Crest of the Strongest Knight

Chapter 39 - Courage

She woke up rolling down a hill.

Medrauta's eyes snapped open as she bounced against the uneven dirt, wincing as a stone dug into her flesh. It wasn't sharp, but she was sure that it'd leave a bruise.

Adrenaline coursed through her body as she crashed downward at a steep angle, forcing Medrauta to put her arms up in an attempt to protect her head.

"Ugh!" She landed on her side, the impact jarring her bony frame to the core. Everything hurt, but still she struggled to her feet.

Any onlooker would've been surprised at how calmly she'd reacted to falling off a hill steep enough to be considered a cliff. But for Medrauta, something like this was commonplace. After all, it wasn't the first time this had happened.

The orphanage was situated next to a swamp, but there was a steep drop behind the building. Of course, Father Raphael had the area fenced off to protect the kids, but it didn't stop them from getting creative.

Just below the orphanage was a well-traveled road that was mostly frequented by merchants, visiting nobles, or military patrols. Sometimes even bandits. And for the orphanage children who were rarely afforded any form of entertainment, a fight between the local guard and a group of marauders certainly wasn't something they could afford to miss.

Because of that, the children had gotten quite skilled at scaling the fence. Skilled enough that they would be able to climb up while carrying someone and then throw them over. The fences weren't dreadfully tall in any case, and Medrauta was a light load at best.

The first time it happened was on her fifth birthday, just a year after she'd arrived at the orphanage. Medrauta hadn't learned to roll with the fall yet, and she returned with bruises and broken bones. Needless to say, the party was canceled.

Medrauta leaned against a tree as she slowly recovered. Her body was still aching and the places where she'd been struck by rocks or other debris throbbed painfully, but she was otherwise fine.

Normally, the first thought that popped into her head after an incident like this would've been revenge. She never really managed to successfully get back at the boys, but it didn't stop her from trying anyway.

However, it was a special day. A day where she definitely couldn't be late no matter what.

...Damn it. I have to get back... I have to get back and get out of here! Medrauta winced as she began limping up the road. Her left hip flared in pain with every step that she took, but she endured it nevertheless. After all, it was Choosing Day.

The incumbent Emperor was merciful. As a nation-wide law, he had implemented this day for all orphans, allowing them to at least make one meaningful decision in their life after being left behind. On this day, all orphans aged six or older were assessed by an imperial official and then granted a choice of vocations available to them.

Medrauta had no idea what she wanted to be, but she knew that she'd be taken away from this place after making her choice. Nothing else mattered.

A quarter of the way up, Medrauta stumbled. She crashed onto the ground, causing a plume of dirt and dust to rise up around her. Slowly, she pushed herself up from the ground even as her hip protested with a shot of searing pain.

I won't give up! I won't...! Medrauta felt tears well up in her eyes. She didn't cry when the boys beat her up. She didn't cry when they threw her in the mire. She didn't cry even when she missed her fifth birthday.

But at that moment, the road ahead looked so incredibly long.

She'd never make it in time. Realizing that she would be stuck here for another year was the breaking point. She wanted to let all her emotions out at once. At the very least, no one would be around to see her cry.