Once through the gates, Sylvie's excitement was palpable as she cheered and hugged herself. "Oh my God! I'm finally here at the Warlord Initiation. I've waited so long to join my big sis!" Caught in her own bubble, she seemed momentarily zoned out. Haru considered slipping away to explore on his own but decided against it. If this was indeed a competition, gleaning more information from her could prove invaluable.
As they ventured deeper, Haru was struck by the festive atmosphere. Vendors lined every corner, peddling an assortment of goods ranging from potions and magical items to weapons and equipment.
Haru took it all in. It's almost like the conventions and festivals from my world. Surprised I don't see anyone cosplaying as furry animals. He laughed to himself at his own joke. Sylvie noticed his amusement and mistook it for wide-eyed wonder.
"First time in the capital, huh? Well, you're probably wondering about all the vendors? Lucky for you, you've got me! Someone smart, resourceful, beautiful, and adorable," she boasted. Haru couldn't help but think, Yep… she's got a screw loose in the head.
She continued, her voice animated. "As you know, the Warlord Initiation only happens once every four years." Haru recalled his mother mentioning this. "We're not the only kingdom to hold such an event; however, we attract the most talent. Warriors from other kingdoms, having failed their own initiations, often try their luck here."
Haru looked at her, confused. "But wouldn't that mean the Warlord Initiation here is lesser? If they can't pass their own but pass here?"
Sylvie understood his confusion and wasn't offended. "No. The Initiation here has no background requirement. If you pass the challenge, you pass. In other places, people who aren't nobility, the poor or even those who are slightly less educated, may not even be given a chance, no matter how strong they are."
Haru immediately saw why they only held it once every four years. If they did it annually, there would ge too few participants. This seemed like the most efficient way to gather maximum talent with the least amount of effort while ensuring not to overlap with other Kingdoms initiations.
Taking in the scene, Haru stored every detail as potentially critical information. He had much to learn about how these kingdoms operated. "Yeah, my dad is a Warlord," he said casually, gauging Sylvie's reaction. He needed to know if there was a difference in how Warlords viewed others.
"Oh? That's cool. What guild?"
Crap.
He hadn't thought that far and realized he didn't know. "I'm not sure. I kind of never really paid attention," he said, lying casually. If he made something up, she might ask more questions. But to his surprise, she didn't.
"Oh? A bit weird, but not unheard of, I suppose. Oh, look! See that tall, brown-skinned fellow over there with the tattoos?" Sylvie pointed to a man surrounded by three robust figures in expensive robes. The man, bald and adorned with earrings in both ears, seemed momentarily annoyed before his gaze fell upon Haru. Haru didn't look away. After a brief stare down, the man gave a subtle nod, one of mutual acknowledgment.
"He's intimidating, right?" Sylvie said with a smile. "If I'm not mistaken, he's a prince from the Algoro Kingdom. I'm not sure why, but they sent him here for the Initiation."
Sylvie's depth of knowledge surprised Haru. Interesting… The way she said that, it seems the Algoro Kingdom is of similar standing and not on bad terms with Mordell. He made a mental note to get a map in the near future or at least find a cartographer.
"How do you know so much about all this? Is it because of your sister?" Haru asked, curiosity taking over.
Her pride swelled visibly. "Well, my sister, Danity, is a member and ranked sixth in the Vanguard," she said, her tone suggesting she had revealed something incredibly important.
"Uh… what's the Vanguard?" Haru asked, nervously scratching his face, suddenly feeling out of his depth.
The shock on Sylvie's face was immediate. "How do you not know about the Vanguard?! And your dad's a Warlord? Wow, you must really live in the sticks… or he must've been a deserter or something."
Haru's expression turned cold instantly. "You don't know anything about my father," he said, his voice firm. "My dad has been searching for a cure to save my life. He's no deserter or whatever you just suggested."
"Okay, geez, sorry," Sylvie backpedaled quickly, realizing she had struck a nerve. "It's just… it's not uncommon for some Warlords to desert their families after achieving their title. Some even view their old family status as beneath them and start new ones. Ya know…and you're taking the Initiation?! Never mind, I'm getting off track." Sylvie decided it was best to stop before she dug herself into a deeper hole.
"The Vanguard is the kingdom's elite force, composed of ten members who are the strongest Warlords," she explained. "Being a Vanguard member is no joke—it grants them status beyond their guild and access to tons of resources. Their number usually reflects their rank within the group."
Haru slowly pieced things together, especially in light of the earlier altercation. It seemed likely that Gram's brother was also a Vanguard member. He's likely just ranked lower than Sylvie's sister.
"But it doesn't make sense," Haru said, frowning. "Why would your family serve his?"
Sylvie looked away, lost in thought before replying, "In this kingdom, while social status, financial backing, and family history all play a big part… one thing can override them." She glanced back at him, her tone quieter now.
"The only thing that truly holds weight among Warlords… is power."