Darius tried his best to distract himself from the annoying brat in his house by training alone outside. His parents didn't force him inside his house, and though he didn't want to ignore the kid, he had no idea how to interact with him. Darius sat in the corner of the training field, spreading his mana around his body while casting multiple 3rd Circle spells. He liked testing his limits when no one was around to watch him or observe what he was doing. Qi started circulating through his body like thick viscous blood. Ba bump. Ba bump. The spells around Darius grew larger and larger until he heard, "Darius, let's talk."

His spells popped like oversized balloons. "Dad?"

Darien rolled his wheeled chair till he was only five feet away from his son. "Son, you'll be spending a lot of time with your squires. You can't avoid them forever."

Darius scratched the back of his head, "You threw this on me. I'm not good at dealing with others, and the only child I've ever dealt with is Ella. I can handle everything by myself."

"You handle people just fine, Darius. Maybe a little too fine. Caspian, Linda, Tobias, and even Elijah... They all adore you."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Lead. You take care of the people around you, and that's all there is to it. Everything else will come in time."

Darius bit his lip as he looked at his father. "Father, I'll be strong enough to take care of everything alone."

Darien looked at his son with a wry expression, "If you do get that strong son, then having someone friends by your side can't hurt. Anyways I'll be training you for a while. It's time I start teaching you my magic and my spells."

Darius looked confused until a flame whip shot out of his father's hand, wrapping around him. Darius smiled. Earth wrapped around his hands as he wrapped the whip apart. His father knew exactly what to do to cheer him up.

Sweat dripped from the top of Daniel's head as he walked into the Vice Tower Master's office. "Let me test your magical aptitude and talent." Joseph still had his testing crystal on his desk as he called Daniel over. Daniel walked over and slowly as he grabbed it. "Calm yourself. Breathe in and focus on lighting up the Crystal young, Hartright." Daniel focused on the crystal pushing his mana into actively trying to get a reaction. The crystal shone with a brilliant light; as it hummed with green and gray colors mingling together in a maelstrom of mana. The crystal suddenly snapped with a large crack going down the middle. Joseph sighed, "I need to start using medium crystals for these kinds of tests. You talented brats are expensive."

Daniel's eyes nearly burst out of his head. His breathing grew ragged as he jumped for an apology, "Lord Keller! I'm sorry. I didn't try to break the testing crystal, I promise!"

Joseph merely raised an eyebrow before saying, "Whether you did or didn't doesn't matter. It's what happened." He opened up his notebook and wrote something in it. "You pass. You have talent rare even amongst nobles. The chances of finding three more children more talented than you in the next few months are practically zero. I'm going to prepare some paperwork, and you'll be going to the Northwood estate tomorrow along with another candidate."

"Y-yes, sir!" Daniel wiped away the sweat from his brow as he stared at the Vice Tower Master.

"You can leave now. Just ask one of the knights in the halls where the guest rooms are and take this with you." Joseph handed him a badge and waved him away.

As Daniel left the room in a hurry, Joseph placed his hands to his temples and drew a deep breath, "I already have one brat to worry about, and now I'll have 5. Maybe this is what it's like to have kids of your own." With a wistful smile, Joseph looked toward the left side of his office before turning back to his paperwork. His heart is heavy and fave taut. "That door's been closed a long time now. I need to work."

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In a small village right outside of the Capital city of Avia, a scarred knight was packing his bags. "Dad, why do we have to leave?"

"Son, I can't take care of you alone. I can hunt for the village in the future, and we can even grow crops, but..."

"Dad..."

"It's wartime, Rod. I have no idea when I'll be called to the front lines again, and without your mother, I can't take care of you."

"I don't understand?"

"I'm taking a job in the South. We're going to Renee, and I'm taking you to apply for a squire position."

"Squire?"

Vince smiled at his son and said, "You always say you want to be a knight like me? A squire is a knight in training. If your lucky you'll grow up to be a knight for the Lord of Renee, and be a knight just like your old man."

The boy's eyes filled with excitement, "Really! I can be a knight!"

"Well, son, if you really wanted to, I would have put you in a knight academy in Avia when you were of age. This is more direct. The Lord of Renee is a great man, and you'll serve his son. You just have to pass their tests."

Roderick nodded at his father while clenching his fist, "I'll pass, father!"

"Then let's pack up our things. We'll visit your mom's grave before we leave."

The father and son left their home shortly after. They visited their community, and they visited the boy's mother one last time. Who knows how many years it'll be before they'll visit their home again?

In the afternoon of the next day, Darius stood at the front of the Northwood Estate side by side with his father. Aaron stood behind him with his arms behind his back. The boy looked like he was trying too hard to look professional. A carriage slowly pulled into the estates ground and past the guards until it reached the stables. A brunette knight in armor jumped out of the back of the carriage with two children in two. Darius looked at Linda, leading the children up to him and his father. The girl could barely make contact with him, and the boy tried to stand up to the point of tipping over. "Talia, you'll be tested one last time today, and the family will decide whether or not to train you understood."

The girl Talia nodded weakly, afraid that if she said anything she'd be sent back to the brothel house.

"Hartright, you've already passed the test, but if you slack off or do anything to compromise your role you'll be sent home faster than you can blink."

The boy nodded before standing in front of Darius looking him straight in the eyes before saying, "Young Master! I am Daniel Hartright. I am happy to serve as your squire and will protect you from any harm that comes your way. I swear fealty to you and your family and will serve to my best ability." The tall boy only reached Darius' shoulders but bowed his head a full 90 degrees into an uncomfortable position.

Frowning, Darius replied, "Lift up your head. I'm only going to say this once." Darius looked at the three children individually, letting a little bit of his Qi leak out of his eyes, "You three are now my people. If you follow me. I'll take care of you, and if you don't. I won't. It's as simple as that." Darius looked back to a time when he thought of finding an apprentice. He talked about it with Thousand Roses and had delayed it for over a century. Now his hand was forced. How did his friend manage thousands as easily as pouring a pot of tea he'd never understand?

Aaron seemed to roll his eyes slightly while Daniel nodded in response. Darius looked at the shivering Talia with a frown. She saw Darius' expression and desperately tried to speak through her trembling body. "I-I-I..."

Darius walked past Daniel and stood directly in front of the girl. She was so short she barely reached his chest as she looked at him in horror. "Stand up straight and state your business. Never back away from a challenge, and never cower. Cowering does nothing productive. I'll wait." His father sat in his chair nearby without making a noise. He signaled Linda to do the same. She'd almost jumped in to defend the girl, but held off.

Darius waited patiently as the girl gained the courage to speak, "M-My name is Talia. I swear fealty to the y-young master and his family. I will do my b-best!" Looking into her eyes he felt uncomfortable. He recognized something.

"Good. Welcome to my family, Talia. From now on, I'll be taking care of you. I'll be taking care of the three of you. It'll be tough, but I'm sure the three of you can manage." He looked at the two boys before continuing, "There will be no further tests, but one. You three swear fealty. Real fealty. I train you, and you listen. The moment you give me consent. I will never give you three an out. I know the body better than most healers and will be able to tell the effort you all are putting into training. There will be no easy way out. There will be no weakness. Is this understood?"

The three of them didn't hesitate, and all three said, "Yes, young master!"

"Call me, Darius, brat, noble-bastard. I don't care. As long as you are loyal, and listen to commands, you can call me whatever you want."

Toning, down the commander bit, Darius asked, "Would the three of you like to learn magic?"

They all nodded. Excitement was clearly visible in their expressions.

Darius looked at his father and asked, "I'll need a magic instructor for the three of them. I won't be able to train them at all times of the day."

"I can do that, son. Are you sure you don't need further tests?"

"I've made my decision."

Darien smiled, "Have fun."

Darius smiled back, "We will."