The Dread Knight's Rage-Chapter 117: Land Ho! (Not Everett)

Solomon and Raizel stood on the deck together, watching as the docks of Eirbane came ever closer.

A rather somber air had settled between the two brothers. Their plans to stop the rift from opening at the academy had suffered a serious hurdle.

"...We had to leave, brother." Solomon said quietly. "Things had become too... messy."

Raizel chuckled mockingly from within his metal suit. "Well, yes, I suppose that can happen when you show a bunch of greedy nobles your most special tricks."

Solomon suddenly felt embarrassed. He was so damned angry about the trick that had been played on him that he hadn’t thought about acting with restraint in light of prior company.

As a result, he had somehow managed to make things even more complicated.

He would likely now be on the run from both Zadkiel and the seven clans, as well as Raidis.

"...How very foolish I have been." Solomon pulled his hood over his head to cover up his face and eyes.

Sensing his guilt, Raizel placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder. "It is fine. We still have four whole years left on our timetable. If fate is kind, we will find different steps to take."

For some reason, his brother’s words made him think about the rather strange occurrences fate had thrown his way. Something he hadn’t had a moment to think about until now.

"Brother... I saw some kind of entity during my final exam. To make things even stranger, I seemed to be the only one who noticed it."

"I-I saw something like that too!"

Dakota chose that moment to step over to the boys with young Bansha still in her arms. The pup was beginning to grow larger as of late. Soon, she would be too big to hold.

"I-It had this gray skin, a-and these really big horns, right?" Dakota asked. "And this long white hair!"

Solomon nodded, baffled. "Yes, that’s..."

"I saw it too!"

"Me as well..."

As Nila and Everett joined the group, claiming that they had also seen the strange entity during the examination, Solomo and Raizel developed more questions than answers.

’What exactly did you say this thing looked like again..?’ Raizel asked telepathically.

Solomon closed his eyes and concentrated. Using their connection, he passed a mental image to his brother.

Opening his eyes again, he turned to Raizel and waited for him to give some kind of feedback. "Well?"

Raizel shook his head in disbelief.

"I...I have no idea what that is."

-

There was a grand procession waiting for the group when they disembarked. Much to the frustration of Jiaoying.

She considered it fortuitous that she had the presence of mind to remind everyone to keep their hoods drawn over their faces. Especially Solomon.

"Grandmaster. I am joyed beyond belief to see you return in good health."

At the head of a double row of knights, a single man was holding his fist to his chest and smiling respectfully.

He was the handsome sort. A chiseled jaw, tousled brown hair, and sky blue eyes.

Jiaoying kept her expression completely even. It was hard to tell if she was glad to see the man or not. Her tone was certainly far from warm and inviting.

"Lord Miquel. Did you have nothing better to do than attend my welcome party? I hadn’t realized our Emperor had lightened your workload to such a degree."

The man smiled harmlessly at her jab. "Peacetime is always a bit less hectic, you know that, Grandmaster. Besides, I could hardly resist the opportunity to greet you upon your return. You were away for so long that-"

"Spare me your prattle, I’ve had too long a journey to concern myself with idle chatter under the sun." Jiaoying yawned as she brushed past him, leading the rest of her group toward the waiting carriage.

Lord Miquel immediately noticed the fact that there were five hooded figures and an armored giant following her.

"I wasn’t aware that you would be returning with company?"

"Obviously, because it was none of your concern. You are dismissed, Miquel."

At the back of the group, Everett nudged Solomon. "Man... Your girlfriend is ice cold."

"This is news to me... Smashes usually quite sweet."

Solomon glanced at Everett out of the corner of his eye, realizing something was amiss.

"...Why did you decide to come with us? I understand why Dakota came, but you... You have a family that cares for you, do you not? Why would you come on the run with us?"

Everett smiled sadly before shrugging.

"My family...They really aren’t all that great." He finally admitted. "Let’s just say... I don’t want to feel like I have to prove my worth to them anymore. I don’t want to need their approval."

It was at that moment that Solomon realized that he didn’t actually know very much about Everett’s family. He had merely been operating under the assumption that he did not have too traumatic a childhood.

But perhaps that wasn’t the case.

"Besides... no way I’m going to stick around that place if the dean is as bad as you say. I can’t believe that guy did that to Dakota... she’s so innocent."

Solomon and Everett glanced ahead where Dakota was showing Nila and Bansha a very sharp knife that she seemed to be very proud of.

"....Maybe she’s not that innocent, but the point still stands."

"Indeed."

The inside of Jiaoying’s carriage was the definition of opulent. It was like a palace on wheels.

Red satin seats with matching pillows in the corners. Gold etchings polished as bright as a new coin twinkled along the ceiling and windows. It was so spacious inside that it could easily accommodate the tall passengers and Dakota.

Although Raizel did have to sit on the floor due to the large size of his armor...

"This is very... luxurious." Dakota had a hard time hiding her amazement.

Nila hadn’t picked up her jaw since they set foot inside.

"I’m glad you all like it." Jiaoying smiled. At the moment she closed the door to her carriage, her mood instantly changed. "I must admit that I’m a bit nervous... It’s been a while since anyone has stayed with me, so I hope I can make your time there as comfortable as possible."

Yari took Jiaoying’s hand and brought it to her face.

"You have already done more than enough. The kindness and generosity you have extended to my niece and I means more than you could know."

Solomon decided to lean in at that moment and kiss Jiaoying on her cheek and neck.

"We owe you a great deal. Thank you."

Jiaoying’s face nearly turned as red as her hair.

"C-Could we not do this in front of everyone else please...?"

Nila and Dakota covered their eyes as if they were caught watching something they shouldn’t have been.

Everett and Raizel gave Solomon a very well-meaning thumbs-up.