Omen: 9, 15

  He was a t figure. Even from where Adam stood, he could feel the pressure of the man's gaze upon his shoulders. The heavy armour he wore was well made, the intricate engravings within, those of all manner of divine symbols, and the bde at his side was no doubt one of the greatest across all the nds.

  'It just had to be him...' Hope Willow thought, a cold sweat dropping down the back of her neck. Of all the figures across the nd, it just had to be one of the figures which could be ted amongst Lord Marshal Royce, King Merryweather, and Sir Robin.

  Sir James Greatwood, Grand ander of the Order of the Thousand Hunts, gred down towards the group, a group he had heard of in passing, and some he reised from the previous year.

  The group waited outside, feeling the intense pressure of the order members pressing down against them. For o wasn't the children who were uhe gaze of the noblefolk of the nd, but the demons.

  Lucy could feel the intense pressure of one of the handful of Paragons of the nd, and one of those who were sworn to kill her. Though her shoulders felt sutense pressure, she stood tall and strong. No Grand ander was going to put the pressure oure Demon Lord. The Iyrmen? She would allow them, of course, sihey were Iyrmen, but an Aldishman?

  "Opees," the Grand aated.

  "I will sider your advice," the ure adorned in full pte said. He wore full pte armour from head to toe, just like the Grand ander, but his armour was far simpler. He was an older man, into his seventies, and his name had begun to fade, like his hair, though his beard was full. At his side was a bde made of blue. Not blue steel, or even sapphicule, but blue which had been formed into the shape of a sword.

  Adam squinted his eyes. 'He reminds me of that guy from Ever Green.'

  The ander of the fort, waved his hand, allowing them to opees for the group, who walked inwards. As the group stepped ihe ander made his way down to meet with the Hope and Rays, casually walking over towards them.

  "It's been a few years since I st met with a Hope while I was on active duty," the ander said, pg a hand over his heart, before bowing his head.

  "I was informed you had retired many years ago, Sir Arthur," Hope Willow replied, bowing her head lightly iurn.

  "I had, but the King requested I take and of the fort for the rest of the year, and I am but a humble servant of Aldnd."

  'The King must have beeain of his victory to not move Blue Sword before,' Hope Willow thought. "The nd will remain safe with you as the ander."

  The Iyrmen hadn't read that Blue Sword had taken position at the fort, meaning the old warrior had only retly arrived as the ander, no doubt withi few days.

  'The Grand ander is to defend the fort as part of his order being accepted into the nd.' Jaygak thought, gng around to here were only a handful of the order members here, while the rest must have been travelling across the nd to the capital, where they would iate for a position somewhere in the nd. 'Blue Sword must have been moved to keep the Grand ander in check.'

  Fred's eyes were wide from beh his helmet. He had been a boy when Blue Sword had retired, but even growing up he had heard the name of Blue Sword. ‘Blue Sword? That Blue Sword?’ A chill ran through his spine, his eyes falling across Adam, hoping he uood not to act up. After all, Blue Sword was someone who had cshed with the previous First Hope, Hope Robert's mentor.

  Jaygak grabbed onto Adam's elbow, causing the young man to pull away slightly, gng towards her. Jaygak pulled up her visor, her eyes staring into Adam's with that kind of look to tell him to keep silent, before she pulled down her visor, just in case.

  '...'

  Sir James Greatwood marched towards the group, his arms behind his back, his eyes falling across the group once more. "I hope your travels have been safe, Fourth Hope."

  "They have, Sir Greatwood," Willow replied, her eyes glued to the Grand ander.

  "How safe your travels be with the demons at your side?" The chill ran through the air at the Grand ander's words, the soldiers gng towards the two demons who stood beside their wolves, brushing their fur.

  "We watch over the demons to make sure they do not trouble the nd."

  "Has Life's Rose taken the demons uheir care?"

  "Ray Vonda watches over the demons uhe orders of Mother Priest."

  James' eyes fell to Vonda for a moment, then they went to the demons, before they fell upon the young woman again. '...' His eyes almost wondered across her face due to his thoughts, but he held her gaze firmly, her eyes beaming with joy. "You are rather young for a Ray, Ray Vonda."

  "I was blessed with the Mrace."

  "Do you mean to say you know Fate spells?"

  "I do."

  "gratutions to you, Ray Vonda, and the Order of Life's Rose. It has been geions sineone has been blessed with the Divine's grace so young."

  "I thank the Mother for the fortunes she has graced me with every night."

  "If such a gra will no doubt spread through the nd, and there will be many blessings upon Life's Rose this decade. Since you are so blessed, the onfolk will not o worry of the demons in your midst."

  Vonda smiled wider. "Yes. I have no doubt there will be no issues caused while I am to watch over the demons." Even the mention of the demons will cause them trouble from now on, especially if Blue Sword inteo press the issue with his military rank.

  "What if I insist?" Sir James Greatwood asked. His eyes caught the Hope's once more. "I have sworn my oaths too."

  "It would be troublesome if you insisted, but as a Hope of Life's Rose, I must step forward."

  "Even for demons?"

  "Mother Soza's grace falls upon all."

  A moment of silence filled the air. The children stared at the Hope and then the Grand ander of the Thousand Hunts. They had heard of the order, for it was an order whice made its home near East Port, he border betwee Aldnd and what was now Floria. To the north of the Order of the Thousand Hunts was a local order to East Port, pced there to watch over what was once South Aldnd, though of course there were many great dangerous upon the hills and forests surrounding the order, but everyone knew what the purpose of the order was. Of course, there was also the rumours of a dragon nearby, but those were simply rumours.

  However, the differeween the Order of Shimmering Swords and the Order of the Thousand Hunts was simple. The Grand ander of the Shimmering Swords wasn't a Paragon.

  Nor was the Fourth Hope, who was sidered average among the Hopes. Indeed, among the typical popuce, Fourth Hope Willow would be sidered iop, firmly iop 1%. However, among the many orders and their elites, she would also be sidered average, whereas Sir James Greatwood would be sidered among the top five at worst, truly only rivalled by Sir Robin among those of the orders.

  Fred stared towards Blue Sword, hoping he would step forward. It was Blue Sword, after all. If anyone could request for the Grand ao step back, it would be the ander, not because he was a ander, but because he was Blue Sword. The Blue Sword, who was a retively unknown fellow before he cshed with the previous First Hope to a draw within a duel. It was one of the few times Blue Sword was active, otherwise disappearing into the shadows and rumours, before returning to do something impressive. He only had a handful of stories, but each story was impressive.

  "It would be dangerous to the security of the nation to allow the demon to walk through the nd," Grand ander James stated.

  "Is that the opinion of the ander as well?"

  "It isn't as though it is my opinion, but I ot refute it either," Blue Sword said. "I would have preferred the Grand ander not step forward in this regard, but it is the oaths he has sworn, and I ot pe oath above another."

  "Do you io stay out of the this?"

  "Unfortunately my hands are tied in this regard." Blue Sword let out that kind of sigh that said he was gd he didn't o make a decision in this regard.

  "Will you tio defend the demons?" the Grand ander asked, still not reag for his bde.

  "..." Hope Willow remained silent for a long moment. "What are the opinions of the Executives?"

  Adam inhaled deeply, ready to speak, but he grit his teeth, still recalling the way Jaygak gred at him. 'Damn it, I'll leave it to the others?'

  “You are just a Paragon?”

  James Greatwood fell still for a moment. He recalled the phrase from a year ago, almost a year to the day. His eyes fell across the Iyrman, whose forehead ainted with a familiar pattern.

  Lucy's eyes fell across the Iyrman too, whose arms were crossed, the Iyrman standing tall and proud. 'Are y to get me killed?'

  'Damn,' Adam thought. 'Why is my brother so much cooler than me?'

  It could only be the grandson of the Mad Dog who could speak such words.

  Also, May the fourth be with you.