“We’ve finished off the revolutionaries here,” Leon explained to Dedric as he looked around at the fallen bodies.

Dedric nodded in appreciation.

“You two have my thanks,” said Dedric.

“Your wounds should be healed now, how are you feeling?”

“I care naught of myself; I fear that Duchess Sofia’s life is at risk,” Dedric stated.

He explained what happened after the revolutionaries took the ambassador and him away.

They were going to take the two of them to one of their bases in the woods before their leaders would come and take over. He couldn’t hear what they would do with Duchess Sofia, but he knew they were going to sell him as a slave or receive a ransom for him. However, on the way, Dedric kept struggling, acting difficult, yelling about releasing him and the Duchess.

Eventually, the revolutionaries became annoyed and tired of having to deal with Dedric and his words. So, they decided to split into two groups. One would escort the Duchess while the other would deal with Dedric. If they could get him to shut up and behave, they would continue to take him. If not, they would rather kill him than to have to keep on listening to Dedric talk and belittle them.

When threatened to shut his mouth, Dedric became louder rather than quieting down. His words grew harsher and struck a chord with the revolutionaries. Quickly, they beat him down to his knees and decided to behead him then and there. However, Leon and Royland came just at the right time and managed to save him.

Dedric felt better and picked himself off the ground. He dusted off the dirt on his trousers and wiped the dried blood from his lips.

“Once again, from a knight under Duchess Sofia, you have my thanks for saving this life of mine.”

“A knight, you say?” Royland raised an eyebrow in question.

Leon was also confused as he looked hesitant at Dedric. He claimed to be a knight, but he looked too young to be one.

Dedric was a bit embarrassed by Royland’s comment and corrected himself.

“An apprentice, to be precise. From the looks of you two, I believe we are one and the same, yes?”

Leon acknowledged him.

“We’re students of Clifton Academy. I am Leon Nightfall and my friend over here is Royland Everette.”

Royland nodded in greeting.

Dedric was surprised, eyes wide open.

“Nightwell?! You mean the very House Nightwell?! Oh, heaven’s look upon me!”

“Ah?” Leon was confused about Dedric’ outburst.

“Please! House Nightwell must help me save the Duchess! I beg of you!” Dedric begged Leon to the point of grabbing his shoulder and shaking them.

“You know where they’ve taken her then?” Royland asked.

Dedric thought for a moment before releasing his hold on Leon’s shoulders.

“…Alas, I do not. I require your aid none the less, lest she is killed!” Dedric was frantic, ready to run through the forest to catch up with the remaining revolutionaries.

“Keep hold of your mind. You said it yourself, it seems they’ll need the Duchess for something. Her life may not be in immediate danger for now,” Leon explained calmly.

“Too much time has passed and the forest here is unending. Our safest choice would be returning to the knight academy, report to the knight captain and see what plans they may have with this.”

Royland agreed, “The royal family and other nobles should be in an uproar now as well. Regrouping and coming up with a strategy would be well in our favor.”

Dedric calmed down after hearing Leon and Royland’s thoughts, “Okay, let’s do as you say.”

---

Thus, the three set off to return to the knight academy. They trailed back to the entrance of the forest where they had tied their horses. By this time, it was becoming night and the group decided to stay by the forest in a clearing. They gathered wood while it was still light out and gathered by the fire during the night.

Royland decided to return to the forest shortly and hunt for any small animals for food while Leon and Dedric stayed by the fire to keep watch over camp and the horses.

Dedric looked uncomfortable and kept glancing at Leon an odd amount of time.

“What’s troubling you, Dedric?” Leon asked. He began to feel uncomfortable from Dedric’s stare and hoped he wasn’t interested in him that way.

“Leon, I have a question to ask of you,” stated Dedric, not breaking his stare.

“Ask away,” Leon asked nervously.

Dedric looked suspicious and his gaze went around himself and then landed in the forest.

“Royland, is he…a noble as well?”

“Hm? Ah. No, he’s not,” Leon was relieved and answered truthfully.

For a very short moment, a look of disgust flashed on Dedric’s face before it returned to normal, but that didn’t go unnoticed by Leon. He was confused by Dedric’s reaction.

“I see…and he is a student of Clifton Academy as well? Perhaps he serves under you and your house?”

‘Ah, I think I understand him now,’ thought Leon.

“He is a student, but he does not serve under me. When he was younger, he was orphaned due to war against the demons. My family decided to take him in. Later, he and I became close friends as we grew up together.”

A look of repugnance spread across Dedric.

“Are you not a son of the noble House Nightwell? Why associate yourself with someone of common birth?” Dedric asked in an arrogant and condescending tone.

Leon temper began to waver when Dedric started to question his friendship with Royland.

“I’d ask you to shut your mouth, Dedric. Yes, Royland is of common birth, but he is no less a man than you or I.”

Dedric couldn’t believe what he heard. A noble being friends with a commoner? Such a thing was looked down upon by him. He thought lower of Leon but didn’t let it show in fear of him losing his benefactor’s aid.

“I see,” he said, finishing the conversation.

It was silent between the two of them. The sound of fire crackling and an owl’s call from the forest was all that could be heard. The earlier conversation left the two with a bad taste in their mouths. But both wanted to uphold their ideals and beliefs.

Rustle. Rustle.

Moments later, a rustling could be heard from a nearby bush. Leon and Dedric became vigilant and looked towards the source of the sound. From the bush, Royland emerged carrying two dead hares. While he was out in the forest, he made a couple of traps that managed to capture two hares quickly. Once caught, he quickly killed them and made his way back to camp.

When he returned, he noticed that the atmosphere between Leon and Dedric was a little awkward.

“Hmph, you’ve brought some food, have you?” said Dedric in a condescending manner.

“Ah, yes, I did,” Royland replied a bit off guard.