Training ended without anything else really exciting happening, to me at least. My friends were still an obstacle behind me but getting much better. I didn't let them know how far ahead I was quite yet as the surprise tomorrow would be spectacular.

We did our laps, had our bath and then went to dinner. Of course I would have my next attempt at figuring out these papers as well, but the progress was frustratingly slow.

For some reason I felt extra famished again and my food was quickly wolfed down while Bea and Tom were poking fun at me. I held off for a bit because last time I got second is when the knight wrote my name down..... but I was just too unsatisfied with one meal.

Eventually I gave in and made my way up for another tray and kept the closest knight in my peripheral vision. He shot me a glance and looked at the paper.... and then just kept walking. I quickly grabbed a tray and walked by him to try and catch a peak at the paper on my way back to my friends. I managed to catch what looked like my name, although it was above several other, presumably, names now.

That was odd. I was sure I didn't see him writing anything down.

I sat down and kept an eye on the other knights for a bit. No one else glanced my way. Deciding tonight was a bust as well I just got back to my food and the conversation with Bea and Tom.

We were having a great back and forth, thanks in part to my language deciphering getting quicker and quicker, when suddenly Bea clammed up and looked down at her tray, followed swiftly by Tom.

"What's got your tongues all of a sudden guys? Nothing I said was that embarrassing was it?" I joked.

Suddenly there was a cough behind me, which I promptly spun around to find.... the squire guy from when I first woke... Samuel I think it was. He had a tray of food in his hand, and a fairly serious look on his face. Then again, he always looked serious when I saw him. Maybe that was just his face.

"They are probably just a bit shy around a full squire young William. My apologies for the intrusion." he opened the conversation with a sentence that was just way too professional. He probably needs to lighten up a bit I think.

"Oh, hey Samuel! Don't mention it, its not a big deal. Hey I see you have some food too, want to join us for a bit? Plenty of room here at the table!" I replied back in good humor, determined to get this guy to open up.

I felt a swift kick to my shin by... Bea I think the direction came from. Glancing at her I saw she was still looking at her tray, but scowling this time. Yes, that was the likely culprit.

He quirked an eyebrow at me and the tiniest smirk was there for just an instant. "I believe I'll take you up on that, though just for a bit. Truthfully I came to check on you young William." He did have the slightest concern in his voice as he sat down, so I guess he was being honest there.

"Me? How come? Oh! You mean from the other day? Yes of course, I bounced back real quick no worries! Ahhh, and my manners are terrible, sorry! These here are my friends Beatrice and Thomas! You're right that they're a bit shy right now, but not usually! Guys, this is Samuel, the squire from the other day I told you about!" I was hoping maybe getting some introductions out of the way would loosen my friends up, but quite the contrary happened and they got even stiffer than they were!

"Yes... well, nice to meet you two." Samuel said almost offhandedly.

He glanced their way and they both jumped, nodded and said in unison "NicetomeetyousquireSamuel!" I kind of just stared at them, they were acting so fearful but Sam here is a good guy. So strange, they were already back to staring at their tray of food.

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Sam gave a slight chuckle, but then turned back to me. "Back to my purpose here, are you sure you're feeling fine young William? Our spar got... intense at the end I believe. You were definitely a little, out of it as it were, by the end." He finished and then took a bit of his food, but stayed staring intensely at me.

"Ahh well, honestly I was not myself that day. I practically don't remember anything before waking up in the dorm really! But yeah I'm fully healthy now!" I happily answered.

"That is.... that is good to hear." Sam remarked, and relaxed the tiniest of bits.

We then went on to talk about training and how he said I should be diligent but not to work myself to death. Sam's food disappeared even faster than mine did, meanwhile Bea and Tom just nibbled on their remaining items.

A short while later Sam gathered his things and moved to stand, but I still had not gotten any extra information from him! My friends weren't helping in the slightest.

"Well William, looks like I need to be off and get myself another course. I forgot how... un-filling the meals here were for pages. I believe I should head out and get a more filling course from the squire quarters." Sam said casually while standing.

I swear this Will was born under a lucky star or something. This was exactly what I needed!

"Oh you too? I understand completely. I've had to get a second course a few times myself!" I mentioned, while giving a good-natured chuckle. "Although I got a bit worried when they wrote my name down for it, I thought I was gonna get charged for it!" Another weak chuckle. It was now or never, this was my trump card!

"Oh? You noticed did you? Pay it no mind William. The food here has just a trace amount of mana suffusing it, and writing the names on paper is just a quick indication of those who may be using mana and be closer to their next tier. Its just hard to pinpoint a specific person's tier when there's so many of you crowded together." Sam just casually dropped major bombshells here that I need to process. I need to maintain a friendship with this guy!

"Oh is that all? That's quite a relief, thanks Sam! Hey, just leave your stuff there, I'll take it up for you. Thanks for all the help these past few days!" I reached out and grabbed his tray and slid it under mine. "And don't be a stranger! Come say hey anytime!". The sooner the better in my opinion, I'm sure he's a fountain of knowledge!

I noticed Bea and Tom staring at me, Tom even mouthing something silently. Sorry guys! This is my source to learning more!

Sam raised an eyebrow again, before chuckling softly. "Sure young William. When I have the chance." And with that he walked away from the table.

I waved as he left and followed him with my eyes a bit, before turning back to my friends. Tom still looked shocked but Bea was back to staring daggers at me. Honestly she was way too prickly for her own good. Tom was going to have quite the fight on his hands in the future.

I sighed.

"What's up guys? Ya'll were so quiet the whole time! It was a lot of work trying to keep Sam entertained all by myself!" No use beating around the bush, so I just asked them point blank about the situation.

"That's the squire you challenged? Do you not talk to anyone else here? That's Samuel! He's one of the top ranked squires here in the order, and serves under Knight Robert who everyone thinks will be the next Commander to appear! How could you be so casual with him?" Bea practically shrieked at me, but as softly as she could. Tom was just nodding along off to the side.

"Yeah you mentioned he was near the top the other day, but what do you mean? He's a good guy, very nice, and he's casual with me. That makes it okay in my mind." I casually threw out there with a shrug "Listen, you guys done? We can go relax back on our beds if so."

Bea just stared at me, truly at a loss for words for once. Nice change of pace all things considered. Tom though took another nibble off his food, before sighing and pushing it away.

"Yeah, I think I'm done here Will, my appetite is gone." He looked rather glum about it.

Bea glanced at him, but then her face softened, she too sighed and then nodded. "Yeah, I wouldn't be able to get anything down now. Let's go."

We dropped our trays off and made our way back to the dorm. They were quiet the whole way, but I was okay with that. My mind was racing trying to process all the information Sam just dropped. Mana in the food? That was new. So if I was extra hungry I had used my mana? How did that work? It was apparently not a conscious effort, since I had no idea. Bea and Tom had not mentioned anything like that either.

And they could sense a person's tier? What even did that mean! It seems crowded rooms made it difficult to do, but it was still something that was possible! Is this something I could learn?

I was relieved though. At least my suspicions of this order went down a bit. Seems this paper thing was just a red herring of my own making. At least I could sleep a bit easier tonight.