After learning that Luci wasn't human, they immediately brought him before the king. The throne room of the kingdom's castle was vast and intimidating, with golden chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and walls adorned with tapestries of past battles. The floor was a deep red carpet, leading to the king's elevated throne. Sitting on that throne was the king himself—a man of short stature but imposing presence, his belly slightly protruding under layers of royal garments. His crown was oversized and encrusted with countless jewels, reflecting the firelight of the grand hearth. He didn't look at Luci with curiosity or suspicion, only with a greedy gleam in his eyes.
Beside Luci stood Brian, the silver-haired knight, his expression stoic but his mind racing. He had questions that needed answers, but first, the king had to speak.
"Why are you pretending to be human?" Brian asked Luci, keeping his voice level but demanding. His eyes searched Luci's face, waiting for the truth. But Luci remained silent, his crimson eyes locked on the king, unwilling to divulge anything that might expose his true nature. His thoughts churned with a mix of irritation and strategy. It wasn't time to reveal everything.
The king leaned forward on his throne, breaking the uncomfortable silence. His fingers drummed impatiently on the armrest of his chair. "If he's of another race, I'll charge him double for his rank," the king said, his tone filled with the arrogance of power. His plump lips curled into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Yes, another race. They tend to pay more."
Brian's brow furrowed as he stepped forward. "But sire, this could be the young demon we've heard rumors about. We don't know what he looks like, and—"
The king cut him off with a wave of his hand. "He's not. And even if he were, I'd rather take the gold now. Let him pay the fee. Or are you questioning my authority?"
Brian clenched his jaw, but bowed his head slightly in submission. "No, sire. Of course not."
Without a word, Luci reached into his pouch and tossed the last bag of coins toward the king. The heavy pouch hit the floor with a metallic thud, and the sound of clinking gold filled the room as the coins spilled across the king's feet. 50,000 coins.
The king's face lit up with unbridled greed as he quickly snatched the gold, counting the coins in his mind. "This will do," he declared, his voice dripping with satisfaction. As he pocketed the money, he shot a final glance at Luci.
But Luci was already turning to leave, his expression unchanging. Inside, however, he seethed. *This king is greedy, selfish, and a racist,* Luci thought. *Three things I despise in life: racists, goblins, and pork meat.*
Outside the throne room, Brian walked silently beside Luci. After a few moments, he finally spoke. "You won the tournament," Brian said, his voice softer now that they were out of earshot of the king. "As I promised, you're now a Silver Rank 1 knight."
Luci gave a slight nod, his mind still preoccupied with the king's behavior. "Thanks. But what exactly do these ranks mean?"
Brian stopped walking and turned to face him. "There are five main ranks in our knighthood, each divided into parts. First is the Stone Rank, which has six parts. Then Bronze Rank, with five parts. Silver Rank, which you've just entered, has four. After that comes Gold Rank, with three parts, and finally, Legendary Rank. The Legendary Rank has only two parts."
Luci's curiosity was piqued. "Only two? Who holds those?"
Brian's expression shifted slightly, pride evident in his voice. "Only two knights have achieved Legendary Rank. I hold the title of Legendary Rank 1. Christian, my brother in arms, is Legendary Rank 2."
Luci's eyes briefly flicked to the badge on Brian's chest—a shining emblem with a Roman numeral 'I' inscribed in the center, encased in gold, the intricate designs swirling around it like ancient runes of power. It seemed to shimmer even in the low light of the hallway.
"What about holy water?" Luci asked, almost casually, though his mind was always calculating.
Brian raised an eyebrow. "Holy water? You need to be Silver Rank 2 or higher to have access to it. And I don't carry any with me. Why do you ask?"
Luci shrugged. "Just curious."
Brian nodded, accepting the answer without further question. "Well, you'll soon find out more during your training. Speaking of which, you'll be training under my younger sister. She's a Silver Rank 3 knight."
They continued walking through the castle, eventually reaching a large wooden door at the end of a long corridor. Brian knocked, and after a few moments, the door creaked open.
A young woman with silver hair stepped out. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her sharp blue eyes studied Luci with a cold, assessing gaze. She was dressed in shining armor, much like her brother, but with a Roman numeral 'III' emblazoned on her silver badge.
"Oh, hello, brother," she said, her voice calm and measured.
"Brianna," Brian greeted her, motioning to Luci. "This is Luci. From his crimson eyes and these chains, you can see he's from another race. But I need you to train him. Make him into a worthy knight."
Brianna's icy gaze flickered toward Luci, studying him as if he were nothing more than a puzzle to be solved. Finally, she nodded. "Very well."
The training grounds were vast, with at least fifty boulders scattered across the field. Brianna led Luci to the center and unsheathed her sword. With a fluid, precise motion, she swung her blade, slicing a massive boulder in half as if it were made of paper. The two pieces fell with a thud, perfectly clean at the center.
"Now, you try," she said, stepping aside to give Luci space.
Luci approached a boulder, eyeing it for a moment before drawing his fist back. He swung with measured restraint, but even while holding back, the force of his punch shattered the boulder into dust. He breathed heavily, faking exhaustion as small rocks scattered around his feet.
"How did I do?" Luci asked, feigning weariness.
Brianna crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Terrible."
Luci blinked, caught off guard by her blunt response. "What?"
"I said cut it in half, not obliterate it," Brianna said, her tone sharp. "In battle, if you're surrounded by allies, using excessive force can injure or kill them. Precision is key. If you can't control your strength, you're a danger to yourself and those around you."
Luci clenched his fists, hiding his irritation. *Allies? I don't care about allies,* he thought. But he didn't voice it. Instead, he stepped back toward another boulder, this time focusing more on control than power. He threw a punch, splitting the boulder neatly in half.
Brianna watched silently as Luci repeated the exercise, each time becoming more precise. By the fifth attempt, he had mastered the technique.
"Well done," Brianna said finally, giving a small nod of approval. "I'm going on a mission soon. You'll be coming with me."
Luci's mind flashed back to his time in prison. He remembered overhearing a conversation between a mage and his son. The mage had said, "The key to making friends is smiling." Luci wasn't interested in friendship, but he understood the value of earning Brianna's trust. If he could befriend her, he could later use that trust to his advantage.
For the first time since arriving, Luci forced a smile. A small, awkward smile, but a smile nonetheless.
"I smile," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else.
Brianna raised an eyebrow but said nothing, simply nodding once more before turning to leave.