The next morning, on the way to the city of Avigona, Lucas and Hector's horses walked side by side while their masters chatted. The two men were dressed in long black hooded capes to prevent anyone from recognizing them.

asked the former captain suddenly.

the young man answered indifferently.

he concluded.

the young man answered, smiling slightly.

he retorted.

Hearing these words, the young knight's face turned red like a ripe tomato.

he lied, avoiding Hector's gaze.

asked the former captain with an amused smile.

he remarked with a laugh.

Lucas lost all his means, finding no valid reply to respond to his master's teasing.

Hector added, smiling affectionately.

Arminel pulled on the reins of his horse to bring it much closer to Lucas's before putting his hand on the latter's shoulder.

asked the young man with a sad smile.

he asked curiously.

The young man remained silent for a long moment, staring at his horse's coat.

Arminel wondered.

he muttered, clutching his horse's reins tightly.

Noticing this, Arminel heaved a small sigh before displaying a very big smile.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

Two days later, the Imperial Knights who had gone on a mission to Avigona were finally back at the palace.

Once inside, Matthew and Eric went to the emperor's office first. They found him accompanied by Duke Lobelia and Count Taliny.

they greeted, bowing.

the emperor said smiling.

Matthew said.

asked Eric.

Arthur explained. .

Eric wondered.

Angus added.

asked the young Lobelia.

Edgar replied.

Matthew asked.

Angus replied.

asked Eric.

wondered the young knight with burgundy hair.

Angus replied.

Eric suggested.

Edgar explained.

Arthur said.

the two knights replied, bowing before leaving the room.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

At the beginning of the afternoon, after having taken a bath, getting changed and having taken his lunch, Eric went to the library of the palace. Once he entered the huge room, he saw in the corner a young woman with long honey-colored hair that was turning her back to him.

She was wearing a pretty dark green, long-sleeved velvet dress with a pair of low-heeled black boots.

he whispered, an affectionate smile on his face.

He slowly walked towards her without making a sound. She still had her back turned, immersed in a book she had in her hand. Coming up behind her, he smirked as he looked over her shoulder at the book she was carrying.

he muttered.

The girl turned around abruptly, completely taken by surprise hearing his voice.

she exclaimed, smiling warmly.

she said, checking that he had no apparent injuries.

he whispered.

The young woman twiddled her thumbs nervously, staring at the ground.

she revealed, looking him straight in the eye.

Eric smiled as he listened to her sweet words. His heart started pounding as his cheeks flushed red.

The young woman nodded before taking two other books which she put on the table nearby. She sat down and invited Eric to do the same.

he asked, curious.

she replied enthusiastically.

he added with a laugh.

she corrected, smiling affectionately at him.

The young girl explained to the knight all what she had learned to the slightest detail. The latter gazed at her with wonder for several minutes, no longer listening to what she was saying to him.

he whispered suddenly.

The girl stopped talking and froze in place, her eyes wide with surprise.

she said hesitantly, her face very red with embarrassment.

she whispered.

With these words, the young girl smiled shyly before resuming reading her books. Although deep down, she knew she wasn't going to be able to focus at all.

══════ ∘◦❁◦∘ ══════

Around midnight, Lucas and Hector took the kidnapped mercenary to an abandoned hut outside the city of Avigona before tying him up to a chair.

Lucas remarked.

The mercenary began to move slowly as he woke up. He groaned in displeasure once fully awake.

he exclaimed in rage.

Lucas walked over to him and removed his mask to reveal a completely disfigured face. There was more bones than flesh on it.

declared the mercenary, laughing like a maniac.

Lucas looked at him with a blank expression on his face before throwing a very hard punch in his face that silenced him on the spot.

the former captain said.

The latter moved slowly towards the criminal and came dangerously close to his face, giving him a defiant look.

he ordered.

Hector put his hand on the mercenary's head and squeezed it hard. A blue light emanated from his hand and was absorbed by the criminal's head which made him cry out in pain.

he ordered coldly.

he growled trying to resist.

he asked to test if his hypnosis works.

he answered reluctantly.

Hector added with a smirk.

Lucas questioned coldly.

Arminel insisted, leaning forward towards him.

he replied, completely out of breath.

Lucas asked again.

he exclaimed in pain as he tried to resist the hypnosis.

The young captain strangled him with one hand, forcing him to look him straight in the eyes.

he threatened mercilessly.

he insisted.

he replied, shaking with fear and pain.

Lucas whispered.

The young knight released his grip on the criminal's neck and moved away from him a little before taking his sword out and stabbing it through the mercenary's heart, killing him instantly.

he muttered hatefully.