Reed took a brief look around the clearing, obviously dissatisfied with something.

"Is there a problem?" Olivia asked.

The pioneer held up a large, calloused hand. "Your mentor was supposed to join us as well… I'll just have to save yours for last." Reed peered at the four scrolls, then chose one to slip back into her satchel. "At the very least, we can start with the rest of you. Let's see here… Tenebres?"

The slender mage blinked and took a small step forward from the rest of the group. "That's me," he confirmed.

"Alright." The wraith woman carefully broke the seal on the scroll, and Olivia couldn't help a small gasp at the little burst of gold and purple magic that came from the broken wax. She had heard of Crown seals before, but she had never seen one in person–noble or not, the Dennan family had never merited word from the King himself.

Reed cleared her throat as she peered at the opened scroll nodding to herself. "Okay, let's see here… There we go. 'Tenebres Unsworn, Tenebres Ruinborn, the Powers of Arsilet have received word of your talent for the arts magical, as proven in the field twice over, against enemies dark and external. By Order of His Royal Majesty, the Crowned King, and with the approval of the Highmind Council, you are hereby offered candidacy to the Apothic Order in Arsilet.'"

Tenebres's mouth fell open, his eyes wide, while the other three youths stirred in surprise.

Reed continued, "'The messenger who has carried you word of this candidacy has with her a letter of patronage, sealed by both the Apothic Order and the Crown. Should you have any need to prove the legitimacy of your knowledge and skills to any order Axiomatic, Chivalric, or Arcane, you need only present that letter, which shall be recognized throughout the Realm. Additionally, once you have reached Initiate level, the Apothic Order invites you to present your letter of candidacy to our professors in Arsilet, that you may attempt to earn full membership within the Order.'"

Reed looked up from the scroll, giving Tenebres a small smile. "Any questions?"

Tenebres merely stood in place, apparently shocked into complete immobility.

Olivia had only a passing familiarity with the various arcane orders. For those gifts that encouraged or required study, most notably the Mage and the Professional, the magical orders acted as resources, collecting and offering knowledge to all those who needed it–and who could afford it. The Arcanis Order, who Tenebres had patronized during their time in Correntry, was one of the more mercantile of the orders, as expected from one based in a trade city, but many of the others were much more dedicated to the collection and elevation of knowledge.

However, none of those groups rivaled the Apothic Order, who predated all of them. As membership was both exclusive and difficult to obtain, mere acknowledgement from them as a possible candidate provided a level of credibility on par with Olivia's squireship in the Argent Order.

Reed's announcement had subtly implied even more than that, though. Olivia knew how long Tenebres had lived in fear of the laws against forbidden gifts, keeping his demonic invocation a secret from any but his closest allies. In the wrong eyes, they all feared that the gift of the void would be reason enough for Tenebres to get imprisoned, or worse. But the offer of legitimacy, sealed by the Highminds who led the Apothic Order and by the King himself, gave Tenebres the ability to prove that his gift was not an inherent evil, not provided by the Forbidden Archetypes or an outsider.

"I…" Tenebres swallowed, as even that one syllable made his voice crack. "I can't accept this…"

"Of course you can," Reed said simply. She held out another scroll, this one still sealed–the patronage the announcement had mentioned. "And if you're really determined not to accept the offer, you'll need to go to Arsilet and have it out with the Highminds. I'm just the messenger."

With slow, almost dreamlike movements, Tenebres took the scroll. His eyes stayed locked on the sealed scroll as he stepped back towards his friends, not even acknowledging the encouraging pat Allana gave him.

"Alright," Reed announced, lifting another scroll. "This one is for Allana of Emeston and Cadence of Felisen."

The two girls–right? No, Caden was a boy today–traded a brief look between each other, then at Olivia, who could only shrug. Why would they think she had any idea what was going on?

The two friends took a couple steps forward, as Tenebres had.

"That's us," Allana confirmed.

Reed nodded–but instead of starting to read, she just turned a level glance on Caden.

The celestial arched an eyebrow, and after a long, heavy moment, confirmed, "I'm Caden today, but I'm Cadence sometimes."

Reed frowned, and looked down at the seal on the announcement. Apparently whatever she saw was enough for her, because she broke the seal, with another snap of purple and gold light.

The seal needs to confirm that the people it's addressed to are present, Olivia realized. That's why Red keeps reading the names off like that.

Reed cleared her throat again, and launched right into reading the second announcement. "'The Crown would like to recognize the heroic efforts of Cadence of Felisen and Allana of Emeston. Twice now, your actions, above and beyond those expected of any Unsworn, have been all that stood between the Realm and utter disaster. Words alone cannot convey the Crown's gratitude and appreciation in these matters, and as such, material reward must be provided. The messenger bearing this announcement has been entrusted with a Writ of Royal Commission for each of you. Please accept them, as well as the Crown's personal recognition and thanks.'"

"Royal Writ?" Allana asked. "What'is that supposed to mean?"

Reed reached into her satchel and pulled out two more letters, offering one to Caden and Allana. Unlike the scrolls, these were simple letters in fine vellum envelopes, another wax seal pressed into their center.

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"Think of them as a waiver for pay," Reed explained. "Any artisan worth the name in any of the bastion cities will accept them in lieu of payment, as it lets them instead recoup their costs from the Crown directly."

"Finally," Caden said, "I've been waiting forever to get some new weapons!"

"I suppose I could use some good armor," Allana agreed. "I'll take it. Rogue knows I didn't expect anything for doing all of that crap."

Reed arched an eyebrow. "You pitted yourselves against a hag, a small army of outsiders, and a battalion of traitorous militia–without any expectation of reward?"

Allana rolled her eyes. "I know, right? These three have made me all soft and gooey."

"Saving people is reward enough," Olivia rebuked her sharply.

"See what I mean?" Allana asked, giving Olivia a rude hand gesture. "And for the record, no, it isn't. Saving people is reason enough, maybe, but rewards have to be, you know, rewarding. That's what the word means."

"Stop arguing," Caden said absently, still studying the letter. "Tenebres, you still with us?"

"Mostly," Tenebres said, his voice obviously distracted.

Reed grunted a small laugh, though Olivia couldn't say exactly what part of the exchange had actually provoked the reaction. Maybe it was the entire thing, really. This certainly wasn't going the way of any formal recognition ceremony Olivia had ever heard of.

"Well," Reed said, her eyes panning over the small clearing, "I guess we just need to continue without Adeline."

The pioneer fished the last scroll back out of her satchel, giving Olivia a direct look.

The squire sighed–then she squared her shoulders, tucked her legs together, and took a step forward. "Olivia Argent," she announced herself.

"Excellent," Reed observed, breaking the Crown seal without any further fanfare. Once again, her eyes quickly flicked over the scroll–then she froze, the giant woman's confidence expression slipping for the first time since they had met her.

"Well," she grunted. "I… I really don't think I'm supposed to read this one."

"No shit," Adeline called, as the silver knight finally ran into the clearing. "You really couldn't wait, Reed?"

The pioneer rolled her eyes. "I'm on a schedule, Argent. I've got a fun town hall meeting to hold tonight, remember?"

Adeline rolled her large, bright silver eyes. "Give it to me," she told the northerner, holding out a hand.

"No problem there," Reed admitted, hastily passing off the scroll, as if the parchment had the potential to burn her.

Adeline's eyes slid over the announcement–and she, like Reed, froze for a moment. "He didn't," she breathed.

"He did," Reed confirmed. "Both of them did, in fact."

"But… she's not ready."

"Apparently, they beg to differ."

Olivia watched the exchange, feeling her eyes widen with each passing second as she tried desperately to figure out the context of the conversation. There was only one thing Adeline could be talking about like that, only one thing that made sense, but… that was impossible! Olivia was only an Apprentice!

And yet, Adeline, turned those sparkling eyes on her, her face resolute, even if a shade of worry danced in the back of her gaze.

"Olivia," Adeline said, her voice thready, "please take a knee."

She couldn't breathe. Why couldn't she breathe? This really seemed like a moment where she needed to breathe, or speak, or something.

Adeline inclined her voice in a slow, gentle nod. "Please, Olivia. Kneel."

Behind her, the other three young adventurers didn't offer her any words of encouragement. Olivia wondered if they were as shocked as she was, or if they just hadn't figured it out yet.

Finally, Olivia dropped to one knee, like a knight in a storybook tale. It wasn't a slow, graceful movement, though. It felt more like her leg just had failed her and folded in on itself. Traitor.

There was a silvery whisper as Adeline drew her sword–the eldrite-lined blade she always kept riding at her left hip. The knight gave another look to the scroll, as if needing to confirm for herself that she had read it properly, then she offered the parchment back to Reed.

"Squire Olivia Argent," Adeline intoned. Her voice was different than normal, hard and cold as the steel in her hands, rigidly formal. "In recognition of your deeds, above and beyond the expectation for any squire, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Knight-Errant of the Argent Order."

Adeline rested her sword gently onto Olivia's shoulder.

"At this time, I will collect your oath." Adeline paused again, taking a breath. Olivia could picture the knight wincing, swallowing thickly, the way she did when she was nervous.

"Olivia Argent, do you swear to forsake all family ties and titles, all noble obligations and privileges, and any lands or properties to which you may lay claim?"

Olivia's voice cracked when she tried to speak, and she had to clear her throat before she could try again. "I…I do."

"Olivia Argent, do you swear to dedicate yourself to the protection of the Realm and its people, to forever roam this world in service of those who cannot protect themselves, vigilant always against monstrous incursions of all kinds?"

Olivia swallowed, but her voice was a little firmer this time. "I do."

"Olivia Argent, do you swear to follow the directives of the Argent Order, its Knight-Radiant, and its senior Knights-Gallant, trusting that any request they make of you is in the name of the greater good?"

"I do."

"And do you swear to obey the calls of your conscience, your feet, your gifts and your soul whenever you lack any explicit direction, that you might always find yourself where you must be to help those in need?"

That was what she did already–what she had done for a year, now. "I do."

"Then, I, Lady Adeline Argent, Knight-Gallant of the Argent Order, by request of His Royal Majesty, the Tenth Crown in Arsilet, and on the authority of Knight-Radiant Toren Cifel, hereby pronounce you Lady Olivia Argent, Knight-Errant of the Argent Order."

"I, Reed of Cita, witness and certify this proclamation as Herald of His Royal Majesty." A small chime and another burst of purple-and-gold royal magic followed Reed's words, marking that the Crown had truly entrusted her with this duty.

Finally, the Herald handed a small package to Adeline, wrapped in white cloth. It came unbound at Adeline's touch, and she held out its contents to Olivia.

The insignia was fashioned solid silver, glowing with its own internal magic. It was a circle, somewhere between a round shield and a seal, embossed with complex designs, like a scroll swirling towards a watchful eye. It reminded Olivia of something she couldn't quite place.

Hanging from it, attached by a small ring, was a charm in the shape of a kite shield, fashioned in exquisite detail.

"It's beautiful," Olivia whispered, her voice catching. It was only then that she noticed the tears streaming down her face.

"Rise, Lady Olivia Argent. Rise, and bear your badge of office proudly. Rise, Knight-Errant."

Lady. Olivia's mind caught around that tile, almost unable to process it.

And then a gentle hand alighted on Olivia's shoulder, replacing Adeline's sword.

Olivia looked up, and found the knight-gallant kneeling in front of her, her own silver eyes welling with tears. Adeline gave Olivia a wide, trembling smile, displaying the kind of vulnerability she had been hiding from Olivia all winter.

"Rise, Oli."

She did.

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