Black Wind 8
That day, Austin Ealdred was putting on his knight’s uniform for the first time in a while.
His left arm, pierced by the broken fangs of a monster, was still not fully healed. However, he couldn’t keep resting indefinitely, nor did he think it acceptable to do so. Initially, he had nightmares of the grotesque appearance of the monsters and the ghastly sight of fallen senior knights. His sleep was shallow, and the doctor suggested that he might need mental magic from a healing mage. Yet Austin refused, determined to become a knight. He knew he couldn’t rely on healing mages every time he returned from battle. Even now, the nightmares hadn’t completely disappeared. Although he could sleep a bit better, he understood he would never return to how he was before joining the monster stampede.
He headed to the barracks and entered his room. His fellow knights, who shared the same room, called out to him when they saw him.
“Hey, you’re back already? You should have told me earlier. I would’ve brought some tasty treats and thrown a big celebration.”
Austin gave a wry smile at his colleague’s cheerful words. He shrugged and shook his head.
“Come on, Mick. There’s no knight who has a welcome party every time they return from an injury.”
“True enough.”
Mick was a large young man for his age. When he was expressionless, he could be quite intimidating, but his constantly changing expressions made him approachable. Mick nodded with understanding, his usual playful demeanor returning. Austin also softened his expression in response.
“So, how was it? A monster stampede is something you don’t get to experience often. I thought you were something else for managing it. But you got injured, and I heard the captain and the squad leader were severely wounded too. It must have been really dangerous, right?”
“Well, let’s just say... I didn’t have the luxury to think about what I’d learned. I was just desperate to survive, and I couldn’t see much of what was around me.”
“Even you got like that?”
Austin fell silent. He felt that no matter how much he tried to describe the situation, he couldn’t truly convey it.
The imminent terror, the relentless attacks that never seemed to end, the monsters coming from all directions, and the draining of physical strength, mental stamina, and magical power. His comrades falling around him, and stronger individuals turning into mere corpses without a fight.
Austin had touched on the reason why only holy magicians or the second squad were suited for dealing with monster stampedes.
Although it was said that even a single monster could be a challenge, a monster stampede involved countless numbers of them. Austin thought he understood it in theory, but in reality, he hadn’t grasped it at all. He felt ashamed to realize this only after being on the battlefield.
Dealing with a monster stampede required not only bravery but also extraordinary mental fortitude, martial skills, and magical talent. There was something beyond effort alone—something Austin didn’t quite understand.
He had been thinking about his last actions during the monster stampede and regretting them. When Captain Danhill was attacked by a monster and fell, he had rushed to his aid instinctively, wanting to protect the person who had always helped him. But this action left him vulnerable. As a result, Commander Hegaty had been severely injured. It was clear that Austin had exacerbated the damage to the knight order.
“Are you feeling down, by any chance?”
Mick peered into Austin’s face. Austin shook his head slightly.
“No, I’m just reflecting on my own inadequacies.”
“That sounds like being down to me.”
Mick laughed. Despite his tendency to be a bit clueless, Austin found himself comforted by Mick’s presence.
He had eaten breakfast at the clinic that morning. After sending Mick off to the mess hall, Austin strapped on his sword and headed to the training grounds. Along the way, he felt the stares of the knights passing in the corridor. After the duo had watched the young man leave, they were whispering about “the knight apprentice who joined the monster stampede suppression team.” It seemed they were displeased that an apprentice had been included in a team meant for more experienced knights. Austin, however, merely tightened his lips and said nothing.
Upon arriving at the edge of the training grounds, Austin began his warm-up exercises. Since it was still early, no one else was there. The serene space and the cool breeze were soothing. Against the backdrop of distant knightly chatter, he methodically completed his exercises. Although he had done light exercise in the infirmary while his injuries were healing, he felt his stamina had diminished.
“Back to training already, huh?”
A voice called out, and Austin looked up in surprise. Turning around, he saw Brendon Carey, the captain of the Seventh Squad, standing with his arms crossed. Austin wiped the sweat from his brow and faced Brendon. Brendon, who had been observing Austin, briefly squinted his eyes.
“The commander wants to see you. Follow me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Austin nodded and followed Brendon as he briskly walked toward the commander’s office, located deep within the barracks.
“Excuse me,” Austin said as he knocked and entered the office. Inside were Commander Hegaty, Vice Commander Miles Spencer, and Danhill, the captain of the Second Squad. Vice Commander Miles stood next to the commander’s desk, while Danhill stood to the left of the entrance. Brendon took his place next to Danhill, and Austin stood facing Commander Hegarty.
“Austin Ealdred, reporting in.”
“Ah.”
After Austin gave the knightly salute, Commander Hegarty nodded and instructed him to take the two papers on the desk. Austin tilted his head in confusion but stepped forward to comply. However, before he could pick up the papers, he froze upon seeing the text written on them. His movements stopped involuntarily.
“What’s wrong?”
Looking up at the calm commander, Austin saw a glimmer of amusement in Hegaty’s eyes.
“Uh—well, this is…”
“Your performance during the recent monster stampede was comparable to that of an active knight. It’s unusual, but you’re being promoted from apprentice knight. As a result of requests from various squads, two squads have expressed interest in having you join them. Both are suited to your skills. We’re giving you the opportunity to choose.”
Typically, to be formally recognized as a knight and assigned to a squad, one must serve as an apprentice for at least three years. Austin had only been in the order for two years, making this promotion exceptional. Moreover, the squads being offered were the issue.
“The Second Squad or the Seventh Squad—huh?”
Austin finally understood why both Danhill and Brendon were present.
The Second Squad, which includes magic knights, and the Seventh Squad, known for its meritocracy, were both prestigious among knights. Among apprentices, those confident in their magic preferred the Second Squad, while those who prided themselves on swordsmanship favored the Seventh Squad. Moreover, both squad leaders were figures of respect and admiration for Austin. It was an enviable position. However, being asked to choose between the two was challenging.
Austin’s ultimate goal was to become a personal guard for Riley, which would require leaving the knight order. If he didn’t wish to be a royal guard, the First Squad, which handles royal protection, was an option. But Austin wasn’t aiming to be a royal guard. He knew that joining either the Second Squad or the Seventh Squad would be the fastest route to achieving his goal. Nevertheless, he was at a loss when asked to choose between them. Additionally, there was something else on his mind.
“You’ve heard that there are few magic knights. In that case, shouldn’t the Second Squad be given priority?”
Given the rarity of magic knights, it seemed there should be no real choice between the Second and Seventh Squads. Austin’s question was reasonable, but Commander Hegaty simply smiled slightly and shook his head.
“No, there have been precedents of people choosing the Seventh Squad over the Second Squad. While the Second Squad is generally prioritized, there are exceptions.”
“Precedents?”
Austin blinked in surprise. He had never heard of this before. However, it seemed that everyone else in the room was already familiar with it. Hegarty nodded quietly.
“Yes. I was one such case.”
Hearing this, Austin’s surprise grew as Hearty explained calmly.
“At that time, I was assigned to the Seventh Squad. It wasn’t until after my assignment that my aptitude for being a magic knight was discovered. I was supposed to be appointed to the Second Squad, but before that could happen, the Seventh Squad’s captain was killed in action. As a result, I was appointed as the Seventh Squad’s captain instead of being reassigned to the Second Squad.”
The matter was presented with such casualness, but it was evidently a heavy one. Though the details were unclear, it was obvious that Hegaty’s not moving to the Second Squad was due to the unavoidable circumstance of the Seventh Squad’s captain’s death. Moreover, unlike Austin, who had already shown aptitude before his assignment, Hegaty had discovered his suitability only after being assigned.
This made the current situation of offering Austin a choice even harder to comprehend. The knight apprentice furrowed his brow, and Hegaty lowered his voice.
“Everyone here knows of your future aspirations. That’s why we’re giving you the opportunity to choose.”
“So, does that mean the Seventh Squad is more suitable than the Second Squad?”
“Both are suitable. However, as you know, the Second Squad is perpetually understaffed. Once assigned there, it is rare for someone to be transferred to another squad. In contrast, the Seventh Squad offers more flexibility for transfers compared to the Second Squad. If you join the Second Squad, you might not be able to transfer if you decide you want to pursue something else.”
While transfers were not easily granted in the Seventh Squad either, the restrictions were less severe compared to the Second Squad. After hearing this explanation, Austin nodded slowly as he processed the information.
It was clear that Austin had high suitability for either squad. Otherwise, even considering his future, they would not have given him the choice. He had trust in the commanders to that extent.
“On the other hand, gaining experience as a magic knight will undoubtedly make you a candidate for the royal guards. Magic knights are rare, after all.”
Those words bolstered Austin’s resolve.
“Whether there is a slight delay or not is of no concern. What matters to me is having the power and authority to protect what I need to protect without regrets.”
Hegaty raised an eyebrow in interest. Austin met his gaze steadily. Silence fell.
“In that case, the decision is made. Agreed, Captain Danhill, Captain Brendon?”
Hegaty addressed the two captains standing by. Both gave brief nods of agreements and said nothing more. Before Austin, Hegarty took the appointment letter for the Seventh Squad and tore it vertically. He handed the torn paper to Vice Commander Miles, then extended the appointment letter for the Second Squad to Austin.
“Austin Ealdred is hereby appointed to the Second Squad under the following conditions.”
“—I accept the appointment with great respect.”
Austin took the letter with both hands and bowed deeply. Inside, he was unable to hide his astonishment at how easily the path to becoming a magic knight had opened up. Seeing the young man barely managing to maintain his composure, Hegaty nodded.
“And now, what are these ‘conditions’?”
When Austin asked about the conditions, Commander Hegarty responded straightforwardly.
“Before you start training, you are to receive mental healing from a healing mage. Afterward, if you can endure mentally over the next six months, you will remain assigned to the Second Squad.”
“—Understood.”
It seemed that they had noticed his lack of sleep. Austin, feeling slightly embarrassed, nodded with a faint blush on his cheeks. Hegarty continued speaking.
“I’ll provide details about the appointment ceremony later. It will likely be conducted along with those assigned this year. For other inquiries, please check with Captain Danhill.”
“Yes.”
After leaving the room, Captain Danhill approached Austin. Smiling cheerfully, he said, “Looking forward to working with you.” As Austin bowed his head, Danhill gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
“You wanted to be assigned to the Seventh Squad at first, didn’t you? I did want you in the Second Squad, but I didn’t expect you to actually join us.”
“Captain, are you fully recovered now?”
“Oh, are you concerned about me? Wow, I’m so touched. I might start crying.”
This was Austin’s first time seeing Danhill since he had left the magic beast attack stampede. He had heard that Danhill had been more seriously injured than he was, but he looked quite healthy from the outside. Danhill, smiling brightly, showed no signs of poor health. However, Brendon interjected from the side.
“You’re still not fully recovered. Your stamina hasn’t returned, and your attacks lack their usual sharpness.”
“Hey, Brendon, keep quiet. That’s not something you should say in front of the newcomers. And it’s not even true.”
“Hiding injuries or poor health doesn’t benefit the squad. In fact, it’s harmful.”
“Don’t believe him, Austin. I’ll show you how well I’m doing later.”
Brendon dismissed Danhill’s protest with a stern expression. Austin observed Danhill closely. Although Danhill insisted he was fine with a slightly pouty expression, his attempt to appear normal seemed completely normal. Still, considering Brendon’s input, it was clear that Danhill hadn’t fully regained his usual condition.
Brendon then looked down at Austin, ignoring Danhill’s lighthearted remarks.
“Take what he says with a grain of salt. If you push yourself despite injuries or poor health and head into battle, it will inevitably affect the operation. When that happens, the impact will fall on the other knights. Even if you manage to cover up at first, the operation itself will eventually collapse.”
“Yes.”
Brendon’s observation was valid, and Austin nodded solemnly. Danhill seemed to understand, as he showed dissatisfaction on his face but did not argue.
Austin then asked Brendon a question that had been on his mind.
“About the choice between the Second and Seventh Squads—why was the Seventh Squad also considered?”
Brendon, surprised by the question, widened his eyes slightly.
Austin was confident that his intuition was correct. When Commander Hegarty had asked which squad he preferred, his response had been ambiguous. Although it was suggested that the Seventh Squad offered more flexibility for those aspiring to be close guards for Riley, Austin had insisted on wanting the power to protect his childhood friend. As a result, the offered position was in the Second Squad. Thus, it was clear that unless Austin explicitly stated a preference for the Seventh Squad, assignment to the Second Squad was a certainty.
Even so, he had been presented with the Second option that was not typically offered. Normally, a knight’s personal preferences had little influence on assignments. They simply followed the orders given. Austin could not understand the Commander’s intentions.
After a moment of silence, Brendon’s face softened slightly, seemingly pleased with his perceptive junior.
“You were recognized for your potential as a magic knight during the recent magical beast stampede. However, it is uncommon to launch into such a major operation without prior combat experience. The psychological impact is simply too great.”
Battles against magical beasts are often more mentally taxing than battles with humans. Knights who face magical beasts might develop a fear of forests, become anxious when they see the eyes of beasts in the darkness, and eventually become unable to wield their sword or use magic. Many knights have suffered from such psychological trauma. Thus, even if someone is deemed suitable for becoming a magic knight, they are removed from the Second Squad if they are found lacking in psychological resilience.
“Some of those removed from the Second Squad have been transferred to the Seventh Squad. There are individuals who can still demonstrate their abilities when not facing magical beasts.”
Austin nodded in understanding. He recognized the difference. When fighting humans, once someone is cut down, they rarely rise again. If they do, it’s usually due to a mistake in the strike or insufficient depth of the cut.
However, magical beasts are different. Even when it seems a fatal blow has been dealt, some beasts continue to attack without hesitation. This is a fearsome challenge for knights.
“There’s also the reverse scenario. Some individuals may dislike fighting humans but have no hesitation when it comes to fighting magical beasts. Such people are deemed more suitable for the Second Squad than the Seventh.”
“That’s Eden. He can fight humans, but he’s merciless against magical beasts,” Danhill added, having listened silently to Brendon’s explanation. Eden is known to be a rough yet kind man.
“Therefore, we decided to give you a choice. By presenting both the Second and Seventh Squads, we intended to see your reaction. Had you shown fear of magical beasts, you might have been assigned to the Seventh Squad. However, since you showed no sign of fear, you will be assigned to the Second Squad.”
Danhill nodded in agreement with Brendon’s words. Finally, understanding dawned on Austin. Although he had been promoted to full knight status due to his performance in the first combat, they likely wanted to ascertain the nature of the psychological impact he had experienced. The results from the medical exam must have been reviewed by the commanders, but they probably wanted to verify it with their own eyes. Austin’s insomnia was caused not by the magical beasts themselves but by the deaths of skilled senior knights. However, this experience is not unique to the Second Squad and could occur in any squad, which is why the Second Squad was still considered a possible assignment.
Realizing this, Austin let out a small sigh. It was no longer a mystery.
“Thank you for your consideration. Captain Danhill, I look forward to your continued guidance.”
Danhill, slightly surprised by Austin’s words, raised an eyebrow. He quickly recovered, offering a friendly smile and extending his hand. They shook hands, and Danhill said, “Likewise.”
“I’ll be putting you through rigorous training, so be prepared.”
“Yes.”
With time remaining before the training begins, Austin moved his belongings to the Second Squad’s designated quarters and was briefed on the details of the Second Squad. He imagined Mick would be surprised. With that thought, Austin met Danhill at the designated place and set off, feeling a surge of happiness as his dream of becoming Riley’s close guard felt one step closer.
—