But Klen bowed his head slightly.
Klen:
"I am the Red Knight...
and I feel sorrow."
Amwaj, her face streaked with tears, screamed:
Amwaj:
"Silence!
You giant fool!"
Sawan:
"Amwaj!"
Amwaj:
"We don't want his pity!"
Klen:
"The Red Knight feels shame...
for not intervening sooner..."
He clenched his fist tightly.
Klen:
"I know I don't deserve your help...
or even your ears...
but—"
Amwaj:
"What do you expect us to do?!
Leave Lajira so the Red Mist can destroy it?!"
Klen:
"I—"
Amwaj:
"We were abandoned long enough!
No one came when we needed help!
Even Sylvanas... she disappeared!"
Klen:
"General is marching to Leona now...
leading a full army of Aurik's strongest soldiers."
Sawan's eyes widened.
The guards gasped.
Sawan:
"Wait—
Sylvans?!
Leading an entire army?!"
Amwaj:
"You're lying!"
Klen drew his shining sword.
Its polished surface reflected the green glow of the village.
Klen:
"The Red Knight does not lie.
King Asser — the Ember King — appointed Sylvans as the High General of Aurik's army.
I do not believe King Sout would remain silent again if help was needed."
Amwaj's expression shifted—
her voice suddenly small, fragile, like a child remembering old wounds.
Amwaj:
"Stop...
That's enough...
I've heard promises like that before..."
Klen lifted his head, eyes blazing with fire.
He repeated her words—
but this time with fury and conviction.
Klen:
"The Red Knight...
does not lie.
You say the Ember King will not help you?
Then explain my presence here."
Silence.
Sawan:
"He's right..."
Amwaj:
"You came here to ask for help, not to give it!"
A young man stepped forward—
green armor, bright green eyes, black hair.
Marjan:
"I don't want to interrupt, Amwaj...
but the King himself is going to Leona to save Mowj.
And meanwhile, we can't even move to save our own commander?"
Sawan:
"Marjan is right..."
Klen:
"My companion is inside the Red Mist fortress right now..."
Sawan raised an eyebrow.
The guards stiffened.
Amwaj:
"Are you insane?!
She went in alone?!"
Klen placed a hand on his hip.
Klen:
"You don't understand the strength of the Red Knight's sister!"
Amwaj:
"The Red Knight again?!
What is your obsession?!"
Sawan:
"It seems you didn't pay attention in history class, Amwaj."
Marjan:
"She never does.
She's hopeless."
Amwaj:
"What?!"
Sawan:
"Marjan..."
Marjan:
Ahem.
"The Red Knight was a legendary royal guardian who served King Caesar.
He protected our grandmother Shandriz many times.
Sometimes King Caesar left the Red Knight with her alone — that's how much he trusted him.
He earned the respect of the tribe... and the five kingdoms.
They say he had a strong bond with the Crimson Knight."
Klen placed a hand on Marjan's shoulder, staring into his eyes.
Marjan tensed.
Marjan:
"W-what is it?!"
Klen (softly):
"Thank you."
Marjan looked at Klen's armored hand trembling slightly.
Klen stood tall.
Klen:
"The Red Knight...
is my father."
He placed a hand over his chest.
Marjan shouted:
Marjan:
"What?!"
Amwaj:
"That's impossible!"
Sawan raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly.
Sawan:
"Well...
that explains your armor.
That's why we let you in.
Your armor is unique...
but I wasn't sure until now."
Klen:
"It is him."
Sawan looked at Amwaj.
Amwaj:
"What?"
Everyone stared at her.
She stepped forward, voice trembling.
Amwaj:
"I...
I'm sorry.
My words were... harsh."
Klen:
"The Red Knight does not mind harsh words.
Shall we proceed?"
Sawan straightened, glancing at the sky.
The clouds were being pushed away by a magical force.
Sawan:
"Very well."
He walked ahead, guards following.
Sawan:
"Let's go to the Academy."
·
THE GREEN COMET ACADEMY
They arrived at the Green Comet Academy.
Klen entered—
students stared in awe.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
Students (whispering):
"It's the Red Knight!"
"He came from Aurik!"
"The King sent him!"
"Aurik declared war on the Black Order!"
"The Ember King is marching to Leona!"
"Mowj is fighting the Black Order right now!"
Klen walked behind Sawan, observing.
Klen:
"This is a good place for training...
I should come here someday."
Amwaj walked beside them.
Amwaj:
"This academy was founded by Ledra, Lainas... Jamih, Mowj..."
Sawan:
"Indeed.
Historian Ledra built it with Lainas, Mowj, and Commander Jamih."
Amwaj:
"Are you even listening?!"
Klen:
"Jamih?
Interesting."
They reached a room where the Green Comet Battalion waited — 23 soldiers.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Klen stood before them.
They stared back, stunned.
Sawan:
"Two of our men will accompany the Red Knight to the Red Mist Circus...
Only to free the prisoners.
We avoid combat if possible, understood?"
Klen placed a hand on his chest.
Klen:
"Very well.
I will try."
Sawan turned to the others.
Sawan:
"We will head to Aurik."
A soldier blinked.
Soldier:
"Aurik?
But Mowj is in Leona!
I thought we were going to Leona!"
Confusion spread.
Outside, the village was calm.
Guards patrolled the walls.
Snow had stopped falling.
They looked up—
the gray comet glowed ominously.
Guard:
"What is that...?
Mowj...
What happened to you?
I didn't think it was this bad..."
Sawan spoke firmly.
Sawan:
"We received a decree from the King of Aurik.
He asks us to head to Aurik."
Klen stepped forward.
Klen:
"I know the plan seems strange...
but the prince is counting on you to protect Aurik.
He marched with his best soldiers to Leona to save its people.
He spreads warmth across Silva —
he burns for us.
Leave the assault to him...
and focus on reaching your commander."
The soldiers slowly sat again.
Sawan exhaled.
Sawan:
"After King Caesar vanished...
we lost hope.
Even when grandmother Shandriz told us the ember would rise again...
it took so long.
Too many horrors happened..."
Klen lowered his gaze.
Klen:
"My father was there...
when the king disappeared."
Amwaj, Marjan, and the soldiers leaned in.
Klen:
"They fought bravely...
protecting the king.
That event was named..."
Marjan continued "The Crimson Catastrophe."
Klen looked at his sword.
Marjan glanced at Amwaj.
Amwaj:
"What?
I didn't know any of this!"
Sawan looked out the window.
The sky had cleared.
The air had changed.
Sawan:
"We will believe in the Ember King again...
One last chance."
Amwaj and Marjan flinched as Sawan turned.
Klen bowed.
Klen:
"Thank you."
Sawan raised his voice.
Sawan:
"Green Comet Battalion!
Shall we restore the comet to its true color?!"
Soldiers:
"HA!!"
Sawan pointed at two figures.
Sawan:
"Red Knight —
I leave you with my best warriors."
He pointed at Marjan and Amwaj.
Klen nodded proudly.
Klen:
"The Red Knight accepts with honor, nobility, and gratitude!"
Amwaj and Marjan exchanged a look.
Sawan gave a nervous smile.
Sawan:
"Ha... very well."
Klen walked out with Amwaj and Marjan beside him.
THE FALL OF AURIK — THE SHADOW OF BAAPHOMET
On the other side of the battlefield...
Dais continued his relentless bombardment against Aurik's ancient soldiers.
The city burned in a storm of war.
Jawahir fought alongside the caravan members against the dark knights.
One by one, the caravan fighters fell.
Blood dripped from Jawahir's arm as she fought.
Jawahir:
"Jaber... please...
Be safe...
For this land...
For the life you gave us..."
She charged forward, hurling a magical bomb that exploded and scattered the dark knights' formation.
Another bomb flew toward Dais, who hovered in the air.
Dais glanced at it with disdain.
Dais:
"Hm?"
He swatted it aside with his hand, letting it explode harmlessly on the ground.
Dais:
"Oh?
One of that foolish merchant's caravan?
How amusing..."
A wicked smile spread across his face.
Dais:
"I'll show you, little merchant girl..."
Jawahir closed her eyes—
her bow glowed with a faint golden aura.
Jawahir:
"We may be weak...
after the Luminous Tree was destroyed...
but that doesn't mean we'll surrender."
She screamed with all her strength:
Jawahir:
"We fight!
To our last breath!
You will never destroy the land we were born on!
No matter what!"
The soldiers looked at her.
Jalmoud and the mages smiled through their exhaustion.
Mages:
"HA!!"
They unleashed torrents of fire, knocking down dark knights.
Dais's expression shifted as he looked at Jawahir.
Then—
the mages collapsed.
Jalmoud:
"Damn it!
We can't hold!
That cursed comet is draining us!
We were already weakened!"
Dais hurled his spear—
a colossal Baaphomet Spear—
straight at Jawahir.
The air was eerily still.
The clouds did not move.
The snowfall had stopped thanks to Laika's spell.
But was that truly enough?
Jawahir leapt high, dodging the spear, firing a golden?aura arrow at Dais.
He blocked it effortlessly.
Jawahir lunged at him with her sword.
Dais:
"How interesting...
A girl like you can fight this well?"
The caravan clashed with the Black Order, fighting desperately to support the guards.
Mahand and the old guard could barely move—
blood covered their armor, staining the snow.
Then Dais roared:
Dais:
"Baaphomet Seal!
ANNIHILATION OF REBIRTH!"
A dark circle erupted beneath the old guard.
Black flames consumed them—
one by one they fell, eyes turning white behind their ancient helmets.
Only Mahand remained, staggering forward through the blood?soaked snow.
Dais smiled.
Dais:
"I admire your persistence, old man...
but this is enough.
And not enough."
He raised his hand toward Mahand—
An arrow sliced his hand, drawing black blood.
Dais turned, glaring at Jawahir.
Jawahir stood firm, sword and bow in hand.
Jawahir:
"Come, monster..."
Behind them, the Mist Knight slaughtered Black Order mages one after another.
Jalmoud, barely standing:
Jalmoud:
"Jawahir!
Fall back!"
Aurik's towers ignited again, firing blazing beams at the invaders.
A dark knight approached—
but his armor was different, his aura immense.
Dark Knight:
"Commander Dais...
The Mist Knight is killing our soldiers from behind."
Dais:
"He's still here?
We cannot attack him.
I promised Azalor I wouldn't harm him."
Jawahir fired another arrow—
Dais blocked it calmly.
Dais:
"Can you continue the march?
I want to speak with him."
Dark Knight:
"Yes, commander."
Dais:
"Kill this foolish girl."
The dark knight drew his massive shadow blade.
Shalt:
"You've annoyed my commander...
you stupid girl."
Jawahir:
"Come.
I'll do to you what I did to your commander."
Dais vanished.
Shalt advanced—
each step killing the ground beneath him.
Plants withered.
Insects died.
Sand turned to ash and glass.
Jalmoud leapt toward him—
Shalt blocked and impaled him through the stomach.
Guards:
"GENERAL!!"
Jalmoud collapsed, eyes turning white, blood spreading across the ice.
Children screamed.
Women cried.
Guards rushed to stop the dark knight.
Mahand roared:
Mahand:
"Clear the way—!"
He staggered forward, clutching his bleeding arm.
Blood poured down his body.
He looked back at the corpses of his comrades.
Mahand screamed at the sky:
Mahand:
"Asser!!!
Where are you?!"
His muscles tightened, turning blue.
His right hand—wrapped in white bandages—had only three fingers.
Jawahir stared at him, tears streaming.
Mahand stood still for a moment—
remembering the past.
King Caesar's face.
The people.
Aurik.
He gripped his sword and charged toward Shalt.
Jawahir (screaming):
"Mahand!
Fall back!
You'll die!"
THE FALL OF AURIK — THE OLD GUARD'S LAST BREATH
The assassins dragged Jalmoud back with all their strength.
One shouted:
"We lost Razaan!!"
The guards froze in horror.
Mahand roared and leapt toward Shalt.
Shalt swung his blade—
a wave of shadow erupted from the strike, tearing through the air toward Mahand.
Mahand raised his shattered shield—
but the impact was overwhelming.
The mages hurled a massive wall of fire to intercept the shadows—
the collision blasted them backward.
They hit the ground unconscious, blood pouring from their noses.
Jawahir:
"The mages... they've reached their limit..."
She looked up at the gray comet.
Jawahir:
"It's the comet...
It's draining them..."
Shalt leapt high into the air—
then crashed down toward Mahand like a meteor.
Mahand dodged—
barely—
his movements slow, heavy, exhausted.
Shalt's landing shattered the ground, scattering snow and sand in every direction.
Shalt:
"Interesting...
The old guards of Aurik truly live up to their reputation."
Mahand attacked—
Shalt blocked, and their blades clashed violently.
Shalt:
"It's too late, old man.
Look around you."
Razaan lay unconscious, bleeding heavily.
The mages fell like leaves.
Jalmoud lay dying.
Assassins and mercenaries collapsed one after another.
Mahand smiled behind his helmet.
Mahand:
"We've faced worse days than this, you arrogant fool..."
Shalt chuckled darkly.
Shalt:
"Then I'll be happy to make this the worst day you've ever lived."
His black?stone sword pulsed with a dark aura.
He swung with monstrous force.
Mahand slammed his sword into the ground—
igniting it with fire—
and the two clashed in a brutal storm of flame and shadow.
Each strike sent snow and sand exploding outward.
Shalt:
"You can still fight?
With all that blood lost?
Shall I turn you after I kill you?"
Mahand:
"HA!!!"
Mahand's blade struck Shalt's armor—
fire erupted across Shalt's side.
Shalt retaliated instantly—
his sword slashed across Mahand's chest, piercing the rusted, broken armor.
Blood burst across the snow.
The guards screamed.
Shalt hurled Mahand across the battlefield.
Mahand crashed into the ground.
Jawahir rushed forward—
but Mahand stood again.
Shalt tilted his head.
Shalt:
"Oh?
You're not done yet?"
Mahand breathed heavily.
Mahand:
"Do you think...
the Royal Guard of Aurik—
the Kingdom of Ember—
falls so easily?!"
He looked at his trembling, blood?soaked hand.
The snow beneath him was red.
He tightened his grip on his sword—
and raised it again.
Guards:
"Commander! Fall back!!"
Mahand:
"No!!
Men!
Take your stances!
We do not fall here!
We fight until the last breath—
until the King returns!
ASSER!!!"
Mahand roared, lifting his sword.
Guards:
"HA!!!"
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL — LAMEES & SAMHAR
Near the city walls—
Lamees leapt into the Black Order ranks, cutting them down with swift, precise strikes.
She flipped backward, dodging attacks, then lunged again.
Behind her—
a massive dark knight approached.
A guard screamed:
"Behind you!!"
Lamees turned—
an arrow struck the knight, halting him.
Lamees:
"Samhar?"
From the shadows, Samhar fired another arrow, sweat dripping down his face, blood on his cheek.
Samhar:
"Don't worry!
I've got your back!"
The knight turned—
a magical net from the Korta assassins wrapped around him.
A blast of fire from the guild mages engulfed him.
Mercenaries surged forward, clashing with the Black Order.
---
DAIS STRIKES AGAIN
Dais descended like a falling star—
slamming the ground and sending Jawahir flying.
Blood splattered across the snow.
Estela sprinted toward her, body covered in wounds.
Estela:
"You—are you alright?!"
Jawahir smiled weakly, blood dripping from her lips.
Jawahir:
"I... I'm..."
Jalmoud:
"You bastard!!"
Caravan fighters screamed:
"Jawahir!!!"
---
THE RED KNIGHT ARRIVES AT THE CIRCUS
In Lajira—
Klen reached the circus gate.
The gatekeeper sneered.
Gatekeeper:
"What do you want, giant?"
Klen:
"I want entry.
My companions as well."
The man eyed them.
Gatekeeper:
"You need to pay."
Klen handed him a heavy pouch of coins.
Amwaj:
"That's too much!"
Marjan:
"Are you sure?
Why so many coins?"
Amwaj:
"This is insane!"
The gatekeeper smirked.
Gatekeeper:
"So why are you here?
If you two think—"
Klen (cutting him off):
"We just want to enter."
The gatekeeper opened the gate, counting the coins greedily.
Klen walked in calmly, Marjan and Amwaj behind him.
Klen:
"Don't ruin this.
My sister is inside.
If we mess this up, we put her in danger.
I—"
He turned to them—
his expression terrifying.
Klen:
"I warn you."
Marjan stepped back.
Amwaj tensed.
Amwaj:
"What's wrong with you...?!"
Klen whispered as he scanned the tents:
Klen:
"Rose...
Where are you?"