Chapter 9: The Youngest Junior Knight

My junior knight certificate came today. We celebrate it, and Father throws a party for people in our town. This year was a good one; I became a junior knight at the age of 12, the youngest ever recorded in Nekalma Federation history.

Town harvest and trade are booming with a good season, and the Duchy of Laburtia is finally out of its civil wars and has started trading with the Nekalma Federation again. Our town of Sushak is located near the border and on the main road. My father recently won a war while helping the Duchy of Laburtia quell its rebellions. He received the town of Abatham in Laburtia to be integrated into the Nekalma Federation, as the elves who lived there are the same as our tribe.

“Are you ready to go enter the Junior Knight Championships at Kerak Miyuki?” My father asked.

“I’m ready, Father,” I answered.

“I’m not.” My mother replied. “She’s a girl. She should stay at home and get married already.”

“No, I don’t want it,” I said. “No boys are interested in me. They are afraid their ego will be shattered by my strength.”

“I’m not permitting my daughter to marry yet. I want her to be a legendary knight like her ancestor, Yoshio the Brave.” My father replied.

They engaged in a heated debate about this. I’m doing my best to support my father. In the end, we gave in to our mother's demand. I countered with my demand. “I demand a dueling competition. Whoever can defeat me, I will marry him.”

“But that’s not possible! You already defeated all noble sons here!” Mother countered.

“Erm, it seems I came at a bad time. There’s a letter for Miyuki.” Uncle Tennioji put a letter on our table. “Now, excuse me. You can continue the debate! Sorry for the interruption!”

Uncle Tennioji runs away. My mother picks it up. “From who? Sender listed as Taka Hiyahide Magro, the Wandering Healer.”

My mood goes up hearing Taka's name again. “Give it to me! It’s a private letter! Don’t open it, Mother!”

“I’ll give it if you explain who he is.” Mother said and crossed her arms. My father demands the same things.

“Well, he’s kind of like my boyfriend now.” I clearly said. I must lie where I meet him. I can't tell them that I came from Earth. My father and mother are just NPCs here. “We first met when I helped and rescued his family from being raided by goblin riders.”

“Hmmmm, as your mother, I will read it anyway.” Mother said, And open it, Her face blushed when she read it. “Right, it was a love letter.”

“Bring him here. I want to see his face.” Mother said and put my letters back.

“Me too. Elf from the Magro tribe? That was rare, seeing them back into Federation lands, not roaming on Eturuks Plains or Mishtar Empire Desert.” Father said. “I’m kind of curious about what men are interested in our daughters.”

I take the letters and go inside my room to read them. It’s really from Taka, right? Finally, I can meet him again! That boy is choosing to be born into a nomadic tribe because I know that he loves going on an adventure. While I’m stuck here with my parents.

To my dearest.

I hope this letter finds you safe, beneath clear skies and warm sunrises. It’s been a year since I saw your face, and not a day has passed without me thinking about you. I’ve been wandering for a long time. The road has been very long; danger lurks at every corner, and death is always near. The memory of your touch and smiles lights my way. When the night comes, the memories of us together keep me warm.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Right now, I meet Dr. Leona in Sarigig. When I ask Dr. Leona about you, she knows you well. If you are the Miyuki that I love. I write something that only the real Miyuki knows. And I also collect a lot of money!

I heard from her that you are going to enter the Junior Knight Championships at Kerak. Let’s meet there, and find me. Let’s meet in person when we are there.

Sincerely, your beloved Taka.

I smell something from the letters. I took my candle and read the hidden message. The hidden message appears. “If you can read this, you’re real, Miyuki, big sis! Yeaay, I can meet my master again! I miss your touch already, master! There’s a girl called Noa who keeps pushing me to love her. I don’t like it since I’m exclusively yours.”

Silly Taka, I kept his letter in my drawer and went out to help my father persuade my mother again. Finally, my mother gave in, but I must bring Taka to meet my mother. Tomorrow my father and I will go to Kerak, and I will register myself for the championships.

At dinner time, my father and mother interrogated me about Taka. And why did I never tell them that I already have a boyfriend? “Maybe because he’s just a boy from nomadic tribes? The boys that Father and Mother bring to meet me are always a noble or some wealthy merchant. The social status difference made me not want to tell you.”

“If you know Miyuki. Magro tribes are the original members of the Nekalma Federation; they belong to 12 tribes that settled first in this land. Before our tribes, the city elf came here and founded a settlement.” Mother explained.

“They are also known as the strongest magic supporters on our earth. Because of that, they have always been hunted by humans and the other races and enslaved to forcefully be their supporters.” Father continued. “There are gruesome things about what the other races do to them.”

“It will be a great responsibility if you want to have a husband from the Magro tribe. They believe that their magic is only for helping others. They can't protect themself; that's why at the recent federation meetings. We decided to protect their tribes at all costs.”

“Their populations are also dwindling low, I recall. They are hated by the Orthodox Elf Tribe that lives inside the forest, just like us Elves who live in cities.” Father explained again. “Only 6 tribes of elves want to protect the Magro, and the rest hate them.”

“Really? The other tribes hate them because they didn't want to use their magic as an offensive weapon?” I asked.

“Right, and because their way of life is very different from ours.” Mother answered. “I bet he’s a cute one since their tribe is famous for having a cute face. After meeting with him at Kerak and winning the championships. Please bring him back here, okay?”

“Sure,” I replied.

The next morning, my father and I are ready to go to the capital. We both take our horses to go there. Father will also be attending a meeting between the lord of the town and the head of our Karasuma tribe.

“Are you excited to go to the capital for the first time?” My father asked.

“Yes!” I said. “Moreover, I’m nervous about meeting again with my boyfriend.”

We departed in the morning; it still takes two days to get there. My father took two other junior knights in our Ordo to go with us. One of them is Ralph, an elf from Laburtia.

“Are the rumors true that you have a boyfriend?” Ralph said.

“Yes,” I answered. This guy—I already rejected him 4 times. He still has the guts to try to get closer to me. “Sorry to break your heart. Now just go with my father and leave me alone.”

Ralph respects my wishes and is moving closer to my father. We meet a merchant who’s crying next to his slain family. Our group stopped and asked him why.

“Hey traveler, what happened to you?” My father said after dismounting.

“The bandits took everything. My wife was stolen, my baby they killed, and my eldest son was captured.” The human merchant guy answered.

“Do you know where they go?” My father asked. “You see their races? Elf or humans?

“I don’t know.” He said. “They used body armor that resembled a soldier’s.”

“Mercenaries? Are they deserters from the Holy Eturuks' Army from recent wars, Father?” I said.

“Might be them. But there’s no report of any deserters here. Ralph and Henry, go do a quick scouting.”

“Yes, Grandmaster.” Ralph and Henry replied. They departed to do some scouting. My father and I are using our first aid kit to help the human merchants.

“Thanks, Mr. Knight.” The humans said.

“Hey, if you need a shelter. Please come to my town; here, show this to the guard at the gates.” My father rips a paper from his books and writes shelter permits on it. “You can stay in our town indefinitely until you can get back on your feet again. From here, just follow the main road and you will see our town.”

“Much thanks, Mr. Knight.”

Ralph and Henry are back; Ralph dismounted and reported to my father. While Henry just stands guard. The culprit must be some deserters from Eturuk's army in the failed siege of Sarigig Border Fortress. Since we are already taking care of bandit problems in our area.