The next day, Khal meditated some more before it was time to move again. The Dor army was already midway between Gontu Market and Crystal Lake. He found it strange that his grandfather preferred to spend the nights in the wilderness instead of the inns next to the market. It seemed more like he was hiding his army's movements more than anything else. But why would grandpa need to move his army in secret?

This was another one of those things that the grownups refused to talk to him about. Whatever, at least he was safe. Khal got fully dressed in his brown leather armor before typing his hair in a bun. It was getting progressively more difficult to control his long hair but it was the only thing that made him feel close to his mother. He rolled up his tent and tied it at the back of his horse. The young horse whinnied happily as Khal caressed his face. He was especially energetic today Khal realized.

Mounting the horse, Khal directed it towards his grandfather's tent. It never ceased to amaze Khal how much of a military man his grandfather was. No matter how early Khal woke, his grandfather was always there waiting for him. "Good morning grandpa," Khal smiled. Although he didn't know the old general for a long time, he could instinctively feel the love the man had for him. Every time their eyes met Khal could feel his protective aura. It also helped that he smiled with his eyes every time he spoke to Khal. "Alec informs me that you're able to clad now."

Khal smiled before nodding expectantly. Marcus laughed but it seemed stifled by his muscular form. "Just like your mother. You might not know, but she was a talented elementum when she was still alive. World energy and Spirit energy alike was easy for her to grasp." Marcus's joy soon turned to sadness as he remembered the eventual fate of his daughter. Khal didn't notice this, however, any new information about his mother always piqued his interest.

"So, ma was also a Knight?" Khal asked enthusiastically. Marcus looked at Khal and smiled, this time his eyes were a little unfocused. "Yes, but It was unfortunate that her phobia for blood preventing her from reaching the peak. We had high hopes that she may become the first Vulcan in the North but without proper training it was impossible."

Khal's pores raised. It had always bothered him that he was unable to use any of his other elements. There was limited information in any of his books and neither his father or Sagdel could really explain it to him. "So even Vulcans need to train to use their other element?" Khal was hoping that with his father's immense knowledge, there would be some amount of information that he could share.

"Precisely so. Even though Vulcans can potentially use more than one element, not all of them will ever accomplish this in their lifetime." Marcus paused, noticing Khal's reaction. If he didn't know any better this seemed more like bad news than anything else to Khal. Although he couldn't be sure what his grandson was thinking, he was already able to read his facial expressions a little.

Marcus allowed his horse to walk ahead, leading the army further north. Khal kept up with the man, waiting for him to continue. "This is a defense mechanism the brain creates to prevent the host from exploding. All Vulcans are able to store spirit energy in their nucleus at a faster rate than other elementums. If their secondary element is triggered, it could bypass the nucleus's ability to prevent more energy storage before the rank up." Khal listened closely. It made sense to him why his brain would try to preserve his life but he needed power. It was the only way he could see himself protecting his father. "Then how do Vulcans trigger their second element?"

Marcus paused a moment, "Because they can trick their brain into making a difficult choice. If the host was placed in an environment where the brain considers the host life in danger then it will have to make a choice. Either remove the inhibition to gain more power or die. It's an easy choice really, most Vulcans use this method to trigger it. It's called the Trigger Event to be specific."

Trigger Event.... Khal committed the words to memory. If there was still a possibility then all hope wasn't lost. It did occur to him that he might have to risk his life before he could gain power but how many Knights faced death on a daily basis in Valeria? Khal was sure most if not all.

Khal and Marcus slowly made their way towards Crystal Lake. By the time the sun was at the highest point in the sky, Alec and his officers were giving their report to Marcus. Khal realized that it would be better to allow his grandfather time to organize his army. Instead, he tried his best to meditate on his horse as they moved. It was easy to allow his horse to continue without any guidance since all the other horses were headed in the same direction.

---

"Milord, a report from the scouts," one of Marcus's officers said as he rode up to him. Marcus signaled for him to continue just as Khal decided to meditate on his own further away. He really liked how hard-working Khal was. It was good that he got that quality from his father. Marcus hoped that it was the only quality he took with him. "They report that Baron Anthony men are having a dispute with merchants from House Rhodes. It seems that blood will be spilled soon. Your orders milord!" The officer kept one hand on the reins and another holding the scroll as he read it all to Marcus.

"Your thoughts Captain Alec?" Marcus asked before anything else. "Well, it's very unusual that House Rhodes would have a dispute with old man Anthony. Those merchants aren't known for confrontations. If there isn't coin involved they usually pack up and leave." Marcus nodded his head before stroking his hair. "True, all the more reason for us to investigate. Tell the cavalry we're going on ahead. Have the rest of Knights follow as fast as they can." The officer saluted before turning his horse around started shouting commands.

---

Khal opened his eyes as soon as he heard the orders. He was technically part of the Cavalry but he wasn't sure he needed to go as well. Khal felt awkward for a second, nobody had explained to him his function in the army. He was just the general's grandson. Since nobody had said he couldn't go either, Khal decided to grab his reins firmly before ordering his horse to run faster.

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It didn't take long before Khal caught up to Captain Alec. The man's short hair moved haphazardly in the wind as his eyes stared intensely ahead of him. It always amazed Khal how much these Dor Knights changed when an order was given. It was as though they live and breathe this lifestyle. Alec turned towards Khal before saying, "The general said that once you can keep up then you may ride with the cavalry." With that, Alec's horse suddenly became faster as it bolted ahead to the front of the line. Horses can be cladded too?

Khal smirked as he focused on cladding. Although he had finally learned the skill, it was still hard to multitask. It was especially hard considering he wasn't familiar with the horse enough to clad it. surely it could spook the horse and that would be dangerous. Or maybe he wouldn't clad it completely and cause the horse to trip and that would also become dangerous. All these possibilities ran through Khal's head causing him to hesitate. Maybe he should practice before he attempted it on the battlefield.

Khal tried his best to keep up with the other horses to no avail. It took him an hour longer before he finally found the cavalry but it was already too late. If there was a fight here earlier then it was already quelled. When he reached Crystal Lake the first thing he saw was the sparkling red water. Erik explained to him that Sumitra, the God of love, was fascinated with the red lake and gave it healing properties. Khal couldn't verify whether the story was true or not but the waters were definitely magical. Many from all over Katar would visit just to have a sip of the healing waters.

The large expanse of water was intimidating to Khal. It felt as though it was a water dragon ready to engulf him entirely. To make matters worse, he could barely see the other side of the bank. There were some locals from the area on rafts or other floating devices as they gathered the water. They knew that the further out to the lake they got, the stronger the healing properties would be. There was numerous bamboo at the side of the bank with strange birds chirping nearby when Khal passed.

He could see Alec and Marcus within a crowd of fifteen men. The cavalry surrounding the entire group and prevented any from escaping. Some seemed like merchants while others seemed more like Knights. The merchants were neatly dressed in fine leather jackets and leggings with their carriages behind them. At least ten guards surrounded them and Khal could tell that they were important people. The knights, however, were fully dressed in a mixture of steel and worn out leather armor. Khal made it close enough to hear a merchant saying, "I'm telling you, milord, Lord Rhodes has already asked Lord Braxton for the deed to this area of Crystal Lake. We surely can't trespass on our own lands." This merchant, in particular, looked like he was the leader of the group. Khal was amazed to see how the man was addressing Marcus. It was both sarcastic and condescending but Marcus didn't seem to care.

"You lying bastard! Lord Braxton would never give it to you! This part of Crystal Lake has been in our Lord Anthony's hands for at least 50 years!" Some Knights were holding back another of their colleague as the man tried to attack the merchant. Khal stared at Marcus to see how he would handle it. He wasn't sure how Marcus manage to seem so magnanimous at all the right times. "Relax Sergeant Williams, I'm sure this here merchant can produce this deed he speaks of."

The merchant began to stutter as he backpedaled his way out of it. "I said we were in the process of procuring the deed." He was a young merchant who had only just started his profession. Since Marcus was usually at the front lines and there was no report of him leaving, the merchant had no idea who he was. General Dor was never a name that would cross his mind at this point. In fact, he felt that he could get away with his poor reasoning if he mentioned the power that stood behind him. "This is House Rhodes business, surely you wouldn't want to make an enemy of House Rhodes."

Marcus raised an eyebrow before noticing Khal further in the crowd. Turning to Khal he said, "Oh! There you are Khal. Just in time. This is how House Dor deals with those who threaten its great name. Watch carefully boy, it's time for you to understand what it means to be from one of the Great Houses." Khal dismounted from his horse before tying it to one of the bamboo shoots. He then moved through the crowd and stopped directly next to his grandfather. Marcus signaled for two of his riders to grab the young merchant. There was only a little resistance since the merchant was not able to use any form of arte.

The merchant's face pale. He couldn't understand how anyone from House Dor would be in Gontu, much less the Crystal Lake. Sure, the man in front of his had a few cavalries with him, at least 200 by his count, but so did most baron in the area. He noticed his guards were quiet compared to the noise they made earlier in front of Anthony's men. What a bunch of cowards he thought to himself. He had only started trading less than a year now but every time he mentioned House Rhodes everyone would accept his reasoning without question. It was this bad habit that had gotten him out of many issues and secured many deals. Lord Rhodes was impressed with his style and trusted him with more important matters.

Khal wasn't sure what exactly he was supposed to see here. The merchant was apprehended and everyone just stood there, silent. Even the merchant who he expected to scream out at least just stood there, his pants a little damper than before Khal suspected. Marcus strolled forward from Alec before he stood directly in front of the merchant.

Suddenly the atmosphere changed. Marcus caused the air to fluctuate around him. It was noticeably more difficult to breathe but Khal watched on despite his discomfort. He wasn't sure if his grandfather was going to kill the merchant or not be he decided not to say a word. "It's men like this that destroy the legacy of the great houses. He seeks to oppress those with lesser power because he himself has none. Khal, this is the type of man you must never become. Grasp your own strength, if you must oppress then oppress with your own power."

The pressure around the merchant increased. Khal watched on in amazement as the man's feet made a depression in the dirt. Marcus's men released the merchant but it didn't help the man. He quickly plummeted to the floor, in agony as whatever Marcus was doing continued to increase. It was only after he was nearing unconsciousness that Marcus continued, "This will be your only warning. Tell Varlo Rhodes that House Dor will not tolerate him intimidating the lesser nobles. Not while I, Marcus Dor yet lives."

Marcus suddenly released the force exerted on the man, allowing him to finally breathe and cough. Although Khal was standing a few meters away from the man, he could feel some of the force. His legs were already shaking but he tried his best to appear normal. He noticed Alec standing to the side with a bored look on his face. Is this the norm? Khal wondered. He wanted to ask but he felt that the current atmosphere wouldn't allow it.

The rest of the merchants scurried away, leaving their guards to pick up the unconscious merchant before stumbling back towards their carriage. A few of them bowed to thank Marcus for releasing them while others avoided his gaze entirely. Marcus Dor wasn't a name that they could use freely. He was both the defender of justice as well as the Northern Wall. At least that's what the commoners would say. Khal's eyes glowed with amazement. This was who he was longing to become. A Knight strong enough to vanquish all evil in this world.