In the center of the camp, on a specially leveled clearing, the twenty-odd Lizardman Warriors of the Swamp Knight Team had already assembled.
They stood in neat ranks, their backs ramrod straight, like a row of javelins awaiting inspection.
Over a month of strict disciplinary training and physical conditioning had not only given them stronger, more robust physiques but had also carved into them the disposition of legionnaires: silence, obedience, and collective action.
Only their amber, vertically slit pupils—larger and rounder than a human’s—remained fixed on the camp entrance, their gazes filled with both nervousness and anticipation.
Previously, the Swamp Knight Team had not had a dedicated instructor in the strict sense of the word. Chen Yu had simply taken some advice on Knight training from Yano and combined it with his own understanding of combat and discipline to set their daily training goals and regimen.
The training was then jointly supervised by Xiaohua and Turk.
Now, facing the new instructor who was about to "drop in"—a human Extraordinary Knight, no less—even the normally confident and courageous Salaman felt his heart start to beat a little faster, his grip tightening slightly on the shaft of his spear.
They did not have to wait long.
The figure arrived right on cue.
Calvin appeared at the simple wooden gate of the training camp. He was dressed only in a dark gray leather hunting outfit, designed for ease of movement, with a gray cloak worn over it for warmth.
His hawk-like gaze swept coolly over the rows of Lizardman Warriors standing like statues in the center of the camp, as if it could pierce their very scales and peer into their nervous hearts and minds.
Any Lizardman his gaze fell upon felt as if they weren’t facing a human, but a Giant Eagle soaring high above, riding the gales and ready to dive at any moment. It placed an immense, unseen pressure upon them.
Unlike Arthur, who was introverted and long accustomed to hiding his power, Calvin did not bother to deliberately conceal his aura. It wasn’t that he enjoyed being ostentatious, but that he believed one’s strength and will ought to be clearly displayed. It was a sign of confidence in his own path.
"S-So terrifying..." Salaman swallowed subconsciously, his throat feeling a bit dry.
It was the first time he had ever seen a human with such an oppressive presence—a world away from the cunning, insidious human merchants he had encountered at the swamp’s edge, who were always trying to trade shoddy goods for their precious furs and herbs.
’This is what it means to be Extraordinary,’ he thought. ’A true powerhouse standing at the very pinnacle of the continent’s power!’
Without Calvin having to say a word, his silent entrance and sweeping gaze alone had been enough to earn the unspoken submission of the Lizardman Warriors.
On a viewing stand in a corner of the camp, Oldes sat with Shazak, the Elder Shaman. Watching the scene unfold, Oldes couldn’t help but marvel at the Extraordinary Knight’s youthful vigor.
’So young...’ An Extraordinary this young was a rare sight, even in the White Tower City-State within Golden Glow Valley.
This swamp Kingdom had surprised him once again.
Calvin stood still for a few seconds before slowly retracting his gaze and striding into the camp. His steps were steady and powerful, each one seeming to land in perfect sync with the heartbeat of every person watching.
Behind him, a younger-looking and more petite female human Knight followed, appearing somewhat nervous.
She seemed unaccustomed to being the center of attention, her eyes darting away from their gazes. She looked like an adjutant or an apprentice.
Calvin walked to the front of the formation, his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze swept over the Lizardman Warriors once more as he got straight to the point. "You should all be well aware of why His Majesty sent me here."
"Listen up. I don’t like to waste words. Since this is His Majesty’s command, I will be here for three months—until every single one of you passes the Knight training."
Salaman hesitated for a moment before mustering his courage and raising his hand. After receiving a slight nod of acknowledgment from Calvin, he asked haltingly in his clumsy Common Language, "I-Instructor... what if... someone can’t keep up?"
Calvin glanced at him, crossing his arms over his chest. His expression remained cold. "With me, there is no ’can’t keep up.’"
"The days ahead will be grueling. If you lack the confidence, it’s not too late to quit now."
His words were like a bucket of ice water dumped over their heads, and a faint flicker of fear appeared in the hearts of many Lizardmen. But not a single one of them took so much as a half-step back. They merely straightened their spines and met Calvin’s gaze with even greater determination.
Their eyes held the fervor of their faith in Putu and the resolve to protect their new home. This was not just for themselves, but for the future of every member of their tribe.
Calvin took this all in, his face remaining expressionless. Inwardly, however, he gave a slight nod, offering his preliminary approval of their willpower.
From his own Knight training to joining the Garrison Legion, he had seen all sorts of people along the way.
Everyone had their reasons for becoming a Knight. Some coveted power and wealth, while others simply wanted to secure a stable livelihood. Different people were driven by different desires; very few were motivated purely by a lofty ideal like "defending the Kingdom."
Even he himself had first joined the Garrison Legion only to prove himself—to prove the Swordsmanship and glory of the Douglas Clan—not for some lofty goal.
But the conviction of these Lizardmen before him was exceptionally pure, like a flawless crystal refracting a simple yet intense light.