With a healthy body, Daiden eased into his new armour set. He felt comfortable stretching his arms and legs out wide. He twisted to the sides for his hips, and his fingers to test for mobility. With a deep breath, he felt his chest expand and recede without difficulty. He smiled.

Daiden observed the area around his shoulders next, rounded and tapered to a point, outward on both ends, and with a sharp and short antler on either side. The design neutralized a slightly heavier than normal breastplate, exposed to allow for greater dynamic motion. He wore greaves with several curved spikes, attached near the bottom, shaped like a claw. On the inside, he tapped on a well-regulated and thin hide, to offer some cover on the exposed ends. He remembered Kir smiling at the sight of him in his armour, for the first time. Daiden felt happier in that moment. He later had his hair trimmed short as well, on the sides, with some volume in the centre. It added to his sense of pride about joining the military.

“You look sharp despite that ornate-looking armour,” remarked a familiar voice. “Well, I suppose it does have some functional use.”

“Well met, Lord Zane!” said Daiden, excitedly, now accustomed to Mioveroldian greetings. “I’m quite excited for today.”

Zane waved the enthusiasm aside and marched at a slow pace to the outskirts of Mutuba Village, with Daiden merely a step behind. They routed to the east side of the village, away from the eyes of anyone without combat potential. At the entrance, Daiden heard whispers at first, and then chatter. It rung in his ears like a buzz. In time, he reached a gathering of more than fifty people, from near, but different parts outside the Sea of Trees.

Most of the trainees lulled into a state of silence in that moment, at the mere sight of the Lord of Fire. They swallowed back a lump of dry saliva with a loud gulp, fixating on the blacksmith at first, and then the younger individual behind him.

“It’s great that I found the time to meet you before my departure to the Capital City, Valaris,” said Zane, with a pleasant expression. Amidst the silence, his voice reached the ears of everyone present. “This is Daiden Lost. You could call him my grandson of sorts; he was adopted as a child, when sick.”

The trainees mostly gasped at the revelation. They held their mouths in haste, hoping for more to follow. Zane ignored the reaction, without pause, and added, “I’ve also formed a bond with the child. Be sure to take care of him. No special treatment, of course.”

Daiden noticed it return then, the chatter – louder than it had been before. His eyes fell on Valaris next, a middle-aged man in appearance. He walked with a disciplined gait, arms behind his back, well-built and neat. His short hair bristled a little, black in colour, stiff, and grey around the temples. He wore a blue, cloth robe paired with boots and gloves, with goldwork around the sleeves. Daiden felt compelled to stare into the patterned embroidery, absorbed by the presence of a strange aeter aura. He snapped back to reality when the Senior Knight raised a fist to quieten the crowd.

Valaris whispered his next words, addressing Zane. “You needn’t have put on a show. What is he, really?”

“He is my grandson, Valaris,” said Zane, with a shrug. “The boy was kept secret for the safety of everyone around him, a survivor of aeter toxicity. Just keep an eye out on him for me, will you?”

“You outrank me, Lord Morgul,” said Valaris. “I can hardly deny the request.”

“It’s merely a suggestion,” said Zane. “Don’t fret.”

Daiden stifled a laugh, amused by the banter between the two elders in front of him. They voiced their words with serious expressions, but for the benefit of those around them. After an audible sigh, Valaris shifted his gaze to address Daiden for the first time.

“It’s always a pleasure to meet someone strong-willed,” said Valaris, kindly, in reference to the story about the aeter toxicity. “What do I call you?”

Daiden hurriedly introduced himself in attention, accustomed still to his habits from the Earthen Realm. He shrank when Valaris burst into laughter at the sight.

“That’s a good name,” said Valaris, honestly. He then turned to Zane and added, “Rest assured that I’ll train the boy well. But you’ll have to pray he passes the test.”

“I hardly expected you to cheat the results on my behalf, Ser Valaris,” snorted Zane. “You know I’m not that kind of a person.”

“It doesn’t matter if you are though,” said Valaris, reiterating his stance on the matter. “The boy will still need to pass on his own.”

“I don’t expect any special treatment, Ser Valaris,” interjected Daiden, with a soft voice. “I’m not that kind of a person either.”

Valaris stared at the younger individual, in a trance. He eased to a smile, and then a laugh soon after. “Right, right. My apologies for having judged you as such.”

***

Daiden walked away from the two older men with several questions on mind. He wondered more about the Senior Knight, his appearance especially. Valaris reflected a casual presence, despite an otherwise stern demeanour. But Daiden fixated on the clothing instead, his first experiencing a soldier of worth without armour in Mioverold.

“He’s a Nis, Daiden Lost,” said a cheery voice. “I overheard you introducing yourself to Ser Valaris. Sorry. It’s a pleasure to meet you! I’m Rollo Relic.”

Daiden felt the rush of something malicious seep into his bones, invasively. He shivered when faced with the young soldier, dressed for combat – in armour, not unlike his own, and with eyes and hair of a silver colour. It disarmed him somehow. He held his legs in secret to hide a tremor and watched the latter approach with a calm expression. When nearer, Daiden noticed his heart ease away from the animosity, abruptly.

“Am I that suspicious?” asked Rollo, halting his approach. He tilted his head to one side, with a smile, and continued without missing a beat. “Relax, relax! I’m friendly by nature, and besides, you have nothing to lose. Just look around you.”

“What do you mean?” asked Daiden.

Rollo swept his arm in a circle, without thought. Daiden raised an eyebrow at the gesture, but followed, nonetheless. He stiffened at the sight. Eyes, everywhere. They bore into him with envy and malice, feigning smiles as a mask to cover everything wrong. With a loud gulp, he instinctively stepped towards Rollo.

“Why are they doing this?” asked Daiden, with a slight stammer.

“Isn’t it obvious?” said Rollo, with a shrug. “You’re Lord Mogul’s grandson. They’re jealous, or rather, they hate that you may receive an unfair advantage.”

“But that’s not the case!” said Daiden, in protest.

“You don’t have to worry about me,” said Rollo. “I’m standing here, aren’t I? And besides, I think it’s rather petty that the trainees here lack any faith in their own skills.”

Daiden tapped on his chest immediately, taking in a deep breath. He exhaled to a state of calm and smiled at Rollo. He stretched his arm out apologetically and said, “Sorry I behaved all weird when you were just being nice. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Rollo Relic!”

“Well, he passed the test, so I ought to be happy anyway,” thought Rollo, meeting Daiden’s hand in a firm handshake. “To have sensed malicious aeter despite the wall of a friendly exterior…ah, this should be a fun stay. I wonder what Noah’s assessment would have been for Daiden; matter for another time, I suppose. I just hope he’s eating right.”

“Rollo?” said Daiden, suddenly, breaking the Relictan Prince from thought. “Everything okay?”

Roland Lar Relicta smiled, more as a Duke and Prince to his people, and a little at the reward of having made a new friend. He reeled into the skin of Rollo once more, and gushed with eagerness. “Yes, yes. We’re going to be the best of friends!

“Ah, you also don’t know what a Nis is. Nothing wrong with lacking in knowledge. We’re all here to learn, after all! Let me tell you all about it.”

A little overwhelmed, Daiden stuttered a laugh and nodded along to the suggestion.