A large number gathered together in the knight's training ground. They looked at the knight and bishop. They faced each other, then Bernard thought for a bit and said,
"Rather than trying to move you from the ground, I would like to know if I would be able to break your defensive stance."
Kairos replied, "Okay then. You can try to break my defensive stance within 1 minute. Icarus, could you help looking at the watch?"
Icarus said, "Okay, I'll watch the time."
Bishop said, "I wouldn't use my lumina."
The bishop then ran, making a big hole in every step. He didn't use any lumina on his mace, but then he made a flurry of strikes, the blunt sound ringing through the area.
"BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM"
Each strike knocked the air out of Kairos. But he could still maintain his defensive stance.
Bernard mumbled, "It's not enough, ha."
Then he held his mace up and spun it with both of his hands, causing a wind to blow through all of the training grounds. Kairos, seeing that, was amazed by the power that he could generate without lumina. Then he channeled all of the momentum, preparing for a downward vertical strike.
"TIMES UP!" Icarus shouted.
Bernard then stopped before launching his final attack.
"Even though you haven't broken my stance, that was the longest minute I have ever experienced." Kairos said while offering Bernard to shake his hand.
"You're a strong young lad now." Bernard replied while reaching for his hand.
"You'll join us; we need you on the front lines. I'm pleased to be working with you. Kairos said while shaking Bernard's hand.
After that, a purple-haired young lady was seen walking toward them.
"Do you also need to test me, Kairos? I can roast you anytime."
It was Meyeri.
"Oh no, you didn't need to, Mey. Please join us." Kairos replied.
Icarus, mesmerized by her beauty, then tapped the bishop's shoulder and whispered,
"Who is this lady?"
"She is probably the blooming lilac," Bernard said.
"What? Are you joking?" Icarus replied.
Bernard shakes his head. He knew them long before they had names for themselves. When they were still children, Meyeri and Kairos were close and played together. They often went to the holy church and played there. Mey then looked at Bishop Bernard and said,
"Hi, old man Bernard!"
"Hi, Meyeri. How have you been?" Bernard replied.
"I'm super fine!" Meyeri replied with a big smile on her face.
Then Meyeri faced Kairos with a serious face and said,
"What are you doing, wasting time here? We need to move there fast."
Kairos replied, "We're still waiting for one more person from the Elven Kingdom. Their messenger's pigeon arrived two hours ago, saying that the princess herself is coming soon."
Icarus was shocked once he heard that the princess was coming; all of the hair on the back of his neck had stood up. He never thought that the Elven princess would come herself.
"DONG!", just like a gong hit by a hammer. The elven princess appeared with her white horse, entering the training ground.
Icarus, seeing the Elven princess, Cithrel, ran towards her, kneeled, and said,
"I'm sorry; due to my negligence, you've got to come to this subjugation request personally."
"It's fine. Every person here counts. Or are you saying it's useless for me to come here?" Cithrel replied.
"Of course not. But, how was my grandpa?" Icarus said.
"I'll not answer your question. You'll need to go home and ask him yourself once this is all over." Cithrel replied.
Icarus was making a sad, apologetic face; he hasn't shown anyone this side of him other than the princess. She used to play with him when he was little. But he's faster to grow since Icarus is a half-elf.
"He made me this dagger. He is fine." Cithrel said this while showing Icarus her sheathed dagger.
Hearing that, Icarus was relieved. Then Cithrel leaves Icarus toward the knight, who was in charge of the reinforcement. Leap down the horse and make a greeting while saying
"My name is Cithrel. I am pleased to meet you, sir."
Kairos then replied with his right hand on his chest,
"I'm honored for the princess of the elven kingdom to fight with us."
Seeing what happened, Meyeri flicked her hand and poked at Kairos's butt with her wind magic to embarrass him. But he maintains his composure while thinking.
"This time I'll really get her for sure."
It was always on his mind, but it never happened. It was that kind of relationship. Cithrel then looked at Meyeri and said,
"The Blooming Lilac, it's a pleasure to make you an acquaintance."
"Emm, it's a pleasure to meet you as well." Meyeri replied anxiously.
Meyeri is bad with her communication, except when talking to somebody she already knows well or teasing Kairos.
Kairos then said, "Princess, may I ask you to come with us on the front lines as a leading party, but of course giving us back up is your priority? We will tank all the monsters while you deal the final blow from behind."
Princess Cithrel's name has been spread around the world since the first time she started holding her bow. She never missed her shot, and the power of the shot is remarkable. After she started hunting monsters with parties as an adventurer, her name spread even more. Cithrel, "the Green Arrow," is her nickname since every shot she makes turns the edge of an arrow from silver to green.
Cithrel said, "Okay, I'll join you, sir knight. So are we still waiting for something?"
Kairos said, "No, basically everything is done. We could start the march."
Icarus then ran toward them and said, "Wait a minute; something urgent is coming."
All the party members made a shocked face, then Icarus continued.
"I need to poop."