The Weakest Commoner Controls All Elements

Stolen Glory

"Did you see the size of the beast?" a guard shouted across the courtyard. "Captain Rylen split its skull with one strike and blew the shadow demon to ash!"

"I heard the shockwave shattered the windows in the eastern district," another soldier replied. "The Church will definitely grant him a Holy Knight commission for that."

Jamie Hades walked past the boasting soldiers without breaking his stride. The citadel courtyard was a stark contrast to the rotting wood of his childhood home. Polished marble columns lined the walkway. Banners depicting the golden sun of the Church hung from the high stone walls. Nobles and high ranking officers mingled in the morning light.

Jamie listened to the exaggerated tales of the previous day. He felt no anger that Rylen had stolen his kill. The colossal crocodile and the shadow demon were insignificant pests. Killing them required no special skill. If Rylen wanted to build a reputation on a small feat, it did not matter to Jamie. His only goal was securing a position in the Holy Knight army to earn enough coin to rebuild his family estate.

A long wooden table sat at the center of the courtyard. Three priests in white robes sat behind leather ledgers. A line of hopeful recruits stood before them.

Jamie joined the back of the line. He kept his hands in his pockets and observed the process. The priests turned away most of the commoners. They demanded letters of recommendation, proof of noble lineage, or stories of grand battlefield achievements.

At the front of the line stood Captain Rylen.

Rylen wore pristine silver armor that gleamed in the sunlight. He had a red cape draped over his shoulder and a smug smile fixed on his face. A crowd of minor nobles and city watchmen surrounded him. They clapped his shoulders and offered their congratulations.

"The beast was fast," Rylen announced to his audience. He gestured wildly with his hands. "But my secret martial technique is faster. I focused my energy and shattered its brain from a distance. The demon tried to flee. I did not allow it."

The crowd murmured in awe.

"The Church welcomes a warrior of your caliber," the head priest said. He stood up and bowed slightly to Rylen. "Your heroic defense of the village square is exactly the kind of achievement we require. Please sign the registry, Sir Rylen."

Rylen took a feathered pen and signed his name with a dramatic flourish. He turned away from the table to soak in the admiration of the crowd.

Jamie stepped up to the wooden table as the crowd parted. The head priest looked up from the ledger and frowned. He took note of Jamie and his plain clothes.

"The soup kitchen is behind the cathedral," the priest said. He waved a dismissive hand. "This area is for military registration."

"I am here to register," Jamie said. He kept his voice neutral and rested his hands on the edge of the table.

The priest let out a dry laugh. He picked up his pen and tapped it against the inkwell. "Do you know what the Holy Knights do? We fight the terrors of the Abyss. We are the shield of the lord magistrate. We do not accept farmers looking for a warm bed. State your name and lineage."

"Jamie Hades," Jamie answered. "I have no lineage."

"Then you have no place here," the priest said. He closed the massive ledger. "Step aside and let the real warriors register."

Rylen heard the commotion and turned around. He looked at Jamie and scoffed. The captain did not recognize the young man from the smoke filled street the day before. He only saw a peasant interrupting his moment of glory.

"Is there a problem, Father?" Rylen asked. He walked back to the table and rested his hand on the pommel of his sword.

"Just a beggar who lost his way," the priest replied. "He wants to join the recruitment."

Rylen looked Jamie up and down. He shook his head and laughed. "The audacity of the lower class is astounding today. Boy, do you think anyone can just pick up a sword and call themselves a knight? This institution is built on blood and achievement."

"I am aware of the requirements," Jamie said. He did not break eye contact with the captain.

"Then you should be aware that you fall short," Rylen mocked. He took a step closer and puffed out his chest. "I saved this city from a demonic incursion yesterday. I proved my worth in the fires of combat. What have you ever done? Have you chased a stray dog out of an alleyway?"

The surrounding nobles chuckled at the insult.

"I prefer not to boast," Jamie said. He tilted his head slightly. "But since you require an achievement, I have a question. Is beating the captain of the city watch enough of an achievement to enroll?"

The courtyard went dead silent.

The chuckling nobles stopped laughing. The priests froze. The guards standing near the pillars turned their heads in shock. No one spoke to a noble officer with that level of disrespect.

Rylen felt the color drain from his face before a hot wave of anger replaced it. His smug smile twisted into a vicious sneer.

"What did you just say to me?" Rylen whispered. He gripped the hilt of his sword tight enough to turn his knuckles white.

"I asked a simple question," Jamie said. He maintained his bored expression. "I need to know the baseline for your standards."

Rylen drew his sword. The steel hissed as it left the scabbard. He pointed the tip directly at Jamie and took a fighting stance.

"I will take your tongue for that insult," Rylen snarled. "I am going to teach you the penalty for disrespecting a superior."

"Captain Rylen!" a voice yelled from the courtyard entrance.

Everyone turned to see a fat man pushing his way through the crowd of onlookers. It was Edric. He wore a torn silk coat and had a massive purple bruise wrapped around his throat. Two of his enforcers followed closely behind him. They limped and clutched their ribs.

Edric stumbled toward the registration table. He gasped for air and pointed a fat finger into the center of the conflict.

"I need to report an assault!" Edric yelled. He reached Rylen and practically collapsed against the wooden table. "A madman attacked my workers and threatened my life. I demand justice!"

Rylen lowered his sword slightly. He looked at the bruised merchant with annoyance. "Edric. I am in the middle of a matter of honor. Take your civilian complaints to the local barracks."

"No!" Edric wheezed. He rubbed his bruised throat. "The man who did this is a monster. He broke my enforcers like twigs. He owes me fifty silver coins and he refused to pay. You have to arrest him."

"Who owes you money?" Rylen asked.

Edric turned his head and finally noticed the young man standing on the other side of the sword. Edric flinched violently. He took three rapid steps backward and hid behind Rylen.

"Him!" Edric shrieked. He pointed a trembling finger at Jamie. "That is the lunatic! Jamie Hades! He is the one who attacked us!"

Rylen looked at Edric and then looked back at Jamie. The anger on the captain's face dissolved into cruel amusement. He sheathed his sword halfway and let out a loud bellowing laugh.

"This boy?" Rylen asked. He wiped a tear of mirth from his eye. "This skinny peasant is the monster who beat your men?"

"He is dangerous," Edric insisted. He peeked out from behind the silver armor. "He moved too fast. He broke legs and crushed chests."

"Your men are weak," Rylen declared. He turned to the crowd of nobles and smiled. "This merchant hires drunks to collect his copper coins. A peasant pushes them over and suddenly we have a monster on the loose."

The nobles began to laugh again. The tension in the courtyard broke. They viewed the situation as a comedy rather than a threat.

"Let me get this straight," Rylen said. He stepped closer to Jamie and tapped his metal breastplate. "You owe this honest merchant fifty silver coins. You cannot pay your debts. You live in the dirt. And you came here thinking you could steal a uniform to escape your poverty?"

"I came here to join the Holy Knights, I am a better candidate than any of you," Jamie said.

"You are a criminal," Rylen stated loudly. He wanted the entire courtyard to hear his verdict. "You assault tax collectors because you are too lazy to work. And then you have the nerve to stand before a hero of the realm and issue challenges. You are pathetic."

"Arrest him," Edric urged from the back. "Throw him in the dungeon."

"I am not going to arrest him," Rylen said. He drew his sword completely this time. "He insulted my honor. He challenged me in front of the holy priests. I am going to answer his challenge. I will execute him right here in the dirt where he belongs."

Rylen raised his sword high. The sunlight caught the polished edge of the blade. The crowd backed away to give the captain room to swing. They expected a quick execution. They expected the peasant to drop to his knees and beg for mercy.

Jamie did not move. He did not draw a weapon. He simply looked at the steel blade hovering above his head.

"You talk too much," Jamie said.

"Die," Rylen screamed.

Rylen swung the steel blade down toward Jamie. The strike was meant to cleave his collarbone.

Jamie finally moved.

He did not dodge or parry with the sword. Jamie simply raised his right hand and caught the descending steel blade between his index finger and his thumb.

The loud hum of the sword stopped instantly.

Rylen froze. He pushed down with both hands. He put his entire body weight into the hilt. The sword did not move a single inch. It was locked in place by two fingers.

The courtyard plunged back into absolute silence. The laughing nobles stared with wide eyes. The priest dropped his pen. Edric clamped a hand over his mouth.

Rylen looked at Jamie in horror. The arrogant smile was gone.

"If you want a challenge," Jamie said quietly. "I will give you a challenge."