Arcadia's Ignoble Knight: The Sorceress of Ashtown Part I

By Brandon Varnell

Arcadia's Knight Academy is the premier school for young men hoping to become a Sorceress’s Knight. Only nobles, people with power and prestige, are allowed within these hallowed grounds—which explains why Caspian Ignis del Sol is hated by everyone. He's not a noble, or of even slightly noble lineage.

As payment for being enrolled in the academy, Caspian is sometimes given tasks to perform that take him outside of the academy walls. This time, his job is to deliver a letter to a Sorceress living in Ashtown, but when the train that he’s riding on is attacked by a mysterious band of thugs in cloaks, he’ll find that there is a whole lot more to this quest than he first imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brandon Varnell
• Release date: May 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9780998994208

Book preview

Arcadia’s Ignoble Knight, Vol. 1

Arcadia’s Ignoble Knight, Vol. 1

The Sorceress of Ashtown Part I

Brandon Varnell

Illustrated by

Claparo Sans

Kitsune Incorporated

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

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Arcadia’s Ignoble Knight, Vol. 1

Copyright © 2022 Brandon Varnell & Kitsune Incorporated

Illustration Copyright © 2022 Claparosans

All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-0-997802-80-1 (paperback)

978-0-998994-20-8 (eBook)

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Dedication

This page is made in dedication to my amazing patrons. Without them, my characters would never get lewded by so many wonderful artists:

Aaron Harris; Abraham Madsen; Adam; Alarinnise; Alex Burt; Armando Pastrana; Aaron Cortrighr; Austin; Brendan Smiley; Bruce Johnson; Bryce McClay; ByzFan; Casey G. May; Catcrazy9; Chase Corso; Charles Dorfeuille; Chett Nialo; Christopher Gross; Cody Woodard; CosmicOrange; Daniel Glasson; David Bell; Edward Grindle; Edward Lamar Stephenson; Edward P Warmouth; Eric Bailey; Feitochan; Forrest Hansen; Forrest Hansen; G___Sweet; Grant; Green and Magenta Beast; IronKing; Jacob Flores; Jared B; Jason Wilcox; Jeremy Schultz; Jessy Torres; John Patton; Jordan McDonald; Joseph Snyder; Joshua Hasbell; Manny G; Mark Frabotta; Mason; Matthew Wallace; Max A Kramer; Michael Erwin; Michael Moneymaker; Mike Dennehy; Minocho; MrRedSkill; Nathan S; Norodim; Nyxterrynne; Phoenixblue; Philip Hedgepeth; Rafael; Randgofire23; Raymond T; Red Phoenix; Reent Dopychai; Repooc Ilahsram; Richard Garret; Rob Hammel; Robert Shofner; Rooser45; Roy Cales; Samuel Donaldson; Sean Gray; Seismic Wolf; Smudi Corp; Tanner Lovelace; Thomas Jackson; Thomas Lindsay; Thomas Oconnell; ToraLinkley; Travis Cox; Vincent Frosceno; William Crew; Wizard4Hire; XY172; Zach Miller; Zach Strickland; Zak Whiteaker; Zenn Barger

Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Interlude

Chapter 5

Interlude II

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Interlude III

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Epilogue

Thank you for reading!

Afterword

Sneak Peak

Manga Page 1

Manga Page 2

Manga Page 3

Manga Page 4

Manga Page 5

Hey, did you know?

Brandon’s LNs

American Kitsune

WIEDERGEBURT

MMG

Catgirl Doctor

Incubus

A Most Unlikely Hero

Arcadia’s Knight

Journey of a Betrayed Hero

Rift

Executioner

Follow me!

Full Page Image

Prologue

Thrust. Lunge. Parry. Riposte.

The chilly morning air burned his lungs. The sun had just risen above the country of Arcadia, casting rays of light upon the land, illuminating the courtyard below, creating a series of brilliant colors that splashed across the sky with the kind of vibrant artistry that master painters have spent centuries trying to capture on their canvas without success. Pinks, reds, and purples, all blended together in a beautiful combination of zest and vitality. Apollo, the Spirit of Light who supposedly controlled the rising and setting of the sun, had clearly gone all out that day.

Backstep. Twist. Dodge. Counter.

The innumerable blades of grass that made up the courtyard were slick with morning dew, producing a slippery coat that would have caused serious injury to anyone who was not mindful of where they stepped. Each blade glistened with a gentle luster in the morning sun, sparkling with a pale gleam of crystalline droplets. Many a student had found themselves falling on their backside―or their face―from having not been cautious enough when they walked through the grass-covered courtyard on their way to class.

Duck. Roll. Flip. Spin. Slash.

Caspian Ignis del Sol ignored the wondrous scene―as well as the potentially embarrassing danger―and continued to move in a never-ending dance across the courtyard. He'd been coming out to this place so often that, whatever danger might have existed, it was negated by the ease of practice. He had simply been doing this for so long, and he had already taken so many falls, that he was now able to accommodate for the slippery surface on a subconscious level. An impressive feat, to be sure.

Backpedal. Sidestep. Parry. Lunge.

Continuously moving across the courtyard, Caspian practiced his sword forms by way of shadow sparring. Movement was the key to his form. Constant, never-ending movement. Like the water that never ceases even when large boulders and other obstructions bar its path. Like the wind that blew through the clearing, flowing around objects regardless of their shape and mass. Continuous action, speed of movement, following the ebb and flow of battle, remaining ever adaptable regardless of circumstance. They were necessary components of combat, ones that he aimed to master.

Quick movements. Thrust. Sidestep. Take two steps in. Parry. Slash. Move faster.

Each time Caspian attacked, sweat flew off his body in rivulets that soared through the air and splashed against the ground around him. His messy red hair whipped about his face in a furious frenzy as he spun about in a dizzying display of sword attack combinations. His sword arm was a mere blur as he slashed and lunged and cut and sliced. The sun’s luminescent presence reflected off his blade, mere flashes of light that confounded one's sense of sight.

Faster. He needed to be faster.

Vibrant green eyes narrowed as he increased the intensity of his attacks. His muscles visibly bunched as they strained and quaked under the weight of his blade. The sword in his hand was heavy, like a boulder that had been compressed into sword form by the Spirit, Terra. It was much heavier than his usual weapon of choice. But then, that was the whole point, wasn't it? Strength. In order to fully utilize his sword forms, he needed to be stronger; he had to be strong enough that his normal weapon of choice felt like a feather in his hand.

The amount of time Caspian spent outside was indeterminable. He tended to lose himself when he trained. It could even be said that the act of training was his escape from the daily hardships life often threw at him. By the time he was finished, his arms felt like they were weighed down by lead, and his body was covered in a slick sheen of sweat. The clothing he'd chosen to wear, a sleeveless white shirt and black pants, clung to his skin, sticky and wet and altogether uncomfortable. He paid no heed to something so trivial, however, as he'd gotten a good workout in.

A glance at the sun revealed that it was nearly time for the day to start. Everyone else would be waking up soon. It wouldn't be long before the other students started walking down the corridors as they made their way to the cafeteria. If he wanted to take a shower before breakfast, then he would need to head inside now.

Picking up the towel that he had let sit across the glassless granite windowsill, which made a ring around the courtyard, Caspian wiped some of the sweat from his face. He then decided to wipe off the sweat from his underarms, too. After that, he proceeded to enter the large structure surrounding him on all sides.

Arcadia's Knight Academy was a towering mass of brick and mortar. It was a large series of interconnected structures in the shape of a pentagram. Each structure was designed beautifully. They were impressive, cathedral-like buildings that had taken many decades to create. At each intersecting point stood a large, cylindrical tower that jutted into the sky, piercing the heavens, as if to show the Spirits how far man had progressed into their celestial territory. The courtyard that Caspian practiced in was just one of many such locations. There were several more interspersed throughout the academy grounds―and this was one of the smaller ones to boot.

The academy that he attended was considered to be the most prominent school in all of Arcadia, the largest nation located on the continent of Terraria. It was in this very academy that a handful of young noblemen trained to become a Sorceress's Knight, the partner and protector of those who had earned the title of Sorceress due to their ability to summon and command Spirits. This school was a place where only the elite, those of noble lineage, went to receive their training. Among the nobility there was no greater source of pride than becoming a Sorceress's Knight, no higher achievement one could reach.

It almost made Caspian wonder what he was doing in a place like this.

Chapter 1

After taking a quick shower in the communal shower stalls, Caspian wandered the halls of the academy. Light gray stone surrounded him on all sides. An arched ceiling stood several feet above his head. Situated on the left wall were several large windows that had been evenly spaced half a meter apart, allowing sunlight to travel into and provide natural illumination.

His bare feet padded across the dark gray tiles. He held his dark brown boots in one hand and black cotton pants in the other. Several droplets of water ran down his bare back and chest, and his shaggy red hair was still damp from the shower he'd taken just a few minutes prior. Wrapped around his waist was a towel, which kept his modesty intact.

Not that there was much reason to worry about modesty. Even if someone was awake, it wouldn't matter. This school had no female students. Only a few members of the staff were women, the maids, and they weren't allowed near the dorms except when they were cleaning, which happened when students were attending class.

It didn't take him long to reach his dorm room, despite how convoluted the academy's interior could be. He'd long since memorized the layout of this place. It helped that he'd been living at Arcadia's Knight Academy since he was ten. Upon opening the door to his room, Caspian was greeted by the sight of his roommate making a few last-minute adjustments to his outfit.

Oh, Caspian. Turning around, a young man wearing a chipper grin greeted Caspian with an enthusiasm that made him sigh. I knew you'd be coming back soon. You were out practicing this morning again, weren't you?

Christopheles Siene el Ancor―Christo for short―was a youthful teen with short, spiky white hair and blue eyes. He was a little on the short side, standing nearly a head shorter than Caspian. This did not mean he could be underestimated, however, as few people could match him when it came to wielding a dirk―a small dagger used for thrusting. There was a reason he ranked ninth in the academy.

Like most days, Christo was wearing the standard academy uniform: dark blue pants and shirt, a white vest, a blue shoulder cape, brown boots, and a belt. Strapped across his lower back, attached to the belt, was a sheath containing his dirk.

He and Christo had been roommates since they were thirteen, the age most students were when they first started at the academy. Christo was a very cheerful young man, always smiling and always positive. Perhaps he was even a little too positive. His jolly demeanor, bubbly personality, and general exuberance were so overpowering that they seemed forced. It was simply hard to believe anyone could be that happy all the time.

And? So what if I was? Caspian walked further into the room, stopping by the dresser next to his bed and opening the top drawer to begin pulling his clothes out. I fail to see how that's any of your business.

Despite how cheerful and friendly Christo was, Caspian always tried pushing the other young man away. He didn't want to be friends with his roommate, or anyone else, for that matter. It had nothing to do with Christo and everything to do with Caspian. He didn't like people, and with good reason, he felt.

Caspian had learned early on in life that nobles couldn’t be trusted. Between the backdoor politics, backstabbing, and general greed found within the nobility, anyone willing to trust a noble had obviously lost whatever sanity humans possessed.

Besides, there was only one person in the entire world who had earned his trust, and Christo wasn't her.

I wonder how she’s doing? Is she safe? Has she been studying hard?

Caspian shook his head. Despite trying to push Christo away, the young man never stopped trying. Every day the other boy would greet him with that large, obnoxious smile plastered on his face. He would then proceed to talk Caspian's ear off, blathering on about anything and everything. No matter what he did, Christo would proceed to pester him like nobody's business.

Now, now. Christo chuckled while Caspian set his clothes on the bed, letting the towel fall to the floor so he could get dressed. There's no need to get defensive. I think it's admirable that you're so dedicated to your training. Very few people can wield a blade as well as you can.

There