The noble houses of Orlos receive numerous rewards for all the benefits they bring to the Orlosian Society. This could be achieved by creating new methods of production, improving society, achieving military accomplishments, or even performing heroic deeds in emergencies. One of the most sought-after rewards is the license to maintain a private army on one's territory. This license allows any noble to have a regiment of fifty to three hundred knights.
The house of Felnatus has been awarded many times in its existence and now holds the power to command five regiments. Each regiment has a name and a commander who specializes in one combat style. The first regiment is called the Wall. Mellorus Felnatus is the commander, and since its creation, this regiment has focused on the spear and shield.
Roc is the second regiment commanded by Tierra Balduk and specializes in the crossbow, the third regiment Watchtower specializes in magic and is commanded by the Archmage Zator Fioro, Judgement is the fourth regiment, and Boltu Markash is the commander, this regiment is the only one to specialize in three weapons; two-handed swords, two-handed axes, and Sabers. The last regiment is Incision, commanded by Ullya Ulmer, a skilled user of daggers.
Two days have passed, and all the regiments are ready to leave for their missions. The orders are simple and direct: protect the roads, find potential dangers to the festival, and eliminate them. At a balcony located on the second floor of the mansion Mellorus the headmaster of the Felnatus Noble House, holds in one hand a shield and a sword in another, his grayish plate armor engraved with a golden coat of arms of the family in the chest and a long luxurious cape with the same pattern, prepares to make a speech before the soldiers leave.
Silence is absolute, and then he begins.
"My loyal soldiers of this grandiose archdukedom, you are here not just to protect the honor of our noble house, not just to show the power of our glorious coat of arms, you are here as a symbol of our house's devotion to this kingdom!
"Hurrah!" All soldiers shout in harmony.
"Your orders are to protect all roads, to hunt all criminals, and to slay any beast that stays in the way of order and peace!" Louder cheers echo in the entire square, but Mellorus lifts one hand and everyone goes silent.
"Remember that you represent our house, remember that any failure will be taken as a grave offense against our honor. I have eyes in every single regiment, so don't disappoint me!"
This time, the cheers were loud, but the last part of the speech left a weird impression. Those words created confusion, but two individuals, Commander Boltu Markash and Manila, knew why he said those words. Standing at his side all the time like a cub attached to its mother, he suggested that she stay there to show his full support for her presence in the regiment.
"Don't let those words distract you. I know you will do great at this expedition, and he will swallow all his pride and blind faith." Said Boltu in a cheerful way.
"He will never do that, but it doesn't matter to me right now, I will be free from this hellish place for once."
"So focus on your objective and do your best." He turns to his regiment and shouts. "Judges! Prepare two lines in front of the supply convoy, one line on each side, and the rest will follow behind. Our destination is the Village of Maruum. There we will start our patrols!"
"Yes, Magistrate!" All the soldiers marched to fulfill their orders. Manila had already received her orders before everyone; she was going to be at the front line near Boltu.
The capital of Orlos, Orlosian, is the center of the kingdom and one of the most populous cities in Arbooria. In the city, hundreds of thousands of people live. Orlosian is divided into three layered walled zones: the outer ring wall, a gigantic wall, and the first defense against invaders. Between this wall and the inner ring wall, only commoners live and trade. The inner ring wall is the second defense between it and the main ring wall; merchants, barons, and any official religious institutions will make this place their home. The main ring wall is the last defense. Inside, you can find many Viscounts, Earls, and Marquesses' houses, but the Royal family and the Royal Castle occupy the largest area.
An Archduke receives a large territory close to the capital, the Felnatus Archdukedom is located north of Orlosian and as tradition, all expeditions that are created by Royal Decree, the regiments that will participate in it need to do a parade through the city until they reach the Royal Castle and vow loyalty to the king and the kingdom. This act is entirely festive, a show of power. To inspire citizens of the lower classes to do their best, so one day maybe, they can achieve the glory of representing the kingdom outside the walls.
In a quick march, the Judgement regiment leaves the mansion, passing through the main city of the Archdukedom, Vitalia. A small town inhabited by nine thousand people with the mansion in the center, people will be waiting for the regiments to pass before they continue their journey through the kingdom.
Manila never stepped outside the mansion; cold, anxiety, anger, and many other emotions were mixing and exploding inside her chest. Her hands are sweaty, her legs shaking, and a big, weird smile is on her face, which makes Boltu laugh at this unusual sight of her.
"You are showing so many new faces that I am sure this expedition will be entertaining." He bumped her shoulder with his fist in a joking way.
Hit by those words, she tries to hide her embarrassment using the leather helmet she received. She always wanted to wear this type of attire. A complete leather set with the colors of the Judgement regiment and, on her back, a double-edged Battle Axe with the same height as her.
"Are you sure this weapon is the one you want to use? I never saw you trying it before."
"I wanted to use this weapon before, but you know what that man would say if he heard about it, I would be prohibited from any training with weapons." She smiled proudly.
"You don't need to worry about that here, even if he ordered anyone to watch you in my regiment, his influence is minimal." He puts a hand on her shoulder and smiles cheerfully.
"His hand will reach me even with all your efforts, lord Boltu, but I don't care about it right now. I will do my best here and see a world that I will probably never see again, and maybe with the best of luck I will just d…"
"THE JUDGMENT IS HERE! FOR THE GLORY OF FELNATUS!" The loud voice of the screamer, a person employed to announce and incite the crowd to cheer, startled her.
Loud cheers suppress any sound, and a huge crowd fills the streets awaiting the soldiers to pass through. Lavender flower petals rain on the marching soldiers, and the soldiers wave to the crowd in appreciation for their time and flowery gift.
The color combination of so many people in different clothes, the petals falling on them, the blue sky with a bright and warm yellow sun. Everything was perfect for Manila, so many new faces and sensations that her entire body was overwhelmed, and sometimes she would lose the rhythm of the march.
"If you are so impressed with this place, Manila. You will be enchanted by the capital when we do our parade there. Imagine this with at least twenty times more people waiting for us, the cheers will be so loud that your ears will roar for an entire day, and when we finally reach the castle, it will be an incredible memory for your entire life."
As the convoy marched through the town, the cheers slowly became quieter. The warm feeling became colder. The blue sky turned into a mix of orange and black, and for hours, they marched following the road.
"Judges halt! We are going to camp here! Early in the morning, we will resume our march, and at the start of the third day, we will be at the Gates of Orlosian if everything goes smoothly as expected. This part of your journey is the easiest, so prepare your tents and rest for the night!"
Boltu's strong voice reached all the soldiers. Immediately, the encampment was being prepared, the commander's tent at the center, and the others formed a circle surrounding it. Less than thirty minutes, everything was ready. As one of the commander's squires, she will sleep in a special tent close to the commander's tent with the other squires and a few elite soldiers. After the meal, all soldiers retired to their tents. Elzen Rockrul, one of the squires, occupies the sleeping bag next to Manila, and in a whispering voice, he speaks.
"Are you already sleeping?" His quiet voice was charming, and she knew him from the many times she worked at the knight's quarters.
"No, I'm too anxious to sleep today." Her tone lacks any confidence.
"It's normal to be like this in the first expedition, the commander probably already talked with you about the city, right?"
"Yes, I want to see how big the capital is." She smiled in an enchanting way, and to his eyes she was beautiful.
"Have you never seen it before?" He turned his body, lying on his right side.
"No, it's my first experience outside the mansion."
"Wow…now I understand why you can't sleep." Surprised by her comment, he felt a speck of pity towards her.
"Yes, but it's okay, soon I will force myself to sleep, tomorrow will be a tiring day, we need to be at our best."
"Since you joined our ranks, maybe I can show you the capital when we get our monthly break."
"I don't know if I will be able to continue in the regiment after the expedition."
"Why? Do you have other plans?"
"No, it's just that…I am here as an exception, thanks to the commander."
"Well, I know you work at the mansion. Don't you get a monthly break there, too? I saw many times the maids there going to Vitalia for days."
"No, I never had one." An awkward silence falls in the tent for a few good minutes before Elzen speaks again. "Well, when you get one, go to our quarters immediately and call me, then we will go together to the capital so you can see the city without rushing." He looks at her with a smile on his face.
"Thank you, I will." She smiles back and both fall asleep soon after.