After bidding farewell to Knight Balf, Leon and his companions, Liam and Brandon, gathered in the quiet of Brandon's room to discuss how to divide their newly acquired territories. The weight of their new responsibilities hung in the air as they began to strategize.
"I've been thinking about how we should split the three manors," Leon started, his brow furrowed in concentration. Although they hadn't yet visited Lonka and Pleyton, Balf had shared enough information for them to start forming a plan.
"From what I gathered, Lonka is northwest of Selva," he continued, pacing the room. "It's much smaller, only about thirty or forty households, and covers around 900 acres. It's close to the safe woodlands by the Nightmare Forest, which means there are plenty of hunters and leatherworkers there."
Liam leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, processing the information. "That could be useful. A steady supply of leather might help us with trade," he mused.
"Exactly," Leon replied, his eyes brightening with the possibilities. "Pleyton, on the other hand, is even larger; over 1,200 acres and nearly fifty households. It's busier too, thanks to its proximity to Baron Elifer's town. More merchants means more opportunities for trade and support."
Brandon, who had been quietly listening, chimed in, "And then there's Selva… or should we start calling it Selva Manor now?" His voice turned somber. "It used to be the largest of the three, but after the disaster, it's in ruins. I heard the population is down to just about 139 villagers."
Leon nodded, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "Yes, and that includes the sixty-three young men who haven't returned, and mostly women and children now. Selva is going to take time to recover. We can't expect any significant output from there anytime soon."
Despite the grim reality, Liam tried to lighten the mood. "Well, that just makes it easier to decide. Selva definitely suits you best, Leon. You should take it."
Leon considered this, then said firmly, "I agree. Selva feels like the right fit for me, and you two can take Lonka and Pleyton. It seems fair given the circumstances."
Liam grinned, raising an eyebrow teasingly. "Ah, I knew it! Don't worry, Master Leon. We won't be fighting you for this place."
Brandon chuckled, leaning against the bed as he recalled the playful sounds from the master bedroom next door yesterday afternoon. "Well, if you're keen on Selva, I have no objections either. It seems you're quite taken with it."
Leon shot them both a puzzled look, trying to decipher their teasing. "What do you mean by 'Master Leon'? You're reading too much into this! I just… I want to see the griffin again someday. What if it comes back looking for me and finds I'm not around? You two hardly know it!"
Liam laughed outright, the tension in the room easing as they shared a moment of camaraderie. "All right, all right! Just know, we're here to support you. Besides, it sounds like you'll need it with the state Selva is in."
Leon smiled, grateful for his friends' encouragement. "Exactly. We all have our roles to play, and together, we can restore this place."
With their territories tentatively divided, the three friends felt a renewed sense of purpose. They were ready to face the challenges ahead, united in their mission to breathe life back into their fiefdoms.
Liam nodded, but his grin betrayed that he wasn't taking the conversation too seriously. "Yes, yes, I get it," he said, trying to suppress a chuckle. He turned toward Brandon with a more serious expression. "Look, Brandon, just give me Lonka. Don't argue. I've never been as sharp as you or Leon. Managing a bigger, wealthier place like Pleyton? I wouldn't know where to start. You, on the other hand; you were a baron's son. You've got the knowledge and the experience we need. It makes the most sense for you to take Pleyton."
Brandon glanced between his two companions, seeing nothing but trust and confidence in their eyes. He hesitated for a moment, his natural modesty making him want to refuse, but he knew they were right. He nodded, a small smile forming. "All right. If that's what you both think is best, I'll do it. I'll take Pleyton. Let's work together and get Selva back on its feet as soon as we can."
Leon chimed in with a nod of agreement. "That's the spirit. Together, we'll rebuild these lands."
Despite their decision to assign territories, there was no sense of division among the three of them. None of them planned to hoard profits or live in isolation. They were, after all, bound by a shared past of hardship and survival. Before becoming knights, they were homeless wanderers, relying on their wits and each other just to make it through the day. Now, with titles and lands of their own, they had the power to shape their futures, but their bond was unbreakable.
As fellow Serrians who had shared moments of life and death, Leon, Liam, and Brandon knew they would remain united no matter what challenges lay ahead.
With the land division settled, their conversation shifted to lighter topics, especially one that had been on Leon's mind: customizing his own coat of arms. Coming from a world where personalization was a common practice, Leon was eager to create something that would represent his identity. "You know," he mused, leaning back in his chair, "I've always been into customizing things. Back in the day, when I practiced sword fighting, I even wanted to paint my armor with my own designs. And now, as a knight? I'm going to have a coat of arms that's truly my own."
Liam scratched his head, clearly less concerned with the details. "I haven't thought much about it, but I guess a war horse emblem would suit me. It ties in with my new name, Felux. Simple, but it works."
Brandon smiled at Liam's simplicity. "I've already got mine," he said, his voice carrying a hint of pride. "The Flarel family's emblem is traditional; four squares, each with its own meaning. In the top left is a white flaming sun wheel, a symbol of the Holy Sun faith. In the lower right, there are three golden irises. The other two squares have different colored stripes and blocks. It's complicated but meaningful."
Leon listened intently, his mind already racing with ideas for his own emblem. He leaned back, crossing his arms as various designs from his past life flashed through his thoughts. For a moment, he envisioned the blue and gold lion emblem from a game he used to play, an imposing symbol of strength and unity. Then, his thoughts drifted to another favorite, the golden sun of Nilfgaard against a stark black background, something that radiated both power and majesty.
After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice decisive. "I've got it."
Liam and Brandon leaned in, curious to hear what Leon had decided. "It'll be a black background," Leon began. "In the center, a red sword, standing upright."
The simplicity of the design felt right to Leon. It wasn't over-complicated, but it held a striking presence, symbolizing strength and the readiness to fight for what mattered most. Liam grinned, clearly impressed, while Brandon gave a nod of approval.
"Bold choice," Liam said, clapping Leon on the shoulder. "That'll look fierce on your armor."
Leon smiled, satisfied with his decision. "It's simple, but it stands for everything I believe in. And who knows? Maybe one day, it'll fly on a battlefield alongside the banners of kings."
The three of them shared a moment of silent understanding, knowing that despite the challenges ahead, they had the strength to face whatever came their way, together.
Leon gazed at the emblem he had envisioned, nodding with satisfaction as the design took shape in his mind. The gray-white eagle wings stretched wide on either side of the central red sword, against the deep black background. Each element was symbolic, personal, and filled with meaning.
The black background, a representation of the hardships and obstacles he had faced on his journey, reminded him of how far he had come. The sword, standing upright and proud, was a symbol of the pivotal moment when he had returned the sword to Baron Elifer's family and gained not only their trust but also his knighthood. And the eagle wings, spread in a powerful arc, symbolized the griffin that he had saved, which in turn had saved him in his most desperate hour.
"This sword-wing emblem," Leon thought, "holds so much meaning. It's perfect."
He allowed himself a moment to smile, thinking how fitting the emblem was for a knight like himself. It wasn't just a design; it was a reflection of his journey, his identity, and his connection to the creatures and people who had shaped his path.
Except for one small secret, that is.
He smirked to himself, thinking of Miss Lola. Her existence, and the quiet affection between them, was something he kept hidden for now. But that was a story for another time.
Having settled on their respective coats of arms, the next step was to find someone skilled in heraldry, a craftsman who could bring their designs to life. They needed to commission not just the emblems, but also seals and wax stamps with the corresponding patterns. These would be essential for everyday correspondence, as well as for more formal, ceremonial occasions.
Lord Balf had been clear: even as minor nobles, they needed to pay attention to these details. Nobility was about more than titles; it was about presentation, about understanding the subtle language of symbols and status. As new knights, Leon and his companions had to equip themselves not just with armor and weapons, but with the proper symbols of their newfound rank.
"It's not that I'm eager to indulge in luxury," Leon mused, walking down the path from Brandon's room. "But managing everything on our own would be impossible."
He knew that the tasks of daily life; cooking, cleaning, tending horses, maintaining weapons, managing accounts, running errands, could consume all of their time if they tried to handle everything themselves. As knights, they needed to be ready at a moment's notice, prepared to respond to their lord's call, which meant having squires and servants to manage the day-to-day.
But before he could even think about equipping himself with a staff, there was a more pressing issue to resolve: finding a place to live.
Leaving his companions behind, Leon made his way through the village, seeking out Olivia. He needed to ask her about the larger houses in Selva, especially those that had been left ownerless after the recent disaster. Last night, he hadn't dared to return to Olivia's room to rest, instead opting to sleep in a crowded townhouse next door where the injured villagers were being tended. But that wasn't a long-term solution. He needed to find a proper residence.
One house in particular had caught his eye: the large estate that had once belonged to the village elder. It had a spacious hall, a large yard, and several rooms upstairs, perfect for a nobleman like himself. But there was a problem. As far as Leon knew, one of the elder's sons, a young and capable man, had yet to return from the battle. The last thing Leon wanted was to claim the property of a villager, especially one who might still come back.
"As a lord," he thought, "I can't just seize the property of my subjects. That would make me no better than a tyrant." He sighed, shaking his head. He needed a solution that wouldn't disrupt or displace the surviving families of the village.
Building a castle, while tempting, was out of the question for now. Even if he had the funds to hire workers, it would take at least a year or two to construct something even modest in size. Until then, Leon would have to find a more spacious house; one that was available and could serve as his base of operations while he worked to rebuild Selva.