“As expected, it was all new recruits this time too.”
“Last year we were the ones being punished as well.”
“I remember having to jump into the sea as punishment at the time. I drank so much salt water, I was full afterword.”
The senior knights were all gathered in the field above the cliff, giggling as if they were having a good time. The watched at the riverside as the water fell .The seven people who were to be punished, were grabbed by the other knights and being dragged to the river side.
“They probably didn’t know there would be a surprise training like this, right?”
“We didn’t tell them on purpose, just like the senior knights didn’t tell us last year either.”
It was almost like an annual event where surprise training took place and the new recruits were penalized. Usually, senior knights were more skilled than the new knights who had just joined the team. Therefore, when this type of training took place, it was usually the new recruits who were the victims.
Anyone who joined Philres, would definitely improve their skills significantly. Due to the nature of the knights, there were many opportunities to experience actual combat, but more than anything, it was because the person who trained them was Asher de Phillion. Naturally, the longer a recruit was a part of the knights, the more their skills improved day by day. In addition to the high salary, that was another reason why many people dreamed of joining the Knights of Philres. Of course, Elaine was not among the seven being punished.
“Oh, those two seem quite competent, don’t they?”
“You’re talking about Sir Cezanne and Dame Elaine, right? I saw them earlier, and they looked pretty good, didn’t they? Congratulations on avoiding the penalty.”
Several knights passed Cezanne and Elaine, lightly patting them on the shoulder. There were seven people selected by Ash, and a total of 9 new knights. So, among the new recruits, the two who arrived first were able to avoid becoming victims. Those two people were Elaine and Cezanne.
“Haha, well I barely escaped with some pull ups. Still, thank you for the complement.”
“Thank you.”
Cezanne responded with a cheerful smile, and Elaine politely bowed her head. Then, she made eye contact with Sophia, who was passing by with a group of knights. Although she was not a new recruit, she still had to participate in the training. Sophia looked at Elaine with a disapproving look on her face and then jerked her head away.
“Why is she like that?”
Cezanne frowned slightly. However, soon the two stopped paying attention and watched their comrades being dragged to the waterfall. Among the comrades being dragged away was Able. Cezanne looked at the scene as if looking at strangers and chuckled. Then, as if she had suddenly remembered something, he asked Elaine.
“Oh, by the way, what place did you arrive in? I thought you were here quite a bit before I was, but I couldn’t tell for sure.”
Immediately after Ash has sounded the start of the race, she had left for the forest path. Unlike her, Cezanne was too busy climbing up the cliff that he didn’t see when Elaine had arrived. By the time he was at the top, she was already there.
“Well, I’m not sure. I didn’t count.”
In fact, with skills as good as hers, she could have easily come in first place. However, she thought it would be more appropriate to blend in with the other knights, so she arrived at the destination later. She didn’t want to attract unnecessary attention because she was a newcomer by coming in first place. That was why she chose the forest path instead of the cliff.
‘Volunteering as an escort knight already attracted a lot of attention, but it was a necessary action.’
She didn’t have intentions of hiding her skills when necessary, but she was not going to flaunt them either. If she had to, she would reveal some, but not everything. If she showed everything she could do, it would be revealed that she was more than a mere human.
Elaine thought about it and shook her head. This was just the beginning.
“One, two, three!”
“Ugh!”
Suddenly, seven knights were thrown into the water, one after another.
The days were still quite chilly, so the river was very cold. Those who were thrown into the water were soaked from head to toe. Seeing them dripping wet, the knights around held their stomachs as they burst into laughter. Elaine could also hear Cezanne laughing right next to her. He soon joined the knights teasing the victims. Able, who was offended by the way he was jeering at them so openly, grabbed him by the collar.
“Huh? Wait a minute!”
Cezanne then lost his balance for a moment and fell into the water. Just like before, when the knights saw Cezanne coming out of the water, they burst into laughter again. Cezanne protested with an aggrieved expression, but the knights only intensified their teasing at the sight.
Ash, who watched the scene with crossed arms, clicked his tongue as if he pitied the new recruits. Then he decided to end the commotion. They had to finish hunting for food and setting up the barracks before the sun set. There were no servants accompanying them on the training camp. Whether it was meals or laundry, they had to do everything themselves.
After setting up their respective barracks, the knights went hunting to find food for the evening.
“This should be enough food to last a few weeks.”
When Elaine had returned from hunting, most of the knights was almost done. Seeing the large number of wild animals piled up on one side of the camp, she knew they were all hunted by the others.
Ash glanced in that direction.
“Its only natural since each of them are master-level knights. Even if it looks like weeks’ worth of food, it will all disappear by the end of the training camp.”
He spoke with confidence, recalling previous years. Elaine asked back, in a surprised voice.
“They’re going to eat all of that?”
“They have big appetites, so they have to eat a lot.”
Ash replied as if it was no big deal. Well, they were training hard, so their food intake would be quite remarkable. Elaine thought so as she walked with Ash to the center of the training camp.
Darkness fell earlier in the mountains than normal. Before everyone knew it, it was getting dark, and a large bonfire was lit in the center of the camp. The knights all sat together around the bonfire.
They were all hungry due to the all the activities in the day. The knights grilled the barbecue in excitement, drooling at the thought of tearing into the meat. When the seasoning was sprinkled onto the meat, it smelt even more appetizing. Once it was finished cooking to a certain degree of brownness, they began to dig in.
“As expected, delicious!”
Together with the meat, they drank wine from Brühl. It was a specialty product from the northern Brühl region, and was famous for its taste, especially when paired with meat. The alcohol content was very low, so there was no need to worry about getting drunk. Whenever they went to training camp, they would deliberately bring it to have with their barbecue.
In addition, because the taste of the Brühl wine would change quickly when in contact with air, the wine was sealed tightly, with a special type of lid. To open the lid, a sharp tool was required, such as a small knife. If done incorrectly you could cut yourself with the knife, or the sharp edges of the lid when opened.
At that time, Ash picked up a bottle of wine to drink. His straight fingers grasped the lid. When Elaine saw this, her body moved on its own.
“Sir, please give that to me.”
Just before Ash had the chance to open the bottle with a knife, Elaine, who had said that, took the bottle from him. She had grabbed it so quickly, he didn’t even have a chance to protest. Then, with the cool sound of the lid being opened, a fragrant scent entered the air.
“Here you go.”
“…”
She handed the neatly opened bottle back to Ash. He was speechless for a moment and looked at the wine bottle that was being held out to him. Soon, irritation flashed in his eyes.
“Dame Elaine, what do you think you are doing?”
“Oh, that’s because the lid looked sharp.”
She answered with a bright voice. Ash, who was about to say more, frowned, and ran his hand down his face, sighing quietly.
“…I can at least open the lid.”
The knights around them had all witnessed this scene. Their eyes were wide open in shock, forgetting to even chew the meat in their mouths. Some people even even choked on their food.
It was understandable. They had never seen anyone treat Ash so freely, and in such a friendly manner. The way she treated him, shocked the group. How could someone treat the Duke of Killiard, the greatest knight in the kingdom, the sharpest of blades, like a child?
They had known she was no ordinary woman ever since she had volunteered to be the Duke’s bodyguard and escort knight, but they had never thought she would behave like this. Moreover, she remained so calm even in front of the Duke who seemed uncomfortable.
The knights all had the same thought.
‘That woman is not normal!’
Elaine, completely unaware of what was going through everyone’s mind, watched with pride as Ash poured wine into a glass. Her perspective of Ash had changed a bit since the last incident, but her body still moved on instinct when she was with him.
She kept wanting to take care of everything, unable to leave him alone. It was an unconscious behavior that even she was unaware of.
“Here, have this.”
At that time, Ash offered her a drink. The wine he had poured was very sweet. She put down the glass and took off one of the legs on her plate placing it on Ash’s plate. She then started to pull off the soft flesh from the bone on another piece, also trying to place it on his plate.
“Please eat this.”
“Enough. I can do it myself.”
Another small struggle took place. This time, the knights who witnessed the event couldn’t tell whether they were putting their food into their mouths, or noses.
“Oh my god…”
Whispers spread around the campfire. Elaine was paying so much attention to her meal, she paid no mind to those around her. She had already dismembered one of the torsos and was in the process of doing the same to another.
She seemed to be eating very happily. Ash looked at her in amusement.
“You’re eating very well.”
Elaine, who had been gnawing on a bone, opened her eyes wide. Was she eating too much like a pig? Ashe added on, before she could misunderstand.
“I just thought it looked like you were enjoying the meal. Do you like to eat meat?”
“Ah, yes. I love it!”
She nodded her head and smiled. In fact, she just enjoyed eating in general. She ate everything well, but she did especially love eating meat.
In the past, she used to travel around the country looking for good restaurants. Even after Bella had married Lloyd, she had often traveled alone.
“What kinds of food do you like?”
After asking, she realized again, she really didn’t know much about Ash. The only things she had known, were from his childhood.
What kind of person had he grown into over the past years she had missed? What were the things that made him into the person he is now? She would like to know. What he likes, what he dislikes, his hobbies, his tastes, happy things, sad things, everything.
“I guess… I don’t really have a certain preference for food type.”
“But isn’t there anything you dislike eating more than others?”
Something he likes or dislikes. Ashe was generally very firm in his opinions. However, it was rare for someone to ask him this question. Since he was a child, he was not in a position where he could ask for anything in particular.
He stared into the crackling bonfire and answered.
“If I had to choose, I guess I would prefer clean food over greasy food.”
“I see.”
Elaine nodded diligently and filed away the new information into her mind. At the same time, a list of restaurants that Ash might like came to mind. Of course, it had been 20 years, so she didn’t know if they still existed at this time. Aside from good restaurants, there were many places that she wanted to go with him.
Would there come a day they would be able to go on a trip together?
When she raised her head, she made eye contact with Ash. The fire light illuminated his handsome face, as if it had been sculpted. Was this what it felt like to feel full off of beauty? She closed her eyes and smiled slightly.
That night, after eating, the knights went to sleep in their respective barracks. Knights who had reached the level of master did not need anyone to guard them. With full stomachs, sleep came quickly. The sound of breathing coming from the tents gradually became even.
At that time, when everyone had entered into sweet dreams, in the quiet camp, where the moon had risen, only the sound of grasshoppers and breathing could be heard.
Thud.
A sudden noise broke the peace.
Kwoong, kwoong
A loud roar then shook the cliff.
