Chapter 1: Knight in Shining Armour
'Puuuuuuunnn...!' A warning horn was blaring nonstop somewhere and it caught the attention of all the Royal Knight that was having lunch at Knight Dining Hall. The hall door suddenly burst open and a newbie squire could be seen panting and trying to say something.
It takes the lad 30 seconds to regain his breath but he could already feel the piercing gazes of all 150 knights that are present. He suddenly feels small and terrified. After all, the commander personally trains them during their student year. Only the fittest could survive the Sparta training.
"Umm... There is b...bandit app...approaching the co...country b...boundaries. The c...commander or...order Sir Shirakawa, Sir Ikuto, Sir Shintani, Sir Kanou and Sir Kurosaki to meet him immediately while the o...other g...gather at the fro...front yard."
Coincidently, the boy master is sitting between the people that had been mention and looked at the boy disappointedly because of the stuttering. Hearing the order, all knights stand simultaneously and making an impressive loud 'clang' of armour.
The poor terrified boy immediately runs out to the weapon room to prepare his master equipment. That afternoon, all available knights are rushing here and there because of the warning horn. 5 minutes later, all available knight gather at Knight Academy front yard together with their squire.
With his heavily armour appearance, the commander solemnly watch all knight that present and throttle towards the back entrance of country. In an instant, the knight scattered to their respective place. The 5 elite knight plus 24 ordinary knights followed the commander.
The civilian come rushing out from house or stop what they're doing when the commander and elite knight pass through. The woman and girl sigh happily when seeing the commander ride elegantly on his white horse. It is a custom that the commander will ride the white horse while the others will ride other than white colour horse.
The guard that blew the horn are relief when seeing the commander and others knight arrive. "Sir, the scout report of 50 bandits is coming towards here," told the guard immediately. The commander dismounts from his horse and pull open his helmet to reveal a 17 years old teenagers.
"Hmmm... Anything else? No report of bandits will come through from the other opening of country?" Enquiry the commander while guiding his horse to a nearby tree. The guard read the report from the scroll in his hand again and shakes his head.
"Doesn't matter. They can try if they want but I already post man in every nook and cranny of the country." Out of the blue, a battle cry could be heard and a lone arrow was launched somewhere towards the commander.
The teenager smirks evilly and unsheathed his sword. He tackled down the arrow easily as if the arrow is a mere paper bag. The guard that was stunt by the suddenness of attacked come out from his shocked state and instantly asked, "Are you alright, Sir Ayuzawa?"
The teen answered by putting on his helmet and mounting his ride. As in cue, all knights follow their commander to the forest. A few seconds later, the first bandit appeared and tried to attack the commander. The brunette flicked his sword and plunge the sword deeply to the bandit body as though the body is made up of cotton.
Blood splatter to the commander and horse body making them seemed grotesque in a beautiful way. After the first bandits died, the others started to come out one by one from their hiding and immediately surrounded the knight. All knights took out their weapon and the battle officially starts!
One of the elite knights, Sir Shirakawa thrust his long spear and managed to kill four people in one throw straight to their heart. He forcefully tugged the spear that dwelled in the corpse and flick it swiftly to dispel the blood that coated the spear. He is not called the White Tornado Beast for nothing.
The other guy, who people nickname him Night or Sir Ikuto slashes his whip towards enemy and two of the bandits head detached from the body. Sir Kurosaki who is Sir Shirakawa childhood friend took out his bow and shoots 3 arrow at one time and hit 3 people in the heart.
All 30 of them fight the enemy ferociously. One by one, lifeless body fell to the earth. The guard that are standing at the back entrance is in a trance watching the gruesome fight. He feels like the knights are engaging in a deathly graceful dance especially the commander. Finally after 2 hours, the bandits are wiped out and only the leader remained standing.
Shintani detained the culprit to be judged at the royal court. With armour and horses bathing in enemies' blood, all knights gallop back to Knight Academy. The trial will be held at the castle in front of the king. The commander will be going to the castle to hand in the report while Shintani will lock the culprit in the dungeon.
After handing the report, Sir Ayuzawa returned to his home to clean himself and the horse before going to the trial that is held during the night. Commander has the luxury to buy or rent house from outside not like others knight that need to stay at Knight Academy whether you have family or not. Family house are provided for the married while the single will live in dormitories.
While riding slowly towards his house, Sir Ayuzawa mused to himself. "Today's killing is not so bad. But this blood on the barding must be hard to clean. Even my armour is reek of blood. Better clean and polish it today or it will rust."
"Ayuzawa-san!" A woman voice resonates under him. Sir Ayuzawa stop his musing and said, "How many time did I told you that you that you only need to call me Misaki. No need for that formal suffix." The horse snorted and said, "Yes, Misaki."
"Anyway, when we get back home, can you ask your sister to apply some medicine? I think I hurt my hind leg." To emphasis it, the horse lifted her injured leg and Misaki could see a shallow gash just below the tight. Misaki instantly dismount from her ride and examine it.
"Hmm... The wound are not that deep. Why don't you say earlier? If I know you are injured, I will not ride you," scold Misaki. The horse grunt and mumbled, "That is the reason why I don't tell you." A worried frown appeared on the brunette face. The horse saw it and hastily said, "It's alright, Misaki. I'm ok. That wound is already numb anyway."
"I still worried about you, Arashi. Next time when you have any injured, you must tell me." When Arashi nudged her nose to encourage Misaki to ride her, Misaki only laugh and said, "I will not ride you and we will walk slowly so the wound will not bleed again. When the horse wants to urge, Misaki give her the 'it's final' look.
Arashi only puff to voice her opinion but said no more. Both Misaki and Arashi walk leisurely while savouring the lush meadow that they were passing through. Now is summer, a lot of small animal could be seen scurried here and there. Butterfly, humming bird and other insects are flying haphazardly from flower to flower. Misaki can even see a couple of deer from far off grazing grass.
"Misaki, it seems that autumn will be coming in 3 more months," warn Arashi. Misaki peaceful face turned grim when hearing Arashi statement. "That mean we need to start prepare now. Last autumn doesn't have any attack but I can't rest." Misaki scrunched up her face because of distaste.
Although the country already sign a peace treaty between the Miyabigaoka Kuni 3 years ago, Misaki still hate the beast because she has a bad history not with that country particularly but the beast itself. The beast is also the reason why Misaki become a knight.
Flashback...
It was during autumn, Misaki was 8 years old and her sister, Suzuna is 5 years old. Both of them were happily shopping for grocery that their mother instructed them to buy. Misaki still remember her heavily pregnant mother advice to came back immediately after shopping.
The two of them was on their way home when Suzuna discover a group of juggler are giving a free show on the road and decided to watch it. At first, Misaki is reluctant to give in to her sister demand but being a child herself, she was also interested in watching the juggler.
What make Misaki stay to watch is because a monkey shows up and play the accordion. Both the siblings happily watch the show and only after it ended that they finally did walk home. When both of them nearing the house, they smell a metallic and coppery scent wafted through their nose.
Misaki that recognize that scent started to feel uneasy. She doesn't want to think negatively but for safety, she asked Suzuna to hide at the secret place they usually play and wait there until Misaki find her.
Suzuna that feel her sister anxiousness did what she was told and run towards the forest. When Misaki has made sure that Suzuna are gone from the view, she steels herself and walked stiffly towards her house.
The usually warm home turns colder and eerie. There is also the scent of death hanging in the air. Misaki pushed her house door slowly and the scene in front of her makes her throw up. Done throwing up, Misaki run as fast as her short leg could take her to the nearest house which is two kilometres from her home.
The family were just having their breakfast when Misaki stormed in with red face plus tears and snot streaming down from her face. Misaki only said, "Home... Blood... Mom... Dad..." Before she collapse at her neighbour front door.
When seeing Misaki state, the mother immediately picked up Misaki and went out to find Suzuna. She knew where to find the sister because she always saw them playing in a cave near the lake inside the forest. While the father run out from the house to check on his best friend condition.
When the father had make sure that both Minako and Sakuya were dead, he called (not by telephone because this is not the modern world) the priest and morgue house to sort out the bodies. Misaki and Suzuna are currently being taking care by his wife.
According to the investigation, Minako, Sakuya and the unborn baby was killed by beast half an hour before both girls returned home. If they home earlier, they will face the same fate. The King already set up a search party to find the murderer but to no avail.
After the incident, some civilian also killed by the beast and most of the victim is either close to Misaki or Suzuna. Even the parent that currently taking care of them also been targeted a few time.
No one have any idea why does it happen because Misaki and Suzuna parent is outsider who comes from other country and they don't know the origin and history of Minako and Sakuya.
Nevertheless, they still help Misaki and Suzuna because their parent is always helping them if others encounter problem. But when Misaki discover that her adoptive family are in a danger, she and Suzuna leave the home.
She comes back to her old house although the memory of her parent death still fresh from her memory. To survive herself, she learns to hunt while her sister learns to farm. The family that adopt them try to take them back but Misaki refuse them.
The family can only help by occasionally giving them some coin or seed to help them. Misaki is glad that the threat is lifted off from the kind family when both of them leave from the house. Weirdly, the attacked stop just when summer is starting.
Both siblings are happily living their live but the happiness is short live when one day during autumn season Suzuna is attack by the beast. Luckily Misaki was just coming home from hunting and saw the scene. She took her bow and shoot arrow at the beast.
Because of the beast attribute that can control magic, the arrow is deflected and the beast runs away. Misaki want to chase after the murderer but stop when seeing Suzuna arm bleed. She lifts her sister and run to the physician house to patch her sister up.
While waiting the physician to sew the gaping wound, Misaki already make up her mind to protects her sister and the country that she love so much. She decided to join the knight. There is one problem though, she is not a boy.
Knight Academy can only accept boy because they think girl have no necessary strengths to endure the training. She wrecks her mind to find solution to the problem and can only come out with one solution, which is to disguise as a boy. It's not hard for her since she hasn't hit puberty.
When the surgery is done, Misaki already make up her mind. She lifts Suzuna and walk home slowly to avoid the wound reopen. Suzuna is still asleep with the medicine he gives her earlier before the surgery.
Misaki lay her sister down gently on the bed and take the opportunity of her sister sleeping to immediately sign up at Knight Academy. Before going, she cut her long hair and changes to a more boyish cloth.
There were suspicions at first because of the small build of Misaki body, but when Misaki show her archery and knife skill to the interviewer they instantly enrol her (please remember that during this time period, girl can't and won't learn archery and sword. Only boys do it). However, Misaki forgot about the most important aspect.
All students must live in dormitories. Only a few bunches of student can be excuse from it. Misaki while holding her acceptance letter is trudging slowly back to her home. She is thinking where her sister will be living.
She doesn't want Suzuna to live by herself and she could not afford to put her together with the kind family that always help them for scared that the beast will come and harm any of the family members.
Without knowing, she arrived in front of her house. The day is getting darker and she could see the house is illuminated by an oil lamp. She feels odd. Suzuna can't be getting up even if she wants to because of the injuries plus the medicine that the physician gives Suzuna will make her whole body numb and can't move.
Upon opening the door to her house, she smiled pleasantly when seeing her adoptive mother are standing at the stove cooking something that smell delicious while Suzuna is awake but still lying on her bed.
Suzuna want to get up when seeing her sister came in but Misaki hurriedly over towards Suzuna and pushed her back gently. "Suzuna, please don't strain yourself. The wound will reopen if you moved too much," said Misaki while preparing the table for dinner.
Suzuna want to voice her protest but Satsuki Hyoudou, their adoptive mother beat her to it and said, "Your sister are, right. Don't worry, from today onwards, all your household chores will be done by me when you are healing. Misaki can help me with the more laborious work."
Suzuna still want to protest but Satsuki cut it off by saying, "Its dinner time. Let's eat". With that, all arguments forgotten and the three of them enjoy the food silently. Done washing the dishes, Misaki sit at the stool near her sister bed and give the acceptance letter to Satsuki.
When they were eating, Misaki is determined to tell her sister about it. Since Satsuki is here, she might as well tell her so Satsuki can help her in solving the problem. Satsuki read it slowly and loudly so Suzuna can know the content of letter as well without reading it.
When Satsuki saw the formal scroll that Misaki was holding when she come in, Satsuki feel dread in her heart. Such young girl but already needs to bear a big responsibility and make a life and dead decision.
She pretended to be happy so Suzuna will not feel even more pain. But Satsuki knew that Misaki will break the news sooner because the Academy only give 3 days to say good bye to family member and pack the belonging.
She knew what is the letter for because one of her son are offered (offered= you are compulsory to follow it or you will be executed) to enrol there. She knew now why Misaki hair is not long anymore.
Satsuki feel pity to Misaki but she has to be strong for both of them and read the scroll loudly so Suzuna can also hear it. As Misaki predict, Suzuna have a pained look on her face and Satsuki that always looked young suddenly looked more like her 30 years old self.
Done reading, Misaki give both of them the strongest smile she could muster but her heart feel heavy seeing both her loved one unhappy. "I can't back out now. Even if I could I wouldn't. I need to do this. I want to protect all of you from the beast."
Misaki took a long breath and continue, "I tell you this not to gain pity or ask you to stop me but because I need to live in the academy and Suzuna will be alone in this house. I can't let her live alone, so I was wondering if Satsuki-san have any idea how to solve it. But staying with Satsuki-san is not an option."
Ahter hearing the letter content, Suzuna don't say anything. Not even a playful remark that she always throw at Misaki. She just suddenly become quiet and couldn't look in Misaki's eyes. Misaki is worried but she will confront Suzuna later when Satsuki isn't around.
Satsuki put the letter down and pinched her nose bridge. She knows Misaki a stubborn girl, just like her father. If she had makes a decision she will not back out. Satsuki sigh heavily and said, "Ok, I will not stop you. You can't be stop anyway."
Hearing this, Misaki's face immediately lit up and a small genuine smile graced her lips. "But Suzuna will live with us no matter what you say. If you refuse, I will not hesitate to tell the academy that you are a girl."
Misaki pouted and Satsuki chuckled. Suzuna that was quiet until now suddenly hug Misaki despite her wound. Misaki was shocked, her sister never hug her before, not even when she knew their parent died.
Misaki don't know how to react with Suzuna sudden affection only patted her back gently. Suzuna released her sister and lie back but she smile sadly to Misaki. The smile is the only thing that Misaki need to see from her sister as approval.
Misaki kiss both Satsuki and Suzuna cheek and start running to her room to pack. The smile that plastered on Suzuna face disappeared as soon as Misaki is gone. She was on the verged of crying when Satsuki hug her. This is just like the night after she knows about her parent death.
She doesn't cry in front of Misaki not because Suzuna don't trust her but because she doesn't want Misaki to become worried but Satsuki knew better. That night, after Misaki asleep, Suzuna was crying silently when Satsuki came in and comfort her just like know.
"Don't worry. I will ask my husband to escort her to the Academy and told my son to take good care of Misaki. But I doubt she will accept it, she has a pride just like your father," said Satsuki while stroking Suzuna long hair. Suzuna only nodded.
After 3 three days, Misaki is officially a student in Seika Knight Academy. She worked the hardest among all students there. She is always careful so that her girl identity is not exposed. Because she always secluded herself, she doesn't have any close friend except the two girls from Healing Academy that situated just beside Knight Academy.
Even both her best friend, Sakura and Shizuko don't know Misaki is a girl. During her school year, Misaki is the best squire in the school and manage to graduate at the age of 11. Misaki is the youngest and fastest student to graduate from Knight Academy.
When she successfully became a knight, she is shocked to find the commander bad behaviour and attitude. No wonder the country security level drop. She swore to herself that she will take over the former commander and heighten the safety of Seika Kuni.
She again worked herself from the bottom until the top and the King also took notice of Misaki effort and appointed her as the commander. In just 2 years, she succeeded in becoming the youngest commander in the history of Seika Kuni.
With Misaki as the commander, Seika Kuni manage to break out from the weakest country list and become the 15th strong country and recently, their country succeeded to sign a peace treaty with Miyabigaoka Kuni, the strongest beast country.
End of flashback...
"Misaki, we have arrived," told Arashi and Misaki stopped from her musing. Both of them walked to the back of the house where they will meet Suzuna tending her farm. Suzuna that was sitting under the shed eating watermelon after standing under the sun for nearly 3 hour saw her sister and a horse clad in dried blood, looking at her sheepishly.
"Urmm... Suzuna, can you tended her injured foot after I washed her?" Suzuna nodded, put down her watermelon and fished out the first aid kit that she always used to treat her sister or Arashi. The first aid kit at Misaki house is not your usual kit but rather the sophisticated one that are always use during battle between beasts.
Only healers that graduate from Healing Academy could get the permission to own this kind of kit at home. Usually, a squire in training will not gain too much wound except from the training that they have to endure. Misaki always treat her own wound because she could not afford to risk her gender to discover during the healing process.
But one day, the country is attack by rogue beasts and the squires are needed because available knight are not enough. During the fight, Misaki is hit with magic coated weapon and this injury could not be healed by your average physician and Misaki is not an expert in this kind of wound.
So she hides the wound and let the magic eat her flesh. Luckily, Satsuki son, Hiroyuki notice something wrong with Misaki and immediately applied leave for both of them. Hiroyuki rush home with an unconscious Misaki and bring her to his mom. Satsuki is an ex-healer herself fish out her own kit and start to treat Misaki.
Suzuna that saw her sister is in pained could not hold her tears and run outside so Misaki will not see the tears. Seeing Misaki is working hard in keeping her gender as secret until willing to risk her life, made Suzuna make up her mind to become a healer. She swore to herself that she will be the one that will heal Misaki injury.
After one week, Misaki is back in health and was ready to go back to school when Suzuna voice her desire. Misaki is reluctant to let her sister enrol because healer also need to present every time there is a war with beast and that will harm Suzuna.
Suzuna was disappointed when Misaki prevent her to become healer but she hasn't give up yet. Two weeks after Misaki rejection, Suzuna secretly sign up her name and was accepted as a student. Satsuki again could not prevent Suzuna taking the risky path just like Misaki. Satsuki can only pray for both of the sibling safety.
Misaki only discovered Suzuna secret when she saw Suzuna was taking a healing practical at Knight Academy. Healer in training always do their practical on the student of Knight Academy because where else can you find a better place to practice the healing skill.
Anyway, you could say that Misaki is beyond shock, she is pissed. After the class, Misaaki request on Suzuna and both of them talk at the back of the stable away from the prying eyes.
When Misaki demand a reason why Suzuna is still stubborn with the decision, Suzuna shrugged and said, "Nee-san, I also want to protect the one I love and my home. I can't do that if I can't even heal the closest person that I have." This answer shocked Misaki but she understand Suzuna desire because she also has it.
Misaki sigh heavily, and patted her sister head as understanding. Suzuna kiss her sister and run back to her school while waving to Misaki. That's how Misaki manage to kept her secret although she encounter many magical injury because Suzuna is there as her personal healer.
A screech of eagle could be heard when Misaki is busy polishing her armour and Arashi barding. Misaki stand up and hold out her hand to take the massage that are attach to the bird feet. It is a usual thing that an eagle sent King massage to Misaki.
Since the first commander is appointed, it is set as a rule that no one can know the commander house location for safety accept family member and the King. If there is any emergency, the special horn will be blown or an eagle will be sent depend on the situation to alert the commander.
Misaki feed the eagle some meat that she always keeps for any eagle that will come. When seeing that eagle hasn't fly away, realization dawned on Misaki. She run inside and immediately opens the massage.
Despite the small size of massage, it is written in code. Misaki that are used to this type of writing, decipher it in just a minute. The coded massage say, "An unexpected guest has arrived and he request your present."
Misaki frown as she is not expecting any kind of visitor until the autumn where undesirable guest will appear. Misaki want to reject meeting the guest but if a massage arrive, that means she need to accept it beause you could never denied a King or you will be punish.
She writes the massage in coded. The massage read, "Your highness, I will present myself in front of you when the horizon swallowed the sun and sky turn dark." She attached the massage and sent the eagle flying.
~~~ Two Different World ~~~
Hello, Minna! Sorry for the long wait. Thank you for the one that review and favourite my story. I also thank you to viewer who read this story.
I hope you all are not confused with the he and she I use for Misaki. If you are in any way confuse about this story, feel free to ask me.
Healer in my story is not healer that uses magic to heal wound. They use special type of medicine that was invented by the royal special for magical attack wound. Only the student from Healing Academy can have the license to use it.
Here, Suzuna maybe a little OOC because I never seen Suzuna sad so I just make up how she will react. Sorry for making Misaki's mother and father die. I need a strong excuses so Misaki is motivated to enrol in Knight Academy.
Lastly, sorry for the horrible grammar. I'm still not good with it. Pls R&R ^^
