That's how the knights introduced themselves to Marzio. Without hesitation, the young man introduced himself to the honourable knights. Then the following conversation took place:
'Well, well, Marzio Variatle,' Bernardo began.
'Look at the situation here. You probably want to ask us a lot of questions about our... strange weapons, right?' Marzio nodded.
'Well, well, young man, then listen. The fact is that there are four castes of people in the world, those who are dormant, aware, knowledgeable and cognisant. They are divided according to the degree of knowledge of the true world order. The fact is, young man, that our world is not as simple as it seems. Many questions sometimes do not find answers, but this is only at first glance. Ordinary people: peasants, artisans, merchants, soldiers and others, see only the shadow of the true world, while the «cognisant» people see the source of its light. We are «knowledgeable», we do not see this source, but we know about its existence. Well, those who are «aware» only know that the world is just a shadow, but no more. So, whether you want it or not, but tonight you joined the «aware» caste, I think you can guess why?' Marzio listened to the knight commander without interrupting.
'You have seen too much to continue the life of a simple soldier, as it is now. Therefore, I can offer you two options: Since you are already a member of our order, I offer you... Hmm.... promotion. You will automatically transfer to the «knowledgeable» caste and become a fighter of strike and more specialized units of the order. I saw how you coped with those demons, and it deserves praise, and if you are so proficient with a sword and concentration, then to master more...' he looked askance at the strange weapons standing against the wall.
- ...complex weapon will be possible for you. However, then you will have to completely forget about your old life, about friends, about family and devote yourself completely to the service of the order and the crown, without saying a word,' the little girl, meanwhile sleeping on a bed by a stove, sighed nervously.
– But you have another option – to remain in the "aware" caste, but then your life will be limited by the walls of some monastery, from which you will not stick your nose out, let alone tell someone the truth. An unenviable fate, as for me, to be tied to the church for the rest of my life. Well, what will you do, Marzio Variatle?
Marzio thought about it: since childhood, he had guessed that something was wrong with the world. "The Second Coming" is too simple for the church to explain the cataclysm that occurred fifteen hundred years ago, but how many years ago? All these demons, ancient ruins, artefacts and strange weapons and devices. Marzio was also instilled by his mother with a thirst for knowledge, a desire to know the forbidden. Apparently, both Alessia and those diggers could be attributed to the type of "aware" people. So, Marzio has been in this caste for a long time. Then he remembered his mother's words: 'The truth is always locked down pretty tight.' Also, his entire childhood flashed before his eyes: how his mother taught him to count and write, how he learned science in her laboratory, how she told wonderful stories about people flying into the sky. About submarines, about moving pictures, and so on. At that moment, he realized that his goal in life was to find out the truth about the world, to achieve what his mother did not have time to do. To whitewash the surname of Variatle and perpetuate it.
'Well?' Bernardo asked.
'I agree,' Marzio replied firmly.
'I want to become "knowledgeable"! I have nothing to lose and nothing connects me with my past life, rather the opposite. I'm ready for anything,' Bernardo smiled.
'That's what I thought, Marzio. Well, welcome to adulthood, Marzio Variatle! Now you are knowledgeable!'
Then Marzio told the knights at the dinner table all his past: about his dead mother, about artefacts, about diggers in Bologna, about joining the order and about the night battle.
'Huh! So you turn out to be "knowledgeable" since your very childhood! It's strange how we haven't noticed your mother all this time,' The knight commander chuckled.
'Yes, it's probably because of my father,' Marzio added innocently.
'Your father? And who could he be?' Bernardo asked.
'General of the Liechtenstein Army,' Everyone laughed at Marzio's answer.
'But how is it so!? I know all the noble generals by memory.'
'And his last name is not Variatle!' the young man was not confused.
'And what is it?'
'His name is Hugo Von Fermo,' here everyone fell silent at once and stared at Marzio. Because of this, the young man was a little taken aback.
'Wait a minute...' here Bernardo got out of the table and began to examine Marzio's face up close. When he turned his profile towards the others, Fabio remarked:
'Yes, it really is General Fermo!'
'And he looks alike!' Uberto added.
'At least I didn't talk to the general personally...,' Bernardo began when he released Marzio.
'But I saw him up close in Hungary.'
'In Hungary?!' Marzio asked again.
'How long ago was that?'
'Well, about two months ago.'
'Is he alive, do you know what's wrong with him?'
'I don't know for now, but would you like to see him?'
'The fact is that about two months ago I was able to send him a messenger with a letter, which I am still waiting to be answered by him.'
'As far as I know...,' Uberto began.
'General Fermo has his own family and castle, so, kid, I wouldn't count on his recognition if I were you.'
'You don't understand. My father always took care of my mother and me. The letter was written by people who took care of us, and they have agreements with them. I don't need my father's confession, but I really wanted to get an answer from him.'
'I understand you, Marzio,' Bernardo continued.
'You don't look like someone who is going to profit from the inheritance of a rich ass, but it's still unknown how your father would react to such news. The fact that you are his son, and I'm almost sure, is too similar.'
'And at first, I thought: where have I seen him before?' Fabio interjected here.
'I'll have to ask the order's magistrate about it. But don't worry, tomorrow we will go to the capital anyway, and then you will understand how to contact your father.'
'By the way...,' Marzio began.
'And what fate awaits me in the future?'
'Well... First, you must solemnly take the oath of allegiance to the master of the order and the crown. You will no longer be just a soldier, but a "brother knight", so responsibility and respect are greater. Since you are still young, you will be sent to the academy of the order, where you will be taught how to wield all kinds of weapons, as well as initiate you into the permissible mysteries of the world. But don't worry – there will be so many of them that your head will swell at first. And after training, you will be sent to one of the operational detachments, like ours, and you will exterminate demons and protect the interests of Liechtenstein.'
'Liechtenstein?'
'Yes. Veneto and Slovenia are considered part of the "Alpine" empire, so we serve the king of the Alps.'
'That's how it is...,' muttered Marzio.
'Don't worry, son! Cheer up!' Bernardo encouraged him.
'You have to learn a lot of interesting things that you would not have seen in your whole ordinary life! Oh, by the way..., ' here he looked at the sleeping girl.
'Who is this girl?'
'I don't know. I didn't even ask her name. I pulled her out of a wagon when I was fighting off the demons.'
'Humm...,' Bernardo mused.
'The girl has also seen a lot, so we won't be able to let her go just like that.'
'And what to do?' Marzio asked.
'Nothing. The parents of this kid died. Of the entire caravan, you two are the only survivors, so we will give her to one of our nunneries, where she will keep secrets.'
'But...,' Marzio began.
'It's kind of cruel.'
'What do you want? She has no parents now, it's too long to look for relatives, so only a shelter. Well, or...,' here he looked intently at Marzio.
'You can adopt her.'
'Adopt!' the young man asked in surprise.
'Well, yes, to adopt. She has no one else besides you anyway, and you protected her at the cost of your own life. This is a noble and adult act, and you have now entered full adult life, so you can be responsible.'
'Responsible...,' thought Marzio.
'And how will he carry it?' Beatrice asked.
'The boy is still a kid himself, and you're giving him a baby? How do you think he's going to live with her?'
'It will be difficult,' Bernardo answered her.
'But it will be better than if she ends up in an orphanage. In addition, there are certain quotas for "knowledgeable" children, according to which a girl can get a better job in life. Teodoro, how are the things with this?'
'Hmm...,' the old man thought.
'I became "knowledgeable" when my son was already born. But the order helps its people in worldly life. You can try to get the girl into a school where she will be taught. Not for free, but you can pay for it from your salary.'
'Well, there it is!' Bernardo exclaimed approvingly.
'Congratulations, Marzio! Now you've become a dad!'
'W-w-what!?' asked the young man, who did not understand what was happening now.
'Ha-ha, he became a dad, but he is still a virgin!"
'Well, come on, Beatrice, don't embarrass the kid,' Marzio didn't feel comfortable.
'Not everyone in this business is as good as you are!'
'Hey! I am a pure girl!' Beatrice exclaimed.
'Oh, no way!' Fabio began here.
'Maybe the boy should not be lured into the vicious world of bisexual love. Maybe he should know the true male feelings?' He looked pointedly at Marzio.
'And maybe you have enough to seduce every young man you meet!?' Uberto asked him.
'No way Uberto?! How can I cheat on your muscular, chocolate body? I am truly loyal only to you!'
'Boss! He's harassing me again!' Uberto shouted to Bernardo.
'Put aside the vulgarity!' Bernardo snapped.
'Debauchery in the squad is not allowed!' at the same time, there was clearly a sense of irony in everyone's words. Apparently, it was their local humour.
'Oh, who would say!' Beatrice began.
'The very purity and chastity! He tries to get under every skirt himself!'
'One more word and this finger will be ...,' he did not have time to finish, as Uberto and Fabio started some kind of heated argument. Everyone immediately intervened in it, except old Teodoro and Sergio. Grandfather was steadfastly finishing his dinner, and young Sergio, finishing his mug, said in a barely audible voice:
'It's always like this, everyone loves, but I don't love...'
Because of the noise, a little girl woke up, who had overslept from the moment Beatrice carried her from the caravan. Not understanding what was happening, she began to cry. The knights immediately stopped arguing and all approached the bed.
'Don't be afraid, baby, everything is fine. Beatrice began, sitting on the bed and stroking the girl through the blanket.
'Everything is fine now. What's your name?' she continued.
'Lily...,' the girl said in a thin voice.
'What's your last name?'
'I don't know... are there no more monsters?'
'No, my little one, we drove them away,' Beatrice soothed her.
The girl grew bolder and got out from under the blanket, looking around. Soon her gaze settled on Marzio, and her face lit up
Lily was fed and put to bed again, and then the knights themselves lay down. Tomorrow, a long trip to the capital of Venice was planned, where a new stage in Marzio's life would begin. It couldn't be said that he was worried, but the young man felt that he was much closer to solving the mystery now. As they say: "the morning of the evening is more complicated," especially since Marzio is dead tired. He fell asleep instantly and slept soundly until the morning.