Ceremonies. Lillian hated Ceremonies. This entire process was a joke, and served only to cover up the world's disrepair.

From the ripped banners lazily hanging along fortress walls, to the statuettes lining the queen's halls. It was all scavenged from a culture that died with its creators long ago, shortly after the Ultimate Tear swept across the world and threw it into chaos. But without it, could there be order? Who knew. Maybe the veil was necessary, but it wasn't fooling Lillian one bit.

Lillian sighed and looked up through a staggering hole in the roof, towards the darkened sky. Today she would be fitted with the knight's crest, and granted status that held more weight than the magical energies that she commanded. A knight's true title. It felt forced. No matter how much effort the Queen's knights put into refurbishing their archaic castle, it still felt like a relic. A trophy stolen from its rightful owner. Cracks and cobwebs littered every corner of the main hall, and the crude nature of the environment, clearly visible through what was left of the northern wall, made the castle feel less like a stronghold, and more like a dinner plate for the monsters that lurked on the village borders. Lillian blinked and scanned the patch of sky anxiously as the Queen looked down at her from above, hoisted by a throne, just as unkempt as the castle it sat within.

Lillian kept her eyes fixated on the sky above despite the heavy glares from her peers, and the Queen herself. The crimson gash above her was no comfort though. It never was. She always looked up to the Tear when she was worried, desperately seeking some reassurance that might've been hidden within its gaping maw. But it was apathetic. Unfeeling. Just like the monsters it spawned, the Ultimate Tear knew nothing of compassion, and seemed to seek only destruction as it flooded their world chaotic energy.

"Lillian," The Queen said sternly, raising her voice to something just below a shout, "Lillian look at me, dear" Lillian looked to her peers in a last ditch effort to muster some level of confidence from their glares, but few moved from their restrictive posture. Lucas Stood firm within his silvered armor, like a construct of magic. A golem, just as the knights addressed her, Ser Lucas, the golem of Kale. "Lillian..." Henry stood like a scarecrow, clutching his spear, almost comically. He was just as nervous as she was, but for different reasons. And then there was Mikhael. The Queens little pet. Lillian always despised that little orphan boy. Most of the knights were orphaned, and torn from a life of cruelty. They were easy to shape into soldiers that followed orders without a second thought. But he was the worst. Not even a full knight, and yet- "Lillian!"

"Yes, My Queen!" Lillian blurted, straightening her posture and gripping placing her open hands on her stomach. The traditional salute, to signify honor. Or obedience, depending on who you asked. "I apologize!" Her voice was strong, but soft. A maiden of battle, unlike any other. The olive-skinned girl stood out like a sore thumb among the lighter-skinned Knights that surrounded her, not only because of her racial traits, but because she was a woman. Albeit a woman with a muscular, toned figure, a woman nonetheless. The Queen sighed and nodded.

"It's quite alright." The Queen immediately cleared her throat and began reciting the Knight's oath, word for word. Lillian ignored her and periodically glanced up at the sky. As the Queen warbled on, she made little effort to keep her attention fixated. But once she heard the phrase '..away from corruption..' her mind snapped back into place and she nodded.

"Yes, my Queen!" Lillian blurted. The Queen nodded, and one of her two guardian knights stepped forward to present Lillian with a small crest, pinning it near the top of his ragged, dark green shirt. The pin pressed into her modest bosom for a split second, but she only reacted with a subtle wince. "That's fine, Richard," Lillian whispered to the massive light skinned knight that approached her. He finished fitting her with her crest, and backed away. She smiled proudly. Her thin lips curved upwards in a farce, not easily seen through by most. She bowed before the Queen, and rejoined Mikhael, Lucas, and Henry, only to direct her attention back to the sky the moment she had a chance. Her short auburn hair was barely enough to cover the blank expression painted across her face. She stood taller than most, but even so, her presence was underwhelming.

"Congratulations," Lucas whispered with his usual, raspy tone, "Knighthood at 17. It's quite the achievement."

"Thanks," Lillian gasped, shifting her weight and fiddling with the crest that bounced on her chest. Lucas grunted in agreement and nudged Henry. Henry turned to Mikhael and nodded in agreement. The Queen called forward another man by the name of Theodore, and within moments, a short, dark-skinned boy stepped out of the group to Mikhael's right. Lucas breathed heavily. Today there were to be several knighting ceremonies, but even now, at the Age of 23, Lucas was unsure that his skills would be acknowledged. Henry nudged Lucas and shot a smile in the direction of the man's pointed-face plate. Lucas didn't turn to accept it. His eyes were locked onto Theodore. yet another kid that reached knighthood before him.

"I know him," Lucas whispered to Henry and Mikhael, "He's 20."

Henry looked to Mikhael with a defeated expression and rolled his eyes. "Yup, he's 20," he sighed.

The black-haired teen stood stiff, his dull red eyes staring up respectfully to the figure above. It was a rare sight. He rarely showed respect to anyone, not even his superiors and elders. They often punished Mikhael for it, trying to humiliate him, but not too much. They feared accidentally incurring the wrath of the young Queen. No one knew why she treated him specially. Not even he quite knew himself. Many were gathered today for the knighthood. The olden castle, while some would be disgusted by the ancient design, he felt that it, combined with the pale flames above, created a surreal atmosphere about it. Like none of this was supposed to exist after the tear opened the sky and enveloped the world in darkness. But yet here they are, like embers.

He tried best not to fiddle with the ceremonial, black and silver armored robes. Being clothed was something he had never grown up being accustomed to, having lived practically half-naked his whole life. Something about the wrappings felt restricting and constrained. His calloused hands pressed firmly against his sides just to keep them from wandering. He wouldn't want to accidentally rip something he couldn't hope to afford.

Among his peers, Mikhael stood like a rat in a field of mice. He was taller than most his age, and his gruff demeanor only made him more pronounced. His long black hair hung like a mane down his back, tied together every several inches just to somewhat contain the wild jumbles. His discomfort to the situation came in the way of a frown across his pale, lightly-scarred face. Though such an expression was typical of him for any emotional response. He had no intention of lying to anyone of what he thought.

When Lillian stepped up, he immediately recognized the usual insolence from the girl. She was clearly not paying full attention. Even if she was a competent warrior, he did not condone of her rude behavior in front of the Queen, glaring at the boyish girl from afar. She was one of the few he at least knew the name of. She made a point of that the first time they butt heads. Aside from occasionally arguing with her, he rarely spoke to the others at all. Not that they really liked him anyway. He would sit in the library and study arcana alone and none would join him in group activities. But when he managed to accomplish the tasks despite their help, he could feel the scorned gazes from the others, practically hearing them screaming in frustration. 'Why is he so strong? Is he even human? They must have rigged it! He is the Queen's precious little lapdog after all.' He could even feel them now.

His brow lips curled slightly at the thought. They didn't know anything.

When Lillian was finished being knighted, he cordially clapping along with the others. Michael glanced over when they began to knight another, Theodore, as Henry and Lucas started grumbling about his age. He disliked useless complaining.

Michael frowned at the excuse. "If you deserved it. You would have earned yours long ago."

Henry glared at Mikhael with his eyes wide open, gripping the shaft of his spear even tighter as he peered at him through his rounded glasses. Henry's buzz cut made him look like a cartoon, in conjunction with his bulbous eyes and stubby little nose. Lucas turned his head slowly towards Mikhael, peering at him through the small slit in his helmet. The man towered over his three peers, standing over 6 feet tall in his glorious armor, but his attitude didn't match his stature at all. Lillian rolled her eyes listlessly and continued to gaze off into space.

"You lack years," Lucas grunted, shifting in place. His armor clanked quietly. "And as per usual, knowledge. Discrimination is thick in these ranks. I am brother to a disrespectful sister, and plagued by a mistake that should hold no weight on my character."

"Your disrespectful sister was just knighted," Lillian said under her breath, "And you let 30 men die, back then." Henry loosened his grip and shifted himself away from Lucas. The iron giant said nothing. Lillian went silent shortly afterwards as well.

"You shouldn't be so hard on him, Mikey," Henry whispered in Mikhael's direction, "Besides, you're not knighted, either."

"Queen Maya would have knighted him long ago if he was wiser," Lillian spat, "Fortunately, our mighty Queen is not as dense as she makes herself out to be."

"Lillian!" Lucas hissed, but glances from nearby Knights silenced him before he had a chance to speak.

Mikhael stared back at the bigger knight defiantly.

The two had always clashed in the training fields, both of them being the most hardy of warriors in their section, and Mikhael was tempting the thought again in his mind. He was always happy to participate in hands-on sparring. In a way, he knew Lucas without them uttering ever sharing a conversation. The way one carried themselves during a fight spoke much about their personality. Every movement and strike was a direct release of emotion. When someone favored using brute force, it meant they handled problems directly and brashly, and those who shot arrows from afar, were more careful and calculating, but also fearful and weak of conviction. While he was not good at conveying emotions and thoughts normally, his observational skill had been fostered exceptionally. He needed this talent to survive in the wretched slums. Not many child live more than a year, but he spent half his life in that rotten environment. He quickly learned how to make sense of the chaos. He was a game-hunter of sorts, constantly watching from the shadows to learn which pockets contained a bit of copper and which ones weren't, and waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike and claim his reward.

He eyed the massive man with a strange hunger. While Lucas was definitely stronger physically, Mikhael was way more quick and ruthless. The thought of battle excited him deep within, each clang of the blade causing his heart to jump with anticipation. But when he heard Henry's words, he was reminded of where they stood. The compelling emotion vanished and he quickly turned his eyes away, his expression returning to the usual frown.

Hearing the short history of Lucas, this only made him think the man to be more undeserving of the title. His lips deepened further as the exchange continued. All of this talk was so annoying. Especially that of Lilian. Speaking illy of the Queen when she had just accepted such an esteemed honor. Where did she even find the nerve? The girl really did have no grasp upon the concept of respect. He couldn't stand this part of her.

"Speaking of wisdom. You should hold your tongue. Do you forget who upholds the barrier that deters demons to our walls? Unless you wish for your title to be revoked. To be stripped the same day you were knighted, how could you bear such shame?" sneering darkly, "But I guess it would be fitting. Shamefulness must run in the family."

Lillian scoffed at Mikhael's comments. "The barriers protecting us are held together by the collective might of our people, not the Queen's rule," She grunted. Theodore had backed away from the Queen by now, headed back towards his friends. Lucas lowered his head as the would-be hall fell silent. There were no more announcements to be made tonight.

"I thank you all for attending, today is a wonderful reminder that the culture of our people has not be lost. We stand united-" The Queen paused and looked to her feet. Nearly everyone else in the hall did the same. The ground shook softly, but most had already known what that meant. Lucas shook his sister's shoulder and moved towards the center of the room.

"Find stable ground!" He shouted. The Queen glanced at him momentarily, but nodded in affirmation. Her guards pulled her away from the throne and lead her towards the open northern wall. "Earthquake!" Lillian rushed towards the younger initiates, ignoring Henry and Mikhael, knowing full well that they could take care of themselves. There were already knights assisting, but she joined them in their efforts to evacuate the castle walls. The quake that struck several months earlier nearly brought the entire castle to the ground, if this one ended up being nearly as bad..

Henry withdrew his spear, latching it to his back and rushing towards the exit, hoping that Mikhael would follow. Something was off about this Quake though. The shaking was different, perhaps only slightly, but the keen would be able to detect the subtle peculiarities. This wasn't a natural disaster...



Far off the borders of Kale, a massive creature made its way across the desolate fields of Noir. To the south, the barren and burnt wastelands were subject to a earthly rend. Something burrowed towards the city, almost as if on a mission, turning up stone and dirt like it were sand. The creature was not visible, but the men in the southern watchtowers could tell it huge, and that certainly wasn't friendly. One of the men in the leftmost watchtower began slamming his sword against a large brass bell, as did the rightmost watchman, signaling the town to evacuate the southern end, and alerting the knights to the danger.



Fortunately, the knights of Kale were organized and formally capable of evacuating without panic, single file. Even as the brass bells sounded, none panicked. None except for Henry, who began pussy-footing behind his peers, falling as far back as he could so that he wouldn't end up on the front lines.

"A Monster attack?" Lucas questioned, meeting up with his sister near the center of their ranks. "You don't suppose.."

...

Mikhael would have shot back another begrudged retort to Lilian regarding her blasphemous attitude, but was stuck silent when he realized the ceremony was coming to an end. He half-listened with a lowered gaze as the Queen delivered her closing speech. He was not chosen to be knighted? Has he not proven his martial skill? He maintained his usual cold face, but deep inside felt a heavy sting. What was this feeling? Disappointment? Anger? It was too muddled to tell clearly. His fist slowly curled the more he thought about the unfairness. Honestly, it was the expected result, but was he not gifted compared to the others? It was only two years since his induction as a squire to the order, but he has proven excellent ability for his age, able to stand toe-to-toe with veterans when he only just turned 16 at the end of the last year. Was it because he has refusal to utilize his manifested Arcana? It may be a troubling disadvantage to an order of arcana, but didn't his sheer martial skill outweigh that factor? Or could it be his anti-social behavior. and disinterest in teamwork No way. There have been knights who have operated effectively alone before--

He sighed in frustration. It just didn't make sense. He waited for it all to be over, practically jumping in his armor, ready to rush to the training grounds to find someone to beat up.

But a sudden rumbling brought his attention back to reality. An earthquake? His eyes narrowed. No. This was different... The more it vibrated the ground, the more he noticed something peculiar about it. The shakes felt too rythmic to be natural. But this only a fleeting thought. Fear filled the ranks at the thought of another quake, knowing the danger of the castle, but the trained warrior-mages stood firm in guard of their Queen.

His attention went directly to the safety of the snowy figure atop the embellished throne, agreeing for once with what Lucas said. He looked with jealousy as the Crown Guard escorted the frail body to safer grounds. The castle has held for this long an age, but nothing lasts forever. He wanted to stand there at her side, to safeguard the first person to treat him as a person. Again, that muddy feeling swelled inside, but he forced it aside as he grabbed his silvered blade and awaited command.

When the alarm bells started to ring, he followed standard procedure, rapidly falling into ranks for the evacuation and upcoming battle. He saw Lilian dart off to keep an eye on the younger ones. Even the slandering tomboy has her very few good sides. This left him with Henry and Lucas. Or. Wait. Henry was not at his side aynmore. His eyes scanned around for the scared little rascal, catching him already scurrying halfway to the back of the marching line.

The spear swung more like a retreat flag on his back than a weapon. He has seen the lad fight enough to know that spear is nothing but for show. Perhaps it was his kind and naive heart that made him so weak? It was like watching a snivelling little mutt that can't defend itself. It reminded him of...

He sighed, his stern expression softening a little as he broke rank and followed after.

He knew the others wouldn't need his stength on the frontlines. As much as he wanted to claim the glory of slaying the dreadful beast, the others could fend for themselves. Or die. That was the the unspoken law of the battlefield. But that law applied only to true warriors. Henry clearly was not. Mikhael gave the shy squire a stern glance when he reached him, knowingly moving behind him to ensure he doesn't fall so far back he would get lost from the group. The Captain Knight would not handle desertion kindly, especially at such a time.

"You remember how to use that thing, right? Wouldn't want you stabbing me on accident..."

...

Henry Shuddered at Mikhael's comment, but nodded reluctantly. "Of course..." He mumbled, keeping to the back of the grouping with his spear at the ready. Although he wasn't eager to face conflict, Henry had no intention of abandoning rank... He'd just prefer to stay as far back at possible! No need to get in the way of his Knights, especially not with his spear. Mikhael might've been right to worry. Henry had a habit of enacting friendly fire on accident.

The knights poured into the village square where many of the northern civilians had gathered in lieu of the oncoming threat. Lucas followed the central platoon forward, past the square without stopping, keeping to his sister's side. Their ranks were 100 men and women strong, and flooded with both weapon masters, and mages. Whatever was headed their way was going to have to fight through steel and fire before getting anywhere near the castle, or the people of Kale.

"Sounds big," Lillian shouted over the sound of armored footsteps. She was one of the few knights who did not wear any protective gear, and for good reason. Usually she could be seen wielding a bow, but she was without a weapon of any kind. In most situations, she relied on her magic, anyways. But without arrows to use as a focus for his arcane manipulation, how would she fare? It'd been a month since the last serious monster attack, perhaps long, since even Lucas had seen her fight. "Did you hear me?"

"I'm more concerned with how smart it may be," Lucas retorted, keeping his pace up, "If it's intelligent, this may be far less routine than we're used to, especially with so many new Squires flooding our ranks."

"Mhm.." Lillian turned back to see Henry and Mikhael bringing up the rear. It'd been a while since she's seen either of them fight. Mikhael, because she refused to accompany that dolt anywhere, and Henry because... Well, he was Henry. She sighed and nodded to her brother, who hadn't seen her motion.



By the time the platoon reached the northern watchtowers, one of the buildings was already torn to shreds, fallen into a ditch created by some unknown entity. It was too chaotic to be caused by earth magic. It had to be a burrowing creature, which lined up with the consistent quakes. Come to think of it, the quakes were still going at a very subtle pace. They didn't shake the ground violently enough to upset anyone's balance. It had to be this creature, tunneling through their village. But where was it now. Before anyone could ask, the ground burst open between the two watch towers, and a massive snake-like creature flew into the air before stopping nearly 80 feet off the ground. Its body was thicker than the width of the watch towers surrounding Kale, and its underbelly appeared to be rough, as were its translucent grey scales. But something was off. Its serpent-like face was pointed skyward. Had it not noticed the Knights? There was no way!



A male voice echoed loudly across the village, louder than the call of a wild wolf. He voice was gruff, deep, and oddly jovial. Suddenly, the underside of the serpent's face exploded, sending chunks of flesh and bone into the ranks of the Kale Knights. Lucas, Lillian, and nearby knights moved aside to make way for the oncoming debris, but several knights were struck, and sent to the ground in a daze. As this happened, the serpent's body fell back into the hole, but through the opening that had just been created in his head, there was a faint yellow flash peering across the village. Two of them. Almost like.. Eyes.

As the serpent disappeared from sight, the knights approached the hole cautiously, stopping several yards short, and waiting for something- Anything to happen. Several moments later, a massive hand slammed against the ground and grasped the dirt, coming from within the hole. The arm behind it was massive, and further back, a mane of yellow hair began to rise. Soon, it was clear that this was not another beast. It was a man.

"What in Maya's Name?" Lucas rasped under his breath. Lillian tried to make her way past the knights in front of her until she caught a clear glance of the man's face. Or rather, didn't. As he rose his massive upper body out of the hole in the ground, it was clear that his face was covered by a mask that ended just below his jaw, where his neck began, as if it were melded to his face.

"Whew!" The strange man huffed, pulling himself further out of the hole, "That's one hell of a snake!"

---

The crowd was silent until the masked man pulled himself completely out of the hole. His long, bright yellow hair glistened like the sun, ending just below his middle back, and he wore nothing to cover his upper body except a yellowish vest that was far too small to cover his extensive figure. As he stood, his black and yellow striped-pants hugged the muscles in his legs, and it was made clear just how massive this newcomer was. Nobody addressed him, but he glared out at the crowd of knights with a subtle smile behind his mask, scanning the groupings with his glowing yellow eyes. "Heh Heh, good day," He whispered to himself.

Mikhael shared in the mass confusion of his comrades, gazing at the oddly yellow-colored figure with raised brows. By the swepted looks on their faces, there were countless questions on everyone's mind. However, it seemed they were simply all too shocked to voice them. The steeled company fully expected to engage in bloody combat, but as soon as they got a taste of their gruesome foe, the tunneling serpent had already been laid under by this... Man? But this was no ordinary man. He stood upright taller than two or three fully grown men. Was his huge size the work of magic or some unique mutation from being exposed to some wild arcana in the ashen wastelands? His eyes certaintly seemed to emit with the sacred essence. Actually, was he even human? He looked mostly the part, but there was the question of his peculiar mask. No one was certain what the nature of the stranger was, or whether they should be cheering in victory or running away in terror. Standing there casually amidst the ruined earth, this masked giant did not share in their seriousness of the situation as he soon dished out a meek greeting.

Michael quickly pushed through the stilled bodies, calling out to the gigantic figure. He had his hand upon his sword. He wasn't the type to take risks. He might seem friendly, but some monsters are known to try tricks to lower their prey's guard.

"What is the meaning of this? Who are you? And what are you doing here?"

Lillian rushed forward to meet Mikhael, grabbing his shoulder. "What are you doing!?" She hissed into his ear. Without the Queen's guard present, there was no real chain of command. Lillian was just taken aback by Mikhael's actions. Why would he try to confront this man so openly? Even the elder Knights were still speechless. Before she could say anything else though, she caught a glimpse of the intruder's deadly glare. The masked man's eyebrow's lowered and his grin was more defined behind the layer of plastic that protected his physical identity.

"You got spunk, kid!" He shouted, both hands on his hips, "Maybe fortune's smilin' on me today! First that wacky snake thing, and now a town full of you tin-heads! Which one of you is the strongest?" The man's inquiry struck a chord in Lillian. Strongest? What kind of idiotic question was that? She turned to her brother, who looked equally perplexed despite his covered face. Several of the knights exchanged looks, but rather that thinking over an answer to his question, they turned to Mikhael for guidance. This man was otherworldly in size and mannerisms, how the hell were they supposed to proceed?

"He's not answering your question," Lillian mocked, patting Mikhael's shoulder gently, "Are we going to indulge him?"

"Hey! I asked you a fuckin' question! What's with the whisperin'?" The newcomer shouted, moving closer to the knights. The front row rose their weapons and prepared magical spells in response to the massive man's approach. He stood taller than anyone there, even Lucas, the 6 foot golem, paled in comparison to this man's 8 foot stature. "Havin' an internal debate?"

"..He doesn't seem very bright," Lillian quipped. What a mess. Lucas moved to the front of the group and stepped towards the masked man, matching his pace. "Lucas!"

"I am the strongest," Lucas claimed boldly. He might have been large, but Lucas hardly held skill comparable to many of the other knights, including his sister and Mikhael. What was he thinking? The large man's eyes narrowed, and he stopped just a few feet shy of Lucas, who stood his ground in front of the group. Lucas pulled his broadsword from his sheath and slammed it into the ground before him.

...

Mikhael frowned at the sudden change of mood.

He knew this giant man was up to no good. He felt the gazes of lost leadership from around. He scowled. Why would he risk his ass for them now? After how they treated him? Typical. They would send the monsters to fight one another in their stead. His gloved fist clenched around his sword handle as he felt an anger rise from his throat. Even still, this one was dangerous. Looking at what he did to the large serpentine monster, who knows what he'll do to a lesser foe if they disappointed him. None of them quite had the skill to handle such a foe alone, let alone someone who destroyed it effortlessly. Perhaps all together they might be able to take down this new foe. But he found enmity in that thought. While he didn't care for the others as much, having people die under his command felt disgusting and careless. This man cannot learn of the Queen. She is undoubtedly beholding of immense strength having retained the sacred bloodline. But he powers have made her incredibly frail and sick physically. She was in no state to be handling duels. Their duty was equally to protect her well-being as it is to shield the people from otherworldly dangers of the outside.

Despite his thoughts towards them, however, he was about to step out to face the challenger until Lucas made himself known.

He almost cursed aloud, his teeth clenching. The man had good intentions, perhaps trying to fix the wrongings of the past. But he stood no chance. Even unarmed, this giant clearly possessed an impressive source of Ki or Arcana. Without that ability, brute strength can only go so far in fighting the monsters of this world. The crueler side of him thought Lucas would be a worthy sacrifice for the cause, but seeing the worried looks from Henry and Lillian and the others, another piece of him saw sympathy in the martyr.

Before conflict can arise, Mikhael called out.

"What do you mean by 'strongest'?" stepping up inquisitively, his eyes locked on the intruder. "That is a broad descriptive term. One could be 'strong' with magic. Or archery. Even pastry-making. Sure, Lucas would be the strongest in terms of physical strength, but would such a flavorless competition sate you? I can see it in your eyes. You want more. I know that feeling of hunger very well."

He waited a response.

...

"Mikhael!" Lillian hissed, as he stepped forward, "Mikhael!" But she couldn't stop him. Henry pushed his way further to the front of the crowd, but settled near the center, where he could still barely see the massive man's head over the rows of knights and squires in front of him. When Mikhael spoke, Lucas turned to him, about to say something. But he was abruptly shoved aside by the massive man's hand, knocked clean over and tossed about like a loose scarecrow. Lucas' armor rattled as he tumbled over, leaving his sword in the ground where he was stood. He looked up at Mikhael, who was now being approached by the Blonde giant.

"Strongest 'aint, that complicated, kid," the masked man remarked, lifting one of his bare arms and flexing his otherworldly muscles. "Strongest! That's all there is to it! Physical, magical, smarts, like I give a shit where your power comes from! You've got one thing right though," Lillian turned back to Henry, but kept watching her brother as he struggled to rise from the ground. Something was keeping him down, but what the hell was it? The large man merely patted him aside with the back of his hand! "I 'aint gonna find what I'm looking for in him."

"Henry, everyone, please be prepared to assist Mikhael," Lillian murmured quietly to Henry and the other nearby knights, "Henry, spread the word."

"Strength speaks for itself! And you've got it," The large man uncoiled his right arm and pointed it skyward, extending one finger. "Same as the guy who did that." Lillian glanced up, along with all the other knights who heard the man's statement. What was he pointing at? Was it...

His crimson eyes gleamed with a burning conviction, his lips turning to a snarl. A faint glow sparked within. He felt the emotion welling inside his gut, like a fire waiting to escape. He didn't like someone pushing people around like they were just trash. He didn't care for anyone on a personal level. And normally, he would watch as they suffer. His brain was thrashing inside his skull as it fought for an answer. Why was he acting out now? It was against all he believed. The strong should survive and the weak should die that was a fact of the world. So was it pride? Did he want to claim victory over the titan himself? Did he want to prove he was better? No... that's not it. Then what? And what the hell was this person talking about? How was he related at all to the spacial tear that destroyed this world? His own magic was powerful, but nothing even comparable to that level. No one had that kind power, not even the sacred blessing possessed by the Queen. Arcana was simple. There was a cost related to the amount of power used up. There was no way someone could have done that alone. But the giant spoke as though he knew something none of them did. Ancient history of the Age of Gods has long been forgotten, even by the oldest of chroniclers. Even centuries of delving into once-forgotten ruins and uncovering artifacts and knowledge, many pieces are still missing. Even the art of Arcana and Ki is still being largely relearned and rediscovered.

Was this person truly that old?

He saw the others whispering when the giant approached, no doubt seeking to aid him. He didn't like their plan, knowing they would only risk their lives, but he didn't want to draw attention to them. If it were to succeed, it must be done with the edge of surprise. The young squire drew his silvered blade. A typical silvered long-sword issued by the order. Like all their equipment, it was magically enhanced by the Order's section of arcane smiths and much more durable than normal blades. Michael was unlike others, only using a blade, disfavoring the use of a shield. Believing they were safe behind a useless slab of metal, it made a warrior not only slower, but more reckless.

"What are you...?" he said one last time under his breath. Pointing the blade and stepping away from the crowd, "I don't know what nonsense you're going on about. But threatening these lands is an act I cannot tolerate. If I must give my life to stop you. So be it. I, Mikhael, Squire of Dusk, shall be your opponent."

As he looked at the lumbering figure, his eyes shone with finality. He accepted this fate. This was the solemn oath he swore, to the Queen and her people.

...

The man cringed when Mikhael questioned his origins, but once he seemed prepared to fight, his faint expression returned to one of unrelenting expectation. "That's what I like to hear, Micky!" The man pulled both of his arms back and moved them in large circles, stretching out his muscles ever so slightly. "I feel tense! Super tense! Oh man- Ah, right.." The giant paused, took a courteous stance, and bowed before Mikhael. "I, Rajaka, formally accept your uh.. Challenge, Micky!" His head tilted up and he rolled his eyes up, looking slightly confused. Half of the knights shared this sentiment. "Or did I challenge you? Was there even a- Ah forget it!" Rajaka stood up straight and stomped his feet against the ground gently. "I gotta stop listening to that idiot."

Lillian ran back towards the edge of the group, towards the castle. She couldn't stand watching this nonsense any longer, she needed to contact the Queen. Maya had to know something about this buffoon, and his claim on the scar in the sky. Henry didn't follow, but he watched as the slender knight made her way across the civilian gathering in the distance.

"But just to be uh... Courteous... I'll give you one free shot!" Rajaka mocked, raising both his hands outwards and exposing his bare abdomen for Mikhael to strike at. "Come on!"

...

A faint smile revealed itself on the stern squire as he watched the giant sunny-maned man, this 'Rajaka', questioning the nature of the complicated situation. Did he not take any of this seriously? Truly, he was as scatter-brained as wild his appearance. Clearly, this Rajaka must not be around this region. Judging by his outlandish attire, was this person from one of the nomadic tribes in the frigid northern lands? He had briefly studied about how the hardy people of the north have survived through altering their bodies with magic and gaining animalistic traits. Have they really changed this much since then? Well, it has been decades since the city has had any visitors. Perhaps there was another way before, but the lost knowledge of Arcana has forced the the remaining vestiges of civilization to primitive methods. News across lands is often delivered by messenger. This makes communication to be rather difficult considering the dangers of traveling in the chaotic storm-ridden wastelands of Noir.

But then it still doesn't make sense how he knows the origins of the tear.

But that didn't matter now. Mikhael sneered at the confidence of the giant, who had opened himself up for a hit. He thought it was a senseless tactic, but if this was how Rajaka wanted to start things off, he wasn't going to complain. Lowering his blade, unwilling to take advantage of the free hit, Mikhael lunging forward immediately. If he wasn't going to act seriously, neither was he. Besides, this was a good chance to test the waters.

The black and white form bellowed behind him as he rush forward with a straight forward punch to the chest. It was simple, but packed the momentum of his entire body.

...

Rajaka stood firm and withstood Mikhaels blow. As the knights fist crashed against his skin, there was an audible thwack, and within moments, the skin around the impact point turned grey. His skin was rough, but soft enough to vend against the impact of the blow. Rajaka backed away, stumbling like an oaf that had just been struck by a massive flail, or something to that effect at least. "Oh!" He yelped, steadying himself a few feet away. The skin around where mikhael landed his punch then returned to its fleshy pink hue. "You got me!" The giant knelt down on one knee for a moment, but before there was any time for celebration, Rajaka began to chuckle. "Man, is that all?" He grunted, looking Mikhael dead in the eyes. His expression shifted violently to one of anger, as if he'd just been insulted. After his pathetic charade just moments earlier, it seemed completely out of place.

"Mikhael! Stand down!" Lucas bleated, finally managing to stand up once again.

"Shut up!" Rajaka roared, "I shoulda known! Stupid humans, and their stupid goddamn.." He paused and began to growl, before reapproaching Mikhael with his fists clenched shut. There was a glimmer of ill-bred hope in the man's golden eyes, but his anger was slowly becoming a deadly factor. "Show me something!"

...

He didn't expect to hurt Jaraka much, but seeing as he did no damage at all disappointed him.

Hearing Lucas' worried cry, Mikhael's smile widened, exposing his teeth. It would strike some as uncharacteristic. In these few hours, he has shown more emotion than he has displayed his entire two years in the Order. He couldn't help it. He thought the warning was absurd. Only when it was too late did the big guy express sentiment to him. Their relationship was never beyond distant. Why were they acting like close friends now? Was this the bond created only at near-death? He has heard stories of how conflict was a catalyst for bonding. Maybe they could learn to respect each other after all of this. But unfortunately, there was no turning back at this point. If he did not satiate this monster here, there was no way to contain the bloodshed. Despite being in the face of a deadly foe, he wanted to laugh at it all. Exactly why did he rush out here? Did he just happen to feel bored and wanted to die? Could it be he actually began to care about these foolish hot-headed comrades? Or was it the thrill of the fight? His heart was pumping the more Jaraka proved stronger than he was. It burned and ached, writhing around in his stomach like an overdose of burning alcohol.

But he had no time to think further about his emotions.

Mikhael snapped back when the massive figure began charging, moving even further away from the squadron. He would use his nimbleness to keep fair distance from the giant, maintaining eyesight as he jumped backwards, his body moving in zig zig as though performing a graceful dance. He was drawing the battle further from the borders of Kale. There was nowhere safe to run for, but he wanted to give the others a chance. They could find fortification and numbers deeper within the walls. It grew increasingly positive they were faced with a threat none of them were prepared for. From when he punched the being, he noticed the reaction was strange. It was as if something absorbed the attack, or redirected it somehow.

He wouldn't run for long though. When the raging Rajaka would eventually catch him, he firmly prepared the pale sword at his side, readying it to strike. He would go for a surprise attack, ducking low and taking aim for the trunk-like legs. Maybe he could shrug blunt trauma well, but would he fare better against rending?

While he moved, Mikhael could feel the well of arcana flourishing deep inside of him, drawing upon his excitement and fear of the coming conflict. It was as if this essence was a living extension of his emotions, wanting to flood throughout his body to empower him, but he forced the dangerous powers down with a stern shake of his head.

He cannot let himself be lost to these emotions again.

...

The knights were prepared to bound into action as soon as the beast of a man expressed his anger. But as Mikhael pulled Rajaka Further from his allies, Lucas stood in their way and rose his hands. "Return to the castle! Mikhael has made his choice! This is not a foe we can defeat with brute strength alone!" He shouted, pulling his sword from the ground and directing the group back towards the town. "Evacuate the civilians! Rendezvous with the Queen and her Guard!" The Knights didn't wait a moment, acting immediately. They poured into Kale, Henry leading the group unintentionally, and carrying out Lucas' orders. "If she doesn't knight me and Mikhael after this..." Lucas thought, glancing back at the yellow giant and Mikhael one last time before heading into Kale himself.

Rajaka chased after Mikhael with resounding thuds beneath every step. The ground practically shook, or was just Mikhael's heartbeat? It didn't matter. As soon as Rajaka was met with another attack, he stopped hard on his left foot, allowing the blade to strike the side of his kneecap. There was a subtle crunch as the blade pierced his pants and struck bone, but it didn't penetrate any further than perhaps two inches. Rajaka tensed his eyebrows and pulled his right arm back for a split second, before launching it at Mikhael's face with titanic force. Although relatively sluggish, the Giant's physical agility was nothing to gawk at while up close and personal, but his technique left much to be desired. The only real danger behind Rajaka's blows was their sheer power.

...

Michael saw the the steeled company retreating for the city and eased a little, his eyes now only focused on one thing. Somehow he felt more calm now knowing no one can see him fall. He muttered a short good luck prayer for them under his breath. Who knew if they would ever see each other again.

Now nothing distracted him from the battle, and the young squire seemed more unequivocal in his movement. If this giant wanted a true battle worthy of being ecstatic about, Mikhael was not intent on dying quietly today. Again, his strike did not make much weigh in the tipping battle. Normally that attack would lob off a whole limb or more, even if protected by full-plate. This Rajaka was truly possessed by an unearthly power. He has never fought something so senseless and overbearing. It felt like smashing he was his fists repeatedly into a wall that kept on reforming after every little chip of progress. Frustration began to build in his stone crimson gaze. The swirling emotions deep within began to eat away at his borders, but he kept on resisting. Now was not the time. As he kept not reminding himself to not lose control, his internal voice sounded... Afraid?

Seeing the fist attack coming, he could practically felt the incredible force resonating in the air as he pivoted his body around in a flurry of dark cloth. He knew getting hit by any of the bashes would leave him in a crippled state or worse, so he can't be careless even if the opponent was slower. He wasn't the most durable of fighters. If he wanted to have a chance at all, he can't just keep trying to taking random shots either. It would play against him. He wasn't invincible, nor can his endurance keep up, while his opponent seemed a tireless behemoth. He needed to make each attack count.

Standing off now at the side, Mikhael waited for the massive body to fully be committed with the forward placement before releasing the silver blade horizontally. His eyes were aimed for neck of the giant. With both sides moving opposite, he hoped it would cause enough momentum to end the battle.

...

Rajaka's fist flew past Mikhael's head like a cannon's fire, blowing back air as his arm fully extended. He didn't put any weight into the blow, but it was unclear if he really needed to. There was no telling where the giant got his power from. He may have been massive, but comparing the force of his blow to that of a normal human, even taking into account his stature, was impossible. Rajaka pulled his arm back from the jab as Mikhael moved to his side, swiftly and without error. His attack was precise, aimed to decapitate his foe with little restraint, but as the silvered sword sliced through the air and towards the Giant's throat.

A direct hit! But to what avail? Rajaka stood there with his arms bent at 90 degrees, and his hands loose. The blade pierced flesh, but once again, the wound created was no more than an inch deep. Surely, it was deep enough to incite some panic or disarray in the giant's mind, but just as swiftly as Mikhael struck forth, one of Rajaka's giant fist swung upward, aimed not for Mikhael, but for his sword. The skin around Rajaka's neck turned grey, just as it had done around his leg, with minimal blood seeping from his wound. What in the world was this monstrous creature?



"What!?" Maya Shrieked from behind her two guards, Ezekiel and Joseph, "You're sure of it?" Lillian nodded before her queen and pointed back towards the center of town. The royal guards had taken Maya to her home within the village, where she lived equally among her people, but the danger of Rajaka was likely only stalled by Mikhael's valiant efforts. She had to escape now.

"We must round up the village and retreat to Teal Brook. I'm confident Mikhael will-"

"I will go," Maya insisted, pushing her way past Ezekiel and Joseph. The two guards didn't bother reaching out for the queen. They knew he well enough to know that imposing on her decisions was a futile effort. "Lillian, do not evacuate just yet. There may still be time-"

"Maya!" Lillian shouted, grabbing the Queen's wrist as she passed, "I think you are gravely underestimating our foe! You have not seen-" Maya broke Lillian's grip and shoved the girl aside aggressively before she could finish.

"Now is not the time for your wretched attitude, Lillian! I know what I am doing. If I am unsuccessful in stopping that masked buffoon, then, and only then, you will follow through with your plans to evacuate!" She said with determination in her risen voice. Maya stomped out of her home and left Lillian with the Royal guard. Ezekial walked over to Lillian and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You gravely underestimate our Queen," he said quietly. Lillian pulled away from his grasp and narrowed her eyes at the queen as she stomped out.

What a prideful witch, Lillian thought.