First Meetings [Open]

[Apprentice Will]

"Wah! E-Excuse me!" cried a shrill voice as a young child weaved himself in and out of the crowds of people walking through the square, occasionally accidentally bumping into people, which was always without fail followed by a hasty, if frightened, apology for his mistake. From those who detested being bumped into by this clumsy child, there was only a sneer for him. From those who were a little more kind-hearted, he earned more odd looks. As he tried to maneuver his way amongst the crowd, his face was now beginning to bead with sweat. He was getting flustered being amongst these crowds of people, which to some would beg the question of why he was out amongst these people in the first place. Moreover, it also brought in to question why someone so shy and flustered would be carrying around a wooden sword. Indeed, at his hip was a wooden sword, a sign of his following of the knights and his apprenticeship to them. He was certainly of an athletic build, but the simple shyness that oozed out from him could make someone seriously doubt he could ever really be one.

"Ah... Ah..." he breathed a little heavily, having been rushing his way through the town for the past thirty minutes. Though he had good stamina, the non-stop running had been a little tiring. Sighing, he stopped by a wall at the edge of the square and leaned back against it, staring out across the crowds of people moving in and out of the square. The kid was a lean figure, though most could mistake him for being very scrawny and his poor clothes, a stained rag-like short-sleeved shirt and dark, dusty trousers made it seem as though he wasn't the kind who got fed regularly, though in reality these were just his only clothes. He didn't have money to buy clothes and any money he did get he usually spent on food, or paying for damages to property he accidentally caused, or paying for new wooden practice swords, or anything else of the sort. He didn't get paid often either, so it wasn't like he had much to begin with. Luckily, the knight trainers provided food for them at the barracks, meaning he didn't have to pay for them.

What stood out the most was his bright red hair, short and somewhat neat save for his jagged ends and mostly brushed away from his pale white face, while his eyes were an azure color. His face was currently red, his cheeks mostly, flustered from the close proximity to everyone around him as he moved through the square. He'd come here because he was on his way back after having been off to pay for the new wooden sword he wore with his rope-like belt, after the last one had been accidentally broken the other day. Sighing, he tensely and nervously stood away from the wall, having recovered his breath, and proceeded into the crowds, moving amongst them easily enough until he ended up tripping over a shoelace and, as a result, he suddenly and accidentally, flung himself forwards. He managed to catch himself before falling, but he ended up bumping straight into someone full force by mistake in the process. On instinct, he raised his arms defensively and cried "S-Sorry!".

[templier90]

[ooc: I was sick lately, sorry for the late post]


"What is the situation on the North, Almaric?"
"Catastrophic, sire. Aragon take over another castle with the help of the rebels."
"No doubt that there will be another war is going erupted in this land."

Balian and his right-hand man Almaric calmly walks down the stone stairs, they just finished their meeting with other barons and nobles. The lands of Astale was in chaos as Aragon, the exiled prince is return from outlands and ready to take what is his. Since after the crusade in Eastern Province, Balian already had his hands full on his duty as a baron, mostly about banking, manufacturing, import and export, they are not easy tasks for the young baron.

This village was different than in Florino, a small town where Balian is the lord of the town, a peaceful town where the elite Florin Knights are stationed. It's been few years that he didn't participate in conflicts, Balian like it that way as he already had enough blood on his hands and his sword since after the brutal crusade in Eastern Province. Almaric, is his advisor and veteran crusader who fought alongside with Balian's father and now, he is with the heir of Florin.

"Well, before that we wil-"

A young boy bumped into Balian and he was fall down onto the ground, an impact. Balian gets up as he was supported by Almaric, who is helping the young baron get onto his feet. "Are you all right, sire? How dare you made such act towards to the baron of Florin, boy?!" Almaric was in anger and yelled at the boy, he was apologized for the accident but Balian knows Almaric was over-protective over the baron. "It's all right, Almaric. He just a boy, not a Sarranidstan assassin."

"...Yes my lord." the veteran knight bow down before Balian, the young baron turn his attention towards to the boy. "Are you all right? Forgive Almaric, he was.... moodswing today."

[Apprentice Will]

Will shrunk back immediately after he had bumped into the man, though despite shutting his eyes and expecting the inevitable, he allowed himself to peek through one eye, only to regret it - he'd just bumped into someone who looked to be very, very important and now, having bumped into him, one of the men at his side now stepped forwards and started on the young boy, frightening him into shutting his eyes closed again. At once he shouted at the young boy for his mistake and informed him quite quickly of the depths of what he'd done - Apparently, in his foolish mistake, Will had stumbled onto the path of the Baron of Florin and knocked him down. Will paled as he heard the title. He'd just knocked into a Baron! Someone of incredibly high rank, far beyond what he would ever be. He was just some kid from a poor family, who happened to be training as a knight. He was like dirt on this man's shoe, so to bump into him so rudely like this was nothing short of disrespectful. He began to shake and quietly stepped back, but beyond an inch or two he couldn't move, scared stiff.

However, any form of punishment, whether a stern lecture or a strike, never came. Instead, a calm voice told the man to stand down and blinking, Will lowered the arms he had raised defensively in fear of being hit, only to stare as the man who had shouted at him now bowed to the Baron, who seemed to not mind the offense Will had committed at all. Now Will was frozen to the spot in confusion and caution - confusion as he hadn't expected this kind of treatment at all and caution for fear something else might happen instead. But nonetheless, the Baron didn't seem to show any signs of annoyance with him and instead he actually proceeded to ask if he himself was alright or not. Will stared, completely dumbfounded as he tried to form a coherent sentence, but the words wouldn't come out of his mouth just yet. Even more baffling still, this Baron even proceeded to apologize for the man's shouting at him, stating that he was merely in a bad mood of sorts. Will blinked again, caught off guard by this behavior.

"I... I'm f-fine, thank you Baron, sir" he responded nervously, before realizing his place and suddenly bowing down on one knee to the man. "I-I apologize, both for bumping into you... A-and for forgetting to bow before, Baron sir. I was just... I mean..." he fumbled up a little as he tried to get the right words out, but he really just felt tongue-tied at the moment trying to explain himself. He just hoped the Baron would forgive him, but given how nicely the Baron had treated him despite his mistake, a small part of him seemed to think that this Baron wasn't as fearsome as he'd been expecting him to be.

[templier90]

"That is not necessary, young one." Balian help the young boy to raised up from his bow, and pats onto his shoulder. This boy reminds the young baron of himself in his younger days; youthful-minded, foolhardy, and naive when he was a squire under the elven crusader Farian. This boy was too nervous and afraid because Balian was a baron, and many people too but not the townsfolk and villagers in Florino, who were loved and supported him as a benevolent baron in the town. "There is not to be afraid of me, young one, even a baron like me used to be like you when I was in your age."

Balian saw a wooden sword in the young boy's inventory, no doubt he's a squire under an anonymous knight. "Are you a squire? What's your name? And who is your knight?" Balian asked the young squire with a gentle smile across his face. Almaric, bows down before Balian for a moment. "Sire, I have an important matters to finished before we head back to Florino. Can you wait for me, my lord?" Almaric was waiting for Balian's answer. "Of course my friend, I'll be waiting for you in the inn where we stayed." the veteran crusader bows again before the young baron and leave behind both Balian and the young squire.

"Well, young knight. I've seen a great potential in your eyes, and there's no doubt that you will become a chivalrous knight in the service of Astale one day. As a grandmaster of Florin Red-Crossed Knights, I would like you to join the order." Florin Red-Crossed Knights, are a group of brave, chivalrous and selfless elite knights who are stationed in Florino. They are notable for their participation in the Crusade of Eastern Province and feared for their prowess and combat.