After five days in the infirmary, Dom and Dae were finally discharged, leaving a now-conscious but still healing Sam behind.
A week later, the Formal Induction Ceremony introduced the 22 new Magic Knights. As part of Academy clearance, each recruit had to submit a formal request to join a Knight Division, with at least two second choices.
Disclaimer: The Southland's first Magic Knights consisted of only eight mages whose power was unmatched and feared across the Great Land, earning them the title of Monarchs. After the Peace Treaty, the Royal Council expanded the Knights, creating eight divisions, each captained by a Monarch and vice-captained by the Monarch's right-hand or descendant, known as the Monarch Successor. Over time, multiple subdivisions were added under each division, each with its own captain and vice-captain.
Back in Dom and Dae's room, midday sunlight spilled across the table. Dae stared at his request form, lost in thought.
"What division are you applying for?" he asked, swiveling in his chair toward Dom, who was confidently filling out his form on a messy bed.
"Third, obviously," Dom replied, reaching for one of the three pastries beside him.
"Let me guess… because of Tony?" Dae asked, his tone tinged with sarcasm.
Dom glared through a mouthful of food, then pointed the bitten pastry at Dae. "Hey, I believed you when you said you were related to a Monarch… so why can't you believe me?"
"Because at least my claim has some foundation," Dae said, shaking his head. "Other than your words, can you prove you actually met him?"
"You'll see when we meet again," Dom said, checking his completed form.
Dae sighed, picking up his pen. "Fine… I guess I'll apply for the third division too."
Dom smirked. "What happened to us being in the same division?" he teased.
"As much as it gives me a headache, I'll follow you," Dae replied without looking up.
Dom frowned, curious. "Why?"
Dae paused. "Years ago, I asked my grandfather how he became the strongest swordsman. He said the biggest reason was that he followed Ethan Maximus, the Mage Emperor—someone with a savior complex."
"A what?" Dom asked, confused.
"Someone stupid enough to risk their life to save others," Dae clarified, shooting him a judgmental look.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Dom said with a grin.
Dae rolled his eyes. "…He believed that the heavens constantly test the genuineness of that nature, sending difficult situations that inevitably helped his team grow into the legends we know now."
Dom frowned. "So basically, I'm destined to suffer?"
Dae smirked. "Don't tell me you're scared, future greatest knight?"
"Not a chance," Dom replied.
Dae nodded, returning to his form. "The only problem now is we'll likely be in separate subdivisions to spread out forces."
"Not if I make my own," Dom said, standing.
Dae laughed, then stopped, noticing Dom's serious expression. "Oh… you're serious?"
"The Emperor created the first knight squad, right? If I want to surpass him, I need my own badass team," Dom said, walking to his table.
"Dom," Dae said, shaking his head. "The third division already has sixteen subdivisions. To make a new one, you need clearance from the Head Captain, Royal Knight Commander, and the Royal Council. Plus, the captain must be an A-class mage with five years' field experience. You're… severely under-qualified."
"Not if you're friends with a Monarch," Dom said confidently.
Dae pinched his nose. "Not this again."
Dom patted Dae's shoulder. "You said you'd follow me, right? So when I get my own team, you're my vice-captain."
"Fine," Dae said, amused. "If you somehow get your own division before the year ends, I'll not only be your vice-captain, but I'll do your laundry for a month."
"Deal," Dom said, grinning.
After submitting their forms, both recruits waited. A week later, they were accepted to all divisions they applied for—but their choice was obvious. Packing their belongings, they said goodbye to the Academy and departed for the third division headquarters, a day's journey west of the Capital.
The base was a massive three-story fortress, less intricate than the Capital's buildings but still formidable. Dom and Dae were allowed a short rest before a tour of the facility.
Dae examined his new official uniform—a black slim-fit shirt, trousers, and boots adorned with blue patterns.
Dom, on the other hand, replaced his shirt with a dark-blue hoodie, modified to display the same dragon and number 3 logo.
"You're supposed to wear the uniform," Dae said, brushing his hair.
"Relax. Miss Sandra said most knights don't even wear theirs," Dom replied, lacing white sneakers.
Dae glared. "Then why have a uniform at all?"
"Quit with the formalities," Dom sighed.
Before Dae could get another word in, the door swung open.
"Good. You're ready," a deep voice announced as a man stepped into the room.
Dom's grin widened instantly, while Dae's face flushed with embarrassment.
The man stood an imposing 6'4", light-skinned and powerfully built. His uniform shirt hung open, revealing a chiseled, hairy chest and abs, with a bold dragon tattoo etched across his torso. His pants were swapped for grey shorts, and his boots replaced with black sandals.
Red hair, slicked back in a punk undercut, framed his face, while piercings on his left eyebrow and nose added to his edgy appearance. Dark sunglasses partially concealed striking pine-green eyes.
"Let's go," he said, his voice resonating deep and commanding, before exiting the room without another word.
Dom patted Dae's shoulder, smirking. "Told you so."
Dae merely shrugged, prompting Dom to scoff and laugh at his friend's deadpan reaction.
During their tour of the base, they explored training halls, dormitories, the cafeteria, medical facilities, and other essential areas. But more than the facilities, it was the man leading them who left a lasting impression—Jasper Garfield, the S-class Captain of the First Sub-division.
His presence alone radiated authority, confidence, and a dangerous charisma that left both recruits in awe.
Jasper sat on a barstool at the base's central parlor—a place where weary soldiers of so-called justice came to drink themselves into oblivion, leaving their worries behind. He lit the cigar in his mouth, letting the smoke curl over the two sheets of paper in his hand.
"Now that you know your way around, I'll tell you about your subdivisions," he said, looking between the two recruits. "Dae, you're—"
"Actually, I want to make my own subdivision," Dom cut in confidently.
The room went silent. Jasper, along with the nearby knights, froze, staring at him in disbelief.
Dae slapped his forehead, groaning, while Jasper's eyes narrowed at Dom as he set the papers on the bar.
"Listen, kid," Jasper said, voice firm and authoritative. "I don't know what they taught you at the academy, but you're still a rookie. Things may seem casual here…" He gestured toward a drunken knight slumped at the far end of the room. "…but there's still a system to respect."
Dom held Jasper's gaze with equal seriousness. "I know. I only said that because Tony promised to help me years ago."
Jasper raised a brow. "Tony?"
The surrounding knights burst into laughter.
"Did this kid seriously just call the boss Tony?" one of them snickered.
"Who does he think he is?" another added, chuckling.
Dae grabbed Dom's arm, a mix of shame and frustration on his face. "That's enough. You're embarrassing yourself."
Dom shook him off and stepped closer to Jasper, his expression unwavering. "I know it sounds crazy… but just tell Tony I'm here. He'll understand."
The serious tone in his voice only made the knights laugh harder, some even clutching their sides.
But while Dom confidently talked about his subdivision and Tony's promise, Jasper's attention drifted to a faint detail he'd almost forgotten. The white hair, the tilt of his head, the same hopeful grin… It's uncanny. Jasper's hand twitched toward his shades as recognition slowly crept in.
"Dominic…" Jasper said, lifting his shades fully, his green eyes narrowing in disbelief.
Dom tilted his head, curious.
"You're that kid," Jasper muttered, his voice low.
Dom's eyes widened as well. "I remember you," Dom said, a grin spreading across his face. The red-haired knight… the one who thought smoking made him look cool.
Jasper laughed. "When Tony said you'd be coming here one day, I thought he was full of shit." He suddenly frowned. "Damn… that means I owe him half a million bucks now." He glared at Dom. "Great job, kid."
Dom rubbed the back of his neck, laughing. "Sorry."
Meanwhile, Dae and the other knights remained silent, shocked at the sudden shift in Jasper's demeanor.
"Well, kid," Jasper continued, picking up the papers again, "knowing that guy, I'm sure he'll keep his promise. But there are still other requirements for your proposal to go through. Unfortunately, Tony's out on a job, so for now, you'll have to join your allocated subdivisions."
Dom's smile faltered. "Okay,"
Jasper glanced at the papers. "Dae, you'll be in my sub-division. Dominic, you go to subdivision four. You know where they are, right?"
Both Dom and Dae nodded, though Dae's reaction was stiff, almost robotic, still in shock.
"Then… that's all for now. I'll get back to you about your proposal as soon as I can," Jasper added, standing with a grunt.
"Thanks, Jasper," Dom said.
Jasper smiled, putting his shades back on. "Don't mention it. Welcome to the knights." He bumped Dom's shoulder and left.
"What the hell just happened?" one of the knights muttered, and Dom turned to them with a cocky grin.
A few hours later, evening descended on the base. In the Head Vice-Captain's office, a man with a familiar scarred face sighed, closing the door behind him.
He removed his hat, revealing short black hair streaked with grey. Despite signs of age on his pale skin, he still exuded a fresh, sharp presence. His fancy white jacket came off, exposing a buttoned-up black corporate shirt beneath.
A few loud knocks interrupted the quiet. The door swung open to reveal Jasper, smirking as always.
"Roy… wondered when you'd be back," he said, closing the door.
Roy Micheal, the division's Head Vice-Captain, exhaled, settling at his meticulously organized desk cluttered with documents. "I've barely even sat down," he grumbled. "What do you want?"
Jasper approached casually. "Come on. We've worked together for years. Can't I just stop by to say hi?"
"No," Roy snapped, reaching for a half-bottle of wine on the side table. As he pours, a chilly mist escapes the once-lukewarm liquid, fogging the glass.
Jasper sat across from him, smoke curling from his cigar.
Roy coughed. "How many times have I told you to stop smoking that in here?"
"Relax. I'll be quick." Jasper dropped two familiar papers on the desk.
Roy picked them up, eyes scanning the recruits. "These are our new knights, right?"
"Doesn't one of them look familiar?" Jasper asked.
Roy narrowed his eyes, then froze as his gaze landed on Dom. First the white hair… then the face. Recognition hit him like a bolt.
"It's that boy," Roy muttered. "I personally approved his request, and I didn't even recognize him."
Jasper exhaled a plume of smoke. "Looks like he's not that little weak kid anymore."
Roy flipped through Dom's paper thoroughly. "Seems so… Tony was right." He frowned. "I owe him a lot of money now."
Jasper gave him a sympathetic nod.
"Anyway, that's why I came," Jasper said, pointing at the papers with his cigar. "The kid wants his own subdivision."
Roy groaned. "Doesn't he know what it takes to make one?"
Jasper shrugged. "He does… but because a certain someone made a promise all those years ago…"
Roy tightened his grip on his glass, frost forming around it as memories of Anthony's promise surfaced. "That guy…" he mutters.
Jasper leaned back, eyes on the ceiling, exhaling smoke. "So… what do you say?"
Roy sighed, setting the frozen glass down. "Unfortunately, it's not up to me," he said, opening a desk drawer. "And knowing that old man, I already know what he'll say."
Jasper laughed as Roy searched the drawer, eventually pulling out a familiar communication device. He activated it, infusing his arctic-blue mana into the mirror, causing it to ripple like water.
Almost a minute later, a blurry figure formed on the screen.
"Yo, Roy. Didn't expect a call," Anthony's voice echoed, drawing Jasper's attention.
"And I wasn't planning to. How was the mission?" Roy asked, trying to discern the shadowy figure.
"Not bad," Anthony replies. The image shifted to a distant building engulfed in flames. "Finished a while ago. Just enjoying the view."
Roy set the device down. "Good work, but can you at least report back like a proper commander? You're setting a bad example."
Anthony scoffed. "No need to be so stuck-up. So what's the problem? Did Jasper screw up again?"
"Nobody's perfect, boss. Not even you," Jasper said with a grin.
Anthony laughed.
"It's about our two recruits," Roy said, serious now.
"Oh yeah… You said they were the best in Academy history. Looks like we've got some real geniuses," Anthony remarked.
"Well, one of them is that boy from the Cannibal Job," Roy added.
Silence.
Anthony didn't respond, leaving Jasper and Roy exchanging puzzled looks—until his loud laugh shattered the quiet.
"Tony?" Roy asked, intrigued.
"He's finally here, huh?" Anthony said, amused.
"And not only that… he's requesting his own sub-division," Jasper said, sitting up.
"Is that right?" Anthony laughed again.
Roy rubbed his forehead. "Seriously, barely joined and already giving us more paperwork?"
Jasper chuckled. "We always attract troublemakers. Must be because of you, Boss."
Anthony laughed again. "I'm beginning to think that too."
Jasper leaned closer to the screen. "So? You gonna approve?"
Through the shadowy image, Jasper caught Anthony's red-glowing eyes staring directly at him.
"I did promise him, didn't I?" Anthony said.
Jasper glanced at Roy, who sighed heavily.
"Of course you did," Roy muttered.
Anthony laughed, and Roy got up. "But even with your approval, he still needs the Acting Commander and Council's approval," he added, opening a folder.
Jasper smirked. "Well, knowing the Commander, he'll go along with anything Tony says. The problem will be the Council."
"Especially for someone like him," Roy said, pulling out another folder, darkening Jasper's expression.
"Just request the Commander. Leave the Council to me," Anthony said.
Jasper smirked. "You're threatening them again, aren't you?"
Anthony chuckled."Anyway, done here. I'll appeal myself and handle the paperwork later," he added.
Roy groaned. "You mean I'll do the paperwork while you drink yourself into a stupor."
Anthony chuckled as the call ended.
"Now go. You're making the room stuffy," Roy said, glaring at Jasper.
Jasper exhaled, smirking. "You know what you need? To get laid, man. Relieve the stress." He notices Roy's deadly glare. "Okay, okay. I'm going." He chuckled as he left, while Roy began making arrangements.