Chapter 32

The Bewitched Knight

The senior looked at Hans in disbelief and was eager to tell the story himself. Hans humoured him, but the elder boy asked first.

You really don't know, or are you just messing with me?

Hans faked an expression of his distaste and said to him,

It's your choice not to tell.

The senior didn't get a straightforward answer, yet he started the story.

After setting a record of reaching grade 80 at the mere age of 17, he was asked to go to Indu for a mission. And then, he fell in love with the future high priestess there but received protests from everyone, including the lady herself. He had no proper status to pursue her. He changed his fate after being discovered by Concordia, a commoner born in Grimgar Street, but being the youngest Dominion Knight was still not enough for the Yudwin Temple to accept him.

The senior asked him,

Do you know why everyone respects and aspires to be like him?

Hans shook his head in denial and the senior replied to him,

Like most people, he came here as a commoner, upon reaching adulthood, became a noble of the Grimgar kingdom and married the most beautiful and unapproachable woman of the time. And he achieved all that through sheer hard work, without any bloodline or talent.

  His story was motivating enough to inspire anyone, and Hans had to admit it. He became more and more curious as to why he was called a bewitched knight, so he asked the over-willing senior,

The senior laughed proudly and said,

It is said that Lady Sierra and the Temple rejected him several times, but he never stopped pursuing her and when Indu's rebels stood against the Temple and nearly killed his self-proclaimed lady. He snapped and kept the rebel army at bay for two straight days and did not allow a single man to pass him without rest.

He paused and added,

That battle is called the battle of bewitched knights, and so is his epithet.

  Hans never thought this was the story, it was hard for him to believe that Rudolph was once an impulsive man who fought for a woman without thinking. He inwardly thought that Samson must have inherited this from him on a higher level. Hans wanted to avoid the same scenario, not knowing what his future had in store for him.

  On the other hand, he was laughing inside, imagining his grandpa all sorts of stuff like waging war for granny felt cringy and on seeing the senior’s face, this does not seem to be the end of the story.

The senior added more,

He led the Templar Knights for three consecutive years to crush the rebellion in the name of love for Lady Sierra. He also reached a grade of 90 in those years. After he had done so much for the temple, they had to accept him, and even Lady Sierra fell in love with him. This is the tale of the bewitched knight, so you better not forget it, newbie.

  Hans felt the story was exaggerated, but it has to feel like a larger-than-life thing to become an inspiring tale. He lived with both of the main characters of the story, so it was hard for him to believe every detail, but it was a fact that Rudolf still held the record for being the youngest warlord in history, and Samson, even being a genius could not break that record.

  His grandfather had every right to be idolised. He got everything a student can dream of, power, respect and beauty that everyone envies. After that, Hans did not say much, leaving the senior in silence, who wanted to tell the child many more things but was forced to keep quiet because he was not asking anything more.

  In no time, both reached the Grand Hall. Hans was the last to check in and someone else guided him to his allotted seat. When Hans made his entrance, people were staring at him, inspecting him to see if this boy was worthy of sitting in the front rows reserved for recommended students.

  The hall seating was divided into two sections, with the first two rows reserved for recommended students who did not have to participate in the rigorous selection process, so the kids sitting there were absolute monsters in terms of talent.

  Those who passed the entrance examination were seated from the third row onwards. The recommended students for these kids were their future goals and obstacles.

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  But they were finding it hard to believe that a small and younger boy was sitting in the front rows. His late arrival felt like a disrespect to their hard work and, unbeknownst to him, many had already marked him as an enemy.

  There were over 200 students in the hall and they were all checking him out. If Hans had shown his fears now, it would have been over for him, so he arrogantly looked at them with his ManaVision.  

  He walked proudly in front of them with a bold gait, glancing at each one with derision that put everyone down, teasing them all the more, and reached his seat. He haughtily sat down in his position on one knee, placing the other.

  Hans was doing this to establish a fact among the students that he was at the top of the food chain here because what he saw with ManaVision was unbelievable in his eyes. Recommended students were cut from a different cloth, especially in the talent department. So he finds the need to show them that he was different too.

  He was wondering what kind of food these children had eaten to make them so terrifying. He was in deep thought, but all the students' attention turned to the main stage, where suddenly a green-clothed woman appeared.

She declared,

We have received the news that your new deans have successfully taken their positions. Aren't you chicks lucky?

A silence followed by hootings ran in the entire hall and the addressing lady made everyone silent with her mana-enhanced voice.

Let's start the initiation ceremony.

AT CONCORDIA BOARD HALL

  After Hans left with his assigned guide, another one, a higher official, welcomed all three of them and asked them to proceed to the Board hall, where the directors were waiting for them. Rudolf walked next to the officer, and the two women silently followed him.

  It didn't take them long to reach the Board hall. The officer congratulated him on the appointment and asked Vanessa to wait outside with him. The husband and wife entered. It was a large room with a semi-circular table. Rudolf was familiar with this palace. Looking at the very back, his eyes fell on the high seat, which always seemed empty, but today a person's shadow was sitting on it.

  Rudolf became surprised because the chairman, a mystery in Concordia, was present to welcome them. The eight seats below them were also not empty. Today, everyone was present, which was not the case every time.

The first person to speak was a stoic lady,

It's good to see you again, old man.

Rudolf turned to the familiar voice and replied,

I wish to say the same but…

  Sierra interrupted Rudolf before he screwed this up on the first day, and the old knight stopped his words in the middle. The lady continued to speak, but she got cut off in the middle by a burly voice. The interrupting person wore a black robe with golden embroidery and his ceremonial copper mask.

Welcome back, Sir Rudolf. I was a big fan of yours in my younger days. I was not a Concordia student, but I always considered you my senior.

  Rudolf didn't know this person. Many things had changed in Concordia during his absence and this new director climbing the ladder was also one of those things. He politely asked the dark-robed director,

And who might be you?

Ah pardon me, I am Walter Jimenez, grade 90, a warlord knight of the dark aura.

Oh, so you are the professor that my acquaintance talked about.

Walter showed his surprise with his voice. The thought of Rudolf knowing his name surprised him. He asked the newly appointed dean of knights,

And from whom you have heard of me, sir Rudolf?

Vanessa...

Ah, I thought so. I have heard that her affliction got treated the day lady Sierra showed up. It's great to have her in our Concordia with you and the former high priestess, too.

Rudolf said with a smile,

Since you know this much, then you must hold the position of director of information, right?

Yes, guilty as charged.

Walter and Rudolf were dancing to the same tune, and Rudolf started to like this person. Walter asked Rudolf,

Did you decide which house your grandson will go to?

All the good feelings vanished the moment he mentioned Hans, Walter also felt the harmony disorienting, so he corrected quickly.

I am also the current Housemaster of Prophets. I want to have that kid in my house. If you allow me, I could pull some strings.

Rudolf asked in discomfort,

Isn't that a house where high-nose arrogant nobles go?

Your child is not exactly a low-profile person either, sir Rudolf, and I hope he will continue the tradition.

Let fate take its course, director Walter.

As you wish, sir, but please call me Walter.

Then Walter, let me ask you, why do you want him to be in your House?

You see, his father (Samson), more than once saved my bacon. I just wanna make sure he will have no problems here.

The lady director, who got cut off early, said in a hurry,

Concordia doesn't do favours. He is not entering as a staff ward.

***