You Forced Me To Do This

Along the bustling streets and fierce markets, a building stood amidst the common houses, taller, grander, and by all means resilient.

On the Midnight Street where the selection was previously held, a preceptory towered with its mighty stone walls.

It was three floors tall, with fortified windows and entrances meant for strength rather than looks.

The structure looked more like a square stone pillar, given how dull it looked from outside.

At the entrance, various knights walked in and out of it, some wearing silver armour adorned in colors of blue and light blue, some wearing light clothes, with the only distinguishing feature being their trained builds and weapons they carried by their side.

The stench of carbon still lingered around it, not yet erased by the scent of newly bought wares and perfume worn by the passersby.

Two knights stood out in particular, wearing heavy steel armour with a thin slit for their eyes to distinguish friend from foe. Both of them held a giant halberd as tall as them, with a black handle and dark iron making up the blade.

On their shoulders, an engraving of an obsidian rose in thorns was glowing like a mark, a symbol of the Sky Rose Knights that oversaw and protected the cradle since its founding.

Before long, Noah appeared from within the crowds of people walking by, his navy hair catching one of the guards' attention as he lowered his head.

"Greetings, Noah."

Looking up from his freshly bought pastry, Noah wiped away the powder stuck to his cheek before narrowing his eyes and breaking into a bright smile.

"Harry!" He exclaimed in surprise, nudging him in the armour with his fist. "I didn't know it was your turn to stand guard, I thought you were supposed to train with Lillith by now."

The other guard watching the two wanted to intervene, but Harry raised his hand before lowering it and nodding, making the man stand down and resume his stance.

From beneath his visor, a pair of hazel eyes looked down at him warmly.

"It's good you remembered. I did hope to meet you there as well, but the previous guard had to deal with some crazed vendor; he's been sitting here and yelling how ungrateful we are. Something along the lines of one of the knights hating his food and giving him a bad reputation?"

Seeing something stir behind his visor, Noah figured the man responsible for the commotion was quite a problem for the knights; just because someone was stirring trouble on the street did not mean he would get arrested. On the other hand, if it escalated into something more, not only the knight but also the people would be held accountable by the high noble overseeing the district.

"Also, the Knight Marshal called for Lillith around an hour ago; she was asking about you and the boy you brought."

"I see... Did the Marshal call for me as well?"

To that, Harry shook his head.

"No, she only mentioned Lillith's name, but she did want me to tell you that, if you could, visit them in your spare time and bring him along with his caretaker."

"Seriously?!"

"Hm?"

Noah's shoulders slumped, the pastry in his hands almost slipping from his fingers as he caught it with his other hand and stuffed it into his mouth, the guard watching.

Licking his fingers, he spoke.

"Never mind that; I will go there right away. I only came because I forgot something at the quarters."

Nodding in understanding, Harry stepped away from his path and gestured with his tall halberd to go in.

"Very well. Just don't forget your head next time."

Noah grinned, placing his hand on the pommel of his sword.

"Always by my side!"

- Sigh.

As he passed through, a well-known feeling washed over his body, like walking through a thin layer of water.

His eyes turned to the side, at the gate he had just walked through. In the middle of it, a thin line of glowing gemstones glowed inside it, creating a barely perceivable doorway that let him through and marked his presence.

I hope Kyle doesn't miss me too much...

He looked back, barely catching a glimpse of the outside and the construction site far, far away, where the dragons were resting, his expression warming up at the thought of his wyvern waiting patiently for his return.

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I still have yet to apologise to him; I didn't know wyverns could get so jealous.

Ever since he met Valentine, Kyle seemed strangely reluctant to let Noah go meet the boy. Of course, he was a complete stranger, but the guy lost his memories! He couldn't just let him go around clueless about everything around him!

Heck, he might have even started to fight other knights if not for him beating some sense into him.

He'll be fine.

"Oh, hi Noah!"

Someone suddenly greeted him, making him look up and see another knight apprentice walking by with a smile on his face.

"Hello!" He waved back, making the knight chuckle and resume walking off somewhere.

Noah's hand slowly fell before turning into soft fists.

Now... to get 'that'.

With confident steps, he hurried off to his quarters immediately!

***

"I have to go somewhere... again!?"

Valentine groaned as he slumped back into the bench, his body limp.

"Why can't I take a breather after this damn thing! I just woke up!"

"Those were the orders from Knight Marshal Aurora herself. I do not know the details, but I've heard that you're not the only one being called in."

His head slumped forward, lazily hanging as his eyes looked up, barely noting Noah.

"You're wearing armour now."

"Indeed I am."

"I thought it was your day off."

"Time's changed."

"Is this something similar to the selection? If so, I decline."

From the side, Ramona stepped forward, turning her head in Valentine's direction.

"It seems you haven't understood that your choice doesn't matter. Orders from someone of her rank cannot be ignored, especially not by someone like you who has yet to be considered a civilian."

"Why?!" He let out another groan, hiding his face in his palms. "Ugh, fuck it, I hate this so much."

With a complicated expression, Noah stooped to Valentine's eye level, trying to comfort him.

"Listen, Valentine. I understand that you might still be shaken from what happened during selection. I won't ask what you had to go through to pass it, but I trust that it wasn't easy."

He placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, his heavy glove hard against his skin.

"You survived it. That's what matters and what you should focus on."

His grip turned firmer.

"Using the powers of Ignis is what you were destined for, because the moment you opened your eyes to the sparks, the world chose you to chase them."

The boy remained quiet, holding his face in his palms. It seemed that his mind could not be changed; people can't be forced to do something they don't want to, and Noah's short speech seemed to have no effect on Valentine, who hid away from him.

Letting out a long sigh, the knight stood up, his armour scraping softly.

Turning to Ramona, his eyes seemed to convey something that the woman understood immediately, nodding simultaneously with him.

The next moment...

"W-Wait a damn second! Let go of me, you bastard!"

Lifting his body with ease, Noah held a firm hold over Valentine, throwing him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

There was no change of expression, just a cold, thin line on his lips and a pair of squinting eyes that barely stayed open during Valentine's thrashing. His feet kicked the solid armour, and his hands tried to pull on the knight's scalp to make him let go.

But as if he could not feel any pain, he established his hold around his torso and walked out of the chapel with Ramona trailing beside him.

Ignoring his screams, the woman laughed quietly in amusement.

"You have quite the way with words; I'll give you that, Noah."

"I'm honoured to hear that, Miss Ramona."

Despite the strange looks they received from people and Valentine thrashing like a baby, they made their way back to the preceptory, where Aurora was awaiting their arrival with new orders...

*Preceptory is a community of the Knights Templar, or the physical buildings or estate of such a community. Information from wiki.*