A Lord and His Mentor [Hadrian]

[Lord Balian of Ibelin]

Hyrule Castle Town... Since after he left two years, Balian almost forgotten how the city look like... and now the city still remained the same except for new faces. The young lord in his Templar mail surcoat and galloped his horse Chamsiin on the streets of the town with his Templar banner furled around his lance. No doubt many people wonder that Balian is either a crusader who returned from the war... or a wandering knight.

He slipped down from the saddle and still carried his lance, Balian pulled his warhorse's reins to make it follow him. Balian look at the marketplace and have a browse on the stores. He could see Hylians, Minish, Fairies and of course humans... wandering on the streets of Hyrule Castle Town. When he thought of Hylian... Balian remembered his mentor Sir Hadrian, a Hylian knight who is strict but wise. It was him who taught Balian about swordsmanship and knighthood.

The young lord wondered... when he will meet with him again?

[Sir Hadrian Ecclesius]

Hadrian sat lazily in a large, red cushioned chair in the library of Hyrule Castle. Propped against the arm of the chair was his blade, Buster Brave. His staff he had left in his chambers this morn, having no real need for it since he was staying within the castle and town on this day. Cradled in the old man's arms was a thick book with a red leather cover and brass metalworking on the corners. Burned into the cover was a strange symbol: An eagle with an hourglass in its talons, sword blades for wings and a blackened crown over its head. The pages were open, a little over half way through the book and Hadrian's gaze seemed unbreakable. He shifted in his chair, sharp pains running up his back and legs. A long sigh escaped his mouth as he marked his spot and closed the book. Being cooped up in the library all day often did that to the elder, as it had dozens of times before. He got to his feet after laying the book down next to the chair. Twas the burdens of age; the body becomes frail.

He attempted to massage his lower back all he could as he exited the library, Buster Brave clenched in his free hand. Hade made is way to the castle doors, hoping to get a bit of fresh air and maybe head into town for a few.

The afternoon sun was bright and the sky was clear blue with a scarce amount of clouds lingering about. Over all, it was quite a beautiful day. After slinging his weapon over his back, he made his way down to the town below. Oddly enough, it was fairly calm and quiet in town but still enough people around to not be all alone. He made his way deeper into the marketplace, sifting through stores and chatting with merchants.

It wasn't until a figure on a horse came through that Hadrian stopped and looked at him. A strong-framed man in full armor, a lone man. No threat there but Hadrian still gazed as the man rode by. Out of curiosity, Hadrian's attention followed the man and his body soon followed. As a Lieutenant in the Hylian Knights, it was a responsibility of his to welcome any foreign officials and this man seemed foreign enough. Hade walked up along side the man in the full helm*.

"Welcome to Hyrule Castle Town. I'm Sir Hadrian Ecclesius, Lieutenant of the Hylian Knights. Are you on official business here?" His voice held respect and a friendly demeanor. It was best to give kindness if you didn't know the person.

[Lord Balian of Ibelin]

"Sir! Would I interest you in this hat?" the stall keeper asked the young lord as he passed by, Balian halt his horse and gazed at the wares on the stall. It was interesting scenery and there is a lot of changes in Hyrule Castle Town, especially more stalls were settled on the streets. There something interesting about one of the wares, especially a ceremonial Gerudo dagger and it is nicely decorated. Perhaps he should buy this for his mentor as a gift.

"How much the cost of that Gerudo dagger?" Balian pointed his finger and the stall keeper saw the dagger, a smile went across his face. "Oh sir, you have an excellent taste! This dagger is just came here yesterday! The hilt is decorated with rare stones as well as the blade was made from silver! It costs about... 100 rupees!" the stall keeper named the price and Balian took out exactly 100 rupees from his satchel purse. He gave them to the stall keeper and in return, the dagger were given to the young lord. Balian unsheathed the dagger and spin it on his palm, he was satisfied with it. The stall keeper still curious about Balian due to his armor.

"Sir... Are you from other lands?"
"... I was born in Lanayru, but I left here for two years... I'm a Templar."
"Templar? You are a Templar? One of the independent knights who fought in the crusade of Desert Province?"
"Yes."
"I see... What is your name sir?"
"Perhaps you've heard of me... I'm a baron here, I'm-"

Before he could state out his name, Balian heard someone was greeting him from his side, a Hylian knight. The voice was familiar and when he stated his name, Balian quickly took off his great helm and pulled down his mail coif. "Sir Hadrian? You do not remember me? I'm Balian!" Balian was smiling with awe to his former mentor, his request had been blessed. "Goddesses be praised! It's good to see you again, teacher."

[Sir Hadrian Ecclesius]

"Balian! Is that really you? My boy! It has been far too long!" The tone in Hadrian's voice went from courteous to ecstatic. "I can tell that you've been busy these past couple years. I've heard about many of your victories out in the world......and just to think, I set you out on your way with nothing but Chamsiin, a beginner's blade, and all the training you could handle. Looks as though you didn't waste any of it, both you and Chamsiin have grown into fine, young warriors." A strong smile gripped Hadrian's lips, "After hearing about all you've done, it truly does make me proud to be your mentor. But what are you doing here now? I haven't heard much since the Crusade ended.

Here, come with me, we can discuss along the way to the library, after we see what the market has in stock today." The old man took Balian around the town. It had grown a lot in those two years since Hadrian sent him off; a lot more people, businesses, and a fair community. Very nice living. There were Blacksmiths, Tailors, Import Merchants, Armor crafters, and almost anything else one could think of. It was quite convenient having all this right in town. "I just recently took a new Hylian Knight recruit into training as well. His name is Silver. He's got the determination thus far but training has only just begun."

[Lord Balian of Ibelin]

The old face of wisdom, how can he forget about his mentor? It was Hadrian who showed him the path of knighthood and the way of wielding a blade. "What you've said is true, but we are not as skilled, experienced and wise than you, Sir Hadrian." Balian gave his compliment to his mentor and he nodded to him. When Hadrian asked him about what is he doing here since after the Crusade in Desert Province, Balian shook his head for a while before he could answer.

"The crusade has ended, Sir Hadrian. A great triumph over the dark mage and his army with the help of Gerudo tribe warriors, but Templars had been dissolved. Everyone return to their normal lives including me, I've decided assuming back my position as a baron in Lanayru and continue to lead my house, the Ibelin." Balian told as he walked beside of his mentor. Balian also heard from his mentor that he trained a new Hylian knight go by the name of Silver, looks like Hadrian is going to have a busy day like usual. "A Hylian knight? That would be interesting, perhaps you should arrange a meeting with Silver and I shall have a friendly spar with him." Balian chuckled as he continued to follow Hadrian from the side. Speaking of meeting, Balian suddenly remember something.

"Oh yes, I forgot about this... Teacher, can you arrange an audience with Princess Zelda? I want to inform her about my return, so that I can continue my position as a baron... I hope nothing goes wrong during that time." Balian told his mentor about the audience with the Hylian princess. Women is his main weakness, he will easily nervous when he met one.

[Sir Hadrian Ecclesius]

"Ah, the Ibelin house will do good with a man like you leading them," Hadrian commented as they walked out of the market and up towards Hyrule Castle. "I'm sure he'd be estatic to meet one of my graduates. We actually just started training not too long ago. We just got back from the Snowpeak Top after a week of physical training initiation. You remember when I took you up there, don't you?" Hade chuckled a little. In almost all his training, Hadrian would take recruits up into the frigid mountain ranges to exert every muscle in their body and fatigue their mind to determine how strong willed they were. Trips to the Peak were often, slowly whittling down a warriors body, but it was necessary for training.

"A meeting with Princess Zelda? Perhaps I'll be able to convince her it take some time out," he told Balian as they walked up the staircase to the castle. "So, your time in the Desert Providence. I've always taught you to keep your eyes open, even when there doesn't seem to be anything worth looking at. Did you find any interesting items or information while you were there. The desert has a lot to hide, sometimes revealing great and many things,"

[Lord Balian of Ibelin]

"Snowpeak... Indeed... I remember that training... as well as that blasted civil war." Balian's face immediately went grim after he heard the word of "Snowpeak", he remembered the civil war between his house and the late House of Sverkersson. That Peak Province had claimed many lives of both Ibelin and Sverkersson brave men. If not because of Balian's father was assassinated by the Sverkersson, the civil war will not be happened right there in Peak Province.

When he still lingered in his mind, Balian was snapped out from it after he heard his mentor talked about the Crusade in Desert Province. "Oh yes, I remember something when you've said that. During last year we stumble across a cave and found some treasures. But as Templars, we cannot simply take that treasures for our own gain so, we gave them to the villagers of Gerudo." Balian told his mentor as they continue to walk on the staircase.

"And teacher... It's been a while that I did not visit my father's grave... Would you like to join me on tomorrow?" Balian asked his mentor, Hadrian was a good friend of his late father and that's the reason that the Hylian knight agreed to train Balian about knighthood and swordsmanship.

[Sir Hadrian Ecclesius]

"Ah, yes. The war had quite the effect on a lot of good men. But 'tis the avarice of men, unfortunately. And what one man wants isn't always what's good for all men.

Treasures, you say? I'm sure the village was pleased with your generosity," Hadrian wasn't interested in monetary treasure but instead he was sifting through information to find any treasures with knowledgeable wealth. Knowledge held more value than any gem or gold bar.

"Tomorrow? Hm...Yes, I don't believe I have anything going on tomorrow that can't wait for a little while. So, what kind of ideals are you bringing to the House of Ibelin? What do you plan on doing with it?

[Lord Balian of Ibelin]

"Father will be proud when he knew his old friend never forgotten him." Balian said to his teacher as they reached on the castle's bulwark. The young lord could see the buildings, houses and people on the streets... It was a beautiful sight.

What is he going to do with his house of Ibelin? Balian already have the answer ready. "I will trained more men-at-arms, infantries, and knights for the house of Ibelin. We Ibelins always get ourselves ready for what will come to us, or defend Hyrule when duty calls." he told his teacher as he crossed his arms on his chest as he look upon the skies.

"Teacher, if there's anything you need help for a quest or trouble, you can inform me... And no doubt that we going to be just like old times."