[ "Nine, you've served the village well. The chief himself has recognized your efforts; he's even sent letters to the kingdom, asking for you to be made a dragon knight under his name. But if you accept, you must marry Carmilla. You understand this, don't you?" my mother said, her voice laden with apprehension.
I looked at her, frowning. This was the term for me to be able to achieve my dream in order to become a knight—to protect this land with honor. I knew the truth: only those from established houses, blessed with both richness or noble blood, were chosen by the Astafel Kingdom. After I've obtain the Dragon Knight title, I must marry the chief's daughter.
My mother and I are lowly villager, I was born with uncommon strength. I could hunt lower demons due to my ability to see aura, defending our crops through the long dark winters by myself during that time most of the dragon knight will guard the border and our village will be left vulnerable against lowly mischief demon that will come to destroy our stock for replenishment. Though the dragon knights marveled at our village's prosperity, they scoffed whenever my name was mentioned.
Yet the village believed in me, saw the potential I harbored. They rallied behind my dream, and the leader himself wrote to the duke, pleading for my acceptance.
"I do not wish for you to become a knight, nor to marry Carmilla Shveins, I only wish you to have peaceful life." my mother murmured, her voice breaking slightly. "But I cannot stand in the way of your fate. Whatever happens, remember—I have always wanted what's best for you. I cannot keep running from my son's destiny." ]
As I remembered our last conversation before her death. I try to unravel the hidden meaning behind her words.
The sound of knights' footsteps echoed above, pacing back and forth as they prepared for the general's arrival. I was locked in the cellar, stripped bare, as if I were something to be feared. Chains bound my wrists and ankles like a common criminal, and humiliation washed over me. I sighed deeply, realizing my dream had been severed before it even had the chance to take flight. That dream—a strange, unexplainable vision that haunted me.
"What am I?" I muttered aloud, the question hanging heavy in the silence.
Then I heard footsteps approaching the cellar.
"I wonder that too," a man's voice said. I looked up to see General Hawker standing there. "And why is he bucked naked?" he asked the guards, his gaze sharp with disapproval. "Fools" he muttered, leaving the cellar. Another voice followed, giving orders, "Unchain him—and bring me his trouser."
"Aye," they replied, and the guards moved quickly, releasing me from the chains before leading me upstairs.
"You will only speak when spoken to," one of the knights warned me. I nodded, finding it strange that only one knight was guiding me, given the fear they seemed to have of me. His armor was adorned with an unusual black fur around the neck, a detail that caught my eye. As we climbed the stairs, I stole a few glances at the emblem on his armor; it was similar to Commander Cole's, silver colored dragon though this knight lacked aura.
"What is it?" he asked, catching me off guard.
"Nothing," I replied, quickly looking away.
He handed me my trousers. "Put these on and stand in the center," he instructed.
I shifted my gaze to the four figures seated before me. A long table separated us. On the far right stood General Hawker, with the knight in the black fur coat armor by his side. Next to them sat an older man with sharp, piercing eyes and gray hair. Beside him was a woman with blonde hair, who barely acknowledged my presence. Finally, at the end of the row sat Commander Cole, watching me intently. On the wall behind them stood the king figure, it was gold in color.
"Vesper Nine," the woman called out, her voice sharp.
I met her gaze; her fierce eyes reminded me of an eagle sizing up its prey. I stayed silent, remembering the knight's earlier warning. Glancing at him beside General Hawker, I saw his subtle nod, a reminder to hold my tongue.
"Duke Fyre, he poses no threat at the moment," the woman assured the others.
"Very well," Duke Fyre replied. "I've heard of you through Chief Shveins. His letter praised your remarkable strength for a mere human. Both General Hawker and Commander Cole have witnessed it firsthand. So, tell us—what else are you hiding?"
"When night falls, I become stronger," I said, my voice steady. " I don't understand how and why."
Her gaze sharpened. "During your match with Abel, why did you throw two spears in the same direction? You aimed them toward the general and Commander Cole as they watched from above. Explain."
"I sensed an aura," I replied quietly. "My mother's aura…though she is dead, it was— it was taunting me." I said as I remembered the feeling.
"You can sense auras?" she asked, visibly surprised. The others exchanged glances, eyes widening.
"Yes, and I can see them too," I said.
"Then tell me," she challenged. "Who is the strongest in this hall right now?"
"I mean no offense," I replied, cautious.
Duke Fyre's lips twitched in a slight smile. "A wise answer," he remarked. "But go on; no one will be offended with my permission."
At his nod, each of them released their aura, filling the room with a powerful energy. I felt a shiver run through me—they had been holding back this entire time. I could now see the knight's aura who stood beside General Hawker, it is black and ominous, like a shadow coiled around him. General Hawker's aura was different, fierce and blazing, as if he were made of fire itself and one behind the door, it soft and warm but very strong. She didn't hide it at all.
"General Hawker is the strongest here…and the person behind the door," I said.
General Hawker threw his head back, laughter booming through the room. "Bwahaha! Incredible! He's as sharp as the young prince! He even sensed Freya behind the door," he said, clearly impressed.
The blonde woman nodded thoughtfully. "You truly are gifted, though you don't come from a talented family," she said.
"Amazing" commander Cole remarked.
Duke Fyre's expression remained indifferent. "Your mother…she was an ordinary woman, wasn't she?" he asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"Then how could you feel her aura? Humans without magic don't carry such a powerful presence. They have only a protective aura to contain their soul, since you can sense you surely must've realize this by now." he said, his words turning my world upside down.
A cold shock settled over me. Could this mean my mother possessed magic, a power that had somehow passed on to me?
"I wasn't aware…I never considered it that way," I replied to Duke Fyre, struggling to process this revelation.
"He's telling the truth," the woman said, her voice steady.
"Madam Karla Edgar," General Hawker addressed her, "what is his magic scale right now?"
"Zero—like any ordinary person," she replied.
"I thought as much," General Hawker muttered, his eyes narrowing. "Are you a spy sent from Delaire?" he asked me pointedly.
A sudden shift in the room's energy made me flinch. Duke Fyre's gaze had dropped to the general, sharp as a blade and heavy with unmistakable bloodlust. Silence fell.
"Pay no mind to that, young man," Duke Fyre said, his voice calm yet firm.
He turned back to me. "I believe you're innocent and genuinely gifted. But be warned—if we notice anything suspicious from you, you'll be sentenced to death without hesitation."
"What about the aura of his deceased mother?" Commander Cole asked, breaking the tense silence.
"I'll assign the investigation to Captain Blackwood," Duke Fyre replied.
"Aye, sir," Captain Blackwood agreed, he is the knight standing beside general Hawker then he vanished like a shadow from our sight to carry out his orders.
"Using my men again?" General Hawker grumbled.
"I'm short on men at the moment—it's by the king's command," Duke Fyre responded without looking his way.
"You're dismissed, boy," Duke Fyre said, gesturing toward the door.
The knight who was waiting behind the door approached me and unlocked my chains. Her golden hair glinted in the dim light, reminding me of someone—Henry.
"Let's go," she said quietly, guiding me out of the hall.
As we left the room I could feel Duke Fyre eyeing me, I felt uncomfortable as if he knew something I didn't.