This was the second time the Knight had shocked Marshal waddor – impressive.
"what do you mean 'it's perfect'?"
He was referring to the Knights response to him advising it against taking on the dark knights.
"well, one could say, I already had plans to investigate them you see, and I am just glad that no-one else beat me to the mission."
This was true, but the Knight was realising how they were bad at facing the void, which might make the whole venture easier than the mission had initially seemed.
"Oh, I see. In any case if you really do intend on facing them, even if I'd rather you not – here."
Then he handed the Knight a book with the entire profile compiled on them. It was extensive, but due to people usually keeping their powers and skill secret, there were a lot of troubling blanks and spaces, some filled with even more confusing truths.
'I guess he is right, even if they are not ones to face the void, they still possessed the strength to come close to such an achievement. But what's this?'
"what is this here? I see that here it says they are not co-aligned?"
"About that, even though they all seem to possess similar objectives, for the most part, they don't work as a single organised unit. Near the end, you'll find a map, of known bases for different groups."
'I guess the fact that all knights were in the Order of Knights made me think they would all somehow unite into one group. This might make my mission longer, but easier. It also does explain something I was wondering about earlier.
They may be a big problem, a reoccurring one at that, but the only reason the Order of Knights haven't mobilised is because, separate, they are just an issue, not a real problem. That's why they have been ignored. Even if they could potentially band and become a formidable force, by definition of their existence they never would.
They aren't real knights, and this is why they even fail to grasp the need for a formidable army. Most of them in here are even independent like how the Knight now was. The numbness of power must have been too great for them to bear – radicalistic cowards – that sounds about right.
And as long as they remain a non-major threat, it would be a waste of resources to deploy a force large enough to handle them. This is why they exist only as a knights Errant mission. And after all, the Knights are so trained to fight the darkness I think some of them would never hurt anything else – there is no room for it in their programming.
Even still, I should make sure to make a spectacle out of them, otherwise I might still not get an invite. The fact that they each possess different philosophies might make this a lengthy journey though.'
"Is there anything else Marshal Waddor – sir!"
"None, Hero, you're free. I was going to send someone to inform your assigned legion of your change, but I think you can tell them as you say your goodbyes."
Mugaw laughed in the Knights head – "You were just going to leave, weren't you?"
…
The Knight then left to the barracks, not everyone was here though. It told them about the change. The army was going to revert to the structure it had before the Knight, since some of the squadrons had been poached to create an entire brigade for the Knight.
They said their goodbyes and the Knight headed to the training grounds. It knew that most of the Bachelor's ought to be training around this time. Unsurprisingly enough, it was all of them, even Banneret Solace was there supervising, trying to make sure they don't let things get out of hand as they usually do.
This place was sturdy, but it wasn't enough. The training grounds at Elleria were even sturdier, but the Knight thought of the sphere underground and remembered that nothing it had ever encountered, was sturdier.
"I'm leaving."
Simple and blunt, but the training didn't stop. Poli answered, still spectating the battle.
"we know. You're not much for words so no need for long goodbyes – we don't want to strain your throat on your last day."
Then the ones spectating burst into laughter. It was interrupted by the sound of Zoldi hitting the ground after Fetching threw a devastating punch – ending their session. Zoldi got up, looked at the Knight, then fell back down onto her back.
"Damn, does this mean no more rides on your shoulder, wait, you're taking the dragons with you! Come on, stay a while."
Fetching smiled, as pretty as usual. "What she means is that she'll miss you – you're the only one who hasn't complained about her crude behaviour."
She then helped Zoldi up. The others also said their short goodbyes, already used to the Knights hatred for wasting time. Karen, the smith, Dorus, his eyes still frozen, grey in terror, Igal, the oversized shield, Derell, the old man with a temper second only to his brutal training, Zoldi, the battle monger, Fetching, the most beautiful and yet dangerous, Poli, the calm of the legion, Adriel, its voice, and Banneret Solace, the head of it all.
Karen, "One day I'll be strong enough to fix that armour of yours."
Igal and Dorus waved, Derell then smiled and said, "You should come back and help me train them, they still complain about your [Impact] punches."
Adriel complained. "At least now I won't have to spend my time wondering about where you are."
"You owe me a favour, so come back and complete it okay." said Poli as she put on her helmet, about to go face off against Fetching.
The great paladin still didn't speak. In the last year, the Knight had joined them on one of their trainings in the clouds above the palace in the woods of Elleria. And it had even had a full conversation with the Banneret before, so they not saying anything was fine with the Knight – it had come to find more meaning in deliberate silence.
Before it left though, its Commanders, its second in command, lieutenant Callen – who was going to be temporarily demoted from being a first squadron captain, Braona – the carefree special deploy squadron – like the one the Knight had been in charge of, Arion – in charge of the survey team – sixth squadron, Dasand – eighth squadron workaholic commander, and the rest, all cried about having to go back to their respective brigades once more. They had more freedom with the Knight in charge, even if training was brutal.
"Are you sure, you can't stay."
"Now you can stop pretending to be higher ranked than me Callen. Last time I checked, I'm next to be a knight, Bachelor. Don't worry I'll make you my lieutenant if you behave."
This was Braona telling Callen off. Arion and Dasand only smiling awkwardly.
With that, the Knight was done with the goodbyes – more than last time, fewer words were said at least. One of the knights in its legion – the one in Callen's squadron – the one that had been disappointed after seeing the Knights body crushed. He watched as the Knight left. They never met, but even he was sullen.
He was unable to remember the nothingness because it didn't exist, but he still couldn't get it out of its mind. In the end, he wasn't disappointed for long.
And just like that the Knight left.
***
'I really shouldn't make such an impression – not all things are necessary.'
"Talking about relationships Boss?"
'Yes, just look at divine spirit Romeo, reduced to a personal guard of a demon gone mad and turned monster.'
"I remember what that's like…"
The Knight didn't even bother asking, it knew when it wouldn't get an answer so asking the question would just be another exercise in futility.
It then made it into its room, this one slightly more comfortable than the palace suits somehow. Guilos was again absent mindedly staring out into the sky. Cathina was still waiting to ask the Knight about if her friend helped or not. Kitrino was asleep on the bed – no-one could tell she had a being of the void as part of her. She was still fully aware of her surroundings – prepared to pounce. Then on another chair sat the newest addition, princess Forg, now just an apprentice to the hero.
"Listen up!"
This rattled Kitrino and even woke her up. The noise the knight had made caught their attention. Each of them in there were attuned to the Knights voice, except Ujinski.
"Cathina – your friend had a fairytale for me, but it was more information that I've been able to gather in decades – so rest well, you were a great help. In fact, I might be willing to help you find a safe place in return. Apprentice, we will no longer be with the Paladin legion – we are going on a solo mission. I am now a knight Errant, not a Bachelor."
"That's still fine with me, what will we be doing anyway?"
"I will be hunting down the dark knights – hopefully in under two decades."
Guilos got off her seat quickly, making the chair fall. 'The dark knights might mostly bother the knights, but nothing is stopping them from bothering settlements and other organisations. They're one of the most ruthless forces. It's just that no-one is up to dealing with them. And he intends to raid them in just two decades – absurd.'
She didn't voice her opinions because, well, she knew they meant nothing. Her life depended wholly on the mentally childlike friend she used to know, who is instinctively keeping her alive.
"Guilos – you'll still be coming with me. Cathina, now that you have fulfilled your end of the deal, would you like me to help you find a safe place or you're fine going out on your own?"
She first looked at her brother, dark circles had appeared in her eyes, she hadn't slept once since finding him. It was a shade of grey, because this much lack of sleep wouldn't bother her in the slightest.
"I'll go with you – that is of course until you help me find a safe to hold up."
She didn't want to admit that even though the Knight gave her no comfort, and even kind of terrified her, she still felt like the voices in her head would return without its presence, and she didn't want to kill herself, she wanted to stay alive for her brother's sake. So, this was just an excuse to keep her suicidal thoughts at bay.
"Guilos already told me about the routes used by her group before she was sent to Abio, so we'll find it soon."
"Don't worry about me, I can wait." answered Cathina.
"It's going to get dangerous soon."
"I can still go on –"
Truthfully, the Knight also didn't want to spend time on that first, and her being along might be useful. The Knight also wanted to study her to figure out how to break Kitrino's second seal. The Knight knew about the void part of her, but it still wanted to know if there was another way, that did not involve sacrificing a book.
"I would say we leave at dawn, but I see no reason not to leave now. I have made all preparations, and you all don't have people to see off?"
"Wait…"
Then Kitrino ran out. A few minutes later she came back.
"Now, we can go."
"What was all that about?" asked Forg.
"Just saying my goodbyes to everyone."
The knight could imagine Kitrino startling everyone as she ran into them saying bye and dashing. All had been done and thus came the time to depart. The Knight wanted to have a talk with the grandmaster and Kiyun, but knowing them, even the Paladin legion would leave before they came back.
The Knight, Kitrino and the rest of the army teleported everyone.
The Knight came back later, told Red Scorch to clump up into one dragon. Then it covered them with the void to stop their power from turning everything around them into a scorched patch of ouran. Since now it was stronger than in their battle, the Knight was able to teleport all of them in one go as they were in their true dragon form - singular. This was possible because it also wasn't resisting teleport which it could.
And just like that their journey began, and in a single night the entire sea of dragon surrounding Arulli was gone. Their hero was once again, going to poke the bee's nest – a very agitated one.
***
"Whoa – that was quick, and I see the monsters are still as unfriendly."
Kitrino answered the apprentice. "They prefer being called vermin."
"Keep it down, They already know we're here."