Agni saw the sun glint off of Eitan's raised dagger, and his throat went dry. Damn, I guess this is it. He had surrendered because he knew he couldn't win. He struggled to match up to Eitan, even with a dagger, forget about unarmed. Better to bow out than get wrecked in front of his men. It seemed like he'd end up dead regardless, so this was for the better. At least he didn't make a fool of himself before he died. Agni shut his eyes, awaiting the final blow.
But instead of a pain in his neck, he felt a freeing sensation on his left hand. His eyes flew open to see Eitan standing in front of him, smiling as he shook off the sliced wrappings that had bound them together.
"You're not going to kill me?" Agni asked, baffled.
Eitan looked at him with an expression that seemed to say he was stupid. "Why would I do that? Do you not remember the contract?"
"Ah," Agni gasped lightly as he recalled. The clauses had not only been for if he won, but for Eitan as well. But in his arrogance, he had not given it much consideration. It had just stated that Agni was obliged to follow the results and tradition of the circle. That meant… He smiled bitterly. "My life belongs to you."
Eitan smiled, "Exactly. Why would I harm what's mine?"
Agni rubbed his head and was about to say something else, but many people had begun approaching them.
"Captain-" one of the mercenaries called out to him, but was cut off.
"No one takes another step." Farrel's overbearing presence, coupled with his unsheathed longsword, forced everyone to halt in their tracks.
Aengus rushed up to Eitan's side and pressed a handkerchief to his neck. His expression was heavily conflicted as he met Eitan's gaze. "My lord, you should get treated at once." He was simultaneously extremely proud and distressed. Proud because the one he followed came out victorious, and distressed because this youthful lord of his had willingly thrown himself into danger.
"No need to make such a fuss, it's just a scratch." Eitan snorted, but took the handkerchief from Aengus, putting pressure on the wound by himself. His gaze slid over to an unnervingly cheery-looking Beren. "And what are you so happy for?"
Beren smiled innocently. "The one I serve just achieved an outstanding victory. Is it not only right to be joyous?"
"... Sure." Eitan didn't bother playing around with this fox and refocused his attention on Agni.
The vice-leader had slipped him some first-aid for his wounds before backing off under Farrel's pointed stare. Agni paused patching himself up and lifted his head when he felt Eitan's gaze. "I permit you to have your wounds attended to. After that, come to the throne room to discuss things. You may bring that vice of yours if you so please."
Agni stared at him briefly before slowly lowering his head. "... Understood."
Eitan glanced at the defeated man one more time before going over to Farrel. He placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Good job."
Farrel's eyes shone, and he promptly bowed after sheathing his sword. "I merely did my duty," he paused and glanced up at Eitan. "... I am relieved you are safe, my liege."
"Of course, someone like him can't do anything to me," Eitan chuckled. "Well, let's go. If you stay here, I don't think those so-called wolves will be able to move an inch."
Farrel smiled, his previous cold demeanor vanishing like a mirage. "As you say."
Eitan and his entourage returned to the castle, leaving the mercenaries to deal with things amongst themselves. Once inside, he asked Yuriel for first-aid supplies and allowed the still concerned Aengus to patch him up. After that was done, he changed into more decent clothes and went to wait in the throne room for Agni to arrive.
He hadn't suffered any grievous wounds, so it did not take long for him to appear before Eitan. The vice-leader had indeed accompanied him, and Eitan looked down at them calmly.
It made for quite the ironic scene. Just a short while before, the two men freely bared their fangs at Eitan in this exact place. But now, that ferocious wolf had been collared by him.
Surprisingly, the one to speak first was none of the three, but a certain scholarly blond. "Quite bold of you to remain standing with your head so high." Beren directed his words at Agni with an unreadable smile. "If I recall correctly, isn't the loser of the circle no better than a slave to the victor? I don't know what kind of slave dares to stand so tall before their master." He placed his hand on his cheek and tilted his head with narrowed eyes.
"How dare an effete like you-" The vice-leader couldn't hold it in and began to go off on Beren, but he was interrupted.
"Owen, shut up," Agni gritted his teeth. He glanced at Beren stiffly before looking back up at Eitan. He took a deep breath and dropped to both knees, hands on his lap. His expression was mildly contorted, but his posture was firm.
"Captain?!" The aghast Owen exclaimed.
The corner of Eitan's lip curled up. Looking at the kneeling figure, he couldn't help but eye Farrel, as if to say: What were you worried about? Farrel caught his gaze and bowed his head with a slight smile.
"If you're going to make a fuss, just screw off. I didn't want you to follow me anyway." Agni muttered angrily at his perturbed companion.
Owen looked back and forth between Agni and Eitan a few times before his expression became steely. He stood right beside Agni and similarly kneeled. Agni's head whipped around to him, and pupils shook. "Why are you—?"
Owen provided a half smile. "A subordinate can't possibly remain standing while the leader kneels."
Eitan's brow rose as he watched this display. Originally, he only intended to take in Agni after winning the duel, but his mental plans were starting to shift. "So, what are you going to do about the wolves outside?"
If two mercenary leaders dueled, their groups would merge behind whoever won. But Eitan was no longer a mercenary. He was a noble. So, the same rules naturally wouldn't apply.
Agni lowered his head with a clenched jaw. He then looked at Owen and said, "The leadership of the Silver Wolf Mercenaries will be passed onto Vice-Leader Owen."
"Impossible!" Owen was actually the first one to speak against this. "No one can lead us but the captain. All the others definitely feel the same!"
"Then are you going to just disband?!" Agni raised his voice, disregarding Eitan's presence. "Don't you dare say such bullshit!"
Owen shrank back and lowered his head, obviously not having thought it through. Still, his expression remained stubborn.
Eitan observed the rowdy exchange amusedly. "How about you all just come under me? I'll leave Agni here in charge." He suggested directly, as those involved weren't the type to beat around the bush, neither would he.
Agni's and Owen's heads both snapped up. "You're a noble," Agni stated cautiously. Under the pointed stares of Eitan's subordinates, he no longer spoke as freely as before. Still, the meaning was clear. What's a noble want with a band of unruly mercenaries? If they were hired to do a job, then it was what it was. But to genuinely serve one of those uppity bunch? They'd be lucky not to be tossed out as meatshields at the first sign of conflict.
"Noble, commoner, mercenary, what's it matter? You are skilled. I don't care about anything else." Eitan spoke earnestly. Like he'd told Miles, the value he put on people wasn't based on their station, but ability.
The two mercenaries looked to be unable to believe his words. Eitan sighed slightly, but wasn't irritated. Rather, if they took his every utterance at face value, he would've been disappointed. In this line of work, only those who doubt others live long lives. "I'll give you a day to consider it. Even if not, I still intend to hire the Silver Wolf Mercenaries." He tilted his chin to the side. "Farrel shall act as the intermediary. Discuss whatever plan with these two and that contact of yours."
Farrel crossed his arm over his chest and bowed. "Yes, my liege."
Agni shifted uneasily but nodded his head in compliance. "Alright."
Eitan stood up, and Aengus went straight to his side to escort him. "Until tomorrow, then." He left the room with the others in tow.
Only after he left did Agni finally get up and face Farrel. Owen scrambled up and stood behind him. "Sir Farrel, right?" Agni spoke more confidently now that Eitan was gone, despite facing an aura knight. "Winslow mentioned you."
Farrel surveyed him with a cool demeanor. "I see," he took a step forward. "Let us go to your camp."
Agni's mouth twitched a bit. Why did this knight seem even more impatient than he? He shook his head and turned around. "Fine."
There was, of course, a great fuss when the three returned to the encampment. Agni managed to calm the group before grabbing a few higher-ups, including Winslow, and going into his tent for a meeting. They sat around a table while Farrel stood by the entrance of the tent with arms crossed, not intent on interfering.
Winslow crept up to him and whispered, "I see why you picked him as your liege, now." He had been surprised again when he saw Eitan, wondering why on earth Farrel would have sworn fealty to such a young man. But his doubts cleared as he watched the duel. Many of the mercenaries didn't really understand what had happened, but all those present in this tent knew. Eitan had overwhelmed Aengus with pure skill, even without the aura.
Farrel glanced at him with a mixed expression. How would Winslow react if he knew the Eitan that Farrel had sworn fealty to was so weak he fainted after running about for a night? Of course, he had zero intentions of revealing any such thing. "The true greatness of my liege is not limited to his prowess." He instead answered zealously.
"... I see," Winslow's lips pressed together.
A few steps away, the conversation around the table was becoming heated. "Captain, are you really going to serve that kid?"
Agni's face crumpled. "I lost in the circle. What the hell else should I do?"
One of the men slammed their hand on the table. "He's a noble, a noble! Why should the rules of mercenaries apply to him? That's why we're sitting here in the first place, isn't it? Otherwise, we all woulda' just followed you!"
Sounds of agreement came out at this. Agni put his head down and ruffled his hair. When he looked back up again, he glared around with blazing eyes. "I signed the contract, agreeing to abide by the results no matter what. Do you shits want your leader to become a sham on top of a loser?"
The group immediately fell silent. A few exchanged glances, and one looked at Farrel debatingly. Seeing this, Farrel uncrossed his arms and looked over them coolly. "Do not speak foolishly to your leader any longer. The liege has offered to take all of you in. Regardless, the request to join against the barbarians stands. You will be compensated amply no matter what you choose." He faithfully relayed Eitan's intent.
Another intense discussion broke out. Winslow leaned back over to Farrel with a cautious expression. "Does the lord really intend to bring in all of us? I only say this because I know what you're like." He made eye contact with a somber gaze. "Will he really treat us as his people?"
The others perked up their ears as Farrel met his gaze calmly. "The lord is someone who will never abandon those who belong to him." He responded sincerely. Even when besieged by assassins, Eitan's first order was to protect not himself, but the soldiers. There was no way such a man would mistreat anyone who swore to serve him.
"And how can we trust that? There isn't a single damn noble without another face." One of those sitting around the table spoke up resentfully.
Farrel lightly shut his eyes for a moment, as if he could not refute the man's words. It was true, to some extent, after all. His liege was a man with many faces. A weak young master, a powerful aura knight, a mysterious scholar. A man cold like ice yet as benevolent as the sun. But could it be said that he was fake or untrustworthy? Not at all. Just as the vengeful renegade and loyal knight were equally real parts of Farrel, he was no more than a man with a few extra facets. He opened his eyes again and stared down at those in front of him. "All humans lie, but we put faith in others anyway. I'm sure everyone here has been backstabbed at some point or another. What's the difference if one's a noble? Betrayal's all the same."
This seemed to have struck a chord in those present. They were mercenaries, people who lived a rough life around rough people. Betrayal, at different levels, was only a given for such folks. None of the people here were rookies. Perhaps, a knife of their own had gone into a back somewhere along the way.
"He's right."
All eyes turned to the silver-haired man in the room. It was the vice-leader, Owen, who had spoken. His usually callous dark gray eyes were currently lowered to the ground. "Besides, what else are we going to do? It isn't as though we can leave the captain behind." He smiled faintly at Agni.
Agni scoffed, but couldn't hide the softening of his expression. "I already told you, you can just take over my position and then-"
"And I," Owen cut him off, "already said that's even more impossible. The Silver Wolves are nothing without you, Captain."
Agni groaned a bit as the others nodded solemnly in agreement.
"That's right! Captain was the one who saved me, after all. Won't do anything without him."
"Same for me. I almost got beaten to death by that damn baron, but Captain swooped me away."
"None of us would be here without you."
Wolves may be ferocious, but they were also pack animals. So no matter how unruly these mercenaries acted, when it came down to it, they were more steadfast than anyone else.
Agni clenched his jaw as he took in the loyal comrades around him. "... What am I supposed to do about you twats?" In contrast to his angry words, his voice gently trailed off. He took a deep breath and turned a steady gaze to Farrel. "We don't need until tomorrow. Take me back to the lord."
Farrel observed the man, and past his resolute expression, he could see the slight trembling of his hands. "If that is your decision." He gave a nod, a sliver of respect in his eyes. People like Agni were rare. And, he much preferred this type of person to that recently picked up fox.
No one said anything else and just watched Agni follow Farrel out of the tent. Farrel first encountered Lind, who was carrying a towel. Upon inquiry, he was informed that Eitan was training in the yard where Lind was currently headed. While speaking, Lind peeked at the scarred Agni with an alert curiosity.
Despite this, the three moved on to Eitan's location without much conversation. Once they arrived, Agni's eyes opened wide at the scene in front of him. He wasn't a dagger user?!
Eitan was currently practicing swordplay, and the tip of his blade darted around quickly. Blood-red aura flashed in its trail, and Agni couldn't help being transfixed by the sight. But the more he watched, the more an unsettling feeling rose within him.
The swordsmanship Eitan used was nothing like the graceful movement characteristic of nobles. Despite its refinement, it was rough and unpredictable. If a person stood opposite Eitan right now, Agni imagined their vital points being stabbed mercilessly. This was not a sword from a textbook, but one forged in blood.
Agni was snapped out of his daze as the sword stopped. Eitan turned over to them, apparently having sensed their presence. He walked over, and Lind dutifully handed over the towel. Eitan wiped off his sweat while looking between Farrel and Agni. "Came to a conclusion already?" His tone was not expectant, but merely revealed some interest.
Agni exhaled deeply and shortly after meeting Eitan's gaze, knelt with both knees on the ground. He lowered his head and gripped his kneecaps with white knuckles. "The Silver Wolf Mercenaries will follow me to swear allegiance to the lord."
Eitan handed the towel back to Lind and looked down at Agni. "I'm surprised you made up your minds so quickly."
"I-" Agni suddenly raised his voice. "I don't care what happens to me. But," he put his hands out and slammed his forehead on the ground. "I know I'm in no position to make a request, so I beg this of you! No matter what, please treat my men well. They are all useful people, so-"
"I never intended to do otherwise." Eitan didn't let the man finish his plea. "I know you will not trust me right now, but still, I shall promise you this. I will never treat the lives of my people lightly, backgrounds be damned." He answered Agni's earnestness in kind. If such a prideful man was willing to prostrate himself for his people, how could Eitan, as the lord, possibly be lacking?
Agni slowly raised his head, a trickle of blood sliding down the center of his face. It was true, he didn't trust Eitan. But… looking into those deep pink eyes, he didn't feel that he was lying. He bowed his head again so Eitan wouldn't see his shaken expression. "... Thank you, Master Eitan."
Eitan smiled and put a hand on Agni's shoulder. "Alright, no more of this." He turned towards Lind. "I'll leave it to you to make sure they all get settled properly.
Lind tucked the towel in his arms and bowed his head. "Of course, Your Lordship!"
Agni hesitantly stood up after the slight pull from Eitan. "I… have one question." His main worry assuaged, he could no longer hold back.
Eitan raised an eyebrow, motioning for him to go on. Agni glanced at Lind and Farrel before asking, "How are you so skilled? What you've displayed is impossible for some— a young noble like yourself." He corrected his tone to be more polite, but looked at Eitan restlessly.
Eitan didn't respond immediately, his hand subconsciously going to the damaged blue pendant around his neck. "... Let's just say, a lot becomes possible after dying once."
A look of utter bewilderment appeared on Agni's face, and his mouth opened and closed a few times, but he ultimately didn't inquire further. Farrel maintained his usual stoic expression, while only Lind showed a look of understanding. He must have thought that Eitan was referring to when he was almost beaten to death by his brother and put into a coma. He would, of course, not correct this misunderstanding. How could he possibly be truthful about what he'd been through? He'd be lucky if they didn't consider him absolutely nuts.
He cleared his throat and waved his hand. "Well, be off then." His eyes narrowed slightly. "But don't get too settled, since there will be some action soon."
Agni partially smirked. "Putting a leash on a wolf doesn't make it a dog."
"Good answer," Eitan chuckled and stepped past Agni, then leaned over and squeezed his shoulder. "Although I had better not see any fangs bared to my people." He released Agni, still smiling. "Let's get along from now on."
"... Yes," Agni lowered his head and touched his now throbbing shoulder. I should tell those idiots to behave. He thought as he watched Eitan leave with Farrel and Lind close behind.