Franz PoV:

In the Kingdom, there were 20 Knight Order. Every Order was composed of squads. Their number varied from Order to Order. "Squads" or in their official name "Squadrons" were composed of 112 members. To become the member of the Order, a man had to pass an entrance exam. The exam had two parts, practical and theoretical. The practical exam included horse riding, freestyle fighting, survival in unknown land and test of will. Theoretical exam tested participant strategy sense, which means that it was a simple war game. The higher the level the higher your ranks was the bigger enemy you had to face. At the last level, you had the role of the general. After passing the exam you had two ways.

The first way, you could go straight to the Order as a henchman which was lower than private and climb your rank from the bottom. Only a few took that way because as a henchman you had to buy your own armor, you were only given a helmet and sword and you had to survive for 3 to 4 years on a low wage, It depended on how many battles you were in and how experienced you were, if you survived you were clear to join, but you also needed an approval of other privates from the squad that you would join. To earn their recognition henchman usually had 3 things to do.

First, fight with one of them to prove oneself ability, it was only a formality because if you survived three years as henchman it meant you know how to fight.

Second, every Order had a pet. You had to feed that pet from your hand. It would not be a problem if those pets were normal animals. They were usually some kind of SSS class monster. One Order had a Salamander, other a Gray Fenrir and so on.

Third, you had to prove yourself once again, and prank the competing squad. For example, one guy was ordered to switch the saddles of the competing squad. He switched saddles with the leather filling to the ones with the copper filling right before the grand defilade. The pranked squad was representing their Order and had to stand in the whole sun for 4 hours. Right after the parade ended when they ripped their saddles and found that they were sitting on the copper they heard the song. -"Ther asses like a copper, it`s riders from the Barhopper." Barhopper was a tawn in which pranked squad stationed. In most cases, everything ends in a pub when everyone gets drunk. Sometimes there was a fist fight then, they would go to the pub and get drunk.

The second way was longer but not much safer because it named as Knight Academy. Where you learned slowly like drinking from a glass of water, not like drinking from a barrel. Academy`s curriculum included everything that the officer would need in his career. Students would learn about poetry, through wether, to torturing a captive. Why such things? Because an officer needs to write, read, talk and behave. Officer need to know how to create a tactic that will not be destroyed by some stupid rain or lack of it. And of course, if you know how to torture a captive you know how to stitch a friend. And many others. Fighting lessons were usually performed on an arena or in the battlefield. But they were equipped by the academy in the same armor as normal knights. If you successfully graduated after 5-6 years, it depended on your grades and experience you gained on the battlefield, you could join an Order as a Corporal. But before that, you had to do three things.

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First, fight with the member of the squad, feed the pet, pull a prank. Without that, you had no place in the squad and you could only work as a scribe, the salary was good but it wasn't something a Knight Academy graduate would like because this was a job for the civilians.

Franz was an Academy graduate, he finished in top 10.

Dany finally left him alone in the hospital. Soon after she left his friends from the squad came over and found him staring blankly into the ceiling.

There was Captain Titus and corporals Joe and Sebas. Captain Titus, a tall blond guy with the BIG chin, was was 3 years older than Franz and was his sergeant in the Academy. Joe and Sebas were like brothers. Joe was small and fat, Sebas was slim and tall. They were Franz`s childhood friends but they disliked studying.

So they ended as henchmen and they finished their crash course only in 2 years. They joined the Order at the same time as Captain Titus. Titus was quickly promoted to the rank of Captain.

Joe and Sebas could be Sergeants but there was no vacant. They weren't upset about that because in their Order if you got promoted it meant that your predecessor died, and they liked their sergeants and did not wish them dead. They simply worked as Titus helpers and close aids which was a proof of their ability too. As Titus was very strict Captain and did not tolerate weakness. When he found that one fresh graduate forgot to maintain his armor and sword made boot camp for the whole squad, no one was spared even himself. So he got nickname The Bomb because if he explodes he blows everything even himself.

Titus, Joe, and Sebas observed him for a moment, and quietly called him.

-"FRANZZZZ! YOU DUMB DICK! you still alive, right?"-They looked at him, and when he looked back at them they cheered. -"You dumb dick! You do not know how scared we were! Look at Sebas he almost pissed himself when we found you."

-"Captain, you can not call me a dumb dick. And you will never call me like that ever again."- Franz made a troll face.

-"Do not tell me. You got yourself a girl?!"- Captains jaw a dropped to the ground, Sebas fell to his knees and Jhon just stared at him with blank eyes.

Joe finally said.-"No fucking way. Such greenhorn like yourself gets the girl after the first battle in the squad. That's not fair! Where is justice in this world!"

-"What are her 3 sizes?"-Sebas exited, but as soon as this words left his mouth he got hit with a cup that was thrown by Franz.-"Ouch! Easy man, it a joke."

-"White hair..."-Franz could not finish because he was stopped by the roar of his friends.

-"Princess!!!"

-"For me, she is a Goddess and..."- He said with dreamy eyes.

Titus did not let him countinue.-"Franz lets, be serious. Even if she is not a Princess she is still more beautiful than this official one. Oh, by the way, the blood test will be today, after dusk."

-"Captain, we have to go meeting hour is ending, and we need to go back to duties."-Said Joe after looking through the window.

-"Alright, dumb dick, you should leave hospital tomorrow, Joe, Sebas you will prepare the party, and you Franz better do not think about desertion. Dismissed."

Tow corporals saluted with smiles.-"Sir! Yes, Sir!"

Franz saluted too but without the smile. He knew how the party would look like, and he knew the one brothel will not be enough.