A familiar voice cut through Arthur's thoughts—it was Victor, who had taken charge of organizing and leading the army in the past few days.
He had also been teaching Arthur some fundamental military strategies and basic battlefield management.
"Sir, a group of soldiers has stopped near the camp, requesting to meet you."
Arthur raised an intrigued eyebrow and asked, "Did they mention their names? Or were you able to identify them?"
Victor hesitated for a moment, as if recalling the details of the conversation, before replying, "They did not state their names, but they appear to be knights or seasoned soldiers. However, there was one man among them who stood out clearly—he was at the front, bearing a noble family crest… It depicted two stags clashing."
He paused briefly, then added in a lower voice, "The young man seems to be in his twenties, and it's clear that he is their leader."
Arthur froze for a few seconds, processing what he had just heard.
The emblem of the two stags… It had only been a few days since they had left his family's territory. Most of the nobles he had encountered along the way carried cultural traits distinctive to the southwestern region.
From his memory, there was only one family in the southern province that bore this symbol.
But could he truly be one of them? The crest felt familiar—the family was indeed close to his own—but jumping to conclusions would not be wise.
After all, in this kingdom, some noble families shared similar emblems due to old cultural and historical complexities.
"Where is he now?" Arthur asked, trying to focus on the situation.
"He is waiting on the southern side of the camp. He has sent a messenger requesting permission to meet you."
Arthur nodded, then turned to his other aide and issued an order, "Prepare some guards and accompany me there. We don't want to appear hesitant, but we must remain cautious."
With steady steps, Arthur moved toward the meeting point. Of course, alongside Victor, a small group of his personal guards accompanied him toward the site where the visitors were waiting.
As he approached, his gaze fell upon a group of men dressed as knights, wearing sashes adorned with a unified family crest, confirming that they hailed from the same domain.
At their center stood a tall man, approximately 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) in height. His deep brown eyes carried a sharp intensity, and his dark brown, wavy hair reached his ears, giving him a naturally refined appearance.
His complexion was slightly pale, perhaps from limited exposure to the sun. Although he was not more handsome than Arthur, he was still considered quite striking.
He wore more elaborate knightly attire than the rest of the group, enhancing his status as the leader.
He was clad in heavy armor adorned with the family crest (two fighting deer), a cloak embroidered with the family's colors, and a long, intricately designed sword.
The tall man took a step forward, his sharp eyes scrutinizing Arthur closely. He bore familiar features, though they were vague in Arthur's memory, until the man spoke in a calm yet firm voice:
"It's been a long time, Arthur."
At that moment, the image began to clear in Arthur's mind, and the doubts that had lingered faded away.
This man was not just a passing noble or a representative of some force wanting to meet him, but someone Arthur knew well—or rather, someone familiar to his former self.
Edward Afnad... his maternal cousin.
As soon as his gaze fell upon him, memories flooded his mind.
Edward Afnad was the youngest son of Viscount Raine Afnad, one of the influential nobles in the southern province.
Despite being the youngest of the Viscount's children, his position within the family wasn't entirely hopeless, especially given the stable economic standing his family held in comparison to Arthur's.
As soon as his eyes met his, memories and information related to him rushed into Arthur's mind. Edward Afnad was one of his close relatives.
Despite his mature appearance, he had not yet reached twenty years old and had not surpassed eighteen. Due to their similar age in childhood, Edward and Arthur had trained together on numerous occasions under the supervision of their instructors.
The families' desire to maintain their connection meant that it was common for children of similar ages to meet under the guidance of their parents, a tradition aimed at strengthening ties and promoting cooperation between noble families.
However, from the beginning, the difference between them had been clear. Edward lacked the enthusiasm or determination that Arthur displayed in his training.
He attended the sessions out of obligation rather than passion, which made his participation lack any real drive or desire for distinction.
He wasn't weak, but he wasn't exceptional either. His talent as a knight was mediocre at best, perhaps even less, as he didn't have the motivation to refine his skills or dedicate time to mastering knightly techniques.
For him, this path was not the key to securing his future, and mastering combat skills beyond his natural limits didn't seem like a logical choice.
Unlike Arthur, Edward did not believe that the path of knighthood alone could change his future. Instead, he chose to think wisely and chart a more stable course for himself.
Since his childhood, he preferred to appear in social circles and gatherings among the nobility's children, where he could build relationships and form alliances that might prove beneficial in the future.
"There are different types of ambition. Some seek it through power, others through influence, and some through knowledge. But in the end, those who choose the right path from the start save themselves years of unnecessary effort."
Arthur thought to himself as he observed Edward standing confidently, surrounded by a group of knights.
He should not underestimate him simply because he chose this path. Some might view him as cowardly or lazy, but he was not just a pampered noble living off his family's wealth, eating, drinking, and spending his days in idle pleasure, waiting for the future without a plan.
On the contrary, he thought carefully about his steps, studied his moves before taking action.
He wasn't avoiding responsibility; he was seeking to find the right outlet that would secure him a valuable position, both within the family and beyond.
Perhaps he was waiting for the right moment to increase his influence, especially after his older brother inherited the title and the region.
But more importantly, his presence here, at the head of a group of knights, was not just a family visit or an unplanned coincidence.
There was a deeper purpose behind his decision, and soon it would become clear exactly what he was aiming for.
His presence here, leading a group of knights, was not a fleeting family visit or an unintended occurrence.
Arthur was not naive enough to think it was merely fulfilling a family obligation after discovering their camp with the family crest.
No, it was clear that Edward hadn't come here without a good reason—and the question that lingered in Arthur's mind was: what exactly was he after?
Arthur studied him intently, then spoke with a voice devoid of any clear emotion: "I didn't expect to see you here, Edward."
A bitter smile appeared on Edward's face, carrying with it a mix of nostalgia and seriousness.
"Neither did I expect to be here... but it seems plans can't always anticipate the future, can they?"
Arthur did not respond immediately but glanced briefly at the men who accompanied Edward, scrutinizing their faces and positions, then returned his gaze to him.
"So, you're leading the forces in your family's name for this campaign?"
Edward nodded his head, silently confirming his words, then spoke in a more serious tone:
"Can we talk somewhere else? Also, you wouldn't mind if we set up camp nearby, would you?"
Edward glanced around, subtly indicating that discussing things here might not be appropriate and that he preferred to continue the conversation in a more private setting.
Arthur did not respond immediately but quickly scanned the campgrounds, assessing the situation. There was no good reason to refuse Edward's request, but he also didn't want to give his approval without knowing his intentions fully.
Finally, he spoke in a calm but firm voice:
"We can talk in my tent. As for your camp being set up nearby... I'll decide after we discuss things."
Edward didn't seem bothered by Arthur's reservations, instead giving a brief nod before turning to his men, issuing them a few brief orders to wait until he finished his conversation with Arthur.
The two moved silently toward the command tent, accompanied by a few personal guards.
...
Edward showed no signs of being bothered by Arthur's hesitation, simply nodding before turning to his men and giving them short orders, asking them to wait until he was done speaking with Arthur.
They moved silently toward the command tent, with a few personal guards accompanying them. The air between them was charged with a mix of caution and curiosity, as if both were trying to read the other's thoughts before starting the conversation.
Although their familial relationship was good, the current circumstances required them to be cautious with one another.
Upon reaching the tent, Arthur gestured for Edward to sit, then took his own seat across from him. Silence reigned for a moment, broken only by the light wind stirring the edges of the tent.
Edward appeared to be gathering his thoughts before speaking, then said in a calm but serious tone:
"Yes, my family chose me to represent them in the campaign, and I've been tasked with participating in this war. I suppose it wasn't much different for you."
He paused for a moment, then added while looking at Arthur intently:
"But the truth is, Arthur... you know I'm not a battle expert, and I think you understand my situation well. Besides, there must be many others in a similar position to ours, right?"
Arthur raised an eyebrow slightly before asking in a calm tone, but with a hint of caution:"What are you trying to say, Edward?"
Edward looked around for a moment, as if making sure no one was listening, then leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice, as if he didn't want anyone to hear:"One of the high-ranking nobles, someone in a similar position to ours, decided to form an alliance... an alliance aimed at helping each other and forming a strong faction within the army, a faction that would give us influence in the future. I've already joined it."
Arthur considered his words in silence, his eyes watching Edward's expressions. On the battlefield, having an ally could be either a blessing or a burden, depending on the circumstances.
Edward sighed, then continued more seriously:"You realize that not all of the nobles involved in this campaign are professional warriors. Many of them, like me and you, have been thrown into the war due to family and political duties. Some see this campaign as an opportunity to rise, while others are just puppets controlled by their families. If we don't form a strong faction within the army, we'll just be tools that are used and then discarded after the war ends."
There was some logic in his words. Arthur wasn't naïve enough to think this campaign was just a fight for honor or justice.
On the contrary, it was a battlefield where scores were settled between noble families, and those who emerged strong ensured their future, while the weak were forgotten.
"So, you want me to join this alliance?" Arthur finally said, looking directly at Edward.
Edward smiled lightly, as if this question was expected:"Exactly, Arthur. You're a knight who's trained for years, and you've never hesitated to put in the effort to improve yourself. I've already heard that you've recruited a large mercenary squad, including many veterans, and I've seen how well-organized they are. I think the person who's been with you is one of them, isn't he?"
He paused for a moment, then added in a more convincing tone:"I'm not a natural-born leader, and you know well that I don't enjoy battles, nor do I take pleasure in training the way you do. But I have the resources of my family, and I've already built some relationships with many other nobles. Those relationships can benefit us together. If we cooperate and join this alliance, we'll be able to protect our interests, and maybe... strengthen our position in it."