"My lord, please don't kill Borg!"
One of the men knelt on one knee, bowing to Jamie. The others reluctantly joined, their defiance replaced by fear after witnessing Borg groaning in pain, the fire on his stomach refusing to die.
"The House of Fire is not to be trampled upon, scorned, or used as one of your daily jokes," Jamie stated sternly, his voice cutting through the tension. "Anyone who trespasses shall be dealt with."
The people's anxiety surged, and they all bowed completely, shouting, "Please forgive us, my lord!"
"Quiet!" Jamie exclaimed. "You." Jamie pointed at Borno, who quickly knelt before him.
"You started this; it's only fair you serve as a scapegoat so others will learn," Jamie said, and with a thought, he deflamed his sword. The fire on Borg's stomach immediately extinguished.
"My lord, please don't kill me! I'll do anything you want, I'll be your servant for the rest of my life, just let me live, please!" Borno begged, tears welling in his eyes.
Jamie remained silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright. But you will be my servant until I release you, just as you have pledged."
A roar of happiness erupted from the crowd, but Jamie's attention was elsewhere.
[Quick Mission: Respect]
[Mission: The name of your house has been abused; defend your house in any way you can.]
[Mission Completed]
[Rewards: 3000 points]
[New items are available in the market]
"Hmm, this system is a little tricky," Jamie mused. When the system had asked him to defend his house in any way he could, he'd initially thought it simply meant displaying his family's power. But respect, he now realized, encompassed more than just strength; it also included compassion and mercy.
Jamie checked the market, but the available items were still common—daggers, basic armor, and the like. For Jamie, whose body already healed automatically, common armors were somewhat useless.
"Here, my lord, please accept this gift from us. We are sorry for being so disrespectful," the Innkeeper knelt before Jamie, offering a bag of silver.
"I can't collect that; it's unfair to you," Jamie replied.
"Don't worry, everyone here will pay me back," the Innkeeper pleaded, gesturing to the crowd.
Jamie looked at the eager faces and judged from their reverent expressions that they would indeed make good on their promise.
"Borno, take me somewhere I can spend the night," Jamie ordered after collecting the money.
"Yes, my lord," Borno said, leading the way. "You can sleep in my mother's house instead of a brothel. It's much better, it's free, and there's no smell of sweat and… well, you know," Borno added, expressing his disdain.
"That's fine. I'd like to make way for the Capital early tomorrow," Jamie said.
"Oh, does my lord wish to participate in the Knight Valiant Tournament?" Borno asked.
"Probably not," Jamie answered, a hint of anger in his tone. Each house was only allowed two competitors, and for the House of Fire, that would be Alistair and Harold.
"Why? You're a good swordsman; not many people can defeat Borg without taking any hits," Borno tried to convince him.
"Sure," Jamie said, ending the conversation. He was trying to read a new notification he had received.
[You have gained experience; New skill unlocked]
[Name: Evasion]
[Level: 1]
[Requirement: Agility E-, Intuition E-]
[Remark: You gained this skill because you used it a lot to complete a mission. This is a welcome feature and will be turned off soon.]
"A welcome feature?" Jamie pondered. "This is an opportunity for me to acquire as many skills as I can. If I get enough skills, maybe I'll participate."
"We're here," Borno finally broke the fifteen minutes of silence. He showed Jamie to a room and quickly made the bed. "You can rest here, my Lord. I'll be right outside."
"I'd like to get to the capital tomorrow as soon as possible," Jamie stated.
"With a horse, it's only about a two-hour ride," Borno mused for a while before offering, "I know a guy who has a carriage; he'd be happy to host you, my lord. The journey won't take more than three hours."
"Alright then," Jamie said, and retired to sleep.
…
[Bing]
[Daily Mission: Evade 5 hostile attacks]
Jamie woke to the sight of a new mission, but his mind was already set on his true purpose for the day. He quickly discarded the notification and began preparing for the journey ahead. Outside, the sun was already casting its first rays.
"Everything is ready, my lord," Borno announced, ushering Jamie into the waiting carriage.
The three-hour journey passed in silence, Jamie largely ignoring his surroundings. He was engrossed in the system, surfing through every menu, familiarizing himself with its options.
The carriage suddenly lurched to a halt as the horse neighed. "We are here," the rider announced. The carriage had stopped a few meters from the gate; common folk were not permitted near the capital without a valid reason. Jamie stepped out, Borno dutifully following behind him.
Confrontation at the Gates
"Who are you, and what is your purpose in the capital?" A guard, stern-faced, blocked their path.
"I am Jamie Hades of the House of Fire, and I am here for the coronation ceremony," Jamie declared, his voice carrying the inherent authority of his noble lineage.
"And I am Thorin Sand of House Sand, getting crowned in the ceremony! Ha ha ha!" The guards erupted in laughter, mocking his claim.
"Listen, kid, you're not the first well-dressed lad to try and bluff his way into the capital," an older guard remarked, his tone laced with weariness. "If you want to witness the ceremony, you'll have to buy a ticket."
"Yeah, and you can't even tell a good lie. The House of Fire has already arrived," another guard chimed in.
"I'm supposed to be with them," Jamie insisted.
"And why were you not?" the older guard questioned, his skepticism deepening.
"There was an issue…" Jamie began to explain, but he was cut off.
"I don't believe it. You can't be a son of Fire. You can't even beat me in a fight," a younger guard boasted, drawing his sword with a flourish.
Jamie said nothing, but his eyes narrowed, fixing the guard with a cold, dead glare.
The guard struck, but Jamie evaded the attack without shifting his stance. The guard paused, surprised, then launched a faster slash at Jamie's head. Jamie bent just enough for the sword to graze the top of his hair. The guard retreated, then lunged again, striking at Jamie's chest with even greater speed. Jamie merely shifted aside, and the sword grazed his shirt. Now irritated, the guard jumped and slashed downward at Jamie's head.
Having indulged in enough of the charade, Jamie drew his own sword. It burst into flame instantly as he blocked the guard's attack. Upon impact, the guard's sword shattered into pieces.
"He didn't even move!" Borno's jaw dropped, astonished by Jamie's effortless display. Though he had never met a true Son of Fire, he had encountered many nobles—most of them spoiled and reliant on wealth. This young lord, however, was clearly different.
"Only a Son of Fire can perform such a flaming sword," the older guard stated, his voice now filled with respect. "I suppose you wish to meet with the king, correct?"
"Yes, my lord will like to meet with the king," Borno quickly interjected, saving Jamie the trouble of answering.
"You!" The older guard called to the young guard who had just lost the impromptu duel. "Show your respect to young Lord Jamie and escort them to the castle."
"This way, my lord," the humbled guard bowed to Jamie, then led the way towards the heart of the capital.