10 Kneel

"Kneel before Captain Audric of the 4th Infantry Legion!" the soldier shouted.

'Our gear is really attracting some unwanted attention.'

'I feel like this is going to be bad.' Connor thought as he sighed inwardly.

After his words, he saw that Connor and Miles didn't even move a muscle. This angered him greatly, he started walking at Connor, intending to force him to kneel.

As the soldier approached, Miles quickly unslung his rifle and pointed it towards the approaching soldier.

*clink*

Although most may not know what that sound was, Connor knew it. It was the safety of Miles' rifle turning off.

"Stop right there!" Miles yelled at the soldier.

Startled, the 'magic wand' was being pointed at him, the soldier could not continue his steps, he stopped midway between his commander and the duo.

'Miles... I just wanted to earn some money and gather information...' Connor thought as he sighed and put his right hand on his forehead.

As the 'debate' between parties hit a stalemate, Miles turned at Connor and spoke with a clear voice.

"Commander! You can't let yourself being insulted!", Connor had told Miles to keep a low profile and only fight back when necessary.

'Commander? What rank is this kid?' Audric started to think, he was angry at his subordinate who acted on his own.

'Kneel... kneel... huh.' Connor was thinking about something just before a grim smile formed on his face.

"Miles." Connor said as he slightly turned his face towards him.

"Sir!" Miles replied.

With a small motion of his left hand, Connor pointed at the left knee of the soldier who was standing between them and the two other soldiers.

"Knee."

"Understood!" Miles said before a loud bang covered the entire lobby. Some of the bystanders instinctively covered their ears.

Audric and his lieutenant only saw a bright flash coming out of the magic wand. They were flabbergasted at the scene they are witnessing.

Few seconds after the loud bang, sounds of armour hitting the floor was heard. The soldier was kneeling on his right leg while holding his left knee, trying to stop the blood. He had been shot in the knee, or in layman's terms. He was kneecapped.

Miles also had a smirk on his face, the soldier who looked strong and imposing with his armour yelled 'kneel' at his commander mere seconds ago was now kneeling to Connor.

Connor coughed twice before speaking. "Why are you kneeling to others than your commander, my friend? Aren't you a proud soldier of the 4th Infantry Legion?" the mocking tone in his voice was very clear.

The soldier couldn't retort as he was drenched in sweat due to the enormous pain he felt on his left knee.

Audric broke through his stupor and looked at his lieutenant. The latter felt what he meant he quickly unsheathed his sword and walked towards his downed ally.

"Sir, his knee is damaged. It doesn't appear to be critical. But..." lieutenant stopped for a second. "he may need to retire." he said as he looked at the soldier's leg.

"Miles, cover." Connor said as he took something from his vest pocket.

"Yes, commander." Miles replied.

Connor slowly walked to the downed soldier and his ally. The lieutenant immediately got up, stepped back a few steps and took a guard against approaching Connor with his sword.

"Relax, I am going to give him some medicine, you don't want him to die do you?" Connor said towards the lieutenant. Before he could even say anything, Connor took the syringe in his hands and stabbed it near the man's knee before pushing it.

"AHHHHH!" the downed soldier yelled in all sudden.

Lieutenant did not know what Connor had done to his soldier, he only saw a small circular shaped object pressed onto the soldier's body. He slowly advanced forward to intercept Connor.

"Hold it! One more step and you become just like him." Miles said at the lieutenant who was slowly walking towards Connor with his sword drawn.

After waiting for a bit, the bleeding on soldier's knee slowed down greatly as a small gel-like substance started to cover his wound.

"This will not heal him completely. Take him away and give proper treatment." Connor said.

Lieutenant turned towards Audric and looked at him as if he was asking for permission. Audric slightly nodded, lieutenant immediately grabbed the soldier and put him on his back before leaving the building.

"So you are mages after all?" Audric said towards Connor with a stern voice.

"Nope, we are not. Just members of Sentinel." Connor replied.

"Sentinel? I have never heard of that division in the army." Audric refuted.

"Did you hear me or my companion here saying that we are in the army? You just assumed it. Your soldier didn't even give us the chance to speak."

Audric was slightly embarrassed, it was true. His soldier acted on his own towards some unknown mages and wanted them to kneel.

"Who are you then?" Audric asked.

"I already answered that question, we are members of Sentinel. A mercenary group." Connor replied while shrugging.

"So you are telling me that you have a magic wand that can take down a soldier in seconds without chanting a thing and that you are not mages? On top of that, members of a mercenary group? I find that hard to believe, kid." Audric retorted.

Two types of mages were common in the continent of Allunia, Battle Mages who are definitely members of Mage Legion in one of the kingdom's armies and Academic Mages who were interested in researching and studying magic rather than using it. Many of the Academic Mages were also teachers, they taught students of their respective academies different forms of magic. These students would, later on, choose their path to become a Battle Mage or Academic Mage and the cycle continued. This has been the norm for several centuries.

Audric was certain that these two in front of him were definitely not Academic Mages.

Connor shrugged.

'Why do you people don't believe us, what do you want me to do? I can't just say I am a mage when I know nothing about them...'

"I have no reason to lie to you, we were just taking some contracts and checking our next mission on the map before you and your soldiers walked in." Connor spoke with a nonchalant tone.

Audric eyed Robert, the guild's clerk who was listening to their conversation. -like everyone else in the building- Robert nodded as if approving Connor's claim.

"Sentinel huh... what's your name kid?" Audric asked.

"Connor, Connor Ironheart." Connor answered.

Audric pointed at Miles.

"And him?"

'Are you planning on adopting us? What kind of questions are these?' Connor thought.

Miles had been standing with his rifle in his hand since the lieutenant and the soldier had left, observing their surroundings and most importantly... protecting Connor.

"Miles. He's one of my subordinates."

As Connor was replying Audric's question a squad of soldiers rushed into the building, seeing the scene, most of the bystanders immediately fled. A squad of fully armoured soldiers rushing into a place was not a good sign.

Audric and Connor both looked at the door, the soldiers had their swords and spears unsheathed, ready to strike in any moment. Suddenly, a man stood out from the group. He looked about the same as Audric, middle-aged, muscular, tall, slightly tanned skin. It was obvious from the gazes of other soldiers that he held a high position.

"Wulf, what is your business here?" Audric asked the man.

"One of your soldiers came running into the barracks shouting that you were attacked by two mages and one of your soldiers was gravely injured, had to come to clean up your mess." Wulf replied.

Wulf raised his right hand and pointed at Connor and Miles. About 10 soldiers quickly ran towards their position and encircled the duo, pointing their swords and spears at them.

"You two are under arrest for attacking an officer and injuring a soldier of the Kingdom of Astragon." Wulf said.