It wasn’t terribly uncommon for those that lived within the center of fiore to became enraptured with the idea of the rune knights, from their original iteration, to those that were led after, to the ones now lead by a particular cyborg demi-god. All that sort of information unfortunately wasn’t readily available to an individual such as Saturn. All he ever heard about the rune knights before considering joining them is that they were protectors. Hell the guy that had found him wandering out in the plains had directed him this way; thinking he was some wayward knight already.

Very much so not.

Showing up to the local recruitment drive with curiosity in his eyes and confusion evident elsewhere. His posture remained somewhat relaxed even though he towered over those around him. Given the same sort of garb as every other recruit; a one size fits all [which didn’t fit him too well] shirt, some kind of slacks and a helmet that sat lopsided on his head. The shirt couldn’t close over the barrel of a body he had and the pants were so small for him that they were practically shorts.

He didn’t seem bothered by it compared to those around him. A few recruits eyeing him from time to time as he just stood in the rank and file. Sticking out like a sore thumb on a giant. They were in this square for some reason. Some party or something. He didn’t know. The run down he got was very strange to him but he wasn’t going to argue. Looking around with keen interest in the headquarters he would have liked to wander off and explore but… The mostly silent demi-god thought that it might be best to stay in place.

Or at the very least follow the other recruits around. If they weren’t moving he probably shouldn’t either!

Making the most of the autumn weather and the beautiful scenery created by the leaves shifting from their deep, dark greens to orangey, reds, Kon strode through the carefully manicured gardens that encircled the Rune Knight Headquarters. Unrestricted access through the buildings and regions owned by the Magic Council was just one of the many boons he had received since becoming the General of the renowned faction soon though the time would come when his talents would be required. Whether it was putting down pirates or delegating between two major parties he was ready, for now, though he was just enjoying the simpler things in life but that was soon coming to an end with his responsibilities coming sooner rather than later. One of which was discussing current affairs with a local member who represented the people of Era, a squirrelly figure called Margaret Pennington was dwarfed in size by Kon, they were practically racing to keep up with his lazy trek through the gardens.

Of these affairs was related to recruitment, specifically the sharp and noticeable increase since his appointment as General, it seemed that with new leadership an abundance of citizens were lining up to join the Rune Knights from across the continent with some notable exceptions from Joya, Pergrande, Sin and Bellum, though each country was already severely under-represented by the faction. In fact, today was in part devoted to weeding out the dozens and dozens who had come to Era from across Fiore. Interested to see just who was applying Kon would be accompanying Margaret, who despite her small appearance was a distinguished Major who fought during the demonic incursions losing her partner in the process.

Taking the detour, Kon was doing more than just enjoying his surroundings instead he too was testing the patience of the recruits with him being an hour, two hours, three hours late compared to the agreed assembly time. Dressed in his ever-foreboding attire, Kon’s presence dominated almost everyone who had shown up save for one individual, one who was wearing an outfit several times too small. Allowing Margaret to begin the series of trials to test out the recruits, Kon stood by in the distances overseeing them all.

The weather didn’t really bother him, it wasn’t chilly by any means. Even if it was, he'd probably just chalk it up to the height they were at. Or at least… well he would chalk it up to that. Where did that thought come from? It seemed strangely experienced. He’d scratch at his head, flicking an ear. They were forced to wait for quite some time. Most of the recruits seemed to be okay with this, a few of the less patient ones? Well they left. A good… ten? Maybe twenty?

Hard to say but he watched them go in silence; cocking his head to one side. Was this a test of patience? It was really difficult to gauge. As the hours ticked by he took to watching the clouds, ears flicking and keeping track of the murmuring. Some people were dissatisfied but that was quickly squashed. The murmuring ceased and saturn was brought down to earth.

The two that appeared were… not what he was expecting to see. Some individual wearing all black; who’s appearance commanded respect and dominated everyone here. Well. Dominated all that knew him. Saturn hadn’t the faintest idea who this was and after a moment he’d tilt his head to the other side. With the trials starting up saturn seemed to go for a mild level of curiosity and confusion to that of well…

He still didn’t know what to make of the trials, they seemed simple to him. Maybe it was his naivety but compared to the other recruits he seemed to be less and less like them and more like someone who had never experienced hardships. Well given that the guy was basically recently brought to be demi god that’d make sense. His smaller outfit seemed to be in the way in some cases, but rather than complain just the sharp sounds of ripping as the shirt split at a few other seams and fell off of him. Confusion evident, he’d examine his equipment and with an unbothered shrug he’d look to Margaret and then shot an equally curious glance to Kon.

He hadn’t said a word this whole time, did the being even know how to speak fiorian? He was understanding commands and requests made of him but past that his silence was practically exhausting in some fashion or another.

A curious series of tests to be sure with prospective Rune Knight recruits being tasked with completing several unrelated feats many physical and otherwise magical for people who possessed magic in the first place. The most challenging of them were the literacy and problem-solving challenges requiring the people to think more than just about destroying anything and everything they were stood in front of. Many were dismissed lacking any notable talents hoping to get a free ride into a cozy position with the Rune Knights, but each time he noticed someone failing that escaped Margaret's attention, Kon would whistle towards the Major and nodding towards them. Despite the failures of one individual, however, Kon allowed them to remain even reining back Margaret from forcing them to leave.

Curious as to just who this person was, Kon pulled up the recruitment forms shuffling through the hundreds of pages to land on the person matching their vague description. Feeling that there was just something about them, he finally spoke first to the major prompting her to relieve all of the recruits before speaking to the towering figure only moments after. “You there in the torn-up clothing, I’d like you to remain if you could.” Obviously annoyed having wasted their time, some of the stragglers that remained grew bitter throwing equipment into the dirt as they departed.

Waiting patiently as the others were escorted out by rune knights, Kon simply continued to look upon the person who would be the sole recruit for today. Wondering whether he had made the right decision, Kon began to drum his fingertips over his crossed arm before finally asking for their company back to the Rune Knight headquarters. “If you would be so kind would you mind joining me on a walk? I’d like to discuss some things with you.” Seeking a private conversation, he released Margaret from her duties by his side. “Thank you Margaret that will be all for today.”

The series of tests were anything but what he could expect; some things were easy. Somethings were difficult. When it came to magical feats he had a lot to work with in a fashion but without the proper knowledge and tools it just sort of blew up in his face in a spectacular fashion. Though mostly his own fault since the fiorian language was honestly not his strong suit it wasn’t something that he would use as an excuse. There was no reason for it. Seeing that some were leaving or sent away the behemoth couldn’t help but watch them go. Would they return to try again? Or perhaps they’d just quit? There were a few times that he thought he was going to be dismissed but instead he just… got a pass? His confusion was further evident.

With the dismissal of the recruits saturn would eventually give a small shrug; turning to leave until… He was directly addressed. Cracking an eye and turning his head to note that yes it was him and many recruits were a little bitter about that. He’d rub at his neck. The language was difficult for him still but…

”Stay? Sure.”

His accent was thick, but the location of where it was from could in its own right be a mystery. The being clad in black seemed impatient, or at least contemplative? It was hard to read them, saturn tilted his head to one side and stared down at the black garbed being. He wanted to talk? Wanted to walk. The golden demi-god looked to Margaret as they were dismissed. Margaret was a strange name to him but… A walk? Talking? Saturn slowly nodded his head.

”Walk? Sure. Talk? Sure.”

He kept things short; a little nervous maybe. Why was he the only one here? There were some of the other recruits he felt were doing better. Maybe they’d try again; he hoped so. The few in front of him were friendly and kind when he had been making mistakes but maybe that’s not what they were looking for.

”Ah… Where to?”

A man of few words it seemed, the recruit honoured both his request to stay and join him on their walk throughout the gardens. Kon still wasn’t entirely sure why he had selected them from all the candidates they weren’t the strongest, fastest or magically adept within the group, however, they seemed to have something the others didn’t possess which only Kon appeared to identify with a sense of unbridled, untapped potential. Unlike the other candidates who were largely at the peak of their physique, this Saturn figure had yet to spread his wings so to speak. What they might become ultimately was more interesting for Kon compared to what the other recruits already were.

Why settle for mediocrity when you could strive for greatness even at the cost of time and energy? Both of which he had in abundance and he suspected was the case for the recruit with them practically radiating life energy just as so many others he was beginning to encounter. Wanting to learn more about the man of enormous stature, Kon guided them forward raising his hand in the direction of the gardens before finally introducing himself properly. “I’m sure you’ve been wondering just who I am for a while now, allow me to introduce myself, I am General Konstantin Sokolov of the Rune Knights and I picked you out from all of those people for one specific reason.”

Pausing briefly to create a distinct matter of tension between the two as he continued to walk through the gardens, Kon spoke onward. “I see within you a great potential, something which the other recruits lacked, they certainly were better than you at this stage but I just feel something and it’s not something I’m going to let go anytime soon if I can help it.” Bending down to pick up a recently fallen leaf before crumbling it up into pieces, kon shifted to look upwards at the furry beast. “I hope you recognize what I’m offering you, the chance to serve under my wing directly without concerns of other officials…”

Saturn’s knowledge of the reasons that Kon picked him remained largely clueless. While they walked he seemed to be taking in their surroundings as they went; though whenever the cyborg talked his attention would return to the narrow. Though when kon introduced himself Saturn found himself stumbling a little over the name. There was a lot to unpack there and he’d slowly pick apart the name in his head.

”...I have.”

Saturn felt a little lame in comparison to someone that had such a grand title and a long name, was it because of his escapades that he got such a figure? Such a name? He’d tilt his head to one side as the other built tension up between their words. He didn’t seem terribly bothered by it. If anything it made him a lot more curious; still following after him saturn couldn’t help but wonder who else Kon may have picked if saturn hadn’t been there.

Great potential? Saturn paused; yes the others were better than him in one way or another but Kon wasn’t looking for immediate gains. Saturn mused over the information that Kon continued to give him. A gut feeling? Was that what Kon had about him? Offering him a position to work with the cyborg without the need to go through others. It was probably something many would spring for but Saturn didn’t fully understand. But something told him that this was the right direction to. A strong sense of purpose was definitely something he himself lacked.

”I think… I get it.”

Saturn rubbed at his head, tilting his head again and trying to sort through the information again. He wasn’t stupid by any means; but there was a strangeness to his accent and a strangeness to his behavior. He was still grasping at the fiorian language like a newcomer grasping at straws in a wheat field. He fumbled a little bit at first and then eventually managed to speak up. He seemed up for it.

”I get to help people then? Under you?”

Perhaps he had overloaded the behemoth of a figure with his status and rank, something which had become a trend. Hoping to alleviate their concerns, Kon motioned them towards a section of the garden devoted to the veterans of the organization both those made martyrs through their sacrifice and others by their deeds performed whilst still alive. Pausing before one of the many statues within the gardens, Kon began to appreciate the craftsmanship that was put into the piece. The resemblance was uncanny, depicting the demise of a prominent leader who was cut down during the demonic incursion almost a decade ago. A graceful pose if there ever was one, the warrior and would-be defender of their people, Arthur Goodwill, is shown with a blade piercing through his chest from front to side midfall while their armour is torn to pieces with countless hands devoid of an owner.

The clash between Arthur and his opponents was one that had been recounted many times, a story of a single pillar who defended against the horde of evil protecting everyone to their last breath before the incursion was sealed. Though he had never met the man, Kon had encountered the demon which had ultimately taken their life. A disgusting creature one of which the General was able to cut down with the assistance of other decorated individuals.

But he had not halted the walk with the recruit before this piece to promote his own reputation but instead reinforced the characteristics that were not only desired but also required within the Rune Knights, His Rune Knights. “Every day, in this chaotic world there is a balance between good and evil, villainry and heroic acts, many years ago we were at a tipping point where even those considered good were committing terrible, heinous crimes in the guise of doing it for the greater good, I, myself did so with much regret, however, those times are now over, we must start anew, presumptions aside I see, as I mentioned earlier, a great potential within you, understandable you might be somewhat confused, but I think with time we can accomplish some great things together with the many other Rune Knights who are picking up the banners once more.”

Saturn didn’t really understand a good chunk of the title that the rune knight leader seemed to have. He understood the individual words to a degree; a very simplistic degree. He’d cock his head to one side as the black clad man motioned towards a section of the gardens devoted to… Many statues? The first of which by a man that he didn’t recognize, but they looked… Heroic, if not sad to a sense. Likely due to… something saturn couldn’t understand. But it was a gorgeous and graceful piece. He’d rub his chin and stare at the statue; a flick of his ear as he heard the general start to talk again.

Much of what Kon said seemed to not really register with the demi-human as he stared at the masked man with a clueless expression. Though after a little bit he’d look down at his hands; back up to kon and then nodded his head slowly. He’d extend his right hand as it felt customary to do so given how frequently it seemed that humans did it out in the city.

”...I will… do that. I Will… try. To stop the hurt. For others.”

There was a certain slowness of his words; saturn wasn’t stupid but fiorian was really not even a language he even remotely completely understood. It was one of those things that would take time. He might not have entirely grasped what kon had in mind; but honestly he felt like he did grasp at least a part of it. The demi-god’s posture straightened a little bit and his brow furrowed in thought.

”...If… there are others… where would they be? You… only picked me out of… all of those people.”

Content with the conversation and the progress he had made with the strange monolith of an individual that stood in front of him, Kon took up their colossal hand that was offered to him in a hearty handshake providing a vigour suited for a man of his stature and character. "It was a pleasure meeting you, I'm sure I'll be seeing more of you in the time to come, please go see the recruiters who will have assigned you with your first of many tasks." Still perhaps taken aback by the reason why he had been selected with so many other candidates being presented around them, this titan of a man would make one final attempt to pry into Kon's reasoning more the location of all the other Rune Knights which he had made mention. "I'm looking for someone who's an unknown in this world and the fact that I don't know who you are is evident enough of this, there are countless powerful figures with a laundry list of feats whose reputations speak for themselves, they will come in time, you are quite bluntly a clean-slate, something of a rarity in this country." Releasing his grip just as soon as he had created it, Kon began to bid his farewell relieving himself from the greens and Saturn's presence. "Until we meet again."

[Exit]

Saturn felt a little off; maybe not like terribly so but to the point of where he wasn’t sure what kon had wanted from him initially. Feeling that shake however set that feeling straight and he’d smile warmly at the heartiness to it. Kon was the sort that definitely put an imposing nature on things if you let him; but to saturn there was a kindness in there that he could relate to.

Hearing the other tell him what to do; saturn would ponder many of the words that were said. Many of them new to him. He’d nod his head slowly; go to the recruiters and talk to them. They had tasks. Tasks he could do.

”Okay.”

When their shake ended is when he would spoke; when the other disclosed the reason for him picking the behemoth over everyone else it suddenly clicked and saturn would nod his head again. The explanation gave him a good insight on the man that he had agreed to work with. When they left with a farewell saturn would just give a small wave. Something he had seen some children do to their friends outside of the city.

He’d stand there for a while; processing everything and eventually turning to look at one of the many statures. There was a kindness to this place; a force to this place; something deep stirred and he’d let out a rumble. He could feel the emotions of the one he had taken from this place stir deep down. A deep sense of justice and a powerful sense of right or wrong. Something that he could get behind; a flash of a mighty fight against a beast came to mind and he’d ponder his own approach to something like that.

Stepping out of the greenery he’d go and find the recruiters… if they had more for him to do he would do exactly as he was told. Though there was a time that he’d stop and look back to the garden, a well thought out sentence that took some of those around him aback as he spoke fairly simply.

”...I think I know what I can do for people…”

[exit]