As the group waited outside, the atmosphere was tense. The crisp morning air bit at their skin, but the chill in their hearts was far colder. Their thoughts turned to Lily, the once-feared homunculus who now stood among them, no longer a threat but a dilemma.
Anna, her brow furrowed and arms crossed, was the first to break the silence. "Honestly, we should just let her die," she spat, her voice cold. "What she did to Zaria... people like her don't change overnight. I don't care if she's ranked the same as us—she's still the same monster."
Max nodded in agreement, his eyes hard. "Anna's right. She treated Zaria like trash. If she doesn't atone for her sins, she's just another burden we don't need."
Valor, calm and contemplative, spoke next. "You're right that she's a non-combatant homunculus. But isn't that her strength? She won't be with us in battle, sure—but we need information, especially about the outside world. She could be our guide through the unknown."
Keldorna's eyes narrowed as she faced Valor. "What do you mean, 'her strength'? She's just trying to survive, to manipulate us like everyone else. She only cares about herself."
Valor met her gaze steadily. "Wouldn't you do the same? If you were in her shoes, wouldn't you do whatever it takes to live, even if it meant siding with those who despise you?"
The old man's words were calm yet laced with the wisdom of years. Though he didn't care much for Lily personally, his sympathy shone through.
Keldorna, their de facto leader, felt the weight of his words. Valor had the experience to lead, yet he chose to let others take the mantle. His perspective gave her pause.
Max noticed her hesitation and decided to weigh in. "So, who will be her retainer? Because I'm not dealing with her. She's your problem now . . ."
"I'll be her retainer," Zaria declared, stepping forward and pulling Lily along by the hand. The fear in Lily's eyes was palpable as she faced the group.
Anna, eyes blazing, stepped toward Zaria. "Did you forget what this bitch did to you? She could betray us at any moment! Think about the group, Zaria. Stop being so damn selfish!"
Zaria didn't flinch. She met Anna's fiery gaze head-on, her voice low and firm. "I've chosen to forgive her, Anna. You stood by and did nothing in the simulation. If anyone should leave the group, it's you..."
"Whoa, easy now, ladies!" Valor quickly interjected, placing himself between them. He could see the tension escalating, the sharpness in their words cutting deeper than either intended. "Let's not say things we'll regret later."
Max and Keldorna remained silent, observing the exchange with uneasy eyes. Something had shifted within Zaria—a quiet, menacing aura that wasn't there before. She had always been timid, but now... Now, she was something else, someone else. They couldn't quite place it, but something felt *off*.
The tension in the air was abruptly broken by the buzz of a tiny insect, flitting around the group before landing on Zaria's shoulder. Her eyes widened in panic, and in an instant, the fierce warrior was gone, replaced by a frantic girl flailing wildly.
"Get it off! Get it off me!" she shrieked, her voice trembling as she tried desperately to brush the insect away.
Laughter erupted around her. Even Lily, despite her fear, couldn't help but chuckle.
"Yup, that's the Zaria we all know and love," Keldorna said, clutching her knees as she laughed heartily.
Anna, still giggling, approached the frantic Zaria and flicked the insect away. "How can someone act so tough but still be such a wimp?" she teased, trying to calm Zaria down.
Blushing furiously, Zaria grumbled, "You guys, stop it! What if it was poisonous? It's not funny!" But even she couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips.
The tension from earlier melted away as Zaria placed a hand on Anna's shoulder, her voice softening. "I'm sorry for what I said. We're like family—"
Anna interrupted her with a grin, "It's okay, big scary Zaria," she said, mimicking Zaria's earlier panic, sending the group into fits of laughter once more.
Even Lily smiled, a faint flicker of hope in her eyes. Valor noticed and quieted the group, his voice gentle. "Lily, this is who we are. If you want to be part of this, just be yourself. We don't ask for anything more or anything less."
But their joy was short-lived. A figure approached, his presence casting a shadow over their light-hearted moment. The senior knight cut a grizzled figure, a scarred man with half his head shaved and stitched up from some horrendous wound. His black leather eyepatch and worn iron-clad armor added to his menacing aura. His voice was rough and dismissive.
"You pieces of shit are having one hell of a good time, huh?" He shook his head, disapproving. "Follow me to the main hall. I'm Felix, the training officer of the Black Rose Knights. Don't mind my language. To me, everyone's a piece of shit."
Despite his harsh words, a crooked smile played on his lips as he led them through the courtyard. He moved like a man who had seen the worst life had to offer and survived through sheer grit and determination.
They soon arrived at the entrance of the Great Hall. The towering doors were adorned with a crest of a shield crossed by two longswords, crowned with the emblem of the sun. Marble pillars reflected the sun's rays, making the sight almost divine. The group stood, awe-struck by the grandeur.
"Stop gawking and get dressed," Felix barked, whistling sharply. A group of servants rushed forward, each carrying a set of black armor with silver lining tailored for the group.
He pointed to a door down the hall. "You'll change in there. As for her," he glanced at Lily, "she's a non-combatant homunculus, so she'll get a uniform instead."
A servant handed Lily a sleek black uniform embroidered with black roses on the collar. The group, unable to contain their excitement, rushed to the changing room.
Moments later, they emerged, transformed by their new attire. Pride and excitement lit up their faces as they admired their new gear.
Anna approached Felix first, her armor a sturdy breastplate adorned with roses on a vine. Chainmail connected her pauldrons to her gauntlets, and her skirt was made from the wool of an iron ram, with high-heeled boots completing her look, though she struggled to walk in them.
Valor followed, his black mage robes inspired by the demon lord's acolytes. The durable fabric seemed ready to withstand flames, and two black roses adorned his collar. His hair was tied into a neat ponytail, exposing his long, dark elven ears.
Keldorna marched in next, fully clad in dwarven armor. The black metal covered her completely, and her helm bore a black crown, with a rose as its centerpiece.
Max was nearly unrecognizable in his full knight armor. His helmet resembled that of Avaris and Aris, and a long black cape with a dragon design billowed behind him. The emblem of a dragon's head with a black rose on its forehead marked his chest plate. Power resonated with every step he took, commanding awe from the group.
Finally, Zaria joined them. Her armor was ancient, well-forged yet worn by time. Her arms were fully covered, and her boots fit perfectly. The breastplate bore a black rose encircled by a ring of thorns, and her pauldrons were etched with markings that had faded into obscurity. At first, she struggled to walk, but with each step, her confidence grew.
Felix watched her closely as she admired the group, his brow furrowing in suspicion. Something about her armor seemed off.
Gathering the group, Felix explained their armor's significance. "These sets were once worn by knights with similar blessings and skills as yours. But Zaria..." He paused, staring at her armor. "This armor was once called the 'Cursed Armor of Sorrow,' worn by a demon knight centuries ago. It's said that anyone who dons it dies instantly... because it's cursed."
The group gasped, but Felix quickly hushed them. "That's just an old legend. In reality, it's probably junk armor. They likely spread those lies because no one wanted to wear a demon's armor. If it were true, you'd be dead by now." He sighed, rubbing his temples. "Someone must really hate you to give you such crap."
He looked up with a reassuring smile. "Congratulations, Black Rose Knights. As you step into this sacred hall, your destinies may change. This will be your debriefing and official welcome into the knights' guild. Be on your best behavior."
"Yes, sir!" they shouted in unison, standing at attention, trying their best to conceal their excitement.
Felix knocked on the grand doors, and as they creaked open, the group was greeted by a row of autonomous golem knights, their spears raised in salute. The walls were adorned with the heads of mythical beasts, from cursed dragons to griffons and demon lords, trophies of battles long past. As they approached the long table at the center, the air grew thick with oppressive magic.
The sheer weight of mana in the room distorted the air in the room, it became almost suffocating. The power radiating from the gathering of figures warped the very atmosphere, distorting the space around them. Felix's vision blurred as he tried to adjust to the overwhelming force pressing down on him. It was as if reality itself was bending under the weight of the mana around them.
He blinked rapidly, his heart pounding in his chest, and slowly, his vision began to clear. What he saw made his blood run cold.
At the center of the table sat the Pope, his presence almost luminous with divine authority. Beside him were the infamous twin champions, Avaris and Aris, their faces hidden behind their gleaming helms, their silent gazes radiating power and intimidation. Around the table sat the lords and barons of the realm, their expressions unreadable, their eyes sharp as daggers as they regarded the newcomers.
Felix's stomach twisted into knots. This was not a standard debriefing. When such figures assembled, it was usually for a reason far more sinister—like the disbanding of a faction or, worse, the execution of one. His mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. What the hell is this... he thought, struggling to keep his composure.
The rest of the group seemed to sense it too. The earlier excitement drained from their faces, replaced by an uneasy tension that gripped their hearts. The sound of the great doors slamming shut behind them echoed like a death knell in the vast hall. The golem knights, now positioned as sentinels, blocked their escape, their blank, expressionless faces giving away nothing as they pointed their spears toward the group.
The oppressive silence hung in the air like a sword waiting to drop.The tension was palpable, thick enough to choke on. No one dared to move.
Then, with a dramatic flourish that seemed almost out of place, the Pope leaped to his feet theatrically. His ornate robes swirling around him, and a wide grin spread across his face. "SURPRISE!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the chamber....