Decided to pour in more motivation in the chapter, because I finally got Kuki, Candace and Venti on my roster and later Pirate Mom Beidou! In addition, the Acquaint Fates I brought using Starglitter from those pulls, I ended up with Jean coming home too, so not a bad October so far!
I'm thinking of giving Vergil his own unique Devil Arms in the story. But we'll see how that flows. Maybe someone from the likes of Osial.
Finally, character tags are now updated on the Genshin section!
Man, more than 400 favorites and 500 follows? This is the highest I have that is not a reaction fic.
ScarredPunLover: Hmm...I think I understand what you're trying to say here. His characterization here is the result of the manga Visions of V, where he is fleshed out more thoroughly.
One of the forgotten aspects regarding Vergil when people think about him outside his desire for power and being the opposite of Dante, is his code of honor and nobility. He is not incapable of doing the right thing nor interact with others that he thought were below him, and that he is exploring a new viewpoint of things around him, which he had self-reflections every now and then. As he is both perceptive and interested in the new world around him, he recognizes the need to know more of the world around him and of people who could show him that, like how V recognized that he needed help too because of his Familiars when he initially rejected the boy on helping his mother in the manga. Regarding his defeat by Nero, Vergil would recognize that he still lost because it was still a match nonetheless, and Nero had proven himself against him through his motivation and power and of his own abrassiveness rather than losing to his weakened form, which is why he was proud of him.
I personally don't think he would smirk or threaten anyone just because they annoyed him that much to assert his superiority, because that would be against his own maturity as a person and of his own character development in Visions of V. He's not that petty or arrogant as he was in DMC3 (A headcanon of mine is that being tortured by Mundus for a decade and having his ego taken away humbled him). One of the reasons I could think off is that he's also being a little careful at his decision making after all that he went through, which is why V and Griffon are brought back to keep him in line. He also accepts requests from others because it served a purpose for him in the world of Teyvat, and he would definitely reject those that didn't.
Of course, he's certainly isn't a saint just because of Visions of V, that's for sure. And also because...he's Vergil. Very capable of being ruthless, brutal and efficient if things really become an inconvenience or an annoyance for him or had met his ire. And removing those would remove his entire character entirely.
I want to characterize him as someone whose personality is beyond his cold, distant and power-hungry behavior, which is why I use his experiences as V during the Visions of V manga, which is a definite must-read and of the abridged DMC Timeline video at Youtube, where it shows more character than I initially perceived of him.
And believe it or not, Vergil likely had a Dante-side of him given his taunt in DMC5, so it's suffice to say that he also had a Whacky Woohoo Pizza man inside him that he kept in private. And also, for my part admittedly, having him just solve things quickly because they are 'too easy' for him is a bit boring, despite the fact that he could and would. And they didn't really use any leverage against him, because in Vergil's perspective, this would suit him in the long run just fine as a means to learn more which is why he accepted.
Mr. Haziq: Durrin's heart will have a role in the future, but I'm not gonna say what would it be. And I imagine Vergil slowly eating a chicken leg of a Sweet Madame while Griffon watched, offended.
Kritical K: They are similar but I'm not going to spoil what kind of dynamic they would have. And yes, I very much intend to have Vergil attend certain events and some of the character story quests in the Traveler's place.
Mobzill: I'm still debating at that. Whether or not I could have Vergil summon V's Familiars or not.
Zetazero246: Arclechinno...we still haven't known the extent of her personality. But I could imagine her interactions with Vergil would remind me of Batman and Talia Al-Ghul.
Hellsink Bathhall: I wouldn't say Juri Han level crazy. Nero has got to get his chipper side somewhere, so I imagine Nero's mother to be caring and kindhearted while having that chipper and carefree attitude that Vergil found it annoying at first but warmed up to her overtime.
Chapter 9: First Day, Part 1
It was another bright day at Mondstadt. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the children were playing at the city square.
For the average person living in the City of Freedom, it was a wonderful time to be alive.
"Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!"
A hand groggily reached out to a tiny desk next to a bed, trying to find the alarm clock to shut it down and return to sleep. It only felt the soft wooden flat surface of the table, and frustration promptly took over as he slammed his fist over it, causing a small crack to form as a result when he learned as to where the source of the racket had come from.
Will you cut that out, you insolent bird?!
The 'beeping' stopped as Vergil opened his eyes against the glimmering sunlight that went through the window. "Rise and shine, Chief!" , Griffon annnounced into his master's head, his loud voice almost having the tone of a megaphone in Vergil's head. "We got a long day ahead of us!"
If it involves hearing your voice at dawn then I'd prefer to be deaf, Vergil retorted, staring at the ceiling with a frown. And I am more than capable of waking up ahead of schedule.
"Aw come on, Chief! Least I can do is help with anything else if I'm not getting out of here!", the Familiar whined, causing the swordsman to gruff at his antics. "Not to mention, we got Dandelion Tights waiting for you at the office. Could recall how jumpy she was when you got something to tell her"
The swordsman rolled his eyes, remembering the shock and eagerness that she displayed when he came bearing the news that he will be working for her for a short period. She accepted his terms of him working as a freelancer for the Knights and she called upon the 'maid' of the order to lead Vergil into the quarters that he would be using in the duration of his term.
Which is convenient as he spent almost all his nights sleeping outside. Not that it had proven any concern to him.
He decided to get off the bed. Orange sunlight filtered in through the window: the sun was just dawning on a new day. He stretched, then turned and looked at the bed he had slept in. To spare any trouble for the hardworking maid, he spent the next few minutes folding his sheets and fixing his bed.
He was savy of his surroundings, and one of the differences that distinguished himself from his brother, is that he observed cleanliness in his surroundings. And he could not recall a single day that Dante ever cleaned their room when they still lived outside Redgrave City, despite their mother's attempts to get that into his head.
And he probably doesn't need to imagine what Dante's office even looked like, knowing full well of his lifestyle. Or that he already saw it firsthand through V.
He opened the windows of his quarters, feeling a breeze of wind coming through him as he looked outside. All around the city, the people were out and about, moving with energy and a sense of purpose as they open their shops for the day. After all, this was the usual norm in the city of freedom that the swordsman grew familiar with.
He took a deep breath, mentally writing down his assignments for the day. Jean had given him a breakdown as to what he would do on the duration of his stay, and said tasks were no concern of him to say the least.
His assignments ranged from patrolling, ensure the safety of trade routes around Mondstadt, deliveries, and other menial tasks that he found to be almost laughable given his own prowess. For a man who had been synonymous for his desire for power, he found his work to be almost insulting. Although this would somehow prove to be convenient in preparation for a journey down south at Liyue.
"Having second thoughts, Chief?", Griffon sensed his keeper's inner dialogue within him. "I know you're not really excited of all of this, but it's good to speak what it's on your mind. Shouldn't be that hard for starters"
Not as quite as having to blend in within human society, Vergil responded to the Familiar, sinking into his mental mirage as he sat back on his bed, contemplating until a question rang in his head. Had Dante and I switched places, what do you think he would do or think about all of this?
"Well, Chief...", Griffon trailed off, humming as he thought of a good answer for the swordsman. "From what I know about Dante for the short time that we had with him, I think he'd take the job if it pays well for him if his offfice was anything to come by. Other than that, he'd probably use his time to mingle with just about anyone here. Probably unlike you here"
Hmph. His brother had always been known to been open to just about anyone like himself. As a man who rarely took things seriously, Vergil had always found it annoying that everything seemed to be so easy for his younger brother in circumstances, though it disinterested the Devil Hunter in the long term.
Another feature that distinguished the twins was Dante's love for humanity, which enabled him to form a circle of trust, human and demon alike that helped one another in staving off formidable foes like Mundus, Argosax, Sanctus, and so on.
Whereas the elder twin barely learned to aptly tolerate humanity over harboring disdainful views of their inferiority. Forming a circle of trust would not be an option by this time.
First off would be the acting Grand Master. While having a degree of respect towards her and the feeling was probably mutual between the two of them, he quickly surmised that her obligations lie to Mondstadt alone. And it wouldn't help the fact that she questioned his background with caution and anxiety as if he were an outsider seeking the city's downfall.
He couldn't really blame her though, not when he met one of her men in an unfriendly manner when he first met her.
There was the so-called 'Sister'. It was tempting to put a mirage blade or two towards the sarcastic excuse of a nun when she proved her insolence for more than one occasion, but that would be too petty for him. Not to mention the unnecessary attention that he'll get himself into if he did despite knowing that he could easily clear them out like vermin.
She is more of an Inquisitor and possibly an assassin from his point of view. He'll need to constantly shift his movements for her to even track him which should be impossible.
The eyepatched captain is likely that he needed to keep an eye on. He sounded too friendly to begin with. Like foxes, he could be sly and perhaps resourceful in knowing anyone that interested him. Perhaps a threat or two would force him to back off.
The red archer...Amber was it? Intimidation would help in silencing her or at least keep her away from his radar. But too much would probably make her frantic around him, so he will need another method in somehow clearing the ode between them. Preferably in a civil manner.
There is Klee...does he even need to be wary of her? She is only a child with a penchant of explosives and aspiring pyromaniac. Which means that is the only thing that he needed to be careful of regarding her.
Finally, there is Lisa. Sharing Dante's interests when it comes to enjoying the smallest things in life while having a lack of interest in certain subjects. The woman was crafty, resourceful and even cunning.
And yet despite his reservations, he was going to do work on their behalf. Which is unheard of him depending who asked. Of course, he could easily reject whatever requests they ask of him. It is without reason, as it would serve a purpose that would help him in knowing more about the world before him.
Knock! Knock!
Vergil's ears perked up upon hearing a newfound guest on his doorway. Putting back his coat and putting on the fluffy silk slippers that were stored in the closet, he opened the door to reveal a gray-haired girl wearing an outfit that is a blend of both a knight and of a maid, looking up to him given her shorter stature.
"Good morning, Mr. Vergil", the maid greeted, performing a curtsy as a sign of both courtesy and hospitality. "I would like to inform you that breakfast is ready at the mess hall. Is there anything else that you need?"
"None at all", he said, accepting the maid's diligence of her work. "I'll be heading over shortly"
Noelle slightly bowed her head in response, before closing the door behind her. Vergil breathed out, switching his slippers with his boots before glancing at the open window before him.
It's going to be a long day for him.
He walked over to the wardrobe mirror, checking himself in his reflection. It was pleasing to go back to hygiene after decades in fighting in the Underworld, after a shower and a brush of his teeth. As per the norm, he swept back his silver hair as usual, a trait he made as a means to distinguish himself from his brother. He looked at his reflection more keenly, taking notice of how he looked and of the age that surrounded him.
If he is referring to his actual age, he would technically be 43 like Dante. But based on how he looked depending on whose point of view, he could be passed over in his late twenties or at least entering thirty.
And he had a less than appealing theory to that when he thought over it from time to time.
Following his descent and torture in the Underworld at nineteen, Mundus encased him into a suit of armor that symbolized the individual becoming one of his dreaded weapons, Nelo Angelo . At the duration of being in the armor of nine years, he effectively ceased aging as if the demonic power of Machiavelli's creation froze his overall growth, though it caused his body to degrade due to its power and of the injuries he sustained.
Following Mundus' defeat at Dante's hand, Vergil could recall the ounces of freewill being returned to him as the Demon King's power that imbued the Angelo armor being eroded piece by piece. It was certainly not a pleasant feeling after being freed, and it felt as if he was walking in a corridor of infernal flames or a frozen tundra simultaneously until the last fragments of the Angelo armor holding him altogether had fallen off from his body.
It was at this moment, where his body began to fall apart rapidly.
Apparently with great pain, followed great fortune in his time of peril.
At the offset of the battle between Nero and Dante against the Order of the Sword, one of Fortuna's artificial Hell Gates provided the deteriorating elder twin of a way out of the Underworld at last, exiting the Hell Gate just before Dante destroyed the rest of them for good.
But with his perilous streak, they and the Yamato could not detect him due to his badly damaged body that could barely hold him together. And he settled in trying to survive until his first inadverdent meeting with Nero.
We all know what happened after that.
Following his 'rebirth', his body was restored to the way it was prior to being outfitted with the armor of Nelo Angelo. Hence, as to the way he looked in the present.
Vergil pinched the bridge of his nose, asking to himself as to why he bothered even trying to recall something so trivial as that. What's done is done, and he had to move forward.
The swordsman closed the door behind him, locking it with the key given to him just for good measure. He headed downstairs and walked down the corridor, he drew more than a few glances from a few guards and a few murmurs in the process.
Before long, word spread among the knights that a man in black will be assisting them. Thus, by the time he reached the mess hall, it was in a state of murmurs, debating whether or not a 'mercenary', would be able to assist them.
They were no concern of him. Unless they wish to stand in his way.
He ignored the looks they gave him, and proceeded to pick out his breakfast. He settled for fried eggs, fisherman's toast, two strips of bacon and a cup of coffee, all of which were good enough for him.
Once he was finished, he searched for a place to sit down. It seemed that the recruits and personnel were free to use any of the tables laid out in the hall.
He spotted Lisa one of the tables, and the Librarian waved her hand at him to join them. Beside her was the Acting Grand Master herself, who looked like she hadn't slept herself judging by her eye bags that that she had. Seeing an empty chair next to them, he decided to make his way over.
As he sat down, the acting Grand Master greeted him, smiling slightly. "Good morning, Vergil. I trust that you're well rested with the accomodations provided?"
"It is sufficient as they are quite adequate," the swordsman admitted, adding a small sugar cube into his coffee. "I trust that I could say the same for both of you?"
"Oh, of course I have", Lisa affirmed to him, then glancing at Jean. "But sadly Dandelion dearest here chose to do overtime, yet again.
"You know I have to finish the rest of yesterday's paperwork, Lisa", the blond groaned, rubbbing both her eyes with her palms, before turning her attention to the swordsman. "Have you read the booklet I gave you yesterday?"
"I have", Vergil confirmed, taking a bite out of the fried eggs. "Though I am inclined to know as to what am I up against"
"You will be assisting Captain Hertha in conducting training sessions", she said. "Their session will begin in thirty minutes, and I hope that you are well prepared for it"
Jean remembered the look on Vergil's face when he'd first told him he'd may be serving as an instructor here. She had felt the same way when Varka gave her such tasks before receiving the appointment as acting leader of the order.
It was the look of an experienced warrior who had some doubt of their abilities to guide others. But Vergil here did not show any visible doubt, simply the same stoicism of getting his work done all the same.
As Acting Grand Master, Jean had to make up with what she had in ensuring Mondstadt's continued security, and saw that outside aid would be of great help in maintaining the current status quo, especially if they had someone as skilled as Vergil here. Even with his temporary occupation as a staff member, his aid would prove beneficial in the long term depending on the circumstances. Along with the very unlikely chance that, he may even decide to become a permanent member of the Knights of Favonius.
With Master Varka taking most of the elites in an expedition, she needed Vergil for his prowess and of his own experience, so he could aid the rest of the knights in confronting the likes of the Abyss Order, who had been staging frequeny attacks on Favonius patrols and civilians. His temporary job was a way to get to know him a bit further, and to understand what were his motivations on the first place.
Especially on how he had given off an almost otherwordly aura when she sputtered questions regarding his background.
He remained relaxed, maintaining the collected aura as he usually did. "I'll see on what I could do," he replied, before taking a bite of his food. "Although I have to say my methods would be...different than the norm"
It made Jean to worry at that. Captain Hertha could barely train the new recruits due to her own obligations in the logistics team, Kaeya had his own work as a spymaster under the guise of a cavalry captain though he occasionally assisted, Albedo had his hands full on Dragonspine, and Eula had less-than obvious reasons as to why she was away from the city.
Because on how she knew the swordsman as of now, all she could think off is that his methods won't be too forgiving. Not by a long shot.
"Well, if it works for you, then I wouldn't mind seeing how it would work for aspiring members of the knights", Lisa's voice piped in between them, taking a sip of her tea and glancing to the acting Grand Master. "Surely it wouldn't be a problem, Jean?"
"Ah...no. It wouldn't", the blond replied, asking herself whether or not it would be a problem or not. "But is it possible that you...to take it lightly with them?"
Vergil looked up at her, putting down his mug as he did. "That I cannot promise", he simply said, continuing to eat his meal in peace.
"Settle down, everyone." The calm voice one of Hertha carried over the crowd of voices from all the recruits and personnel speaking to one another became silent, the recruits following a moment later out of wary confusion.
"We will be having a new session to introduce you to our new staff member who will be assisting the Knights with training you for various combat situations", the Captain of the Logistics team hailed over to the crowd as she stood before them. "And I expect you to treat him with the respect that you would offer to any other member of the staff"
Hertha turned her head around, seeing the patch of silver in the distance and motioned him to come over. The crowd of recruits and personnel watched as a tall man with silver hair with a black and blue apparel approached them with a calm and dignified manner, holding a scabbard with his own weapon. It was apparent that almost all of them had no idea who this man was as they never saw him before.
But it was obvious that he had a job to do. Not when his stoic visage also gave off a uncanny aura that none of them could explain. He stopped as soon as he stood next to Captain Hertha, who then stepped forward to acquaint the man in front of them.
"May I introduce you to Vergil.", she gestured towards the man, who strapped his sheathed weapon on his side as he looked at every individual with keen observation. "He will be assisting me in conducting combat and training routines for both aspiring and current members of the Knights of Favonius"
The crowd, consisting of both young men and women, eyed the man with both curiousity and caution. Some took notice of his stoic manners as a show of discipline and professionalism.
"Combat instructor...", Griffon spoke as the swordsman walked over to the courtyard where recruits and current members of the Knights of Favonius gathered for their routine exercises. "Sure you could handle them, Chief?"
I would prefer crushing a thousand demons over instructing a group of so-called warriors, Vergil replied to the Familiar, continuing his observation on the group. And I doubt most of them had any actual combat experience outside the city.
"You're telling me!", Griffon commented at his keeper's assumptions. "I mean look at them. You can tell the lack of consistency of these guys! Some look so scrawny that you can't tell if he could even lift his weapon. Some looked like straight up fatasses who could barely even run! It's crazy that these guys are actual knights"
For the swordsman, that meant turning them into proper warriors. As he passed them by, he noted the presence of numerous weapons alongside several practice dummies riddled with marks from different weapons used.
They have the idea, but inadequate in numerous purposes.
It had been a long time since Vergil had trained his body. As a teenager, he subjected himself in countless hours of hard training to increase his physical capabilities while engaging in self-taught sessions in using the Yamato and his power as well as having to fight Mundus' lackeys from time to time. As his physical abilities had grown, no human equipment or training were able to handle his already-superhuman strength and speed, which is why he had to settle in using lesser and pathetic demons as his 'sparring partners' while continuing his search for absolute power.
As for combat, he could proudly say to himself that the only person capable of matching him was Dante, with Nero having the capability to keep up with him and he had spent much of his time trapped in the Underworld training with Dante once the Qlipoth's roots were severed.
And of course, he had to maintain a sense secrecy, though it probably won't last. Here on the world of Teyvat, humans are capable of having superhuman and elemental abilities, which is why Vergil had been interested in the first place.
The crowd in front of him were purely human, and he could see as to why Jean had advised him to take lightly with them.
But then, there is no such thing as taking it easy when it comes to real combat.
We'll have to get this over with for another assignment that is worth my time, Vergil sighed, and saw that Captain Hertha was finished with her introductions. "Thank you, Captain Hertha. As she mentioned earlier, I will be assisting you in honing your overall prowess if you wish to defend Mondstadt"
A few whispers were heard, and Vergil huffed in boredom. "Now, according to the guidelines given, I am to spend two hours in this session for pointers. With that in mind, we will use the early hours in the morning honing your prowess, which is why we all go forward on our first lesson, or a recap of what you know."
Among the crowd, a brunette trainee with her hair tied to a ponytail raised her hand.
"May we know as to what are going to do on our first session?"
The swordsman lightly gripped his sheathed weapon, giving them the gist on what they are up against. "Simple, you all have to begin by besting me in combat"
"Umm… you're kidding right?", one of them asked.
"I am not," their proctor flatly said without hesitation.
"Uh, sir… you may be an instructor, but don't you think it's a bit too much to try and fight all twenty five us?", one of the existing personnel, a slightly larger one at that, questioned.
"That does not concern me, at all" Vergil waved off their objections. "It is rather simple: come at me at the best you have. I will need to know what you are all capable off"
Vergil narrowed his eyes, fully expecting of their less than enthusiastic reaction. He had to change tactics at this one. "Very well, if none of you would like to volunteer. The I would refer to the acting Grand Master to have your training be held at Dragonspine. A little cold may prove motivating in fighting on difficult conditions "
As expected, the disbelief turned to protest and disbelief. Then perhaps teachers are right in provoking students in doing what they are made to do through worded threats.
Silence followed, and Vergil waited for the response as uncertainty shrouded them. It wasn't until one of them stood up, and was followed by a few others as they stood in the opposite side as the swordsman. "Then I suppose we have a few volunteers. If so, then we can begin our session in earnest"
The five of them picked out their weapons from a nearby rack. Vergil observed as he found himself face to face against a swordsman, a lancer, a claymore wielder and a mace user accompanied with a shield. All five of them went to a fighting stance as he stood crossing his arms.
"Aren't you going to use your weapon, old man?", one of them questioned their proctor in disbelief as he releashed his grip from the Yamato.
In response, the man extended his hand with an open palm. A rectangular light formed in the middle, taking shape of a lengthy, pointed object with a handle on one side. It was metalic, as if it was crafted by a skilled silversmith, and it was an object befitting those that belonged to the higher hiearchy like the old aristocracy.
"Getting in touch with your inner V, eh?", Griffon joked as he saw what the man now held in his hand that left the others aghast.
It was a cane to be exact. To the bewilderment of everyone attending the session.
"Now...", the swordsman's calm voice hailed over to the audience like a tidal wave, putting down the cane as he rested both his hands on top of its handle. "Shall we begin?"
"You're gonna fight using a stick?"
"Anything could be a weapon if used effectively", he simply said, flipping the cane by the pointy edge and catching it by the collar, extending his arm to point the cane's handle towards his adversary. "Surely your confidence would prove otherwise?"
With that said, they charged right at him.
"Vergil, may you explain as to why several new recruits were sent to the Church of Favonius with multiple bruises and with some having minor concussions?"
Said man sat crosslegged in her office as Jean covered her face with her palm, having to face inevitable paperwork regarding this morning's training session. "I was simply teaching them the aspect of knowing their enemy and the importance of observation in combat"
The acting Grand Master suppressed the urge to wail in dismay. "I understand what you're trying to tell them, but I've told you to take them lightly..."
"It was that or have them expect that the enemy would do the same for them, which certainly won't", he flatly said without hesitation. "And I have gathered enough data to assess as to what is in need of practice"
Vergil made a mental note to ask Captain Hertha for adjustments in their training routines. They need fit warriors who are capable in answering the call of duty, not militia men that made a poor emulation fo an actual knight.
Jean sighed, deciding to let this slide once. She figured that it that this could be the first time he had a mentorship role. "What do you think, Vergil?"
The swordsman cleared his throat. "They certainly needed improvement in their usage of weaponry, increased exercises, and actual combat experience other than just patrolling the city", Vergil gave out his report. "Though may I suggest that the next training session will be held in Springvale where I could properly oversaw their training should I be appointed as their proctor"
He was being generous at that one, because if he desired to be straightfoward with the acting Grand Master, he would have simply told her that most of those who attended his session are nothing less than poor excuses for a group of knights. "But for the sake of those who attended, then I will try and practice moderation in their combat sessions"
"Yeah, right...", Griffon suddenly spoke up, along with a humm of agreement from V. Both agreed that he went a bit too far in showing the 'realism' of combat.
"I will look forward of you keeping your word, Vergil", Jean sighed, pulling out one of the reports that were handed over to her. "There is another assignment outside Mondstadt that requests the presence of the Knights of Favonius at Springvale. Outrider Amber is sent to investigate, but given the nature of the attacks, she may need some help in finding out on whose responsible"
Jean handed over the report to the swordsman, to which he gave his time in reading the report. "How long has this been happening?"
"Roughly a few weeks", Jean replied. "Evidence suggest that wolves had been the ones staging these attacks, but we haven't received any trail linking any involvement from them"
Vergil hummed for a moment, finding the assignment to be much more engaging than the last one. While normally not having any sense of adventure, this one may be even be worthwhile of his first day.
"Very well", Vergil said, standing up from his seat. "I'll see to it that this will be resolved as soon as possible"
He walked towards the door, glancing over at Jean as she began to work on the mountain of papework. "And do not worry about Outrider Amber. I will keep an eye on her"
Hearing that from him was somewhat worrying, noting Amber's history with him. "Please, do"
She didn't know whether or not she could place her faith with him this time. But this is what she asked for, and she decided to keep up with him for the time being. And she watched as he finally left the door and then headquarters.
Combat training with a bunch of wanna-be Knights: Check.
Spectre: Part 2 is coming up soon. Ain't dead yet!
