FYI
Scene/ POV
: Speech
- Thoughts
[Flashback]
"Quoting"
(Author Note)—————————————————————————————————————
CapitalWe made it to the capital and finally met with Wilhelm and Felix.Wilhelm: Oh Lady Emilia and Kiyotaka-San.Koji: Hello.Wilhelm: I heard of your accomplishment in defeating the Sin Archbishop of Sloth. That was quite impressive.Koji: Thank you.Wilhelm: Was there a reason for your visit? Perhaps you wished to spar once again? Koji: Of course.Wilhelm stepped inside the building and stepped out with wooden swords.Emilia: So you wanted to spar.She still had a worried look on her face from learning about my past. I don't think she'll ever look at me the same.Koji: That and other things. How about you rest in the mansion Lady Emilia?She gave me one more worried look before walking into the mansion.Wilhelm: Well. Shall we begin?Koji: Yes.I got into a stance. I rushed in swinging my sword as Wilhelm went into a bind with me and I tried a thrust attack as Wilhelm dodged the attack and backed off.Wilhelm: As always your swordsmanship is superb.Koji: And as always I wouldn't be able to keep up with you if you went all out.Wilhelm rushed in swinging full force which shocked me as I jumped back barely dodging it.Wilhelm: While I agree your ability to react to attacks is even more remarkable than I expected. I am shocked to say you've clearly improved in that regard.Koji: I... just felt your intention.Wilhelm: I can't exactly explain it but it was indeed like you could sense it. You moved before I had even fully swung the blade.Koji- What enabled me to do that? Come to think of it. In those 151, 314 loops I began to be able to do this. How did I do it?I contemplated it when I realised it.Koji: I felt the mana in my surroundings get disturbed.Wilhelm: You what? That's unheard of. It must have taken years of practice to sense the mana so closely.Koji- Yes years of... practice.Koji: Shall we continue?Wilhelm: Alright.I started leaning into this ability I had unconsciously developed. I closed my eyes focussing. The changes were so subtle that it was difficult for me to sense them intentionally but I took a deep breath and parried a flurry of strikes from Wilhelm.Wilhelm: Incredible!Koji: Having to close my eyes to do it is very disadvantageous though. I'll have to practice before I can use it intentionally.Wilhelm: Agreed.Wilhelm rushed in. I closed my eyes and parried his strikes off to the side as I swung my sword down at him as he dodged I felt the mana being disturbed causing me to change the direction of my attack as I landed a blow on him for the first time.Wilhelm: Oh?The blow didn't even hurt him. Koji: I landed a hit.Wilhelm: Spectacular Kiyotaka-Dono.Koji: It's thanks to you for bringing it to my attention. Thanks to you I have another tool in my arsenal that I can pledge to Lady Emilia.Wilhelm: You truly are incredible Kiyotaka-Dono.Koji: Thank you Astrea-Sama.We bowed to each other and went inside as I saw Emilia and Crusch speaking.Crusch: So this is the man who defeated the Archbishop of Sloth.Emilia: Yes. His name is Kiyotaka Ayanokoji.I bowed.Crusch: He is truly only a manservant? He doesn't seem like the type.Wilhelm: Despite his placement, his swordsmanship is near perfect. I can see him defeating an Archbishop without a doubt.Koji: Lady Crusch. I thank you for the letter informing us of the White Whale's location and the witch Cult's attack.Crusch looked at me confused.Crusch: I sent no such letter.Koji: Oh? I had a feeling it was you. It seems I was wrong.With this, I was able to assess her reaction. She certainly wanted to find the White Whale. More interesting was that Wilhelm had an even more intense desire to find it.Koji- I see. So this is what caused their deaths.Koji: Emilia-Sama. I apologise for not telling you this prior but I've made up my mind.Emilia: Yes?Koji: I wish to stay in the capital and become a knight.Emilia was shocked.Emilia: Kiyotaka?Koji: I would like to serve under you as your knight when I return.Wilhelm looked at me smiling happily. I had observed the papers Crusch had. She was attempting to gain aid from the capital. If I could facilitate this aid they would have a higher likelihood of success and have lower casualties.Emilia: Very well.Crusch: You're sure about this? Training to become a knight can take years.Koji: I'm confident I'll finish my training quickly and return to Lady Emilia's side.Wilhelm: I agree. Though it would be unheard of I don't doubt that Kiyotaka-Dono could become a fully-fledged knight quickly.Crusch: Wilhelm. What do you intend to do?Wilhelm: I want to train him for the Knight Academy Selection.Crusch: You would devote time to this even knowing what we're planning to do in two weeks?She gave him a sharp look as to test his resolve.Wilhelm: Yes. I believe he will pass with flying colours.Crusch: Very well but this training will not be your priority. Understood? In addition, I expect to be able to call in a favour from the Emilia Faction at a later date.Emilia: Of course. Thank you for this.She looked at me. She seemed happy to be able to do something for me. Does she truly pity me to such a degree? It doesn't feel nice knowing that.Wilhelm: Understood.Felix entered the room.Felix: What's going on here nyow?Wilhelm: Kiyotaka-Dono is going to train to become a knight.Felix: Oh? Join our ranks are you Kiyotaka?Koji: Yes.Felix: I'll give you some tips so don't...Crusch: Wilhelm is responsible for his training. Felix, you will not assist him in training Kiyotaka. There are too many things to prepare for.Felix: Alright alright.Felix sweated. Wilhelm: We'll begin your training tomorrow Kiyotaka-Dono.Throughout all this Wilhelm seemed like he was using me as a way to replay events in his past. Like he was trying to make up for something. I walked outside the room with Emilia.Emilia: I didn't expect that from you. Why? I thought you just wanted a way to survive.Koji: Emilia. Being able to talk to you that day. My heart has never felt this light before. Not since the day of my birth. I thank you for that.I knelt down on one knee taking her hand and kissing it.Koji: I pledge myself to you entirely.Emilia blushed but she regained her composure and smiled, closing her eyes and tilting her head. She opened her eyes.Emilia: I'm lucky to have you. My Knight.I got up as I went to a guest room and slept.—————————————————————————————————————MorningI woke up and walked down to the dining area where I found Emilia, Wilhelm, Crusch and Felix waiting. I sat down as I noticed Emilia turn her face from me. Her cheeks were red.Koji: Good morning.Crusch: Good morning.Wilhelm: Good Morning Kiyotaka-Dono.Felix: Good Morning Kiyotaka-Kyun!Emilia turned to face me still red.Emilia: Good morning Kiyotaka.It seems she was remembering last night when I pledged myself to her. I suppose Kei was the same at the beginning... wait but I'm not dating Emilia. I sighed finishing my breakfast and stepping outside as I began training with Wilhelm. He had me doing physically strenuous activities to increase my physical strength including swinging a heavy steel rod as a substitute for a sword. Slowly my physical strength began to increase.Wilhelm: The Knigh Academy Selection begins in a week. We need to train you as much as possible. If it was anyone else I'd say it was impossible. In fact, there are only two people I would ever be convinced they could do it. You are one of them.Koji: Thank you Astra-Sama. Um... may I ask? Since you have the same name as him I can assume you and Reinhard-San are related. Perhaps grandfather and grandson?Wilhelm's face changed to a guilty one. It seemed he had made some mistakes in the past... wait is he comparing me to Reinhard?Wilhelm: You're right. He's my grandson but I don't have the right to call myself his grandfather.Koji: I see. I'm sure if you spoke to him he'd forgive you.Wilhelm: What I did. I don't think I can forgive myself let alone be forgiven by Reinhard.Koji: I see.Wilhelm: This is not the time to be talking about my personal issues Kiyotaka-Dono. We must make sure you pass.Koji: Of course.The Training continued. The physical activity was intense. Even more so than the White Room however there was no physical or mental punishment for failure. Just that I would have to do it again till I got it right. Wilhelm also taught me proper etiquette and behaviour for a knight along with the laws of Luginica and protocol for a night. That was the easy part of training. I could memorise all of that with ease.—————————————————————————————————————A Week LaterKoji: Astrea-Sama. Do you think I'm ready?Wilhelm: Yes but you may be on the weaker side physically speaking in comparison tot he other knights I believe you'll still manage to pass.Wilhelm took me to the site of the test when I ran into Julius who bowed to Wilhelm.Julius: Astrea-Sama. It's an honour to have you here,Wilhelm: I'm here to throw a student of mine into the test.Julius then registered my presence.Julius: Kiyotaka?Koji: Yes. I'll be taking the examination, Sir Julius.Julius: I see. I'll be one of the examiners so I'll look forward to your tests.I bowed to him as he headed inside.Koji: thank you for everything Astrea-Sama.I bowed to him.Wilhelm: Let's head inside before you're late.We entered the testing area.—————————————————————————————————————To Be Continued
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