Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 454: Side Story: The White Dragon – Part 3

This Riftan Calypse was insulting the tenets that knights valued more than their own lives. It was a comment that would enrage not only those holding knighthoods, but also any who aspired to the title. Yet, he did not stop there.

"I've met countless knights, but most only ever talk about honor without demonstrating it. It's all just a pretty portrait, and I don't like having to speak those same absurd words."

"I see." Triton gazed at his squire while stroking his beard, then said matter-of-factly, "So it's not that you don't take the oath seriously. You are taking it too seriously."

The arrogant smile playing on Riftan's lips vanished. He furrowed his brows and glared at his superior. "Did you even hear what I said?"

"I did. You're unwilling to make an oath that you cannot keep. In other words, you are overly conscious of the weight your words will carry," Triton affirmed with a grin.

Riftan raised his voice as if offended. "I merely despise pretending that something exists when it doesn't!"

"Honor exists, my friend," Triton said gravely. "Without honor, nobles and royalty cannot exist."

"Don't be ridiculous. I've seen plenty of shameless and unscrupulous nobles."

"And they will pay the price for that one day. A noble without honor is as good as dead." Despite the conviction in Triton's voice, Riftan still seemed skeptical. Triton gazed at his subordinate with a serious look but smiled as he spoke.

"Let me explain this to you in a way you will understand. Say I have an army of hundreds, all heavily armed with swords, armor, and shields. Should I wish to, I can plunder food and goods from powerless farmers, or extract items I want from wealthy merchants without paying them their due. I could even capture innocent people to torture or kill for pleasure and have my way with countless young, beautiful women. But I will never, not in a million years, do anything of the sort. Because my honor prevents me from doing so."

When Riftan did not respond, Triton continued, "If I knew no honor, the people of my land would flee to protect their wealth, their lives, and their wives and daughters. Merchants, too, would be unwilling to trade with me. You and anyone else who follows my command would want nothing to do with me, and only immoral brutes would remain by my side. Eventually, I would lose my wealth and influence, too. If that happened, I could no longer be considered a noble. In effect, if I lose my honor, I lose everything."

"That's a rather pragmatic way to put it," Riftan muttered.

"Well, you like being pragmatic, don't you?"

Realizing that he had managed to convince the stubborn man, soft wrinkles formed at the corners of Triton's eyes.

"Power comes hand in hand with temptation," he said, patting Riftan on the back. "The knighting ceremony is where you formally declare you will not give in to your desires and will lead an honorable life. From then on, countless witnesses will be watching to see if you keep your oath. And if you lead a life devoted to the code of chivalry, the name Calypse will carry honor."

"I understand," Riftan replied with a resigned shake of his head. "I can never win against your golden tongue. I shall behave myself until the ceremony is over. So, please, enough of your lecturing."

"I'm afraid that won't suffice." Triton raised his forefinger with a stern expression. "I expect you to dress appropriately for the next banquet. And I trust you will behave with the utmost decorum."

Riftan looked appalled and grumbled something, but it was drowned out by the knights who had just arrived for their morning training. Ursuline knitted his brows as he watched dozens of them enter the training ground. He had been so engrossed in the conversation that he had missed his chance to train.

Ursuline hurried down to the grounds, but even while he worked, he could not stop thinking about the conversation between Riftan Calypse and Evan Triton.

He had never once doubted the existence of honor. Born into the noble house of Ricaydo, honor had been a matter of course for him. The same applied to Wolfgar.

But... does Wolfgar truly know of honor?

He asked himself a question that would likely put his life in danger if Wolfgar were to find out. Wolfgar Ricaydo had committed the dishonorable acts that Evan Triton had described - plunder, rape, even murdering innocent people for his amusement. He had been reprimanded for those deeds, but not so severely that he had lost his right to succession.

He had been exonerated from his crimes after confessing his sins before a high priest, and before long, he would succeed their father to become the next Count Ricaydo.

And I'll be made his vassal.

An intense emotion surged within him. He struck down at the dummy with all his might, ripping the tough leather covering and showering the ground with sand.

Ursuline gazed down blankly at the mess before coming to his senses. All around him, the training ground had fallen silent. Arthus, who had been correcting the posture of another squire a short distance away, approached him with a concerned look.

"What is the matter?"

Ursuline quickly steadied his breathing and answered, "I believe I was a little too eager." Arthus stared down at his charge before chuckling softly. "Feeling competitive with all these eyes on you?"

Ursuline looked puzzled, not understanding his superior's words, but he soon noticed the knights from other regions also working in the training ground. He immediately flushed red. Arthus shook his head. "I understand your eagerness to demonstrate your abilities, but we cannot have you damaging the equipment. Take yourself over there to cool off."

Ursuline obeyed and moved to a corner. The other squires resumed their training. As he listened to the rhythmic sound of their wooden swords striking, Ursuline tried to calm his emotions.

As a second son, he was destined to obey and serve his older brother. The only consolation was that he was free to live his life until the moment Wolfgar inherited his father's title. Ursuline consoled himself with this thought and drove the conversation between Evan Triton and Riftan Calypse out of his mind.

***

Ursuline was at the training ground early again the next day. There was no sign of either Riftan or Triton. He scanned the area, then paused to frown. He could not understand why he was looking for them. They had nothing to do with him, after all.

Shaking off such needless curiosity, Ursuline headed toward the training dummies. He stood before one and began swinging his wooden sword, paying close attention to his wrist in order to control his strength. He did not want to repeat yesterday's mistake.

As he targeted precise points on the dummy, Ursuline felt a shift in the air. Glancing around, he noticed a gathering of knights near the sparring arena.

Are those two dueling again?

He hesitated for a moment before dropping his sword and cutting across the training ground. When he arrived at the arena, he saw Triton and Arthus standing face to face, deep in

conversation. His eyes widened at the sight of the unexpected pair.

"What's going on?" Ursuline asked a nearby knight. "Why is Sir Arthus with...?"

"They've decided to hold a joint training session between the royal knights and the

Remdragons," he replied irritably.

"Why would they do that?"

"Some of the men argued over who gets the arena. It escalated, and Sir Arthus and Lord Triton stepped in to mediate," the knight explained with a sigh. "Now they've agreed on a joint

exercise."

He seemed vexed that he would have to lock swords with the Remdragon Knights, and understandably so. It was well-known that the majority of the Remdragon Knights were either from disgraced noble houses or former mercenaries. Ursuline, however, felt a strange flicker of anticipation. The knights never paid him any heed, but a squire might agree to spar

with him.

Ursuline unconsciously searched for Riftan Calypse, who sat on the steps, meticulously tending to his sword. He appeared completely uninterested in the joint training. Nevertheless, Ursuline walked over and stopped right in front of him.

"What do you want?" Riftan asked, lifting his head and staring back.

Ursuline flinched. Facing those coal-black eyes up close made his back tense. He had never felt so intimidated in his life, not even when he was presented before the king.

With a gulp, Ursuline replied, "I wish to spar with you."

"What?" Riftan sized him up, then snorted in disbelief.

Feeling slighted, Ursuline blurted out, "I, too, will be knighted in just two seasons. I'm more

than capable of facing-"

"Not interested. Go find somebody else," Riftan dismissed him and turned back to his sword.

Ursuline felt his face flush. It was humiliating to be so thoroughly ignored by someone he

considered a potential opponent.

Gritting his teeth, he snapped, "Are you afraid of being disgraced?"

Riftan looked at him, more dumbfounded than angry. He took a deep breath as if to gather his

patience before glaring back. Just then, uproarious laughter erupted behind them.

"Well, I'll be damned. This is an amusing sight."

Ursuline whipped his head around and flinched when he saw a giant of a man standing behind

him. Impossibly, he was bigger than Riftan Calypse, large even by Northern standards. Ursuline stood frozen at the sheer size of the man as he sauntered up the steps and slung an

arm around Riftan's shoulder.

"Why don't you reward his bravery with a fight?" said the giant.

"Get lost." "Hey now, be nice. I heard you promised the commander you'd behave for the time being."

Riftan glared at the bear of a man, who merely smirked in response. "Afraid of being humiliated? Want me to fight him for you?" the man taunted.

"If you don't remove your hand this instant, you will regret it for the rest of your life,

Hebaron Nirtha."

The man raised his arms in mock surrender. "My, how terrifying. I'm shaking in my boots."

Riftan shot an icy glare at the towering figure before clicking his tongue and rising to his feet.

As he walked away, he looked back at Ursuline and called, "Come. I'll give you what you

want."