Originally intended to stabilize Odelliana’s situation, the departure from Anatolia has been unexpectedly delayed. This not only disrupted travel plans but also threw a wrench into Blair’s schedule for returning home.
The Lord of Anatolia, already under strain, was nearing his wits’ end trying to accommodate and care for Odelliana after a significant misfortune befell her within his territory. Compounding the issue was Blair, the son of a vassal, who further taxed the already-aged man’s patience. The stress eventually manifested as mild neurosis.
The decision to bring Matthias along had a butterfly effect, sweeping through Anatolia like a storm. Odelliana couldn’t shake a sense of foreboding about how this might impact the future. Though preemptively bringing Matthias felt like tampering with fate, she clung to the hope that the major course of events wouldn’t be drastically altered.
Only seven years left to benefit from regression. Can I really turn things around in such a short time? This thought gnawed at her.
Currently, Matthias was undergoing squire training, which primarily involved helping with chores. Despite its simplicity, Odelliana recognized the long-term value of this education and didn’t object.
However, her motives for bringing Matthias extended beyond mere squiredom. Elevating him to knighthood wouldn’t happen overnight, and she knew she needed to begin laying the groundwork for his future.
The path to knighthood seemed clear. Matthias possessed the raw talent that would ensure his passage through the exams with ease. But ambition gnawed at Odelliana. If he were to carve a legend on the battlefield during the upcoming Tribal Suppression War, securing his knighthood and acquiring a noble patron were crucial steps. Time, however, was a fickle mistress.
Summer, however, was a mere two moons away, and winter’s cruel breath often disrupted the exam schedule. Indefinite postponements, even cancellations, were not uncommon. Thus, setting his sights on the summer trials proved the most practical course.
The Tribal Suppression War was a rare crucible for heroism. Merely acquiring the title of knight was insufficient. True glory demanded a stage of chaos, a proving ground where valor could be etched in the annals of history, and such opportunities were scarce—almost nonexistent—in these peaceful times.
A hundred years had passed since Reveln’s glorious expansion, absorbing four neighboring nations. A century of unbroken peace stretched before them. Smaller kingdoms like Rochelle and Ervaden bordered Reveln, but they were mere puppets, dancing to their powerful neighbor’s tune. Rebellion was a distant dream.
Thus, the avenues for knights to etch their names in legend were limited. Bandit eradication, beast hunting – these were mere skirmishes, fleeting and forgettable. Even the allure of mercenary work in neighboring conflicts was a fading dream. Even the beast-hunting grounds dwindled. The Kingdom of Reveln had largely tamed its wilds, leaving only the frigid expanse surrounding Solitude, a vast, cursed region teeming with monstrous threats. The abnormalities emanating from the beasts’ curse rendered the area an impenetrable wasteland, effectively a forgotten corner of the kingdom.
War, then, presented itself as the swiftest path to glory.
History bore witness to the most brutal civil war, orchestrated by barbarian hordes. These vagabonds, owing allegiance to no nation, united their forces and unleashed atrocities with the backing of neighboring countries. Yet, amidst the carnage, heroes bloomed. Matthias, a commoner by birth, ascended the ranks, transforming from a knight of the prince to a champion of the king and, ultimately, the esteemed captain of the knights.
The illegitimate prince, despite his dubious lineage, used Matthias’ rise as a springboard, ultimately seizing the throne from his rightful brother. But Odelliana, reborn with the memories of her past life, wouldn’t allow history to repeat.
Jocelyn, she vowed silently, everything you achieved through Matthias will be mine in this life. Your coronation? A forgotten dream. Matthias’ brilliance will outshine all, just as it did before.
This time, defeat won’t be an option. Whether I find Lelusha or remain trapped in this life, you will not triumph.
