Amid the chaos of a battlefield drenched in blood, a lone child sat trembling. His fragile frame, barely concealed by tattered fabric, shivered in the chilling cold. Tears streaked his dirt-covered face as he gazed blankly at the fires consuming the horizon. Around him lay bodies, smoke, and the echoes of war.
Through the carnage, a knight approached—a woman clad in dented silver armor, her brown hair and her green eyes exuding both strength and kindness. She halted before the boy, her sharp eyes softening at the sight of his frailty.
"What's your name?" she asked gently, kneeling down to meet his gaze.
The boy opened his mouth, but no words escaped. His voice buried under fear and exhaustion, his voice failed him.
The knight sighed, a mixture of sadness and determination in her expression. She stood and carefully lifted the boy, cradling his malnourished body as though he might break. "You look unwell," she murmured. "come with me."
Her bloodstained gauntlet covered his eyes as she whispered, "don't fear anymore. You're safe now."
As she carried him away, she noticed the scars marring his small frame. Her voice wavered as she whispered, "What have they done to you…? Those devils… how could they do this to a child?"
From that moment on, the boy found a home with the knight—a commander of the army who would become his protector,
---
Present Day
The morning sunlight filtered through the wooden window, painting the room in hues of gold and amber. Kael stirred from his bed, his small figure rising slowly. Beside him, the knight lay wrapped in a blanket, her face calm in sleep.
Kael slipped quietly from the room, careful not to wake her. Outside, a garden filled with small, budding flowers awaited him. Grabbing a watering can, he carefully tended to the plants, watching the droplets soak into the earth.
"Admiring the flowers again, are we?"
Startled, Kael turned to see the knight standing behind him. Her hair caught the sunlight, and a soft smile graced her face. She reached out, lifting him easily into her arms.
"You're awake, but I didn't wake you," Kael said softly,
"Of course I woke up," she replied with a grin. "I'm a knight, remember? And not just any knight—this valiant soldier is the commander of the whole squad!"
She set him down and ruffled his hair. "Today, I'll take you to meet the squad. So, get ready."
Kael straightened up and saluted. "Yes, ma'am!"
A faint blush dusted her cheeks. "I'm not that old, Kael. Call me 'sis' instead."
"Okay… sis."
"That's more like it!"
---
The Camp
The camp wasn't far—just down the hill. When they arrived, Kael's eyes widened at the sight. Dozens of white tents sprawled out in neat rows, with a large bonfire crackling at the center. Soldiers bustled about, their laughter and chatter filling the air.
As they entered, the soldiers stopped and saluted. "Welcome back, Captain Ellia!"
Ellia nodded in acknowledgment and set Kael down. She turned to her men. "Any reports?"
Their voices faded into the background as Kael wandered, taking in the camp's size and energy. Near one of the larger tents, a man with brown hair and piercing black eyes waved him over.
"Hey, kid! Come here," the man called out, a friendly smile on his face.
Kael approached cautiously.
"I'm Asmodius," the man introduced himself. "What's your name?"
"I'm Kael. Hello, esmudis."
Asmodius laughed. "No, it's *Asmodius*. Say it with me—As-mo-dius."
"As…modis?" Kael tilted his head in confusion.
The man sighed. "Close enough. Okay, just call me 'Big Bro.'"
"Big… Bro?"
"That's right! So, how old are you, Kael?"
"I… I don't know."
Asmodius leaned back, his grin fading slightly. "Oh… you're the captain's boy, huh? Well, I guess it doesn't matter. Wanna know a secret?"
Kael nodded eagerly.
"Only I know the captain's full name," Asmodius said mischievously. "She says it's too… masculine."
"Masculine? What's that?" Kael asked, his curiosity piqued.
Asmodius scratched his head. "Uh… it means hairy. Like, *really* hairy."
Kael's eyes widened. "Then… are you masculine?"
"Wha—no! Well… maybe a little. All men are, I guess."
"Then am I masculine?"
"No, you're just a boy. We're getting off-topic here!" Asmodius cleared his throat. "As I was saying, the captain's full name is Ellia Scarn."
"Scar?"
"Yes, but it has an *N* at the end. Got it?"
"What's an N?"
Asmodius blinked. "Oh my… you don't know how to read, do you?"
Kael shook his head.
"Man, you've got a long way to go."
Before Kael could respond, he was lifted off the ground again. Ellia held him aloft, a playful smirk on her face.
"What's this about a long way to go?" she asked.
Kael looked back at her, his face red. "Sis, put me down!"
"Nope. You're too cute." She balanced him on her head. "How do I look, Asmodius, I mean how does this hat look on me?"
Asmodius chuckled. "Like someone who's going to drop the kid any second."
Startled, Ellia quickly set Kael down. "Oops! Sorry about that."
Kael sighed. "It's okay, but… can we go home now? I'm tired."
Ellia smiled and patted his head. "Alright, let's go."
As they walked back, Kael glanced over his shoulder at Asmodius and whispered, "Goodbye… Big Bro." his voice barely audible,
Asmodius sneezed suddenly. "Huh… I feel like someone's talking about me."