Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 33: Chapter

The voice snapped Maxi out of her unpleasant reverie. She turned around to see two youths in black tunics looking at her with puzzled expressions. Recognizing them as two of the squires she had seen at the banquet, she straightened up. The youths greeted her with their hands on their chests and bowed respectfully.

“No need to be alarmed, my lady. We just wanted to make sure that you were all right.”

“I-It’s all right. Thank you, oh...”

Unsure of what to call the young squire, Maxi shifted her eyes uncertainly. The handsome, silver-haired youth quickly introduced himself.

“Please pardon my late introduction, my lady. I am Ulyseon Rovar, and I will be knighted next year.”

The tall youth who had been standing awkwardly next to him followed suit.

“Garrow Livakion, my lady. I am to be knighted on the same day as my friend here.”

“I-I am Maximilian C-Calypse.”

She looked at them awkwardly, feeling silly at having introduced herself when they already knew her. Ulyseon flashed her a reassuring smile.

“Were you taking a stroll, my lady?”

“N-No... I was j-just inspecting the castle.”

Ulyseon’s face turned serious. “We may be inside the safety of these walls, but it’s still dangerous for you to wander on your own, my lady. The castle has been seeing more visitors lately, and if an accident were to occur...” f𝐫𝑒𝗲𝙬𝒆𝚋𝐧૦𝘃𝗲l.c𝚘𝘮

“An a-accident?”

Her voice came out shaky, which in turn sent the youth into a fluster.

“It was not my intention to scare you. I was just concerned... Oh! Would you allow me to escort you, my lady?”

“I-It’s all right. I don’t want to t-take your t-time...”

“It is an honor for a knight to serve a lady. I may not be a knight yet, but I’m prepared to protect you with my life!”

His fervor took Maxi by surprise. As she took a step back, Garrow elbowed him in the ribs.

“Stop exaggerating, Uly.”

“I’m always true to my words!” Ulyseon exclaimed.

But the sound of his own shout seemed to convince him that he was overreacting. He cleared his throat and addressed Maxi in a calmer voice.

“In any case, you mustn’t walk around alone. If you’d like, I can call the guards to escort you.”

“I’m just t-taking a walk... There’s n-no need to g-go that far...”

“These walls do not guarantee safety, my lady! If something were to happen, I would never be able to face Lord Calypse...”

Ulyseon’s face turned pale at his own words.

“If this w-worries you so, then p-please...”

The squire’s face lit up instantly.

“Where should I escort you, my lady?”

“I-I was on my w-way to the forge...”

“What a coincidence! That’s where we were headed. Allow me to lead the way.”

Ulyseon took the lead with a spring in his steps. Garrow shrugged and followed. Maxi hesitated, then began to follow with quiet steps.

The young squire’s warm attention was refreshing. Though Riftan was caring, his manner was brusque. Ruth was sharp-tongued and never minced his words, while the rest of the knights simply ignored her existence.

They must be fifteen years old, or sixteen at most.

“Do you have some special business in the forge?”

“Nothing in p-particular, b-but I heard that m-merchants visit less d-during w-winter... And I wanted to see i-if they n-needed anything.”

“We were going to the forge because my sword broke during practice,” Ulyseon replied cheerfully, pointing at the sword strapped on his belt. “It’s embarrassing to admit, but this is the second time it’s happened this month. The blacksmith scolds me whenever he sees me.”

He blushed slightly, and Maxi smiled at his candor. His eagerness to please made her a little uncomfortable, but she could see that he was a kind, sincere young man.

“At this rate, I’ll never become a tenth of the knight Sir Riftan is. Not even the tips of his feet.”

“We’ll be Remdragon Knights next year, Uly. Aren’t you setting the bar too low for yourself?”

“Garrow, you don’t understand how incredible Sir Riftan is. Forget one-tenth! Becoming even one-hundredth of the knight he is would be a notable achievable!”

“Is it now?”

Garrow had clearly had enough of his companion’s worship of Riftan. Maxi, however, looked pleased.

“Is R-Riftan really so a-accomplished a knight?”

“Accomplished doesn’t come close to describing him!” Ulyseon looked at her incredulously. “Sir Riftan is truly the greatest among knights. He isn’t called Wigrew’s reincarnation for nothing! Only five knights in the continent have received that honor, and two of them were defeated at his hands. He beat Sir Sejuleu Aren of Livadon during a sword fighting competition six years ago, and Sir Kuahel Leon of Osiriya not long ago!”

Maxi smiled uncertainly. She had heard the name of the Temple Knights commander on several occasions, but she had had little idea of his renown or of Riftan’s for having defeated such a man.

“I decided to become a knight after seeing Sir Riftan’s swordsmanship in a competition. I’ve admired him ever since!”

“I-I see...” whispered Maxi, unsure of how she should react.

Ulyseon frowned at her lukewarm reaction.

“It seems you’re unfamiliar with your husband’s greatness, my lady.”

“I d-do know! He f-felled the d-dragon...”

“He was a great knight even before the Dragon Campaign. Have you ever seen him wield a sword, my lady?”

“O-Of course I have! I s-saw him fighting off m-monsters...”

She trailed off, unsure that she could claim to have seen anything. The first time, she had fainted, and the second time, everything was over before she realized what had transpired. Reluctant to give the impression that she knew nothing about her own husband, she filled the gaps in her memory with embellishments.

...

“I-I saw Riftan c-cutting a full g-grown giant in half! I s-saw it with m-my own eyes! T-Ten giants attacked us, and he g-got rid of them a-all in the b-blink of an eye!”

In truth, she could not remember how many monsters there had been. But she stubbornly maintained her pretense, certain that there had been no fewer than ten. Two pairs of eyes began to sparkle in awe.

“Ten giant ogres! Did he really?”

“What an incredible tale! Could you tell us more?”

Maxi flinched. She could tell from the squires’ eager faces that they expected an epic tale, but she had already said too much to admit the truth. She desperately racked her brain for heroic tales that bards had told.

“W-We were in the c-carriage when we h-heard a f-ferocious roar! It was t-terribly loud, loud enough to t-tear the sky a-asunder! I th-thought the s-sky had c-come crashing down. I stood p-paralyzed, but R-Riftan jumped off the c-carriage, sword ready in hand. H-He moved so f-fast, I didn’t even s-see him d-draw it.”

“No one can beat Sir Riftan at drawing swords!” Ulyseon exclaimed excitedly. “His enemies spurt blood from necks before they’ve even seen his blade flash.”

The nightmare-inducing scene was but a delightful tale to the youths. Maxi found this unsettling, but she carried on.

“Th-There were t-ten giants as big as this castle. All the kn-knights drew their swords, and R-Riftan led the attack. He s-swung his sword at the b-biggest giant, and w-with a f-flash of light...”

She squinted, trying to remember. What was it that Ulyseon had said?

“The m-monster’s head rolled onto the g-ground, and it started spurting b-blood from its n-neck!”

...

“Of course! Sir Riftan’s blade aura can even cut through Dragon’s Breath!” Ulyseon interjected excitedly. “A mere ogre is nothing!”

With shining eyes, the squires waited for her to continue. They showed no sign of frustration at her stuttering. Their enthusiasm fueled her excitement, and she began to swing an imaginary sword.

“Seeing its k-kin slain, another g-giant let out a d-deafening roar. It swung a c-club as th-thick as this tree at R-Riftan! B-But Riftan jumped high like an eagle taking f-flight and dodged the b-blow!”

She smiled inwardly, commending her own choice of words.

“The giant w-was too s-slow and struck the ground with its c-club. The earth sh-shook with every b-blow!”

She swung her arms and pretended to strike the ground. The squires tensed their shoulders expectantly. Maxi, who had never seen anyone so engrossed by her words, grew even more exhilarated.

“Riftan b-brandished h-his sword again! A sudden f-flash, and the ogre’s arm dropped to the g-ground, s-sliced clean like a s-sausage! And b-blood...”

Having noticed that the youths’ eyes sparkled with renewed excitement at each mention of blood, she raised her arms and began to shout dramatically.

“B-Blood p-poured down like rain when the g-giant shook its s-severed stump! A rain of b-black blood!”

“And it took us half a day to wash that blood off us.”

Maxi stopped flailing her arms and froze.