As the sun rose over the Wirth Estate, Greji stood on the balcony of his study, gazing out at the bustling activity below. His plans were in motion, and the first steps toward stabilizing the territory were well underway. Villages were organizing self-defense drills, and the construction of the school had begun, with materials arriving daily from neighboring regions.
But Greji wasn't the type to leave loose ends untied. He knew his departure would create a vacuum, one that opportunistic nobles might try to exploit. His solution? Establish a network of watchers, informants, and operatives to keep him updated on everything happening within his territory while he was away.
Gathering Blake and Rose in the study, Greji laid out his vision.
"Blake, Rose," he began, tapping a map spread across the table, "when I leave, I want to ensure the territory runs smoothly. No corruption, no sabotage, no 'mysterious disappearances' of funds or resources. To do that, I'll need eyes everywhere."
Blake, ever the skeptic, raised an eyebrow. "Eyes everywhere? And how do you propose we manage this network without drawing suspicion?"
Rose, sitting cross-legged on the desk and casually twirling one of her dagger-like hairpins, smirked. "He's probably thinking of some ridiculous scheme again."
"Ridiculous? No, no, no!" Greji retorted, pointing dramatically at the ceiling. "This is genius! We'll use a mix of loyal villagers, knights, and…" He paused for effect. "… carrier pigeons trained to deliver encrypted messages."
"Carrier pigeons?" Blake echoed, deadpan.
"Yes!" Greji said, clearly proud. "They're inconspicuous, efficient, and very, very fashionable."
Rose snorted. "Fashionable? Are you planning to put little hats on them too?"
"I might," Greji replied, unfazed. "A dapper pigeon is a trustworthy pigeon."
Blake pinched the bridge of his nose. "Your 'eyes everywhere' plan relies on pigeons in hats?"
"Not just pigeons, Balake," Greji said, smirking. "I'll also employ loyalists disguised as ordinary villagers, merchant spies to keep an eye on trade, and Rose will oversee the covert operations. She's perfect for the role, given her, uh, *unique* talents."
Rose perked up at this. "You want me to be in charge of spying? That sounds… fun." Her grin turned mischievous.
Greji nodded, ignoring the chill her expression sent down Blake's spine. "Exactly. While I'm away, you'll coordinate with Blake to ensure everything runs smoothly. Reports will reach me regularly through our pigeon network. Oh, and Blake—make sure to train a few knights in deciphering the messages. Just in case someone tries to tamper with them."
Blake sighed. "As ridiculous as this sounds, I'll admit it's… unconventional enough to work."
"Unconventional is my specialty!" Greji declared. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to attend the inauguration of our first village defense drill. And maybe sneak in a snack before Rose decides I need another 'playtime session.'"
Rose tilted her head, her grin widening. "Big brother, if you're free later, I have new outfits for the pigeons. Want to help me try them on?"
Blake snickered under his breath as Greji visibly paled. "Rose, you're lucky I'm too busy saving this territory to retaliate," he said, retreating toward the door.
As he left the room, Blake turned to Rose. "You really do enjoy tormenting him, don't you?"
Rose shrugged, inspecting her hairpin daggers. "It's my duty as his little sister."
Blake shook his head with a faint smile. "Well, let's hope his ridiculous plans actually work. For all our sakes."
Outside, Greji strode confidently toward the training grounds, his mind already racing with ideas for refining his pigeon-hat designs. If he was going to leave his territory in good hands, it would be done the Greji way—unconventional, overly dramatic, and absolutely unforgettable.
Outside, Greji strode confidently toward the training grounds, his mind already racing with ideas for refining his pigeon-hat designs. If he was going to leave his territory in good hands, it would be done the Greji way—unconventional, overly dramatic, and absolutely unforgettable.
As he arrived at the training grounds, the sight of his knights-in-training sparring filled him with a strange mix of pride and amusement. Most were progressing well, although a few still seemed to believe "swordplay" meant attempting to tickle their opponents with the flat of the blade.
Eli, the "Blooded Knight" with a glaring fear of actual blood, stood to the side, giving tips to a group of recruits. Her confidence had grown since her initial breakdown at the tournament, and it was clear she had the respect of the trainees.
Greji approached her, arms crossed, his trademark smirk in place. "Eli, how's the team shaping up?"
"They're improving," she said, glancing over at a trainee who was trying—and failing—to do a flashy spin attack. "Well, most of them."
"Good. Because I've decided you're coming with me on my adventure."
Eli's eyes widened. "Me? But… I thought I was supposed to stay here and train the knights."
"Exactly! And what better way to train them than by becoming even stronger yourself?" Greji reasoned, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Plus, let's face it, I need someone competent by my side. And since Balake can't swing a sword without pulling a muscle—"
"Hey!" Blake's indignant voice echoed from a nearby tent.
"—you're the perfect candidate," Greji finished smoothly.
Eli hesitated, her cheeks turning pink. "If it's your command, my lord, then… of course, I'll go."
"Perfect!" Greji clapped his hands. "Now, let's talk logistics. You'll carry my bags, handle any ferocious beasts we encounter, and, oh, maybe keep me alive if we run into trouble. Easy stuff."
"Wait… carry your bags?" Eli's voice faltered.
"Think of it as part of your training!" Greji said with a grin. "Strength isn't just about swinging a sword, you know. It's about endurance, too. And besides, you wouldn't want me to pull a muscle, would you?" He flexed his arm dramatically, as though lifting a quill was the pinnacle of his physical prowess.
Eli's face twisted into a mix of horror and determination. "Of course not, my lord! I'll… carry whatever you need."
"Great attitude, Eli!" Greji beamed, patting her on the shoulder. "See? You're already showing signs of being a top-tier knight."
Rose appeared out of nowhere, her silent steps as unsettling as ever. "Big brother, are you really dragging Eli into your ridiculous plans?"
"Of course I am," Greji replied, unfazed. "Every great adventurer needs a loyal and terrifyingly strong knight. She fits the bill perfectly."
Rose rolled her eyes. "Just don't get her killed. I actually like her."
"Don't worry, little sis," Greji said, ruffling her hair. "With me around, nothing could possibly go wrong."
As Greji walked away to finalize his preparations, Rose muttered under her breath, "That's exactly what I'm afraid of."
Later that day, as Eli packed her gear and Greji meticulously folded his custom-designed traveling cloaks (complete with embroidered images of his own face), Blake entered the room, looking exhausted.
"My lord," he began, rubbing his temples, "do you really think it's wise to take Eli with you? She's still working through her… blood thing."
"Exactly why she needs this!" Greji said. "Facing her fears head-on is the only way she'll overcome them. Besides, I've already ordered custom cloaks for both of us. You can't cancel adventure plans once the embroidery is done, Balake."
Blake stared at him. "You planned this before even asking her, didn't you?"
"I like to think of it as proactive leadership," Greji replied, grinning.
Eli entered the room, looking every bit the determined knight. "I'm ready, my lord."
"Excellent!" Greji exclaimed, throwing an arm around her shoulders. "Prepare yourself, Eli. The world is vast, dangerous, and full of adventure… but mostly full of people who will want to buy my candy."
As they left the estate to embark on their journey, Rose watched from the balcony, shaking her head. "I give it three days before he runs into trouble. Maybe two."
Blake sighed. "I'll prepare the rescue party."
And with that, the chaos of Greji's next adventure began.
The adventure started off surprisingly smooth—too smooth, in fact. Greji hummed a jaunty tune as he and Eli traversed a winding forest path, the trees around them swaying gently in the breeze.
"See? Easy as pie," Greji said, spinning a twig like a conductor's baton. "No bandits, no wolves, no mysterious traps. This adventure thing is a breeze."
"That's because we haven't encountered anything yet," Eli replied, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
Greji waved her off. "Details, details. Trust me, with me leading the way, nothing can go wro—"
A guttural roar cut through the air, interrupting his sentence.
From the shadows of the forest, a hulking orc emerged, its green skin glistening with sweat and its beady eyes locked onto them. It brandished a jagged axe, roaring again as it stomped toward them.
"Ah," Greji said, pausing mid-step. "Well, that's new."
Eli immediately stepped forward, drawing her sword with practiced ease. "Stay back, my lord. I'll handle this."
"By all means, Eli!" Greji said, retreating several steps and finding a tree to lean against. "Show this oversized cabbage who's boss."
Eli charged, her blade flashing in the dappled sunlight. She moved with precision, her strikes aimed at the orc's weak points. The orc was strong but clumsy, its swings wide and slow.
She managed to graze its arm, drawing a thin line of blood. But the moment the crimson liquid splattered onto the ground, Eli froze. Her breathing quickened, and her eyes widened in sheer panic.
"Eli?" Greji called out, his tone tinged with worry.
The orc, sensing her hesitation, roared and swung its axe again, narrowly missing her as she stumbled backward, paralyzed by her fear.
"Oh, come on," Greji muttered, slapping his forehead. "We're doing this now?"
The orc raised its axe for another strike, but before it could land, Greji darted forward. With surprising speed—and strength that seemed to come out of nowhere—he scooped Eli up in his arms.
"Where did you get muscles?" Eli blurted, her fear momentarily replaced by confusion.
"Not the time, Eli!" Greji huffed, dodging another swing from the orc.
He sprinted away, zigzagging through the forest like a madman. The orc gave chase for a few steps but quickly lost interest, returning to its territory with a grunt of disappointment.
Once they were far enough away, Greji set Eli down on a patch of soft grass. He collapsed next to her, panting heavily.
"Okay," he wheezed. "Two things. One, you're heavier than you look. And two, I'm charging you for that rescue."
Eli buried her face in her hands, clearly mortified. "I'm sorry, my lord. I froze again. I—"
Greji raised a hand to stop her. "Hey, hey, don't beat yourself up. Everyone has their thing. Yours just happens to be a crippling fear of blood, which, yes, is incredibly ironic given your title. But we'll work on it."
Eli peeked at him through her fingers. "You're not mad?"
"Mad? No," Greji said, leaning back and grinning. "Exhausted from carrying you? Absolutely. But mad? Never. Besides, it's my fault for assuming we wouldn't run into a giant murder vegetable on our first day out."
Eli couldn't help but chuckle at that, the tension easing slightly.
"Now," Greji said, sitting up, "next time, we'll try a new approach. I'll distract the orc with my stunning looks while you stab it. Sound good?"
Eli laughed again, this time more genuinely. "Yes, my lord."
"Good," Greji said, standing and brushing off his cloak. "Now let's get moving before something else decides to attack us. Preferably something smaller. Like a squirrel."
As they continued on their journey, Eli felt a renewed determination. If Greji could carry her out of danger with the strength of sheer audacity, she could certainly work on overcoming her fears. After all, she had a lot to live up to with a leader like him.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the forest in hues of amber and gold, Greji and Eli trudged along the winding trail. The air was filled with the sounds of chirping crickets and rustling leaves, but Greji's muttering drowned out the serenity.
"Stunning looks and a sharp mind," he mused aloud, ticking imaginary boxes with his fingers. "Great leadership skills, excellent sense of humor… What else? Ah yes, world-class orc rescue specialist. Honestly, Eli, at this rate, I might as well start charging for my services."
Eli, still slightly embarrassed, managed a small smile. "I'll keep that in mind, my lord. But thank you. Truly."
Greji waved her off with a dramatic flourish. "No need for thanks, Eli. I'm just doing my duty as your ever-charming, devilishly handsome employer."
She rolled her eyes but felt a little lighter. It was hard to stay upset around someone who treated every situation—no matter how dire—as an opportunity for comedy.
As they continued, Greji's mind wandered to the orc encounter. "By the way, where did *you* get all that strength, Eli? I saw your stats. Your level doesn't match up with your power at all. You're like a secret powerhouse wrapped in a bloody phobia."
Eli hesitated for a moment before replying, "I trained under one of the kingdom's elite knights. My teacher believed in pushing past limitations. Even if I'm low-level, my body's conditioned to fight at a much higher tier."
Greji nodded, impressed. "Ah, so you're like a cheat character in a game. Makes sense. Except, you know, instead of hacking the code, you're hacking down trees and… maybe an orc or two if we fix the blood thing."
She sighed. "It's something I'll work on, my lord. I promise."
"Good, because next time, I'd like to avoid the cardio," Greji replied, dramatically stretching his back. "Carrying you was like carrying a sack of potatoes. Elegant, well-dressed potatoes, but still."
Eli let out a soft laugh, her spirits lifting with every ridiculous quip.
As they approached a clearing, Greji stopped abruptly and held out a hand to signal Eli. "Wait. Do you hear that?"
Eli froze, her hand instinctively going to her sword. They both strained their ears, catching faint snippets of… laughter?
They crept toward the sound, pushing past a thick patch of bushes. What they found on the other side was unexpected: a small group of goblins sitting around a campfire, playing what appeared to be a crude game of cards.
"Okay," Greji whispered, crouching behind a tree. "Here's the plan. We wait until they get into a heated argument over who's cheating, and then we—"
One of the goblins perked up, sniffing the air. It turned its beady eyes in their direction and let out a shrill screech.
"—improvise!" Greji finished, grabbing a stick off the ground.
The goblins charged, their game forgotten. Eli stepped forward, sword ready, but this time Greji stopped her.
"No blood!" he barked. "You're still in recovery from the last trauma fest."
Eli hesitated. "But what do we—"
Before she could finish, Greji leapt into action, swinging his stick like a man possessed. "Take this! And that! Fear the wrath of Lord Greji!"
The goblins, though small and weak, were unprepared for the sheer unpredictability of his attacks. One stumbled backward, tripping over another, while a third dropped its weapon and ran into the forest, screeching in terror.
Eli stared in disbelief as Greji single-handedly turned the tide of battle with nothing more than a stick, wild arm movements, and an endless stream of insults.
"You call that a sword?" Greji shouted at one goblin, jabbing it in the gut with his stick. "Looks more like a butter knife your granny left you!"
Within moments, the remaining goblins had scattered, leaving behind their crude card game and a small pile of loot.
Greji brushed off his cloak and turned to Eli with a triumphant grin. "And *that* is how you handle goblins without spilling a drop of blood. You're welcome."
Eli sheathed her sword, shaking her head in disbelief. "I don't know whether to be impressed or concerned."
"Go with impressed," Greji replied, picking up a shiny coin from the goblins' loot. "Now, let's grab what we can and keep moving. Adventure waits for no one!"
Eli followed him, silently vowing to never underestimate her unconventional lord again.
The forest grew darker as the moon climbed higher into the sky, casting silvery beams through the canopy. Greji and Eli trudged along a narrow path until they stumbled upon a small cave nestled between two ancient trees.
"This will do," Greji declared, peering into the cave's shadowy interior. "Not exactly five-star accommodations, but it's free, and the last thing I want is to wake up as an orc's midnight snack."
Eli nodded, dropping her gear by the entrance. "I'll set up a small fire. You rest, my lord."
Greji flopped onto the ground with a groan. "Finally! My aching feet need a break. Honestly, Eli, do you have lead hidden in your boots or something? You walk like you're training for a marathon."
Eli chuckled softly as she lit a small fire, the warm glow filling the cave. Greji, already sprawled on his makeshift bed of leaves and a borrowed blanket, yawned dramatically.
"Goodnight, Eli," he said, pulling the blanket over himself. "Don't let the forest bugs bite. And if a bear shows up, you handle it, okay?"
Eli smiled, watching him as he quickly drifted off to sleep. The firelight danced across his face, making his features even more striking in the dim glow. She leaned against the cave wall, her cheeks turning slightly red as her thoughts wandered.
Her gaze fell on Greji's lips, and a mischievous idea began to form. This might be her one chance, she thought, her heart racing. Slowly, she leaned forward, her face inching closer to his.
Just as she was about to close the gap—
"Eli," Greji said suddenly, his eyes snapping open. "If you're going to try and steal my first kiss, at least bring me dinner first."
Eli yelped and jumped back, her face now bright red. "I-I wasn't—! That's not—!"
Greji sat up, smirking. "Oh, don't even try to deny it. You were hovering over me like a lovestruck bird trying to land on a very handsome statue."
"I wasn't going to do anything!" Eli protested, flustered.
Greji raised an eyebrow. "Sure, and I wasn't going to wake up and deliver the best sarcastic scolding of your life. But here we are."
Eli covered her face with her hands, wishing the ground would swallow her whole.
Greji chuckled, patting her shoulder lightly. "Relax, Eli. I'm not mad. Just… maybe save the dramatic gestures for when I'm not half-asleep and drooling, okay? I'd prefer a bit of dignity in the moment."
Eli peeked through her fingers, still embarrassed but smiling faintly. "Understood, my lord."
Greji lay back down, pulling the blanket up again. "Good. Now get some rest, you romantic menace. We've got a long day of adventuring tomorrow, and I need you fully functional—preferably not swooning."
Eli laughed softly, settling down near the fire. As she drifted off, she couldn't help but think how uniquely absurd her lord was. Handsome, witty, and absolutely impossible to predict—just the way she liked him.