Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 29: The quest begins

02 Seedmonth 1007 AF

"Arial, wake up!" The voice rings in his ears.

Arial opened his eyes to see Kyle standing over him, shaking his shoulders. It was the first day of class, and Arial was scheduled for swordplay.

He is usually an early riser but he has many thoughts before and he dreamed about something though he doesn't remember what the dream is about.

He only remembers a lake. He shakes his head and got up from his bed and quickly dressed himself.

It is Seedmonth, meaning it is spring already. The reason why it is called Seedmonth is because this is the month where the farmers plants their seed and fruits.

The class was taught by Lord Borelis, and he was known to be a strict teacher. Arial knew he mustn't be late.

They left their dormitory and headed to class together. They were even running to the class and managed to arrive before the teacher could come in

Arial had already met all of his classmates; there was Lelia Guise, Helia with her arms full of books, nervous little Emerson twitching and looking around like he is doing something wrong, William Austen who was deep in conversation with Luli Archad, Vergo Cortez of Renasia who was still learning to speak the Common Tongue, Nathan Godfrey from Tuca, and Lisa who stood waiting for them at the door.

Nathan could be seen playing around with Luli and laughing together while Lisa widened her eyes, like she was asking question with her eyes and that question is

"Why are you late?' Arial shows an apologetic smile while Kyle show her his tongue as they all take their seat

"Alright, everyone here?" Lord Borelis barged into the room and glanced at each of them individually, his gaze lingering on Arial a moment longer, before unrolling a sheet of parchment and calling out their names.

Satisfied that every new student was present, he stashed away the parchment and pulled out a rather beautiful, though slightly worn out sword.

After demonstrating what Arial thought were some extremely basic moves, Lord Borelis pointed the sword at the class, who flinched collectively.

"Your turn." He said it with his eyebrows raised and a smile on his face.

Some students had brought their own swords and whipped them out eagerly.

Those who hadn't, chose from a stash of weapons in a cupboard at the back of the room, and held them nervously.

They clearly had no experience of using such a long and heavy blade, and watched the others before tentatively trying out the moves for themselves.

"Arial, Kyle, Lisa, Helia, you're doing well," Lord Borelis called.

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All four had succeeded in following the moves without fault.

Arial was impressed by Helia's skill; who knew the daughter of a wealthy nobleman could show such talent with a sword?

But Kyle and Lisa did not surprise him; he had been teaching the siblings since they were young, and the moves were very straightforward.

"I can teach you the next step, if you think you're ready," Lord Borelis said. He had approached the four friends and was watching them with delight in his normally stony eyes.

"Yes, please Sir," Kyle said.

Lord Borelis retrieved his sword and performed more of the simple moves, which all four of them again copied perfectly.

Lord Borelis took a step back, a mixture of amazement and admiration in his eyes.

"You are clearly very fast learners," he beamed.

They continued training until the afternoon, when Lord Borelis praised everybody on their progress and dismissed them.

As they left, Kyle turned to the others and grinned.

"Is it just me, or was that class really easy?"

"Yeah, when you think about it, isn't it just the same stuff that you teach us?" Lisa said to Arial. Arial just smile.

"What?" Helia's eyes widened. "You mean, you already learned all that?"

"Oh yeah, Arial taught us a lot. He says it'll come in handy when we're older. We used to play army with the other kids in the village all the time," Lisa said enthusiastically. Helia stared at Arial.

"How"

"I'm going to check the quest board," Arial cut her off. He didn't want to have to answer any difficult questions.

"But we're only recruits," said Kyle. "It's not like there'll be any jobs we can actually do."

"That's where you're wrong," said Helia, distracted by the chance to show off her knowledge.

"There are usually loads of simple quests for new recruits. I mean, you rise through the ranks faster if you take a harder job, but the easy ones are perfect for people like you."

Kyle looked slightly offended, but Helia hadn't noticed. Arial ignored them. As long as they aren't talking about how he teaches those kids advanced battle technique, he is satisfied.

They reached the quest board and she pointed at each of its sections.

They are five sections of quest category. And Helia did not miss the chance to show off.

"See, these are 'exceedingly easy' because, well, they're really easy. Basic jobs for the Knight Lords and things which the Order deem chivalric. But you can't get more than twenty points for those. These," Helia pointed to the second section, "are 'easy'. Mostly helping out villagers, cleaning their yards, blah blah blah."

"Five points?" Kyle wailed.

"Five points for chopping wood! Why bother? I'd have to chop wood a hundred times to rank up to Senior Brother!" Lisa rolled her eyes.

"These," Helia said loudly, glaring at Kyle, "are the 'normal' jobs, which include things like finding lost children and escorting precious cargo. Then you've got the 'hard' jobs, which are much more exciting. You'll be hunting criminals and raiding bandit hideouts. And here's where it gets really interesting, 'exceedingly difficult'. Hunting a dragon, for example. Though they don't normally have those quests, there hasn't been a big enough threat since the Purge."

"I can do this," said Lisa, ripping a quest from the board after examining the many quest on the board.

"Giving a puppy a walk?" Helia said, reading the quest. Kyle stretched out his neck and peek over the description of the task and he chuckles.

"You're sure it says to walk it, not kill it? Because that would be perfect for you, little sister" said Kyle. Lisa shot him an annoyed look.

Arial chuckles a bit

"How many points?" asked Arial.

"Ten points." He nodded.

Arial looked back at the quest board.

He needed to rank up fast. It might seem like there is a lot of time on his side but he knows it is better to be early than late.

In the Academy the Knights have rank.

Everyone started off as a recruit, then there is the Senior Brother rank, followed by Elderly Brother, Standard Bearer, Under Marshall, Knight Brother, Commander of Knights, Commander of House, Right and Left Hand Commanders, and finally the Knight Master, who was elected from either the Right or Left Hand Commanders.

Each rank had its privileges: Senior Brothers were able to fight with the knights if there was a war, and could use the horses from the Academy's stables.

Standard Bearers were sergeants charged with carrying and protecting the Order's banner, a great honor for new knights.

Under Marshall was responsible for the footmen and the equipment, while the Knight Brothers were warriors who were able to use all of the equipment in the Armory, and were given three horses and an Recruits to assist them.

Usually the recruits are either people not of noble blood or former slaves who wanted to learn in the Academy

At least it used to in the past. There are not that many slaves nowadays and the Human Continent most of them abhorred slavery since they themselves have been enslaved by the Demon Lord

Commanders of Knights acted as lieutenants to higher authorities within the Order.

Commanders of House had the same powers as Knight Master within their own jurisdictions. Right and Left Hand Commanders acted as deputy and advisor to the Knight Master.

At the rank of Knight Brothers, the candidate can return home even before the age of fourteen and he can still come to take quest from the Academy and still be rated in completion.

That is what Arial is intending to do. To reach the rank of Knight Brother as fast as he can

A note on the quest board caught Arial's eye, and he pulled it down. Helia scanned the note over his shoulder.

"One thousand five hundred points? Arial, that's a hard quest!" she said and Arial acted he didn't hear what Helia is saying

"Um, doesn't that look kind of difficult?" said Kyle trying to gauge Arial reaction. Arial on the other hand is thinking about something else. If he completed the quest, he could become a Knight Brother in one go

"We're seven years old. We've been in class for a day," said Helia incredulously. "Don't you think attacking a bandit hideout is a bit rash?"

You may be seven, thought Arial, but I'm not. Not really.

"I'll be fine," he said, dismissing their bewildered faces and their reactions to how calm Arial is about taking this quest

Lisa take a deep breath and then she said

"Then I'll come with you," said Lisa, puffing out her chest. Kyle looked to his sister and at Arial and back at his sister and sighed.

"I guess that means I'm coming too," he said. Their heads turned to Helia.

"What are you looking at me for?" she said, realizing they were all staring at her.

"I'm not going to follow you lunatics so I can die in some abandoned caves!" she exclaimed trying to avoid their gazes.

They stared her a little bit longer and then she said hesitantly

"Ugh, okay, fine I'll go with you and if I die, let it be written on my tombstone, DIED BECAUSE OF PEER PRESSURE" she said half annoyed half angry

Arial, Lisa and Kyle broke out into a laughter

"So, who's going to be brave enough to go to Faragur and tell him we're going on a quest?" asked Lisa.

They all stared at each other, and then at the floor. To embark on a hard quest, they first had to announce it to their House Lord.

Every person that wanted to go to the quest must register themselves. For easy quest you have to go to the reception.

For hard quest the Lord of the House. For the exceedingly difficult, Knight master

If they are not approved they couldn't go.

"I'll go," said Arial finally, and the others breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

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So, here is the chapter. Please do leave some comments. And please vote for the story. I thought no one was reading this story so I focused on my other stories Age of Adventure and Lord Shadow.

Anyway, because of the long week without chapters there will be mass release today