CHAPTER 4

No matter what...
I'm gonna win this...
And I'm going to be a knight!
I'm gonna be...!

"AH!" Jack woke up, opening his eye wide he saw the ceiling. "What happened?" He sat up and rubbed his head. "Why am I in the waiting room...? And where is everyone..?" He wondered and he couldn't remember what had happened to him. Lying beside him was Star, still unconscious. He had smiling bimbo look on his face and a huge red lump on his forehead.

The small armored man, Sebastian who was fanning them both spoke. "They're announcing the result, you should go to the coliseum."

"RESULTS?! What about the match?

"The victor is Ms Ridley, though.. She had been trained to fight since she was a young lass, so... I suggest you not to worry so much... Even Sir Star was defeated, you should not feel so down."

"Ridley? She was my first opponent... URK..." Jack groan in pain. The pain from Ridley's deadly blow pierced his chest and it stinged. "So I lost..." Jack sigh in disappointment. It was the end of the world for him, Adele is going to kill him, all hope lost and he didn't have any chance of becoming a knight. His dream shattered and Jack was overpowered with depress.

In the coliseum, all the contestants lined before Junzablow, the referee. The spectacled man and the short chubby man entered, walking toward to the center. The spectacled man whispered to Junzalow, "The people who passed the selection…. First, the victor, Ridley Silverlake. Oh, and one other person. Jack Russell."

"EH?!" Junzablow became surprised and was unexpected to hear that name. He looked at the silent Jack who was looking down hopelessly. He was all gloomy with no spirit in him at all. "Ah, but that young one…"

The spectacled man interrupted, "Oh no, not for his talent. Rather….. Does his name Russell ring a bell?" Pushing his glasses with his fingers.

The sudden realization shocked him, Junzablow responded, "Russell! Yes understood, Sire."

He turned his attention to the contestant and began his speech. "Ahem… Here before us is the prime minister of the Radiata, Lord Larks." While referring to the spectacled man. He was wearing a Royal Radiata uniform, and had round spectacles. His hair was short and blond. Then he referred to the chubby man, "And here we have someone who has been accepted as a success applicant, Ganz Rothschild of the Rose Cochon Brigade." He continued, "Now to announce the result, the person who had passed the selection and is put under the command of Ganz Rothschild is…. DA DA DA DA DUM.. The victor, Ridley Silverlake!"

Jack sigh in depression, "How am I gonna tell sis?"

"And second!"

"She's gonna kill me for sure."

"SELL!"

"What am I gonna do?" *Sigh*

"Jack Russell."

"I'm gonna get punished so bad, maybe I won't get dinner ever again." Jack didn't pay attention , he just thought of what else could happen to him.

"JACK RUSSELL!" Junzablow shouted at the top of his lung at Jack after losing his patience. It was like a angry lion had went wild.

Startled, Jack trembled in fear and stammered. "Y-Y-Y-Y- YES?! W-W-What is it?!"

Junzablow screamed, "Like I said! You are the second successful applicant!" The others looked at Jack with full of shock and surprised, wondering WHY he was chosen."

"Wait, What! Me?!" Jack pointed at himself for confirmation, he was clueless in the situation. "But… I don't get it! I lost on the first match!" He perked.

Lord Larks stepped in, "Jack, I do not wish to assess you on just one match or on the present you. I'm looking toward your future self."

"The future me?"

"For starters we're conscious about the knight we have for our kingdom.. We're expecting dignity and self control from you, okay?" Lord Larks smiled, reassuring Jack.

Delighted with the answer, Jack responded with a smile, "Ye… Yes, Sir!"

"Very well." Lord Larks turned to the short,chubby, stout blond man with brown eyes that was with him. The man wore a blue heavy armor which had a Lion crest on it. He looked older and more matured than Jack and somewhat very peaceful looking. "I leave the rest to you, Ganz." Lord Larks then left.

Over-excited, Ganz introduce himself to both Ridley and Jack. "Hey there! I'm Ganz Rothschild! I'm the captain of the Rose Cochon Brigade!" He then explained the procedure, "Now, both of you! We have to hurry and give a ceremony for the formation of this group! Please go on and change into your own clothing in the designated rooms. That is all! Please! Make haste!" He demanded cheerfully.

"YES SIR!" Jack replied. Jack clutched his hands tightly, he was overwhelmed by the feeling of happiness, so relieved that he made it into the knights. "AWWW WRIGHT! I don't know what the heck just happened. But I'm getting closer…! I'm gonna be just as great a knight as my dad!" His daydreaming stopped as Ridley walked in front of him with confidence and pride. "Hmph, That chick… Ridley right? Not even a greeting from her.. "Jack glared as she walked passed him, watching her back, "But just you wait… Someday, I'll beat you!"

On the balcony where audience spectates, a long green haired female knight wearing the pink Radiata Royal armor watched. Unease, she bit her lips unsatisfied with the selection results. "What the- What?! What is the meaning of this?!" Glaring at Jack from above with resentment, "Why does that brat get to be chosen to be a knight?! Lady Ridley defeated him, yet!.." She continued her argument, "Gr.. I'll have to look up his family lineage for Lord Jasne." She was eagered to find out.

Led by the Radiata Castle's steward, Jack walked down the Castle's stair case to the first basement floor. The corridor was gloomy and dirty, filled with dust and spider webs. *Clack Clack Clack Clack* The sound of their boot as they walked echoed through the quiet corridor. "Man, this place is dark… Are there really rooms down here?" Jack thought as he looked around his surroundings.

After reaching the final door in the corridor, the steward stopped. "Over here, young Sir, is your room." He informed.

It looked suspicious, causing Jack to worry. "Eh…? Here?!" His sweat dropped. Jack walked closer to the door, reaching the door knob with his hand. Slowly, he grabs the door knob and just as he was about to turn it…

*BAM*

The door suddenly opened, hitting Jack's face and slamming him to fall on the floor. "BUH!"

"Ah, bathroom, gotta go.." Said the sleepy looking man that came out from the room. He was very tall and buffed with short dark brown hair and green eyes. He had whiskers like mustache and wore a green and yellow striped armless uniform with the Royal Radiata crest on it.

Jack got back up, rubbing his sore red nose. In anger and pain, he yelled at the man. "That freakin hurts! Get away from me, you old geezer!"

"Geezer?" The man twitched.

The steward interrupted their one sided little argument. "Sir Jack, this is Sir Leonard, Your room monitor."

"R.. Room monitor?" Jack looked up at Leonard. "He's huge~"

The steward explained, "When you have finished changing into your knight trainee uniform, go to the knights meeting room on the third floor to attend your inauguration ceremony."

The steward quickly walked away and Jack still didn't understand him. "Say what?! What do you mean by room monii-! WAH!" Unable to finish his sentence due to Leonard's interruption.

Leonard rubbed and ruffled Jack's head like a little Jack Russell puppy, making his hair go all messy. Treating him like a little child and patting him. "So you're that new kid, Jack, eh? Pleasure t'meet ya!" Jack entered the room. It was cramped and had trashes and rubbishes everywhere. Leonard then turn his direction to a bed in the room, "That's your bed over there, by the way."

Jack looked at the old dirty bunk bed. The cloths used had all sort of unknown stains on it and had multiple places on it that was patched up. It was covered in dirt and dust and you could tell that it smells from the fly that were flying around it. The plank wood was so old that it had cracks and the bed makes creaking sound when it shook, it could break any moment. "Is this… The room of a knight.. That I've been dreaming of?!.." The image of Jack's dream room that was clean, shiny, royalty and high class was shattered in an instant like a thin glass trampled by a mammoth. Tears flow out, he cried, "N…." He yelled with his heart content "NOOOOO!"

"What is all this ruckus!" An unknown voice spoke. Jack turned, it was the green haired female knight. She had beautiful green eye and wore pink armor which had a small shield on both arms. Short black skirt to her thighs and long pink boots with brown leather on it to above her knees. Her helmet was also pink, it didn't cover her face but it was kinda tall. She looked like she was in her twenties. "Keep it quiet in the corridors!"

"Who's she?"

Jack stood there still. Leonard saluted her, with his left hand next to him and his right hand above his right eye. "Na-Natalie, Ma'am! Excuse me for my rudeness

Jack still stood there. Natalie yelled at them, "Leonard! As my subordinate, clean up your act and be more refined!

Still in his respected salute position, "Yes Ma'am! Forgive my mistakes, Mistress!"

Jack still stood there, standing still…. Looking straight at her. "This chick… is a lot like my sis…"

"…."

"…."

Still standing there, "..?..."

Leonard broke the tension, grinding his elbow on Jack's head. "You! Newbie! Bow to your superior officer! Lower that head of yours!" It caused Jack to groan in pain. "Look, Jack! In front of you is Natalie Nanette, the Captain of the Violet Chevre! She may be young, but she's someone to be looked up to and respect!"

"Ohhhh, really?..." Jack said without interest.

Natalie became ticked off by his rudeness. She walked closer to Jack, bringing her faces closer, Jack could feel her breath. "Oh.. My, my, Leonard. You have quite a kid here. You're bunking with a kid who was chosen in the trial out of pity."

"?!"

Unsatisfied, Natalie continued her teasing and mocking. "Dear me, you didn't know? I'll tell you then.. They picked you because you're the legendary dragon slayer's son!"

"Just because… I'm dad's son…?"

"They're simply acknowledging you purely because you're Cairn's son! You're just walking under the shadow of the greatness of your father!" She smiled evilly, thinking that her plan of destroying Jack's confindence and hope succeeded. "Have you realised it yet, brat? Don't get cocky just because they put you in the same status as Ridley eventhough you lost!"

"Oh?" Shockingly it didn't effect Jack. "Really? That was all?" Actually Jack became more at ease from knowing the reason.

"What?!" Surprised that it didn't work, Natalie tried to get him with a comeback. "Don't you feel phased from being under your father's shadow?!"

Jack tilted his head, "Why would I be? Even I know that he's a great person. Someday, after I work hard people will change what they say about me! It'll go from 'That Cairn's boy' to 'That Jack Russell!'"

"…" Natalie became speechless, she didn't know what else she could say to make him feel bad. "I… I have to help lady Ridley with her room setting, so if you'll excuse me….." She walked off trying to avoid Jack's eye contact.

"You've got guts, kid" Leonard added. "By the way, aren't you suppose to hurry to the meeting room?"

"!"

*KNOCK KNOCK*

"Excuse me!" After getting changed into his trainee wear, Jack had rushed himself to the 3rd floor meeting room. He entered the room where Ganz and Ridley was already there, waiting.

"Ah~ Master Jack! You look like the little lord!" Ganz stated. He then pushed Ridley gently, encouraging her to show her outfit. "Come on Lady Ridley, you mustn't lose to Jack! Go on, Lady Ridley, stand up! We must see how you look~"

Ridley had no choice but to stand up and show her outfit, it was the only way to stop Ganz's nagging. She wore the Radiata knight pink female uniform, with short black skirt and long pink boots. Her glove was made out of steel and as usual she tied her long blond hair into two pony tail with big red ribbons. She stood with pride, avoiding to look at Jack, her face was arrogant obviously.

"Grr!" Jack twitched. "I don't think pink suits you at all! My outfit is much more suitable, like a knight!" He declared loud and clear.

They glared each with resentment and despise. Ganz intruded, trying to break them up, "Now now, no fighting please! Let's not forget teamwork is essential to strengthen the team!" After they calmed down, they sat down and Ganz begun the ceremony. "Let's see here… Er.. On this most auspicious day-….."

"She so full of herself, what a spoiled little princess! There is no way that she's my type… Just you wait… I'm gonna surpass you before you know it!"

Ganz continued on his babbling. "I have wonderful news! Lord Larks have given the Rose Cochon a very important mission! We must protect a dwarf carrying goods to Radiata for trade… It's going to be a long journey, so please prepare for the trip! It will be tomorrow! With that, the Rose Cochon meeting is adjourned!"

While Ganz is staring off to space about the mission, Jack became dumbfounded. "That's his idea of a super important mission?!" He looked at Ridley, "Alright good job at the meeti-.."

"Hmph!" She immediately got up and walked away arrogantly, ignoring Jack.

"HEY!" Jack was pissed and stuck his tongue out at her after she left, "Bluuuegghhh!"

*SMACK BAM KICK*

Jack was training in his room with a training doll, Leonard left the room earlier due to the annoyance.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

A female knight entered. It was Nina, a trainee like Jack. She wore the usual Radiata Knight armor, she had short blue hair tied in two pony tail and green eyes. "Excuse me is Jack here?" She saw Jack and handed him a book. "This is a charter for the Knight of the kingdom. Everything you need to know is in it, so you should read it.."

"Thanks." Jack replied.

"Hmmm, are you practicing by yourself?" Nina asked.

"Yup! I have to get stronger!" He explained. "Maybe we should train together… It's better than training alone"

"EH?! Really?" Nina blushed.

"Of course! We're pretty much in the same boat right? So let's be friends!"

She smiled, "Heh, okay! You're a strange one.." She added, "Let's train together next time.. I'll see you some other time!"

Jack sat on his bed, excited in reading the book.. After a few seconds, he laid down, "Ugghh, Too much words! Hmm? 'Treat those in the same brigade as your family.' Huh." Jack closed his eyes and dozed off.

Treat Ridley as family?..