BXBX NOVEL Chapter 57: Blessed Knight
Right before they reached the entrance, Winstrel took the two of them past two checkpoints and now at the checkpoint, Blake found that a barrier had been erected around the village meaning that unless one was ready to use force and alert the whole base to their presence, everyone, Hannah included had to present themselves at the entrance, this fact letting Blake know that whatever was going on was no trivial matter.
Dismounting Winstrel, while Hannah moved to some hastily built shack by the gate of the town to identify herself, Blake remained standing outside with the horse, holding onto its reins and scratching its mane receiving a lot of neighs and head rubs from it.
As Blake had a bit of fun with the horse, he could feel a lot of stares landing on his back from the soldiers at the checkpoint, but he ignored them and had his fun, smirking as found himself coming up with theories on why this horse which was rumoured to come from a horse breed that resided in hell was actually quite friendly with him.
Considering that this horse breed had been reserved to be ridden by only royalty and could only be gotten by others as a gift or reward, Blake figured that Hannah was quite the capable woman.
"His species are known for being wild and nearly untamable, even after I got him, it took me nearly three years to make him submit and yet here you are on the first day being treated like an old friend," Hannah's voice suddenly sounded, the woman popping beside Blake.
"I guess there are perks to doing even the most menial of tasks" Blake replied, Hannah merely nodding her head and then waving him to come follow her, Blake leading Winstrel by the reins and walking behind his owner as they went through a tall wooden gate which had initially been covered by a faint red transparent film of light.
"You mentioned that you were a stable boy who had been uplifted, may I know what a stable could have done to make a knight literally transfer their years of hard work and diligent servitude to you."
It took knights on average 8 to 2- years to form a blessing and then begin building it, up, so Hannah could not help but wonder why Blake had been chosen.
"Well, I was his squire right from when I was 8 years old so that had helped to build a powerful trust between the two of us, but if you're asking about the act which was the final nail that made me be blessed by him as a knight, then I am sorry I cannot answer such a question."
Following behind Hannah while leading her horse, Blake stared at the inside of the village, his eyes unable to spot a single villager as everyone he saw had on a certain type of armour and a weapon on their person, and though they tried to hide it, probably in fear of Hannah, numerous looks were being thrown his way.
"How old are you, Blake?"
"23" Blake truthfully replied already having an inkling what Hannah was going to say.
"A knight at the age of 23, Blake perhaps you don't know it but you are 1 in a 100-year genius, do you really want to waste your life following around a lady like a dog when you could be focusing on your training and trying to increase your power." Hannah bluntly said something Blake expected from the military leader.
"I made a pledge when I became a knight."
"Yes, a pledge that can be broken if your lady decides to release you of your duties. Think of how much more you can achieve if you focus on building your power, all on your own you became a second circle being by the age of 23 and then as if that wasn't enough, you got a knight to actually give you his blessings.
You do realize what it means to have the blessing of a knight don't you, a knight's blessings have been known to turn normal beings into rankers overnight making them first and second order beings, now imagine what a young man like you still full of potential could do with it."
"Yes, but my dreams still don't dismiss my pledge," Blake said vehemently stopping in his stride and looking at Hannah with a frown internally applauding himself for his acting.
"Tell me Blake if I was to walk up to your lady right now and want to slice off her head, what would you do about it" Hannah said also stopping and walking up to Blake till she was a step away, looking him in the eyes, not mind the eyes that quickly turned to two of them.
"I would fight to my last breath," Blake said, allowing doubts and bitterness to sip into his tone.
"Hmm pathetic and selfish. So for the sake of your pride, you will throw away your life and that of your lady," Hannah asked, her voice low but at the same time sharp, and ringing in Blake's head, trying to get into his subconscious.
"She's trying to intimidate and influence me"
Letting a hard undecided expression come onto his face, Blake weakly replied Hannah
"That isn't what I meant, I ...."
"Rather than choose an agreement that will see your lady be rewarded with possibly a title, privileges and even soldiers of her own, you wish to stay by her side and bring her down."