Chapter 10: The Royal Elite Knights (Part 4)

“Oh, it’s you Captain Rizzou!”

Captain Forgante exchanged his greeting with the one who called him.

“It’s rare to see you here. What brings you here? Gawking at our base again, don’t you? Hahaha!!”

The one that was called Captain Rizzou came over and put his arm around Captain Forgante.

“Hey, Rizzou, I brought you a special someone today.”

Captain Forgante turned his head towards me. I was just behind the man, following him since we left his post earlier.

“Ohh, what do we have here? A new recruit? Yours or mine?”

“If it’s mine, I would prefer him little taller and with a bit more meat on his frame. Unfortunately, this shorty is yours.”

“Ohh really, Forgante?”

The one called Captain Rizzou looked at me. He scrutinized me but I don’t feel his eyes were as piercing as Captain Forgante. Though it still made me a little uncomfortable.

Captain Rizzou was wearing an all-white uniform with a matching white beret. His uniform looked different from Captain Forgante. Perhaps it was the material and also the adornment on his uniform that made it so different from the one that Captain Forgante was wearing.

“Well, Forgante, you sure want your men to be big and brawny, like usual. Though in our case, we don’t really care.”

Captain Rizzou broke into a smile.

“Anyway you, young man, come to my side so I could see you better.”

I walked towards Captain Rizzou.

“What’s your name?”

“Claude…. Claude Leonheart.”

“I see. Is it alright if I called you Claude?”

I nodded.

“Good. I’m Captain Rizzou from the Administration Bureau of Elemental Circle. I’m in charge of the new guys. Good thing that I had met you here. Thanks, Forgante, I appreciate your help and your good work!” Captain Rizzou patted Captain Forgante’s head.

“Hey! Stop it. We are still on duty!”

“Hahaha. You are still serious as usual, Forgante.” The two men laughed. They seemed to be on good terms despite their constant banter.

“By the way Rizzou, in case you wanted to know, Bannen send him to me.”

“Bannen ehh. What’s the old Halfling up to right now? Been a while since I’d seen him here. He used to come with Ser Aldurynn. But again, thanks for bringing him here.”

“No problem. You still do owe me a round drink from the other day though.”

“Ahh… that.” Captain Rizzou looked at me. Perhaps he tried to change the topic that he suddenly told me to follow him.

“Claude, follow me.”

I bowed my head to Captain Forgante and said my thanks to him. He just nodded before he turned his back and walked away. He really didn’t like me, did he?

“Don’t mind him, Claude. He’s a little envious of us, you see.”

Captain Rizzou patted the back of my head as I followed beside him. He seemed so different from Captain Forgante. Much friendlier, calmer and welcoming to me. This was the first time I felt this way since I step into the front gate of the Knight’s District. There were bullies in front of the main gate and the strict Captain Forgante, both of them welcoming me in a manner that I would rather forget sooner than later.

I was brought into a room. While waiting for Captain Rizzou to prepare some documents for me, he told me to wait for him here. I was served with a cup of hot tea from a maid-servant tough her attire looked different from Reena’s. Though I don’t really like hot tea, as I would prefer them to be colder, room temperature at least, but as a good guest, I would not want to decline a good hospitality when I received one. The change in hospitality was a welcoming sight for me.

I thought for a while they would be more serious, stricter and direct with me.

“Hey Claude, how’s the tea?”

Captain Rizzou asked of me as he took a seat in front of where I’m seating right now.

“The tea is good.”

I took the cup and sipped the tea a little. It was hot and burned my tongue. But I did not show it or else I would offend my host.

“I see. Maid, could you bring one for me too?”

Captain Rizzou ordered the maid. She came over and poured another cup for Captain Rizzou.

“Alright, Claude. Let’s get to business.”

Captain Rizzou said as he took a sip from his cup. He seemed to like it. Perhaps the tea might burned his tongue too like how it was to mine.

“You are here to enrol in the Royal Elite Knights, am I right?”

I nodded.

“So, who recommended you and do you bring with you any proof at all to show your claims?”

I instinctively began to show Captain Rizzou the same thing I had shown Captain Forgante earlier; my Journeyman’s signet ring, the letter from Crown Princess Sierra and this time I include also the replica of the Royal Medal of Valour, which was awarded to me back in Chambers of Solaris.

“Wow Claude, you have got some heavyweight recommendations here. To be personally recommended by her Highness, the Crown Princess Sierra and to receive this medal, at your young age is really an impressive feat. I wonder what face will Forgante made if he noticed this medal earlier.”

Captain Rizzou was smiling and looked extremely pleased.

“I have heard some rumours regarding about Crown Princess being saved by someone from the Brotherhood last week or so, but I did not know the authenticity of it. You know, rumours and hearsay are not something that we really pay much attention to. But here, right in front of me, I had the presence of her Highness’s saviour and the proof of it too. What a day it’s turning out to be already!”

Captain Rizzou seemed to be in awe by what I had done. I felt a little embarrassed by the praise that was given to me. He looked so excited though. I think I could do with that, making him excited and continued to in awe would be a good first impression, like what Chief Bannen said to me back then.

“Claude, do you know how we accept applications for Royal Elite Knights?”

“A little. A merchant told me when I was on my way here.”

“Good. Perhaps I could add on what the merchant told you then.”

Captain Rizzou placed the documents in front of me. He took a deep breath as he continued his words.

“You see Claude, there are three conditions we will accept someone to enter the Royal Elite Knights, or Elites for short. First, you must be of royal blood. Or recommended by the member royalties or nobles. We have eight Main Noble Houses including the current Noble House that rules the Kingdom, House of Elmsdor and also many other minor nobles; so you must be recommended by them or are of their lineage. Most Elites are recommended and few are of noble blood.”

Captain Rizzou paused for a while and then raised up two fingers.

“Secondly, you must have proof of your skills. What it means is that you have the skills, talent and aptitude for combat – either physical or magical or both. We are not nurturers, meaning we don’t teach you the basic, but rather we are the ‘sharpener’, where we sharpen and enhance your skills to a higher level through missions and quests which we will give you. However, I’ll get on that later.”

“And third, you must use all of your skills, talents and aptitude where it matters most – in the battlefield or similar. There’s no point if you have other-worldly skills, talents and aptitudes if you only choose to keep it for yourself.”

“Do you understand me so far, Claude?”

I nodded.

“Looks like you have passed all three requirements we would need from our would-be knights. I have processed all your information needed here, so you can read the summary later. However, for now, I want you to know, what Elites are all about. Got a moment for that?”

“Sure, I would love to hear that.”

“Good, I like you, young man. We, the Elites have one client only which is the nobilities and the royalties of Elsigardia. We live and die to protect them. We will receive missions and quests from them, ranging from escort missions, personal bodyguard duties, a reconnaissance mission or even perhaps being a state representative if you have enough diplomatic tact.”

Captain Rizzou paused for a moment, taking a sip of his tea before he continued.

“Now, to others, perhaps to you initially, thought that we are nothing but lackeys to the rich and powerful. Unfortunately, serving and becoming personal knights to the royalties, the nobles and this kingdom’s leaders are seemed over the top by most of our peers. Though the public may understand our roles and responsibilities, it is our peers that are looking down upon us.”

“I don’t understand, Captain Rizzou. What do you mean by that?”

“Time will tell you, Claude. So, are you in or are you out?”

I paused for a moment unsure what he meant by that.