I'm sitting with Ryan and Rich when my ID goes off. I wince realizing I was eating longer than I should've.
"So... Good luck?" Ryan eyes me.
"It'll be fine. Don't think too much about it. We've wandered randomly in the capital in an attempt to drum up candidates." Rich waves it off.
Just... It's not trainees that normally go out. We normally pick an active location to have a demonstration. I don't qualify for that. Only Lucas does. I'm walking around trying to draw attention. If it's me... Shouldn't I have more guards? Two other trainees and one red knight who isn't that serious?
Something is off.
"Don't think about it, Thomas." Ryan offers me a smile. "Enjoy the freedom."
"If it can be called that." I shrug. It's about as much freedom as I typical got. I need to reach full knight status for further freedoms. "See you later." Callie and Daniel are already at the booth when I reach it. I look around. "Where's Lucas?"
"Grabbing a few more papers." Daniel rubs his head. "This is such a stupid task."
"Don't complain." Callie glares at him. "I don't understand why I was reassigned here, but let's be happy to have a chance to wander the capital."
"Will I have a chance to sight see?" Daniel thinks it over.
"We can go out another day." I think of it. I probably could get us permission to wander the capital. I know where my barriers are. "I'll ask for requirements to leave."
"White stripe." Daniel taps his chest. We're without that stripe. "Or a blue lead."
I think of everything. I have different allowances. "Right now I'm more surprised I'm supposed to wander the capital without a ton of guards. I'm being given allowance to not have a squadron?" That sounds impossible. Even if there are guards everywhere. Even if I have passed enough tests to be able to try for graduation.
Did they... Plan this?
Am I actually facing a graduation test? Before even hitting a month? I'll be white stripe to start July? Why? Something must be the reason. Will they push me to succeed? "When you two joined, I was still fourteen." Which meant I couldn't join. I wasn't going to push for it yet anyway. I knew how many noble kids were born in my year. If I waited for all of them to finish training, I would have an easier time. Eighteen sounded good for that.
But then I lost my allowance as crown prince. And Odin was removed from the castle. That left me picking the knight. Cheating my way in.
Lucas walks up to us grinning. "So glad you made it, Thomas. I was going to have someone get you."
I collect the pile of paper flyers. I've seen them around before. 'Join the knights; prove to the world you deserve everything.' It has the list of bonuses on it. Plus the requirements for joining. Everything is clear. "I have a flyer key." I show off the little magical device. "I can fly back if things require it."
"A good plan. I'm glad you passed that test."
"It's one of the weapons." I joke. 'Weapons' for the knight halls is a little different than typical. I qualify with bow, sword, and flyer at the moment. I need more practice, but I'm skilled enough to say I can fight with them. I have practiced several different options as well. "Half of me thought we'd take horses."
"Not needed. We're walking." Lucas makes sure everyone has a stack of paper. "Please aim to tell everyone about the greatness of knighthood."
I look at the other two. We're trainees. We haven't been on mission. I exhale. "I'm glad you're not telling us if we finish these stacks of paper we pass the graduation test."
Lucas offers me a grin. "That type of tests is for those who struggle with leadership. You three are perfectly fine with leadership. If given the option you'll start teaching the other trainees. Everyone knows how skilled you are now." He motions out of the hall. "Let's go. I'll guide you through the various areas. If you do finish the stacks, we'll have to return and get more."
"More?" Daniel grumbles.
"Lots to see." Lucas starts into the capital. The first person he sees gets him stopping to offer a flyer and explanation. That's our job right now. Stop anyone we see to suggest they can join the knights too. The limitations aren't very limiting. No cost to anyone. Safe place to be. The exam is easy. Just need to be old enough more than anything. We can teach the rest.
I follow Lucas watching as he offers his charisma to the crowd. He is masterful. As we take a pause, I catch his attention. "Knight Lucas?"
"Yes?" His grin is everything.
"If you wish to leave the knights behind, I wouldn't mind if you joined the castle as my advisor." It's something I would need as crown prince. Although... I'm a knight right now. I need to prove myself here first.
"That's kind of you. But I see no reason to leave the knights." Lucas nods to someone walking toward us. "Go tell them about the knights."
I look at the paper I have. Handling off the stacks to Lucas has me nervously heading for the random person. Everyone looks at me. Most of the time I'm giving the papers to those interested in me. To think I need to go to others.
Prove myself in this field. I've already shown leadership. I'll be standing before everyone soon enough. Acting as the proper crown prince. Becoming the king is my future. I know it. Everyone eyeing me knows it too.
I pause before the person that was pointed out to me. They aren't paying me much attention. Their eyes are elsewhere. As I wait for them to move closer, I notice them switching their attentions. Not to me. I'm about to be dodged even if I'm in a way to block them. "Hey-"
Before I can make a comment about joining the knights, an aura surrounds me. It matches to the arena. I'm used to feeling it... But why would it appear here? Who did it?
The person catches my eyes for a second setting off concern inside my mind. Something is off.
But I am not fast enough to do anything before a dagger slams deep into my side.
Lucas picked out something because they were a threat not because I was supposed to recruit them.
I missed the note. Falling to my knees, I really hope the aura works. Or that Callie is capable of doing something. What is happening?