The noble houses of Orlos receive numerous rewards for all the benefits they bring to the Orlosian Society. This could be by creating new methods of production, improving society, military accomplishments, or even heroic deeds in emergencies or crises. One of the most wanted rewards is the license to have a private army on their territory. This license allows any noble to have a regiment of fifty to three hundred knights.
The house of Felnatus has been awarded many times in your existence and now holds the power to have five regiments. Each regiment has a name and commander specializing in one combat style. The first regiment is called the Wall. Mellorus Felnatus is the commander, and since its creation, this regiment has focused on the spear and shield.
Roc is the second regiment commanded by Tierra Balduk and specializes in the crossbow, the third regiment Watchtower specializes in magic and is commanded by the Archmage Zator Fioro, Judgement is the fourth regiment, and Boltu Markash is the commander, this regiment is the only one to specialize in three weapons; two-handed swords, two-handed axes, and Sabers. The last regiment is Incision, the commander is Ullya Ulmer a skilled user of daggers.
Two days have passed and all the regiments are ready to leave for their missions, the orders are simple and direct, protect the roads, find potential dangers to the festival, and eliminate them. At a balcony located on the second floor of the mansion Mellorus the headmaster of the Felnatus Noble House, holds in one hand a shield and a sword in another, his grayish plate armor engraved with a golden coat of arms of the family in the chest and a long luxurious cape with the same pattern, prepares to make a speech before the soldiers leave.
Silence is absolute and then he begins.
"My loyal soldiers of this grandiose archdukedom, you are here not just to protect the honor of our noble house, not just to show the power of our glorious coat of arms, you are here as a symbol of our house devotion to this kingdom!
"Hurrah!" - All soldiers shout in harmony.
"Your orders are to protect all roads, to hunt all criminals, and to slay any beast that stays in the way of order and peace!" - Loud cheers echo in the entire square, but Mellorus lifts one hand and everyone goes silent.
"Remember that you represent our house, remember that any failure will be taken as a grave offense against our honor. I have eyes in every single regiment so don't disappoint me!"
This time, the cheers were loud but filled with a weird atmosphere. The last words created confusion, but two individuals, commander Boltu Markash and Manila, knew why he said those words. Standing at his side all the time like a cub attached to its mother, he suggested that she stay there to show his full support for her presence in the regiment.
"Don't let those words distract you, I know you will do great at this expedition and he will swallow all his pride and blind faith."
"He will never do that, but it doesn't matter to me right now, I will be free from this hellish place for once."
"So focus on your objective and do your best." - He turns to his regiment and shouts. "Judges! Prepare two lines in front of the supply convoy, one line at each side and the rest will follow behind. Our destination is the Village of Maruum. There we will start our patrols!"
"Yes Magistrate!" - All the soldiers start moving and fulfill their orders, Manila already received her orders before everyone, she was going to be at the front line near Boltu.
The capital of Orlos, Orlosian, is the center of the kingdom and one of the most populous cities in Arbooria, with approximately one hundred and twenty thousand people living there. Orlosian is divided into three layered walled zones, the outer ring wall, a gigantic wall that is the first defense of the city, between this wall and the inner ring wall, only commoners live and trade here. The inner ring wall is the second defense between it and the main ring wall; merchants, barons, and any official religious institutions will make this place their home. The main ring wall is the last defense. Inside, you can find many Viscounts, Earls, and Marquesses' houses, but the Royal family and the Royal Castle occupy the bigger area.
An Archduke receives a large territory close to the capital, the Felnatus Archdukedom is located north of Orlosian and as tradition, all expeditions that are created by Royal Decree, the regiments that will participate in it need to do a parade through the city until they reach the Royal Castle and vow loyalty to the king and the kingdom. This act is entirely festive to inspire the citizens to do their best so one day maybe, they can achieve the glory of representing the kingdom outside the walls.
In a quick march, the Judgement Regiment leaves the mansion passing through the main city of the Archdukedom, Vitalia. A small town inhabited by nine thousand people with a mansion in the center, people will be waiting for the regiments to pass before they continue their journey through the kingdom.
Manila never steps outside the mansion; cold, anxiety, anger, and many other emotions are mixing and exploding inside her chest. Her hands are sweaty, her legs are shaking, and a big weird smile is on her face, that makes Boltu laugh at this unusual sight of her.
"You are showing so many new faces that I am sure this expedition will be entertaining."
Hit by those words she tries to hide her embarrassment using the leather helmet she received. She always wanted to use this type of attire, a complete leather set with the colors of the Judgement regiment and at her back a double-edged Battle Axe with the same height as her.
"Are you sure this weapon is the one you want to use? I never saw you trying it before."
"I wanted to use this weapon before, but you know what that man would say if he heard about it, I would be prohibited from any training with weapons."
He puts a hand on her shoulder and smiles cheerfully.
"You don't need to worry about that here, even if he ordered anyone to watch you in my regiment his influence is minimal."
"His hand will reach me even with all your efforts lord Boltu, but I don't care about it right now, I will do my best here and see a world that I will probably never see again and maybe with the best of luck I will just d…"
"THE JUDGMENT IS HERE! FOR THE GLORY OF FELNATUS!"
Loud cheers suppress any sound, and a huge crowd fills the streets awaiting for the regiments to pass through. Lavender flower petals rain on the marching soldiers, and the soldiers wave to the crowd in appreciation for their time and flowery gift.
The color combination of so many people in different attires, and petals, the blue sky with a bright yellow sun, everything was perfect for Manila, so many new faces and sensations that her entire body was overwhelmed that sometimes she would lose the rhythm of the march.
"If you are so impressed with this place Manila, you will be enchanted by the capital when we do our parade there. Imagine this with at least twenty times more people waiting for us, the cheers will be so loud that your ears will roar for an entire day and when we finally reach the castle, it will be an incredible memory for your entire life."
As the convoy marched through the town, slowly the cheers became quiet and that warm feeling became colder. The blue sky turned into a mix of orange and black, for hours they marched following the road.
"Judges halt! We are going to camp here! Early in the morning, we will resume our march and at the start of the third day, we will be at the Gates of Orlosian if everything goes smooth as expected! This part of your journey is the easiest, so prepare your tents and rest for the night!"
Boltu's strong voice reached all the soldiers. They started preparing the encampment with the commander's tent and then the others formed a circle. In less than thirty minutes everything was ready. As the commander squires, she will sleep in a special tent close to the commander's tent with the other squires and a few soldiers.
After the meal all soldiers retired to their tents, Elzen Rockrul, one of the squires, occupies the sleeping bag next to Manila, and in a whispering voice, he speaks.
"Are you already sleeping?"
"No, I'm too anxious to sleep today."
"It's normal to be like this in the first expedition, the commander probably already talked with you about the city right?"
"Yes, I want to see how big the capital is."
"Have you never seen it before?"
"No, it's my first experience outside the mansion."
"Wow…now I understand why you can't sleep."
"Yes, but it's okay, soon I will force myself to sleep, tomorrow will be a tiring day, we need to be at our best."
"Since you joined our ranks, maybe I can show you the capital when we get our monthly break."
"I don't know if I will be able to continue in the regiment after the expedition."
"Why? Do you have other plans?"
"No, it's just that…I am here as an exception thanks to the commander."
"Well, I know you work at the mansion. Don't you get a monthly break there too? I saw many times the maids there going to Vitalia for days."
"No, I never had one." - An awkward silence falls in the tent for a few good minutes before Elzen speaks again. "Well, when you get one go to the barracks immediately and call me, then we will go together to the capital so you can see the city without rushing."
She looks at him with a smile on her face.
"Thank you, I will." She smiles back and both fall asleep soon after.