Chapter 8 - Chapter 7

I sat across from Lord Ashford, the room filled with an air of formality that made me feel slightly out of place. His gaze was sharp, studying me with an intensity that suggested he could see straight through any façade I might put up. I took a deep breath, meeting his eyes as confidently as I could.

"So, Adrian," he began, leaning back in his chair. "Tell me a bit about yourself. I need to know what talents and skills you have before I can place you anywhere."

"Well," I started, choosing my words carefully, "I grew up in London. Lived there my entire life. I worked in a bakery with my mother. It wasn't much, but I learned to cook, serve customers, and manage things… you know, basic restaurant skills."

Lord Ashford nodded, but there was a slight narrowing of his eyes, as if waiting for more. I hesitated, then decided to go for it.

"Although I was born here, I have lived my entire life as a Velnir. Although that is the case I'm interested in the Royal Knights," I admitted quickly. "I... I already have killed several demons, I had used a sword and I believe that if trained I can do alot more."

That seemed to get his attention. He raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity replacing his stern expression. "The Royal Knights, you say? That's no small ambition for an outsider like yourself." He leaned forward, fingers steepled. "Tell me this, how much training have you had? All memebers of the Royal Knights spends years at the Academy training and learning all they can before they are selected into any of the branches. Tell me how much do you actually know about these knights?"

I nodded, sitting up straighter. "No, I have not had any training at all. I do not know anything about them."

"Let me educate you, then," he said with a slight smirk. "The Ogygian Royal Knights or as we call them, the ORK's are the elite military force sworn to protect the Empress and uphold the sovereignty of Ogygia. This prestigious corps is divided into five distinct groups, each with specialized roles, training, and responsibilities. Their structure reflects the diverse needs of Ogygia's defense, from aerial combat to espionage."

He paused, letting the words sink in before continuing. "Lets start with our star team, the Imperials. They are the most revered division of the Ogygian Royal Knights, often referred to as the Chosen of Ravanna. These knights are believed to be blessed by the goddess Ravanna herself, which grants them an almost mythic status among their peers.

"The Assassins Guild operates in the shadows, a stark contrast to the grandeur of the Imperials. These knights are masters of stealth, subterfuge, and espionage, serving as the Empress's eyes and ears across the realm and beyond.

"The Atlantean Knights are the naval branch of the Ogygian Royal Knights. They are known for their seafaring prowess and operate with a swashbuckling flair of pirates. A savage group they are but they know how to rule the seas."

I listened intently, as he took out a stack of folders laying each one down as he explained the different branches. Each folder had a different symbol etched into the folder's front. A dragon, A grimm reaper, a pegasus and a kraken. I blinked, amazed at the sheer diversity of these branches. He paused again, and I sensed a change in his tone, a faint hint of disdain as he moved on to the last group.

"And finally, there's the Vanguard, the nightmare of Ogygia's Military. To be frank, nobody likes them." He sighed, shaking his head slightly. "The most infamous division of the Ogygian Royal Knights, often regarded as the black sheep of the corps. This group is where misfits, failures, and those who couldn't qualify for other branches are sent."

"Why even have them, then?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Well, someone has to take on the trash missions that no one else wants. It's not like we can send the elite forces into every crazy situation. The Vanguard just... seems to make things work out, eventually. Plus, they're good for morale—like comic relief in battle. Who else would keep things interesting?"

I nodded slowly, taking it all in. The idea of becoming one of these knights seemed even more daunting now, each one unique in their role and duty. I already had some picked out that looked interesting, so I looked at the four folders in my hand. 

Lord Ashford leaned forward, a thoughtful expression on his face. "So, Adrian, which group do you plan to join? You might have potential and I'll allow you to sign up for any of these branches."

I looked at the four folders laid out on his desk, I already had some choises. Imperials felt alittle to good for me. The Assassins woul be fun to join, hell it might be the bes option available. Atlantean and Pegasus were also pretty good choses between being a pirate of the sea or riding on a pegaus. 

"We both know where I want you to go." Kalus spoke. His words seem to leave no room for refusal. Guess in the end the choice was not my own but the big boss's.

"Is something wrong?" Lord Ashford asked, his brow furrowing as he noticed my hesitation.

"I'll join Vanguard."

The look of surprise on his face was almost comical. "The Vanguard? Are you sure? The second you are made a member of these knights the opinion of you will be shifted."

"I'm sure," I replied, my voice steady despite the uncertainty churning inside me. Kalus better have a good reason for making me join a trash group.

Lord Ashford shrugged with a low sigh. "Very well. I'll make the necessary arrangements." He reached for a fountain pen and began writing a letter. "You're to report to the Vanguard Captain tomorrow morning at 9 AM. Here." He handed me the letter, sealing my fate with a flick of his wrist.

I took the letter, nodding as I bowed slightly. "Thank you, Lord Ashford." As I stepped out of the room, I could hear him muttering something under his breath.

☉☉☉

As I settled into my seat at the inn, the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, a comforting reminder that even in a world full of uncertainties, some things remained the same. Ariston and his wife, Helena, bustled around the dining area, ensuring every patron felt welcome. As they approached my table, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth from their presence.

"How did it go?" Ariston asked, leaning against the edge of the bar with a curious look in his eyes.

I took a bite of my food, the flavors mingling pleasantly in my mouth before I replied. "Well, it was… unexpected." I quickly retold him what had happened today, and my new job.

Helena's eyes widened, her hand covering her mouth in surprise. "The Vanguard? Are you sure about that? They're not exactly known for their... uhm, likeability."

"I know," I said, pushing my food around on the plate, after some thinking I had desides to just accept things. Kalus must know what he is doing. "They just seemed a good fit?"

Ariston exchanged glances with Helena, the concern in their eyes evident. "Well, we wish you luck with it," Ariston said, clapping a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "It won't be easy, but you will have our support."

"Thanks," I replied, though doubt still loomed in the back of my mind. I continued to absentmindedly poke at my meal, lost in thought about what lay ahead.

"Do you know anything about the Vanguard Captain?" I asked, looking up from my plate.

Ariston sighed, glancing at Helena. "Ah, that's a tale and a half. Alexander Kraven a wild one, brash and violent, with a short temper to boot. He is the one who punched a hole through that wall." He gestured to a section of the inn where a large, charred hole marred the otherwise rustic decor.

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Huh...I didn't notice it earlier. What happened?"

Helena chimed in, her voice laced with both amusement and disbelief. "Well, it was during the Festival of the Golden Dawn. Apparently, one of the recruits made the mistake of grabbing some food off his plate. The Captain didn't take it well, and the next thing we knew, we had a lovely new hole in our inn. Gonna cost a few Gold Ardents to fix it."

"Wow," I muttered, staring at the gaping blackened hole, trying to imagine the scene. "Sounds intense."

Ariston continued, lowering his voice as if to share a secret. "Rumor say he's the Falor of Ares, or maybe even Tyr. Others whisper it could be Shango, but nobody really knows. He's secretive about who his Patron Celestial is, which only adds to the intrigue."

I looked back at the hole wondering of the kind of man I was going to meet.

☉☉☉

The morning sun barely peeked through the clouds as I rolled out of bed, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. Today was the day I would report to the Vanguard headquarters and begin my journey as a knight. I dressed quickly, donning on the Vanguard knights uniform, that was an all black tactical gear. I grabbed the letter from Lord Ashford, and after hesitating grabbed my sword and strapped it to my back before I made my way through the quiet village.

As I approached the headquarters, I couldn't help but feel really dejected. The building... was not great. It looked rundown and not really that nice to live in, I could hear arguing and what sounded like fighting inside. Whatever was happening inside was making everyone else stay clear of the building. Sighing I walked to the door and knocked on it. 

After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open, revealing a woman who looked like she'd just rolled out of bed. She wore a similar uniform to me, exept that her tanktop was oversized and hanging off one shoulder. Her hair was pulled into an unkempt over-the-shoulder braid. Dark bags under her eyes hinted that sleep was a rare luxury for her. She had a cigarette in her mouth and her expression was one of annoyance as she eyed me up and down.

"What do you want?" she snapped rudely.

"I'm here to join the Vanguard," I explained, trying to keep my tone steady. "I have a letter from Lord Ashford for the Captain."

"Fine, come in." She let out an exasperated sigh, stepping aside to let me in as she opened the door wider as she turned to head back into the house and yelled. "Captain, there is someone here for you!"

As I stepped inside, the noise was even louder, filled with laughter and shouts. I glanced around and saw a mismatched group of five guys. Two of them looked like twins, identical in stature with mischievous grins plastered on their faces. Another was a large hawaiian man and I meant a giant over sized man that was stuffing his face with food ignoring everything around him.

A dwarf sat in a couch nearby, he looked to be working on something that I couldn't really see from where I was standing. The little guy was wearing a viking style armor, and had a thick beard and his hair was a mess and singed in several places.

The last person was wearing full knights armor, it looked like the emperial armor but seemed like he had dyed it black and removed several peices and replaced it with other armor peices. Mr. Knight was sitting in a sofa chair reading a book looking bored out of his mind.

What was with this weird group....

A large man strode into the room as he looked over to me. He had the rugged look of a thug, muscles bulging beneath his torn shirt, scars lining his arms, his long white hair was tied back in a rough ponytail. His piercing blue eyes narrowed as he approached, as he scratched his white beard. "What do you want?" he growled.

I handed him the letter, and he yanked it from my hand, tearing it open with an annoyed grunt. As he read, I could see the irritation grow on his face. "Great," he groaned, before bellowing to the others, "We've got a new member! Come introduce yourselves"

Everyone shuffled and walked up to us, in total there was only eight of us in total.

"Where are the rest of the Vanguard's?" I asked, half-expecting to see a bustling squad of at least twenty. 

"You're looking at all that's left," the Captain huffed. "Alright, roll call! Let's start with with me. My name is Alexander Kraven and I am the Captain of this group of misfits."

The armored knight stepped up next as he flicked the long plume of his helmet over his shoulder. "I am Kane, I am a living armor."

"My name is Ethan Alfson, and this is my younger twin brother Evan Alfson." One of the twins spoke up, unlike his younger twin he had his long hair in a ponytail while his brother had his hair down. 

"Daphne" The woman spoke next as she crushed her cigarette and pulled out another.

"And I am Thrainn Ironfoot." The Dwarf replied. "The large oaf stuffing his face is Osirus Samson."

"Adrian Evans," I introduced myself, trying to mask my disappointment. "It is great meeting you all."

Kraven looked around, his gaze landing on Daphne. "Alright, Daphne, it's your lucky day. You'll be training our new recruit, teaching him what it means to be a Vanguard, as of now he is your squire."

Daphne groaned loudly, rolling her eyes as the others exchanged glances. "Great, just what I wanted," she muttered, clearly annoyed at the thought of being stuck with me.

"Welcome to the Vanguard," Kane said stifling a yawn as he headed back upstairs. "Try and not piss me off."