The commander stretched his arms slowly, yawning like nothing had happened.
The guards, still forming a half-circle around him, looked tense. Their eyes flicked nervously between him and the scattered fruits, broken crates, and overturned carts.
Just then, the sound of hoofbeats echoed through the alley.
Three knights arrived, their armor clinking.
"Hold!" one shouted.
They stepped between the commander and the guards, forming a protective line.
The guards froze. "Wait… who—who are you?" one asked, uncertain.
The lead knight held up a hand. "We are here to explain. That man is under our protection. He's our commander."
The guards' jaws dropped. Whispers spread through the crowd. "Commander…? That chaos… that's a commander?"
Lucian blinked, stunned. He slowly pieced it together. The person who was supposed to arrive at our house… that's him. His eyes widened.
The guards hesitated, still pointing at the overturned crates and smashed fruit. "But… sir… he didn't pay at the pub, and he's destroyed so much…"
One of the knights stepped forward, calm and commanding. "We will pay for everything. Every coin, every broken item will be compensated, and we will ensure that the damages are fully fixed."
The other two knights nodded in agreement.
The guards muttered among themselves, their anger replaced by shock and confusion.
Lucian stood to the side, silently impressed. Even in chaos, the commander had backup waiting.
The alley slowly returned to an uneasy calm, the debris still scattered, but now the fear of reprisal shifted entirely to the guards who had underestimated him.
Lucian couldn't help but think how chaotic yet perfectly controlled everything had been.
---
The commander stretched his shoulders and smirked, walking with his three knights through the dim streets toward Fürtwald's house.
"That was… impressive," he said, his voice casual but tinged with amusement. "I am Eurukus Von Gravenreich. You fought well for a kid."
Lucian arched an eyebrow. "Lucian Luvington," he said flatly, though a spark of attitude danced in his eyes.
The three knights trailed behind, nodding politely. "I'm Tharion Hellebrandt," said the first, tall and serious.
"I'm Kael Vornhart," said the second, scrubbing a bit of mud off his gauntlet.
The last, a shorter man with a mischievous grin, added, "And I'm Jerrik Stovain. We arrived yesterday, but it took us hours to find this… um, home."
Lucian tilted his head. "Hours? Really? Did you guys follow a map or your noses?"
Tharion groaned. "No, we were tracking their general directions, but—"
"Because our commander here is autistic in the most chaotic way possible," Jerrik interjected, snickering. "He causes more trouble than the city guards on a holiday!"
Lucian snorted. "Sounds like a lovely gentleman to have around."
Eurukus groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "I do my best."
Lucian smirked. "Your best is… entertaining, I'll give you that."
They walked in silence for a moment before Eurukus turned slightly, curiosity piqued.
"So, boy, why are you wandering the streets at night? Dangerous for someone your age."
Lucian shrugged casually. "I… uh… was buying fruits," he said with a straight face. He didn't mention the real reason. He wasn't about to spill that.
Eurukus raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Fruits, huh? Alone at night? You're bold, Lucian."
Lucian smirked wider.
The knights chuckled quietly behind them.
"Honestly," Kael whispered to Jerrik, "he's got the perfect mix of attitude and brains."
Lucian's eyes flicked over them.
---
They finally reached the Luvington estate. The commander led the way, walking with an air of confidence, and the three knights followed quietly behind.
As they entered, Herschel Luvington looked up from her cooking.
"Good evening," she greeted politely.
"Good evening, Lady Luvington," Eurekus said first, bowing slightly.
The knights followed in turn. "Tharion Hellebrandt, at your service," the first knight said.
"Kael Vornhart," the second added.
"Jerrik Stovain," the last introduced himself, grinning.
Herschel smiled warmly. Her eyes lingered on Lucian. "And you… Lucian, how did you know they were coming?"
Lucian shrugged casually, his voice calm. "I saw them on the streets. I followed the commotion." He said nothing of the chase or the pub chaos.
They all sat down to eat dinner together. The conversation was light, punctuated with small jokes and laughter, but Lucian's mind wandered.
He studied the commander quietly, noting the power in his movements, the precision in his gaze.
It was familiar; he had seen that same presence somewhere before.
After dinner, Lucian excused himself and returned to his room. He set up his scrolls and books, opening them carefully.
Hours passed in quiet study.
He thought about his investigation. It had been three days since he started looking into Louis' father.
Despite the conversations, the rumors, and the small clues he'd gathered in the city, he hadn't made any progress.
He rubbed his eyes, staring at the faint moonlight creeping through the window.
Then, before he knew it, darkness took over him and he fell asleep.
---
The next morning, Lucian slung his satchel over his shoulder and stepped out into the crisp air of the Farming District.
He hadn't even taken ten steps when he noticed a shadow falling over him.
Eurukus, the commander, was following a few paces behind, hands clasped behind his back.
"Do you mind?" Lucian asked, stopping and turning sharply. "Why are you following me?"
Eurukus tilted his head, giving a faint smirk. "Lady Herschel asked me to keep an eye on you while you're in the city. She wants to make sure nothing happens to you."
Lucian narrowed his eyes. "She didn't think I could handle myself?"
"It's not that," Eurukus said smoothly, his gaze forward as they walked. "She's… cautious. It makes sense, given the circumstances yesterday. The city can be dangerous, especially for someone moving around alone."
Lucian crossed his arms, a frown forming.
"Dangerous? I've been walking the streets of Gravenheim for years. And you're following me instead of dealing with the issues in Lillypose?"
Eurukus chuckled, a low, amused sound. "You think I'm not helping the issue about Lillypose?"
"Then why are you here?" Lucian asked, his curiosity piqued. "If there's something going on with father, shouldn't you be there with him? Instead, you're… babysitting me?"
Eurukus stopped, leaning slightly closer, lowering his voice so only Lucian could hear. "I'm here for… reasons that are better left vague. Some matters require subtle observation, not interference. And some matters; well, they aren't as simple as showing up and speaking to generals."
Lucian tilted his head, unimpressed. "So… you're just here, doing nothing?"
"Nothing is rarely nothing," Eurukus replied, expression unreadable. "Sometimes, standing in the right place at the right time is more important than taking action. You'll understand when you're older, or maybe never."
Lucian sighed, shaking his head. "You're infuriating."
Eurukus chuckled again, letting the comment hang in the air. "Perhaps. Or perhaps I just understand more than you think. Keep moving, Lucian. Today will be… interesting."
Lucian muttered under his breath, but quickened his pace anyway. This guy sure is annoying...
Lucian spent the day buried in the library, flipping through scrolls and tomes, but he couldn't focus.
Every five minutes, his gaze drifted to the shadow behind him.
Eurukus.
The commander hadn't moved an inch, just standing there like a living statue, silently monitoring him.
Why is he even here? Lucian thought, irritation bubbling. He's doing nothing except babysitting me. I could handle this alone.
Louis appeared suddenly, leaning against the doorway. "Who's this guy?" he asked casually, eyeing Eurukus.
Lucian didn't answer immediately. He shot Louis a quick glare and muttered, "Just… someone who thinks he owns my shadow."
Louis shrugged, clearly unbothered, and followed him outside to the training field. Eurukus trailed behind without a word, hands still clasped behind his back.
Lucian's annoyance simmered as they began their practice.
I can't even think straight with him here, Lucian thought, parrying an overhead strike. Every move I make, he's watching. It's infuriating.
They sparred in silence for a while, Lucian's thoughts half on the strikes and half on how much he wanted Eurukus gone.
Suddenly, a scream tore through the air.
"AHHHHH!"
Both boys froze for a moment, then turned toward the sound. A barn at the edge of the field shone with torchlight and chaos spilled from its open doors.
Bandits were dragging a young boy out, their hands tight around him, bundles of stolen goods scattered around the barn.
"Move!" Eurukus barked, voice sharp and commanding.
In an instant, he sprinted forward, every step precise, every movement deliberate. Lucian and Louis followed, adrenaline kicking in, instincts overriding frustration.
Lucian's annoyance melted into focus. So this is why he's here… he realized, gripping his blade.
The chase was on.