Alaric gathered the Knights in front of the mansion after getting his father's permission.
The five Knights curiously stared at Alaric who was standing in front of them, wondering why he had gathered them.
When they noticed his serious expression, they didn't dare joke around.
Alaric quietly studied them one by one.
These Knights were from his father's generation so they were incredibly loyal to him.
When Lucas died in his past life, they even wanted to follow him in death.
If it wasn't for Lucas's last words telling them to protect Alaric, they might have committed suicide when he took his final breath.
These Knights were mostly similar in strength and skills, but there was one particular Knight who stood out from the rest.
It was an older Knight who seemed to be in his fifties. He had short, graying black hair and visible wrinkles on his forehead. He wasn't that tall and was shorter than Alaric at around 180 centimeters.
This man was Henry.
He was the oldest Knight serving under the baron. He was also Alaric's sword instructor when the latter was still a young boy.
Among the five Knights, Henry was the most experienced so his presence was necessary for the trip.
For the last two spots, he already had someone in mind.
He turned his head to a bald, middle-aged Knight with a thick beard. He was as tall as Alaric, but his frame was bigger and he was also more muscular. The left side of his face had a tribal tattoo and he had piercings on his ears.
This person was Rigor.
Before he served as a Knight for House Silversword, he worked as a mercenary. He was a kind man, but he was cruel to his enemies.
The last person that Alaric would bring was the youngest of the five Knights. He was only in his late twenties so his potential was enormous.
This man's name was Aldrin.
He was a bit shorter than Alaric at 189 centimeters. He had an ordinary face and tanned skin, but he had a well-built physique.
In his past life, Aldrin joined him in the battle between the crown prince and the second prince. At that time, he was already an Elite Knight.
After observing them, Alaric finally spoke.
"Three of you will be coming with me for a trip to the eastern side of Vale."
"I heard some rumors that a Dragon Tail Fern was found there."
Upon hearing his words, their eyes flashed with a glimmer of surprise.
They were aware of how valuable that herb was.
"For this trip, I will bring Henry, Rigor, and Aldrin."
The faces of the three Knights whose names were called suddenly turned serious.
"The place where the Dragon Tail Fern was said to be found is in a cave at the end of the Red Toad Gorge."
"According to the rumors, there is a Fatal-Grade monster inside the cave. Our objective this time is to investigate the authenticity of the rumors and if it's proven to be true, we must get our hands on those Dragon Tail Ferns!"
There was a moment of silence before someone spoke.
"My lord, if it's just a Fatal-Grade monster, bringing Sir Galanar should be enough. Is there a reason why you are bringing us for the trip?" Henry asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
A Fatal-Grade monster was stronger than common Knights, but it would be powerless against an experienced Elite Knight.
They knew that Galanar wasn't just a normal Elite Knight. Even the baron was full of praise for him.
Alaric stared at the old Knight and replied. "You are right. Galanar is strong enough to handle a Fatal-Grade monster. However…"
"…we still don't know if there is only one monster inside that cave. Bringing you three is just for precaution."
Hearing this, Henry nodded in understanding. "I see. I was thoughtless."
Alaric waved his hand. "You three should prepare your equipment. We will depart as soon as you're ready."
"Yes, my lord!"
The three chosen Knights responded in unison. As for the two who weren't chosen, Alaric told them not to spread rumors about the trip before sending them away.
Less than thirty minutes later, the three Knights returned, already in their full gear.
Henry wore leather armor with a metal breastplate. His sword was tied to his waist and he also brought a small bag filled with rations and medicine.
Meanwhile, Rigor who boasted strong physical strength was in full-body heavy steel armor. He had a diamond-shaped steel shield strapped on his back and his sword was tied to his waist.
On the other hand, Aldrin looked relatively normal compared to them. He wore a simple leather armor that wouldn't hinder his speed and movements. He was holding a spear in his right hand and he had two short swords strapped firmly on his back.
"We are ready to go, my lord!" Henry reported after inspecting their equipment.
Alaric nodded. "Alright. Let's go!"
Everyone jumped on their respective mounts which were a special breed of war horses called Wind Horse. Unlike ordinary horses, these horses were stronger and more agile, hence their name.
Among them, Rigor's war horse was the biggest. It was measured at more than 25 hands and weighed over 4000 pounds!
Horses are measured in 'hands'.
This has been the traditional method of measuring the horses even before Astania was established. One hand is equal to four inches, which is the average span of a human's thumb and outstretched fingers.
Even with Rigor's massive weight which was further pronounced by his heavy armor, his Wind Horse didn't seem to be greatly affected.
"You should lose some weight, man. Don't you feel pity for your horse?" Henry shook his head when he heard Rigor's horse neighing in protest.
Rigor gave the old Knight a sidelong glance before he snorted in response. "Mind your own business, old man."
Aldrin chuckled when he heard their conversation.
Just as they were about to leave, a cute voice suddenly drifted into their ears.
"My lord, you must be careful out there!"
Feeling surprised, everyone turned their heads.
Standing at the mansion's main door was Elena. She looked visibly embarrassed when she sensed everyone looking at her.
Alaric didn't expect this shy girl to say such things in front of the other Knights.
"Don't worry, Nana. I will be back soon." He promised as he gave her a reassuring smile.
Hearing him call her 'Nana' in the presence of other people made Elena's cheeks blush. She harrumphed and stomped her foot before she sprinted inside the mansion with an abashed look.
Seeing this, Alaric and the Knights laughed.