Sword in the Stone

Russell family dining room.

Inside the exquisite, luxurious dining room stood an enormous, extravagantly lavish dining table. Colin and Linda sat facing each other, while Butler Hank stood meticulously at one side, with a male servant and a maid attending nearby.

Breakfast was equally abundant: a steaming steak, a delicious-looking cream cake, a fruit pudding, a large basket of milk-scented long bread, and all the milk they could drink.

"Colin, I can't stay at home forever. I need to find something to do." Linda had only recently woken up, and her whole body radiated languidness.

Having just quit her job, she was already impatient to find something else to do. The eldest daughter of the Russell family was no lazy parasite who merely ate and waited to die.

"What do you want to do, Sis?" Colin knew his eldest sister's temperament well. It was impossible to keep her from working.

"Hmm. I haven't thought of anything yet." After thinking for a moment, Linda looked somewhat lost. She had always been a house tutor and had never considered doing anything else.

Colin scratched his head as well. He stuffed a piece of steak into his mouth, chewed and swallowed it, then picked up some cold milk and took a hearty gulp before looking up at Butler Hank. "Hank, do you have any suggestions?"

"How about fashion design?" Butler Hank bent slightly at the waist as he spoke.

"I'm no good at fashion." Linda looked dejected.

"Then what about work involving mathematics?" Butler Hank considered it before asking.

"My level is only enough to teach children." Linda shook her head.

"What about literature?" Butler Hank asked again.

Butler Hank asked more than a dozen questions in a row, but Linda was suited for none of them. By the end, her face was filled with dejection.

"I can only be a house tutor and teach children. Or maybe become a cook?"

Colin nearly laughed, but he forcibly held it back and comforted Linda. "Sis, don't be discouraged. If you're not good at something, you can cultivate the skill." After a pause, Colin added, "The family doesn't need to worry about money now; we even have plenty left over. Once you decide what work you want to do, you could hire a house tutor. I think literature, music, and oil painting are all quite good. They suit the eldest daughter of the Russell family very well."

"Ah." Linda let out a long sigh, utterly listless.

After breakfast, Colin slung his schoolbag over his back and headed out. Linda recovered her spirits, raised her right arm and clenched it into a fist, then said energetically, "Good luck, Colin."

"Okay, Sis," Colin quickly replied. Not long afterward, he arrived at Will Knight Academy and entered his classroom.

After greeting Bill, Colin stuffed his schoolbag into his desk.

"Colin, I looked up some information about the Dolor Mountains yesterday," Bill said excitedly. When Colin turned his head, he caught the scent of ladies' perfume.

"Who doesn't know about the Dolor Mountains?" Colin rolled his eyes.

Marquis Kent's Territory was a vast plain. To its south lay dense forests and a broad, enormous mountain range: the Dolor Mountains.

According to various records, no one knew how long this mountain range was. At its widest points, it stretched for tens of thousands of miles. Many ferocious beasts, magical creatures, and hidden secrets lay concealed within it. The legendary adventures in many knight novels took place in these mountains.

South of the Dolor Mountains lay a mysterious and ancient nation, the Black Death Empire. Rumor had it that the Black Death Empire possessed a supernatural profession called wizard. They wielded primitive, unique magic of tremendous power. Countless years ago, the Van Gogh Empire had gone to war with the Black Death Empire.

Though the mountains were dangerous, the outer regions were relatively safe. The location for this operation would certainly be on the outskirts.

Bill was dissatisfied with Colin's attitude and shot him a glare. "Let me finish."

"Fine." Colin obediently shut his mouth.

"Do you know the Sword in the Stone?" Bill's face was full of excitement.

"The sword carried by Emperor Frederick, founder of the Van Gogh Second Dynasty." Colin rolled his eyes at Bill, then added, "Bill, my history grades are much better than yours."

Bill looked annoyed. Compared with history, he preferred heraldry. He glared at Colin once more, and Colin tactfully shut his mouth.

"That's right. It was Emperor Frederick's sword, the Dragon Slayer Sword said to be capable of slaying red dragons, a divine artifact. But after Emperor Frederick died, this divine sword became a burial object, forever sleeping at his side. However, I recently heard that an ancient tomb was discovered in the Dolor Mountains—more precisely, somewhere nearby. It might be Emperor Frederick's mausoleum."

Bill began speaking freely once more. Boys were always fascinated by tales of legendary heroes.

But Colin rolled his eyes at Bill again. "If Emperor Frederick's mausoleum had really been discovered, the Emperor's army would come at any cost, even though the Empire is still at war with the Xathus Dynasty."

"That's true." Colin finally extinguished Bill's burning enthusiasm, leaving him dispirited.

Setting aside Bill's false information, as time passed, the students in the class gradually began looking forward to this year's Knight Order Action.

At last, November 1st arrived.

Today was a fine day with clear skies stretching for miles. After saying goodbye to Linda, Colin swung onto an East Gran War Horse and rode slowly toward Will City's southern wall.

After leaving the city gate, Colin saw a huge crowd. Naturally, there were familiar classmates from Class Five, but there were also many laborers and attendants.

Quite a few laborers led hunting dogs of various colors. The dogs barked noisily. There were also many mules, horses, and carts laden with food and tents.

Yellow flags were planted on the carts, each bearing the words "Fifth Knight Order." These flags had apparently been passed down through generations as well, though no one knew which previous class at the academy had left them behind.

Knight Order Action imitated the operations of a regular knight order. When knight lords went to war, they certainly could not light fires and cook for themselves; they needed logistical personnel.

Noble-born students such as Lyon and Michael had also brought along some strong attendants.

Colin also spotted Ms. Anna on horseback. She was still dressed lightly, though her lovely brown hair was tied into a ponytail. A Two-handed Greatsword hung at her waist, black cowhide gloves covered her hands, and her black Lady's Boots were firmly set in silver stirrups. She looked every inch a valiant female general.

"Hey, Colin." Bill sat atop a tall East Gran Horse and waved at Colin. Beside him were the other members of the first squad, all commoner-born students as well.

Colin smiled and nodded, guiding his horse closer. Bill and the other three squad members immediately dismounted together and bowed to Colin. "Captain."

"No need for ceremony, everyone." Colin also dismounted with an affected air. Then he could not help but laugh himself. What a leisurely little scouts' outing.