Perhaps someone else would have liked stamping these papers, perhaps someone else would have liked the idea of staying indoors and trying to keep things together for the knights in this fashion. But he was not one of them; he didn’t see the papers, he didn’t see the ink. He saw the problems and the people that they represented and he resented heavily that the knights had chosen him to lead them of all people. It was somewhat irritating in a fashion; a lot had been added to his plate and the general was one such person that felt like to be cooped up in such a manner wasn’t how you should be serving the people.

He didn’t like the posturing that came from the nobles trying to talk their way into his grace, he didn’t like the way that some of the older knights or the ones that had a particular way of doing things looked at him. He was glad that he could teach younger knights to care and believe in their people or cause. But it wasn’t something that he got to do as often as he wished.

One such day was today, sitting in this office, in a chair that was made just right for him with a desk sized to his needs. His room however felt laughably small, his ears basically felt like they were going to touch the ceiling if he moved too much. His tail curled around him and he’d sigh softly. Oh to be wandering around the lands with his friends and taking care of people again.

Amidst the papers that he was stamping was… what looked to be promotion papers. Some of them had already been vetoed by those underneath him. A colonel and captain both had sent him everything they had on the people they wished to be promoted. Some people stood out to saturn, some didn’t. Some were easy to forget and there was… One caught his eye and he’d hold it up. A particular individual known as Anika. He recalled seeing the name when it was transferred from out of country to this one.

He’d tap his pen against the paper; it’d take one deft stroke to simply say yes or no. But he felt that the decision as already made by those underneath him. However he wanted a perspective outside of fiore and outside of his own to help him understand those around here. The demon pondered for a few moments longer and called for one of his assistants. Never too far, the pale skinned blond haired man stepped in. He was used to strange requests and saturn wouldn’t dissapoint him further.

”Can you go find anika and let her know I want to see her? There’s something I want to talk to her about.”

”Right away sir.”

Watching the blond haired man leave saturn was left to his thoughts for a moment longer and would turn to look out his window. There was a lot he didn’t understand in the world and perhaps maybe with the help of others he could understand it a little better. But there was another instance that he wanted to make sure of.

That he had an ample amount of people that he trusted within arms reach, that there were people he could send to this gala that was coming up soon that he could trust to do the right thing. He already knew he could trust ittindi and toga. Now he wanted to know if he could trust this newly minted sergeant in the same way or if he had to find someone else.

Saturn was still at his desk when the sergeant arrived at his office, the crispness of their salute wasn’t lost on him. It reminded him a bit of ittindi in a way; the butler type rune knight certainly had a particular professionalism to him that not many rune knights seemed to carry anymore at least as far as he had seen. His golden fur bristled a little bit and he’d slowly stand up; he practically towered over anyone in the knights at the moment. The recruits often were the sort that were confused about his appearance and would think he was some just assistant.

”good to-”

However what caught him a bit offguard was the fact that this extended to some that hadn’t fully met him in either his various demon forms, the disguises he used to wander around using his cloak or… well just magic letting him fade from peoples perception. The waning of that crispness of the salute followed by the offering of a treat earned a little snort from saturn.

”I’ll have to decline the treat. I was the one that asked for you Anika.”

He didn’t seem bothered by the fact she mistook him for one, he was generally pretty relaxed even for a rune knight. For a general though? He just dismissed the confusion; entirely used to it and his smile didn’t wane what so ever. Could it even wane at all? Or was it a perpetual smile that just naturally fit? He’d motion to one of the chairs nearby if she wanted to sit; if not that was fine too.

”I wanted to talk to you; seeing as you’re new to this region you must have a perspective that many that are from here lack. Including myself.”

Saturn didn’t have that air of professionalism about him; he was relaxed, didn’t use rank. Nor did he seem to really dress the part he felt. His social outfit was fairly grandiose as things went but honestly that wasn’t a surprise either. He’d rub at his chin, eyeing the sergeant for a few seconds.

”You probably have questions of your own too. Feel free to ask them.”

”It’s fine Anika. Wouldn’t be the first time someone’s confused me for an animal or the like. Most people settle on a dog or bull for some reason.”

Saturn’s amusement was evident and he didn’t think any less of the sergeant in front of him. Maybe others would have been angry, maybe they would have been furious. Hell maybe someone would have started yelling at her. But saturn was unlike any leader in the way that he handled things. He was unlike the others that ran their guilds and this knighthood before him. His smile was ever present but there was a kindness that wasn’t just baked into it. It was ever present and exuded even now.

”Alien? Animalistic? Different? The list goes on. Many people don’t even know what I look like offhanded. Perks of being new to the position I suppose. You can speak freely here, I prefer it over… rigidity.”

Saturn rubbed at his chin and then motioned for the other to take a seat with him. The behemoth taking a seat; he wans’t much for posture, wasn’t much for the whole saluting thing but he’d give a somewhat relaxed one so that she could at least drop that. Of course there were some that were so into the knights that they would potentially stay saluting till they passed out.

”Your file was pretty straightforward, where you came from, parents, magic, that sort of thing. But that doesn’t exactly cover the experience that I need. I want to know what you think of the knights here, what you think of how the knights have been out where you had come from and the ones that you’ve interacted with thus far. I want to know your aspirations and goals as a knight. As a person. Your growth and strengths, weaknesses and connections matter to me no matter how trivial.”

Saturn spun a pen around in his hand, he could feel the tug of his weapon not too far away. It was always hungry to fight, it was always wanting to do something. Wanting to go out there. He always felt the same, wanting to go out and help the world. He’d turn slightly o stare at the window that sat at his back. She had no questions immediately but he felt like he would be asked a few at some point or another.

”Feel free to ask when you do. My own desires at this point is to de-fiorize the knights. We have too much power in one place, too much strength building in one country when we’re supposed to be out protecting the world. Not just one country. We’re strong here; but we could have prevented a lot from happening across the world if we had a better presence. So understand that each and every person that joins the knights will be held in the ideal that they are to protect the world and not just fiore. But… With fiore being our strongest area that leaves us with a unique opportunity. Do you know what that is?”

Saturn had spent a lot of time studying history in the recent weeks, a lot of time going over events that he had just missed with his ‘birth’ of sorts. The tugging sensation of a gauntleted hand on his shoulder earned him a slight tilt of the head. There was nothing there to actually tug at it; but it was the sensation non-the-less.

”I suppose I can see it. First time I’ve been compared to a horse before I think.”

Saturn rubbed at his chin, he didn’t seem to mind so much as you’d expect. Maybe it was because of his lax or laid back nature that made it easier for him to handle this situation. Perhaps that was his approach to make the rune knights more personable or have people talk to him with ease. Or maybe it wasn’t even something he did out of trying to cater responses and more was just how he acted in general. Saturn nodded his head hearing that her favorite animals were horses.

”Well you’ll be happy to know that we have a good stable here for horses. And while I don’t have my own I do have a wyvern. Though he’s a bit feisty in comparison.”

Saturn didn’t have a favorite animal but the low pressure air he was putting into the office was in an effort to make people be relaxed. He didn’t want people to stress about meeting him. Leaning slightly at hearing that it was lax he had to wonder how strict it was in Bosco. How to be more disciplined. He’d ponder this further and then nod his head.

”Then you’ll do well at the head of a squad I take it? You can help people become more disciplined. Just don’t go overboard.”

Saturn’s upbringing was all his own, he learned from others slowly and had to adjust quickly to the world or be consumed by it. Or consumed by the void in this case. Her question however made him crack an eye; he could see that crispness shift to something a little more meek, a little bit laggy. There was something in that question that had her nervous. He’d turn his head to where the files of transfers had been on his desk earlier.

”To a degree. It was largely impartial; most of the paperwork from bosco is very professional and straightforward. Compared to some of the trouble makers that we’ve been getting lately you’re a welcome sight.”

Saturn sighed a bit; some ex convicts that wanted to set things straight turn over a new leaf but kept falling flat. They were sent to places that didn’t help them grow and now they were here. Under his watchful and helpful gaze. Saturn leaned back in his chair and pulled out a folder. Sliding it across the desk. On it read his name.

”In fairness, you’re free to read mine. Something I offer everyone. There’s not much mind you.”

Compared to her file and anyone that had more than ten years on their belt would have a larger file than he. It was two or three pages at most. Even if saturn knew the utter complexities of the woman in front of him he wasn’t going to judge her for it. She was clearly trying to move on and it would do her good to grow here. Saturn’s grin grew a little bit and he’d nod his head somewhat.

”You have a good part of it. A good head on your shoulders for this kind of information and assessment. But we also have some of the worst criminals known to man in fiore, which allows them to see just what sort of thing they’re up against. In the last decade, maybe more threats have become more exponential as a whole which means our recruits are frequently getting tested by harder trials and the veterans that come from it are some of the best. Even if we… don’t get to keep everyone.”

Saturn sighed a little bit and took out of his desk a sword hilt, the blade had been broken near the crossguard and there was clear signs that the weapon had been cared for afterwards. He’d set it down on the desk as well and shake his head.

”This sword belonged to the Lieutenant that was above your section before. So bear in mind... We have enough heroes, both living and dead. Not everyone needs to be one. I prefer it when my people come home to their families. And I’d prefer it if you do the same.”

”If you like horses I would believe so. Though I must admit that I’m not the best judge of what qualifies as a good or best horse.”

Saturn seemed sincere when saying this, staring down at the destroyed metal in front of him. He had no letter to send; no words that would come right to tell the family. He hadn’t put it off since it was a recent hurt. Something that he knew putting off would damage their trust in the knights.

”She sounds like a good friend to have. I wish I could have spoken to her as she sounds like she would have had a good personality.”

Saturn looked at one of his hands, a small magical seal in his palm. A cantrip if one could call it that. It was a spell that let him read any language and speak any language. His expression softened a bit at the thought of speaking to the animal. They often held so much love for their owners and some didn’t get to hear that from them. Eventually he’d pass the thought and find that she was willing to whip them into shape. Nodding his head slowly.

Saturn felt his shoulders sag slowly as she seemed to miss what he was trying to present and he’d look down at the broken blade. He could feel the edge of his own spear in the corner and were his eyes the sort to remain open like so many others he would have closed them or perhaps rubbed the bridge of his nose. But his voice was soft, it was tender, there was an underlying hurt to it.

”Honor doesn’t protect the people without someone to wield it as a sword. Duty and privilege are only there for the people that are living Anika. It is a privilege to serve the people in life. It is our duty to protect them and it’s our courage and honor that lift the people up. The stories of ancient heroes bring hope and desire to be like them in the future.”

Saturn held the hilt of the broken sword, staring down at it again. Saturn eventually shook his head slowly; it would be quite some time before someone would understand what he meant here. He understood the sort of desire to fight, die and such with honor or duty but that wasn’t what he was pushing for.

”Life is short, life is fleeting. We do so much in so little time. It is too short to have it cut to pieces like this. He was barely twenty and yet he was killed in service to his people. Many would say the same thing. But all I can think of is that we have one less knight and a gaping hole in a families chest. There is no bandage that can heal that wound; there is nothing that can be said that will bring him back. He will forever be gone to them.”

His smile didn’t wane, but he looked tired and eventually would look back up to her.

”I want you to live Anika, live for the people here and continue to serve them in duty, in honor and in privilege. I don’t want anyone here to die for me. I want them to live. for me. Can you do that?”

There was an intense sadness to his voice; something that seemed out of place for one such as him but the loss he could feel for this family was something that touched him deeply.

”Aye, Some of the music- Sorry magic that I possess allows me to speak any language and read any language. This includes animals, though they typically are a little more blunt than human esq individuals and tend not to lie as much.”

Saturn seemed amused about the blunt part; there were a gang of racoons that frequently liked stealing food not because they were hungry but because they thought security in the kitchen was lax and was worried about the food for the humans. Though they hardly complained about taking it and eating it either. From what he knew of prior horses that he talked about they frequently conversed about their riders to other horses. It was safe to assume that the one that Anika had would have been similar. His smile softened and he’d nod his head.

”Horses and their ilk typically talk very well of their riders, she would have likely enjoyed it if she could have talked to you properly. Though donkeys and mules tend to be… sarcastic quite frequently.”

Saturn shook his head and let out a small laugh; one such donkey worked for the local farm and to say that it had a colorful language was to be understating that fact. Saturn bowed his head in a nod at the open ended question; or rather what seemed rhetorical at the moment. He’d look back to the sword at the question and sighed.

”Not very well. But that doesn’t mean I cannot grieve for him and understand the lesson that is presented from his loss. I do not want others to follow in his footsteps, sacrifice is fine but we have enough dead heroes. What we need is living ones. I’d rather see his eyes full of life and his face in a smile than eyes clouded by death and his mouth never moving again.”

Not to mention that many non magical individuals had a rough time rising through some ranks especially in this age. Warriors came and went it felt, but it truly was difficult for some of them to make it to the rank he did. One of his ears flicked and he’d rub at the side of his head.

”It’s all right Anika. That sounds familiar; I may have heard or read that somewhere. Hopefully his family will understand as well.”

Saturn flicked another one of his ears, the droopy ones next to his head that went down across is fluff barely twitching. He’d adjust a little bit; signing off on something at his desk, Folding it into an envelope and his smile warmed a bit as she agreed to what he had asked of her.

”It’s more of a request than a Command Anika. Just try to think about it a little. Living is something worth fighting for. I think that may be all today Anika, unless you have any questions or concerns for me?”

It was an open invitation and the general tilted his head to one side; he was hopeful for this generation of Rune knights and wanted to push them to become the best they could be without any doubt. Even if that meant that he must cultivate the desire to keep living in some.