Bryce, Hannah, and Evelyn went up to the indoor balcony that oversees the entire hall. From there, Bryce, the head knight, addressed his soldiers.
"As you might have heard, Duke Shaughnessy ordered the Leonardo Barony to dispatch reinforcement to the eastern region of the province to help evacuate the villages over there from demonic wolves rampage."
Bryce continued, "On the other hand, a town in the Leonardo domain, Stonewall, was attacked and occupied this morning by demonic gargoyles."
Evelyn looked on the knights' uneasy faces as they heard Bryce's address.
"(In order to win the faith of my parents and all the knights in here, I needed to achieve complete victory in this quest. In order to achieve a complete victory, I would require brave soldiers who will listen to my command.)"
Bryce sighed before he continued. It was difficult for him to utter his next words.
"It has been...decided...that I will take 5 soldiers with me to help Duke Shaughnessy's forces in the eastern region of the province." stated Bryce. "The five knights I'm taking with me are Sir Carlyle, Sir Froid, Sir Pendeton, Sir Tuls, and Sir Vyrnn."
The knights looked at each other. They knew Bryce's intention in picking those names.
"(They're the oldest members in our troop. Sire Leonardo is leaving the younger and stronger ones behind for the gargoyle quest.)"
"I will set out with the mentioned knights immediately today." said Bryce.
The man had to take a deep breath before he could continue with his speech.
"The rest of you will go on a quest to exterminate the gargoyles in Stonewall…under the leadership of my daughter, Evelyn Leonardo."
Whispers between the knights immediately filled the hall. The decision for Evelyn to lead the extermination quest had been made official.
Evelyn watched the knights' uneasy faces turned into worry and disappointment once they heard her name being mentioned.
"(In order to acquire brave soldiers that will listen to my command and bring us to victory, I first need to establish my identity to all these knights.)" thought Evelyn.
"Now my daughter would like to say a few words in regards of the gargoyle extermination quest." said Bryce as he stepped back.
Evelyn stepped forward and looked at the morale-ruined soldiers below.
"(What these soldiers seek is a leader. One they believe could bring them to victory against the demons.)"
Evelyn took a deep breath. Her gaze turned fierce and unwavering.
"(I swear in Einsof's name, such leader shall they find in me.)"
[Bara Arts, Levitation]
Using the spell, Evelyn flew down from the balcony to the ground where the knights were standing.
She looked at them directly in their eyes and began her address.
"HOORAH!" shouted Evelyn suddenly.
The soldiers were surprised by the young lady's sudden outburst. They wondered why she opened her speech as so.
"Hoorah...That war cry was shouted by the first emperor of Mortalia as he marched towards the hordes of demons during the first demon invasion in the Empire more than 900 years ago."
Evelyn walked to the knights and into their midst. Allowing them to observe her more clearly.
"That war cry was not just a simple rally. It also signifies the first time mankind decided to stand up against Satan and his army. The first time the creations of Einsof decided to stand up against the Great Rival."
The knights looked at Evelyn with great attention. They were engaged in the story she was telling them.
"Since then, every time a demon heard the first emperor's war cry, they would be reminded of the time when humanity...Einsof's creations...took the battle to them."
Evelyn snapped her fingers and created numerous dust sculptures around the training hall using magic. The sculptures depicted various demons being slayed by brave warriors.
All the Leonardo knights turned their gaze all over the hall to see the inspiring spectacles Evelyn provided them.
"It was the time when the demons were the ones being hunted…. When the demons experienced lost for the first time since their genesis."
Evelyn walked out of their midst and toward a sculpture of the first emperor of Mortalia slaying a horrifying winged demon.
"That war cry will remind the demons of their worst time. It will instill fear in them while igniting bravery in our heart."
She turned around and looked at the soldiers.
"And once the demons are the ones who are full of fear and we are the ones who are full of courage…"
Evelyn snapped her fingers once again. All the demon dust sculptures instantly vanished into thin air, leaving the warrior constructs behind.
"...our victory is sealed right there and then."
The knights stood in silent to Evelyn's address. They did not know how to react.
Previously they were anticipating a speech from Evelyn that would confirm whether she was someone who will lead them to their death or not.
Instead, Evelyn told them a story that taught them a way to win against the demons, humanity's mortal rival.
Rather than fearing for their lives, the knights were now filled with anticipation to face the demons.
Because of that, their thoughts of Evelyn Leonardo were shifted.
Instead of dread, their minds were now filled with curiosity on how the young noble will lead them in their quest.
They then decided to observe Evelyn some more and see where she would take them.
Seeing the wondering faces on the knights, Evelyn woke them back to reality.
"All the knights joining me to Stonewall, gather all of your armors and weapons and meet me back here in an hour for a strategy meeting."
Evelyn continued, "We'll make our preparation till before sundown and we'll depart to a village next to Stonewall. We will camp there for the night and launch our extermination operation first thing tomorrow morning. Any question?"
The knights did not answer her.
"I SAID, 'ANY QUESTIONS?'"
"NO, MY LADY!"
Evelyn nodded to their response.
"Dismissed."
Bryce and Hannah on the balcony could only watch in awe on how their daughter did her first address on the knights.
"Do you still think our daughter can't lead our knights, my love?" asked Hannah.
"Considering how she beat the two of us earlier and this recent address, if she comes out successful in this extermination quest like she promised, I might actually ask you to transfer her full authority over the knights." said Bryce. "Don't you think it'd be appropriate?"
"I was about to suggest the same, actually."