"At your service, Lord Magnus's," Keal said with a bow.
"Did you see that?" someone exclaimed from the crowd. "He bowed to Lord Magnus!" A wave of shock rippled through the onlookers.
Keal was clearly Awakened, while Magnus was unranked. Why would he bow to Magnus? Awakened individuals were superior to the unranked, not only in strength but also in influence. What was going on?
Magnus nodded in acknowledgment to Keal, then turned to address the crowd. "As you all know, during my recovery from the ambush by Gaylord and his men, I was blessed by a god. This blessing manifested in many ways, offering benefits that will help my territory grow. One of these blessings allows me to acquire Awakened soldiers like Kael to aid to my needs."
