"Greetings, my lord. I'm back to report on the matter of the massive magic power fluctuation in the West Woods; it seems that it's more troublesome than we initially expected."
Knight Rowan reported in a stern, professional tone, completely unlike the warm and sweet one he used when talking to Colt. The lord looked up from the sheaf of papers on his beautifully crafted mahogany desk that looked slightly out-of-place in the dull, unpainted wooden interior.
The lord, who was named Caymen, himself looked to be a grown man in his early forties, perhaps even his mid thirties, when the generally primitive medical field of this time period was taken into consideration.
Colt noticed nothing unusual about the man at first, but upon closer inspection, found some small, noticeable scars on his right cheek and forehead, while his hands had many calluses over them; probably from using a sword for many years, though he didn't look like an athletic.
It had to be remembered that in the middle ages, many nobles were trained in the art of combat from a young age. perhaps it was the same here? Colt fell into deep thought as Rowen and lord Caymen continued there conversation.
Although the lord looked unassuming spare some mild injuries here and there that were probably normal for this time, he couldn't shake the feeling that the lord gave off- it seemed like he was just perpetually in a bad mood, just wanting to be alone with his paperwork.
"So the fluctuation was caused by the Death's Band, huh? It definitely sounds like their work, alright. That's very worrisome indeed, especially since I have no idea why a tier four mage would specially come down here just to kill two commoner parents. I believe this lad was recovered from that old shack down in the woods?"
Lord Caymen sat back with a small glass of red wine in his hands. In contrast to his words, he didn't look the slightest bit worried. The knight Rowen's face didn't change, like he was already used to this attitude.
"Yes, my lord. The two victims were his parents- I found him cowering under the staircase, scared out of his wits. He looked so helpless and terrified, this pitiful thing. I say, what do we do with him now that his parents are dead?"
Although Rowen did not mention how he nearly decapitated him, Colt still thanked him earnestly from the bottom of his heart. He had steered the conversation in his direction; now all he needed to do was put the icing on the ready-made cake.
Looking down, he curled his fists up into tiny balls and bit his lips hard, looking like he was about to burst out into tears at the mention of his parents.
This did not go unnoticed by lord Caymen, who narrowed his eyes and put his hand up to stop Rowan. "Captain Rowan, I am a busy man; I don't have much time for a child's shenanigans. However, since you seem attached to him, you can take him in."
Pausing for a moment, he swirled his glass of wine, his expression indicating that his mind was off elsewhere. "Of course, I'll do you a favour since you've served me for many years. If the boy is willing, I can accept him into my personal retinue as a page once he comes of age."
Hearing this, Rowan immediately kneeled and lowered his head. "My liege! I... I am not deserving of such generosity, but I sincerely thank you! Please, allow me to serve you for the rest of my life!"
Although Colt was surprised at his intense reaction, the lord didn't reveal any emotions on his face, instead replying to Rowan with a calm and cool tone.
"You already are, Rowan. However..." His eyes narrowed, showing off an obviously unsatisfied look. "If you wish to retain your position as my knight captain, do not think that I haven't noticed that mind link with the boy. Do not make me repeat this again; mind links are susceptible to interference. My castle is a target of many; if your memories were to be stolen, would I be able to continue living?"
The knight captain, who was still kneeling, visibly trembled a little. "Yes, my lord! I only left the mind link open because the boy can't speak or understand out language, but I swear never to be so careless again. Please, have mercy!"
The lord narrowed his eyes. Then, taking a sip of wine, he said, "Don't worry. Take Elina to teach him; she's an educated maid. Oh, and if you continue serving me well, the position of knight commander may one day fall into your grasp."
After that, the mind link was broken, so Colt couldn't overhear the rest of the conversation. However, he did see a glint in Rowan's eye as he got up. 'Hmm... this lord seems very interesting. Judging by how he looks, he seems like a careless man who likes to live a carefree life, but his responses are well-worded, threatening yet kind and gentle at the same time. He seems to have a lot of history, but what is important to me is becoming his page.'
His eyes glowed. 'I must make sure to study well and grab this opportunity- if played right, I might even be able to become the commander of the knights... at that point, I'll be the real power of this lordship, and will be able to retire as a successful and rich man. Never again will I be looked down on. Never again will I be played like a puppet. I've just realised that in this life, I can accomplish what I couldn't in the past- that is to change my destiny!'
Soon, the meeting ended, and the big, burly man got up, bowed to his lord, and took Colt's little hand. The sight of a rough, tough man tenderly holding a kid's hand was amusing to many.
Several clerks holding large stacks of paper walked by while staring, whispering to their colleagues. Colt, not being able to understand their language, closely examined them, swearing that they were trying to hold in their laughter.
Not that he cared. 'This is all to build affection between Rowan and I... if I act like a charming little son, he'll grow attached to me and will start caring for me more, which will better my chances at achieving my goal. It doesn't matter what other people think of it; gossip will actually make it so that more people won't dare to pick on me as even the powerful knight captain cares for me.'
That's right, everything was for his master plan!
When they exited the castle grounds, walking past the stables where Rowan threw the stable boy a shiny silver coin, and collected his horse. The mind link came back on soon after they got on the horse and started their journey to Rowan's home.
"Boy... I can't use this link too often because of some bad people out there. You must understand how dark the world is due to the loss you recently received... no, no, don't cry!"
After he consoled Colt again, who was getting sick of having to act like a wimpy kid, he continued. "I will be taking you to my private manor not far from the town, where I will take care of you." Turning to Colt, he said in a grave tone, "Please understand, I am your new papa. Your old one... well, you know."
"Let's not dwell on such a gloomy subject any further. Since the lord entrusted you to me, I must take good care of you. Lady Elina will come down from the lord's castle to teach you. Promise me that you will co-operate with her and not be a mischievous boy?"
Colt, his head down, timidly nodded, not being able to communicate through the mind link.
"Alright then, the first order of business will be to dress you up in clothes that are fitting for a noble lad like you!"
Knight commander Rowan's voice became cheerful again, his scabbard shaking as he swayed around like a drunken man. Colt sighed. 'This man is truly a different person when he's at work and when he's off work. At least he has a warm heart- many people I know did not.'
He clenched his fist, memories of the betrayal resurfacing in his mind. He was still bitter about it; it ruined his life, forced him out of the military, and eventually got him labelled as a common criminal to be hunted down and exterminated.
He remembered those days where he was forced onto the streets, fighting for scraps in order to survive for just another day. He had to become like those he hated, lying, tricking, betraying... all for nothing but, perhaps, another day of life.
And in his darkest moment, he had committed unspeakable actions. Looking down, Colt could still smell the blood on his hands from the innocent victims-
"Son, whatever it is, please tell me about it. I'm now responsible for you..." Rowan's words snapped Colt out of his trance.
'That's right. I am in a completely new world, with completely new rules. I can make sure that the things that happened in my past never happen to me again. I can start afresh, build a new life from scratch.'
After years of persecution, that was the most refreshing breath that he had taken in a long time, away from all the worries and shackles of his old world.
He shook his head, and the duo arrived at Rowan's house not long after. It wasn't big, certainly not as large as lord Caymen's castle, but the wood it was built out of was smooth and the house generally well-built.
By Colt's standards, it was like an entire compound, with a tall, wooden fence surrounding it.
'Ah, right. Aren't knights nobility too? It only makes sense that they have some land to call their own!'
He recalled, surprised at the luxury that the knight captain lived in, which wasn't far off from the lord himself. When he entered, several maids greeted their master, curiously eyeing the young boy he had brought back all of a sudden.
When Rowan had changed into a more comfortable garb, he gathered the servants.
Although the mind link was off and he didn't know what he told the servants, Colt felt that there was an immediate change in the servants as they looked with him with eyes filled with a mix of jealousy and respect, bowing whenever he came near them.
Rowan left soon after he showed Colt his room, which was hastily prepared, though all in all, it wasn't too bad. In the corner was a small cupboard and desk with a few chairs. Overall, it had a lot of leftover space for him, which was quite useless as of right now as he had nothing but the clothes on his back.
Speaking of clothes, when he opened the cupboard, he found several old, small tunics that were still a little damp. Pulling his collar up, he took a sniff.
"Eurgh! I smell like shit- I should really have a shower." Then, remembering that he was currently stuck in a medieval society where bathing was uncommon, he continued. "Or not. I'll figure that out when it comes, I can just change my clothes right now."
The stress accumulated throughout the day was finally starting to catch up with him. He suddenly realized just how much had happened on that day- he had woken up from what should have been his end into a strange new world, filled with strange new things.
He almost didn't know how he got here- it all seemed like a weird, lucid blur, like he was dreaming, though he definitely wasn't, owing to the small wound on his neck that had been opened earlier that day by Rowan's sword, moments away from decapitating him and ending his time in this world.
Suddenly, it seemed like all his energy left him. Utterly exhausted, he sprawled out on the fluffy bed, with his eyes drooping.
No sooner than he had laid down that a strange figure suddenly appeared in front of Colt with a bright streak of light!
Scared witless for the second time today, Colt sprung up, bumping his head against the ceiling with a loud *Thump!*
'Huh? Wh... what just...'
His worries were cut short, however, when he felt the familiar sensation of a mind link.
"Please do not be worried, young master. I have been sent here by order of lord Caymen in order to educate you well."
Colt gulped. Was she the Lady Elina that the lord talked about during his earlier conversation with Rowan?
He got a good look at her. She was rather average looking, with decent proportions and a pretty face that looked to be in the early twenties, and looked like any normal peasant girl that could be found anywhere in the town, except for elegant and refined feeling that she gave off.
Then, he looked out at the window. It was already evening; why was she here now? Couldn't the lord give him at least a few days of rest? He thought indignantly.
She continued, not showing Colt any mercy. "I will be in charge of your basic education. Do not worry, as I have taught children before. Anything you want to inquire about, I can answer. And yes, lessons start immediately. Get your quill and paper ready; we'll start with the alphabet."
Colt wanted to scream.