Adventure of Exiles

***

Felix pushed Lukas into the dirt. He twirled his wooden practice dagger.

“Sloppy! Your moves were sloppy, and your defense was awful, fledging!” Jakob yelled from the side.

“Tsk. I won didn’t I?” Felix shot back.

“It doesn’t matter if you won. It matters in how you win. The process over the results.”

Felix shook his head.

A different day. Same shit. Felix was glad to see Noah back up and about when he checked up on him. He was less than pleased to see Lukas again.

Lukas groaned as he got back up. He then dusted himself off.

“Are you okay? We can stop for the day.” Felix said.

“No. I have to keep going. I have to keep training.” Lukas said as he went to pick up his claymore.

“You’ve been at it all day. You’re going collapse at this rate. It’s getting dark.”

He was starting to feel bad about beating him. Lukas was competent but unexciting.

Lukas looked at Felix, there was a fire in his eyes. “I have to become a knight.”

Felix shrugged, “suit yourself. Whenever you are ready.”

Lukas went on the attack again.

Felix easily dodged the strike.

“Focus. Watch his movements. Study your enemy.” Jakob said.

Lukas came on again, Felix sidestepped.

Felix countered with his own thrusts and strikes.

Lukas was a large and tough target, but Felix was small and fast.

It was only a matter of time.

Felix knocked the blade away and then hit Lukas with his elbow.

“Argh!” Lukas groaned.

“Again. Faster!” Jakob said.

Lukas picked up his sword and attacked.

Felix stepped forward to stab when Lukas swung his sword.

Felix managed to block the strike and then push him away.

Lukas was breathing heavy, Felix had him.

Felix came back on the attack, swinging his blade with a forward momentum. Lukas was on the defensive.

Felix was just about to make a killing blow when he looked up just for a moment to see Lukas eyes burned with burning passion.

Felix hesitated.

That gave Lukas a chance, he swung his claymore at Felix.

Felix blocked Lukas’s claymore strike and while locked in with the blades, Lukas then punched him.

That caught him by surprise.

“Fuck!” Felix said as he fell.

Damn. The strike had some force behind it.

“Good job, Lukas!” Jakob shouted.

“Sorry.” Lukas said and reached out a hand.

Felix grabbed his hand and was pulled back up.

“Not bad.” Felix said.

Lukas after helping Felix back up put his hands on his knees. He had a look of disbelief on his face.

“Hey, kid. You did good. You did really good.” Felix patted him on the back.

“Now, come on. It’s late and I’m hungry come on let’s get some dinner. We don’t want you to stay out too late and train yourself into a husk.”

“Yeah. My dad won’t be happy if I’m not home.” Lukas said.

“I’m glad you realize that.” Felix replied.

Lukas nodded, “my father is scary when he’s mad.”

“That’s one way of putting it. The fool is a dishonorable scum and was a stubborn asshole. A drunk too. I suppose I shouldn’t expect anything better from a mangy dog from the Crimson Wolves.” Jakob said darkly.

Felix scratched the back of his head, “Well it’s not like the Order of the Raven is any better. We are carrion feasting on conflict.”

“We have rules. Respect. Not like those bastards.”

Felix sighed, can’t really argue with an old veteran.

“You go on ahead, Felix. I’ll help clean up here. I’ll meet you for dinner at the Whispering Oak Inn.” Lukas intervened.

Felix shrugged.

Felix worked his way through Kurkenburg.

The town has been becoming quite familiar to him.

He has learned a couple shortcuts and even some back alleyways.

He was starting to get into it the rhythm of the country life.

He waited outside Whispering Oak Inn.

Felix looked over to his left. One of the local boys, Matteo was surrounded by four other boys.

It was clear he was getting bullied. Felix was familiar with what was happening. Having grown up a poor boy living with a single mother back in Breslow.

Normally Felix would look away. It wasn’t his problem.

Not like he would get paid for helping either.

But for some reason he thought of Lisa.

Lisa would not let it go and would try to help him.

She would probably yell at him for not helping.

He could already see her stupid dumb face.

Felix shook his head and walked over to the boys.

“You know the rules, Matteo.” One boy said.

Matteo tried to push through, “I don’t care. I just want to eat. I’m hungry.”

“Hey, what is going on here?” Felix asked.

“Get lost!” The boy shouted.

“Yeah, this isn’t your business. Fuck off!” Another one chimed in.

“Wrong response, buddies.” Felix said.

“We aren’t afraid of you. You may be a tough mercenary, but you wouldn’t dare.”

Felix chuckled, “you couldn’t possibly further wrong. I’ll hit a child any day.”

And like that Felix smacked him right in the cheek and then punched him in the stomach.

As he was folding over Felix grabbed him by the shirt and threw him into the other boys.

He stumbled up to his feet and the boys ran.

“Come on back boys for round two any day! Don’t be shy!” Felix yelled at they fled.

Matteo watched them run.

“T-thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it, kid. Now, get going.”

Matteo ran off.

He turned around to see Lukas looking at him.

“How much of that did you see?” Felix asked.

“Enough.”

“Well, whatever.”

“It feels good. To do good, right? I mean I wouldn’t have been so rough to children but still.”

Felix just shrugged, “let’s go inside.”

Lukas followed him.

Felix was hungry and thirsty. He needed some alcohol.

Eileen came over to take their order.

“How’s it going Felix? You not letting my husband abuse you right?”

“I’m doing fine. And your husband is a tough old bird.”

She laughed, “Of course he is. Same as always. What can I get you two?”

He ordered a juicy steak with a mug of beer.

Lukas got a fried bass with greens.

Eileen soon returned with the hot and fresh dishes.

“So why you are so dead set on becoming a knight anyways?” Felix asked as he ate.

“Well, there are people in my life I want to make proud.”

“I suppose that’s good enough reason as any.”

“I want to save people.”

“Like a hero?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Pfft. Heroes.”

“What? What’s wrong with that?”

“In my experience heroes don’t exist. Only people. Those who talked a big game about being a hero on the battlefield tended to die much more quickly than the rest. As they lay there dying, only at the end some realize how foolish it all was.”

Lukas hand curled into a fist, “No. You are wrong. There are those who lead the way. Those who protect the weak and bring hope. There are many out there. They are fighting against the darkness.”

Felix shrugged, “hey don’t let me ruin your fun. I’m not telling you what to do.”

Lukas was silent as Felix kept eating.

He then spoke, those fiery eyes again.

“The children of this town. They look up to me. I want to live up to their expectations. I want to become a knight if not for me. For them at least. To lead the way and bring hope.”

“Alright. You are going to be a knight. I believe you. But don’t be naive. People can be cruel. Especially the nobility. I would know, they hired us ravens out for some nasty business.”

“I know that.” Lukas said with a sigh. “There was a boy his name was Aldo. He was constantly sick. He would cough a lot. Some kids teased him. We would look for clams together on the beach. He gave me his drawing of a knight in shining armor, what he wanted to be. He died of fever a few years back but even now, I never stopped thinking about him. I just have to become a knight a beacon of hope in his place.”

Felix sighed and took a big drink of his beer.

Just then his shoulders shook, he looked back to see Michael.

“What’s wrong? Emily kicked you out of house?”

“No, this is my usual grabbing drinks and playing cards.”

“Aren’t you getting too comfortable with country life?”

“It’s fine, isn’t it? This town is a good place. I can take a break from my duties. It’s just like a vacation.”

Felix laughed, “vacation? You were the one complaining earlier.”

“Well, I changed my mind. Also, you are right we been here for months and haven’t seen anyone from the Military Grand Council in this town.”

“There is a chance the commissioner will come to in town.”

“Then I will have to deal with him.”

“If someone comes, I’ll be there. I’ll help you.”

“Don’t be foolish, Felix. I don’t need a child’s help. Besides we will probably just end up avoiding him and be fine.”

Felix shrugged, “alright, whatever.”

Michael went off and joined his card game.

Felix finished up his food.

He went outside, it was a chilly evening.

Lukas followed him.

“You don’t have to walk me home, I know the way.”

“I know. I still rather have the company.”

They were walking down the streets of Kurkenburg in silence. It gave some time for Felix to reflect.

“I don’t think you are wrong in wanting to be a hero. Personally, I just don’t see the appeal. I’ve been a mercenary for a long time, seen many people. People aren’t simple good or evil. Just people. But I see you are trying hard enough you might just prove me wrong.” Felix said to break the silence.

“I understand. I still want to help people and fight for justice.”

“Just don’t lose sight of the reality. People will use your kindness and exploit you.”

“I’ll be careful. I promise. I’ll be leaving soon for Lipsia soon. So, I can begin my training in earnest with the Knights of Sachsen.”

Felix grunted in acknowledgement.

They kept walking for a bit.

Felix paused, “this is where our paths divert.”

He then extended his hand out to Lukas, “good luck in your future endeavors.”

“Thank you, Felix. Take care of yourself. Next time we see each other, I’ll be a proper knight.”

Felix chuckled, “looking forward to it.”

They shook hands and Felix waved goodbye as Lukas disappeared into the night.