The Noble Mock Battles was an event organised by the Rose Kingdom in order to establish which nobles were ready to take part in upcoming wars and battles if necessary.
The event was held annually in the royal arena, where noble families gathered to watch their heirs and knights display their strength, strategy, and leadership.
Victory brought honour and prestige to a house, while failure often meant shame and loss of influence within the court.
With the recent news of the approaching Dragoni forces from the North, a threatening empire of dragon tamers who had long wished to claim the land under the control of the Rose Kingdom and force them to bend the knee, the mock battle now had to be brought forward.
It was meant to happen in a week, but now, it happened the day after the news.
Tether City, the heart of the Rose Kingdom, was built around a giant forest for this purpose. The forest, known as the Strategem, was altered by the hands of humans in order to create the perfect battlefield for the event to take place.
The day after his awakening, and spending lunch with his future wife, Enoch found himself thrust into the centre of the event with no time allowed to waste.
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"Welcome, young nobles. As you are well aware, the annual mock battles have arrived earlier than expected. Our enemies to the north wish to bring dragon teeth to our necks, and we can't accept that."
At the centre of Strategem Forest stood a hundred nobles in orderly rows, wearing the red and black clothes of the Rose Trainee forces.
At the head stood a man wearing black armour, with a red cloak draped over his shoulder.
The man was General Vohan, one of the highest-ranking men of the Kingdom. His hair was pink, and his slightly wrinkled face remained handsome despite the scars that would soon heal themselves.
Enoch, who stood at the front row of the crowd, examined the General closely, granting himself access to his status information.
[Name: Vohan Arnoldi]
[Soul Level: Gold]
[Titles: Sword of the Flower, Loyalist, Morning Sword.]
Not only was the man's Soul Level at the rank of Gold, one of the higher levels in the soul system, he also carried three positive titles with no negative ones.
He was also known for his righteous morality, which had given him his pink hair and healed his various scars, despite him having seen more wars than most warriors.
"This year's Mock Battle will take place in Strategem Forest as usual. You will each be split into four groups and given a leader to stand at your head. Each leader will be given a pendant around their neck. The last leader with their pendant still in place will be the victor."
Murmurs spread throughout the group of a hundred nobles.
Each year, the type of battle changed, ranging from a series of duels to partner battles.
A war between four armies of twenty-four. This sounds intense.
"In a moment, I will call forth the four leaders. Remember, sometimes a mere foot soldier is the most valuable asset in a war. Just because you have been designated the position of leader does not make you better than the rest."
The nobles remained silent in their rows as Vohan stood proudly at their head.
After a few moments, he called out the name of the first leader.
"Enoch Rose, please come forward."
As he expected, Enoch was the first leader called. With his chest high, and his white hair catching the attention of everybody around him, he made his way out of the line and joined General Vohan up front.
Once stood next to the giant man, he felt small. However, the power that seeped within his core from the devoured god gave him comfort.
As he faced the crowd, he noticed the eyes of many staring at him. No one knew why the man's hair had changed to a shade of snow white, but it had sparked much conversation.
After a few moments, Vohan read out the names of the other leaders.
"Judas Arnoldii."
"Nero Servus."
"Charlotte White."
The three figures stepped forward one by one.
Enoch knew that his status as a Prince made him more notable than the other figures. However, each of them was great in their own right.
Judas, youngest son of General Vohan. His hair was not yet pink like his father's, rather a bright blonde shade, though his face was scarred as if he had seen many wars himself.
Nero Servus V. Not only a noble but son of Pope Nero IV. He carried himself with a distinguished air, his jet-black hair slicked back with oil, and his height well over six and a half feet.
Charlotte White, daughter of the great strategist Joan White. She was beautiful, with short brown hair, but her face was sharp and serious, as if the mock battle had already begun.
The four leaders stood in a row, facing the remaining students who waited to be assigned to their leaders.
Most didn't have a preference. After all, each of the leaders was respectable in their own right.
General Vohan cleared his throat before speaking. "Now then, I will start assigning you to your leaders. This is randomly chosen and will not affect—"
"General Vohan, might I say a few words before you start?"
General Vohan looked to the side with a pink brow raised. There he found Nero, the Pope's son, staring at him calmly after cutting him off.
Oh?
"If you must."
Nero stepped forward and addressed the crowd.
"In the name of the True Creator, I would like to make one thing clear. Those who are allied with me will have a clear path towards valour. One that involves targeting and taking down the heir to the throne."
Nero pointed a hand at Prince Enoch, who now stared at him in disbelief. The murmurs in the crowd suggested they felt the same surpsise.
Amidst the chatter, Nero continued.
"It is clear that the prince has been hiding something from us. It has been evident to all who witnessed the oddity of his awakening yesterday. Not to mention his white hair and change in demeanour. Tell us, Enoch, do you tread an immoral path?"
Enoch stood there for a second, frozen. His eyes locked on the dark gaze of the Pope's son.
"Nero, you would be wise to speak to the Prince in a more respectful tone," General Vohan butted in.
"Why? So it is fine for me to battle against him, but not to point out my concerns regarding his morality? I am a religious man, after all." Nero retorted with ease.
The stunned general remained silent, granting an opportunity for the tall religious man to continue speaking.
"So, I say this one last time. If you are put on my team, fight valiantly. Perhaps it will make our prince stray from his tainted ways."
With this, Nero took a step backwards, signalling that he had finished what he had to say.
Everyone's eyes turned to Enoch with an expectant look on their faces.
Surely the Prince would not allow himself to be disrespected in front of so many others.
They were correct. Prince Enoch's heart was filled with rage. However, his face did not display it.
Instead, he smiled. A terrifying smile that made others wonder whether the accusations were true.
"The Pope's son enjoys talking, as do all the other members of the theocracy," Enoch began, his deep voice carrying throughout Strategem Forest. "But that is why the theocracy has long since lost power and made way for the monarchy, ruled by the Rose family. My family."
The jest made Nero's face scowl and crinkle with anger, which only amused Enoch.
"If Nero Servus the Fifth believes the words he has spoken, then let him try to take me down on the field today. I promise you that he will fail."
More chatter spread throughout the crowd. The two other leaders that remained uninvolved, Charlotte and Judas, looked at each other with amusement. Things were truly getting interesting.
With the bickering finished, General Vohan cleared his throat once again and continued where he left off.
"Now then, I will assign each of you to a leader."
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