May 12th (Night), 1446 - Castle Dragon's Crest
The Earhart family, a lineage known as the strongest on the continent for centuries, has produced generations of unique magical knights, each capable of obliterating an army from a small nation. Their unique magic, the "Dark Flame," held devastating consequences, striking down enemies before they had a chance to react. For this power, they earned the moniker "The Burning Raven."
And within this family...
— Ha...
— Tell me, my lord, must you always behave as though you were the court jester of the Patriarch?
— ...
There was no response.
— I understand, no need to answer.
A young woman, 18 years old, with long black hair like the night sky and gray eyes that sparkled like stars, walked beside a young man. Her lithe figure, clad in dark armor, radiated strength and grace, leaving no man indifferent. A sword hung at her side, its hilt glinting in the light of the magical lanterns. Alongside her was a young man, 19 years old.
Raphael and his personal bodyguard, Erin, strolled down the corridor of the luxurious Earhart family castle—Dragon's Crest—as part of their routine patrol.
Since Raphael refused to establish his own knightly order after becoming a Guardian at 16, he was assigned to the family's main castle as an "Honored Knight."
Though it sounded grand, in reality, it was just a guard job, a fact that drew scorn from the rest of the family members and elders. It wasn't that Raphael was weak—he had ignited the Blazing Spark at 13, which was on par with his brothers and sisters. The problem was...
— I'm so sleepy... This patrol exhausts me every time. Erin, my dear, will you cover for me while I take a little nap?
Yes, that was it: Raphael was an utterly carefree young man. He was always yawning, sleeping wherever he could, and overall, he didn't worry about anything.
You'd think that the constant reproaches from the Patriarch, elders, and siblings would at least irritate him, or at worst, make him angry, but no, Raphael couldn't care less. It seemed as if his only goal in life was to die without ever experiencing stress.
The only people who seemed to care about Raphael's indifferent state were Erin—his bodyguard and childhood friend—and Alice, the only sister who didn't treat him with prejudice.
— No, my lord. Let's finish our work, and then I promise I'll personally make your favorite chocolate and peach cream buns.
— P-promise? You're not lying?!
As ridiculous as it seemed, Raphael was crazy about Erin's cooking, especially her freshly baked chocolate and peach cream buns. For a guy who usually looked like he was about to fall asleep, such energy and excitement over something so trivial seemed unnatural, almost funny, to Erin.
— Yes, yes, I promise, but let's hurry... Oh.
— Ha, that upstart again.
Passing through the corridor and stepping into a lavish garden full of greenery and flowers that shimmered under the moonlight, Raphael and Erin spotted Aurora and Theo, Raphael's older sister and brother. They, too, were Guardians, but unlike Raphael, they had their own knightly orders and were considered "true" Guardians.
To put it mildly, this encounter didn't bode well. Theo was the main instigator of quarrels and mockery against Raphael, and although Raphael didn't care, he knew Erin always held herself back from starting a fight, even if it was suicidal.
— Oh, look who it is, our "Honored Knight," — Theo said sarcastically.
— Yes, yes, brother, let's skip your usual sarcasm and get straight to the part where I'm, um... to quote, "A weakling unworthy of not only bearing YOUR surname but even breathing the same air as you."
Raphael wasn't 100% of Earhart blood, a point Theo always emphasized in his attempts to provoke him. His parents disappeared without a trace before Raphael was even a year old. His father was the brother of the current Patriarch, Alonzo Earhart, and his mother, as he had been told, came from a modest noble family.
Nothing remarkable, and Raphael's father was rumored not to be an outstanding knight, so there were no moral barriers stopping the brothers, including Theo, from taunting him.
In the family's eyes, the Patriarch had merely taken pity on the child and taken him in, but that child had turned out to be a parasite, unable to become even a "true" Guardian, and merely leeching off the benefits of the strongest and most influential knightly family on the continent, giving nothing in return while others shed sweat and tears every day to stay afloat.
— You...
And just as Theo was about to slap his brother for his sarcastic tone, and Erin was ready to draw her sword...
— Theo, don't forget yourself.
Aurora, Theo, and Raphael's older sister, stopped him by grabbing his wrist.
— ...Yes, sorry, sister.
It was amusing to watch Theo, a rather sturdy guy, approximately 185 cm tall, with short silver hair streaked with black and a muscular build, grimace when his sister, a 26-year-old girl no taller than 178 cm, with a slender figure and beautiful curves, grabbed his hand without any effort.
— Let's go; the Matriarch is waiting for us. And you, Raphael, be more cautious and keep an eye on your bodyguard, — Aurora said reproachfully, glancing at Erin.
— Yes, I apologize, Guardian of the Northern Lights, — Raphael replied, bowing.
Standing still for a few seconds, watching his younger brother in such a pose, Aurora let out a sound resembling a sigh and, turning around, headed back into the castle.
— See you later, loser.
Theo, throwing a few more "kind" words, ran after Aurora.
Standing still for a few seconds after they disappeared from view, Raphael straightened up with a heavy sigh.
— My lord, I'm sorry, you had to listen to that because of me...
— Don't worry, I know you only wanted to protect me, — Raphael smiled, gazing at the night sky.
— Still, I'm sorry. I'll be more vigilant.
Raphael was about 183 cm tall, with long silver hair that gleamed in the moonlight, reaching down to his shoulder blades. He always tied it into a messy ponytail at the back of his head, leaving a few strands to fall freely along the sides of his face. His bright blue eyes seemed to reflect the depth of the night sky, where millions of stars burned.
At this moment, Erin saw him not just as the carefree boy he often seemed to be but as a dependable man who cared deeply for the people he cherished. His touch was gentle yet confident, as if he were guarding the most precious treasure. Raphael's gaze was warm, and in it, Erin could see the devotion and care he felt for her. To her, he was not just a lord but a friend and protector.
— Alright, enough self-flagellation. All that's left is to check the forest, right?
— Yes, my lord, we just need to survey the Velheimort Forest and report back to the Matriarch, — Erin confirmed.
— Phew, okay, let's finish quickly and go enjoy some treats!
The aura of "reliability" vanished instantly, and Erin, rolling her eyes, followed her lord down the garden steps.
***
— Guardian Raphael!
— Lord!!
— Lord Raphael!
Just as Raphael and Erin were about to enter the forest, shouts reached their ears, making them stop and turn around.
— Ha-h... ha... Lord... hu...
The agonized cries came from the butler, who had evidently run himself ragged trying to catch up to Raphael.
— Calm down. Did something happen? — Raphael asked in a steady tone.
— Lord, hu... h... The Matriarch urgently requests Lady Erin's presence at the castle. Whew.
— Huh? The Matriarch? What for?
— I don't know, but she said it was urgent.
— So I should return as well?
— No, my Lord, she instructed you to finish the patrol and return with your report afterward.
— Hm... what the fucking hell.
— My Lord... you shouldn't use such...
— Ah, sorry, did I say that out loud? I didn't mean to, Raphael responded with a guilty grin.
Slap.
Erin slapped her forehead with a loud smack, mortified by her lord, who had finally tested the limits of her patience.
— Sweetheart, you really shouldn't hit yourself like that... it was me who said it, not you.
— And that's precisely why it hurts even more, my Lord.
— Alright, enough joking. This situation is bothering me too, but we can't do anything about it. Erin, you head back with the butler, and I'll quickly finish the patrol. If I'm not back in two hours, it means I fell asleep, so you'll have to search the entire forest for me. Better hurry.
— Yeah, yeah, I'll try to be quick, — Erin replied with a hint of irritation. — Butler, lead the way.
— Yes, ma'am.
Watching Erin and the butler walk away, Raphael turned towards the forest.
— Damn, I hate doing this alone...
He stood still for a few more seconds, wrestling with his laziness, before finally heading into the forest.