Starting My Journey as a Dragon Rider from the Deepwater Realm

Clobber's guestroom was situated on the second floor, near the watchtower—a location he had specifically requested from Flack. The vantage point allowed him to observe the knights training below. By contrast, Baron Adam's accommodations were on the top floor, adjacent to Count Stephen's chambers, separated by three full stories.

Though it was past midnight, the castle remained alive with activity. The grand banquet had only recently ended, and the halls were brightly lit with oil lamps. Servants worked tirelessly through the night, ensuring the banquet hall would be spotless by morning, ready for the nobles' breakfast.

Accompanied by Knight Foster, Clobber quickly ascended the castle's many staircases, his steps purposeful. It didn't take long for him to reach the top floor.

At the stairway's landing stood two armored knights, stationed to guard the area. As Clobber approached, the knight on the left stepped forward, blocking his path.

"Good evening, Young Master Clobber. Sam of House Goblet greets you. Baron Adam has been expecting you. Allow me to escort you to his quarters."

Sam Goblet was someone Clobber was familiar with—one of his acquaintances from the Moonlit Mushroom family. Though not a noble house, the Goblets were among the wealthiest merchants in the region, their fortune stemming from the Broken Wheel Tavern on the city's west side. Their surname, Goblet, was a homage to their most prized possession: their renowned wine and ale.

Sam, a man in his mid-twenties, had been recruited as a squire by Count Stephen's knights in his youth. Now a seasoned peak apprentice knight, he was expected to ascend to full knighthood before the age of thirty, securing a noble title of his own.

Following Sam's lead, Clobber soon arrived at Baron Adam's chambers. After knocking politely, Sam excused himself, leaving Clobber alone.

The door opened almost immediately. Standing there was Clobber's uncle, Baron Adam Goldrose. Having exchanged his formal attire from the banquet for a loose, comfortable brown shirt, Adam smiled warmly at the sight of his nephew.

"Clobber! Come in," Adam greeted cheerfully, stepping aside to invite him in.

The room was lavishly decorated. A soft rug crafted from high-grade magical beast fur covered the floor, and a massive serpent's head was mounted on the wall as a trophy. Adam gestured for the servant, who had just finished pouring coffee, to leave the room. Once they were alone, he motioned for Clobber to sit.

"Take a seat, Clobber. There's no need for formality between us—I'm your uncle, after all."

Clobber chuckled lightly and sat across from Adam. Picking up the coffee cup on the table, he took a moment to savor its aroma.

"Rich and bold, with an undertone of quiet solitude—like the embrace of the night itself. This isn't from the duchy, is it?"

Though Clobber's lifestyle wasn't particularly luxurious, his noble education hadn't been neglected. Tasting and discerning fine goods was a standard part of the curriculum.

Adam nodded approvingly. "Good palate. This is a premium blend from the Emerald Kingdom. I don't have much of it—was planning to send you a tin. But since we met here at Moonlit Castle, consider it an early gift."

Clobber wasn't a coffee enthusiast, but he wouldn't turn down his uncle's thoughtful gesture. He nodded in gratitude.

With the coffee discussion settled, their conversation shifted to more casual topics. Time slipped by unnoticed until Adam brought up a more serious subject.

"So, Clobber, you've reached the peak of apprentice knight status. Your next step is to break through to full knighthood before the war begins. If you succeed, you could secure a fief and a noble title for yourself."

Adam's words carried weight. In wars of this scale, apprentice knights were little more than glorified cannon fodder. Only full knights possessed the strength to protect themselves and claim rewards on the battlefield. Every westward campaign brought forth new nobles while burying old ones. Adam wanted Clobber to seize this opportunity.

"You make it sound easy, Uncle," Clobber said with a wry smile.

Of course, he wanted to break through. But without a suitable breathing technique, he lacked the tools to make the leap.

Adam frowned at his nephew's response. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you telling me that if I handed you a proper breathing technique, you still wouldn't be able to advance quickly?"

Clobber closed his eyes briefly, sensing the energy and vitality within himself. Then he opened them, his gaze firm. "If I had a breathing technique suited to me, I could break through to full knighthood within a week."

Hearing this, Adam's face lit up with satisfaction. "That's what I wanted to hear. Here—you'll need this."

With a casual motion, Adam opened a drawer and tossed a book onto Clobber's lap.

Clobber caught the book and, as he looked at its cover, his heart raced with anticipation. The title confirmed his suspicion:

Goldrose

"This... This is—!"

Clobber's astonished gaze snapped to Adam, who sipped his coffee leisurely, watching his nephew's shocked expression with amusement.

"What's the matter? Hard to believe I'd give you the family's intermediate breathing technique?" Baron Adam Goldrose's grin widened, teetering on the edge of laughter, clearly amused by Clobber's stunned reaction.

"I know life hasn't been kind to you in that backwater swamp of Deepwater Territory. But you need to understand—not every noble family is as foolish as your father."

That much was undeniable. Most nobles were consummate self-interested strategists, and Clobber's father was an exception—an exception that had cost Clobber dearly.

Clobber remained silent, though his thoughts churned. He didn't have a clear sense of his own potential or future prospects. To him, he was just an unremarkable second son in a minor barony—someone with a sliver of talent but far from being anyone of importance. Weak.

Yet, in the eyes of the Goldrose family, Clobber was a rising star within the duchy, a rare gem with untapped potential. His striking resemblance to the Goldrose bloodline only solidified his value; the only thing missing was the family name.

Everyone knew the inevitable truth. Once Clobber came of age, it was only a matter of time before he aligned himself with the Goldrose family—be it through ties of blood, or because no one else could nurture his gifts to their fullest potential.

The Goldrose family wasn't just powerful. It was one of the few noble houses in the duchy that placed genuine value on familial bonds. Clobber's mother, Lilith, was the cherished daughter of Dennis, the current Goldrose Count. This connection made Clobber far more significant than he realized.

Adam leaned forward, his expression growing serious. "Of course, the Goldrose Breathing Technique is yours, but you understand how important intermediate techniques are. That's why you'll need to sign a contract with the family."

Clobber didn't hesitate. "I have no objections. I'm ready to sign the contract now, Uncle."

Adam raised an eyebrow, retrieving a prepared contract from a drawer along with an ink-dipped quill. He slid both across the table.

Without so much as glancing at the document, Clobber signed his name at the bottom.

Adam chuckled, a mix of amusement and exasperation. "You didn't even read it? Aren't you worried I'll sell you off somewhere?"

Clobber shook his head. "If the family trusts me, then I trust the family. It's as simple as that."

Adam sighed, shaking his head with a rueful smile. "You really are something else. Fine, but at least humor me and read through it now. No need to keep up that stoic facade with me."

Reluctantly, Clobber picked up the contract and began to read.

The terms were simple and direct. Upon his sixteenth birthday, Clobber would formally join the Golden rosé family, adopting their surname and bearing their heraldry. In return, he would gain the full privileges of a direct descendant, including:

Access to the family's intermediate breathing technique, Golden rose.A monthly supply of two bottles of alchemical potions.The right to recruit retainers and followers during wartime, effective upon becoming a full-fledged knight.

It was an offer steeped in sincerity. For Clobber, it was a chance to gain far more than he ever imagined, with the only price being a change of name.

Once finished, Clobber nodded. "I've reviewed the terms, Uncle. I'm ready."

Satisfied, Adam handed over a handwritten copy of the Goldrose Breathing Technique. Before Clobber left, Adam also gave him a month's worth of training resources. Considering Clobber's imminent breakthrough to knight status, Adam went above and beyond, swapping out the standard allotment for three bottles of the family's specially crafted Golden Elixir.

With the technique and potions in hand, Clobber wasted no time, heading straight to his room. After instructing his knight, Foster, to inform Frank of his plans, Clobber prepared to immerse himself in training.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, the three golden potions glinting beside him, Clobber exhaled slowly. He planned to rest and restore his energy before attempting the breakthrough.

"This is it," he murmured to himself, determination burning in his eyes. "Everything hinges on this moment."