Waking up just before dawn, a result of Henry's ritualistic conditioning, he got dressed and immediately started his fasted run. Adar had done a thorough job with his training regimen, fully trusting Henry to wake up and follow the routine he had established for him.
In the beginning, the first two weeks of running were the most dreaded part of his day. He felt out of breath the entire time, with each step after the first mile feeling like cruel torture. However, as his conditioning improved at an accelerated pace, far faster than the average person, he gradually began to enjoy his runs. Running transformed from a test of endurance into a way to relieve morning stress, becoming a valuable part of his routine. A chance to digest what he had learned the day before, while also looking forward to his next lesson.
As he jogged through the cool mountainous morning air, his mind drifted away from the thrill of adding sparring to his training regimen and instead fixated on the swirling doubts that lingered in his thoughts. He couldn't shake the question of how long it would be before he would finally be able to participate in the sparring. Would the apprentices welcome him, or would they continue to see him as an outsider?
His mind replayed the memory of his first encounter with them—the two apprentices standing at the gate when he first arrived. They hadn't even acknowledged his presence. He hadn't realized it due to his intense schedule since arriving at the garrison, but he had only interacted with Adar. Had the isolation changed him?
'I guess I'll find out later today,' he thought as he completed the final lap around the track. The mist that hung in the air was thicker than usual, limiting his visibility to just five feet in front of him.
He made his way to the designated eating area, where his breakfast was already waiting for him, without any human interaction involved. As he sat down and took a bite of his eggs, he noticed something move in his peripheral vision. Turning slightly, he saw Adar standing two feet to his left with his plate in hand, making his way to the seat that was always arranged across from him.
"How did you do that, Sir? I didn't realize you were they're til the very last minute, it's pretty creepy," Henry said, trying not to show how unnerved he was from being snuck up on so easily.
"Don't worry," he said with a playful glint in his eye, "I was merely testing your awareness. As for how I accomplished it, well, let's just say you'll discover it for yourself eventually." He raised his fork toward his face, a mischievous smile dancing on his lips. Despite a month passing, Adar's knack for teasing and his mysterious demeanor remained firmly entrenched in his personality.
"I bet you're excited to finally get out of headquarters later, huh?" Adar asked, knowing the answer already but still waiting for a response.
"With all due respect, Sir, I'm tired of this fucking building seeing the same shit every day, with no break, has been driving me insane." Henry's words struck Adar as the funniest thing he had ever heard, igniting a fit of laughter that sent him into hysterics. He doubled over, clutching his stomach as laughter bubbled up from deep within him. Tears streamed down his cheeks, and snot threatened to spill from his nostrils as he snorted uncontrollably, the sheer joy of the moment overwhelming him. It took him five whole minutes to finally settle down.
"I see that my training hasn't done anything to curb your vulgar speech. I would let it slide, but I don't want your father to think I'm going easy on you. So instead of the usual five hundred overhead downward sword strikes, you will do one thousand today. I need to go figure out where this unnatural fog is coming from, so you'll be on your own until I return for the sparring bouts later. Don't cheat your training just because I'm not around; I'll know—I always do," Adar said with a mysterious smile, confident that Henry wouldn't dare to test his claim.
"I won't betray your expectations, Sir. Good luck with your investigation," Henry said earnestly, relieved he wasn't facing a worse punishment for his passionate slip of the tongue as he sharply saluted Adar.
"I know I taught you to always maintain military decorum, but when it's just the two of us, please don't salute me. It's too formal, even for me." With that, Adar started to walk away, realizing he was a bit pressed for time and had already spent enough of it.
After breakfast, Henry dove into his intense bodyweight training, followed by focused beginner sword practice. Finishing right on time, he found himself feeling awkward, as for the first time in a month, he didn't have anything to do but wait for Adar to come and get him.
As he sat on his bed waiting, Henry noticed that Adar was late, which was very uncharacteristic of him. As the minutes ticked by, Henry grew uneasy, worried that something had gone wrong. He recalled Adar mentioning an investigation into the unusually dense fog from that morning.
Before his thoughts became unbearable, he began to hear footsteps approaching his door. He didn't need to guess who it was; he had become accustomed to the sound of Adar's steps. Besides, no one had dared to enter the west wing of the headquarters since it had been cleared for his isolation.
"Let's go, kid, the sparring started thirty minutes ago, you're late," Adar shamlessly said as he swung the door open.
Henry was well acquainted with Adar's humor and simply smiled as he followed closely behind. For the first time during the day, Henry could see the garrison in greater detail, noticing the sturdy stone from which the surrounding walls were built. He observed the many servants bustling along the main road section of the garrison, which was the only area they were allowed to access as non-military personnel, making sure the knights and knight apprentices had water, clean clothes, and food readily available.
The buildings that caught Henry's attention shared a distinctive commonality: each one was meticulously designed to maximize both efficiency and effectiveness in fulfilling its specific function. From sturdy gate towers that optimized viewing distance to efficient warehouses that streamlined logistics, every structure reflected a thoughtful architectural approach aimed at enhancing productivity and serving its intended purpose seamlessly.
Approaching the main sparring field behind the soldiers' quarters, Henry began to hear many different voices along with a pair of oak wood swords. The voices he heard were chanting two distinctive names.
"It seems we missed the main sparring lesson, but we arrived just in time for the one-on-one call-outs. This is my personal favorite part of training. Since you aren't participating yet, you didn't really miss much," Adar explained, his tone reflecting an emotion Henry had never heard from him before.
"I'm just happy to be out of headquarters for once, Sir," Henry quickly replied, recognizing that Adar seemed a bit regretful about making him late for his first opportunity to be around others.
Finally reaching the field, Henry saw a crowd of about 30 knight apprentices. The apprentices at the back quickly noticed their approach and made way, which prompted a reaction from those in front. Within moments, a path to the front of the field had formed. As they walked forward, Henry noticed deep respect in the eyes of the apprentices who looked at the passing Adar. However, while they observed him, their gazes reflected no respect.
At the front of the crowd, he observed 11 proper knights mostly enjoying the spar in front of them, but a couple of them were closely officiating the match. The person in charge seemed not to be a knight based on his lean body that lacked the explosive muscle tissue and callouses that Knight training resulted in, but still held an air of authority that none of the other knights could compare to besides Adar himself.
"Sir Camden, it's good to see you here rather than the usual ambassador work that keeps you far away from the battlefield," Adar greeted the lean man in charge with a handshake and a warm smile that conveyed his deep respect and familiarity.
"Haha, I'll tell you what, Adar, how bout you do my ambassador work and I'll--
"Absolutely not, I'd lose my mind dealing with any of those nobles, especially Count Finch, whom you've been visiting very often", Adar quickly cut Camden off as he knew where his joke was heading.
"Well, well, look who's been keeping tabs on me." Camden joked while shifting his eyes towards Henry. "Adar, how rude of you. Aren't you going to introduce me to the young ma- this young man you brought with you," He corrected himself.
"You're right, where are my manners?" Adar was clearly amused as he continued, "Henry, this is Sir Camden, one of your father's two mages. He's a C rank wind mage, which I'm sure doesn't mean much to you just yet. Just know he has a similar status to Captain Garret, who is my direct superior and a B-rank Knight. Sir Camden, this is the former young master Henry, who is now just a soldier to be." Adar explained more thoroughly than his mysterious persona usually allowed for.
"Now that you two have been introduced, Henry, join the others. Sir Camden and I have something to discuss."
Hearing Adar's words, Henry quickly backed up and walked past the other knights, specifically avoiding eye contact with Lance, who had given him an unspoken trauma.
Joining the apprentices, he felt like a monkey at a zoo; more than half of the apprentices around him were observing him, but choosing not to initiate conversation with him. He could hear a few whispers about him receiving preferential treatment, which he didn't agree with knowing the amount of training he had been put through before even being able to meet them. Summoning all his newfound courage, he decided to set the record straight.
He stepped forward towards the one he had heard the whisper from, " Hey, you there, do you know what I --
Clang! Clang!! Clang!!!
The sharp, jarring sound of a high-pitched bell echoed through the air, its urgent clangs slicing through Henry's words like a knife.
"Emergency!!!"