Knights Apocalyptica

Chapter 19: Of Knights

Calling it a great hall felt like an understatement. The long length of the room stretched far enough to accommodate hundreds of tables. Each set for different gatherings of nobility and the families invited to attend the ceremony. On top of that, there was room for Knights who also wished to attend this auspicious event. Then there was room for standing along the sides of the hall, where all of those who participated in the trial waited.

Many of which would be culled.

The Knights were an elite force that took the top of society and martial prowess. And while the trial may be retaken year after year, they preferred to induct members at a young age to maximize their development and education.

Many nobles who failed their first trial would live out their days in their family’s holdings. Or, if they weren’t too full of pride, they would enroll in the Kingdom’s military as an officer.

At the head of the hall were the four Grandmaster Knights. There could only be one at the head of each Order. They had the final say in new initiates, and it was to them that the initiate would make their first oath to uphold their Order’s first tenet.

Erec took them in with careful attention as the herald announced the grand history and schedule of the ceremony. It wasn’t something he needed to hear. The course of today and its significance was seared into his head a year ago when Bedwyr joined the Order of the Crimson Lotus.

He looked at the same frail old man who extended the offer to his brother. Not much had changed about Grandmaster Lotus.

Each of the Grandmasters relinquished their given name and family name to take on the name of their Order when they accepted the position. Lotus appeared to be a frail man, though it was a mistake to think that. His wizened appearance hid a magical power that could single-handedly wipe out the surface city of the Kingdom.

Next to him was Grandmaster Oak, who would be the one Erec made his oath to. He was a hale man who wore a grin almost hidden by the thick black beard which trailed down his round belly. He’d heard that Grandmaster Oak once lifted a mountain and dropped it over a Rift to prevent the unstemmable flow of imps that spewed out of it. Looking at him now, it was hard to reconcile the image with the story.

Erec’s breath hitched.

Garin gave him a quick bump. “Show’s about to start.” His friend whispered.

“Lords and Ladies! Without further ado, we do conclude Solis Academy’s trial, that did finish in this, the May of the 307th Year of the Goddess’s Rebirth.” The voice of the herald rang through the hall. “We shall begin with the most esteemed to be present for this trial, Prince Soren Crisimus, third in line to the royal throne.”

Polite applause rang through the crowd as the dark-haired boy walked from the side of the great hall to stand before the four Grandmasters. He bowed his head. This was one of the few rare circumstances where a royal family member was expected to show deference towards the Knights instead of the other way around.

“Prince Soren Crisimus has humbly subjected himself to the judgment of our Academy’s Trial. As such, I now ask, as I shall with every hopeful to our Academy. Be there any among the Orders that would gladly accept him into their ranks?”

At once, all four of the Grandmasters drew their swords and raised them, points towards the heavens.

He has the choice of them all. As to be expected. But which one does he pick?

Soren coldly examined them all before standing before Grandmaster Tower. Head of the Order of the Azure Tower, she was the youngest and newest to the position of Grandmaster. However, none that met her wrath lived to tell her tale.

Not that you’d be able to tell now, based on the smug smile she shot the other three grandmasters. The golden-haired Grandmaster composed herself a second later and became the very picture of nobility. There was a quiet conversation between her and the prince.

After which, Soren got to his knee and bowed his head. The Grandmaster’s sword lowered and rested on his right shoulder.

“Do you accept my Order as your own? To join the Order of the Azure Tower is to agree to hold the safety of the Kingdom of Cindrus above all; even yourself. To be of this Order is to vow to defend and protect each of its citizens blindly, regardless of office or state they may hold.” She asked.

“I do.” Prince Soren responded—their voices now amplified across the Great Hall by spell-work, though Erec didn’t see the source.

“I can think of no better fitting Order for one of the royal line. I would have your first oath be given before us all, Prince Soren.”

“Upon my life, I do give my oath. From this day forward, I shall use my strength to face the tribulations of this world first, before they fall upon any other.” Soren stared straight into her eyes. He'd delivered his assigned line, the first tenet of the Order of the Azure Tower.

Grandmaster Tower beamed. “Your oath has been heard by all in this esteemed hall. Let it be known today, I dub thee Sir Soren of House Crisimus; initiate to Order of the Azure Tower.”

There was a chorus of applause in the hall. The prince was led away by a Knight; it set a fair tone for the rest of the proceedings.

The next were the three from the ducal lines; the first of which was a woman Erec hadn’t met. A girl with bright red hair. All four orders offered her a position, and she chose to stand before Grandmaster Flames. Even among the four standing at the front of the great hall she stood out with her milky white eyes.

In a short time, Grandmaster Flames inducted a new Dame into her Order.

Erec heard that the Grandmaster held a high enough Faith to convene with the Goddess—though the Grandmaster publicly denied such a thing so as not to undermine the Cardinals' authority.

The red-headed duchy spawn looked well and pleased with her choice as a Knight led her away.

Next was Lyotte of House Luculentus. She, too, was offered an option of all four Orders; and followed suit with the prince’s choice, joining the ranks of the Azure Tower. As her eyes scanned the crowd, they met Erec’s. There was something there as she held his gaze before she left the great hall.

The biggest upset came next.

Colin strode before the Grandmasters with his head held high.

When the herald asked who among the Orders would accept him into their ranks, all four shared a look.

Grandmaster Oak’s was the sole sword to raise into the sky. Colin’s jaw dropped as hushed muttering ran through the assorted nobles like fire in a forest. It seemed that his actions had consequences, or more likely that this was a ploy by the Duke to place his son in the same Order as Erec.

Garin shook Erec’s shoulder and rolled his eyes as Colin knelt and gave his oath to the only Order that would have him. He seemed a bit shaky, unnerved that they’d denied him the same opportunity as the two that shared his station.

Oh well. Erec sighed. If they were in the same Order, it’d make his task that much easier to accomplish. He sent a quick thanks to the Goddess as the ceremony proceeded onward.

They continued down from the top of the noble lines. After those of the duchy came the spawn of the earldoms, then the counties, and then the viscounties. It wasn’t until they reached the children of the baronies did Erec begin to pay attention again.

For the higher ranks, often, multiple Grandmasters would raise their swords, giving them a choice of Order. As they slipped down the ranks, that became less common and transformed into often only one of the Orders accepting the noble.

Then eventually, there was a daughter of a count with no offers. And then a count’s third son, then three from different viscounties denied in a row. When it got to the baronies, only one in every three got accepted into an Order. Erec’s heart began to race as they wore down the list of names.

Was Garin going to join him in the Academy?

At Erec’s side, Garin kept an easy smile, but when Erec looked down at his friend’s hand, he’d clutched it into a fist, fingernails digging into his palms.

“Garin of House Honestus, heir to the Barony of Honestus,” the herald called, and Garin left to take his turn before all of the Grandmasters. They regarded him with a rather severe expression each. None of them betrayed their intentions. “Garin of House Honestus has displayed himself to our Academy’s trial. Be there any among the Orders that would take him into their ranks?”

For a long horrible moment, none of the Grandmasters moved.

No. Goddess, please, no.

Grandmaster Oak raised his sword, followed quickly by Grandmaster Tower, and lastly, Grandmaster Lotus. The only one who stared straight ahead was Grandmaster Flames. A chorus of whispers rang through the crowd. There hadn’t been three Orders offering a spot since they’d dropped below past the earldoms.

Garin gaped as the three Grandmasters stared him down. Erec grinned like a madman. He hesitated before moving to Grandmaster Oak.

We’ll be in the same Order. It felt better than anything he could’ve dreamed of.

Grandmaster Oak inducted Garin quickly, as the ceremony had already gone on for quite some time. Yet when it came to the applause, they greeted Garin with a loud and infectious clapping.

The whole scene felt surreal. After he met with the Duke the day before, this was the single part of the day that still held Erec’s nerves over a fire. Now that it was over, he felt he could relax and breathe easily. Nothing else mattered much, though, he did want to see if Rodren got accepted into any of the Orders.

That was until they called his name.

“Erec of House Audentia. Second son to Lord Lac, unlanded.” The herald cried, and Erec numbly made his way to the head of the hall.

After watching the ceremony thus far, he’d thought when it was his turn to join the Verdant Oak that the event would pass without much impact. As if it were a simple thing to do and walk away from, now that the Duke guaranteed it would happen.

Yet standing before the four Grandmasters and being judged before their gazes… These were pillars of humanity and power. Who was he to compare?

Whispers traveled through the crowd. Even at the head of the grand hall, he could make out some snippets of what the nobility said to one another. They were relatively poor at keeping their tones down.

“Isn’t he that traitor’s son?” A lady asked her husband.

“I’d thought that house was dissolved. Besides, how dare he show his face here after what he did to the Duke’s heir?” said a portly man at the table in the front of the hall to a bearded gentleman.

“…no, no, I heard that the heir to his house is a Knight as well—supposedly accomplished for an initiate. Though, it’s presumptuous for their house to try to sneak in a second of their ilk after what they did…”

Ignore them. Erec tuned out the voices and stood firm as he focused only on the herald’s voice.

Let them talk whatever nonsense they wanted; he didn’t answer to them, and whether or not they thought he deserved it, he’d earned his place at this Academy. Could their heirs say the same? The herald’s amplified voice was easy to prioritize above the rest. “…Be there any among the Orders that would take him into their ranks?”

Grandmaster Oak raised his sword high into the air. Another round of vicious whispers burned its way through the crowd. With burning cheeks, Erec moved to stand before the Grandmaster.

“Hail there, lad. You’ve caused my lot much trouble, haven’t you?” The round Grandmaster said in a quiet tone. Whatever spell-work amplified their voices for the oaths appeared to be triggered by command, though Erec didn’t expect a private word.

“I apologize; I swear I’ll do my best to do your Order proud.”

Grandmaster Oak gave a small bark of a laugh; then, a rueful smile spread over his face. “Aye, you will by what Sir Boldwick promised. As for them out there?” he jerked his head towards the crowds of whispering nobility. “Fuck ’em; we’re Knights first, nobles second, as long as you’re part of my Order, that is. Always have to beat that lesson into the new initiates.”

“I—“

“I take it you know your oath from the Goddess knows how many that came before?” Erec gave a slight nod. “Good, good. On your knee then, lad.”

Erec crouched to his knee and bowed his head. The tip of Grandmaster Oak’s sword rested on his right shoulder.

The steel blade was a biting cold that weighed on him even through the padding of his too-buttony jacket. “Do you accept the Order of the Verdant Oak as your own?” the man’s robust voice carried loudly through the hall, indicating that amplification spell-work had been activated.

“I do,” Erec responded, jolting slightly by how loud his voice echoed.

“I would hear your oath.”

“Upon my life, I do give my oath. From this day forward, I will give back to the world more than I take. I will sow twice what I reap.” Though the oath wasn’t sworn in the Goddess’s name, the way it ran through his nerves like lightening and brought goosebumps upon his neck felt more potent than Her hand clutching his heart. Grandmaster Oak smiled wide.

“Your oath has been heard by all in this esteemed hall. I dub thee Sir Erec of House Audentia; initiate to the Order of the Verdant Oak.”