#7: New Character

"So, What's your way to not get me impaled. ", I asked Hendrick.

" Well, for starters, I was thinking... To let you not get in the fight. If that fails as the book corrects itself, how about getting a main character in the scene. ", Hendrick said.

" I get the first one, but what do you mean by, 'get a main in scene'? ", I asked.

" The loyal commander, and comrade-in-arms of Ian and who is a justice, Lucas Sebastian. ", Hendrick said with a huge smile.

" Lucas Sebastian? that's quite a mouthful. Hmm. So the guy who was killed in chapter 9 is going to be my guardian angel now? ", I asked.

" You know it? hehe... ",

" It was a bit iconic death so... it was innovative too, he was killed by the mistake of a fellow soldier's accidental shot by a crossbow. ", I said.

Lucas's death was by far the most pitiful one in the novel. All girls wished to save him, they flooded the comments section with hearts and crying emojis and capital T's.

" So, how is he going to come here? By walk or a carriage? ", I asked sarcastically.

" No.. you will meet at knight selection. " , he said.

"well, leave it. I always wonder, how you are able to come in like this, to a heavily guarded area. Like are there no guards? ", I asked.

" Hmm.. You're curious huh, I would love to tell you, but my dear, Curiosity killed the cat. So it's better you don't try to know. ", he said striking a pose near the mirror.

" Let me guess, you used your phone and freezing time is kind of like you author cheat card?. ", I said

" How did you.. ? ", he stared at me, his gaze similar to that of a child that has been deprived of his lolipop.

" Well, time freezing is what would explain the water floating over there. ", I said.

He immediately looked and saw, my glass of water was midair about to spill the water down.

" Hmm, Are you sure you were a doctor, you kind of think like a detective. ", He said, taking a picture of the water midair with his phone.

" Yea yea, what was your occupation anyway? Author only or..? ", I asked.

" I was a master.... ", he said.

" Oh.. a teacher. ", I said

" How did you know..? ", he stared again with disbelief.

" Your phone shows a wallpaper of a huge group of kids, and I am sure you had no girl, so.. not yours. So.. probably your class or your students, but the uniform was a new styled one. so... "

"Huh... I should have really taken your help while writing the novel, it would have turned out awesome. "

"Yea, I know I am cool. ", I said.

" Well, I better get going, Remember, knight selection be the most polite Ian you ever know. ", He warned and went out.

**the door opened***

" Sorry to have been late. You wanted to converse with me, Miss? ", The head maid came and asked.

" I heard you were dealing with assassination attempts on me, how did it go? ", I asked.

" It was done, I disposed of the ones responsible, though I feel, it is a very deep scheme, I will take care and be more careful. " , She said.

"No, I meant if you were alright... Imelda?, " I said, the name came out of my mouth easily.

"Yes, Milady. I wasn't hurt a bit, I will complete the task perfectly before the next month. ", She promised and smiled slightly and went back in.

Next week, I may be impaled, though it won't kill me, it will hurt...

**

A few days later, Knight selection****

" Sir Ian, you have to go alone, we shall be out here and can't protect you nor interfere if anyone tries to harm you, so please stay vigil. ", the head maid said.

" Yes. I will, I will get going now. ", I said but I was shivering as hell... I never was this nervous for the main exams.

I went on...

" All the commoner applicants please go to the counter on the left, the nobles please go to the one on right. "

Here, I did a mistake, I was so nervous, I forgot I was Ian and not Elizabeth, I went to the right line and yes, I did get ambushed.

"You! They said left! not this... aren't you guys supposed to know this much at least?? ", A bratty voice came.

it was the noble who would soon impale me secretly. Hugh Brat .(It's not his last name, I just call him that)

I just stayed apologetic and polite as Hendrick begged me to.

" I am sorry, I was nervous and got confused", I said and immediately turned to go the other line. But I ended up hitting a hard surface, it was a person.

I looked up, I was quite tall, but who's this, It was a cold and stern face looking down, angrily. I got scared.

"Um, sorry. ", I said and went to my line.

" Wow, you actually hit the Lucas. ", the guy in front of me said.

" I didn't hit..?.. ", I said. I looked at Lucas. oh.. so he was Lucas, my guardian angel.

" Well, anyway, I am Nue, what's your name?", he asked.

"Ian.", I said.

" Ohh, you look so noble, I actually thought you were a fallen noble. ", he said and he spread the Information forward.

The next after applying for the test, we were made to fifty laps around a ground as huge as a stadium. All of them shrugged and agreed and began running.

I was crying internally, I kept a poker face and began the laps it was easier than my previous body but.. man!.. my legs hurt!!! I already ran a twenty and the pain began getting worse.

The nobles were allowed to stop at 40. But, Lucas and the brat were still running,

Lucas running for sake of justice and Hugh thinking it was a competition and trying to run.

Nue was actually ahead of me, but he slowed down a bit and ran beside me.

Somehow he had the energy and breath to talk. He asked me,

"Ian, Do you have a girl? I think you do. Is she pretty? I am sure she ain't pretty as mine, My girl's got smooth blond hair and pretty blue eyes. She's got honey like voice and is such a kind person. " He began speaking.

"oh.. ", I said.

" That's not all, she wanted to get married, so I came here, If I become a knight successfully I will take her here and settle in the capital and not in the country side where she has to work a lot.. ", he said proud of himself.

Ah.. motivation, Everyone here, has the same thought, if they get selected it would give them a better chance to survive.

I would run way better, but the binding now slowly began digging into my skin, it was hurting...

" The last lap. " , the instructor said.

after the lap, we all went to have refreshments and rest but all the guys gathered at the gate, I came there and saw, apparently Brat guy had fallen down in the mud and couldn't get up.

All were laughing, but my muscles were so tired that I could only smile, How I wished I could laugh the loudest.

I went back and after that, there was an test of speed and arrows. A sword test, I got good marks and ranked the third in the whole squad,

the first being Lucas, second Nue and me, the fourth being Brat.

Oh no... I know now.. why that guy impaled Ian. It was a stupid thing called pride. Ian might have been tired with the binding hurting her skin. That she couldn't do much.

The instructor announced who all passed for the next test, I was in. The brat too was in. Nue came and put his hand on my shoulder.

"We both are in!!! ", He said.

" Yea... ", I said.

" Though I never expected there would be a round two.. and the gap!! it's in a month!! ", he complained.

" Yea... ", I said and wished him well and turned around to leave when I got pulled by the collar .

I turned and yea.. it was the brat. He had two goon type guys who looked like lifting me up was just a child's play.

" Let's duel and then decide who actually deserves to be the third. ", he said.

" well, I don't think I deserve the third place, I am sure they just made a mistake." , I said.

"No, it was honest marking, you deserve third position. ", said Another one.

The justice freak, Lucas joined, he began strongly supporting my rank.

This really ruined brats mood. I began wondering if Lucas was really my guardian angel or doom bringer.

" Stay out of it! It's between me and him. ", the brat said and commanded the goons to attack me.

I was frustrated, the binding was too tight and the extra layers was too much.

I took out my sword and fought, I was so much irritated that I almost killed them. They went back behind the brat and I caught Hugh by collar.

"Look, I am annoyed as it is, so, Don't test my patience buddy, If you are so unhappy that I am third, maybe you should brush up your skills and man up instead of trying to annoy me with your bug like skills buzzing near my ear.

I am sure you wouldn't want your father hearing about this, that you were jealous of a commoner, so pick up your little bag of pride and go home.", I said

The little brat was scared. He just got up, tried to say something but ran off to the carriage and went home.

" You spoke ..... harsh.", Lucas said.

" Do I know you? ", I asked.

" Sorry, I did not introduce myself, I am Lucas Sebastian. ", He said.

" I am Ian, Lucas. ", I smiled at my guardian or doom.