As I opened my eyes, my head reeled from the disorientation. As the stone ceiling reveals, I am back in a cell, even though it is well-furnished. I still had vivid memories of my experience during the ritual fresh in the back of my mind. First of all, there was the smiling man who was there. As if that wasn't enough, there were those statues as well. 'They were the Goddesses of this world.' I knew I was their Sentinel. I did not doubt that the darkness they revealed to me was absolute. There is a dark power awaiting to be unleashed on the world soon. In my soul, I felt this sense of foreboding. It is still a mystery to me what gifts they bestowed upon me. This is also true for the smiling man in the picture. As soon as I get up from the cot, I get dressed. In the course of the ceremony, I must have lost consciousness.
An armored display stood next to a weapons rack with a new armor set hung on a half display. Several different types of hammers were available, along with a few daggers, large knives, and iron maces that I found most appealing. However, it was the armor that caught my attention the most. There is a set of full-body armor with a gold and black lining. The helmet was sleek and elegant, with a sleek design and a closed faceplate. Unfortunately, there was no space for a viewport that I could see. After picking it up, I decided to wear it just for the sake of curiosity. I was surprised to discover that my field of vision was exactly the same as if I wasn't wearing it at all.
As a matter of fact, the sight was even better than expected. It acted more like a heads-up display that I was used to, so it reminded me of what I was used to. In addition, I discovered that my sight was enhanced after I removed the helm. It was almost as if my eyes were overlaid with a user interface. This was another surprise since I didn't opt for enhanced vision during my combat tours.
Regarding the user interface, it is similar to an RPG that the youth of the Coalition were so consumed with. I could see my level, which was one. 'This must be the gift the smiling man gave me.' Then, suddenly, there was a text message in front of my eyes as if on cue.
"Good, you are awake and have discovered my meager present. I hope it serves you well on your journeys in this world," the smiling man wrote.
"Fight the evil that threatens this world. As I Sentinel, you will carry out our will," a female voice said.
These were the five Goddesses that I had seen. Ehphine, Goddess Of Justice; Ilena, Goddess Of Hope; Eone, Goddess Of Knowledge; Uella, Goddess Of Souls; and Zana, Goddess Of Truth. The matriarchal guardians of this world, Illonteria. I could sense their presence in my mind. Subtle, but it was there. I found it comforting that I wasn't alone in this mission. It felt like a second chance to redeem myself for the death I had committed in my world. Knocking on my room door brought me out of my contemplation. The door opened, revealing the Knight Svenhilde. She wore a blue dress with a silver chest plate, an armored skirt, and silver gauntlets with heavy iron boots. Her broadsword was sheathed on her back.
"Come, brute. My lady wished that I would show you the layout of her estate. Your training will begin today as well. But, for now, you will not have to fight in the games. Lord Solus has allowed you to recover," Lady Svenhilde explained.
She wasn't as cold as she was during that exchange with her after the meeting. I wondered just how long I had been out.
"How long was I out?" I asked.
The Knight sighed a little before asking. "A few days, that is all. Do not worry about the games. A cover story has been arranged for your absence. Although you will not be able to undergo the aptitude ceremony again. You owe Lord Winston a great favor. He determined that your Magicka and Spiritcules are average enough. The truth is that we don't know the extent of your blessings. No one has witnessed what occurred during your ritual," Lady Svenhilde explained.
"I see; that is very interesting. Well, I will accompany you as you have requested," I said.
"Oh, very well," Lady Svenhilde said.
There was a look of surprise on the Dane's face as she saw me doing what she asked without resisting. Honestly, I had no reason to fight with her because I had no reason to be angry at her. She was undoubtedly a capable warrior on the same level as special forces from my world. As I donned the armor of the armor stand, she patiently waited for me to do so. Once done, we set off to tour the estate.
It was a vast home in which Countess Silvia lived. It stands at the center of a small town with a Castle. The top of the hill allowed me to see several mansions surrounding the court from a distance. In addition, prominent forts in the four cardinal directions served as defenses. North of the Castle, there was a Fortress that sat on a hill. It was evident that Countess Silvia had taken adequate measures to protect her estate and the town below it. To the south of me, I could see Pons Aelii looming on the horizon.
Consequently, the Countess held a crucial position in the city's defense in terms of its strategic importance. In addition, a tiered double curtain wall surrounded the city, adding to the town's defense. On my way through the estate, I come across Ballio, Ellisif, and the rest of the others. A small army of well-organized soldiers trained with them. My observations were noticed by Svenhilde.
"You'll be training with them soon enough. Our Countess is very protective of her people and the city of Pons Aelii. Her forces are the largest of the nobles here in Aquae Sulis Provincia," Lady Svenhilde explained.
"These aren't legionnaires, are they?" I said.
"No, they are not. While the legion protects the Kingdom, some of the most influential nobles, such as Countess Silvia and Governor Solus, have private armies. This is one of the main reasons for the power of our nation. Infighting between the private armies is extremely rare, and the Praetorian Guard is responsible for ensuring cooperation between them. As the head of these private armies, the Imperial and Royal Knights are tasked with protecting nobles and the bloodlines of the royal family," Lady Svenhilde explained.
"And you are a Royal Knight??" I asked.
"I am a Royal and Imperial Knight. Only a select has that privilege among the Knighthood. The Countess is a relative of the High King. Therefore, she has ties to the Royal King and Imperial King. Although her relationship with the Divine King is strained. Still, she has tremendous influence in the Northern Kingdom that rivals Governor Solus. Her sway reaches even the Central Eastern Kingdoms," Lady Svenhilde said.
"Just how vast is this Oromanian Kingdom?" I questioned.
"Oromania is a third of Auranith's continent. Auranith is shared by the Teratian Kingdom and the Asaberian Kingdom. As close allies of the Oromanians, they are powerful and reliable allies.," the Knight revealed.
It was beneficial to hear this information. In order to gain my freedom, I would have to escape this continent. It would be necessary for others to help you with that. Our estate tour continued for several hours as we explored every inch. As a result, I gained a decent understanding of the place's layout. Countess Silvia appeared to be building her stronghold as if she were fortifying it. There is no way of knowing whether the High King's order or her ambition was responsible for that action. This created a rift between her and Governor Solus as a result of this. A power struggle was going on in the shadows. A battle that I found myself being dragged into. I learned that the Knight had left me in the new accommodations I had been assigned. For the time being, I was left to my own devices. This was an improvement, but I was still a slave. The collar around my neck is a reminder. Silvia needed something from me. That could be something that I could use to gain freedom. I could also win my freedom through the arena. That would take time. So, my best options were escaping on my own or using the Countess. Lord Solus was the biggest obstacle in my way. He wanted something from me as well. My gut told me it was not in my best interest either. I knew Commanders like him. Everything they did was in their best interest or to further their lust for power.