"I'm a visitor and would like to ask for some assistance."
"Excuse me?"
As soon as Alik spoke, the knights froze in unison. He quickly took note of the lead knight's attire: a blue uniform adorned with a golden eagle crest and three engraved lilies.
"I've heard the Cav-, Duke of Peletta is…staying nearby," Alik continued, choosing his words carefully. "I seem to have lost my way. Could you kindly direct me to him?"
He had started to mention the "Cavalry," but caught himself just in time, noticing the knight's expression sour at the mere beginning of the word.
Every Imperial Knight they'd encountered so far had vanished the moment they heard "Cavalry." But this was the first time someone had reacted with outright hostility.
"The Duke of Peletta? What business do you have with him?"
"I'm afraid I can't disclose that,"
How could he admit that he was a mage from the Pearl Tower, drawn here by rumors of the Red Stone to conduct unauthorized research? He wasn't even an invited guest.
Alik forced an awkward smile, shaking his head. The knight's sharp and arrogant black eyes roamed over him and then shifted to Thais, who stood silent behind him. After a pause, the knight's gaze hardened, turning icy and fierce.
"Seize them," the knight commanded coldly.
"Pardon?"
Alik couldn't believe his ears. But the knight didn't stop.
"These men are hiding their purpose. They're suspicious. Most likely they're aligned with those filthy insects. We'll find out what they're planning—take them into custody!"
The knights bowed and obeyed immediately, moving to restrain Alik and Thais.
Alik, accustomed to his share of mishaps while serving his eccentric, research-obsessed master, had never faced the prospect of imprisonment before. This was new—and terrifying.
"Wait, Sir Knight! We're not criminals! We even have proper identification! Check our passes, you'll see!"
"Forged documents are common,"
"Then take us to the Imperial Palace…! They can verify our identities there!"
"The palace, you say? You expect me to believe that?!" The knight sneered then smirked, looking them over with disdain. Their plain, worn clothes didn't help their case.
Today, Alik and Thais had chosen to dress like commoners to avoid drawing attention. As a result, they'd left behind their pearl badges—the marks of their affiliation with the Pearl Tower—at the Palace Mages' Tower.
If only they'd foreseen this, they would have brought the badges. Alik sighed deeply. It was too late to regret now.
'Master, this is all your fault! Why aren't you doing anything?' Alik silently fumed, his eyes darting to his master.
Thais, who had remained quiet while watching the knights' attempts to restrain him, finally spoke.
"Young knight, may I know your name?"
"I've no name for the likes of suspicious people,"
"We merely asked for directions because we were lost," Thais continued calmly. "Is it right to arrest us without any evidence, circumstantial proof, or even an attempt to verify our identities, all based on speculation and emotion? Is this the standard of the Imperial Knights, the pride of the Orr Empire?"
Thais wasn't just a senior mage of the Pearl Tower for over 20 years without reason. His voice carried a weight and authority that few could dismiss lightly.
The knights exchanged uncertain glances. It was clear they found Thais an unusual man. However, the lead knight, bearing the three lilies on his uniform, simply snorted in contempt.
"How dare you insult the Imperial Knights with your foul tongue! I won't be swayed by such cheap tricks!"
"Sir Kiolle," one of the other knights murmured hesitantly and had a uncomfortable expression, "even so, shouldn't we at least verify their identities before making accusations? Or perhaps contact the Duke of Peletta—"
"Yelsin!" Kiolle roared, cutting him off. "Are you siding with them now?"
"N-no, sir. I'm not."
"Then keep your mouth shut and follow my orders!"
Alik had dealt with countless arrogant nobles, but Kiolle was different. Alik decided to never forget the name of this detestable man.
Despite his current predicament, Alik was not a servant. But an elder's direct disciple. As a noble-born mage and the direct disciple of a Pearl Tower elder, he held considerable potential and talent. Yet here he was, being humiliated for the first time by this insolent knight.
'If only our Master were here, who became an elder through elemental magic,' Alik thought bitterly. 'He'd unleash his elemental magic and end this farce in an instant.'
But Thais was a scholar, a master of research, not offensive magic. There was no point in pushing the situation further. Alik resigned himself to being taken into custody, intending to summon someone later to verify their identities.
But just then, something unexpected happened.
"It looks like they're the ones we're after."
"I told you so."
Voices rang out from a distance, and four figures approached.
"It has to be them. I saw them being ignored earlier when they asked for the Cavalry's location. I'm sure of it."
The four were dressed in the same black uniform, but three of them were so caked in dirt and dust that it would've been hard to recognize them as part of the same group were it not for the one who remained clean.
Alik blinked in surprise, staring at their faces. One of them—a pale man with black hair—triggered a memory. Straining to recall, it suddenly came to him.
'Right. The one who was fighting that noble at the palace! He said he was from the Cavalry!'
Alik didn't recognize the others, including Kanna, whose hood was pulled low over her face. But the black-haired man—Yuder—had made a lasting impression during their brief encounter.
"Excuse me, knights,"
The moment the Cavalry appeared, the atmosphere shifted. The Imperial Knights tensed, their hands inching toward their sword hilts, ready to draw at any moment. Kiolle's face flushed red with anger, his body trembling as if ready to explode.
"You filthy scoundrels," he hissed. "You've got some nerve showing your faces here."
"Cavalry members have the right to freely roam the grounds of the Imperial Knights, I'm not sure what offense you're talking about."
The black-haired man tilted his head slightly, his expression remaining neutral. Though his statement had been factual, it was enough to further inflame Kiolle's temper.
"We heard these two were looking for the Cavalry, so we came to find them. May I ask why you're detaining them?" The black-haired man asked calmly.
Alik felt a surge of relief—finally, someone had come to their aid. Kiolle, on the other hand, seemed even more incensed.
"Shut your mouth! You came here knowing I was present! Fine. Now that I see you haven't been expelled, we'll settle this once and for all!" Kiolle roared, his anger boiling over.
Yet the man—Yuder—remained unfazed, blinking slowly as though Kiolle were a stranger.
"Um…Pardon me, but have we met before? I don't recall you."
"...What?"
Could there be a more humiliating response? Alik watched in fascination, certain Kiolle's face might actually explode from rage. The other knights seemed to sense the same, glancing nervously at Kiolle while holding their breath.
Even Yuder's companions wore strange expressions, suggesting that Kiolle and Yuder truly didn't know each other.
"You... you're saying… you don't remember me?" Kiolle stammered, his voice shaking with disbelief, seeming unaware of his own stuttering.
"Was there something memorable about it?" Yuder asked, glancing at one of his companions. "…Gakane, do you remember anything?"
The red-haired man, Gakane, cast a sideways look at both Kiolle and Yuder before awkwardly scratching his head.
"Uh... Yuder, you really don't remember? That time... when you, uh… did that thing to his sword. He fell over... and the Commander even showed up afterward…"
"Oh, that time." A flicker of recognition finally lit up Yuder's eyes at the mention of the Commander. Meanwhile, Kiolle's face drained of color, his fury intensifying.
"How dare you mock me like this and expect to live? Fine! Draw your sword! I challenge you to a duel!"
"I'm not a knight," Yuder replied calmly, "so I'm not obliged to accept a duel. Also, this sword… it's just a blunt practice sword made of iron."
Yuder unsheathed his weapon slightly, revealing the worn, dull blade of a practice sword with no edge. It was exactly as he described.
Thanks to that, Kiolle's challenge suddenly seemed ridiculous. He had recklessly demanded a duel, only to find his opponent armed with a practice sword. The knights behind Kiolle averted their eyes, embarrassed on his behalf.
But Yuder's companions showed no such restraint—they openly shook with laughter, unable to contain their amusement. Alik, though outwardly composed, regretted that he couldn't join in.
'What an impressive man,' Alik mused. 'He reduced his opponent to a fool without even raising his voice.'
"Enough of this! It's a waste of a sword to deal with insects like you!" Kiolle snapped, losing what little composure he had left. He swung his hand instead, aiming to slap Yuder across the face.
"Yuder!" His companions moved to intervene, but Alik noticed something strange. A sudden gust of wind seemed to gather around Yuder.
"Wha...?" Kiolle's body twisted in the wind, and his hand missed Yuder entirely. Instead, he stumbled forward, losing his balance. With no control over his momentum, he fell face-first into the ground with a heavy thud.