Knights of Tezoth

— Hello, Jakob!

Stefania's relationships with her colleagues from Guildaria were mostly warm. And it wasn't just the respect earned by her father that played a role here, but also the respect she earned herself. She had known some of the knights since her youth, and trained side by side with others. There could be no question of any favoritism — everyone knew she gave her all and hadn't ended up in her position by chance. And so there were no problems with subordination between her and the other knights of Guildaria; she was like family to them. At least, that's what she liked to think.

— Well, you could say it's a once-in-a-lifetime sight... — although Stefania didn't lose her composure, being trapped in this cave's snare, the girl now had doubts that she and all her comrades would manage to get out of here. She wanted to believe that sooner or later they would find a way out and escape, but hope was still elusive. If only because it was unknown what calamities lay ahead.

Feeling that Jakob might have noticed her slightly depressive mood, and that now wasn't the best time for existential conversations, she changed the subject and her tone of voice:

— All in all, how are you feeling right now? Any thoughts or ideas you'd like to share?

- Hmm. I feel my hands itching to test the local inhabitants in battle, but I have a bad feeling that we might find opponents here that we couldn't have even imagined on the surface. I'm, you know, far from being of the smallest build, but I remember how that one-eyed guy talked about the sords — they're bigger and stronger than any man! Interesting, by the way, why he rejected such a generous reward and decided to stay on the surface? Perhaps he has psychological trauma from his past experience here?

Warriors of Sellaur upon seeing an archer on a pegasus with a range of 11: hmm, helplessness...

"— Or he was paid many times more by those who benefit from getting rid of Lord Adalard and his best fighters on the surface," Stefania suggested. "That one-eyed man is just strange, honestly. You know we took him and some odd young lady along to Deus's birthday party? For all the time I managed to observe him, he didn't seem to do anything out of the ordinary, yet at the same time he easily wrapped our young lord around his finger. Aldelion Grimm literally hung on his every word during their conversations. In any case, I disliked him from the start. But who are we to argue with the lord's decisions?.."

- Speaking with Lord Lyon is possible. But I think it would be better if it were not Lord Skilishue who does it. - Emilia glanced towards Elsa.

- ...

- All we need is a place here under reliable guard and a "spare" horse...

- But I still think it's better to first find out what's happening in the capital.

- If only we knew who these "both sides" are, Lord Lois...

- And what do you propose, Lady Lilen?

- I doubt an ordinary knight, even at the head of an army, could make an interesting offer, given his name and limited capabilities, - Orvald commented on the usefulness of choosing a side. - But even if there were some benefit, I wouldn't act so rashly, for tomorrow he might already be gone.

"— Or he was paid many times more by those who benefit from getting rid of Lord Adalard and his best fighters on the surface," Stefania speculated. "That one-eyed man is just strange in general. You know we took him and some strange young lady with us to Deus's birthday? In all the time I managed to observe him, he didn't seem to do anything overt, yet he easily wrapped our young master around his finger. Aldelion Grimm literally hung on his every word during their conversations. Honestly, I didn't like him from the start. But who are we to argue with the master's decisions?.."

- Ha-hah! The young master's situation is quite tragic. Having met with misunderstanding in the eyes of those around him, especially those close to him, he was surely waiting for someone he could open up to and chat with without filters, so it's no wonder that such a neutral person in his life fulfilled that role for him. With all due respect to His Genius, he made a mistake in raising his son - discipline without love yields no good fruit.

"Let's all just be friends," Ivonaday suggested. "Why is it so difficult?"

Well, Alsira did everything she could...