A Knight Who Eternally Regresses

"Enki, wave."

It was afternoon. The sun had not yet set.

At Aisia’s call, Enkrid relaxed his grip on the sword.

Just as Lua Garne was undoing the whip wrapped around her waist, telling him that Frokk's fight was starting, she spoke.

"Let’s go. It’s not something you see every day."

Lua Garne wrapped the whip back around her waist and spoke again.

Enkrid agreed, and everyone followed.

"We’re going to watch a hell of a show. Hell, hell, heeeelllll."

Rem hummed as he walked along, and Dunbakel reluctantly took a step and opened his mouth.

"Let’s go. It’s a magical realm, oh joy."

It wasn’t exactly a joyful tone.

Enkrid walked briskly toward the northwest of the city, recalling the days when he fought alongside junior knights in Azpen's battlefield.

How his heart had pounded at the sight of those junior knights charging with their red cloaks billowing.

This time, it was a knight’s charge.

Not training, but real combat.

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t excited.

They soon arrived in front of the western gate. The two massive gates were carved out of whole stones.

It was so impressive that Enkrid couldn’t help but wonder how they had done it.

About thirty soldiers had gathered, all armed with longbows and standing in a line atop the city walls.

"You made it? This is your first time seeing a gate like this, right?"

Oara greeted Enkrid with a smile in front of the closed gate.

"Did you carve this yourself?"

"No, my grandfather did."

It sounded like there was a story behind that answer. They wouldn’t hear it now, though.

"Hey! The man of Rowena, show us some courage!"

A shout came from outside the gate.

"Open it."

Oara spoke to the four soldiers with thick forearms standing in front of the gate and then tapped Enkrid’s forearm.

"Today, just watch from the wall. Wait and see, a man’s pure love will show a miracle!"

Oara spoke to Enkrid, then shouted toward the open gate.

Enkrid did as he was told. He placed his foot on the stone steps leading up to the city wall. The steps were made of stacked bricks. The handrails built on the opposite side of the wall reached up to chest height.

Enkrid grabbed the handrail and climbed up. There wasn’t a speck of dust on the handrail, a clear sign that it was regularly cleaned by people who passed by.

"Oh, looks like a public execution."

Rem said, following him. He seemed to think it was going to be an interesting spectacle.

"Is that fun?"

Dunbakel, unusually, showed some irritation. After getting beaten up badly by Rem and pretending to limp, it was rare for Dunbakel to express negative feelings.

Enkrid knew the sight ahead was likely stirring some old wounds for Dunbakel, but he let it go.

It was something Dunbakel would have to process himself.

"It’s fun."

Rem chuckled as he replied.

Dunbakel remained silent, pouting, his lips pushed out.

Lua Garne, without saying a word, ate a dried-up insect.

It seemed she enjoyed the delicacy, something she loved near magical realms.