BK1 Chapter Forty-Four

Chapter Forty-Four

The abrupt interruption from Lieutenant Cragborn served as a much-needed distraction from the tense confrontation between Garret and me. I shifted my attention to the stern figure at the front of the room, grateful for the opportunity to refocus and regain my composure.

I had let my emotions get the better of me again.

I shouldn’t have argued with Garret like that in such a public space. I could already see the glances people were sneaking my way. I had probably been unreasonable to many eyes, doubting my fiance and belittling his ambitions. However, they did not know Garret as I did. They had not suffered under his hands as I had.

As I took a deep breath, I reminded myself of the reasons why I had reacted the way I did. The pain of my past experiences with Garret still lingered, and it had influenced my words and actions in that moment. While I understood that the public confrontation was not ideal, it was difficult to suppress my emotions entirely.

But now, in the presence of Lieutenant Cragborn and my fellow trainees, I knew I had to regain control and compose myself. I couldn't let my personal history with Garret dictate my behaviour during the training. This was a fresh start, an opportunity to redefine myself and prove my worth independent of my past lives.

“As you should have noted, it is mandatory for all recruits to take on jobs at the task centre. You must all take on at least one job per month.” The Lieutenant began as he folded his hands behind his back.

“As Trainees, you will be limited to grade one tasks. These involve simple tasks such as gathering supplies, cleaning training yards and organising documents. You are all quite capable of such tasks.”

“Cleaning?” Kit raised his voice with complaint. “Nobles don’t clean.”

“They do here Lord Balburn. Either do these tasks, or have your core stripped.”

“Wait what?” Kit exclaimed his eyes widening.

“Yes, I thought it best to tell you all of this at once rather than individually. If any of you training to become Summoners break the law, cause harm to innocents or do not uphold your blood contracts, you will be reprimanded. Any of you who are deemed unworthy will have you core stripped of Aether and a block placed on your core.”

“Isn't that extreme!?” another noble called out.

“Not at all Lord Garn. A Summoner without restraint is dangerous to the population. It would be irresponsible of us not to do so if anyone posed a threat.”

The Lieutenant’s words caused a collective unease amongst us. The severity of the consequences for breaking the rules and causing harm was apparent. It sent a chill down my spine. It was a drastic measure to block someone's core, they would be rendered powerless. Essentially a nobles nightmare, they would be the same as a commoner. The same as I had been in my past lives. They would have to live under the rules of their family, they would depend on them for survival. A small bitter smile creased onto my features, they would be treated as many of the women in high society. Nothing but pawns for marriage connections.

The nobles in the room seemed particularly taken aback by the notion of performing menial tasks like cleaning. Their privileged upbringing had shielded them from such responsibilities, but it was clear that the rules applied to everyone, regardless of their noble status.

I glanced at Kit, who appeared visibly flustered by the Lieutenant's statement. It seemed he had never considered the potential consequences of breaking the rules or refusing to perform the assigned tasks. The reality of the situation was starting to sink in for him.

“What about those in the Temples? They have Summoners serving the gods, do they get their cores stripped?” Another hand raised.

“Summoners who choose to join the Temple often do so as they have unique talents that suit Temple life. All Summoners who serve the gods originally trained here, in the Army. They are held to the same values and rules as we are.”

I perked at the mention of the Temples. I had heard about the prestige of being chosen to serve as a Temple Summoner. They were often sent overseas to the neighbouring kingdoms under the Zopan Empire to establish the gods and protect the priests. Maybe that was something Vishka wanted for me? She was a god after all.

***

The Lieutenant explained the importance of the task centre. Only one job was required each month, but completing a job meant credits. Credits were essential to life in the Keep. It was the only accepted currency and we would need them if we wanted to eat the more luxurious meals at the eatery. Today our meal was free, but that was no longer the case. We would each receive fifty credits every month as a stipend, but this was only enough for bread and eggs every day. We needed credits to book out personal training slots, practice equipment and scrolls to learn new techniques. Though I wouldn’t be able to access scrolls as a foot-guard.

The importance of credits was made very clear. Without them, we would be fighting for resources and time. However, there were only so many jobs available so it was imperative to try and obtain a desirable job as soon as possible.

Our badges provided with our uniforms were inscribed with runes, we all took them off our cloaks and inspected the tiny enchainments etched into the back of the bronze. They were enchanted to keep count of our credits, touching them to another could transfer credits and also pay for facilities. We each were given our stipend by the Lieutenant and he also had us prick our fingers to drop blood onto them sealing them as ours. This provided an identity to each badge so they could not be used by anyone else.

The Lieutenant then also explained about our rooms, our room keys worked similarly. We repeated the process of sealing them as ours with our blood. They were each attuned to each room, by sealing the key as belonging to us we preventing any access to our room from anyone else. It was a relief to know that no one would able to enter my room without my permission. Maybe I could have left my letter in my room rather than tucked into the pocket of my chest garment.

Our six day week was scheduled for us, on Fire days we would train our skills or attend the lecture on the theories of Aether, Water days we would have our session training with weapons. Earth day was a personal choice, we could train as we wanted, complete a job, or request permission to go into the capital. Wind day was more weapon training, Darkness day was skills or practical Aether manipulation, and Light day was another personal choice.

Finally the Lieutenant explained that today we would be free to explore the keep. Tomorrow, on the day of Water, we would begin our training with weapons and physical combat with Lieutenant Sharpclaw. All Trainees were required to pass combat evaluations, Summoner and foot-guard. It was expected we would each pass at different intervals as our skills would vary. Once we passed, we would be entered into a ranking system of recruits.

I gulped as the ranking system was explained. Combat was our primary skill to train, and our ranking would be focused on that. It was a way of encouraging individual competition and a will to improve amongst the Trainees. Duels could be requested to try and increase your ranking. It was also a way for the Lieutenants to decide who would work best on a team.

For Summoners, the ranking system would help determine the compatibility of their skills with others, even before they gained their elemental abilities at foundation. It was a way to assess who would work best together in the future, as teamwork was crucial for Summoners in fulfilling their roles.

On the other hand, foot-guards would be more interchangeable, placed where needed without necessarily forming a set team. The duels and rankings would help the Lieutenants determine the appropriate professions and Summoners under whom the foot-guards would later serve.

Garrets smirk toward me made me flinch. I could read the thoughts he was no doubt thinking, he was excited to have an opportunity to publicly duel me when given the chance. If he would have the chance.

I turned away from his gaze a frown plastered on my lips. I had to make sure I was able to fight, I cant remain useless. Not if I can stay here.

As the Lieutenant brought our welcome lecture to an end, he dismissed us with wave of his hand before returned to his study.

“Do you think they have any jobs in the eatery?” Teresa pondered as she gazed at the bronze badge in her hand, tracing the pattern of the flower bud inscribed.

“Maybe, but, I didn’t think… you liked cooking?” I asked hesitantly remembering our numerous meals of burnt food during the march.

Teresa pinned her badge back onto her grey cloak with a heavy sigh. “Its not that I don’t like it, its more I suck at it”

“So, why would you want a job at the eatery?” Rian asked as she stood from her desk with us.

“I don’t want to suck at it any more” Teresa pouted “Figured a job there may teach me? Maybe?”

Rian and I shared a glance with small smiles. “I think its worth a try, you never know” I followed them both down the rows of desks.

“It is an interesting outlook to the task system” Harold nodded beside me. “Choosing a task that will also grant you a skill is intriguing. I will choose carefully.”

“Anything that makes me clean up after someone is preposterous” Garret scowled ahead of us as he interjected into our conversation.

“Agreed. I refuse to do anything that demeaning” Kit mumbled displeased.

“M-maybe there will be a task for organising researching documents?” Lacey stumbled a little  on the length of her cloak blushing red at the act.

“If there is I will be taking that” Garret raised his head high. “Sorting documents is far preferred to anything servants should be doing.”

“Of course, you would think that way” I rolled my eyes at Garrets ego. I imagine many of the nobles thought the same way, they were above the work of servants, commoners. In my past lives, I maybe would have thought the same. However, now, I had little care of such things. My only goal is survive is this life.

“Lady Heversham” Garret stopped at the end of the desk rows allowing other nobles to pass him by.

“Yes?” I narrowed my eyes as our proximity grew closer.

“May I have a word, alone?” his asked with a tint of grit in his voice.

I froze in my step meeting his dull brown eyes as he stared at me. Rian and Teresa tensed beside me blocking the exit from the desks. My skin prickled at the look in in Garrets eyes, I knew that look. He was angry. Fuming even.

“I-I have other matters to attend too” I swallowed the nerves that erupted throughout my gut. I had been brazen before, confident, as we had not been alone together.

Garret shot out his hand to block my way as I tried to leave. “This can not wait” he glared “You can not refuse this request Lady Heversham, my dear fiance”

“Lord Asher, this is inappropriate” Rian frowned as she gently placed a hand on my shoulder and stood in front of me. “You can not force Lady Heversham to meet with you.”

“Lady Thornfax, with all due respect, you have no say in when a man wishes to speak with his partner.” Garret retorted with snide.

Rian flinched a little, I could see her frustration as she gripped her sheet of paper tighter. Sadly, Garret was correct. As Rian was not my family, she could not stop Garret from requesting to speak with me. It was an old misogynistic etiquette rule that allowed a man of close relation to request a private audience with a woman. Only a family member could refuse on their behalf, and I had no luck of that happening. As Garret’s supposed fiance, he was unfortunately considered a close relation. In the past, many women had been exploited by such means against their wishes by their supposed fiances so it was now heavily frowned upon. Garret, however, did not care about this fact. He was traditionalist.

“It’s okay Rian” I weakly spoke removing her hand from my shoulder. “I-I will speak with him.” I didn’t have a choice. If I did not comply, Garret would only make things worse. I couldn’t implicate Rian in my feud with Garret. It was my issue, not hers. I knew disrespecting him like that would have its consequences. Garret was not a forgiving man.

Rian grimaced as Garret’s grinned triumphant to my reluctant agreement to his request.

With a small nod from her and a concerned gaze from Teresa and Harold, I stood aside as the rest of the nobles and commoners left the hallway, leaving me alone with Garret.