By morning, Aeris had told the story of the Garvok attack so many times that even he was starting to forget which parts had actually happened.

According to Aeris, the creature had been enormous.

According to Mara, it had not.

According to Aeris, the Knight had let the monster charge within inches of him before cutting it down with one perfect strike.

According to Mara, Aeris had watched the whole thing through his bedroom window while hiding from his mother.

Aeris preferred his version.

Teran Halvern, however, had stopped caring about the exaggerations somewhere around the part where the Knight killed the Garvok in a single blow.

"So he really killed it with one strike?" Teran asked.

"One," Aeris said.

"That part is actually true," Mara admitted.

"And the infantry couldn't stop it?"

"They tried."

Teran looked down at the stick in his hands. "Knights are really that strong?"

"That's what I've been telling you."

"Since yesterday," Mara said.

"And yet nobody respected my research."

Mara stared at him. "Looking through your bedroom window is not research."

"Strategic observation."

"Your mother caught you."

"Irrelevant."

Teran went quiet for a moment.

Aeris noticed. "What?"

"I think I want to become one too."

Aeris stopped.

Mara looked at Teran.

"Become what?" Aeris asked.

"A Knight."

Aeris's face slowly lit up.

"Finally."

Teran blinked. "What?"

Aeris grabbed him by both shoulders. "Someone in this village has ambition."

"I'm standing right here," Mara said.

"You don't count."

"Why?"

"You make responsible decisions."

"That's generally considered a good thing."

Aeris turned back to Teran. "We train tomorrow."

"Where?"

"The barracks."

"Are we allowed?"

"Probably."

"No," Mara said.

Aeris glanced at her. "Nobody asked you."

"You weren't allowed on the roof either."

"Completely unrelated incident."

"You fell off that roof," Teran reminded him.

"Why does everyone remember that?"

Teran ignored him. "So... tomorrow?"

"Sunrise."

Teran stared at him.

"Sunrise?"

"Knights wake up early."

"I already regret this."

Aeris grinned. "That's the spirit."

The following morning, Aeris woke before sunrise.

He sat up.

Looked toward the dark window.

Then immediately lay back down.

"This was a terrible idea."

He pulled the blanket over his face.

Three knocks came from his window.

Aeris slowly uncovered himself.

Teran stood outside.

Fully dressed.

Boots tied properly.

A water flask hanging from one shoulder.

Aeris stared at him.

Teran pointed toward the road.

Aeris stared back.

Then sighed.

"He actually came."

Several minutes later, Eira Veymont woke to something falling over in the next room.

"Aeris?"

"Nothing!"

Another crash.

"What are you doing?"

"Preparing."

"For what?"

Aeris appeared in the doorway with one boot tied properly, the other barely tied at all, and a branch strapped across his back with rope.

Eira stared at him.

"No."

"You don't even know what I'm doing."

"You're wearing my firewood."

Aeris reached behind himself. "Training sword."

"Firewood."

"Sword."

"Firewood."

Aeris sighed. "...Fine."

He untied it.

"Where are you going?" Eira asked.

"Barracks."

Her expression changed immediately.

"No."

"I'm just going to watch."

"Aeris, we've discussed this."

"I'm not joining the army."

"You're nine."

"Almost ten."

"That somehow made your argument worse."

"I only want to learn."

"Learn something that doesn't involve being stabbed."

"Fighting is useful."

"Engineering is useful."

"Engineers don't have swords."

"Exactly."

Aeris frowned. "What about being a scholar?"

"Wonderful."

"No sword."

"Politician?"

Aeris made a face. "Absolutely not."

"Why?"

"They talk all day."

Eira stared at him.

Aeris slowly realized what he had said.

"...I understand what you're thinking."

"I'm glad."

"Still not becoming a politician."

"You could design bridges."

"Knights cross bridges."

"You could become a physician."

"Knights need physicians."

"A teacher?"

"Knights need-"

"Aeris."

He smiled innocently.

"Just watching."

Eira glanced through the window.

Teran gave her a polite wave.

She sighed.

"Home before midday."

"Yes!"

"And if anyone there asks whether you want to enlist-"

"I'll say no."

Eira stared at him.

"...Eventually."

"Aeris."

"I'll say no!"

Valis was one of many villages surrounding the western city of Greyfen.

The village was governed by its Reeve, while Greyfen and the nearby lands belonged to a Duke who answered to Warden Seraphine Morcant, ruler of Western Rakkor.

House Morcant's authority stretched across the western realm. Its capital was Morcant Keep, while the major cities of Thornwatch, Greyfen, and Hollowmere governed smaller villages like Valis.

The military answered directly to the Warden.

And the barracks Aeris had decided to invade that morning stood along the road leading toward Greyfen.

Two banners hung above its entrance.

The crest of Rakkor.

And beneath it, the black-and-red standard of House Morcant.

Teran looked up.

"House Morcant."

"Obviously," Aeris said.

"You always say that when I recognize something."

"Then stop recognizing obvious things."

They stepped toward the gate.

An infantryman immediately blocked their path.

"No."

Aeris frowned. "We haven't said anything."

"Don't need to."

"We want to train."

"Definitely no."

"We're nine," Teran said.

Aeris slowly turned toward him.

"Why would you tell him that?"

"Because we're nine."

"Come back when you're twelve," the infantryman said.