The return to central was a myriad of emotions that he wasn’t expecting. The holiday season of the new years was something that he never got to see before. A sobering experience that the last time the new year passed he was hardly even learning fiorian. But now? He was practically the leading force for good in the world; the idea that the rk were a force for that had many reeling. The way that Kon had changed it to reflect more militarily but now their new general was one that was making waves.

Structuring outposts to respond to threats, getting bastions placed all over; interacting and talking with those in the towns rather than being a forlorn place where people fear to tread. This was the sort of thing you’d expect to hear from someone describing a ‘peace before the storm’. Even the movement of paradise dawn into iceberg left waves in the north that hadn’t settled yet.

Walking through the streets of crocus was always interesting for him, ever since his magic had evolved he had been recognizable to many. People stared in awe; glared at him or those within the knights ranks saluted when they saw their general. Standing at nearly a story tall he commanded every street that he walked through. But his gentle aura would make those near him relax, his large hand patting the shoulder of some of the nervous knights as he passed.

They weren’t expecting him to show up but honestly the movements of past leaders had always been a little hard to follow. He’d move through the city quickly; the knights had a huge presence here and in era given it was the capital of one of the magic council reps. They had a healthy relationship with king reign even though saturn hadn’t met him either.

He didn’t hurry through the streets so much as it was just… speedy. These cities much like many towns were made more for the usual sized folks. He was just an outlier; sure there were cases where people made concessions but it was hard to do that for someone of his stature. The demon passed through the last courtyard before the ‘outpost’ here in Crocus.

It wasn’t nearly as grandiose as the central headquarters but it was damn near close, it was practically a second headquarters if you wanted to be honest just lacking the same level of library and the armory was just a little more cramped. Everything else about it sang as though it was ready to stand the tests of time.

Saturn’s eyes cracked as they swept the courtyard of this outpost; new knights, trainers, those getting ready to patrol were passing through. Saturn noted the new faces; individuals he’d have to take time to learn. Some nervously saluted when they recognized him while others looked cluelessly on. He’d give them a small wave before going to the main building and up to the office that was set aside here for him.

Smaller was an understatement here for most, but for him it was just the same size. It took some work but in the major cities he had requested an office set aside for him when he visited. In this case they had one set up for him maybe about a month ago. If he wasn’t in the area the knights were free to use it for meetings or as a hospital or storage. He didn’t much seem to care if it was filled with things as long as he could get to his desk. In this case? They had been using his office to store weapons, a secondary armory of sorts. Taking a seat at his desk he’d note the new recruitment papers, crisp and ready for his review. His thoughts darted to ittindi and anika, the two that would most likely be responsible for such a report.

Picking through it there were a few names that stuck out to him. Recently dominic had joined and they were just verifying that, some nobles had sent their sons to join the rk thinking it a good way for them to learn the world, some peasantries that wanted a better life… the list went on. His eyes however fell to a pair of applications he hadn’t seen before. Nikoli and Luka. Both of which were… His brows furrowed and he’d contemplate for a moment. They were both around the same age, both demi-humans that were wolfish. Something clicked in his head and he’d call for one of the guards near his door.

”Hey there, are either of these two here right now?”

The guard peered at the papers, blinking lightly the guard shook his head on the first one. Not seeming to recognize them before motioning to the second.

”That one is somewhere around here milord. I could send a runner for them?”

Saturn almost wanted to sigh at being referred to as ‘milord’ but the people here in crocus much like era had so much respect for the leaders of the rune knights it was impossible for him to escape. He’d give a nod and thank the guard before shooing them away to go do something better than guard him. They seemed a little baffled but he’d give them leave to go enjoy the festivities.

”Milord… Tch. Talking to me like I’m a noble of all things. How quaint.”

Saturn didn’t particularly like nobles for many reasons, especially ones that had not earned their places among them. The ones that were born into power rarely knew how to wield it. He should know… he was one of them in that regard. He’d stare down at the recruitment papers and put them into the desk. Drawing out a local report he’d peruse through it; many gangs had been dealt with recently it seemed…

Born with a silver spoon in his mouth as far as most were concerned - the bastard son of a noble house from the former Kingdom of Pergrande has long since fallen from grace, torn away from the comfort of a peaceful, prosperous life in exchange for a life of hardship. His house burned, and his mother was cremated in the ashes and rubble left in the wake of war played by foolish nobility. Tragedy wrought wholly from injustice and the cinders of an avenger kindle anew in the loss of innocence.

Luka Rossweisse, a moniker in remembrance of a soul far purer than his father's stained epithet, is a new man, or at least, wishes to one day be after falling so deep into the cracks to survive. His hands are always tinged red, the phantom hue of crimes he wishes he could leave behind and the ones he now commits clandestinely for atonement. They blend into discord, silenced only by excessive drinking and the wounds from night's past. He wants to make a difference - holding out hope that there's a way for him to leave this earth with the scales of karmic balance shifted slightly in his favor - the world a little less dirty than the mess he's made.

So that is why the wolf is sat in this Rune Knight outpost, twiddling his thumbs nervously against the sharp angles of his stainless steel lighter. A cigarette rests between pursed lips, twitching along with the steady tap of his foot, itching to ignite it and take a deep drag to calm his nerves. But he thinks better of it, not wanting to make a poor impression on the General himself. Luka found it odd that somebody in such a prestigious position would deign to grace themselves with gutter street trash like himself, his history fully disclosed to assuredly paint the picture of a pampered noble turned villainous criminal.

"Luka Rossweisse? Hello? Luka Rossweisse?"

Luka's ears flicker, tail bolting upright as he snaps his head to meet the voice. He almost missed it, completely lost in the oblivion of his own mind, already dooming from the start. "Sorry, mate. Yeah, that's me." He stands up, plucking his cigarette from his lips to toss in the trash as he flicks his lighter shut.

"The General will see you now. Please follow me."

The soldier marches along and the wolf follows.

Luka's musings border on brooding, a swell of negativity and cynicism completely enveloping the poor wolf, ears drooped slightly and nary an excited wag of his tail. Why did he come here? Regardless of the outcome, he would continue his mission to make the world a better place. The resources provided would help naturally, but that doesn't justify this leap of faith. A wolf walking into a lion's den, confessions written in a job application, basically handing himself over on a silver platter, and for what? What did he truly desire here? Job security? A place to call home? Friends? Maybe it'd be nice to be surrounded by good people for once.

Luka's not sure he deserves any of those things, but it's far too late to shy from it now. He stands before a door; all he has to do is open it.

He takes a deep breath, exhaling in a way not to rattle his addled body, the tremble in his hand fading away as it rises to adjust his tie, moving up to ruffle his unkempt mane vainly to tidy himself up. "It's showtime."  A soft murmur as a fang shines keenly beneath a wry grin slightly upturned, and his hand clamps around the door to swing it open.

"Bloody hell..." A whisper in wonder. Luka had heard rumbles about the Rune Knight General, the Justiciar of the Damned, as he too would be known throughout the lands, but the tales failed to illustrate the exact scale and aura of the man before him. The wolf clicks his tongue in response to his slip, detaining the Rune Knight in sheen jade as his thumb hooks into his pocket, humbly bowing his head to ask forgiveness for his slight transgression. "Sorry, General, sir! I'm Luka Rossweisse - Here to answer your summons, sir!"

Saturn was at his desk reading over reports as he could start to hear the footsteps of someone approaching. He could for certainty say that it was the one that he had requested come and see him. The rune knight didn’t really think much of his own rank and often more than not didn’t seem to understand some of the weight that came with it. As the door opened his eyes cracked ever so slightly.

What he was presented with was someone that he without a doubt could help shape the future with. A young individual that’s potential yawned into infinites over and over again. It’s what he saw in every rookie that entered into the rune knights for sure, some fell off. Some kept climbing. He remembered when he could barely even string two words together when he had joined the rk. Closer to a parrot than a person at that point.

The file for Luka was quite in depth, the up and coming ‘bastard’ of a noble that was just entering their twenties. Easily his senior if you went off of age alone but this year that saturn had been around had been incredibly busy in one way or another. Maybe more at this point? He didn’t keep track. It was pointless to him.

Saturn stood after a moment, but for luka he’d likely seem to just keep standing up and up and up. The general was a behemoth of a man and commanded the room just by simple motions. However at the slip saturn couldn’t help but chuckle somewhat lightheartedly; it wasn’t the first time someone had been surprised by his appearance. His voice, gentle as they could be rumbled out. Whenever saturn spoke his music seemed to play and there was a calm yet cheerful air to him.

”Close, though the void isn’t really a ‘hell’ unless you believe in that sort of thing. No need to apologize. Or call me general of all things. Or sir. Just saturn would do.”

Saturn dismissed the idea of needing to call him by rank or even by sir, he didn’t much care for it. He never would. Inducted by kon into the military and quickly he’d find that the other knights were always around his rank until he reached the crest saturn had a more… lax approach here. He’d motion for Luka to come and sit in the chair in front of his desk.

”You’re probably wondering why I summoned you today Luka. But I like to get to know those within the knights as personally as I can.”

Saturn would make a little motion with his hand. Out of the voidspace he called his ‘storage’ a pair of glasses and a jug of water would just appear out of nothingness. Little slips in the fabric of reality that would let the both of them have refreshments. He’d pour them both some water and motion for the other knight to take his glass.

”That being said, I read your file. You were quite open with your history and I appreciate that. Noble to what some would call ‘nothing’ is an unfortunate way to start things out. But I’m glad that you chose to partake in the rune knights.”

Saturn took a seat back into his chair, placing his hands on the table. His glass floated on over to him and he’d take it out of the air. The little teasings of arcane grey around them; he didn’t so much have telekinesis as he was just using the magicules around to make things float for him. Kind of like how he used it to summon swords really.

”But, I want to get to know you. The actual you. Not the one you put on paper. So please. Tell me about yourself, what your reason for joining the knights were and any goals you may have in them. Your free to ask me questions too; wouldn’t be much of a meeting if I just had you answering questions all day.”

There was a cheerful ring to his voice, a gentleness that would be easy to spot a mile away. He did care about those under him without a shadow of a doubt and would keep that ongoing for until he drew his last breath whenever that would be. He could tell that people were nervous when they met him so it’d be better to just make sure they knew they had nothing to worry about.