The Squire, Part Two

"Young master, I am Thor, a blacksmith's apprentice. Greetings!" After taking a kick from Master Judd, the young man immediately greeted him in a low voice.

"Hello, Thor." Sean nodded casually, then said to Master Judd, "I have a few more little things I'll need to trouble you to make." As he spoke, he took out a sheet of parchment and handed it to Master Judd.

"It is my honor to serve you." Master Judd took the drawing and examined it while the two discussed it further.

The drawing showed several small components Sean wanted added to a saddle. Based on his understanding of saddles from both his lives, he intended to add them to the saddles currently in use to improve stability while riding.

"Master Judd, once you've finished, you can have Thor deliver them to the castle." Sean pointed at Thor and smiled.

Master Judd paused for a moment, then immediately agreed. "Yes, young master. Once they are finished, I'll have Thor personally deliver them to you."

After Master Judd left with Thor, Sean immediately sent one of the cavalrymen accompanying him to summon the workshop supervisor.

Thor appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old. Perhaps because he worked as a blacksmith, he was exceptionally sturdy. Judging by his gait as he left, he had probably never practiced a Knight Secret Method. He also seemed honest and simple-minded. Being able to forge meant he could maintain weapons and armor, and with his honest temperament, he was an ideal candidate for a squire.

Sean asked the supervisor about the workshop and casually brought up Thor. The supervisor suspected nothing and answered everything he knew. Once Sean had learned what he wanted, he dismissed the supervisor and left the workshop with his guards, returning to the castle.

After encountering Butler Al in the castle, Sean told him what he had learned about Thor and asked him to thoroughly investigate Thor's background. Butler Al smiled and agreed to Sean's request.

A few days later, on the afternoon of Friday, November 32nd, Sean was practicing basic spear techniques with a long spear borrowed from the Castle Guard. He had learned military spear techniques at the academy, though he rarely practiced them. After several days of continuous training, coupled with his high Perception, Sean had basically mastered how to use the spear.

In his previous life, Sean had also dreamed of becoming a general who swept across ancient battlefields. He had especially admired Zhao Zilong of Changshan from the Three Kingdoms period. He still vaguely remembered reading about how Tong Yuan had trained Zhao Yun. The method was simple: choose a rope of suitable length, hang it from a branch so that it naturally dangled, tie a loop in it at the height of a person's chest and abdomen, make the loop's inner diameter slightly wider than that of a long spear, then repeatedly thrust the spear through the swinging loop. Supposedly, Zhao Yun had made over ten thousand thrusts every day.

Sean had tried training this way as well. At first, even with his high Perception helping him, it had been incredibly difficult. To avoid hitting the rope loop, the long spear had to be thrust with extreme precision, especially with the rope constantly swaying in the wind. But after several days of training, the results had basically satisfied Sean. He knew no peerless spear technique, but he knew that any weapon skill meant for killing required speed, precision, and ruthlessness.

This training method seemed simple, but it trained Sean's eyesight, thrusting speed, and use of strength during a thrust. Once the results truly showed, it would definitely greatly improve his actual combat ability. He was full of confidence in that.

At that moment, a young maid hurried toward Sean at a jog. She stopped more than ten paces away, bowed respectfully, and said, "Young Master Sean, there is an apprentice from the Blacksmith Workshop at the castle gates claiming to be Thor. He requests an audience with you."

Sean stopped his thrusting practice and asked the maid standing respectfully before him, "Is he carrying anything?"

"According to the gate guards, he has a large bundle on his back and is carrying a long spear that he says you commissioned," the maid answered respectfully.

Sean took a towel and casually wiped the sweat from his forehead. Then he said, "Bring him here. I'll meet him here."

The maid immediately acknowledged the order respectfully. She backed away a few steps before turning and jogging toward the castle gates.

On the day Sean first met Thor, he had asked Butler Al to investigate Thor's true circumstances. Within a few days, Butler Al had told Sean Thor's basic information. His life and family background were both very simple. He had been born in the Sean Family's territory. He was sixteen this year and would turn seventeen next year. Since childhood, he had studied blacksmithing under his father, Master Judd.

Thor's parents had likewise been born in the family territory. His father went without saying, while his mother was a housewife. She mainly cared for the family and occasionally sewed or washed clothes for the soldiers in the territory to supplement the household income. Their financial circumstances were quite ordinary. His family had lived and multiplied in the family territory for nearly a century, so their loyalty to the lord was beyond question. Thor himself was honest and straightforward, making him an ideal candidate to become Sean's squire.

Before long, the maid brought Thor to the clearing where Sean trained. After the maid who had led him there bowed and withdrew, Thor awkwardly saluted and said, "Honored young master, as you requested, I have brought the long spear you commissioned and the other items."

"You're Thor, right? You've worked hard. Let me see the long spear first." Sean extended his hand as he spoke.

Thor hurriedly held the long spear out with both hands, somewhat flustered. "Young master, your long spear. Please try it..."

Sean took the long spear from Thor with one hand and weighed it in his palm. He estimated it weighed more than twenty kilograms, and it immediately felt comfortable in his grasp. It was nearly three meters long, and the grip had even been thoughtfully decorated with patterns to prevent slipping.

Sean was very satisfied as he spun the long spear several times, producing a whistling sound that tore through the air. After playing with it for a while, he stopped and asked Thor, who had been waiting for some time, "Is this spear forged from Fine Iron?"

"Yes, young master. The entire long spear is forged from Fine Iron," Thor replied respectfully.

"Mm... Thor, tell your father that I'm very satisfied with his work. Also, I'll instruct the workshop supervisor to give him the reward he deserves." Sean smiled and spoke gently. Then he called over a passing servant and had the small components Thor had brought for the saddle delivered to the stables. Once he had some free time, he would personally modify the saddle. Just as Thor was about to say goodbye, Sean waved to interrupt him and asked, "Thor, have you received knight training?"

"No..." Thor had thought Sean had another order for him when he was interrupted. Upon hearing the question, he froze for a moment and answered instinctively. He quickly recovered and repeated respectfully, "Young master, I... I have never received knight training." There was unconcealed unwillingness and regret in his voice.

"Hold out your hand and let me see it..." After thinking for a moment, Sean calmly ordered him.

"Oh... Please look, young master." Thor was somewhat confused by Sean's request, but he immediately held out his hand.

Sean grasped Thor's outstretched right hand, gave it a casual look, then naturally released it. In truth, Sean had not wanted to inspect Thor's hand. He had merely used the contact to sense his attributes. Thor: Strength: 1.465 Constitution: 1.520 Agility: 1.415

These attributes surprised Sean. Thor had never practiced a Knight Secret Method, yet through only his usual, unprofessional exercise, his physical attributes had reached such a high level. It was clear that Thor possessed the talent to become a knight.

"Young master... this... What's wrong with me? I haven't done anything..." After Sean looked at his hand and fell silent, Thor asked uneasily. Then he stared at his own right hand, looking it over again and again in confusion, completely at a loss.

"It's nothing, Thor. I have something very important to ask you now. You must think it through carefully before giving a serious answer. Do you understand?" Sean came back to his senses. Seeing Thor's expression, he no longer hesitated.

"Young master, please ask. I..." Thor said, even more nervous after hearing Sean's words.

Before Thor could finish, Sean waved to interrupt him. "Thor, I am a Rookie Knight. Therefore, I now need someone to become my Knight Squire. Of course, this also has the support of my father, Lord Viscount." After saying that, Sean stared into Thor's eyes. Only after advancing to Rookie Knight could a knight cultivator recruit a Knight Squire. If the candidate was a vassal belonging to another noble, the local lord's permission was required.

Thor's eyes widened round as he pointed at himself in disbelief. At the same time, he stammered, "I... I... Me... Young Master Sean, you... you mean... me... You're willing to recruit me as your squire?"

Seeing Thor's foolish expression, Sean smiled, nodded, and said, "Thor, are you willing to become my Knight Squire? Think carefully. I can give you a few more days to consider." After saying that, he ignored Thor and let him think alone.

Sean began to move with the Fine Iron Long Spear. He was now using military spear techniques. The Fine Iron Long Spear's weight suited him perfectly, and its length was very handy as well. The long spear danced rapidly, slicing through the air with a whistling sound. A moment later, Sean thrust forward with the spear. A dull boom rang out as the Fine Iron Long Spear sank into a tree thick enough for one person to wrap their arms around, its tip piercing out through the far side of the trunk.

Sean forcefully pulled out the long spear and looked with great satisfaction at the undamaged shaft. Then his gaze shifted to Thor, whose face was frozen in stunned shock. A faint smile appeared at the corner of Sean's lips. He was very pleased. He had done this not only to test the spear's sharpness, but also to intimidate Thor. It was both a display of his strength and a subtle threat.

Thor stared in shock as Sean pulled the long spear from the tree, then saw Sean looking at him with a confident smile. He shuddered and immediately came back to his senses. Excitedly, he dropped to his knees and swore, "I, Thor, swear upon the bloodline of my ancestors. I am willing to abide by the ancient oath and serve my knight master with all my strength. I will follow him and honor him, taking his will as the direction of my path. Here, I sincerely beg Lord Sean Winchester to permit my loyalty, and that of my descendants."

Sean's smile vanished as he listened solemnly to Thor's oath. Carrying the spear, he walked before Thor and rested it across Thor's shoulder. In a low voice, he said, "I, Sean Winchester, am willing to accept the loyalty of Thor and his descendants. Within my ability, I will help and teach Thor and his descendants." Sean then removed the long spear from Thor's shoulder. His smile returned as he said, "My dear squire Thor, rise."