The two valiant knights soon reclaimed the hill for their own, but the hoard would soon reach them if the mission was not completed immediately. Still, they held to their belief in something greater, in the oaths they made that brought them here. For them, it was enough to keep fighting. Not everyone could be so honorable however, as even in such dark times people would take advantage. Inquisitor Viola knew this well, far too well. The backed up line of civilians a problem that should not have occurred on an empty vessel brought specifically to take them into orbit. No, she knew she had done the calculations, and this was wrong. Her angry fears confirmed as she reached the front to see several of the open doorways held off by a small group of PDF soldiers. They pushed people back, their weapons held as if ready to use them. A wagon full of the treasures from within the Governors tower loaded to the brim as they tried to push it onto the ship. This was nothing more than gluttony, a sin she would not let go unpunished.

She raised her arch-pistol into the air and fired as the crowd of civilians backed away from her. The PDF soldiers who thought they could escape with pointless goods also stared, but instead of stopping, they opted to continue instead. Viola was not pleased.

"So, this is the greed of brigands who decide that treasure is worth more than the lives of their common fellows. This is the thought of those traitors whom now besiege this very city, and drive us to the brink of demise."

One of the soldiers stepped towards her.

"I don't give a cuckoos arse what you say. We all agreed here, that we would leave this damned place with nothing! We worked tirelessly under that tyrant, and now that the worlds gone to hell, we are taking our due. Besides, them big machines outside got it covered I'm sure. They can wait."

Viola frowned. Clearly, there was no sense in talking to these fools. She would have to make sure the civilians got on board herself then. As for these traitors, she would make sure they got their due. With a single swing of her arm she raised her Arch-Pistol faster than the soldiers could arm themselves, and fired three bolts. The heads of three of the soldiers exploded with a pop of blood, bone and organ. Their bodies lay limp onto the cold ground, lifeless, and without sanctity. The soldiers who pushed on the cart cowered away as it fell to the side, its contents of gold plated goods of all kinds, spilled out with it.

Viola walked towards them.

"There's your due. Now, if I must say this, I shall. Anyone who values such trinkets over your own lives may attempt to grab any piece of it. Be warned, the first attempt will be met with the removal of your head, and the damnation of treason! Otherwise, I expect all of you, to get on the damned ship!"

The crowd only stared at her as they collectively whimpered. The people of this world were not afforded many luxuries, and many were kept within a vacuum, ignorant of the reality in which they lived. Perhaps it was this that lead to this fiasco, but at the expense of lives that fought terrors beyond their imagination just outside those walls. This, in her mind, called for a very direct approach. If they would not help themselves, she would make damn sure they lived to become productive members of the Imperium-or she would punish them for their insolence.

"I said move. Immediately!"

The crowd kicked to life, as the loading of the civilians started once more in full gear. They proceeded in an orderly fashion up the ramps and into the bowels of the ship where the others waited within the emptied hanger decks and corridors. At this rate, they would completely load onto the ship by midday. And then, the Knights could be picked up within the safety of the void shields, and returned to their ship. Thus, this battle would be won. Her own retinue however would have trouble getting her and her Marines, thus she would need to take a transport with one of the Knights. Besides, it would be unfriendly of her to not meet those who answered their call. For now however, all she could do was watch over the crowd of people whom once she would have abandoned to their fate, as they march into the ships gaping doors. The thought of her companions, Eli and Emile and where they were a sudden cross along her mind. But, they could take care of themselves, after all, they were Space Marines.

Emile was in his element. Though he wasn't accustomed to the all out, no hands barred, execution of the enemy, he knew how to wield his weapon effectively. No shot was wasted, each calculated and precise. He did not linger in any one spot for long and kept his distance from the encroaching monsters. The Oath Marines were trained thusly in the art of non-lethal tactics, and constantly sought to redeem than to condemn, but this battle brought back memories to Emile of the day he learned the harsh truth that he wanted Eli now to see. It was also when he had to fight the fowl constructs of Nurgle.

There was little time for reminiscence however, as he was beset by a small band of nurglings who managed to crawl over the wall. Though not nearly as dangerous as their brethren, the nurglings were toxic to the touch and they oozed corrosive poison wherever they went. In enough numbers, they would swarm their opponent and in a matter of moments, nothing but a rotted or mutated corpse would be left behind, reanimated to serve the whims of their master.

He rose his bolter and fired directly into the swarm, first at the ones along the sides, so that they would not encircle him, and then the ones closest towards him as he moved back from one point to another. The support from the PDF around him a welcomed one as they fired their las rifles into the swarm, slowly but surely ripping the persistent monsters to tatters. This was not enough to prevent any of the PDF from being killed, as several along the walls were pushed off to their death by the many nurglings that climbed them. Which in turn piled over the bodies, to rise them once more into blighted corpses with a deformed yellow color that only shambled forward. This was more than enough to unnerve the soldiers, and they began to lose their calm. A death sentence in any battlefield. Especially in the face of this chaos.

It was up to Emile to maintain their morale.

"Do not mourn the dead, not yet, not now. Stay here and strong for the living, for we can only mourn those gone while we are alive. I stand with you, the Imperial Knights stand by you, and we will not falter! Neither shall you. Now stand strong and band together."

The soldiers took to him like insects to flame, and soon enough they rallied around him. Though Emile knew, as all the Oath Marines did, Space Marines were naught but human. Only because of the augmentations that had been done to their bodies, most would see them as something more. Something to be feared, but also something to be respected and looked upon with reverence. Emile disliked this notion, always had, but he did not deny the usefulness it offered him and his kin. Especially when he had to fight alongside the citizens of the Imperium. Here, it was no different.

He held his bolter tightly to his chest as he pulled it to bear at the shambling corpses of former PDF soldiers, and shot. Each round hit their mark, and each did their intended job as they dismembered their targets. A burst of puss and corrupted flesh that left no identifier of what was before. He had to eliminate these shambling corpses first, so as to maintain the PDF's hold on their sanity.

"Do not let them surround you. Stand close besides one another, and make each shot count."

The PDF obliged him, and they proceeded to form into small circles that fired at the nurglings and corpses. Though they managed to maintain their incursions for now, he knew that the longer any engagement took, the likelier that a complication would occur. With their current forces, it would most certainly be fatal here. While the Void shield was up, though he did not wish to acknowledge the possibility, if the knights protecting the power source fell, they would be submerged in a wave of the daemons, never to surface again. The thought of Brother Eli ran through his mind. He had not seen him since the tower, and he feared that he may have fallen already. Though his mind swayed him back to the task at hand. In combat, one did not worry. For those that worried were already dead.

Eli also knew this of course, and he was one of the brightest of all of the scouts that the Reasonable Marine Chapter had ever seen. Still, he was still a young man beneath his status as a Space Marine, and one that cared heavily for the civilians that he encountered. He had a stark belief, a hope for the Imperium at large, that it would rise to be the power it deserved. Overcome the adversity that plagued it, and reclaim its former glory. The increasing strain of the conflicts he participated in however, did not maintain his hopeful spirit as he saw such brutality from not only those outside of mankind, but also from within. The sounds of battle were familiar to him, but this day, something was different. He wanted to prove not everything was in vain, and he was going to start with the psykers marked for death. Unfortunately he was unpleased as he saw what he had come across. All but one of the psykers remained alive, the PDF soldiers sent to kill them massacred by a small band of yellow creatures that oozed yellow slime from their skin, their eyes deformed and twisted as they popped out of their rotten flesh. Their size diminutive compared to Eli, only up to his knees. A young girl nearly limp besides the wall as she pushed herself back with her legs.

Blood streamed from her eyes as they bleed profusely.

"Get away… Get away! Please! I won't listen… I won't!"

The girl weakly held onto her head, and this was a sign that something spoke to her. Something dark and twisted. Eli raised his bolter as he eliminated all the creatures in the vicinity. None of them had anticipated the attack, unaware of his presence, splattered into paste by the shells of his bolter. With the last one gone, Eli ran to the girl and stood in front of her. She wept to herself as she pressed hard onto her head.

"I want it to stop…"

She turned to face him, as if she felt his presence. Again she cowered back, all too aware of the slaughter that befell the other Psykers. She only expected a round through the skull, a fate she was not willing to accept.

"No! Please, I don't want to die. Not like the rest... Please! I beg you…"

She fell forward, her body clearly tired and unable to maintain itself. It was clear she hadn't eaten in days. The treatment of Psykers was rarely good after all. And now a Space Marine, one of the Emperors Angels of Death. Stood before her. It was certainly her time, or so she thought. Much to her surprise Eli lowered his bolter and looked at her. Amazed at the contradiction before her, the girl looked up.

"What…?"

Eli knelt beside her, and tore a small piece of the ceremonial cloth which hung from his side. With unprecedented precision, he managed to wrap it around her head, over her bleeding eyes which crusted up. It was not the Reasonable Marine way to doubt the goodness in others, and though he was unable to save more, he would do all he could to save this one girl. Whether he had to fight the Knights himself after this was over, he would fulfill this task.

The girl only laid into his metal chest as he picked her up, his bolter strapped to his side. She was light, even though he could lift far more than the normal human, she barely registered as weight to him. In her eyes Eli was nothing less than an angel, sent to deliver her from suffering. The one image of a reaper she imagined, morphed into something else.

She feeble turned to face him, though with the cloth over her head did not see.

"Are you… an Angel…?"

Eli remained quiet for a moment as he watched more of the creatures crawl down from above the wall. This was to prove to himself that human life was not so easily wasted, that there was hope in his chapter's bright ideals.

"No. I am not but a man, who has chosen to save your life."

The girl only looked at him, before she passed out, her body barely able to go on. The creatures would not stop to wait for him, and so Eli rushed away with her in his arms, towards the front courtyard where the others surely were. The battle outside the walls clearly fierce, though subtly more and more subdued as the explosions became less apparent. What this meant, Eli did not know, but he pushed on regardless.

Across the walls, the battle had actually gone entirely in the Imperium's favor. Not one of the thirty knights had fallen, and almost every single mutant, daemon or monstrosity which had entered was eradicated. Though this did not mean their suits were undamaged, as many clearly were, some more than others, but all of them remained in working order. The void shield still at full capacity, as it blazed all around the city. Those outside with bated anticipation for it to fall. All of the Knights with their duty upheld, formed around the perimeter of the Governors estate, and looked outward. They eliminated any stragglers they found, but remained still in their positions, ready to protect the civilians if the chaotic forces encroached once more. But all of them held a firm belief in their High Lord; that he would succeed, and they would all escape alive, glory abound to all of them.

Outside the shields, Reginal and Sir Hektor did just that, as they fought off the never ending waves that challenged them, only to push them back. Their machines in as good condition as before they entered the fray, and shined like the beacons they were within the sun.

But, off in the distance, came a sight which enraged the two knights. Something that all knights had sworn to never leave unpunished, and something that was required to be put down immediately. Its massive metal feet stomped through its fellow abhorrents, and made its way to the center of the vile swarm. A sight that bolstered its own forces, as it dripped in acid. This was a Chaos Knight, its once noble form broken and shattered, with a green moss that surrounded the topside of the chassis. Large tentacles protruded from its right arm, and flailed about aimlessly, an old and rustic chain sword in its other arm, overtaken by large green vines that oozed a yellow substance in scathes. Its face ruptured and cracked, the metal clearly beyond its years. Dressed in dark green and yellow, all of its heraldry was covered or removed entirely, replaced with the mutated gifts of Nurgle. From what house it hailed was unknown, but this did not matter to either of the two noble knights who watched it. Especially Reginald, as a High Lord and a champion of humanity.

"An abomination and a scar among all Knight houses! Sir Hektor, we cannot allow this traitor to live."

Sir Hektor vehemently agreed, but as he watched the knight he understood what it intended to do. Though it pained him, he would not move.

"Lord Reginal, I agree, but it expected this of us. Why has it not yet come for us? It waits, the coward, for us to maintain our oath and charge it. It expects us to combat it, and leave the power source undefended. We cannot allow this power source to fall."

Reginal leveled his volcano lance in the heretic knight's direction.

"Do not worry. We shall not let this fall. But, we cannot allow such a monstrosity to exist either."

His Knight turned to face the direction of the Chaos Knight and activated his shield breaker missile, which he kept for just this moment and fired it. With a loud screech the missile flew through the air, and sped towards the chaotic knight. Though it was quick to see it, the knight was far too slow because of the mutations that hindered it and was hit directly by the missile. A single explosion racked it in a cloud of smoke as bits of armor and corrupted constructions flew all around it. It was clear this knight lost the use of its Ion shield long ago, but Reginal knew that even a sheildbeaker missile would not be enough to completely down such a traitor. What he banked on was the pride he hoped the heretic still had, and this paid off. The Chaos Knight survived the blast, as vines and the putrid moss moved to replace the pieces that were forcibly removed. It refused to take such an insult as a long ranged attack without retribution.

It began to move, and soon came to a steady run as the Heretic knight pushed all in its way aside. The reaper chainsword revved as black smog oozed outside its exhausts, the tentacles on its other side sharpened themselves into a single spike.

Both Reginal and Hektor turned to face their new opponent. Reginal fired everything he had at the knight, even his automated firing systems. Each shot landed as the chaotic knight blew slowly into more and more pieces, but it did not stop its rampage. Hektor was quick to stand in the way of Reginal and the traitor, as he overcharged his lasimpulsor. Of all the enemies of the Imperium, those that he hated the most were the Imperial Knights who fell to chaos. It was a horrid fate that he knew was forcibly pushed upon many of them, much like those of his own household who were corrupted. He made a promise that day he escaped, to find a battle he could win for the Imperium, and that he would not let any Knight suffer the corruption of Chaos. And those he did find, he would put to rest.

The Chaos Knight grew close, and swung its chainsword at Hektor, but he managed to catch it with his knight's clawed hand. Though the blades still punctured into his armor, and pushed deep into the palm of his knight's hand. Physical pain surged through his body, the knights pain his own. He refused to let this stall him, slammed his las impulsor into the heretics chest plate, right beside the head joint, and fired. A single stream of plasma exploded through the other side as the Heretic fell backward, its massive body crushing the bodies of the many mutants beneath it. Hekor quickly stepped out of the way of Sir Reginal.

"Now lord Reginal! Do not leave a trace of its form left!"

Reginal moved all of his knight's weapons to bare, and within moments, they fired consecutively at least six times each, the strain on his knight's power source enormous as the traitors armor was torn asunder. Ripped piece by piece until nothing but scraps remained, and even those, were to be atomized by Hektor who turned all of it to ash with his impulsor. The tide of enemies did not stop however, as the mutants continued their push. In the end, the traitor succeeded in severely weakening the two noble knights who now were both damaged and in need of repair, the ammunition and charge of their weapons nearly exhausted. Still, both acknowledged this fact, and pushed on. Without another word they returned to fighting those around them, and maintained their oaths. They would stop when either they died, or their duty was done.

Thankfully the last of the civilians had been loaded at that moment, and the cruiser began its ascent into the sky. The Knights too had begun to load themselves into the transports, as they were ferried away. The remaining PDF forces loaded onto the cruiser last, and only Emile and Viola remained in the courtyard. Bodies, blood and the ruins of several sections of wall all around them. The vehicles that survived the attacks left behind, strewn about the courtyard.

Viola looked at Emile.

"It seems we've done it again."

Emile checked his bolter.

"Not a moment too soon. It seems I have exhausted all but a single round."

Viola looked towards the now busted gates.

"I wonder if Eli had survived…"

Emile also worried of his young companion, though he held out hope he would return soon. Still, the city would soon be abandoned. If he did not show up soon, they could only assume the worst.

The transport that Viola had requested for herself then flew down beside them, its back doors opened to reveal the Voidsmen in her service. Former members of the Tallern variant of Guardsmen. They raised their las rifles high and were watchful as the commander in her service, Commander Richell, saluted her with a hand over her chest.

"Lady Inquisitor! We are here for pick up. I suggest we quickly board before the shields are lowered."

Both Emile and Viola began their walk to the ship, both in quiet acknowledgment that their compatriot was gone. Yet, they were not surprised when they heard his voice from behind them. They turned to see his bulking frame run towards them, bolter in one hand, and a young girl in the other.

"Hold on! I have arrived!"

Viola bit her lip as she didn't expect a single Psyker to survive, but she could not back out of her promise to him now. Emile knew this as well, and though he was happy to see his fellow brother alive, he worried the effects that the girl he carried would have. The bandage over her eyes a bad sign still, but they could not hold on to debate here. Eli made it to them in little time, and though none of them spoke another word, the animosity of the situation was clear to all of them. They walked onto the transport. Richell stood aside as her guardsmen stepped in line and held up their las rifles. Viola hung onto the metal railing as the transport began its ascent, the doors closing. Then she saw outside, the two knights still besides the power source, as they were increasingly surrounded by the monsters around them.

Quickly she rushed past the others and made it through the hallowed corridor of the transport up the furthest ladder and onto the catwalk above. Her techpreist, Magos Verdun, slinked in the corner, and busied himself with the repairs of the ship as he interfaced with its machine spirit. He payed little mind to her and she him, as she walked by. It wasn't long before she made it to the pilot's deck, the only other room besides the cargo area outside.

The pilot was clearly nervous and had not taken well to this situation at all. But she had a debt to repay and the two knights outside had to be recovered, so she held onto the pilots shoulder firmly so as to dissuade any objections that might come.

"Make your way to the Power Cogitator. We are going to make an emergency pick up."
The Pilot tensed up as he swallowed the reply he was going to give with a single glance from the Inquisitor before him.

"Y-Yes Lady Inquisitor."

The ship took a sharp turn as she watched from the screen that displayed the outside, the scene of the two knights battling the horde before them. Admiration not quite the right word for how she viewed them. She came to respect these Knights highly because of this battle and their willingness to come to the aide of those who may would have deemed not worth the effort. She would make sure they survived to continue their work.

Outside, the roar of the void shield as it opened broke the combat around the city. Reginal and Hektor were relieved to know they succeeded, and both recognized the many ships that flew away from them and into space. But, none seemed to come back for them.

"This may be the end, Lord Reginal. It was an honor to fight besides you. I can die peacefully knowing I helped lead a battle to victory."

Reginals automated systems continued to fire, though their ammunition supplies had long since depleted. He too was also happy however, for he maintained his suits name and its honor.

"Thank you, Sir Hektor. I would have fallen much sooner had it not been for you. You have forever gained my respect, and I am sure the Emperor will look kindly upon us both."

Sir Hektor laughed very slightly, solemn in his resolve.

"It would appear so. So what say you, lord Reginal? Will you fight with me to the end?"

Reginal fired his volcano lance into a line of mutated vehicles besides the Cogictator facility.

"I would gladly lay down my life with you."

Both of the knights stood side by side as the monsters around them advanced in suicidal charges, one after the other. The Knights, both pilot and Machine Spirit content in what they felt was their fate. Reginal then thought once more on Sir Hektor, who although he had just met, had his eternal respect and gratitude. The life of a freeblade was a difficult one, and he knew that Sir Hektor must have suffered much as one.

"Sir Hektor. I know that you are a freeblade. Away from your house for some reason I will not assume, but you have earned the right to be called a hero. I as the High Lord of House Valor, would be more than happy to allow you admittance into our house. What say you, Lord Hektor? Will you join House Valor, as a nobleman and as a good friend?"

Sir Hektor was silent for a moment, and reminisced about his home. Destroyed and overtaken by the forces of Chaos. He never expected to be set adrift within space, but he vowed to find a battle he could help win. And so he has, in many worlds. But here, he found those who were like him. Their home gone, adrift, yet still ready to support the Imperium where they could. It had been a long time since he had left his world to its fate, but now he had a chance to be welcomed into another. If they survived this, he could do much good and support those who have lost their home and return their house back to glory. A fitting repentance for the fall of his house.

"I would be honored, Lord Reginal, if you would accept me within your house."

Reginal smiled, though it was not apparent to anyone but him.

"Then I, High Lord Reginal the IV, hereby declare that you Sir Hektor are welcomed into House Valor, as Lord Hektor. You are given the title of Baron, and are allowed all the privileges of any noble befitting those in House Valor. I welcome you my friend, even if this is our last moments."

Lord Hektor smashed a small tank underneath his metal foot.

"I will be sure to serve you faithfully, High Lord Reginal."

It was then, that the sounds of the transport above them registered on their sensors, and hope filled their hearts. The transport landed just besides the facility, and broke through several floors on its left side. The huge metal doors swung open as a small squad of guardsmen and two Space Marines stood on the sides, and fired at all the mutants that came close. The Inquisitor on the Catwalk above as she waved at them.

"Get your arses in here, now!"

Reginal made his way in front of the transports doors.

"Lord Hektor, load on first! I will hold them off long enough and will follow behind."

Hektor knew he wasn't in the right place to dispute and obliged. Reginal fired closely around him, and kept the enemy forces at bay while Lord Hektor made his way into the transport. Once he was secure, Reginal stepped back, one foot at a time and maintained a constant stream of fire at the tide before him, until it was that he stepped into the transport, the metal doors began to close. Somehow, he survived this ordeal, and made a lifelong friend in the process. The guardsmen and the Space Marines below kept firing until the doors finally sealed shut, and only the red alarm lights gave any illumination to the entire space. All of the forces below worked tirelessly to scour the entire ship in an effort to make sure the entire vessel was free of corruption. Viola rested on the side of the Catwalk and looked at the two massive Knights as they rested besides one another, their bodies nearly took up the entire space of the corridor. Though another Knight could have probably fit if needed be, she was glad they managed to make it in time. Of course, she was more curious to see just who the pilots were. Especially the new arrival, who she was informed had come from a separate ship that now orbited the planet.

She walked towards the open section of the Catwalk that led to the top of the knight, and waited. Her Techpriest however, could hardly contain himself as he rushed past her, and stood before the mighty titans. To him, it must have been an amazing sight, the likes of which few actually see in their service if they weren't part of the forgeworlds which produced them. Verdun bowed, his head as his several servo arms held themselves back.

"Praise the omnisiah! That I can see such magnificence before mine eyes. The Machine spirit within these holy titans are fearsome. Even now I feel their presence."

Viola walked besides him.

"Excuse me, Verdun, but these are our guests. Please do not do something that would upset them."

Verdun turned to face her, and through the mess of metal and green glowing orbs he called eyes, she could almost see a frown.

"Lady Inquisitor, do not deny me this sight or dispute mine abilities. I would never dare harm such a machine or those whom pilot it. By will of the omnisiah, I have always researched these glorious mechanisms, but only now do I not only see them in battle, but one right before me as well."

Viola frowned herself.

"Well, is this why you decided to come down here? Didn't I tell you to remain on the Crusader King?"

Verdun hissed as his mechanisms moved underneath his red robes.

"Do not test me, Inquisitor. Few can resist the inquiry that is common among all Techpriest's when it comes to the grand machines of the Omnisiah."

From the first Knight, the one that had the most guns on its chassis, with a stark white, silver and black scheme, rung out as its pilot spoke.

"I am High Lord Reginal of House Valor. It is nice to meet you in person, Inquisitor. This is Lord Hektor, who has just recent joined our house. We do require a Techpriest to perform the rights of removal, so that we may exit our armor. If your tech priest has been trained in such tradition."

Verdun's servo arms shot to action as he bowed.

"I have studied long the traditions and rituals associated with the Imperial Knights. Trust me, I am more than adequate to perform these rights, and I would be honored if you allow me."

The Knight responded swiftly.

"Very well, you may begin."

At that, the Techpriest set to work as he moved his way to the top of the first Knight and began to interface with its machine Spirit through one of the ports on its hull. Viola had no desire to sit through such ritual and decided she would best see if they had escaped the surface yet, and then order the exterminatus.

While that was taken care of, Reginal finally opened up the vox transmission that was frantically sent by Varus. What followed was a loud sigh of relief.

"High Lord! You yet live. I am glad to know you are good and well."

Reginal smiled.

"Yes, so am I. At least now I can continue my service to House Valor."

Varus took a deep breath.

"I am proud to report that every knight survived the battle, and only several received major damage. It was a successful endeavor all in all. Currently, myself and the other nobles are preparing for the arrival of our new subjects. Of course, we will be sure to scan them thoroughly of any disease, and our knights have gone under intensive cleaning since our arrival back on the ship."

Reginal was proud of his court, for they truly did exemplary work in the gaze of the Emperor on this day.

"That is good. I am proud in all of us. Continue the good work Varus. And I must also report that the freeblade who had helped me in battle has decided to join our house. I have already accepted him within our ranks."

Varus seemed taken back at first, but he knew full and well the valor that the Freeblade had shown when they rushed to his lords aide. Still, such an honor was one he would make sure the Freeblade would not waste.

"I am sure he will be a welcomed addition to our ranks, High Lord."

Reginal knew his decision to invite a freeblade from another house could cause conflict, but he would never revoke his word once given. Regardless, Lord Hektor offered something that was vital to the continuation of any Noble House.

"He is a Knight Preceptor, and as you know Varus, such are rare in these times. None of us are fully equipped to train and prepare new knights, let alone Armigars, and so he is invaluable to us. He has earned my respect on the field of war, and I hope you all can respect him as well. I do not ask you completely accept him immediately, but I ask that you welcome him as a fellow Knight and as a noble befitting those of House Valor. He will train the next generation of Knights after us, after all."

Varus smiled, humbled by his lords words, and so he beat his chest once.

"Very well, if it is what you wish for Lord Reginal. Then we shall."

"Good, then I shall contact you again if anything changes here. I expect the same to be done on your end. Thank you Varus."

At that the transmission ended, and Reginal took a deep breath. He had grown tired, and though the battle exhilarated him, it had still taken its toll on him. The rights of removal to get out of his knight usually took several hours, and so, he decided it was finally time to get some rest.