“My life is over.” Said Ludwig letting out a loathsome cry. “When I said I wanted to be an imperial knight, I didn’t mean like this.”
“It’ll be okay.” Said the woman sitting on the bench next to him, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
She had short brown hair, and was wearing a loose shirt with a leather jacket and pants. In front of the two were a few large luggage bags, on top of which was a pair of sheathed swords.
Screeeeeeeee!
Not far behind them the crystal engine of the locomotive cried. The massive crystal was roughly in the shape of a cylinder, cut rough and jagged like a raw gem. A faint blue glow emanated from within. At the back half of the locomotive was a cabin, from which appeared the engineer, who reeled out strands of metal cable from within.
A group of men dressed in fine coats walked over beside the train, catching the cables thrown from the cabin. They divided the strands, and rolled up a sleeve. Each man inserted a wire into a metal port carved into their forearms.
The battery operators. Even that seems better than this.
He thought to himself
People of common birth could not often afford schooling, especially for magic, they also often lacked the time to dedicate to a knight’s training. Despite that some people were still born with a large amount of innate mana. Such people often had two major choices for a career, either join the army as a fusilier or artilleryman, or become a battery operator.
Both offered attractive pay, but the battery operator profession was preferred by many. The large crystal locomotive engines created by artificers took a long time to gather mana, their source of power, from the surrounding environment. The issue however, could be mitigated by having humans provide a transfusion of mana. The battery men did just that, act as batteries for the incoming trains, it was a leisurely job, but also one with exorbitant benefits.
Damn. I bet they’re getting paid more than what the black knights offer.
Ludwig held his head in his hands as he bent over on the bench in despair.
“Imagine how I feel.” Said the woman as she maneuvered her arm positioned on the man’s shoulder. “I used to be part of the prestigious 68th chapter, the Stone Tower knights, but because of one minor incident they exiled me to the 111th chapter.”
The 111th chapter, the Black Ram knights. The cursed chapter was what Ludwig and many others referred to it as. In the Empire the number 111 was seen as unlucky or even a taboo at times. For many it referred to the first day of the eleventh month, the Empire’s national day of mourning, and the day in which the first emperor had died.
Even their insignia a black ram, was a mockery, a reference to the unwanted wool of a black sheep. The symbol of the misfits. It was similarly known as a group of knights unwanted by all other chapters and territorial lords, but of those too skilled to be thoughtlessly discarded.
“Why’d she have to send me here. I didn’t think I was this hated.” He continued to moan, unaware of the woman’s hand reaching into his coat pocket.
Ludwig Brilmith had been a knight squire of the Fouchett ducal house. There he had been considered a prodigy, a talent that had not been seen in generations. Despite having a promising future serving under one of the Empire’s most influential lords, Ludwig had longed to join the Imperial Knights.
Unlike the forces of territorial lords, the 120 chapters of knights served directly under the emperor, royalty, and parliament, a direct extension of their authority. A position of extreme prestige, all of course barring the 111th chapter.
For reasons Ludwig did not comprehend, the 8th Imperial princess, Rosaline had offered her patronage to the black knights. Though she was one of the many children of the emperor, she was the daughter of the empress, not of his consort wives, and the niece of the Fouchett duchess. The young woman was able to wield a considerably large influence.
He knew she was the one who had pulled the strings and sent him to the black knights, but he did not know why. He struggled to recall a time he had caused her any offense, but could not think of anything.
Surely I must have done something to be worthy of this punishment.
Ludwig turned his gaze upwards and away from his feet. Ascending the steps on the far end of the platform was a giant man, with black painted armor.
Ludwig swallowed. He suddenly felt a lot less inclined to insult the black knights.
The woman beside him gave him a pat on the back, looking behind the man, towards the hand that held his wallet.
“You should probably put it back.” Said a voice next to her ear. “You two are going to become comrades going forward.”
Both of them shifted their attention. Looking instead to the small faerie sitting on the woman's shoulder.
“Hey! You bitch.” Said Ludwig grabbing the wrist that led to the hand clutched at his wallet.
“For someone who wants to be a knight you sure seem to lack awareness.”
She gave a smirk and let go of the leather wallet. Ludwig in turn let go of her wrist and caught it before it touched the ground.
While his awareness may have slipped, his reflexes were still exceptional.
“Enough.” Interrupted the faerie.
Her tone carried her annoyance, but it was hard to convey authority with such a light and soft voice.
“Fiona Redclay.” Said a rumbling baritone voice. That gave a stark contrast when heard next to the faerie.
The armored giant had already approached the group. He peered beyond the metal bars of his helmet and towards a sheet of paper that looked misplaced in his massive hands.
“I can see why you were sent to us.” He continued. “Ludwig Brilmith, looks to be the one your girlfriend sent.”
He turned his gaze down towards the faerie.
“She's royalty, keep talking like that and you'll be lucky to keep your head.”
“Hahaha.” A disturbing and low laugh echoed out from beyond the helmet.
What Is going on?
“I suppose an introduction is in order.” Said the small woman as she departed from Fiona’s shoulder.
She flew into the air, floating just above the head height of those on the bench.
“I am Aubrey, chapter captain for the 111th knight order.”
Ludwig knew about the chapter captain, despite being ridiculed by many as a disgrace and labeled the fake Swordmaster, she had a strong connection with the 8th princess.
No last name. She must have been removed from the Obertin family.
On the other hand Fiona had only ever heard about Aubrey through rumors, rumors that she never fully believed. Experiencing a belated shock she could not help but stare with a mystified expression at a creature she had never seen before.
“This man here is Marcus the vice captain.” She said with a gesture to the man behind her.
“Do you plan on testing these two?” He replied.
“Not yet. From what I’ve seen neither of their skills should be lacking. The only real concern is the thief.” She said, turning her eyes back to Fiona. “And on another note..”
She flew over to and in front of Ludwig.
“The princess should have given you a package for me.”
“Ah, yes.” Said Ludwig, startled by the woman who floated not far from his eyes. “Let me get it.”
Reaching into one of the large suitcases before him he produced a small and flat wooden box. It looked to have at one point been a box for cigars, but any signs of branding had since been removed.
With the box still held firmly in Ludwig’s hands, Aubrey used her sword to flick open the latch. The lid of the case flipped upwards in response to the small but powerful strike. Inside was a letter encased in a paper envelope, and below it a pile of neatly folded clothes.
She flew closer standing on the edge of the box, and began inspecting the outfits. She picked up a piece of cloth and it unfolded out into a long red dress. Despite her size the dress fit normally in her grasp. It looked to have even been tailored perfectly to her proportions, including holes in the back for her wings.
“Hahhh.”
Aubrey let out a sigh.
“I have no right to complain about having an imperial princess as my exclusive tailor, but even just once I really wish she could make me a pair of pants.”
“I have no right to complain about having an imperial princess as my exclusive tailor, but even just once I really wish she could make me a pair of pants.”
So, basically the princess's personal doll.
lol not entirely inaccurate