The Captain's Warning - I

It’s been just 2-3 minutes since Sebastian has left Martha and Ivan in the cabin. Although, Sebastian did instruct Martha to keep an eye on Ivan until they return but she was rather occupied at the moment.

Little Martha was seated on the captain’s chair and reading books and files that she took out of the shelf nearby. The books contained about code of conduct, detailed mapping of Rublor kingdom’s terrains, also some autobiography of famous soldiers and knights that once protected Rublor kingdom. But Little Martha was more interested in the files that were stashed beside those books.

The files contained a detailed journal about people who enter and leave the city. These records were actually classified information that wasn’t allowed to be read by common citizens.

Martha sat on the captain’s seat and went through those classified records.

“Eh? Who wrote this? I can’t even make anything out of this terrible handwriting.” complained Martha to herself, “Even grade school kids have better handwriting then this. What a waste of good paper.”

Although, she continued to go through other files and journals.

Meanwhile, little Ivan was in a serious mood for some reason.

He was standing on the captain's bed wearing an old rusty metal helmet that he took out from the shelf. The helmet was a showpiece trophy and it was certainly too big for Ivan's little head. Although Martha made sure that he removed his shoes so that the captain's bedsheets won’t get ruined.

“So you will be my next opponent,” said little Ivan with a serious tone as he glared at deer head mounted on the wall, “I might look like a kid, but I am not an adult actually.”

Ivan then pointed the cleaning duster at the deer. He found that duster laying around the corner of the room.

“You have lived enough, as it is. I shall now end your suffering.” yelled out Ivan as he held the cleaning duster like some kinda sword.

At Heller's village, every year there used to be a play. The play was about a hero defeating demons and sending them back to the underworld. Ivan was rather fascinated by the story and hence, by hearted the play lines.

He continued,

“Let me tell the name of the person whose going to end your miserable life. You at least deserve to know that.” shouted out loud Ivan, “I am Ivan Heller! King of all knights and a hero of humanity. I am-”

“Shut up! Ivan!” complained Martha, “I am trying to read here.”

Ivan noticed Martha had a wide grin once again,

“Sister, you are smiling again!” Ivan pointed out.

“Whose fault is it?” asks Martha angrily as she glares at Ivan.

Ivan while balancing the big helmet on his head glanced at the deer head.

“Is it his fault?” asked Ivan as he points at the deer with the dusting broom.

Martha just looks away,

“Ugh, nevermind. Just be a little quiet.”

Just when the cabin door swung open and on the doorstep stood the fat man with a bushy mustache.

It was none other than the senior guard who came to the cabin under the captain's order.

He glanced at the Heller younglings and his brows twitched with rage.

“What are you kids doing!” screamed out the senior guard at Martha, “That’s the captain’s seat! Even I haven’t sat it on it yet.”

His eyes then fall on the table and noticed the books and the files.

His eyebrows twitched even more,

“What are you doing with those files, you little brat! These are confidential records, managed by the garrison regiment. It's not a kids plaything.”

The senior guard rushed towards the table and snatched all the files and journals away from Martha.

“I wasn’t doing anything." replied Martha smugly, "I was just looking for some picture books, that’s all,”

“We don’t keep children’s picture book here! This place is not meant for children in the first place!” then he noticed Ivan standing on the bed with the helmet on his head.

His face becomes red with rage.

“You runt! You are standing on the captain’s bed and carefully handover that Helmet at once. Do you even know anything about that significance of that helmet? Do you know who actually owned this helmet?" asked the senior guard angrily.

Ivan just thought for a few seconds,

"I did. This helmet's mine."

"As if we can just hand that to a brat like you! That helmet might look like an old ordinary helmet but it was once by the legendary Sir Almond Brook. His deeds rose all over the country and he used this very helmet while serving as the captain of the garrison regiment during his time. Now that very same helmet is handed out to the next captain as a keepsake and to remember Sir Almond and his heroic deeds. That thing gives every city guard a sense of inspiration for us to become the same as Sir Almond. And now a runt like you playing with that very same helmet. This is an insult to every city guard. Give it back, right now" rambled angry senior guard.

The senior guard tried to snatch the helmet but Ivan dodged and moved away from his clutches,

“Haha! You wanna capture me, if so then you must have to fight me to a battle of death,” said Ivan playfully.

“You brat!” scowled the angry senior guard, he then turned to Martha, "Could you help me out here. Your brother's being a pain."

Although, the senior guard noticed that Martha was once again snooping through other documents that she took out from the shelves.

"You damn little runts!" screamed the senior guard.

****

The captain Julius and Sebastian were strolling on the top of the walls. The walls of Abros city were quite broad and tall, it provided a good view of both the sides inside and the outside of the city. On top of the walls, there were a lot of guard archers stationed every few meters away. They were glancing at Sebastian who was walking along with the captain.

Sebastian noticed that many guards were glaring at him and he felt a bit nervous.

“Umm, sir captain?” said Sebastian, “I think we should go back to the cabin. I think, your men don’t like my presence here.”

The captain noticed the guard soldiers glancing at Sebastian,

“No worries, they are just cautious. You are walking with me with that grinning nervous smile of yours. You look like some vicious fiend that’s plotting something evil. Hahaha!” answered the captain jokingly.

“Sir, that’s not funny.” replied agitated Sebastian.

“Sorry, sorry. That was just my dark humor like always.” said the captain.

“I am actually more worried about Martha and Armin. That’s why I am insisting that we should go back to the cabin.” restated Sebastian.

“You needn’t worry about them. The senior guard, Gregor might be a little handful but he’s one of most capable men. You needn’t worry about them, trust me.” reassured the captain.

Sebastian glanced at the captain for a second,

“If you say so, then I will take you for your word.”

“That’s more like it.” said the captain, “I would rather prefer to sit in my comfy chair and speak with you in the cabin but it was a little bit noisy.”

Sebastian bowed his head,

“I am really sorry for my siblings being a nuisance to you. I-”

“No, no. It’s fine. It’s children’s nature to create a ruckus. You have no need to apologize for that.” replied the captain.

“Thank you.” replied Sebastian, “So what is that you wanted to talk about?”

The captain glanced at Sebastian.

“You are quite strong, lugging that heavy luggage on your own. Now I see why you were chosen to be a knight candidate by Sir Knight Darius.”

Sebastian blushed,

“Oh I am not that strong-” but then Sebastian stopped and got perplexed, “You know Sir Knight Darius?” asked Sebastian with curious eyes.

The captain stopped on his tracks and scratched his head and let out a sigh,

“Well, yeah I know him. I used to work under him this one time.”

Sebastian’s eyes lit up and a genuine smile appeared unlike his normal nervous grin,

“Are you guys friends? And what do you mean work with him, are you also a magic knight?”

“Oi, slowdown. We were not like friends, I just happen to work under him. And no, I am not a magic knight.” replied the captain.

“Uhh... I see” answered Sebastian with a sense of disappointment in his voice.

“Sorry to disappoint you.” replied the captain.

“Oh you don’t need to.” answered Sebastian quickly, “I didn’t mean to be rude.”

The captain then loosened his shoulders,

“No worries, I am not cut out to be one of the magic knights. It was too much hassle anyway. Not to mention Sir Darius himself was quite hard to deal with. Oh, I don’t mean any disrespect-”

“I know right!” answered Sebastian cheerfully, “I trained under him, so I know what you mean. During the training, he also used to work me to the bone. I had to basically fight with him on a one on one duel but he always used to pulverize me to a pulp. During these duels, sometimes I even lose my consciousness, don’t remember anything that happened. Sir Darius would sometimes make me go empty stomach whenever I made any mistakes. So in that way, I can empathize with you.” said Sebastian as he nodded his head.

“Wow! You suffered quite a lot there. I know Sir Darius was strict but that sounds just downright, cruel. He wasn’t that intense when I worked under him.” replied the captain with a worried look.

Although Sebastian had a genuine happy face,

“But he was strict for my sake." replied Sebastian, "Sir Darius might be strict and grumpy but he’s a kind person. I wanna become a magic knight just like him.”

The captain was a bit surprised to see Sebastian’s reaction.

‘Never thought there would be someone that would actually come to like that old man,’ thought the captain as he smiled to himself.

“The way you’re saying, that means that old geezer must be doing well. That’s a relief.” said the captain with a smile.

“Yup, he’s doing great,” answered Sebastian as he nodded his head.

“But its quite surprising that he chose a godson after such a long time. I never thought he would ever pick one again.” said the Captain.

Sebastian was a bit confused.

“God? What?” asked Sebastian.

The captain was a bit surprised,

“I said ‘godson’. You know what I mean, right?”

“Umm?” mumbled Sebastian as he had no clue.

The captain took a sigh and sat on one of the ledges of the wall.

“Don’t tell me. He just trained and sent you to the city to attend the exam, just like that? He didn’t tell you anything else?”

To that Sebastian just smiled nervously and scratched his head.

“I shall take that as a yes.” answered the captain, “Here have a seat.”

Sebastian then sat beside the captain on the ledge of the walls.

“Listen, a high-class magic knight that chooses a candidate for the magic knight exam. That candidate becomes that knight's godson/goddaughter, meanwhile, the knight becomes the candidate's godfather/godmother. In that manner, Sir Darius is your godfather and you, his godson. The strange thing is that Sir Darius hadn’t appointed any godchild in the last 15 years until now. I was certain he would never choose one after what happened with his last godson.” said the captain.

Sebastian was quite shocked.

“Huh? Who and what happened to the last godson?” asked Sebastian curiously.

The captain was surprised.

“What? He hasn’t told you yet?” asked the captain.

“No! Please tell me.”

The captain scratched his head,

“Oh damn, I should have kept my big mouth shut. If sir Darius, himself hasn’t yet decided to tell you, then that’s what’s better for you.”

Sebastian became agitated,

“Please just tell me already. What happened?”

The captain placed his hand on Sebastian’s shoulder,

“It’s better that you hear the whole thing from his mouth than mine, his your godfather after all. I am just an outsider and what I heard were just rumors and tales that I heard from someone else. So it’s better than Sir Darius himself decides to tell you the whole story.”

Sebastian lowered his head,

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Anyway, changing the topic. I heard you will be attending the exam without an enchanted relic. Is that true?” asked the captain.

Sebastian had a perplexed expression,

“Eh… that... That’s actually true.” answered Sebastian.

The captain was quite shocked,

“What really? I know Sir Darius hadn’t chosen any godson for some time but this is really crazy, even for him. I knew you were strong but to participate in the exam without any relic. Are you perhaps have the ability to manipulate mana too? Are you a third or maybe second-generation mage as well?” asked the captain curiously.

Sebastian was quite startled,

“No! No! I don’t have any magic ability at all. All I have just is my brute strength and the combat skills taught by Sir Darius.”

The captain was a little disappointed,

“But just brute strength won’t cut it. Even if you were trained by Sir Darius, there are some limits. Why did Sir Darius did not lend you any enchanted relic? Sending you empty-handed is just outright madness.”

Sebastian started sweating profusely,

“The thing is, I was given an enchanted relic by Sir Darius but I don’t have that, at the moment.”

The captain was quite startled,

“Don’t tell me you lost it? Or was it stolen?” asked the captain.