A brand new proposal

January 30, Year 1161, The Capital

Esmeralda was wearing a knight uniform and was about to leave her house.

"Honey, are you coming today?" A voice suddenly called her out from the kitchen.

"I am busy, mom. You already know, I was recently appointed as the Captain of my squad so I really can't skip my training. I have to reach sequence 3 within this year."

The Knights are addressed based on their Sequences. The stronger a knight is, the higher their sequences are. It's given to them based on their accomplishments or they can just apply for the Sequence Promotion Exam.

It was more precisely a position given by their superiors and got nothing to do with their levels.

"But… Come on honey, it's his birthday today. We should visit him together. "

Seeing her mother being persistent, Esmeralda couldn't help but raise her voice.

"Visit where? That empty place doesn't have anything that belongs to him. If he's really dead, why don't you show me his body."

"Honey... I-I know... I know it's hard but… we need to accept it now. You see... he'll also be happy to see you doing so well in your job." Her mother said, clearly faking a smile. Esmeralda could clearly see the one who's been hurt the most was her mother.

"I don't know what you are talking about. I have to go now."

Esmeralda was really worried about her mother but she still left in a hurry.

'Father and Marielle will take care of her. I have to do my job. I need to become strong. To find out what happened that day and why… and who was behind all those things.'

Esmeralda still couldn't forget his smile. That ridiculous smile before sacrificing himself for them. Although countless people from her town died that day, many others were saved too.

Owen saved them.

Some people called him a hero.

Marielle always asked her why it had to be her brother that died. Couldn't anyone else have taken his role? Why would he try to protect everyone?

But Esmeralda knew her brother didn't sacrifice himself to protect others or to become some kind of hero.

He only wanted his family to survive.

Marielle hasn't been very good at showing her emotions since childhood. Unlike Esmeralda, who treated her brother as a disgrace, she genuinely loved her brother.

His death affected everyone differently.

'Marielle didn't even talk to anyone for six months and locked herself in her room. Mother started her training again after being completely broken down for a while. She blamed herself for not being able to protect anyone. Father didn't say much but I know he also received an enormous shock.'

With all these thoughts on her mind, Esmeralda reached the Knights Quarter before she knew it.

"Esmeralda, you're here! Sir Francis asked you to visit him once." A girl at the counter of the Quarter informed her.

"Sir Francis is here?"

"Yes, he said something about a mission for some of the newly assigned knights".

"Alright, Emily"

'Why does he want to see me now? Does it have to do anything with my recent promotion?'

Esmeralda met Sir Francis a few times after she became a knight and she didn't like him at all.

He was someone who talked sweet to others but wouldn't think twice to use them, just to climb one step above the social ladder.

And now, after her recent improvements and the promotion to Squad Captain, she's the one in the major spotlight.

Everyone's talking about her recently.

So she believed the higher ups might play some tricks to keep her in check.

She summoned her profile as she made her way to meet him.

Name: Esmeralda Grey

Species: Demi-God

Rank: Warrior

Age: 22

Level: 30

Strength : 137

Defense : 140

Agility: 122

Intelligence : 118

Mana: 107

Luck: 47

[Stigma of Faith: ★★★★★★★]

Esmeralda went outside and soon saw Lieutenant Sir Francis Hindston, the sequence 6 knight. He was talking to one of her direct superiors, Order of Faith's Captains, Madam Royse.

Every knight has to follow their Squad Captain and several squads make up an Order led by the Captain of that Order.

The Captain of the Order, in turn, has to take orders from the Lieutenants. And above them comes the Commander who follows the King.

"Sir Lieutenant, Captain Royse, I heard you asked for me."

"Oh.. You're Captain Esmeralda. I believe we have met before.'' The lieutenant said with a wide smile.

" Yes sir!" Esmeralda replied. She had a proper respectable pose. She didn't want him to give a chance to complain.

"Haha.. Don't be too nervous. I just heard that you're a survivor of the Dark Wyvern incident, is that true?"

Esmeralda's face slightly hardened at his words but she didn't let anyone notice.

"That is correct, Sir"

"I see! You must have gone through a lot. It's no wonder why you're so skilled."

He continued, "But that is what I want to talk about abou Anyway, I have a proposal for you and the other young knights."

"..."

"I'll be direct with you. We are deciding to create eight 'Special Squads' with young but promising knights. And I am thinking of leaving one such Special Squad in your hands. In other words, you'll be the Captain. What do you think?"

This totally seemed like a scheme to her from the nobles so Esmeralda was slightly wary of it. After some brief thought, she continued.

"Am I allowed to refuse the offer?"

"Of course, it's your choice. But I personally think you'd benefit more from this. So I suggest you think about it before refusing."

That was a warning.

You can refuse but it won't be too good for you in the future.

Esmeralda could clearly read between his lines.

A Special Squad. This is the first time she had heard something like this. She assumed that it was the first time something like this idea was brought forward in public.

"May I ask who shall I receive orders from if I accept."

"For now, it'll be a new squad so you'll follow Captain Royse. As you and your squad gather up merits, your squad will be promoted. After a few of such promotions, there's a chance that you will be receiving orders directly from the King in the far future, though you'll need a lifetime of merits for that."

It may sound like a good offer but Esmeralda knew that was not the case. Previously, her merits were her alone to use and so a promotion for her was rather easy.

But now, her merits and hard work will be shared with the whole squad. She understood that those higher ups started to notice her now.

"There's nothing to think about, sir. I think it's a good offer. I accept. "

But Esmeralda knew… the one behind the Dark Wyvern Incident was someone sitting at the top, and obviously not someone she can face alone.

She needed to increase her power and for that she needed people she could truly trust.

And this was a perfect opportunity for her.

"Wonderful! Wonderful! You'll definitely reach the great heights of your life. I see why they call you so smart, Captain Esmeralda."

'Yeah. Thank you so much, you sly fox.'

"Madam Royce will introduce you to your new squad. And your first mission..."

'Wow, they are already assigning me with a mission. I bet they want me to focus on something unnecessary and keep me away from their politics... Whatever, I can definitely wait. For another four years and then another. But, I'll definitely find the truth one day.'

The lieutenant scanned through the pages of his thick notebook and finally found the contents of their first mission.

"Ah here it is... Firstly, you need to train these three kids for a month. They are nobles and they have an upcoming competition coming.

Ah! You don't have to worry much though. Just teach them some basics so that they don't embarrass themselves.

And....yeah, here it is, it's an important mission. It says... meet the winner of the 8th Blood Legacy Competition and escort that person safely to Elysium."

***

Esmeralda introduced herself to her new squad. They were not as strong as her but still some of them actually had potential, at least according to her they did.

She really thought she might be able to accomplish her goal if she nurture them properly. After some brief exchange with them, she left her work a little earlier than usual and holding a flower in her hand, she got in a public carriage.

It was still evening and the streets of The Capital were quite busy.

"Where do you want to go, Young miss." The man driving the carriage asked.

"To the North Capital Cemetery"

"That'll be 20 copper coins."

Esmeralda scanned through her purse, grabbed some coins and started counting.

"Here"

****

January 30, Year 1161, Derwair Forest

"Wait, isn't this the place I marked an hour ago?"

It was almost night time and I needed a place to camp in the forest, but I realized that I've been going around in circles for the last two hours.

I knew it'd take me some time to leave the forest, but this was simply too much. Every part of this forest looked exactly the same. And I could see that it wouldn't be any time soon that I'd reach the nearest town.

"This god damned forest!!!!"