Rest

The crowds erupted in a loud cheer, and the rose knight trainees looked around awkwardly. They had been training their entire lives and didn't have much time to be a hero of sorts so this was kinda new to them.

Even though what they had just defended from was a simple bandit attack, the numbers were enough to take over the small city of Muno. Perhaps not the small amount of bandits that were attacking, but if the main force went all-in with their remaining numbers, it would create a predicament for the city, even if they did manage to fight them off it would have come with many losses.

The rose knights looked around at the streets that started to get filled with more and more civilians. Baron Stiv and smilled and pointed to the fortress-like mansion in the distance

"Please let us escort you to my mansion rose knights, I promise we will treat you with the highest hospitality"

Charlie gave a light laugh and answered in a courteous manner

"Baron, unfortunately we are just trainees and are not fit to bear the title of a rose knight, we are on our final trial which involves freeing this land from the grips of the bandits and monsters that have been plaguing it"

The Baron widened his eyes and looked at Charlie with a sparkle in his eye. He answered back in a natural tone, but Boops could detect a hint of happiness in it

"ah I see, well I deeply apologize rose knight trainees, but my offer still stands we welcome you at our mansion, also mister Charlie would you be willing to discuss your goals for the trial a bit later, i feel like we would be able to have a very good discussion"

Charlie nodded

"of course Baron Stiv, but unfortunately we will have to decline your invitation, you see there are many more bandits and they can come anytime. We will camp outside and wait for them. Only when they all monsters and bandits are eradicated can we rest"

The Baron let out a small smile on his face

"honorable words spoken like a true rose knight, but at least, allow the citizens of Muno to express their thanks, for you have freed us from what we thought was another hard-fought battle one that we might not have been able to win."

Charlie looked back to see the rose knight trainees looking at him with desperate eyes and he sighed and turned back to answer

"yes, I do believe they deserve a short rest, but only for a few hours, after that, we must get back to our post"

The Baron nodded

"yes, of course, Mister Charlie, and I promise you that when the battle starts the soldiers of Muno will be by your side"

"thank you, Baron"

"the least I could do for my benefactor"

Charlie turned back and walked to the rose knight trainees that were sitting awkwardly at the cheering crowds that were waving at them.

"Alright guys, I'm giving you some free time, explore the city whatever, I trust you guys will be back in 3 hours, no I know you will be back in 3 hours I don't even need to worry about that"

Charlie looked at the rose knight trainees with a hint of pride in his eyes.

"anyways, you're free don't do anything unbecoming of a future rose knight and do not defame our name"

The rose knights responded with a loud "yes sir" and dispersed some of them went into the streets where the people welcomed them inviting them to their restaurants to eat food or to shake their hands or offer them some hugs.

Jason spotted some women trying to pick up some of the rose knights, but they were refused in a courteous manner (well most of them did it nicely). It seems like the rose knights were a bit shy, even though hours ago they were massacreing bandits, but strangely seeing the red barrack members following the restaurant owners in droves, while the blue barrack members shoved away the girls advances with their eyes fixed on the local book store or library or the green barrack members that were interacting with the crowd the most, patting the kid's heads, giving hugs to the older women, clasping hands with the adult men, or even having a simple conversation with a young teenage boy who wanted to be a rose knight to inspire them.

Strangely enough, it seemed right as he watched the barracks interact with the people of Muno, it seems the rose emblem was trusted for a good reason.

A brief sensation of pride passed Jason as he thought about how he was a part of this knighthood, even if it was by some crazy accident with Lady Megra, he couldn't imagine what his gaming life would be like without the sh** stirring Lyle the silent Colby, the shi* stirrers sidekick Mark, the dude that did whatever he wanted Ethan and most importantly the mom that was getting a mental breakdown trying to take care of them all Charlie.

And the rest of the platoon members but there were too many to name. When he had come to the group he had expected some people who were corrupt, evil, prejudice etc.. but nothing like that was in the camp. Instead, it was, warm kindness in a knighthood, a group made for battle. Jason couldn't get over how absurd that was, but as he spent more and more time with them he soon started to learn of their circumstances and lives.

He didn't know how Lady Megra was able to lead the rose knights, it seemed too good to be true, but he was going to treasure it anyway.

Jason walked over to a secluded corner of the street, he had to dodge a woman who tried to impress him with their looks and give a few firm handshakes to some dudes who thanked him. He even gave a small bag of beef jerky to a small boy who's stomach was growling and whispered to him

"run your friends are eyeing you"

To which that boy looked back to see his friends giving him the most jealous looked possible. The boy turned back and started to sprint holding the bag of beef Jerky in the air like it was a trophy while the kid's friends gave chase. A bit later he could hear cheerful and childish laugher and giggles.

So after a bit, he managed to reach a small pathway a few minutes away from the main street where everyone was gathering. He managed to find a stone that was carved out so that weary travelers could sit.

He looked around to make sure he was along and sat down and enjoyed the solitude. His eyes wandered up to see the bright summer sky, and the occasional white birds that flew across it like the clouds in the air.

Boops spotted a cloud that looked like a bird standing on a branch and started to laugh since the cloud started to shift in a way that made what was the bird's left wings to fold a bit in while the right arm extended to look like it was dabbing.

Boops thought it was the funniest thing ever and kept on snapping photos.

Jason looked back down at the city, well it was pretty large, but at the same time kinda empty. Even if most of the people were in the main street with the rose knights, the buildings looked a bit run down, the alleyways looked dirty and dangerous.

When he turned around he could see some parts of the walls being neglected and cracked could be seen on some of the stones. The patrols on the walls were sparse and few in number and Jason could see some of the archers posted constantly wipe their faces in exhaustion.

It seems the Baron was right, they had fought numerous battles and they probably would have fallen on this one, if not for the rose knights.

It was a bit hard to compare the smiling citizens from before the slightly run-down buildings, to the empty streets and dim lights in the houses. Jason started to wonder what was going on when a mother and her young daughter who looked to be around 7 years old. She had light brown fluffy hair and a brilliant smile on her face. She looked up at her mother and said

"Mommy, mommy the rose knights are here, so we don't have to hide in our homes anymore right?"

The mother looked down at her daughter and smilled with her aged wrinkled face and stroked her cheek with rough hands that she got through taking care of her.

"of course, dear now that the rose knights are here, they will drive off those bad guys"

The woman looked off into the distance and muttered

"yes, they will fight off those bad guys who took daddy away from us"

Jason didn't mean to listen to their conversation, but as he heard it, he started to see why the citizens were full of smiles. On that day Jason saw a glimpse of the effect of hope and it was something he tucked away in his heart and inscribed in his brain forever.

But then he remembered the loot sitting in the spike pit he created and died internally.

"ill get it later" he croaked to himself while he tried to hold back his tears.