A week passed at Vostrim Castle.

Alexander and Schenk spent most of the time in the conference room with their advisors and deputies. Aquila and Cassius were really excited about the mission when Faust told them all about it.

“Long time away from home? I don’t have a home. My home is with you guys.” Aquila grinned at his three comrades. Cassius grinned.

“Man, we signed up for the military. I don’t expect to get home anytime soon. Antioch here we come!” his eyes sparkled.

They spent the week getting their knife, spear, and close combat skills to a higher level with Bronn and a few other knights who trained with them. When Faust’s friends saw how he fought and moved their mouths dropped open.

They could not keep up with him at all anymore. Their skills weren’t high enough to compensate for his superior speed and agility. No matter the discipline he defeated his comrades.

Aquila was especially grumpy since he had always taken great pride in his skills with the knife. While his technique was still better than Faust’s, speed mattered a lot more in knife fighting than with other weapons.

Faust could see his opponents’ movements as they happened and react to them instead of relying on his instincts. Against weaker opponents that worked, but the knights of the Companion Cavalry still bested him using their skills and experience.

Everyone marveled at Faust’s improvements as he got used to his new constitution and learned a lot during only this single week with the Companions.

‘They are truly elite. Vitus could never teach me so much within just a week. Their swordplay and skills are beyond anything I have seen before.’ Faust marveled. Only Schenk and Lucon could qualify for the Companion Cavalry out of all the soldiers on the castle.

After this week of training, the time for the meeting has come. Schenk called every participant into the great hall. Alexander, Titus, Bronn, Faust, Leona, Cassius, Aquila, and a knight they hadn’t seen before. He was also from the Companions and his name was Ronan. He had long brown hair and a firm facial expression. His beard was short and bushy.

His eyes mustered all of the young soldiers before him, his gaze lingering on Faust and Aquila a bit longer than on the others when they arrived. He nodded at them. They all stood around the table before them.

Faust could feel nearly all gazes converge on him and he gulped. Then Alexander coughed and all attention went to him. Leona silently squeezed Faust’s hand and quickly retracted it again. They exchanged a reassuring, brief smile.

“Sirs, this meeting will be the mission briefing I have worked out with Titus, Ronan, and Androcles. You will depart in two days. We will explain the details of your mission now.” The general took a deep breath and rolled out a map on the table. It showed the Dukedom of Argorus.

On the east was the sea while two thirds of the map were covered in land. Rhodusium was in the middle of the landmasses and Vostrim castle on the very south. All the way to the east, past several smaller cities and Earldoms, lay the sea. And only a short distance off the coast there was an island.

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On the island was a golden emblem. It showed a golden scale. Next to it, in beautiful letters stood its name. The map was something Faust had never seen before. He marveled at the geography on it and it took him some time to initially orient himself on it.

Cassius’ eyes sparkled when he saw Antioch. He seemed quite obsessed with this city. Aquila was as calm as always.

The young Argorus continued his explanation.

“As you all know… over the last weeks and months a new power has been rising in Antioch. A supernatural one. We have confirmed that much.” Alexander said and nodded at Ronan who stepped forward, addressing everyone.

“Comrades. I am Ronan, one of the Companions. I was stationed in Antioch for the last 5 years with my unit. I was the one to report the incidents that occurred. In the city, about a month ago, we were investigating a warehouse on one of the many piers in the city.” He paused and looked into the faces around him.

“What we did not expect was to encounter a group of assassins with supernatural strength and speed… a person with the frame of a woman,” he pointed at Leona who raised an eyebrow. “managed to defeat 5 of my men in an overwhelming manner. That assassin was so unnaturally fast that we were unable to hit him with any of our weapons. Whatever we tried, we couldn’t catch him.” He paused and let that sink in.

Everyone had turned to look at Faust.

Ronan nodded at Faust.

“Just like you, I have seen you fight… but he was much stronger… he could fight against multiple people at once and successfully escaped after setting aflame the warehouse. We could only rescue our comrades from the flames, but the goods in the warehouse were lost.” He sighed.

“I had an encounter with a masked woman in the same attire. She was even stronger. I don’t know why she left me alive. She could have killed me.” He explained calmly. Talking of his own death didn’t seem to affect the seasoned warrior.

Schenk continued.

“There were several other reports of similar events. But the most striking that forced out hand…” he paused and looked at his liege, Alexander who took the word.

“…was this letter.” He held an envelope in the air.

“In this letter, I am offered a deal by a person calling himself The Venerable.” The noble scoffed.

“Said deal is offering me to share knowledge about this new power with us… in return for military and monetary support.” Alexander threw the envelope on the table dismissively.

“While I don’t trust this person calling himself The Venerable at all… this confirms the existence of said superpowers.” He looked into the round.

“We are absolutely sure, that our nemesis, Tiberius, must have also received an offer. This has turned into a matter much larger than a local conflict. They have the capability to assassinate any of us and build up an army of freaks with inhumane strength… what their intentions are… we can’t be sure.”

Alexander paced up and down the length of the table.

Then he smashed his fist on the table and with a ferocious grin looked at everyone present at the table.

“This has turned into a race. This will decide who will prevail in this power struggle… this is our chance to take the upper hand. I do not know how long this mission will take, I do not know how many of you will return, and I do not know what you might discover…” he paused and looked deep into Faust’s eyes.

‘I can see a ferocious fire burning in Alexander’s eyes. He might be kind, but there is a fire in him… a fire that cannot be quenched.’ Faust thought excitedly. This was the man he wanted to follow. The general’s eyes were still on him.

“Yet I do not doubt, that you will be successful and bring honor and strength to the house of Argorus!” He stood up straight, raised a hand, and formed a fist.

“And I, Alexander Argorus, will never let meritorious actions go unrewarded!” he proclaimed, and Faust’s heart was set on fire.

‘I will uncover this mystery for you Alexander, and I will become your most powerful knight!’ he swore to himself and clenched his fists.

Leona had long since been left in a daze.

‘Will I be able to become strong like that assassin?’ she yearned for it. All her life she had been called weak, and inferior, and was left in the dust by boys the same age as her or even younger. This had to end.

In just two days they would leave for the great city of Antioch.