Raphael Earhart
– Keep it. I don't need that, – the Sengrim knight said flatly, though without hostility. – I'll take them under protection until the mission concludes. After that… act as you see fit.
– Thank you.
Of course, he didn't need it. For a Sengrim knight, accepting a "reward" from a younger son of the family wouldn't be seen as honor—it would feel like a slap to the face. Formally, we both bore the crest of the House and carried certain status. But in practice… things were different. The Order of Sengrim was one of the most revered branches of our lineage—second only to the Knights of the Circle.
To them, honor wasn't just a word—it lived in every movement of their blade. Accepting a handout from a "young noble" would be akin to conceding defeat in battle—without ever drawing their sword.
– Then we're finished here, – the knight said as he turned his head with businesslike precision. – You're free to go. The rest… is our responsibility now.
