Soon after I returned from Eight-Lake, a lot of things started to change in Ardell.
The first thing that changed was the atmosphere.
The once quiet and peaceful town had started to beco energetic.
Have you heard? Theres a subjugation decree! Theyre trying to reclaim the Red Plains where the mudn took over.
What, you only heard of it now? Youre slow as always.
Those rotten mudn bastards. I was waiting for the day I could thrust my spear into their skulls That day has finally co.
You were waiting? Haiya, you cant even hit a fly. Itll be a blessing if you dont get your own skull crushed by their stone axes.
What did you say?!
War.
This was definitely a fearso word
But if one needed to protect a loved one, or if they were missing soone
It could turn into a driving force that motivates one to act.
The citizens of Ardell all rembered the nightmare of 10 years ago, and were all ready to act.
Just like Cecilia Baltraze, they were ready to face their trauma head on.
However, now wasnt the ti.
Thats why, if you dont want to die, gather in the Lords backyard. Everyones promised to do spearmanship training together.
Since Ardell was quite small, there werent enough people to muster suitable military might to start the subjugation.
That was why we needed to train all the ordinary citizens, from farrs to workers.
Since I also needed to graduate and the weapons from Eight-Lake would take so months before arriving, we were doing so small preliminary preparations.
This wasnt the only reason the territorys atmosphere was afla.
Spearmanship? Does that an the captain himself is going to train us?
Of course. Who else in Ardell could teach us if not him?
Oohoo, Sir Flash Knight! Well see his skills for the first ti in a while. But from what I heard, he only handles fishing rods these days It should be fine, right?
Kekek. Does a tiger beco a kitten because it plays with a ball of yarn for a bit? His flashy skills should still be the sa.
Subjugation preparation.
A great shift occurred in the peaceful territory of Ardell, and the news started to slowly spread outside this tigers den.
Yeah.
A tiger lived in Ardell as well.
Even though there were only 15 mbers, we had a knight order, and there was also a knight captain who led this order.
The Flash Knight, Sir Bolvar.
He was already older than 50 and part of the veterans among the knights, but back in the days, he was fad for his brilliant spearmanship with which he earned the nickna of The Flash Knight. He was also part of the Golden Light Knight Order that guarded the king.
Of course, this was a story from a ti before I was even born.
The Sir Bolvar I knew was a kind neighborly uncle who used the fishing rod more than the spear.
His main job amounted to taking and Ruina for picnics in and around the Ardell territory.
However, our faith in Sir Bolvar was deeply rooted.
10 years ago, when the mudn invaded our territory, if not for Sir Bolvar, we wouldve lost more people.
The scene of him piercing right through 5 mudn heads in a single blow was still stuck in my head.
He was the most respected knight in Ardell.
While the people of the territory were talking about this, Irene spoke up after having been quietly listening for a while.
Ruin, whos the Tiger of Ardell?
Ah, theyre talking about the knight captain of our territory, Sir Bolvar Patten.
Who?
Sir Bolvar Patten.
Why?
Irenes expression shifted.
Her face was telling that it was a na she had heard before.
I feel like Ive heard of him before. Spear Saint Bolvar I probably heard it during my studies, but maybe only in passing because Im not certain.
Studies? Do you learn sothing like that in the Empires magic schools?
No. However, the Eleven Children learn about the Record of Knights. We need to know a lot about them since knights are the most common enemy one would face on the battlefield.
So they learned sothing like that as well.
The Eleven Children
They still felt quite incredible.
But she heard about Sir Bolvar in the Record of Knights?
Eh, probably not.
Didnt the Record of Knights record only the greatest knights of the continent?
I brushed away the thought.
I dont know that much about knighthood but thats probably not right. Its true that Sir Bolvar is strong, but in the Record of Knights? Its the first ti Im hearing about this.
Really?
Yes. And his nickna is The Flash Knight not Spear Saint. Youre probably thinking of soone else.
Of course, I was talking without knowing everything either.
The only thing I knew was that, for a knights na to be recorded in the Record of Knights, they wouldve needed to accomplish an incredible deed or attain unbelievable strength.
Knowing that, I had co to the conclusion that there was no chance such a great knight would exist in Ardell.
Yeah.
Preconceptions like this were always dangerous.
Im pretty sure its right.
What?
That half-moon spear and swift spearmanship. Im certain. Spear Saint Bolvar Patten, the sole spear knight of the Radian Kingdom. At the young age of 30, he suddenly retired and vanished
Her eyes lit up with confidence.
A legend.
A legend?
The Bolvar that Irene deed a legend
Haha! Lets finish here for today. Now that Im old, even holding a spear is difficult. Back in the day, I wouldve swung this spear around like I would a spoon.
He had a relaxed smile and wiped off the sweat after finishing the first spearmanship lesson opened for the citizens of the territory.
Huh
Was it really true?
* * *
* * *
Haha! Youve really done it this ti, Young Master. I knew you would do sothing extraordinary since you had those greedy eyes from a young age, but to win the Grand Festival? And a subjugation now?
Youre all grown up. Im proud of you. This old man is truly moved by your achievents. If it was like the old tis, I wouldve wanted to put you on my shoulders and go on a hike but since youve also grown, wouldnt it be too much for you as well?
I obviously knew that this kind and down-to-earth face of Sir Bolvar wasnt everything.
I knew very well that behind his easy going and fun loving face was a fearso level of skill.
Alright.
Lets say that Sir Bolvar Patten was a famous knight, fad enough to be in the Record of Knights, just like what Irene said.
Then, why was he here?
Why would he give up the honor of being the greatest spear knight of the kingdom and just sit in Ardell with a fishing rod in his hand?
Then, Irene bowed her head to Sir Bolvar and said sothing that would solve my curiosity.
My na is Irene Prius. I greet the Spear Saint Sir Bolvar Patten.
Not The Flash Knight that was known by our territory, but the spear amongst spears, the Spear Saint.
As the words left her mouth, Sir Bolvars eyebrows shuddered a bit as he beca a little flustered.
Where did you hear about that?
His expression was asking if soone who rembers that na still existed.
Irene very politely replied,
Ive heard about your stories in the Record of Knights. I couldnt confirm it before but I beca certain after seeing your half-moon spear and swift spearmanship. The tale of you slaying 10 high-ranking magicians from the rebel state of Perna is still legendary. Its an honor to be able to et you here.
He slayed 10 high-ranking magicians?
Our Sir Bolvar?
I looked at Sir Bolvar, shocked out of my wits.
Huhu
However, Sir Bolvar just scratched the back of his head in embarrassnt.
Youre a smart lass. You even rembered that small story in the corner of the Record of Knights. Well, even then, thats all in the past. Now, Im just an old man who struggles to even lift a spear.
What?
Was it all true?
I asked him,
Sir Bolvar, why did you hide it?
Hide what?
I didnt know. I couldnt even guess that you were soone famous like this.
Ive never hidden anything, Young Master. Youve never asked .
Hmm Well, I couldnt say anything against that.
But, what was this?
Betrayal?
No.
How could I explain this feeling
Im a little sad. I thought I knew Sir Bolvar pretty well.
There was a hint of sadness and regret from ending up hearing more about the knight captain that Ive known for so long from soone else.
However, Sir Bolvar just shrugged his shoulders.
Young Master, you know more about than anyone else.
But Ive only just learnt that you were the Spear Saint, even though I was so close to you.
But thats not everything about , right?
What?
That is only a part of . I love fishing, I live in the house at the base of this hill, and I like eating at for breakfast. I treat Ardell and its lord like my brothers, and Ive spent ti with the young master and the young lady Thats Bolvar Patten. Isnt that enough?
What I felt was hard to explain.
It was like I was just struck in the back of the head.
Yeah.
Sir Bolvar was right.
The fact that he was written in the Record of Knights, completed a legendary deed, and was strong enough to be called the Spear Saint was but a part of him.
Just because I didnt know this, does the Bolvar I know disappear?
Ruin, since when were you so focused on fa?
Young Master, youre staying here as the winner of the Grand Festival. Compared to that, whats odd about living in Ardell? Haha!
Yeah.
There was no law that said I, who was born in and inherited the blood of Ardell, was the only one who could love Ardell.
Sir Bolvar wouldve been a foreigner in the beginning, but now, he was family.
There was nothing odd.
Nothing was different either.
You are right, sir. I know more about you than anyone else.
Thank you for understanding, Young Master.
Sir Bolvar checked the ti and beca flustered.
Oh, now Im late. I promised the young lady I would help her with her swordsmanship.
Ruina? Do you look after her swordsmanship personally?
Normally, the lord would look after her, but when wooden spars are needed, I help her.
Sparring?
Sheesh. For the legendary spear knight Bolvar Patten of Radian to personally spar against the juvenile 12-year-old Ruina.
Im looking forward to this.
As Irene and I showed interest, Sir Bolvar Patten asked us,
Will you join us, Young Master?
In spectating? Of course I would.
No, not spectating, but sparring.
Sparring? Really? With ?
Dont you rember? I helped you with sparring when you were about 9.
I rembered.
Of course I would rember.
Even while I was tumbling in the dirt, I would smile as I sparred against Sir Bolvar. It was one of my most cherished childhood mories.
Would you like to have a go for the first ti in a while?
Against the knight captain of Ardells knight order, Bolvar Patten.
No.
Against the legendary Spear Saint. Would this opportunity co to just anyone?
Seeing Sir Bolvars competitive spirit through his smile, I clenched my fists.
Im not the little kid you rember.
At that, Sir Bolvar jokingly responded,
Yes, I know. Im not the knight you rember either. Now Im too old to even lift a spear.
Liar.
Dont you look too fired up to be retired?
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