Knight Ichor

- — ☯ — -

A sword rested next to Leonardo's neck, but it was not the dull blade that made him uncomfortable. It was the numerous glances piercing into his back as he knelt before the king.

It had been about a week since his trip to Naples, during which he stayed with the duke and tried to cover the loopholes in his story. This morning, the butler brought him a new outfit, as it was time for the audience. Before long, he was swept into the carriage and brought into the castle.

"We owe much to the young man in this room. Thanks to his inquisitive spirit and upright mind, a cure was made available for many of you and your offspring."

"God blessed with health in our time of need, and so we shall cherish his messenger."

Leonardo smiled, more than happy to offload credit to God if that's what it took to remove the gaze of the clergy. Sadly, the bishop in attendance continued to study him rather closely, much to his chagrin.

Perhaps he was too self conscious or overstated the dangers, but Leonardo wanted nothing to do with the church of this period.

Having read history, he knew just how prone they were to lashing out against those who stepped on their interests. From commoners to kings, they could burn anyone at the stake if 'God wills it'.

The king finally finished his tedious speech, and Leonardo's went through his accolade vows with feigned enthusiasm.

"Leonardo Ichor, I hereby knight thee into the Honorable Order of Saint Lazarus… Arise Knight — and be recognized."

Applause sprang across the room as the ceremony came to an end. A few nobles came to congratulate and thank him personally, and then he was booted out of the room.

His ceremony was a brief interlude in their long day of work, and Leonardo was more than happy to skip the tiresome socializing part. He needed to keep a low profile at the moment, so he quickly departed the castle and left the grownups to their affairs.

A carriage door opened beside him just as he was about to walk off on his own.

"Sir Leonardo," a smiling face poked out of the carriage, "I can call you that now, hehe. My father will be late. Let me bring you to your estate."

Not quite sure if he could even turn the enthusiastic girl down, he shrugged and hopped in. He didn't have a ride of his own nor knew where his gifted estate was.

The king was surprisingly generous, perhaps too much so. Leonardo suspected he was goaded into it by the duke since they shared a close relationship apparently.

Along with the fully staffed house, he was issued a not so modest amount of gold to tide him for a few years. Leonardo didn't care much for the cash however, because it paled in comparison to the benefits his title would bring him.

The carriage shook its way out of the city, and they soon made it to a modest villa in the outskirts. It didn't have much land to speak of, but nonetheless had dozens of rooms and a small cherry orchard and grapevines.

Silvia enthusiastically followed him around after he greeted his staff. She seemed more pleased about the house than he was, and if one didn't know any better, they'd think it was a fresh housewife taking in the reins. It was only around dusk that she became self conscious and left, staring longingly through the carriage window as Leo saw her off.

As soon as she left, Leonardo's smile turned upside down and he walked off briskly. Writing a letter and leaving it with the head maid, he put her in charge of the estate and left her a sum of gold, then disappeared into the night.

He wasn't quite sure how the crew was managing, but felt strangely uneasy about leaving them on their own. He made haste and ran through the woods at full speed, set to reunite and leave by dawn.

Coming across a valley, he spotted a few campfires still smoldering softly. Groups of men donning black slept around them, trusting others to keep watch over them.

Stopping at the edge of a cliff, Leonardo surveyed the camp silently and soon lost himself in thought.

A non hereditary, honorary knight title. It didn't seem like much, but it meant a lot in that period. It pushed him over the gap between commoner and noble, vastly expanding his future potential and status. Perhaps most importantly, the church would have to seek the accord of the knight order he belonged to if he was to be prosecuted.

The king also dubbed him with a last name, appropriately named after his cure. Ichor — the aetherial fluid that flows through the veins of the gods. From now on, he could start a family that would be recognized in the upper class across Europe.

'An orphan no more… I guess I finally set roots in this world, huh?' Leonardo smiled in derision. He ought to be thrilled by the prospects, but all he felt was the growing threat. He already came across quite a few borderline hostile auras, and it wouldn't belong before they dug into him.

Quiet footsteps echoed by his side, but he didn't bother to turn around.

"You don't seem very happy, master?"

A lithe figure sat next to him then parted her veil to flash a sublime smile, only for her efforts to be missed entirely as Leonardo stared at the camp broodingly.

"I was just thinking," he replied, still muddleheaded and distracted, "Despite all the recognition I got, I still feel… alienated. This time doesn't welcome me. I have a noble name now, but all it got me was cold trouble…"

"You always held nobles in contempt. Now that you've become one, you're 'alienated'? Are we beneath you now, master?"

His frown easing, Leonardo looked at Sana's pitiful face and laughed at her sardonic puppy eyes.

"Cheeky girl," he pinched her face with his fingers, causing the girl to nervously recoil away with a blush, "I wonder how they'd feel knowing their lioness is acting like a little girl."

Having eased his worries, Sana smiled happily then sat back next to him. They rarely spent time together after he'd taught her magic, so she cherished moments like these. Alas, Promethean mask or not, the man remained distant, uncaring for the hearts he ensnared along the way.

This era truly did not belong to him, though. Whether because of his magic or the library from the future, he felt estranged and unmotivated most of the time. It was as if he would rather be someplace else, even though he was sure that place did not even exist yet.

Noticing that he was about to lapse back into his silent brooding, Sana probed him questions about his time with the duke and meeting the king. She distracted him quite successfully, and they spent a few hours catching up in a comfortable atmosphere.

"What are your plans now that you're knighted, master?"

"Hmm… I'll attend the university in the following years and make ties to the scions of local nobility. And since I have a title and can now legally purchase land, it's time to expand on all fronts.

"I'll set up a few businesses to keep you lot well fed, then spread agencies in other cities throughout the kingdom. Naples seems like a good start…

"But for now…" Watching the sun rise over the camp with a faint smile, he sat up and offered her a hand, "Let's just go home."

End of volume I.