Theo and the others left the celebration immediately after Everett's speech, all feeling dejected. They knew Ferdinand was in the right, and they all owed him their lives, but in that moment, there was nothing for them to do. Even Theo, who was singled out by Everett, could do nothing. In that space, if he had so much as hesitated, they could have done the same to him. None of them could fault him; the best thing would have been to just accept.

"What should we do?" Theo asked.

"If this happened to Ferdinand, it can happen to any of us, right?" Flynn's voice chimed in.

"Ferdinand was banished. They consider him worse than us; he is an embarrassment. So how do we save him?" Nolan pondered.

"Save him? There's no way to save him. He will either be executed or thrown off the cliff," Flynn said with resignation.

"How can you say that? There must be something we can do," Theo insisted.

"None of us have any leverage. None of us are noble, and we don't know of anyone that would want to help," Nolan added.

"What if we go to Prince Argyle?" Nick suggested tentatively.

"Are you kidding? He's like best friends with Everett. There's nothing we can do. We are just newbies in a brand new garrison. Did you see the other camp? It's filled with top-notch talent. We are at the bottom of the barrel. That's probably why they sent us on that unchecked dungeon dive — to weed out the weaker ones and come up with the strongest. Do you remember how Everett was just standing in the back? If he could have, he would have left all of us in there and just stated how we were trash and died and gotten himself a brand new garrison. We don't matter!" screamed Amber, her voice trembling with emotion.

She had tears in her eyes. None of them knew what she had been through; only Theo had learned a small part of what her life had been like. Ever since she was alone, people that helped her always had ulterior motives, ready to use her and cash in on their help in whatever way helped their own interests. People see for themselves by nature and twist their perspective in a way that they aren't in the wrong but should be compensated in how they want and see fit after they give help in a way that doesn't deter their lives in any way; they give what they have plenty of and take what they want, no matter what it means for the other person.

After that, they all fell silent. Theo was beginning to understand. In his little town and under the protection of his family, he had never been a witness to the politics and frivolity of the world. How can a precious life mean less than the ego of someone? Just because Everett felt threatened by Ferdinand's actions is enough for him to be tried and likely killed. The wheels had already begun spinning, and Everett's tantrum could mean the end of Ferdinand's life.

"The weak are at the hands of the strong. This should mean that the strong protect the weak, and in return, the weak tend to the strong. But that is hardly the case because of selfishness and the need to have more than you need. The strong take as much as they can and want until the weak are no longer useful," Prim said to Theo.

Prim could feel most of Theo's feelings, as she is connected to him, and so she relates to him information that is pertinent to each situation.

"Theodore, you will grow stronger than you can imagine. You must decide how you want to use that strength. You are not like the highborns or nobles; you have empathy and have been raised in a way different from most," Prim advised him again.

"Prim, how can I aid Ferdinand? Is there another skill you could impart to me that might be useful in this situation?" Theo implored.

"There is much I could teach you, but not yet. I suggest we locate Ferdinand first. Once we know his whereabouts, we can devise a plan. Tonight, you will forego sleep and train with me. We must bolster your strength," Prim declared.

"First, we must find him. Everyone, search for Ferdinand. Where could they be keeping him? Are there any holding cells here?" Theo inquired.

"I haven't seen anything like that, but they must have somewhere secure for those who step out of line. Considering Ferdinand's strength, it's likely he's being held in a heavily guarded location," Amber replied. Despite being only 17 years old, Amber's ability to analyze situations was remarkable. She had matured quickly, honing her senses and intellect.

"Let's capitalize on the celebration. Nick and Flynn, scour the base camp for any potential holding areas. Meanwhile, Theo, Nolan, and I will investigate the nobleman's camp. Keep a low profile. If anyone questions you, act inebriated and request directions to the officers' barracks, understood?" Amber commanded.

They exchanged nods, silently acknowledging their agreement to defy direct orders and rescue Ferdinand. Further plans would be devised later. With resolve in their hearts, they dispersed to commence their search.

Nolan ventured to the outer ring of the nobleman's camp, scanning for signs of heightened security or potential locations where Ferdinand might be held. Meanwhile, Amber and Theo infiltrated the heart of the celebration, the festivities still in full swing. Amidst the revelry, they spotted Ariel moving through the crowd.

Approaching them once again, Ariel seemed surprised. "Hey, I thought you had left?" he asked.

"We need your help. Where is Ferdinand? I must speak with him," Theo stated firmly.

Amber tensed, realizing the risk they were taking by involving Ariel, who was known to be Everette's aide. His cooperation could mean their safety—or their downfall.

To their surprise, Ariel nodded. "Follow me," he said, leading them through the bustling crowd and out of the hall. They arrived at a three-story wooden pagoda-style building, its security lax and Ariel's status affording them easy entry.

Navigating the pagoda's layout with familiarity, Ariel guided them through winding corridors and hidden passages until they reached the grim, dimly-lit chamber where Ferdinand was imprisoned. At the base of the pagoda, the air hung heavy with the scent of dampness and despair. Ferdinand sat in the center of the cell, surrounded by almost complete darkness save for the faint flicker of a torch. The bars of his cell seemed impenetrable.

Theo called out to Ferdinand, who opened his eyes and approached him. As Theo spoke to Ferdinand, his heart ached with concern. "Hey, how are you?" Theo asked softly.

"Oh, fine. Just resting during my time off," Ferdinand replied with a wry smile, glancing at Amber and then at Ariel, understanding dawning on his face. He nodded in acknowledgment to Ariel.

"Sorry I can't offer you anything to drink or invite you in, but how can I help you?" Ferdinand inquired.

"We need to break you out," Theo stated bluntly.

"Escape? No way. We can't do that," Ferdinand responded firmly.

"What!? Why?!" Theo exclaimed, taken aback.

"For starters, I've been banished. This was my last chance to make it here and have a military career. If I escape, I'm signing my own death sentence. I can't just abandon the call to arms. I'd likely have to leave Luna Kingdom, and disrespecting Prince Argyle would probably mean death or being hunted throughout the kingdom. It's one thing to disrespect Everette, but Prince Argyle is involved now. Unless I want to lay low forever, I don't want that," Ferdinand explained calmly.

"But then what's the plan?" Theo asked, his worry evident.

"I don't really know yet. But since you've brought someone who might have some insight, why not ask him?" Ferdinand suggested, glancing at Ariel.

They all turned to look at Ariel, who stood apart from Ferdinand. He crossed his arms, considering his response carefully before speaking. "When I returned, I knew nothing of Master Everette's decision. While I may not agree, I follow him. But because you saved my life, I have given you this opportunity to meet. However, you should expect nothing more," Ariel stated matter-of-factly.

This news left both Amber and Theo feeling dejected.

"That said, he will likely use this opportunity to bind you as an oathkeeper. He won't kill you, but he will want to control you. You are a 4th rank high-level warrior at age 16, one of the rarest there is. But you like to think for yourself, and that's dangerous in a military game. In next week's trial, you will likely lose and have to be sworn to him as your best option," Ariel continued.

"So become a slave or worse, nice options. For you guys who may not know, an oathkeeper is magically bound to his master and must obey or face discomfort, to put it mildly," Ferdinand added, though his tone remained relaxed despite the gravity of the situation.

"What do you mean by discomfort?" Theo asked, his concern growing.

"You basically bind your core to your master, so if you try to do something against him, he will notice and can reprimand you by directly affecting your core. He can even kill you. Oathkeeping was seen as the purest act of loyalty in the past, but now it's more akin to slavery," Ferdinand explained.

"That sounds even worse than banishment. Why can't we just leave?!" Theo pressed.

"It's not that simple, Theo. Oathkeeping is typically made for a certain period, usually 5 to 10 years. After that time, I can be free again. And because Everette is ambitious, I will likely continue to learn, train, and grow at an incredible pace, as will both of you as part of his garrison. So, doing it won't be so bad," Ferdinand concluded.

Theo, disheartened, and Amber returned to the barracks to share what they had learned, spreading the heavy news to their small group. Each grappled with their own sense of helplessness, knowing they were powerless to change Ferdinand's fate. The trial loomed ahead, set to take place in just a week.

Despite the darkness of the situation, Theo found solace in his training with Prim. Together, they pushed the limits of his abilities, honing his skills. With each passing day, Theo's mana grew stronger, reaching an impressive 7.9k and attaining the rank of 3rd mid-level. He could now use time step in two ways: freeze time for 1 second or move 50% faster for 30 seconds, though at a high mana cost and no cooldown. This newfound power filled Theo with a sense of purpose, a glimmer of hope in the face of adversity.