Ryu wakes up in a bed he sees the knight staring at him as if he was watching him the whole time, Ryu fears the worst Liz and her mother had been slain by this knight the power he demonstrated was unlike anything he had seen before in his life he had heard only stories about such strength but to have witnessed it first hand, was something else from the stories he was told.
"Where… where is Liz did you kill them knight?" Ryu asked uncertain if the knight would even answer him.
"No they are safe, quite brave of you boy to face a knight for someone else and for demi-humans none the less tell me your name boy."
"R-Ryu is my name and who are you?" Ryu asks the knight before him.
"My name is Arthur Pendragon I'm a platinum rank knight , what you did was brave I'll say it again and nothing will happen to your friends they are in no danger of knights we have started to change the order we only kill harmful monsters and those that do not pose any harm we let them be. But enough mumbling from me what I want to ask of you is how would you like to be my apprentice?" Arthur asked.
As Ryu heard these words his eyes darted to find Liz and he merely caught a glimpse of her and sure enough they were safe as he had said. The thought that occupied Ryu's head now was the fact to join a knight and under him he could become so much stronger than ever. The knight seemed honourable and Ryu in a strange way admired this knight because he knew how to show mercy and was not a ruthless killer of innocence like so many others.
"I'll need to let my parents know of this, I can't just run away and not look back without telling them anything at all"
"But of course I'd expect no less from an honourable young man like you, if needed I will speak with them as well let us return to your home Ryu." The knight replied
Ryu and Arthur made their way back out of the forest and went to Ryu's home Arthur explained to his parents that he would like to take Ryu and train him he would be a knight and would be able to make a change. After careful consideration his parents agreed to this and went on their way Ryu looked back as they left and felt that this was the start of something new being able to finally leave this small town, it's a dream come true.
After that day 14 years had since passed Ryu was now a full-fledged Knight he held the rank of silver higher than commoners like him who entered the knights have achieved, Arthur was named king of the knights and under him things did change for a time demi-humans were more free and in certain towns did not even need to hide anymore.
"After all these years I wonder how Liz is doing and how does she even look now, it's been a while since I visited home should head there when I'm on leave again still can't believe they promoted me to silver rank it only took 14 years of my life to get here because I'm a commoner." Ryu thought to himself as he walked down the street of the capital.
"Hey Ryu wait up." A familiar voice called to him he turned around and it was none other than Arthur who was calling to him; Ryu slows his pace so Arthur could catch up.
"Hurry up old timer you're getting slow in your old age"
"Ahh come on I'm not that old I'm only 54 years old still a spring chicken the ladies love the older more experienced man like me"
"I'm sure they do."
Ryu replies the continue towards the castle to their rooms in the years that passed Ryu looked up to Arthur as an example of what a knight should be to serve the people rather than serving the crown he protects the innocent whether they are human or not. Once Ryu was in his room on his bed sat a strangely familiar face her hair now longer but it was the eyes that he saw that captured him.
"Liz" he exclaimed with a joy in his voice.
"I have not seen you in 10 years you look breath taking your hair is so long now I did not recognize you had I not scene your beautiful eyes."
Liz gets up and hugs Ryu the reunion was welcome as he held her he forgot how warm she could be and he smelled her hair it smelled like sweet flowers. After they hug they both sit down on the bed next to each other Ryu has many questions for Liz.
"How is it you're here Liz, is your mother well… and how did you even get into my room… no scratch that how did you know this was my room? I mean it could have been somebody else's room."
"Have you decided on a single one for me to answer first?" She says teasing Ryu. "No I left the village mom passed away some time ago of sicknes."
"I-I'm so sorry to hear that Liz-."
She interrupts him and answers his other questions "I climbed the wall to get into your room you of all people know I'm an expert climber and secondly I still know your scent without a doubt I would find your room it may have been 10 years but I could never mistake you for another my dear Ryu."
Ryu holds Liz close with one arm around her after hearing the sad news. "Why don't you stay in my room while you're here Liz I'm sure nobody would find out they are just more strict on me than the noble born knights but they have visitors all the time but again all of them noble woman who hope to land a man I guess."
"Ryu t-thank you they won't even know I'm here I'll be extra careful and be gone by the mornings."
Ryu only smiles at her he gives her the bed and throws only a sheet on the ground for him to sleep on it was summer and the summer weather was always hot he would sleep shirtless in the nights and tonight was no different.
Liz woke up it was early morning but Ryu was already gone he was always an early riser and would start his day when he woke. Liz made the bed and left quietly and made sure none of the other knights spotted her or the maids that work in the castle.
it was strange she thought to herself "Ryu is so much older but has not changed all that much since I last saw him 10 years ago he workd so hard for this silver rank Arthur invited me to witness it but the stupid guards wouldn't let me in but I snuck in any way I hope he does change so that demi-humans like me could walk freely beside humans and be in an open relationship, how wonderful would that be to hold his hand and not be judged by it at all."
"Hey Liz where are you off to in such a hurry." She turns around to find Arthur behind her he was wearing casual clothes today it was his day off.
"I'm just wandering, where is Ryu off to at such an early morning?" she asked with a curios tone.
"You know that boy is always busy he left on an escort mission some noble wanted to visit a nearby demi-human village so Ryu was assigned to take him there and make sure he returns safe and sound like a little baby… don't tell anyone I call nobles babies."
Liz only giggles and replies "sure I won't tell a soul Arthur I hope Ryu will be alright."
"He's tough and well you do realise I trained him right taught him everything I know he'll be just fine." Arthur replied with a sort of parental pride tone towards Ryu.
"I hope this goes quickly I want to spend the day with Liz she looked so beautiful when she sleeps, this noble better hurry up and not sight see I hate escorting nobles always act like they're the only once that have a life-."
Ryu's thought was cut short when arrows fired from the trees his reaction was quick and was able to push the noble out of the way and deflect the arrows. Three bandits drop down from the trees and circle Ryu they are all slim and seem to be around 6ft to 6'2, elves most likely he thinks they are all wearing green and their faces covered by masks. No matter I'll deal with them quickly.
Ryu's sword is already drawn the elves draw their short swords they attack at Ryu but he deflects the first and dodges the other two "They're fast I'll give them that I need to be careful now." He thinks to himself.
They attack again but Ryu is ready for their attack he grabs the one elf's arm as he tries to stab Ryu using his own momentum to steer him into the other elf, Ryu turns and hits the third elf with his back hand knocking him out, the other two regroup and attack Ryu together but it's clear they're inexperienced in combat Ryu single handily overwhelms them knock them both out without killing them.
To the nobles surprise he ask a question of Ryu, "t-thank you for saving my life but why d-did you not kill them?"
"They're merely children angry over the change elves feel superior to humans and even many other races I will not kill the young they're just swinging swords, come now nobleman let's get this visit over with so we can go home." Ryu replies
"Indeed let's I'm curious to see this village the demi-humans have and run independently from humans"
Ryu and the nobleman continue to the village for their visit will they be greeted with violence at the village or not?
End of chapter 3