Chapter 10
You have learned a new skill: Discipline Beginner Level 1 (0%)
By hitting someone on their shoulders or back raises morale by 50% and they become more focused increasing their Concentration by 20% for 5 minutes. Stacking the effect of Discipline is possible but has an increased failing rate. Discipline might fail on the first use as well depending on who it is used on.
In event of failure morale is decreased by 100% and the subject gains the Silence status for 40 minutes. (Silence makes you unable to use any active skills.)
[WHAM!]
“-and as I was saying the use of shields and spears have shown time and time again to be the best choice of weapon for a group of Knights on defence. With this I guess I can control my own thoughts, wouldn't you say so Sir Henkel?”
“True. You don't even flinch any more from being hit. You have come a long way and you can go back to trying to become a Knight and my work is done so I will say my farewells.”
“Thank you Sir Henkel, really. You have become my benefactor and I don't know how on earth I will ever show my gratitude.”
“Daniel's right, Sir Henkel! What you've done is unimaginable. To help out someone you barely know deserves a true Knight's honour.”
“Adam speaks the truth. For starters why don't you follow with us back home and I will introduce you to my Mother and Father.”
“I'll gladly accept the invitation but I must come back to you in a few hours as I must keep a promise I made previously.”
“That is no problem we will go to the academy in the meantime and you will find us there.”
The promise Henkel had to keep wasn't to anyone in RR but to his cyber butler. He just didn't want AL to nag at him again for messing up the schedule and right now was the perfect time for an extended work-out and physiotherapy session.
***
“Nurse Christine!”
“Yes Doctor?”
“Do you remember the patient Mr. Felsen?”
“I don't know?”
“Patient Henkel Felsen?”
“Ah Henkel! Yes, yes I know him.”
“It has come to my attention that he is playing this new Virtual Reality game which enables people to play by just lying down or sitting without the need to move any part of your body. Is this correct?”
“Yes, it's amazing isn't it?”
“Amazing...How do you feel after playing for an extended period of time?”
“Feel? The rush is incredible and I'm happier than before I might say but I have been working out more when I don't play.”
“Yes. It has been what soon over a week you started playing?”
“Yes but Henkel has played longer than I have.”
“I am aware. Thank you, I hope you will join me at his next meeting in a few days.”
“Let me check my schedule.”
***
Henkel reconnected and went to the front desk inside the academy, it was the second time he visited and this time he was sure to get what he wanted.
“Excuse me I have come to see Daniel and Adam, we have an appointment.”
“Sir Daniel and Sir Adam are too busy right now please come back later.”
“Would you be so kind and tell them Henkel has come and that he has finished his business.”
“Henkel? You are Henkel?”
“Yes.”
“Oh forgive my indiscretion Sir Henkel. Sir Daniel had told me you are expected. I will go and ask someone to bring them here right away.”
“Thank you.”
He didn't know if it would take long so he sent a message to check to see if Ru-Lan was online. No response, so she might be busy or offline. But he didn't have the time to speculate as Daniel entered the reception room with Adam at his back followed by a large crowd of young boys and girls who were all talking in each others mouths.
“We are sorry but we have to leave now as I have to report back to the house.”
“C'mon people. You'll get to see Daniel till he graduates, give him some space.”
“Unfair!”
“It's always Adam!”
“Buh!”
Henkel was greeted formally by Daniel and Adam so as to show the others that he was someone worthy of respect and admiration even though he was weaker than them and not of noble birth. The three of them left the academy and took a carriage to Daniel's home. It was an interesting experience riding inside a carriage but it wasn't any normal carriage as this one was reserved for nobles. Even though it was reserved for nobles it's exterior wasn't very glamorously decorated and instead had a coat of arms reserved for Knights. It was quite comfortable inside and it was almost impossible to feel the bumps in the road as the cushions were soft and thick.
While Adam and Daniel talked about the academy and other things Henkel sat quietly observing the passing sights of the town while listening in on the boys conversation. They travelled outside the centre of town into a district with houses as big as apartment buildings and fences the size of towers. Everything was decorated in white marble and statues, it really felt as if normal people had no place being there.
“That mansion with the high tower is where I live and Daniel lives just next to it in a mansion that is 5 times bigger than mine, though mine is taller.”
Adam's next to, didn't really accurately describe it as the gardens stretched by at least a mile and the fence of Daniel's family property wasn't yet visible. It took 10 minutes to get to the main gate of Daniel's home and from there you could make out a large house some distance inside.
“That sure is quite a way to travel every day, don't you have a hard time to leave that house?”
“That's not our mansion, it's our servants house.”
“I'm happy you've not grown up into a spoiled child Daniel-boy.”
“A Knight is never spoiled. My childhood was spent mostly outside with occasional lessons on etiquette indoors.”
Following that conversation they talked about their upbringing until they reached the main house. It wasn't a tall building with only 3 floors but it was unbelievably long and wide, easily the size of a few football fields. Waiting in front of the doors stood an army of butlers, maids and Knights in orderly fashion.
“The young master has returned!”
“Welcome master Daniel, your parents have been worried when you didn't return last night. The Mistress is in the dining room.”
“Thank you Charles!”
[GASP!]
The head butler and almost everyone standing in front of the door gasped with their mouths and eyes open so wide it must have hurt. Even the Knights showed a surprised reaction as they all turned their heads to look to the Knight on their left and right then back to Daniel. When Daniel had left the day before his throat had been severely damaged and it was predicted he would never talk again. So you can understand their confusion and surprise when he answered them as if nothing had happened.
The two children casually walked in with Henkel cautiously stepping behind them. The head butler knew who the elderly man with the young master was as he knew what transpired in Daniel's life and that he had previously talked about the stories he was telling. The Knight's tried to stop Henkel from going inside but the head butler gave them a sign as to stop their actions.
It would be a waste to describe the inside and it would be a better choice to just say that it looked very similar to the Versailles palace with walls in gold paint as if someone had melted gold and used it to decorate every nook and cranny of the mansion. It really was ridiculous how wealthy Daniel's family had to be. Inside they were stopped by a maid and she announced their presence to the person behind the lavishly decorated door. The room was humongous and you could easily fit in a whole house inside it and still have room to spare. A beautiful woman in her late thirties sat by a dining room table white as ivory and marble eating something that smelled so delicious it made Henkel's satiety fall below half and he became hungry.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“Venerated Mother, your son has regained the ability to speak. I come before you to inform you of the good news.”
Daniel had just spoken as if it wasn't to his mother but the queen of the kingdom. Henkel quickly bowed slightly and stayed in that position not looking directly at Daniel's mother.
“What nonsense are you speaking of. Since when have you been unable to speak and why is it supposed to be good news?”
Henkel was stupefied. How could a mother speak like that to her own son but Daniel and Adam didn't show any response and turned around and left with Henkel.
“Do excuse my unbecoming behaviour but are you on bad terms with your mother, Daniel?”
“...”
“Ehm, Sir Henkel. It's complicated between them. It seems she doesn't like that Daniel has surpassed his elder brother in terms of ability and she dotes a lot on him which made her resent Daniel.”
“...”
“Daniel! Danny-boy!”
Everyone looked up to the stairs and saw a man that was probably Daniel's Father. He was beaming with happiness and he ran down the stairs jumping the last 10 or so steps and landed in front of Daniel whom he proceeded to hug and shower with kisses.
“On the other hand do Daniel's Father dote on him the most as you can see.”
[kiss, kiss]
“I missed you so much my son! I have the best priests from the church of Freya coming in the evening and I'm sure they will help y- what is this cute little thing on your shoulder?”
“Thanks to it I can talk again, Father.”
“No! I told you to call me D-A-D-D-Y! WAH! You can talk! You can talk? Praise the goddess! My wishes have come true!”
Daniel's Father was totally out of it, he grabbed Daniel and started to dance with him, all the while he held him above the floor. Daniel's Father was abnormally tall, taller than Henkel by a head who had an above average height. He could with ease lift up Henkel in one arm and the two children in his other arm and dance.
“Father please. Please.”
“Oh I can't contain my happiness, you know I'm just so happy. Have you told your Mother yet?”
“...yes.”
“Good! Now tell me what miracle has made you able to speak again and why doesn't your mouth move when you speak?”
“It's all thanks to Sir Henkel, the Gentleman behind us.”
Daniel introduced Henkel and began to tell everything that had happened. When he got to the part when Henkel had to drain Daniel's blood, fire broke out in the Father's eyes but he calmed down a bit after Daniel reassured him he had been well taken care of.
All the while Daniel was explaining to his his Father, Adam told Henkel a bit about Daniel's situation.
“You have probably noticed that Daniel's family is very wealthy but all the money comes from his Mother's side of the family. She stems from a noble family that is older than most kingdoms royal families and if you trace her lineage you will arrive to the time when Geihar von Arpen ruled as Emperor. You can see why she's so stuck up. Daniel's Father though is not from a well known noble family at all and many people were against them marrying each other. You might think it was a romantic and tragic love story but rumours have it that she only married him because of his strength. Before moving here he was the Captain of the Royal guards in the Kingdom of Haven, which he became at the young age of 22.”
“How strong do you have to be to disregard seniority and experience to become the captain of such important troops?!”
“I've never seen him in battle but people say he knows some strange techniques which made him near invincible. Rumours are just rumours though. Though he left his position when Daniel was born, which might have contributed to his Mother disliking him today.”
Henkel and Adam finished their conversation before Daniel stopped talking and his Father stretched out his hand towards Henkel to thank him for what he had done.
“Thank you Sir Henkel, my whole Family is grateful for what you have accomplished.”
“Please, I do not deserve to be called so formally by such a great Knight as yourself.”
“Ok, Henkel. You may call me Sir.”
“Thank you Sir.”
“Daniel, you have the training excursion in tomorrow. Bring Henkel along. You will go along with them for three weeks. I will make the arrangements.”
“Fath-Daddy. I am sure Henkel has made other appointments.”
“Sir I would be honoured to follow Daniel and Adam into battle.”
“Now Important matters must be attended to now that Daniel is back to normal ad I will have to leave you now.”
Daniel's Father left but not before hugging Daniel for 10 seconds and on his way out he patted Adam's head. Immediately after we lost sight of him a noise from across the hall was heard. It was directed at Daniel from a man in his twenties.
“So the disabled kid is back! Still hanging out with that neighbour kid.”
“Remelus! Sorry to disappoint you but there is nothing wrong with me.”
“So I've seen. You've had to rely on some unknown Summon, tell me how long can you hold maintain it?”
“I don't-”
“Ehm! Sir Daniel need not tell you such trivial things, we wouldn't want to bore you.”
“Who the hell are you, old man!”
“Excuse me, my name is unimportant for someone of your stature.”
“Damn right you are. Well whatever I've got a job to do.”
“Shady work again?”
“Shut your mouth neighbour boy.”
Daniel's brother stormed away and Daniel lead the duo to his room or rather his part of the gigantic mansion. He had a training hall, bedroom, dining room and a balcony the size of his bedroom. There had already been served dinner on the table and the three sat together and enjoyed the meal.
“I'm sorry that my Father forced you to go on this three week long trip with us.”
“That is no problem child, I would never have gotten the opportunity otherwise if your Father had not allowed me. Will you tell me the details of the excursion?”
“The graduating class leaves for a trip to the south, we travel through the plains then on to the vast sand dunes till we reach the ocean then we take a ship back. We are actually taking rations to soldiers stationed by the sea that ward of pirates from the harbour. The instructors told us the monsters we will be facing are at the same level as the top students and if nothing unexpected happens there will not be too strong monsters. Kobolds have been sighted this time of year between the sand dunes and plains and other monsters that make their home there.”
Henkel knew that Kobolds were monsters of level 20 and up from the various conversations he had heard in the café and the south plains had plenty of boars, deer and hyenas. But the sand dunes were a mystery to Henkel as no one voluntarily travelled there because nothing green ever grew in the sands and people would rather take a boat or go by the seaside instead. To Henkel it didn't matter what level the monsters were because he was still only level 1.
***
“Henkel, hello are you there?”
“...”
“Hello! This is Ru-Lan here.”
Henkel was in deep thought thinking of tomorrow and worrying he wouldn't be able to complete the quest he had gotten from the Information broker to find out about the archaeological expedition that would begin in a bit over 3 weeks. If he didn't find any information this night then he would have maybe a day or two after the trip to the south.
“DARLING!!”
“Wha-who-why-Christine?”
“I told you to call me Ru-Lan, Henkel!”
“Who's Darling?”
“Well you didn't answer so I just blurted something out to catch your attention. It worked didn't it? So are you busy, want to meet up in the café?”
“Meeting is all right but I'm in a hurry to find something and won't have time to sit around.”
“So it's a date then? Great! Should I meet you in the café and we'll go?”
“I'll be there soon, if you come earlier than me have a cup of tea on my tab.”