Henwell looks up sharply at the gray-haired ranger upon hearing his words.
The ranger waves his hand dramatically, "That's the look. Kid, do you know how intimidating it is for someone your age to have that kind of gaze? That's why I'm hesitating about whether to kill you."
"You give me the impression that you'll achieve great things someday. But I'm not keen on snuffing out a promising talent. So, how about the condition I mentioned earlier?"
Henwell doesn't think he's exaggerating. The traces he tried to erase wouldn't fool a competent ranger.
After pondering for a moment, Henwell brings his index and middle fingers together, raising them beside his head, "I, Henwell, swear. No matter what happens in the future, I will not seek you ..."
The ranger interjects, "Kavize."
"I will never seek revenge against Kavize."
Kavize gently claps his hands, "Good. Your oath is peculiar, but I can sense its sincerity. Now we can talk peacefully. "
"As a reward for your honesty, I'll erase the traces left by your family, ensuring no one discovers that hidden room. And you, now you need to tell me about your situation, just like you said. I need to sell you for a good price, don't I?"
In the days following, Henwell sticks close to Kavize, training his body as quickly as possible when Kavize is out on missions.
When Kavize returns, Henwell acts like a diligent young servant, helping him remove his armor, taking care of his horse, and maintaining his weapons. He fetches meals from the mess hall, prepares footbaths, and tidies up the bed and tent.
After the first day, Henwell truly seems like a competent young servant. Even Kavize can't help but praise Henwell for his thoroughness.
Kavize knows full well that Henwell isn't a natural-born servant and hasn't been trained in such duties. Instead, it's Henwell's astonishing ability to learn that stands out.
In just a short time, he's already picked up quite a bit of foreign languages. This army belongs to the Duchy of Vorry, so Henwell focuses on learning the Vorry language.
Fortunately, the two countries are neighbors, and while their languages differ, they belong to the same language family, both having evolved from the common continental language.
For Henwell, who already masters the common tongue, his native language and the Vorry language are like two dialects stemming from the same root. Once he grasps the key differences, aside from some specific slang, mastering it isn't too challenging.
Faced with a situation that concerns his very survival, Henwell dedicates himself to learning with exceptional focus and diligence, making quick progress entirely understandable.
Stolen story; please report.
Henwell doesn't find it too difficult, but that's thanks to his experience from living two lives.
From Kavize's perspective, this kid, who might not even be ten years old, has an extraordinary ability to learn.
Henwell learns the language of the Duchy of Vorry not to spy on military affairs but to avoid the kitchen staff thinking he's from the Kingdom of Ika, hoping to get a bit more food.
Kavize doesn't skimp on Henwell's meals; he lets Henwell eat the same as he does.
So, Henwell always goes to get two portions, as Kavize instructed.
However, the cooks have the authority to serve Henwell less, as many of them have friends and family who died at the hands of the Ika army. For a child from an enemy nation, they have plenty of reasons to withhold food or even poison it.
Henwell understands this, which is why he learns the duchy's language. Humans are social creatures; when faced with someone they can communicate with, they instinctively categorize them as their own kind. Simply put, using the duchy's language can evoke empathy from the cooks.
Moreover, Henwell wants to understand what the soldiers are saying. He doesn't plan to be a slave forever; if an opportunity arises, he intends to escape. Knowing the duchy's language will increase his chances of leaving alive.
This army is known as the Duchy's Third Legion, codenamed Silent Battle Axe, with over seven thousand soldiers. Most of them are professional soldiers, maintained by the duchy at great expense.
However, there are also quite a few noble officers temporarily assigned to the legion. These noble officers bring their own guards, varying in number, and they aren't just empty suits; they have a solid understanding of warfare.
Kavize is a lone wolf mercenary, hired by the legion's commander, Count Obiken, who is also the younger brother of the Grand Duke of Vorry.
Two months ago, it was Count Obiken who led the Silent Battle Axe legion in a rapid march to flank the allied forces' right wing and lie in wait.
Once the battle commenced, Count Obiken led the Silent Battle Axe legion, after two days of hiding, to strike from the right flank, decisively crushing the Kingdom of Ika's Sixth Legion. This maneuver led to the allied forces' defeat in that battle, allowing the coalition to penetrate deep into Ika's territory.
Since then, the Silent Battle Axe legion has engaged in three skirmishes within Ika's borders, all of which were small-scale and met with little resistance. After nearly half a month of rest, the Silent Battle Axe legion is now preparing to move out once again.
Henwell is anxiously packing Kavize's belongings, and once he's done, he tidies up and packs away the tent. Although this is typically a task for the army's logistics team, Henwell knows he's a captive, not on a camping trip. Doing a bit more might just help ensure his survival.
When Kavize returns and sees what Henwell has done, he doesn't comment.
"I'm heading out for reconnaissance. Just carry my gear. Here's a pass I got for you as a servant. Don't lose it. You don't need to keep up with the legion; just stick with the logistics team."
Kavize tosses a metal tag to Henwell, who hurriedly catches it. Kavize adds, "You're a smart kid. You won't use this chance to run away, will you?"
Henwell quickly nods, "Of course not. I'm only safe here. Without the Third Legion's protection, I'd likely be killed by the noble armies behind us. They wouldn't even care if I had a pass or not."
"Good to know. Hope I see you alive when I return."
Henwell bows slightly, "Wishing you a safe return."
It's not just empty words; Henwell genuinely hopes Kavize comes back safely. Without the ranger's protection, surviving would be much harder for him.
Kavize smiles, tosses a few items over, then mounts his horse and gallops out of the camp. Henwell glances down to see his old shortsword and small bow. He understands Kavize's message: Henwell needs to take care of himself. In these chaotic times, anything could happen.