Looking at the ten barbarian youths—disheveled but with a rekindled spark in their eyes—Leylo nodded with satisfaction.
"Excellent." He turned to Ed. "Ed, take them down. Get them clean clothes, and provide ample food and water. From today on, they are the warriors of Blackstone."
"Yes, My Lord!" Ed complied, arranging for his subordinates to carry out the orders immediately.
Leylo looked back at Thor and the others. "The ten of you will form a squad from now on. You shall be called 'Rock.' I hope that in the future, you will be like solid rock—indestructible, loyal, and reliable. Thor, you will serve as the captain of this squad."
"Yes, My Lord!" Including Thor, the ten youths responded in unison. Their voices were still somewhat weak from their ordeal, yet they were filled with newfound strength.
"Ed, from today on, you will concurrently serve as their instructor, responsible for teaching them the arts of the knight."
Blackstone Town. A new morning.
On the newly cleared, expansive training grounds on the west side of town, the atmosphere was white-hot with activity. Nearly a hundred newly recruited youths, dressed in uniform coarse linen training outfits, were following the commands of several veterans, undergoing basic formation and physical training.
Shouts, rhythmic footfalls, and the clatter of wooden practice weapons intertwined, injecting a long-lost vitality into the town that had just survived such turmoil. The residents, old and young alike, would occasionally stop their work to watch the training grounds with curiosity. Those sweaty young silhouettes and the powerful slogans were like a ray of sunlight piercing through the gloom, settling their fearful hearts and reigniting hope for the future.
Thor and his nine companions, after a brief wash, a change into clean clothes, and a full meal, were brought here. Their arrival was like stones dropped into a calm pond. Though young, these barbarians were tall and burly; having spent their lives fighting beasts in the mountains, they carried a raw, untamed wildness that made them stand out significantly from the slightly green town apprentices.
Following Leylo's orders, Ed took on the role of instructor for the Rock Squad. He did not treat them differently because of their barbarian status. On the training ground, rules were rules.
Basic training wasn't difficult for the Rock members. Their stamina far exceeded that of ordinary boys. The only thing they needed to adapt to was the discipline and combat techniques emphasized in knightly training. When Ed began teaching basic sword strikes, Thor's talent became immediately apparent.
"Thrust! Faster! More accurate! Fiercer!" Ed held a wooden sword, demonstrating personally. His movements were crisp and efficient, carrying the iron-blooded aura of a soldier.
While the training ground was ablaze with activity, the atmosphere in the stables and the open space behind the lord's castle was somewhat tense. Leylo, accompanied by several knights, was circling the six newly captured Pegasi.
Owning a Pegasus cavalry unit had always been a dream for Leylo. They were not only fast but could ignore terrain for aerial strikes and scouting—their strategic value was immense. However, while the dream was grand, the reality was harsh. These wild-caught adult Pegasi were full of spirit and utterly defiant. The knights had tried everything—feeding, soothing, forced mounting—to little effect.
The morning had passed, and the six beasts remained hostile toward any knight who approached. They either kicked out with their hooves or flapped their wings to create violent gusts of air. Two knights had even been thrown violently while trying to mount, leaving them dazed and bruised.
"My Lord, these beasts are too fierce. I fear..." a knight wiped sweat from his brow, sounding a bit discouraged.
Leylo frowned but remained silent. He personally stepped toward a pure white Pegasus, the strongest and most magnificent of the six. He slowly extended his hand, wanting to stroke its neck.
Whoosh!
The white horse suddenly reared its front hooves, letting out a piercing whinny. Its massive wings flared open, creating a gale that nearly knocked Leylo over. Leylo's eyes narrowed; his Knight's Qi erupted instantly, steadying his body while a powerful aura of pressure enveloped the horse. The white horse felt the threat and pawed the ground uneasily, but the defiance in its eyes didn't fade a bit.
Using his Qi to suppress the beast, Leylo forced himself onto its back. No matter how much the Pegasus bucked, swayed, or leaped, Leylo remained glued to the saddle, unyielding.
Ten minutes passed. Both man and horse were exhausted, but neither side had succumbed. They were locked in a stalemate.
In the distance, Moonlight appeared atop the perimeter wall. It had just wiped out a nest of gerbils and was in high spirits. Seeing the struggle, its form blurred, appearing like a ghost directly above the white horse's head. Then, it unceremoniously raised its furry little fist.
Bonk! Bonk!
Two punches landed squarely on the white horse's forehead.
"Whimper..."
The Pegasus, which had just been so defiant that even Leylo's aura couldn't break it, let out a pathetic, aggrieved whine. Its massive body visibly shivered. Then... its proud head slowly lowered. The ferocity in its eyes vanished, replaced by something bordering on... fawning docility? It made a gurgling sound in its throat, as if trying to please.
The surrounding knights nearly dropped their jaws. That's... that's it? Tamed? Just two "bonks"? They had spent all morning exhausting themselves—feeding, soothing, risking broken bones—and they weren't as effective as the Lord's magic pet's two fists?
Leylo's mouth twitched. He wasn't sure if the punches were simply too heavy or if the aura of a Dragon had cowed it. Regardless, the wild beast had surrendered. This taming method was... a bit too crude and direct, wasn't it? But the results were ridiculously effective.
Moonlight let out a soft huff and patted the horse's large head as if scolding a disobedient puppy. Then it turned to Leylo, lifting its chin with a look that said, "See? Simple."
Leylo gave a wry smile and pulled Moonlight into his arms. "Ahem... Moonlight, could you... do me a favor?" He pointed to the remaining five Pegasi still watching warily.
Moonlight glanced at the five horses, then at Leylo, and pointed to its small belly. The meaning was: "Hungry, no strength!"
Leylo caught on quickly. "One roasted goose for one tamed Pegasus."
Moonlight kept its head high, not even looking at him.
"Two roasted geese for one Pegasus?"
Moonlight's furry ears flicked.
"Three! Fine, three roasted geese per horse!"
Moonlight turned its head away haughtily and hopped out of Leylo's arms. Then, under the awestruck and slightly bizarre gazes of Leylo and the knights, Moonlight walked toward the remaining five Pegasi like a queen inspecting her domain.
Bonk bonk! "Whimper..." Bonk bonk! "Whimper..."
In less than a minute, all the remaining Pegasi lowered their heads obediently, as docile as horses that had been domesticated for years. Looking at this dramatic scene, Leylo took a deep breath. This little Silver Dragon, though still a hatchling, was already proving to be extraordinary.
Even if the cost... was a significant amount of roasted goose.