"Don't use the blade," Caym said as he slowly took off his gloves.
Hector walked towards the hooligans, his sword still sheathed, but its presence was enough to send shivers down their spines. The hooligans looked in horror as they realized that Caym and Hector were probably real knights.
The leader of the hooligans, who had been so aggressive a moment ago, now stammered, "W-wait, we didn't mean any harm, Grand Commander. It was just a misunderstanding. We'll leave right now."
Hector continued to approach them with a sinister smile, his eyes locked onto the leader. "A misunderstanding, you say? You were about to rob innocent travelers. And you insulted the Grand Commander. Do you think you can just walk away?"
"Just scram if you understand," Caym said, his face holding no emotion. He took off his other gloves, unveiling his hand marked with prominent veins and scars. "Or do you want to try?"
The hooligans, realizing they were outmatched, quickly dropped their makeshift weapons and scrambled to retreat. The leader gave an apologetic nod and hurriedly led his men away from the scene.
The knights watched them disappear into the alley, their expressions still stern. Once the hooligans were out of sight, Hector turned to Caym with a sheepish smile. "Well, that went better than expected, don't you think?"
Caym shot Hector a steely glare. "We have more pressing matters to attend to," he stated, his tone firm, and started walking away.
Hector hurried to catch up with Caym. "But why did you take off your gloves?" he inquired, puzzled.
"So I could get a good grip on your hair and toss you toward them," Caym responded impassively, his expression unchanged.
"I can't quite discern if you're being serious," Hector replied, uncertain.
As they continued on their way, the two knights made their way through the labyrinthine alleyways of the city, unaware of the lingering gaze of the Veyronis diviners who had returned to their stall.
Caym and Hector approached the orphanage, but what met their eyes was a scene of utter devastation.
The building appeared neglected. Uneven wooden boards covered the windows and the grass outside had grown wild, casting a gloomy shadow over the place.
"Is this not an abandoned building?" Hector murmured, voicing the incredulity they both felt.
They ventured further inside, the floor creaking under their weight, the sound echoing eerily through the desolate space. The odor of something rotten hung in the air, suffocating and tangible. It felt like stepping into a nightmare, except for the presence of the emaciated children standing in silence, their eyes wide with fear.
Caym's jaw tightened, his anger simmering just beneath the surface as he surveyed the scene. "Where is your caretaker?" he demanded, his voice cutting through the heavy silence.
The children quivered under his gaze, tears welling up in their eyes, their lips trembling in fear.
"They do not seem to like you," Hector observed.
Yet, amidst the terrified children, one brave boy stepped forward, positioning himself between the knights and the others, his arms stretched protectively.
"W-we don't know. He is always away," he stammered, his knees visibly trembling.
Caym's brow furrowed deeper as he recognized the boy. He was the same child who had whisked away the little girl trying to sell talismans to him few days before.
"You. Don't you have a sister?" Caym inquired.
The boy's eyes widened in surprise, his fear now mingled with confusion. "Wha-what do you want with my s-sister?" he stuttered, his voice barely audible.
"I think you are traumatizing the poor boy," Hector interjected, his voice laced with concern.
Caym glanced at the trembling child, his stern expression softening. He cleared his throat, trying to convey a sense of reassurance. "I just wanted to ask," he said, his tone softer, attempting to comfort the boy amidst the distressing situation.
Hector's voice softened as he kneeled in front of the boy, his eyes kind and understanding.
"I cannot believe I am saying this twice, but," Hector paused and pointed at Caym with his thumb. "That is the Grand Commander."
Caym raised his brows by Hector's introduction, but soon just sighed and looked away.
"We are good knights. We are here to help you, so don't be afraid," Hector said, his tone reassuring, attempting to ease the boy's fear.
The boy's eyes flickered between the two knights. "H-how can we believe you?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Hector glanced at Caym, silently seeking approval. "Umm, can you show him your badge, Commander?" he whispered before his eyes returned to the boy.
Caym sighed softly, but he complied. H reached inside his cloak, retrieving a polished silver badge intricately engraved with symbols. He handed it to Hector, who held it up for the children to see.
"The six-headed star in the middle symbolizes the empire. The sun above and the moon below it symbolize the Goddess Yanessa. The shield that encases it symbolizes the Imperial Army. The roses and thorns symbolize the Imperial Family of Harlande," Hector said, his finger pointing at the engrave. "And these five stars at the bottom symbolize the rank of the Grand Commander."
The boy hesitated for a moment, his eyes still filled with doubt. "T-that could be fake," he said.
Hector extended the badge on his palm, offering it to the boy. "You wanna touch it? It's real silver," he encouraged.
Caym's head snapped to the side, his sharp gaze fixated on Hector's back.
"Ah, I could feel his gaze piercing my neck," Hector thought as he smiled nervously.
The boy tentatively reached out and touched the silver badge, his fingers brushing over the cool metal. His eyes widened in surprise as he felt the genuine texture of it in his fingertips.
"Wow," he unconsciously let out, his voice filled with awe. He quickly covered his mouth, surprised by his own reaction.
"Ey, it's okay," Hector reassured him, his hand gently patting the boy's head.
The boy looked up at Hector with wide eyes, a glimmer of curiosity replacing his earlier fear. "C-can I hold it?" he asked.
Hector hesitated for a moment, glancing up at Caym for permission. "Oh, that..." he trailed off, his eyes meeting Caym's stern gaze.
After a moment of silence, Caym sighed. "Go on," he said.
The boy's face lit up with gratitude as he carefully took the heavy badge from Hector's hand, his fingers tracing the engraved symbols with awe and wonder. Excitement rippled through him, and he eagerly showed the badge to the other children, who looked at it with wide-eyed fascination.
After holding it for barely a minute, he carefully returned it to Hector.
He paused and looked at Caym. "I-If you're the true Grand Commander, can you help my sister?" he asked.