For Our Cherished One

The halls were silent, not because they were empty — far from it.

The space was crowded with prospective recruits, each standing in tense anticipation.

Yet, despite the number of people, there was an almost oppressive quiet, broken only by the occasional shuffle of feet or the faint creak of leather armor.

It had been an hour since the knight, Igor, had escorted us to the rest area and ordered us to wait.

By now, the two unconscious recruits I had dragged in earlier had long since regained their senses and once they did, another knight escorted us here.

Fulgur Dascht, the determined boy who vouched for me earlier, was fidgeting nervously, his head constantly swiveling as though searching for reassurance.

"Stop moving around," Willheim Surn hissed, his tone sharp with irritation.

The smug weakling from before, now standing in the same line as Fulgur and me, reached out to pinch Fulgur's arm.

His glare was cutting as he added in a harsh whisper, "They're evaluating us."

The effect of his words was immediate.

The rest of the recruits, who had been just as restless as Fulgur, suddenly straightened their postures, their eyes darting cautiously around the room.

Some ducked their heads, their carefree attitudes vanishing in an instant.

I sighed, lifting my gaze to take in the vast meeting hall.

If I didn't know better, I might have mistaken it for a cathedral.

The grand stained-glass window at the front of the hall dominated the space, its psychedelic colors casting fragmented light across the stone floor. But unlike a cathedral, there were no pews or chairs here— only rows of recruits standing stiffly and stacks of weapons placed neatly by the arched windows.

Evangeline Rullet's pink eyes drifted to the elevated platform at the far end of the room.

Five figures stood there, backs straight and faces impassive. Although there was a chair in the center of the platform, none of them sat.

They stood like sentinels, their presence commanding the attention of everyone in the hall.

"Are we waiting for the countess?" I heard Fulgur ask the seemingly all-knowing Willheim, murmuring.

But I already knew the answer.

The Countess wouldn't appear until the third and final test. This was only the second stage of recruitment, though the exact details of the tests remained shrouded in mystery.

What I did know was that no one would be dismissed until after the third test— a small mercy for those of us trying to prove ourselves.

Just then, the heavy door to the side of the hall creaked open.

A man entered, dressed in a formal knight's uniform that practically screamed, I am the highest rank here. He exuded an air of authority that made the room feel even smaller.

Behind him, a younger man held the door open, his expression neutral even as he closed it from the outside.

My breath hitched.

That younger man… was that Eren Lacquier?

Before I could confirm, the older knight's booming voice cut through my thoughts and the door closed, hiding away the boy.

"Attention!"

The sheer force of his command sent a ripple of unease through the recruits. Some flinched visibly; others stepped back involuntarily.

I stood still, my body refusing to react on instinct, though my delayed response betrayed my surprise.

My only superpower, it seemed, was Ellen Frias's ability to process shock at a snail's pace.

It was my only gift to Evangeline Rullet, the female lead.

"You want to be young knights of Mysetria?" the knight roared, his voice infused with a palpable energy that made the air feel heavier. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

The recruits shifted uncomfortably.

His words weren't just loud — they were laced with aura, a phenomenon I'd only read about before. Aura speech wasn't fatal, but it was a tool meant to intimidate and subdue opponents.

Only those with significant aura potential could withstand it without faltering.

Or so I thought...

My head, and everyone else's, turned to the right.

An exasperated groan reverberated the hall.

Next to me, Fulgur Dascht groaned, blood trickling from his nose. He hadn't stepped back or flinched like the others, but his trembling legs and ashen face revealed how much effort it took for him to stay in place.

"Fulgur Dascht," the knight barked, focusing the full weight of his aura speech on the boy. "Get back in line!" 

As if discouraging the boy, he said words that shunned the boy's efforts to remain rooted.

"N-no…" Fulgur gritted his teeth, each word a struggle as he forced one foot in front of the other, slowly ascending the stairs to the platform. "I… I can do this…"

The other knights on the platform exchanged confused glances but did not intervene. The tension in the hall was almost unbearable as Fulgur continued his agonizing progress.

Blood dripped onto the stone floor with each step, but his resolve never wavered.

"Fulgur Dascht!" The knight roared his name again, though I can feel it had become significantly softer.

I can imagine though.

Not only the recruits but also the knights in front changed the glint in their eyes. It wasn't of disdain but rather respect, or maybe excitement?

Even I couldn't help but admire his determination.

Despite the odds, despite the pain, he refused to give up.

My gaze shifted to the older knight, whose stern expression softened ever so slightly.

"Enough," the knight said, his voice quieter but still firm. The aura dissipated, and Fulgur collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. "You've proven your point. Special entry given to Fulgur Dascht, Passing Grade!"

Fulgur looked up, his face pale but triumphant. "T-Thank you, sir…"

He collapsed again and knights took him away.

Is it me or will this be his recurring feature?

Determination and Collapse! Like a cliff, no?

In any case, I shifted my gaze back to the front when the knight used aura speech again.

I clenched my fists.

The aura speech hadn't affected me physically, but I knew that my lack of reaction would draw attention. For now, I kept my face neutral, refusing to let anyone see the storm of thoughts raging in my mind.

--------------------------

However fortunately or unfortunately, despite my lack of reaction and changes, I was picked out as the final recruit. It was weird because they found me eccentric.

They said that while I didn't seem to have that much of potential aura, I didn't blink nor wavered under the attack of the aura. And also, I was the only one standing in the hall besides those who made efforts to pass.

I thought it was weird too.

Since my book was a children's book, the fantasy elements were added without much explanation. Taking it on face value as just one of the perks of the female lead.

So she couldn't understand nor explain even if she wanted to.

Later on the recruits who passed were gathered in the castle's training courtyard, this was supposedly their main training area. Just a few minutes of walking ahead the pathway, there is a small forest that hides away a luxurious cabin.

Though they call it cabin, I can see that it was like a five-story wooden apartment complex.

"Alright! Then we'll assign groups based on entry!"

An aura speech echoed again from the knight who led us here. 

But maybe because we've experienced it before, the recruits didn't budge as much.

Of course, standing next to me was Fulgur Dascht again who slightly groaned and quietly wiped a nose bleed. So I hesitatingly handed a handkerchief.

Annoyingly so, I was assigned to a noisy group.

With a heavy sigh, I hauled my luggage into the apartment room I'd been assigned. The space was small but functional, with just enough room for three people to share.

Finally, a moment of peace. I let out a deep breath—

Bump.

"Ah—!" Startled, I whipped my head around to find Fulgur Dascht, grinning sheepishly.

"Oh. Sorry, brother," he said, waving at me as he casually strolled past, his eyes darting excitedly around the room.

"…???"

Before I could process that, another sharp bump came from the other side. This time, it was deliberate. I turned to see the smug face of Wilheim Surn, the same guy I'd dealt with earlier.

I clenched my teeth, staring at him as he smirked and walked further into the room.

With a heavy sigh, I shut the door behind me. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the room, but the young recruits in front of me were casting something far worse: chaos.

If I let them walk all over me now, this would become a nightmare.

The afternoon was young, but these kids were younger. It was necessary to set things straight.

By the time I was done, the lesson had been taught. I had made sure to assert myself firmly—not cruelly, but enough to ensure I wouldn't be treated as a pushover.

The noise from our room, the only one in the entire cabin, faded into silence as the other two sulked in their corners.

"Names," I said, breaking the silence.

"F-Fulgur Dascht… bro—I mean, sister," Fulgur stammered, scratching his head awkwardly.

"Wilhelm Surn," the other muttered, still clearly annoyed but much quieter than before.

I nodded, even though I already knew who they were. It was better to let them introduce themselves rather than assume familiarity.

"My name is E-Ellen," I said.

The slight stutter caught me off guard. For a moment, I almost introduced myself as Evangeline, but I remembered that during my apprenticeship, I had given the name Ellen.

As the awkwardness began to settle, a loud growl broke the silence.

Fulgur clutched his stomach, blushing furiously. "Uh… do you have any food, Ellen?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Food?"

"Yeah… I didn't really eat before the tests. Too nervous," he admitted, avoiding eye contact.

I sighed, shaking my head. "We were told that if we're hungry, we should just go to the cafeteria. Remember?"

Fulgur's eyes widened in realization, and even Wilhelm perked up at the mention of food.

"Right! Let's go, then!" Fulgur said, his enthusiasm returning as he practically bounced to the door. Wilhelm followed, albeit less eagerly.

I hesitated for a moment before joining them. "Fine. But if you two get lost, that's on you."

The three of us left the room, making our way through the cabin and back toward the castle's main halls. The general layout of the castle was already familiar to me thanks to Evangeline's memories. But as I led the way, something felt… off.

We walked down a corridor I was sure would lead to the cafeteria, but instead, the atmosphere seemed to shift. The air grew colder, and the stone walls felt narrower.

"Uh… Ellen?" Fulgur's voice wavered. "Are you sure this is the way?"

I paused, glancing around. "It should be…"

Wilhelm snorted, crossing his arms. "Should be? You're the one leading us!"

Ignoring his snark, I continued forward, determined to figure out where we'd ended up. 

We heard a clatter from beyond the slightly ajar door at the end of the hallway. The sound of pots or pans hitting each other echoed faintly, followed by the shuffle of footsteps.

"That must be it," Fulgur whispered, his stomach growling loud enough to agree.

"Why does this feel like a bad idea?" Wilhelm muttered, but he followed nonetheless.

I glanced back at them both, pressing a finger to my lips for silence as I approached the door. The faint aroma of something savory wafted out, and my own stomach twisted in hunger.

Carefully, I pushed the door open just a crack, leaning forward to peek inside. What we saw was enough to make Fulgur nearly drool.

The kitchen was enormous, with gleaming countertops and rows of hanging copper pots that caught the light from the high windows. A large wooden table at the center was laden with freshly baked bread, bowls of steaming soup, and roasted meats. Several cooks, dressed in pristine white uniforms, bustled about, carrying trays or stirring pots over the massive hearth.

"Jackpot," Fulgur whispered excitedly, his eyes wide.

But just as I adjusted my position to get a better look, Wilhelm leaned forward too far, and Fulgur followed suit.

The door creaked ominously, and before any of us could react, it swung open, sending all three of us tumbling inside and landing in an ungraceful heap on the tiled floor.

The room went quiet.