As Amber and Abel arrived at the barracks, the sight of the mediaeval structure took Abel's surprise. The building was an imposing structure made of sturdy, grey stone. Its towering walls were covered in thick ivy, which seemed to have grown there for centuries. The barracks had a large wooden door at the entrance, with a metal gate, and two knights stationed there as guards. The air was filled with the smell of burning wood, and the sound of clanging swords echoed in the distance.
"Looks like something has changed here," said Abel, touching the grey stones.
As they entered, Amber led Abel through a series of narrow corridors, which were lined with doors leading to different parts of the barracks. The place was bustling with activity, with knights training and practising their skills, and others lounging around, telling stories and sharing drinks. The atmosphere was thick with the smell of sweat, leather, and steel.
"This place is not meant for a little girl like you," Abel said in an ironic tone, but Amber paid no attention to his words.
She used her wind magic to create a loud sound that made all the knights line up in three rows. The magicians stood in one row, holding their staffs, while the archers stood in another row, ready with their arrows and bows. In the middle stood the swordsmen, proud in their golden armour that shone brightly like rays of the sun.
"Interesting," Abel said, looking intently at the squad.
"I must say, I have never seen a more balanced squad. We are sixty people in total, with twenty swordsmen, twenty archers, and twenty magicians. I have two commanders." said Amber with a proud look
Abel smiled slightly and said, "How about we meet them?"
Amber ordered out loud, "Come forward, my commanders."
Three people stepped forward to join Amber and Abel.
The first person to arrive was a man named Robin Blackwood, known for his skills as an archer. He was thin, with brown hair and brown eyes.
He wore a dark green hood that covered his head and obscured his face, making him difficult to spot in the forest. His leather jerkin was dark brown and blended in with the trees, allowing him to remain hidden while waiting for his prey. He carried a longbow made of yew wood and a quiver full of arrows that he could shoot with deadly accuracy. Despite his menacing appearance, he was known to be a fair and just man who always upheld the laws of his lord.
"He is the captain of the archer knight squad, " said Amber as Blackwood approached them.
Blackwood gave a slight bow to Amber and tried to give a handshake to Abel but the moment he gave the handshake Blackwood got sweat on his eyes and tried to avoid Abel on eye contact.
"Oh, my princess, you finally came to the squad," said Grommash, holding a drink in his hand, with him was also a slim person named Alistair who looked like he was his henchmen.
Grommash the Crushe was a massive man with bulging muscles and a towering presence. He stood over six and a half feet tall, with a thick beard and a bald head that was scarred from numerous battles. He wore a suit of armour that was dented and scratched from his many fights, but it still gleamed with a polished shine. Grommash carried a massive greatsword that was almost as tall as he was, and he swung it with a ferocity that few could match. Despite his impressive strength, he had a foul personality and was known to bully and intimidate his fellow knights. He believed himself to be the strongest swordsman in the land and never hesitated to challenge anyone who doubted him.
Grommash's henchman, on the other hand, was the exact opposite of him. His name was Alistair, and he was a slim, unassuming man who was often overlooked by others. He wielded a longsword that was almost as long as he was tall, but he did so with a grace and precision that was unmatched. Alistair was quiet and reserved, and he rarely spoke unless spoken to. However, he was fiercely loyal to Grommash and followed his every command without question. Despite his loyalty, Alistair secretly dreamed of one day defeating Grommash in combat and proving himself as the strongest swordsman in the land.
"He is the man that is the vice commander of the knight squad 'Solar Knights' " said Amber as Grommash was starting to shake hands but Abel looked at him like he was angry.
"I don't like it when people don't give my handshake" says with an angry look Grommash to make him pressure.
"OH, scary" smiles Abel in a monstrous way
Amber was surprised but she tried not to make them fight.
"Abel, you are just a guest just as my father told me so be like this okay" says angrily Amber.
Grommash started to laugh.
"To think that you would be hidden at woman."
Amber got hurt a little because she knows that her squad thinks of her weak due to her not having more womans at the squad.
Abel grabbed Grommash into his face and throwed at the fighting field, all the members looked surprise and went to look at them
"Has been a long time since i haven fight…so fatty made me a favour fight me at top of your skills"
Grommash looked a little surprised "How did he,what strength does he have to move
me like this"
Grommash took his huge sword and pointed at Abel "find your sword you scum"
Abel took a wooden sword that uses for practice broke it to piece and let just a thick twig
"Ready i am" hold a position who looked like he was a noble Abel
Grommash started to take a wooden sword but Abel smiled at him
"I thought you were the strongest,so you're going to fight me with just wooden sword,i think you should prove it at you being on best form
Grommash got angry and charged toward Abel
Abel twirled his wooden stick, testing its weight as Grommash charged towards him. With a swift movement, Abel dodged Grommash's attack and hit him with the stick. Grommash staggered, but quickly regained his balance and lunged forward again. Abel sidestepped the attack and hit him once more with the stick, this time with greater force.
"Is this all you've got, Grommash?" Abel taunted, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "I expected more from the strongest swordsman in the kingdom."
Grommash gritted his teeth and charged towards Abel once again, swinging his sword wildly. Abel dodged the attack effortlessly and landed a blow on Grommash's back with the wooden stick. Grommash let out a roar of frustration, but Abel simply laughed.
"You're nothing but a brute," Abel said, his eyes flashing with malice. "You don't have the skill or the finesse to defeat me."
Grommash charged again, but this time Abel was ready. With a quick turn, he hit Grommash on the back of the head, and Grommash fell to the ground, unconscious.
Abel walked over to Alistair, who was watching the fight in shock. "You want to fight me, Alistair?" Abel asked, his voice dripping with superiority. "Well, come on then. Let's see what you've got."
Alistair hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, gripping his sword tightly. But Abel was too fast for him. With a flick of his wrist, he disarmed Alistair and hit him hard with the wooden stick.
"Pathetic," Abel said, as Alistair fell to the ground. "You're not even worth my time."
Abel walked away from the defeated duo, his eyes gleaming with madness. Amber looked shocked and announced Abel as the winner, but he started screaming at all the knights.
"Enough!" Abel roared, silencing the chattering knights around him. "I have had enough of your laziness and disobedience! You all have been given orders by our commander Amber, and yet you refuse to follow them. What kind of knights are you? If you continue to act like this, we will never be able to achieve our goals!"
As an immortal who had witnessed countless wars and battles, Abel spoke with the authority of a seasoned general. His voice was commanding, and his words were full of conviction.
"Being a knight is not just about swinging a sword and looking good in armour. It is about following orders, working together, and striving for a common goal. Commander Amber has entrusted you with the honour of serving in the Solar Knights, and you have all let her down. But it's not too late to turn things around."
Abel paused for a moment, letting his words sink in. "I know that each of you has the potential to be a great knight. But you must be willing to put in the effort and dedication required. Only then can we truly become the Solar Knights that we were meant to be."
The knights looked at each other, realising the truth in Abel's words. They nodded in agreement, and a sense of determination spread through the group.
Abel smiled, pleased with the effect of his speech. "Good. Now let's get back to training and become the knights that we were born to be!"
The knights started to cheer and Amber who was kind of sad a warm smile could be seen
"I think I should—" Amber began to speak, but Abel raised his index finger, indicating that she should remain quiet.
He approached her and whispered, "I did your job this time, but who will help you next time? You need to learn to take care of yourself, you idiot." Then, he turned and walked back to the castle.
Amber turned back, looking dejected, and saw that Grommash and Alistair had been taken away by the other swordsmen.
Amber then went to the castle herself and went at the king office
The king's office was a grand room filled with shelves upon shelves of books and documents. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes of epic battles and heroic deeds. A large wooden desk dominated the centre of the room, piled high with parchment and inkwells. The king sat behind the desk, his quill scratching furiously as he signed one document after another. The room was silent except for the rustling of papers and the occasional clink of a seal being pressed onto wax.
"May I enter, Father?" asked Amber.
"You are allowed, daughter," said the king.
Amber opened the door, her face showing shame and frustration.
"Father, now I understand that I am a failure as a squad leader. I wish to resign the commanding position."
"My daughter, I understand your frustration, but I wanted to show you why he is the key to all of this. You saw that even though he has an evil aura, he can make people love him. Why do you think that is?"
"It's the charisma he has. He can make anyone interested in him. The way he speaks to them makes them all follow his orders."
"It's not just charisma… It's experience. He started as a normal swordsman knight, nothing special, but he followed all the orders. By the time I was born, he became a hero and a general of this army. He looked, saw, and conquered to become the perfect knight."
"I understand, Father…"
"I will have to send you to the Denzel Squad. So, in a way, I will accept your resignation."
"Thank you. For the next commander, how about giving it to Abel?"
The king smiled. "You said something very funny. You want me to give the command of one of our biggest legions to him? You know the moment Abel takes command, he will sacrifice all of them. He is crazy enough to go to the demon territories by himself, but it's the seal that isn't allowing him."
"But…"
"Don't disappoint me, foolish daughter. It looks like Denzel will have to teach you what it means to be a knight."
Amber didn't speak. She bowed and just went outside. She slowly put her head down, and tears started to fall. She never wanted to leave the squad. She thought she would become the best with her own strength, and her father would look at her with pride. But she never satisfied him, and he always gave her the look of being like an outsider.
"I truly am an idiot," she thought as tears continued to fall.