"Look at him, big and dumb. Logail, how could you even do such a thing?"
"Really, how could he have broken the young master's favorite training weapon. So careless of him."
"I heard that young master Desmond received that training weapon as a gift from the late madam."
"Of course, that's why he's upset."
"There is nothing we can do to help this oaf. Apparently, he denied being the culprit when a few other apprentices said that they witnessed his crime."
"I didn't do it!"
A young Logail, about twelve years old, cried out.
These other kids, apprentices, around him have been passing around gossip since morning.
Some of them said outrageous things and a few others were correct.
Nonetheless, it all made Logail angry. But there was nothing he could do but swallow his anger and serve his punishment silently.
"I never did anything like that!"
His head was planted on the ground, and his legs were pivoting his buttocks up. If one looked closer, they would see his body trembling.
The thought of resting had crossed his mind many times; however, there was a senior of theirs who had been tasked with watching him.
If he defaulted, his punishment would only worsen.
Despite his position, his eyes remained sincere.
"You don't have to prove that to us. Young master Desmond is the one you need to be telling that to."
The apprentices left slowly, leaving for launch.
Some of them looked at Logail with pity in their eyes, while some thought he deserved it.
After a while, when the pain became unbearable, he started to cry.
Albeit silently, but not silently enough to hear when a young boy appeared by his side.
"Apprentice knight, why are you crying?" The boy asked with a clear and playful voice.
His voice brought the young Logail's attention to his presence.
Opening his eyes, from his upside-down peripheral view, he saw who it was that had spoken to him.
"Y-young m-master Marcus?" He sniffed, which he soon regretted because his tears and mucus immediately went into his brain.
A young Marcus, who was almost seven years old, smiled at Logail. "I asked why you were crying."
"I-I'm in pain."
"Then stop being in pain. Just take a break." Marcus leaned his head slightly to the side.
Logail was speechless at that. Was it so easy to stop being in pain just because another person says so?
"I can't. If I stop without being told to, it will only make matters worse. I have to serve my punishment."
"Why? What crime did you commit?"
"I didn't do anything!" Logail snapped, as if he had been accused of a crime.
"Hmm," Marcus rubbed his chin, "If you're innocent, then why are you being punished?"
"Someone lied and said that I had broken young master Desmond's training sword. The late madam had gifted it to him."
"From mother? I suppose he's furious now." Marcus chuckled as a mischievous glint appeared in his innocent eyes.
"So, you didn't do it right?"
"I didn't–" right before Logail could respond, he felt a foot on his buttocks that pushed him down.
Because his muscles were already strained and sore, he wasn't able to resist.
Thud!
"No, young master, why did you do that?" Logail scrambled to return to his punishment, but he was kicked again.
"If you're innocent, then act innocent. What's there to fear?" Marcus laughed.
"I can't–"
"I order you to rest. Disobey my order and you will be punished." Marcus threatened, forcing Logail to hesitate.
Seconds went by before Logail returned to crying as he sat on the floor.
"Huh? Did I kick you too hard?"
"N-no. I just… I don't understand why I always get bullied."
Marcus sighed, relieved that he didn't harm the young apprentice.
"Bullied, you? You look big and strong. Are you so weak that you get bullied often?"
"No! I'm not weak, they are all weak! So weak that I can't fight back. Papa said that I shouldn't fight the weak, he made me promise!" Logail's cry became louder as he recalled his now deceased father.
Marcus's face scrunched up and his brows knitted together as if he had just heard a riddle with no answer.
His mouth fell upon a bit, then closed again. He tilted his head to the other side, eyes wide and unblinking.
Not fight the weak? But the weak chose to fight you. Why look at it as a fight… just beat them and be done with it.
His lips parted to speak, but no words came, only a soft, relenting puff of air.
Marcus blinked a few times, as if he was trying to shake the disbelief from his lashes.
"That doesn't make any sense." He finally whispered with an innocent voice who'd never know such a rule.
"Fine, fine. Keep getting bullied. Your Papa wanted you to."
"How can you say that?" Logail cried even harder.
"I'm only affirming your words. Aren't I?" Marcus clapped back. "Why do you think they keep on bullying you?"
"Because I won't fight back."
"Exactly. But let's change the terms here. You don't have to fight back next time you're bullied. Just defend yourself."
"But that would mean hitting them back."
"Of course! You big dumb oaf! Hit them back. Anyone who's weak and likes to throw the first blow is already strong enough to expect a stronger blow back. Don't you know this? How is it that you plan to become a knight without knowing this?"
Marcus rambled, annoyed at Logail's thinking process.
"I'm not a dumb oaf."
"Then don't act like one!"
"I'm going to become a knight."
"Not with that attitude."
Logail cried harder when he heard this.
"Seriously, how are you being bullied by a six-year-old?" Marcus whispered.
"Fine, become a knight. If no one wants you for any reason, come to me. I'll take you as my knight. Doesn't matter if you're a big dumb oaf, I'm smart enough for a thousand people anyway."
"Really? Will you accept me as your knight?"
"Sure, I am a boy of my word. I am the leader who guides and protects his people, like my father!" Marcus placed his hands on his waist as he boasted.
Then suddenly, he recalled something.
"Oh, Zona," Marcus turned to the knight who had been watching from afar. The one tasked with keeping an eye out for Logail.
"Yes, young master?" Zona answered.
"This apprentice knight is innocent, what do you say to that?"
"Young master…" Zona paused. This mischievous young master was a smart and troublesome one.
Now that he has gotten involved in this…
Maybe it's better if this apprentice knight goes under the young master. One wrong word and he could also get in trouble.
Zona sighed inwardly.
"If the young master says that he's innocent, then he is." He gave in.
"He's not innocent because I say he is. It's because I'm the culprit."
"Huh?" Both Zona and Logail paused and stared at Marcus.
"I broke Desmond's training sword." His smile widened. "Hahaha!"
The sound of his laughter echoed until it slowly began fading away.
It was soon replaced by the sound of multiple people laughing.
Occasionally, a few unfamiliar voices cut through the laughter, seeking assistance.
"Where's the herbalist!? Someone, find the herbalist!"
"Ugh! Why does my head hurt so much?" Logail whispered painfully as he managed to sit up.
His vision was a bit blurry, but after a while, it became clear.
The smell of different herbs mixed with the air, made his nose twitch.
Logail noticed that parts of his body were coated and wrapped in bandages.
Looking to the side, a light curtain shielded him from the eyes of the public.
"Where am I?"
Suddenly, he recalled the last thing that happened before he lost consciousness.
"Lord Marcus!" His eyes widened as anxiety gripped his heart.
Logail, ignoring the pain from his injuries, tried to get up from the bed.
The possibility that Marcus was dead filled him with fear.
Just as he was almost off the bed, a hand grabbed his hair and pulled him back to the bed.
"Argh!" He cried out as he had no strength to fight back.
"The young lord is fine. Look at you scrambling right after sleeping for seven days."
"Brown?"
"At least you didn't lose your memories." Brown chuckled.
"Do you mean it? Is lord Marcus fine?"
"Yeah… well, he was injured but completely healed two days ago."
Hearing this, Logail's heart began to calm down. He finally relaxed on the bed.
And then it hit him, his eyes flew open. "Did you say that I was asleep for seven days?"
"No hearing impairment." He joked. "Yes, you've been asleep for that long. Welcome back to the living brother. I thought we'd lost you." Brown said softly, truly relieved.
"Thank you… I, too, thought I was dead." His thoughts drifted back to that night.
He was certain that death had come for him. But right before it touched him, Marcus stood in its path.
"Lord Marcus, protected me. Is that why I was dreaming about our childhood?"
Logail couldn't help but recall those words again. The real reason why he had chosen to follow Marcus.
"A true leader that guides and protects his people…" Logail clenched his fists.
I must become stronger and protect the young lord. This must not happen again!
A fierce determination brewed in Logail's heart.