He had never felt so small before this moment. The bravado and confidence disappeared as quickly as it had arrived when met with such flames in the form of pupils. But he stood still anyways. Faking it until he made it.

How the hell did Joeve… just stand there.

Magnus laughed. Throwing his head back. He patted his knight commanders, pointing and nodding at him. He held Diossius’s shoulder. “Worry not, little Adrian. Or is it big Adrian now?”

The room erupted in jibbing laughter.

Adrian winced at the tone. They were treating him like a child. Considering their lifespans, he was. But it still hurt to be treated like this. More so in a situation he had taken very seriously.

“Galant…” Magnus elbowed the knight commander, still in his jovial mood. “…was gracious enough to suggest that you lead this tactical operation.”

“What?” Adrian felt like throwing up. “W-what about the orcs? Shouldn’t I—”

“We have enough knights to take care of them. Capable and strong,” Galant said. “What we don’t have is someone of Halvard’s caliber to send into Red Iron Fortress. Hence, your Knight Order.”

That got the attention of everyone. They heard a new name and now that knight was above them in strength? Their curiosity had been peaked to say the least.

Adrian was clutching at straws trying to argue back. The previous’s negative tendencies returned to rear their ugly head. Screaming to not be taken away from the battlefield. Away from slaying orcs and out and about with his knights.

But he still had some control of it. He didn’t throw a massive temper tantrum and stormed out of the room like he recalled the previous had done. That would not help the situation at all. Right now, he was trying to figure a way out, even though it was not working.

“W-we lost a brother. Just a few days—”

“Your numbers will be increased to thirty. A full regiment of knights.” Magnus said. “Anything else?”

“Wait what?” Alaric interrupted their back and forth. “But he’s too young. I wasn’t allowed—”

Magnus only frowned. Alaric instantly reeled back. Settling on an admonished expression. He put his head down, golden hair covering his face.

Galant was quick to fill the silence. “Adrian, we’ll discuss the details at a later time.”

Shit! How the hell am I going to fight a Magnus Sterkhander level knight? Is Halvard that strong they would feel comfortable sending him?

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Adrian sat back down. Thinking about everything he needed to do. Recruiting wasn’t that simple either. There were free knights waiting at a chance to serve a noble family or renowned Knight order, but he had to make sure their personalities matched. Strength matched. Skills too. Finding some wouldn’t be a problem with all the resources available for them if they joined him. Time was the issue here.

The meeting continued with a hundred different topics. Adrian was never called for again. So he zoned out completely. At some point, Beatrix and Alaric had their moments, even more than himself, as topics concerning them came up. But he wasn’t listening attentively. There was too much to think about.

The make up of his order was priority now. Ten he could pretty much wing it and everything will fall in place. Thirty and now you needed detailed systems and ranks. Erik and Bjorn would be the most ideal candidates to give these positions to. Both strong and capable leaders.

But the issue returned to Halvard. Would the knight be insulted if Adrian didn’t give him a position? He was far too unpredictable to be a leader and was prone to doing things himself rather than organizing the whole into accomplishing it.

There was no way he could make him a lieutenant.

Erik was skilled politically and better at relating and guiding soldiers. That made him a good candidate. Bjorn was passionate and fiery. Intense and had the makings of a vocal extroverted leader. Also, a good potential candidate. Each one had their strengths and weakness, but their positives outweighed their negatives.

Unlike Halvard.

Everyone stood at once. Everyone except Adrian. He jumped to his feet trying to hide his confusion behind Beatrix next to him. She snorted, hiding her laughter.

“…everyone is dismissed.” Magnus said.

Bodies instantly began filtering out.

Galant approached him. “Adrian. Find me once you’ve figured out the numbers of your Order. We do not have much time on our hands. We will discuss everything then.” He turned and left. His knight attendants and both knight commanders followed him out of the room.

It took a few minutes, but everyone filtered out. The servants began to clean up. Setting chairs, picking up plates and cups. Cleaning messes, whipping down the table. Crumpled pieces of paper on the ground and a plethora of other things.

The only people left were their family and their servents.

Alaric slammed his hands on the table. “Father!” His eyes burned with flames. “He,” pointing at Adrian. “Is only two decades old! How can he lead an entire regiment? It was already a mistake he has an order to himself at such a young age. Knights die at his hand like flies—”

He stopped himself. Alaric knew he made a massive mistake belittling the sacrificed lives.

Magnus did not respond. Giving him a chance.

Alaric mimed, mouth moving. No words came out. His fists balled tightly. He let out a shout and turned around. Storming out of the room. He shoulder bumped Adrian on his way out. This looked childish, but Adrian remembered at least five different times when the old version had a tantrum worse.

Alaric made sure to close the doors lightly. None of them wanted their father mad. Upset? Disappointed maybe. But angry was downright terrifying.

“Lord,” a voice whispered behind him.

Adrian turned to find Talaitha standing there. He could barely hear her mumble asking her to repeat again. She held the dagger he gave her close to her chest. Batting her eyes.

“Ay, yes. Talaitha. Thank you,” he said. “Keep the dagger.”

It didn’t seem like she wanted to part with it, keeping it so close to herself. He had plenty of daggers anyways. His room was filled with different weapons he would never end up using. Giving a couple away didn't seem like a bad idea.

He turned towards Beatrix. She was busy talking their father’s ear off. He heard his and Alaric’s name multiple times but couldn’t figure out exactly what she was saying.