Re Extra' Legendary Proclamation Of Tyberius The Bastard

Tyberius sat near the open window, bathed in the late morning light, his gaze wandering across the rolling expanse of vibrant flora swaying gently in the breeze. His backyard stretched like a painted canvas, lush, green, and impossibly serene. Birds chirped in the distance, and wildflowers colored the world in soft pinks and yellows.

He sighed contentedly.

"I could get used to seeing this all day long…"

For the past few months, life had slowed to a tranquil crawl. Time seemed to hum softly around him, patient and forgiving. He hadn't trained, hadn't planned, hadn't moved with urgency. Ty had simply existed, idle, unburdened, and oddly at peace. Deep down, he knew it wasn't healthy. It wasn't safe. But still… he welcomed the stillness. After the chaos of his past, this was a sanctuary. One he didn't intend to give up easily.

His moment of indulgent calm was cut short by a knock that lacked any semblance of subtlety.

The door burst open before he could say a word.

"You know, Greta," he said with a groan, "there's no harm in gently walking in. Every time you barge in like the world's about to end."

He turned his head toward the intruder, his personal maid, Greta. She was dutiful and disciplined, loyal to a fault. But subtlety? Patience? Those were not in her vocabulary.

Here he was, trying to relax and embrace the serenity of nature, and what does his so-called protector do? Shatter the moment like it was glass underfoot.

"Young master," she said briskly, "you have a visitor."

Ty's brow rose sharply. "A visitor?"

That was new. No, unheard of. In the past four years, not once had anyone sought him out. He had lived forgotten, abandoned. And now suddenly, someone had come to see him?

"Where are they?" he asked, already getting up.

"Awaiting your presence… outside, young master."

"Outside? Why didn't you let them in?" His eyes narrowed. "And wait, how many?"

The word them was unsettling. Plural. Multiple strangers. Left outside? Greta's handling of the situation only made it worse.

"When you get out there, young master," she said cryptically, "you'll understand."

That didn't sound reassuring. In fact, it sounded downright concerning.

He studied her expression, it was grim. Deeply troubled, even.

Tyberius wanted to press for more details, but he bit his tongue. She said he'd understand once he saw them, so… he would.

---

What he saw outside shattered any sense of normalcy he'd built up.

A squad of armoured knights stood in formation, gleaming in the sun. They wore polished silver plate armour, dark blue capes fluttering behind them, and on each cape was a familiar insignia: a silver sword piercing an open book, centred on a dark blue shield.

The crest of House Arkwell.

Tyberius blinked, trying to process what his eyes were telling him.

The knight at the front stepped forward. His face was uncovered, and though mature, his features were sharp and serious.

"Greetings, young master," he began with a bow. "I am Edward, Knight-Captain of the Third Order. By direct command of the lord, I am here to serve under your leadership in an upcoming mission."

Ty stared. "…Uhm. Sorry, could you repeat that?"

"Of course. I, along with eleven knights under my command, have been ordered to accompany you on a goblin extermination mission at a border village. You are to act as the commanding figure."

It sounded no less insane the second time.

He turned to Greta, who had joined him outside.

"What is this man talking about? What mission?"

Before she could speak, Edward cut in. "Young master, you have been assigned to lead a goblin extermination effort. The enemy's numbers are unknown, but our objective is clear."

Ty's expression tightened. "I was talking to Greta, not you, Sir Tinplate. Kindly stay in your lane."

Edward offered no reaction, only standing straighter.

Greta, looking apologetic, finally spoke. "He speaks the truth, young lord. The order came directly from the lord. You… have been chosen to lead this mission."

Ty let out a small, dry laugh, though his eyes didn't match the sound. "You're serious."

No, this had to be a joke. Some cruel prank or mistaken identity.

"And these goblins we're supposed to wipe out, how many are we talking?" he asked.

"The number is currently unknown," Edward replied without hesitation. "We will assess upon arrival."

"Unknown," Ty echoed with a scoff. "Of course it is."

He paced a few steps forward, then turned back to face the armoured squad.

"Well, allow me to be as clear as possible. I've heard you. I've listened. And after careful consideration, I have my answer."

He raised a hand as if delivering a royal decree.

"No. Not just 'no.' I mean capital N, capital O. The kind of 'NO' that echoes through valleys and slams doors. A 'NO' so final you can carve it into stone and call it scripture. That kind of 'no.'"

He let his hand drop and stared Edward down. "I hope that's clear enough."

There was a heavy silence.

Ty crossed his arms.

"You expect me to obey an order from a father who's never spoken to me? Never visited? A man who wouldn't even recognise me if we passed on the street?"

His tone sharpened.

"And now, suddenly, he sends a dozen knights and an assignment like I'm a tool he left in storage for when he finally remembered I existed?"

He shook his head. "No thanks. Find someone else."

Greta stepped forward gently. "Young master…"

Her voice was quiet, solemn.

"I'm afraid to say… You have no choice."

Ty's smug defiance cracked.

"What?"

"You cannot refuse," she said. "The order bears the seal of the Arkwell patriarch. To disobey would be seen as insubordination… possibly even treason."

Treason.

The word struck him harder than he expected.

His expression that showed absolute defiance now turned upside down. To call it a change of countenance was to wildly misunderstand what he felt at this moment.

'How can refusing something from my own father be thought of as treason?! Who the heck comes up with rules like this?!'. He could only lament with growing fear.