Golden Cross: Chapter 2
Chapter 2. The Beginning of All Stories (2)
Eugene was in his room getting ready for his departure without anyone knowing it. He needed a lot of stuff for his trip, not only his weapons, but also many travel related equipment, as well. Personally, he had some money, and since there were plenty of supplies at the Brotherhood, there wasn’t much difficulty in securing what he needed. Knock. Knock. Knock.
Someone knocked on the door when he was in the middle of packing his things. His heart suddenly sank, worrying about getting caught with what he was doing.
“Who?”
A clear voice was heard when he cautiously asked.
“It’s me. Open the door, Eugene.”
It was the servant girl Claudia.
“Sorry, I’m kinda busy, right now?”
Her visit has always been looked forward to, but this was not a good time.
“You are going to regret if you don’t open the door now?”
Eugene was conflicted as he heard a slight angry voice. Having deliberated a little bit, he unlocked the door and opened it. As she was a loyal person, he thought that she would keep it a secret if asked.
“Uh? What is all this?”
As expected, when she entered the room, she was surprised to see a big mess on his bed. The bed looked like a corner store with all sorts of items messily laid down.
“I’m leaving.”
As Eugene gave a short response, Claudia’s eyes looked like they were asking for more explanation.
“Alright. Seat here for a second.”
He quickly removed some stuff from the bed and made room for Claudia to sit. And asking her to keep a secret, he told her his plan. After hearing Eugene’s explanation, she held his hand tightly.
“Don’t go. It’s a very dangerous journey.”
“No. I have to go.”
Claudia sighed loudly. She knew his character well.
“Right. Trying to stop you is no good. You were always like that.”
Neither Eugene nor Claudia was feeling well. They were just about to develop some interests in one another.
Claudia murmured as her face showed pain.
“OK. Just go and die. I’ll find another friend.”
“Claudia…..”
Eugene knew well that she did not mean any ill intentions. Feeling bad, Eugene gently approached her and held her hand.
“What, what is it.”
Claudia pushed Eugene away as if she was angry. But Eugene approached her again and held her in his arms. Claudia resisted initially, but then she allowed her to be held.
“Can you not go?”
“….Sorry.”
“Gosh. You.”
They spent a few warm moments like that. Then a bit later, Claudia spoke in an upbeat manner.
“Eugene, by any chance, have you ever kissed?”
Eugene was slightly embarrassed at her unexpected question. He was 16. He did not have a girl friend or even kissed before.
“No, why?”
Claudia pinched Eugene’s side lightly.
“Gosh, won’t it be too sad if you die without even having had kissed. I’ll specially give you a chance.”
“Who is dying?”
Eugene complained, but Claudia had her eyes gently closed. Her lips looked beautiful under the blinking light. Nervously, Eugene got closer to her. When her gentle breath grazed his nose and cheek, he could not help much longer.
“Ooop!”
Claudia was surprised as Eugene dashed to kiss her. However, that was only for a moment and they let their affection for each other take over.
Claudia’s soft and slippery lips excited Eugene.
“Hmm! Ah!”
Eugene was completely under the spell of his first kiss and held on to a strange feeling as they locked their lips. After they have kissed until they were both nearly out of breath, Claudia spoke first, making a slight distance. Removing the sad look from her face quickly, Claudia kissed Eugene’s cheek.
“Come back alive. Promise.”
“Yes, I promise.”
Slightly older than Eugene, Claudia had already lost a lover in a battlefield, before.
Therefore, she looked into Eugene’s eyes with great sadness. However, she couldn’t hold on forever. After giving a smile, Claudia left the room.
“May god bless you.”
After discretely preparing for his trip, Eugene departed for Wolfenbuthel a few days later. Having gotten himself well prepared, he had a genuine look of a soldier. He had on a breastplate on his chest, and a fancy hat with a feather. Having an accessory sword (Siteschwert) hoisted on his waist, and a big two-hand-held sword hanging over his shoulder, he looked exactly like a traditional double-paid mercenary. On the fourth day that he has been walking in such a fashion, Eugene was about to pass a beautiful lake, known as the ‘Tranquil Virgin’. It might have been quite boring to be walking alone for a long time, but he always looked brave and happy. It would only take two more days to Wolfenbuthel.
‘Good thing the weather has been great.’
It was in the spring of 1978, in the Holy Calendar Year, and was the tenth year of the ‘time of blooming flowers.’ As a result, spring was always clear, peaceful, and beautiful. Even now, the green lands around the lake were filled with many countless beautiful wild flowers.
Badarum. Badarum. Badarum-.
Then there came horse hooves sounds from the back. It seemed to be many horses as the ground was shaking heavily. They most likely were cavalry heading to a war. As expected, they were gun cavalry (Reiter). Those who were on horses wore breastplates, a saber on their waists, and had machine guns (Reiterei Arkebus) at the front of the saddle. There, among them, also were people wearing heavy three quarter armor, and were armed with pistols. And at the front of them was a middle aged person who was wearing an elaborate golden armor, and he stopped upon seeing Eugene.
“Whuw-whuw-.”
Eugene knew that he had some things to say to him.
So he staked the two-hand-held sword to the ground, and lowered his head after placing his hand on his chest. As the man appeared to be an aristocrat who was in a leadership position of many gun cavalry, he thought it was necessary to show respect. Seeing Eugene’s posture he nodded his head and asked.
“Is it true that following this road will lead to the city of Wolfenbuthel?”
“Yes, sir.”
The middle aged man asked much about the war after that, and Eugene replied with all he knew. Since he was in the Brotherhood, he had heard many things.
“Hm, I see. Thanks for the much information. Are you with the St. Marco Guild?”
The middle aged man knew it immediately by looking at the coat of armor that was on Eugene’s backpack.
“Hm…. You are handling that two-hand-held sword, are you already a Reiter level? I’m impressed considering your young age. Can you tell me how old you are?”
“I’m 16 years old, sir.”
“Huh!”
The middle aged man exclaimed, and the cavalry troops in his vicinity reacted in the same way. A 16 year old Reiter level was truly incredible. However, what they didn’t know was that Eugene was a provost level which was a higher level.
“By any chance, do you have a letter of introduction or recommendation?”
Perhaps, not believing Eugene’s words, the middle aged man might have wanted to verify it. Eugene took out the recommendation letter from his backpack. Although it was a forged document, it was nearly perfect as it has been made from the Brotherhood’s op center.
“It’s true…..”
When the middle aged man showed it to the cavalry troop who appeared to be a high ranked person, he looked at it for a minute and nodded.
“It is legitimate for sure. And lord.”
But since the cavalry troop’s voice was slightly shaking, the middle aged man looked at him with a surprise.
“What is it?”
“The young lad is incredible. He is a Provost, not a Reiter, sir.”
He pointed to a corner of the document as he showed it to the middle aged man.
“What, that’s unbelievable!”
At this time, the middle aged man was just in shocked amazement. The reason for the respect due to the double-paid mercenaries was the fact that they were certified Reiter level swordsmen. However, the young lad before them was a Provost. A Provost was able to even open an operation or work as a teacher to the high class aristocrat families.
“Truly, it is unbelievable.”
“Your lord has too much doubt.”
The middle aged man broke out into a guffaw upon hearing Eugene.
“What’s that? Hahahaha! You dare to speak to me in such a way. I like your audacity as well as your skill. At any rate, it’s unfortunate. I’d love to spend some more time with a swordsman like you, but I must be on my way.”
Then the middle aged man took out a handkerchief from the saddle and passed it to Eugene. It was embroidered with a fancy coat of armor. Eugene did not know much about aristocrat families, but even on the surface, he could tell, although unable to verify, that he was from a family of very high class. The best way to tell the influence and authority of an aristocrat family was to see how many drawings were on the coat of armor, and Eugene found 4 different individual drawings in the coat of armor, on the handkerchief.
“Young man. I’ll leave you now, but when you get to Wolfenbuthel, show this handkerchief and look for me. I’m Myrus Landgraf.”
Of course, he was a stature of the Landgraf.
Showing his appreciation, Eugene promised that he would.
“My lord, have a safe journey then.”
After Eugene’s parting words, Myrus Landgraf nodded and went off on his horse. The hundreds of cavalry troops followed him behind, and the vicinity of the calm lake was filled with sandy dust. When that thick dust settled, the cavalry was out of sight, as quickly as they had appeared.