Chapter 78—Hegemon-rank

Chapter 78: 78—Hegemon-rank Iridescent lights swirled around them. Fireworks lighting up the nights in sharp yellows and blue. The warmth Lucen was covered in retreated when Kedral stretched his hand out. If he wasn’t so hyper-aware of himself due to Kibatra, his hand might have briefly reached out to shake him. But now he simply stared at Kedral’s outstretched hand, confused. Lucen’s eyes flashed wide. He quickly bowed and saluted the King’s Voice. He was rather proud of his acting skills right now. Kedral was both the person Lost Wind told him to show off for, and the person he shouldn’t shake hands with. Shaking hands was a greeting from his past life. Was this a test to check if he was a transmigrator? Why would Windy then tell him to show off for an enemy? All these thoughts were cast from his mind as he rose to salute Kedral. The man was dressed in a different suit, black with a blue trim and flared shoulders. Lucen’s eyes were drawn to the cyan belt on his waist; it had crystals embedded in it. Kedral smiled wider, his outstretched hand retreating. "I’ve been wanting to meet you. I’ve never heard of a Squire your age defeating a Fiend. But a Fiend Bull wolf is even more impressive." "Are there Fiends stronger than others?" Lucen asked. "Of course. Not all species are built the same after all. Some are stronger in certain conditions. But Bull wolves are stronger than other species because they not only have a Tyrant, but they also had an Omen." Lucen clenched his teeth. Omens. They were practically legends, killing one was cementing yourself in history as something more than man. A literal fable. "Having Tyrants and Omens as part of your species makes you stronger." "They increase the need to grow stronger too, and scholars aren’t quite sure of this, but the fate and mana a beast share with their Omens increase their capacity for growth." Lucen nodded. "Are all Bull wolves as strong as the ones that came with the Crimson Tyrant?" Kedral shook his head. "The wolves that lived close to the queen benefit more from her. Anyways, I have distracted you enough from your companion. I have something to announce." Kedral left, smiling at the people watching him cautiously, and waving at them. The man was a walking problem. Lucen turned back to Kibara, turning a bit pale. She crossed her arms, lips pursed, and her eyes flashed with some annoyance. "Sorry, he came out of nowhere," Lucen said, nervously chuckling. "Do you want to sit? You’ve been dancing for a while." "I’m alright," she said tersely. "What is he going to announce?" Lucen laughed a bit harder this time. "You won’t believe this..." Once he was done explaining Kedral’s quest to her, Kibara’s jaw hung open. "That’s the most unreasonable thing I’ve ever heard. How will you cross the Withering Forest and the Shattered Plains? Both the Tyrants there are active this time of the year." Lucen raised an eyebrow. "Wow, you know a lot about monsters." "Well, I am technically a Knight," Kibara said, looking at the grass, "and I come from a village in the middle of the Red and Grey Keeps." She once again left him without words to reply. His eyes ran over her body—she didn’t look like someone that was trained to fight. Her hand caught his chin and pulled his head up to meet her eyes. "Eyes up here," she said, eyes shining with mirth as heat rushed to his head. "Is it that shocking that I’m a Knight? I wasn’t formally trained. My sister and I grew up in... a bad place, so to speak. The mana there basically forced our souls to coalesce." There were places that forced you to become a Knight? How many people would run there if they knew? But Lucen could guess the chances of surviving were near impossible. "That’s quite the story. But I’m glad you’re safe now." Kibara smirked, stepped a bit too close. "My father saved us at the cost of his own body. He was a Grand Knight in his prime, taught my sister and I everything we know. I’ll go back to him when the Flamesteel company passes here in a few months." "Or you could follow us." Lucen felt stupid as soon as the words left his mouth. "I’m not saying you have to follow us, but we are going soon. Actually just forget—" Kibara’s fingers pressed against her lips. She didn’t laugh at him outright, but the glint of her eyes was telling. "I would follow you, but I don’t want to die. You people should give up on this suicide mission." Lucen’s eyes narrowed; he shook his head. "No way." Kibara’s eyes widened a bit, then she put on a crooked smile. "That’s good. If you want me there so much, I’ll think about it. But I’m not prepared to leave Castaway just yet." Lucen wanted to ask why. But Kedral’s announcement had begun. Everyone drew towards the center of the field where he stood smiling. The Lightcloaks all glared at him, but the Knight families that served them seemed excited. "I’m sure you have all heard of the grand quest that our great king has given your Squires. But the Lightcloaks are quite dissatisfied with the danger we are putting them in, so the king has expanded the invite to everyone who hasn’t had their first quest due to Alger Lightcloak’s absence. Including recent Knights." Everyone clapped and cheered. Kedral did a little dance, smiling brightly. Lucen found Duran Junior and his friends smirking to themselves. They were all about twenty or twenty-two years of age. Most Squires had their first quest at sixteen. He didn’t know much about Warren’s older students, but he knew Duran was so promising that he started training under Warren at six years old instead of the usual eight. Kedral continued when the cheers died down. His eyes twinkled with excitement. "And the rewards have been raised much higher. Not only will you gain the honor of the King’s recognition and gain entrance into Elaris’ greatest school for young Knights, but you will also receive a soul-bound weapon made by the empire’s greatest artisan, the War-reader, Hestara. Many cheers erupted as the name of the famed demigod was revealed. Hestara was not only one of the oldest of the demigods, but she had some of the greatest feats achieved by an individual: slaying Elder Dragons, fighting minor gods, dueling creatures older than time. A living story. "This weapon is usually reserved for the greatest Knights in the empire," Kedral said, grinning. "But Lady Hestara has promised to personally craft this weapon for whoever takes Loki Medaza’s head. A Hegemon-rank weapon." Lucen’s blood roared in his ears. Okay, now he really needed to go to the Red Keep.