward, "Several Knights...failed."
She looked alarmed and nodded, "I have found the forged Decree that was used to trick the mercenaries." He watched as the familiar golden silk was pulled from the bag.
She placed it on the floor and spoke, "The golden ink is just that, ink." He nodded, "A real Decree would have no ink, it is a manifestation of the Great System, it would simply be stitched in." Eddy followed, "It seems that someone has created a complex situation for you, likely to harm you in an unknown way."
He thought to the Knight that had slain a man.
"Perhaps it is to fold our house of cards?" She nodded at his suggestion, "It seems they wish to divide you from the Knights." She glanced at the Knights looking down. They were pissed.
"How do we fix it?" He asked.
The squad leader spoke, "Milord, the perpetrators clearly underestimated you, they did not expect you to have such a boon on your side. They have also continued their plan, but only the Knights of the Baronies are showing signs of mutiny." He pleaded for some trust.
Sofia nodded, "Rodrick is known to inspire great loyalty in his men. Most Knights are very honorable anyways, so it follows that the outsiders are the ones poking holes in the bottom of the boat."
Eddy was relieved for a moment, he was concerned this was some sort of total warfare where everything he touches fucking explodes.
"If we can round the traitors up, could they be used in a trail against the coup'ing party?" Eddy asked.
She nodded, "Yes, the Great System could force the truth out of them."
Eddy didn't like that part of the System, not one bit.