The doors had slowly opened up. Small steps echoed through the room as a small figure, face covered with a hood, entered the room. A knight like no other, because they didn’t look like a knight at all. A black dress followed up with the simplest of ballet shoes. Many were bewildered. 

“Uh,” the knights gossiped with one another, “Who… is that nun?”

“I have no idea. Maybe that’s his maid or something?”

“My child,” Lady Scarletborn stepped in, putting her hand on his shoulder, “Won’t you show everyone your face?”

The knight chuckled, “Of course…”

Strange. A young face, barely older than Alice, alongside dark gray hair more fitting to an elder. A smile on their face, impossible to tell its true nature. As he walked on, he greeted every knight standing by bowing down and lifting his dress. A bounce to their step as he moved from one knight to the other.

That’s the guy everyone’s talking about?

Alice was unable to keep her eyes off him.

H-how?? In what way is that, a knight? No sword, no armor, no anything??? The heck is happening with Unia?! Everything I learn about this country be against my will...ugh. I have had it today. I’ll try to sneak out when no one’s watching during the ceremony or whatever. I need to be quick. Let’s see where I can-

“Good day my sir!”

“Uh!”

She was startled seeing the knight suddenly bow before her. His vibrant widened turquoise eyes were hard to look away from. His giant smile unnerving her.

“Good-good day to you too, oh...one and only imperial vassal! I am grateful that you have...come to greet me! I shall, uh, treasure this forever.”

He chuckled as she was screaming in the inside.

“Oh please, I am nothing that special, but I appreciate it anyway. I too shall treasure our meeting forever too!”

“Um,” a young maid tapped his shoulder, avoiding eye contact, “Young sir, may I take your cape away during the ceremony?”

“Oh,” they turned around, bowing down as they grabbed the maid’s hand to kiss it, “Why, of course! I couldn’t say no to a face like that if I tried!”

"Oh," she was flustered "My knight-I-"

"It's fine my lady," he closed in on her, "You presence alone makes my day! I could treasure nothing more than to know you better!"

Flustered, she walked away, forgetting to take the cape with her.

He chuckled, “Cute, wasn’t she?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“What can I say? I always loved a dash of romance! What about you?”

“M-me? Well, sir," she stepped back a bit, "I never really put much though on that."

“Interesting," he stood on his toes, his face only a few inches away to hers, "Many men only become knights to gain the hands of maids (can't say I judge them) so this is surprising! What's your reason then?

None. I hate it here.

"Go on..."

“Ahem,” the strange knight stepped back when the general came in, still holding onto the leash of the dragon,

“My friend Benedict,” he had grabbed the old guy's hand, shaking it in extreme speeds, “I must say it’s a pleasure to see you!”

“Uh, yes, you too. But-”

“And I can’t believe my eyes,” he crouched down, his eyes staring at the dragon, it walking away from the overwhelming gaze.

“An actual dragon! These haven’t been seen in ages! And back at the castle everyone was saying you were bluffing!"

"Heh, as if," the old man chuckled, “Only a year ago I alone was able to catch it, and have been taming it ever since. I had caught so many vicious criminals thanks to this tool since. I may even be transported back to the castle at this rate…”

As the old man kept boasting about himself, the dragon had looked at the ground, avoiding eye contact with others. His legs were noticeably shaking. Any moment it could fall to the ground, and who knows if it’d be able to get up. Heck, if it wanted to.

A tool? Tch...

The knight didn’t pay much attention to the general, turning his head left and right as he gazed at the dragon. “You seem tired, don’t you? Say what? After all of this is over, I can bring you some food to ear, plus, if you need any help, you know who to call!”

He winked, the dragon not paying much attention to it.

“Ahem,” Lady Scarletborn appeared before them, a vase in her hands, “Sorry to interrupt but we have work to do, don’t we my child?”

“Oh, I apologize teacher,” he quickly got up, “I got excited is all. Bye little dragon! Bye new friend! Don’t forget about me!”

“Oh stop kidding around,” she handed over the vase to them, filled with clean water, “General, we’re ready.”

“And just as I was about to cut through its-oh,” he straightened his back, faking coughs, “Of course! Just walk on ahead, young knight. We’ll watch from here.”

Excuse me?!

As the strange knight left, the lady and the general stood just next to her. They could have stood next to another knight, next to the entrance, next to the knight, next to a traveling merchant scamming his employees with fake potions. However, they chose to stand next to her, to further her suffering accidentally.

Mister Miroslav… I am sorry. I guess I have to wait for this to be over. Can't be too long. I mean, it's just some water, what could he even do with that?

With the vase in their hands, the knight had approached the statues of animals. The first one, a mighty hawk, rising its wings to the sky. He poured water onto the statue, now glowing in a burning red.

The heck?

The light had spread across the entire ballroom, the ceiling now resembling a sunset sky. In it, a form of a hawk flying across at a moment’s notice. ‘Ignia!’ everyone cheered.

What the heck? How is this possible?

Next one, a statue of a butterfly landing on a flower. the touch of water had brought upon a green light. the light had shattered into small flowing spectacles, flowing through the air in the shapes of butterflies

“Woah,” Alice had reached her hand to one, only for it to disperse by her contact

“Heh, I apologize for disappointing you,” Lady Scarletborn chuckled, “I do so much for him and this is all he can give out…”

Huh?

“Oh well, guess we just have to see if the rest pays off well!”

That was… weirdly judgemental. Oh forget about it Alice, while they’re distracted I can get out of this.

She had slowly walked away backwards as he poured water onto the next statue. A horse, an orange light spread throughout. Illusion of trees had appeared covering the walls. The entrance had disappeared within these illusions, just as Alice was about to reach them.

You have got to be kidding me…

“Something wrong?” another knight noticed her. “Were you trying to leave? Did you get sick or something?”

“...Yes."

"Oh, do you need-"

Ignoring him, she got back to her spot, hunching her back forward as hope is slowly shattering in front of her.

“Put your head up darling,” the lady said, “Now comes the last part!”

“Finally…”

The final statue, a dolphin jumping from the sea. a blue light had not spread across the ground, an image of a lake. Fishes were seen swimming through the pure and clean water. A strange feeling seeing this, as everyone stood on it casually.

“Hm, decent enough, wouldn’t you think? 

“Ugh-”

“Well, either way, now comes the important part…”

There’s more. Of course there’s more.

The knight of miracles, sitting down on the ground, closing his eyes as he held in hands in a prayer. The maids, torches in their hands, had risen them high up as they started to chant-

Watcher of fire and wind, we call you!

Watcher of water and earth, we need you!

Oh, may you grace us with your presence!

So we can earn our existence!

A glowing aura had formed around the strange knight.

“Oh protectors of the very earth we were born upon.. Those who brought us life and death. For many years, our voices did not reach you, for we have sinned in ways one can redeem thyself! Trial and tribulations had met these lands that you have given us oh so long ago! And now…”

They stand up, raising their arms “Here we are, pleading our flesh and blood to you! All for the sake of regaining that which was once lost! So please, take this life and everything that we owe you to come back!”

A giant white light had manifested high up, an ever looming star. Just looking at this one would feel like they’re choking as its presence overshadows everything and everyone around it.

“... It can’t be,” the knight said, falling back to the ground, the ground beneath him shattering, the illusion turning into speckles of dust. The giant star vanished, and the room had returned to it's original taste. No words were spoken.

---

Happy new year and chapter 4 is here!!! The knight has finally arrived! I am really excited to see what everyone will think of this character from this point on. Next update most likely won't be on schedule because of how busy I'm going to be this month. So stay tuned and thanks for reading!