When I entered the camp, I saw Azpen standing beside a table with a map spread across it.
An old man stood nearby, stroking his beard as he listened to the conversation.
Verken, the Northern Knight, was also present.
As I approached, Azpen looked up and gave me a small smile.
"Child, thanks to you, we escaped a disastrous ambush last night."
He paused before continuing.
"If you hadn't noticed something was wrong and raised the alarm, we might have suffered far greater losses. Your warning gave us time to respond. You've helped us more than you realize."
His words poured out, and I couldn't help smiling a little.
"I only did what I could, sir."
I hesitated for a moment before asking the question that had been on my mind.
"I know I have no right to ask about this, but something has been bothering me."
Azpen gestured for me to continue.
"Normally, when I walk around the camp at night, I can see the patrols passing by. But last night, after a while, they stopped appearing. What happened to them?"
Azpen rubbed his forehead with one hand.
"Your guess is correct. We didn't pay enough attention to the possibility of an ambush. The enemy somehow took out our patrols without raising an alarm. We didn't even realize they had disappeared until it was too late."
His expression grew serious.
"You're lucky you moved around the camp without a torch. If you'd been carrying one, the enemy might have spotted you sooner. And if you hadn't reacted in time, that first arrow could have gone straight through your head."
I gave a small, awkward smile.
I hadn't expected the situation to be that dangerous.
Azpen looked at me again.
"Now, what reward do you want? You helped us avoid a disaster, so I'll grant you something within reason."
I thought about it for a moment.
What do I need most right now?
My Aura capacity had increased, but I still felt that I wasn't using it to its full potential in battle.
I could reinforce my body and weapons, but I didn't fully understand how to make the best use of my Aura under different circumstances.
I needed someone experienced enough to guide me.
Normally, when someone became a squire, they would seek a knight to train under. A knight's experience and guidance were supposed to help a squire develop their skills and eventually become a proper knight.
However, the tradition had gradually deteriorated.
Many knights now made their squires handle routine tasks, such as maintaining their armor and polishing their swords, while teaching them only the basics. Noble children often relied on high-level academies, while commoners and those of lower status attended smaller institutions when they could afford them.
I had learned about this from Rathen while he was teaching me swordsmanship.
But I didn't want to rely on an academy alone.
I wanted to learn from an experienced knight, someone who could help me understand how to use my abilities effectively in actual combat.
And Azpen was the perfect person to ask.
"Sir, when this campaign is over, could you train me for a while?"
Azpen raised an eyebrow.
"Train you?"
"Yes, sir. I want to improve my combat skills and learn how to use my Aura more effectively."
I looked directly at him.
"I feel that my Aura capacity has increased, but I still can't use it to its full potential in battle. I want to understand what I'm doing wrong and learn how to improve."
For a moment, Azpen simply stared at me.
Then he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! I didn't expect a youngster of this generation to ask for something like that!"
He wiped the corner of his eye, still smiling.
"Very well. You didn't ask for gold or some expensive reward. Instead, you asked to improve yourself."
He folded his arms.
"Not just for one day, either. You want proper training."
My heart began to beat faster.
"After this campaign ends, I'll train you for one week. I'll teach you what I can about combat and help you improve your use of Aura."
For a moment, I couldn't find the words to respond.
Happiness welled up inside me.
I bowed my head deeply.
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity, sir!"
Azpen smiled.
"Good. Now, you may leave. Once the campaign is over, come and find me."
He paused, as though remembering something.
"Oh, wait."
He reached for something and tossed it toward me.
I caught it with both hands.
It was a metal emblem bearing a circular design. At its center was a sword, with two curved swords crossing behind it.
I stared at it in surprise.
"This is..."
"My knight's emblem," Azpen explained. "Keep it with you. Consider it a reminder of my promise. When the campaign is over, come and find me, and we'll begin your training."
I looked down at the emblem again.
It wasn't a reward of gold or some valuable treasure.
It was a promise.
A promise that, once this campaign ended, I would have the opportunity to learn from an experienced knight.
I couldn't suppress my excitement.
I held the emblem tightly, smiling so much that my cheeks began to hurt.
Then, from my left, I heard a loud voice.
"Well, well! Look at you, kid! You seem pretty happy!"
I turned toward the voice.
It was Rany.
He was grinning at me.
I quickly slipped the emblem into my hand and looked back at him.
"What are you laughing at?"