Since unleashing [Unarmored Defense] and [Assault Mode] in the yard and thoroughly "hammering" his opponents into shape, Arthur had effortlessly completed the third of Maester Oswell's five conditions.
That is: to demonstrate martial prowess and swordsmanship that commanded the respect of everyone in Starfall.
Since that day, whenever any squire in the yard saw him, they would immediately stop their drills, shrink their necks instinctively, and put on ingratiating smiles while slowly shuffling behind their comrades.
Even when the Master-at-Arms, Ser Clegg, barked at them to continue, it was no use. They wouldn't resume training until Arthur had left the yard.
As for the tall, arrogant squire who had first challenged him—after receiving a sound thrashing, he seemed like a changed man. He now fought with Jimmy and Zach for the privilege of serving Arthur, effectively becoming his eager lackey.
Arthur learned that the arrogant squire was the son of Starfall's Steward, Fat Karen. His name was Keller.
For some reason, Arthur saw a shadow of his old friend Zan in Keller.
Not many days later, urged on by a crowd of bruised squires and Ser Clegg himself, Arthur completed the fourth condition in the Sept of Starfall.
That is: the requirement regarding character.
In the Sept, presided over by Septon Arles and witnessed by the entire household of Starfall, Arthur swore an oath before the statues of the Seven. He vowed to uphold the virtues of the Swords of the Morning of old: courage, temperance, diligence, and justice, for all the days of his life.
To be honest, Arthur had resisted taking this oath. It felt strange.
In this world, men swore oaths for love, for honor, or to clear their names. But surely no one had ever sworn an oath just to stop others from being afraid of them.
So, taking the vow felt bizarre. Especially after the ceremony was complete, watching those bruised and battered squires celebrating, hugging each other, and weeping with relief.
Arthur felt like ants were crawling all over his upper body. He had a sudden urge to take his shirt off.
However, after the oath, the squires were no longer terrified of him. They could finally conduct their daily training normally.
Maester Oswell also arranged for Arthur to give Edric private lessons in swordsmanship and horsemanship in the afternoons, ensuring the young Lord spent more time by Arthur's side.
Compared to learning swordplay, Cousin Edric much preferred dragging Arthur all over the castle on endless explorations.
They climbed to the top of the Palestone Sword Tower, looking out over the vast Summer Sea, the rushing Torrentine River, the rugged peaks of the Red Mountains to the east and west, and the forests and sandy beaches below.
They visited the family crypts, where Arthur paid respects to his mother, Ashara Dayne, and his uncles.
They climbed the pomegranate, fig, and grapevines in the Godswood, and visited every nook and cranny Edric found interesting.
"Ned, I know you are a lively boy." One day, after sword practice, Arthur asked curiously, "Why do you always seem so shy in front of others?"
Edric clutched his small wooden practice sword. His round face was flushed red, his forehead beaded with sweat, and he was panting for breath.
"I... I don't know... When strangers... look at me, especially when... many eyes are on me at once, my mind goes blank. I don't know what to do."
Hearing Edric's description, the term social anxiety popped into Arthur's mind.
Believe it or not, Arthur himself was socially anxious. With a wealth of experience as a shut-in in his past life, he understood the affliction well.
People with social anxiety often hyper-focus on their own behavior, falling into the trap of thinking "everyone is judging me."
Sometimes they assume they will make a mistake or be mocked, creating a vicious cycle.
Furthermore, a lack of social experience and avoidance of social situations leads to an inability to adapt to unfamiliar settings.
For a modern person, being socially anxious didn't matter much. But for a Lord—especially a Lord in Dorne, where the people were bold and uninhibited—it was a serious problem.
"Besides not knowing what to do, do you sometimes feel your heart race, break out in a sweat, or start shaking?" Arthur wiped the sweat from Edric's forehead. "Are you worried you'll make a fool of yourself and everyone will laugh?"
Edric's face turned red to the roots of his hair. "I... I'm not sure."
Arthur looked toward Keller, who was standing at a distance, and shouted:
"Keller! Go call a few squires over. Tell them I need them."
Arthur added, "Make it clear: if they don't want to come, don't blame me if I take my shirt off and come find them."
In no time at all, Keller returned with a large flock of squires. Even... even old Ser Clegg tagged along.
Seeing this, Edric immediately hid behind Arthur, hugging his leg tightly.
"Turn around, all of you. Don't look this way until I say so." Arthur hadn't expected so many people. After shouting the order, he turned to the trembling Edric behind him and spoke softly.
"Don't be afraid. Follow my rhythm. breathe deep, from your belly."
After a few deep, diaphragmatic breaths, Edric seemed to calm down slightly.
"Cousin, I think I... I'm a little better."
"Try standing in front of me."
"Yes..." Edric whispered, inching forward step by small step until he stood before Arthur.
"You two on the far right—turn around."
The two squires turned, looking at Arthur curiously. Arthur grabbed Edric, who tried to dart back behind him.
"Relax. I'm here. Breathe deep, just like before."
While Edric was breathing, Arthur instructed the two squires, "Look at us, nod, and smile."
The two squires exchanged a glance, then nodded and squeezed out smiles that were uglier than weeping faces.
"Don't force it. Just smile like you did when you saw me before I took my oath."
One squire stammered, "I... I can't really... smile right now."
Arthur didn't speak. He simply made a motion as if to grab the hem of his tunic to pull it off.
The two squires instinctively shrank their necks, rubbed their hands together in front of their chests, plastered ingratiating smiles on their faces, and subtly shuffled their legs backward.
"Haha..."
Seeing their comical reaction, Edric couldn't help but let out a giggle.
Arthur struck while the iron was hot.
"Alright, everyone turn around! Do what they're doing—nod and smile!"
"No... Ser Clegg, you don't need to join in!"
---
This time, Arthur could feel Edric was still tense, but the boy didn't try to hide behind him anymore.
From that "nod and smile" session onward, although Edric was still shy, the behavior of trying to hide himself away disappeared.
Arthur encouraged Edric to talk and chat with the squires more often.
Every evening at dinner, he invited different people from the castle to sit next to Edric, asking them to chat with the young Lord and tell him what they had done that day.
"You must not only know your men, but let them know you."
"Talk to them. Don't expect your men to die for a stranger."
That was what the other Ned had taught him.