The sun rose over the Grand Inspection grounds, bathing the cobblestones in golden light. Banners snapped in the wind. Trumpets blared. Four hundred knights stood in perfect formation, their armor gleaming thanks to Elian's grease-stained sacrifice.
And in the shadows of the royal stables, the Reject Club was holding its first official meeting.
"You want to do what?" Ambrose whispered, clutching his pristine white robes away from a pile of hay.
"I want to apply a status effect," Elian explained, holding up a small glass vial he had just purchased from the System Shop for a heartbreaking 25 LP. "It's called [Eau de Mare]. Synthetic pheromones. Guaranteed to make any stallion within a hundred yards think it's their lucky day."
Ambrose stared at the vial. "You are going to make the horses horny?"
"I am going to make them enthusiastic," Elian corrected. "Rowena insists on leading the procession on her white mare, 'Duchess'. She wants to look like a conqueror."
