For Our Cherished One

Chapter 3: Knight Recruitment (1/2)



Another week passed since Hansel went back to the academy, and I've come to a strange realization: I truly sympathize with Evangeline Rullet now.

Her parents—or rather, the parents of this body—kept flirting every single day. It was awkward and downright nasty to witness.

They weren't even my real parents, but somehow, that made it worse. I should've been glad they weren't biologically mine, but their nauseating displays of affection gave me the final push I needed to embrace the real Evangeline's personality.

I couldn't take it anymore. I left the house and wandered into the town square.

Of course, the townsfolk stared at me like I was some kind of rare spectacle.

In Evangeline's memories, she had lived like a robot: eat, sleep, train, and lounge in bed. Her world was small, her habits repetitive, and her interactions minimal.

She rarely ventured out, and when she did, it was usually to lash out at someone.

Her anger didn't discriminate.

She'd yell at her family, the townspeople, and even herself in moments of solitude.

But there were other moments too, subtler ones.

She'd cry. Often.

Sometimes quietly, sometimes uncontrollably. She'd cry until she fell asleep, her exhausted whispers filling the silence.

But I can't make out what she says, like a barrier put to confused me.

"Ha…" I sighed, ignoring the townsfolk's curious gazes. This was just a random outing, an attempt to escape the suffocating house and its lovesick inhabitants.

I wandered through the town square, my boots crunching lightly against the cobblestone streets.

The air was alive with the hum of chatter and the occasional clatter of carts being wheeled over uneven stones.

Vendors called out their wares, the scents of spiced meat skewers and freshly baked bread mingling with the crisp morning breeze.

Children darted between the crowd, laughing and chasing one another, their energy stark against the more subdued pace of the adults.

I kept my head down, tugging at the edges of my cloak to hide the bright pink of Evangeline's eyes.

The square was larger than I remembered from Evangeline's fragmented memories.

Stalls lined the perimeter, selling everything from colorful fabrics to jewelry that sparkled in the sunlight.

A street performer had gathered a small crowd, his lute strumming a lively tune as a young girl twirled beside him, her skirts billowing like petals in the wind.

I paused for a moment, drawn by the music and the infectious laughter of the crowd.

But the weight of my purpose pulled me back. I wasn't here to enjoy the sights. I had to find something— anything —that would give me a direction, a purpose beyond the suffocating walls of that house.

Turning away, I let my feet guide me, weaving through the throng of townsfolk.

My heart pounded a little faster as I approached the bulletin board near the center of the square.

It was a simple wooden structure, weathered by the elements but still sturdy. The surface was crowded with flyers and notices, some flapping slightly in the breeze.

I scanned the board, my eyes darting past advertisements for lost pets, sales at local shops, and requests for farmhands.

None of them called out to me— or Evangeline — and none of them offered the escape I was looking for. My fingers itched to tear one down, if only to feel like I was doing something.

Until something caught my eye...

I stopped abruptly, staring at the town's bulletin board. No way… right?

[Application for new knight recruits! Test your excellence and train under the Knights of the Mysetrias!]

Shanis Mysetria was recruiting new knights?

My mind raced. If I joined her knighthood, I'd have access to better facilities, superior equipment, and proper training under experienced teachers. Rising to the rank of Holy Knight would be much easier with their guidance. It seemed like the perfect opportunity.

But then, doubt crept in. Did I really need this?

I could just stay at home, training steadily while handling the dangers that would inevitably plague the town. My personal memories told me that the town's people were resilient; they'd managed before and would continue to do so.

Whether I was here or not, the damage would be the same.

Still, the idea lingered.

Joining the knighthood meant stepping into a world far removed from my current reality. It meant taking a chance, embracing the role of a protagonist in a story I'd written but barely remembered.

I stared at the poster and smiled.

Maybe this was the push I needed.

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Stomp!

Huff!

Stomp!

Guff!

Ellen Frias... wins!

I raised my head, finally! Finally, I'd made it!

The grand entrance to the Countess' mansion, Shanis Mysetria, loomed before me.

Then, I looked behind.

The cobblestone staircase, known as the Thousand Steps, was the first test for aspiring knights. It was said to measure resilience and determination.

As I reached the top, a knight standing at the entrance shook his head, sighing.

"Lass, I can't pass you even if you've made it," he said, his tone more disappointed than dismissive. "Besides resilience, you need to have trained your body beforehand. This test is mere child's play for beginners!"

Just then, we both turned to see a boy around my age sprinting up the steps with ease, a confident grin on his face.

He passed me without so much as a glance, heading straight for the guard.

But I wasn't about to let him overshadow me.

Blocking his path with a gentle push, I caused him to stumble and fall on the ground behind me, not the staircase though.

"Hey!" he exclaimed, glaring at me.

"Tsk, weak," I muttered, still catching my breath.

Turning back to the guard, I clenched my fists.

"You can't be serious. This guy is from here! I came two towns from the north, okay?! The bridge was out in the last town, and I had to walk the entire way!"

The guard raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by my outburst. "Really?" he asked, his eyes widening slightly.

Before I could reply, another groan echoed from behind.

A young man, barely crawling up the last few steps, panted heavily. He pushed himself forward with sheer determination, using his hands, feet, and even his chin to make it.

"She's... she's... huff... right, sir!" he gasped. "She'd started walking... even before I did... and I'm... huff... from the previous town..."

Feeling vindicated, I ignored him and turned back to the guard.

"Look! And I'm in better shape than this guy! Doesn't that mean I qualify for at least the second round of tests?"

"Second round?" The guard raised a brow, clearly amused.

I shut up immediately.

The poster had only mentioned reaching the castle. While the task seemed straightforward, the Thousand Steps were meant to weed out those who lacked the physical and mental fortitude to proceed.

But I know that there were three hidden tests waiting for those who made it this far, it was the perks of being the author.

"Well, whatever," the guard finally said with a grin.

"Welcome to the Countess' Castle, young knight! What's your name?"

"Ellen..." I started, then hesitated. "Oh no, wait, my real name is—"

"It's okay," the guard interrupted. "You can use a pseudonym here. Come in."

He turned to open the massive doors, the sound of their creaking hinges echoing around us.

"Oh, wait! Can I bring this guy?" I asked, pointing to the passed-out man who had vouched for me earlier. "He walked here from the previous town, just like me. If he comes to, he can prove himself worthy, right?"

The guard nodded but paused, gesturing toward the smug boy I'd pushed earlier. "And what about him?"

Glancing at the unconscious boy's face, I clicked my tongue. "Smug weakling."

"But he passed nonetheless," the guard replied with a sigh.

He hoisted the unconscious boy over his shoulder before turning to the other one. "Are you carrying him, or should I?"

I grimaced. The guy I wanted to help was drenched in sweat. "Err... I can pull him along. Do you have a handkerchief, mister knight?"

"The name's Igor," the guard replied, pulling out a handkerchief and handing it to me. "Here."

Using the handkerchief as a barrier between my hand and the boy's soaked shirt, I dragged him inside, following Igor as the massive doors closed behind us.

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