KENNETH

The wind carried the majestic crimson cloak up into the air, only soon to be stumbled by the King's back against his seat. The arrival of His Majesty gave the chamber a brief moment of silence. His omniscient presence weakened the knights and gave even the Sevis a tiny hiccup.

With his left hand holding on the sapphire scepter, the King, Myras Auburn revealed his right palm as he raised his hand, signaling the Mind. "Let the accolade begins," Sevi Lurke announced with an old raspy but loud voice across the chamber.

The sounds of metal boots clanking against the ground began to consume the atmosphere. One lord in particular with a red funky mustache stepped forward to the King and knelt as he presented a black sword. It was no obsidian, nor black crystal. It was black metal, smelted in the once ancient city of Azoma. Rumored to be stronger than diamond, the Azomian metal was so dark that it absorbed every light that touched it. 

Everybody's eyes were on that piece of mended metal, except Flurkin's.

Looking nervously at his son, Flurkin adjusted his posture and stood upright, ready for the knighthood ceremony. It is time.

"Let's get this ceremony done quickly. I have other important matters to be discussed," Myras spoke with absolute confidence while disregarding the fact that some knights were still in the midst of feasting.

"Tobias Damask. Forward," with a scroll on his hand, the Mind declared.

A few clangs and the squire knelt to the ground just a few feet away from His Majesty. Myras gracefully stood up as he pushed himself upwards from his seat. Without any time wasted, the King picked up the Azomian sword in a swift and ambled with composure towards the squire.

"I dub thee Sir Tobias, knight."

As the black sword tapped on each of his shoulder three times, the squire was now a knight.

At once, the silence was disturbed by the knights like a thunder storming across the rainwater. Claps and cheers hyped up the atmosphere as the rest celebrated with joy. Wines on their hands and laughter on their faces, they seemed to be happy to welcome the new knight to the family. As usual, Merlin's voice was the most blaring of them all.

"Travis Damask. Forward." The next knight was soon knighted by His Majesty. His twin, with the same composure accepted the knighthood with a proud stance. The both of them stood at the side, ready to recite their knight oath, awaiting the last squire to be knighted.

The face of Lurke was wrinkled and his hair was white as snow. As he held the written scroll on his bony hands, he declared the last name of the squire to be knighted. "Kenny Venetian."

The King shrugged as the corner of his eyes lit up. He refocused his vision as he took a better look at the next squire in line. Kenny --- Flurkin's adopted son? The King thought as he bit his teeth and clenched his jaw beneath his lips.

Out of a sudden, a voice interrupted. "Your Majesty, I'm afraid that the boy does not deserve to be knighted." Chatters among the knights broke loose and eyes could be seen gazing back and forth between Flurkin and his adopted son. The Spine of Amor, Merlin continued his objection, "By the looks of the boy's green unbelonging eyes, you know that he isn't one of us. Knighting an outsider would deteriorate the name of Amorian knights, an incredible insult to our kingdom. I believe that the kid ---"

"Enough of your crude blabbers, Sevi Merlin!" What Flurkin feared most had happened, a dissent from the knights. However, he knew, that it had to be done. The cruel truth was, his son was either a knight, or a nobody. Brewing with rage inside him, he roared, "That squire shall be knighted today and he will be serving our very land, our kingdom, despite his origin! It does not matter where he comes from, as long as he is willing to fight along with our side ---"

"One day, that kid will remember his origin, and that day will be the time when we get stabbed, from the back, with an Amorian long sword." Pointing at the other knights, he uttered fiercely, "All of you will regret the moment you see a sword spiking through your chest, as your soul cries for the Rogs. It is not too late to stop it." He continued heavily, "Just like our beloved Lord Laydon."

Upon hearing his dead brother's name, Lennin did not flinch. The few lords who had always supported the Sword did not have a smile on their faces. Despite not being on Merlin's side, they have long decided to not take on Flurkin's side. Conflicts and disagreements had led Flurkin to lose his own men's loyalty, ever since the day Kenneth was taken in.

The rest of the knights were fueled with protest as they cursed with concerns about the squire, Kenneth. Beneath Flurkin's flesh, he was over the top and all he wanted to do was to rip Merlin's filthy face apart and cut him into a thousand pieces. All you worthless knights. No, it wasn't just Merlin. Flurkin was against the entire room of knights and lords as he scanned through each and every one of their face, until he noticed Lennin's. Unlike others, Lord Lennin was stone cold, even Flurkin couldn't figure out what he was thinking.

"Silence!" The King's voice thundered across the chamber. The knights found themselves shivering with fear on the inside. "Merlin, what do you suggest we do with this kid, then?"

"Your Majesty, I say either exile him to the deserts or feed him to the dead horse. I'm sure it is hungry." Merlin finished his proposal with not a single sense of mercy from his wicked mouth.

Fear took over Ken's limbs as he crumbled down to the ground like a fallen knight. His inner thoughts screaming for mercy but his wrinkled mouth was certainly not ready to speak. His face was pale like the North, eyes staring at the hopeless surrounding as he begged the Rogs for the last tint of mercy.

"You cannot do that ---" Flurkin objected with disapproval.

"Yes, I can, Flurkin," Myras affirmed with his majestic credibility. His silhouette on the wall enlarged like a huge magnificent monster as he stepped closer towards Ken. The King carefully placed the edge of the black sword onto Ken's human neck with a cold and heartless look.

"A graceful reminder, Your Majesty, it is the day of ignition of that squire. The Sword is smart and had planned his accolade right on the day he is to be knighted." A cold yet caring voice came across the chamber from the corner of the room. A beautiful figure dressed in white, with her hands leaning onto each other firmly on her thin belly. There she was, Princess Merrilyn.

"It seems he could remember nothing else but his day of ignition, how odd is that?" The King questioned nonchalantly as he moved the black sword away from Kenneth, awaiting his personal lord to take it away from him. "Don't you worry, Flurkin. I had never planned to kill this boy ever since the moment you decided to keep him. It's an insult that you didn't trust me on this matter." Myras frowned lightly as he stared deadly into the Sword's eye.

"I... apologize, Your Majesty." Flurking regretted that he had lost control of himself.

"As for that consequence, your kid shall NOT be knighted. It is the best, for the sake of the name of knights, the people and the kingdom. I'm sure you would understand me, am I right?"

Flurkin was speechless. Searching for words in his head, he had found none. No words could describe his feelings towards the King as a thousands hideous words were awaiting to be unleashed to Merlin's pathetic face.

"I shall take the honors then." Everyone froze and glared towards the icy princess. She was beautifully stunning, yet scarily emotionless for others. "Any members of the royal family can knight a squire, am I right, Your Majesty?" With a polite bow, she gave Ken a gentle look. Hope ran across Ken's vein as he began to get back to himself.

"Mary, are you sure about this?" Myras had always have a soft spot for his niece ever since his sister died from a gruesome disease. He felt responsible for her death as the best doctors of Amor could not save her from her incoming highway to the Rog Hells.

"Yes, Your Majesty." With total assumption that the King had allowed her, she walked towards the lord and grabbed the black sword as hard as she could. Noticing that Lord Ed, the one with the striking red mustache was not flinching and still insisting onto the sword, she gave a cold death stare towards the him like a blizzard. 

"Let her." Myras commanded as the black sword slipped from the lord's hands. 

Walking towards the young Venetian as her white dress danced, she announced with absolutely zero care given towards the crowd. 

"I dub thee Sir Kenneth, knight."

Kenneth Venetian, with a clumsy look, lowered his head as he bowed at his unfamiliar princess. As his eyes flickered from one end to the other, he thought to himself, why did she help me? She has no reason to do so... I don't even know her. Trembling on his feet as he stood up, Ken walked towards the twins and put on his war helm. A room of eyes were definitely catching every detail he made while Ken swallowed his fear down his throat.

"Knights!" Tobias Dawson burst his flaming passion as he screamed at the top of his lungs. His brother Travis and the fearful knight inhaled a deep breath and shouted the oath, "The strong protects the weak, like metal protects the flesh! I, Shield of Honor, Protector of Peace, the Knight of Amor, swore to fight for beyond the darkness, for the kingdom of Amor!"

Knights cheered as they finished the vow. Merlin was grinning as he gave a slow yet steady clap towards the new knights. As they welcomed them back to the tables, Flurkin was the only one who congratulated his son. His eyes met with Mary's as his shoulders rubbed against the crowd. Thank you Mary. I owe you on this.

"Alright! Everybody, settle down." The King was back on his majestic seat with a cup of wine on his hand. Sevi Lurke can be seen whispering to the King's personal lord, the one named Ed.

"The accolade is over now, but don't go anywhere just yet. Since all knights of Amor is here, I have something serious to be discussed urgently."

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