[center] [color=gold] [h1] Maria von Hohenzollern [img] http://i.imgur.com/mHxQYPc.jpg [/img] [/h1] [/color] [/center] [center] [color=gold] [h2] Royal Capital Lugnica Iron Bell Knights HQ Maria’s Room [/h2] [/color] [/center] [@ADamnFiddle] [@6slyboy6] [@Heckno12] [@KoL] Maria was a bit surprised at the statements from both Cheiko and Ryan. Itr seemed to come out of left field. [color=gold] “Joining the Knights is a commitment. To protect the people against both civil and outside disputes. To give yourself to fighting against the cult of the witch and to protect the internal sovereignty of the people. And the only way to join a Knightly order is through recommendation or through having noble blood. It just so happens that I am one of those nobles” [/color] Knights were born, not raised, for the most part. Although all military capable nobles were Knights, there were other such ways to join such as proving one's martial ability. And even so, there were hierarchies within the knights less akin to modern military ranks and more akin to given role based on the influence of a family. Though any peasant can be drafted to be a “soldier”, the position of the Knight was a more permanent military organization. [color=gold] “However, there are exceptions for those who are skilled. After all, the Knights have been looking for talent. As a family of the sword, I have the ability to teach the Hohenzollern style to those wishing to better themselves. The sword is not something to hurt someone, but to protect those you wish to protect,” [/color] Maria said, taking out her sword and holding it as if a delicate thing within her hand. Maria seemed to have an attraction with the sword, but rather as a weapon, it seemed to be something akin to a child holding a stuffed animal than a knight brandishing a weapon. Maria was someone trained with the sword from a young age. Her father, though not her biological father, had high expectations of his adopted daughter to take the reigns as the master of the Hohenzollern household after he stepped down. The pressure of becoming the leader of a Knightly house was something that Maria had always understood was her goal. To eventually surpass her father’s swordsmanship would be that goal. She was also no slacker with the sword, her father’s skill surpassed her own. But even so, Maria knew that one day, with the luck of her birth’s blessings, she would eventually surpass this man whose skill comes solely from the blade and his combat understanding. [color=gold] “If you wish to become an understudy under me, then I shall consider you potential knights until you either reach a level I could consider you as knights, or if you do not believe you are up to the challenge, drop from the apprenticeship. Even if the sword is not your discipline, there exists basic ideals and strengths that a knight must possess” [/color] To become a knight was to give your all to your liege, something that many individuals didn’t understand during the current era of knights. Respect to those who have given you your position was something lost. However, even so, Maria would try her best to reform the system to ensure everyone was happy, as idealistic as that might sound. [color=gold] “I believe I have sorted out any issues. One of my knights also found your bag and coin purse, I believe, so they shall be giving you your belongings back as well Mr. Grian. Hopefully you can make peace with Cheika over here. I do not believe either of you intended for the current situation to end up this way.” [/color] Maria seemed to recognize the man’s voice at the very least, but could not for4 the life of her place it on any knight she knew. Perhaps it was just a coincidence that the man had a voice she seemed to remember. It could have just been her imagination or perhaps the fact he sounded similar to someone she had heard before. [color=gold] “Now, as for the evidence room, I can take you there personally. You seem familiar. Perhaps he had met sometime prior?” [/color] Perhaps Maria would have given the “Knight?” a view of the evidence room. Perhaps something like this were to have happened. However, the unfortunate event that a certain “other” individual was waiting in the lobby, and that a knight on patrol was to give notice of this to Maria, happened to occur. “Who is this?” The member of the Iron Bell Knights asked the helmeted “knight?”, wondering his identity. [color=gold] “He is a reinforcement sent from the capital. We needed new blood in our ranks, remember? He claims that there are more to be sent.” [/color] “But we were denied our request yet again for any new members.” [color=gold] “Is that so? Then who might you be? I ask of you as your commander, remove your helmet so I may see your face.” [/color] Perhaps this wasn’t going to be as easy for Jiru as he had first expected.