I wonder how this could happen...

Up until two days ago, I was living a comfortable life in the countryside, and then, a single decision changed everything.

Before I knew it, I was on the battlefield, fighting for my life, and earned myself a knighthood from Uther, something that was considered to be inconceivable, especially when I'm only eight years old and not officially a squire.

And just as I expected, some oppositions emerged from the ministers and soldiers alike but they were quickly shut down by Uther himself.

But still, I can understand why they would be upset or mad for this. I've once heard that in the Middle Age, knighthood was considered a class of lower nobility, so if it's the same right now, then I can see why the ministers would be upset about a child like me becoming a noble.

And as for the soldiers who made up the bulk of those who complained, it was mainly because it downplayed their own efforts to acquire the title.

In order to be granted knighthood, one had to be trained to become one by becoming an attendant to a lord or a knight at the age of seven, then a squire at the age of fourteen before being granted the honored title of knight after years of training.

So, the fact that I received the title by just fighting only once on the battlefield, and for the first time to say the least, without going through the many years required before that wasn't well received by them.

However…

"If you all aren't happy with this, then fight with the young boy. If any of you manage to win against him, I'll take my words back and cancel his knighthood. I'll even grant you all a weapon from the castle's armory as a reward as well, should you manage to best him."

Those were Uther's words he uttered to his soldiers who all decided to bare their fangs at me, leading me to be surrounded by a group of them in the castle's training grounds.

Seriously, how did I end up in this situation?

"Don't take it too badly, brat, but we all believe that you don't merit that knighthood."

"Yeah! Just because you're Sir Ector's kid doesn't mean that you can go and get a head start on us!"

I wonder if this situation can be resolved peacefully, I'm not really in the mood to fight... Let's try to be civil and polite with them first, yeah, like a perfect gentleman.

"You are indeed correct, sirs, as I don't feel like I'm ready for such a heavy title for I am still inexperienced. The king must have made the wrong decision."

"You brat! Are you implying that our king is a fool, is that it?!"

Why are you getting angrier? And how did you come to that conclusion?

"No, you are misunderstanding, sir. I'm only saying that I am not qualified to be a knight."

"Of course you aren't!"

"There's no way that a runt like you could be the same as the likes of us!"

"They said that you killed the most of everybody but the truth is that you simply waited and stole the glory of others out there, admit it!"

As I heard them shouting over and over, I barely managed to suppress myself from letting out a sigh and simply closed my eyes.

So much for trying to be polite. To be said, I'm a little disappointed, both at them for not willing to listen to me but also at myself for not being eloquent enough to calm them down.

I thought that since I have [Communication Talent, I would be able to read the mood and be able to find the right words to calm them down, but it seems the opposite happened. Now that I think about it, the perk did say that I could also find the right words to say for ill too. Maybe I unconsciously went for this...

But still, here I thought that knights were supposed to be chivalrous and educated, not that... childish? I know I'm the last person who should be thinking this, but they sure are immature...? Why did they stop yelling?

I opened my eyes and looked around to see all the soldiers staring at me with wide eyes, as if shocked.

"...Immature, you say?"

Oh... Did I think out loud?

"You damn brat!" Hearing someone shout from my right, I glanced to see a soldier running in my direction, his arm raised.

Slow...

With a sigh, just as he tried to punch me while rushing over, I swiftly dodged his blow before grabbing his arm and made a perfect judo shoulder throw.

Shit, I did it...

Seeing the guard lying on the ground by my feet, I couldn't help but smile awkwardly before I slowly shook my head.

He attacked me so this is self-defense, I'm not in the wrong.

"Tony!" I saw two soldiers running to check on their companion who was wincing in pain before they settled on glaring at me, along with the other guards in the surroundings.

"You bastard! Do you really think you'll get away with this?!"

You know what, fuck this shit.

"I deeply apologize for defending myself from this boor who couldn't keep his anger to himself. And here I thought we could all talk calmly like adults, but it seems that you weren't capable of such a simple thing." I said, looking around me to see some of them gritting their teeth at my words, seemingly taking them badly.

"Do you remember his lordship's words, if you have a problem with me becoming a knight, then you should try to beat me? Then why don't you try it? At least, for adults such as yourselves, it should be easy to beat a child like me, isn't it? Or perhaps yelling insults at me is the only thing you are capable of doing? Fine by me, whether you people are incompetent isn't my problem. You all only have yourselves to blame for that. But if you do have the courage to step up, come forth."

Saying this, I brought up one of my hands and mentioned them to come at me, all while wearing a smile on my face.

"I'll take you guys on, whether it's in hand to hand or with a weapon. So, why don't you come and show me your worth, if you feel courageous enough that is."

And just like that, hell was brought up in the courtyard as I saw nearly all the guards jumping at me, making me burst out laughing as I took a stance and prepared myself to duke it out.

Meanwhile, from a certain room in the castle, a young woman was watching over the scene happening in the courtyard where she saw Kay take down each of the guards that came after him one by one.

"I take it you took an interest in him, Vivian?"

Looking behind her to see Merlin who approached her with a mischevious smile on her face, the young woman simply closed her eyes she looked back at the courtyard with a melancholic gaze.

"I'm simply thinking about that young boy, Kay. I kept wondering how a child his age could be so connected to nature, but I can't find the answer to that question."

"Ufufu. He certainly is mysterious, a pit of Mystery itself that nobody can explain."

"Isn't that why you took interest in that boy?" She said shaking of her head before she turned to Merlin who was gazing fondly at Kay, leaning over the window. "But tell me, Merlin. Why did you decide to prioritize this child over Uther's heir? You must know that ending the Age of God is our main task, so that our history can continue on living, don't you."

"I know, I know, you don't have to tell me. But you see, if I had to say why, it would be for... three reasons, I suppose. The first one is that he's the most interesting puzzle I have seen in my life, even more than that child I helped create, and I can't wait to solve it. The second one is that I feel Kay possess something unusual, if not out of the world, in him. I don't know what but I feel it deep in myself that there is something different about him. And because of that hunch, I'm pretty sure that I'll be able to see or experience stuff I never dreamed of. Just thinking about it, I feel excited!" Merlin said as she looked at Vivian with bright eyes filled with joy, which rather worried the young woman.

"And as for the third one?"

"Oh, the last one... Well, it's about the problem you once talked me about, Vivian... or should I say, o' child who was born from the planet Divided Spirit of the Earth's soul?" Merlin said, surprising Vivian for a moment before a frown appeared on her face.

"You don't mean..."

"Yes. I believe that Kay is the key the World needs so that humanity leave this planet, their home, in order to reach out for new ones in the stars."