The sun was already hight in the sky, it was the start of october and people of Cliff barony were working hard to sow the wheat. The trees around the valey looked like they started to burn and while it was still hot, the morning air had an hint of cold in it.

Jack worked in the biggest field. Despite being a squire, the low population of the village forced the rulling lord to ask the squires and the soldiers to help the villagers. Furthermore farming was a good physical training for them.

From time to time Jack was tasked by Lord Renauld to help the villager, depending on the succes of the mission he would be given extra leçon in the way of the knight by him.

After four year of hard work, his apprenticeship was nearing his end.

His knighting ceremony would be held at the end of the week. One final week and he would finaly obtain the right to prove himself. The rite of passage to become a knight was shrouded in mystery. Depending on your goal you could access to the title in différent way. A Knight could name another Knight, by aprenticeship most of the time.. A Noble or a King could also make someone a Knight, and lastly one could be knighted by the gods ruling the land by accepting a quest given by the world. It was said to be the most honorable way of becoming one and the most difficult too.

DONG!! DONG!! DONG!!

The bell indicating the end of the work rang. After finishing their task, people were going back home. Jack was no exception.

First a good dinner and a bath, I still must see the lord tonight.

He was working his way to the tavern. The big sign with a stylish pig head with an apple in his mouth was in front of him.

''Hello, welcome to the smoking boar, ha its you. The usual?" the bored voice of the manager reached him.

''yes please''

He sat down near the open window and waited. A few moment later the manager was back again

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

''A serving of soup and a piece of bread'' and without further ado, the manager got back to its chair.

The soup was okay, nothing sensational but still enough for a filling dinner worth a few copper coins. He was still in the middle of it when the door was trown open, several gards rushed inside with sword in hand.

That coat of arm..the golden griffin! Those guards are serving the royal family!

"Witch one of you is Jack Ilean?" each client in the tavern turned to look at him. He even saw an old lady pointing at him discretly with her scrawny finger.

Well fuck me. I shall remember your face old hag

''That would be me. Jack Ilean, son of Arthur Ilean, serving as a squire under lord Renault" putting his fist over his heart like his teacher taught him, he watched as the gard started to suround him.

''Good, by the order of his majesty King Rolan the third, you are to follow us back to your lord manor, any refusal to comply shall be met with lethal force and you will be deemed traitor to the crown''

People started wispering in the tavern and the owner had his mouth agape. Half the people in this tavern knew him since he was a kid, the other half knew about him because he was learning knighthood under the lord governing them. Back to the gard, apart for the one talking the other were nervous. He could sense it, they were afraid of him.

What the hell did I do for the royal gard to come so far from the capital.

''I will follow you, I have nothing to feel guilty about''

As he folowed them to the lord mansion, toughts fused trough his head. Why him? Why now? and most of all for what reason? Was he under arrest? in one week he was suposed to prove himself in the sacred trial.

Upon reaching the place, loud voice could be heard. Jack could see the entrance and his master was standing in the doorstep and was having a big argument with a boy the same age as him.

''You think you can barge in my place without announcement, treathen me with your lousy gards and accuse my boy of wathever crime you see fit? Listen well boy, even your father would not make such a mistake, you could come with an army of moron wearing armor like those standing beside you,and I could still carve through them like a cake''

The boy was getting redder by the second, the knights at his side however were as white as a sheet. An old man with a magnificient beard was standing between the two trying to calm the situation.

"Enough John, you should know better than to threaten a prince. His highness the king would never underestimate or insult you and you know it. Without you there would be no kingdom at all" the old man said calmly.

''I am the prince of this kingdom and I shall not be taken lightly by the like of him" the blond boy was apparently someone important and apeared to be increadibly angry.

''the man you insulted just now by asking him to hand over his disciple is the previous commander and creator of the golden gard, the slayer of Ifrit and probably the only reason why the empire never dared to try and invade us"