A knight lives with the honor and responsibility bestowed upon them by the sword and the title given by the king. They were the protector of the weak and pillars of hope built with the trust to assure the safety of the people. They strikes justice with the edge of their sword and provide equal judgement among the people. It was their duty to keep the peace of the kingdom and with every drop of blood they shed would gained them more respect from the people who look up to them as their saviour. For her, beneath those shining armor and sword, lays a brave fighter with the heart of the lion.
It was her dream since she was a little kid to be a noble knight. Whenever she heard the story about them, either saving a damsel in distress or fighting a war for their kingdom, her bright brown eyes would sparkled with full interest as a wide smile spreaded on her face. She would be listening to those stories for hours long in enthusiasm, not at all bothered how late it was until she heard the ending for them. Sometimes, she would even begged for her mother to tell her the stories about knight before she went to sleep, which was always amusing for the older woman.
Almost every night, illuminated in the dim light of the flickering candle in her room, her mother would relented then laid by her side on the bed, and told her the story of a couragous knight until she fell asleep. Which wasn't easy for the older woman since the younger girl always managed to stay awake until they reached the end of the tale. She would tell her mother that one day she would also be like one of them, to be be a knight, to protect their kingdom like the story she was told by her. And her mother would smiled softly, kissed her forehead and bid her goodnight as the girl closed her eyes for the upcoming day.
Jordan was determined, she would overcome every obstacles to get to her dream and make it a reality. It won't be easy for her but she wasn't expecting it to be easy either.
When girls her age learned how to cook and sew, she escaped into the forest near their town to train her body. Her ginger hair that she usually let loose, now tied into a braid since she don't want to cut it short and raise suspicion from the people. It quickly became a routine for her to come into the forest where other girl would never go alone and boy hesitated to go even in a group. She would stayed there for hours, training her body to be in a perfect shape and adapt better with the situation if needed to. But, without proper training she couldn't do much but increased her strength and stamina. It didn't take long before people started talking about her disappearance as some even saw her entering the forest. When the rumor reached her parent, she can't do anything else but came in clean with them since they taught her better than lying.
Jordan was both fortunate and unfortunate that her father was a former knight honourably released from his duty after the war due to his rising age. If anything he would be the one that understand her the most after her mother. He was also one of the reason why she decided to create her own path to be a knight. Although he had been long since leaving the world of knight, his skills as a fighter still as sharp as the sword he kept dispayed over the fireplace, a grace of the king for his service and loyalty for the kingdom. She once injured her finger while inspecting the blade, testing how sharp it could be and was shocked with the result. She definitely underestimated the weapon since her finger quickly bled even with a single touch.
Standing beside her father, Jordan could clearly see the difference between them that makes him more appealing among the crowd. Whenever they walked in the market, where stalls stood along the dirt path, people would see and greeted him in a good manner such for a noble member. She could see the respect and adoration in their eyes when they looked at her father, though there was also something else reflected in them, but she couldn't confirm what it was. Some would even give him free stuff which he politely refused. When she asked him why he refused such kindness he replied that he don't want people to treat him any different than them. As now he is also a part of their community, living a happy life with his lovely family far from his old life. She wondered what he meant by that.
After she told him about her dream to be a knight like him, she noticed his expression slightly changed, it was more strained and harder. She wanted him to train her like how he used to receive when he was still a knight, but he refused and walked away from her without saying anything. Jordan thought her father would be much more relented to help her after she told him about her dream, but that wasn't the case. She still begged him to train her from time to time, hoping that her father would softened with her request even though he didn't seem to change his mind with his decision.
When she got back home injured one day after training in the forest like usual, her parent quickly came to check and attend to her wound. Something happened that moment that made her father agreed to train her under his instruction, though still reluctance at first. Hearing what her father said, she couldn't help the smile spreading wider on her face and hugged him in a tight hug. Her mother looked at them with a small smile, her eyes lowered, containing something that quite familiar to disdain but the younger girl didn't seem to notice that. She was too happy that her father finally see her as someone worthy as his apprentice.
Since then, her father started coming with her to the part of forest where she usually use to practise. Her training doubled in difficulty with him observing her move and teaching her how to get better. She complied his every order, following his instruction without complaining. Her father was willing to help her and she don't want to let him down. Her training became harder with every session but she always managed to overcome and be stronger by the end of them. He saw the potential in her and she made use of his training to hone her ability to reach their greatest form.
That's when the news of a new knight spreaded around the kingdom. It quickly caught her attention as the knight managed to help them winning a war against their enemy even though they were close to losing, but she was more shocked to find out that the knight was actually a girl, and one of the princess at that. She couldn't believe that someone from a royalty heirline would've done that. But from what she have heard from the rumor, some of the royalty were graced with magical ability beyond a human imagination. Perhaps the rumor was true after all. If anything that's only increased her determination as she began to train harder with every passing day.
Soon after a new revelation changed her life forever. The day she had been waiting for finally came as a chance sprouted from their recent victory over the war. The rule of forbidding female from being a knight being put down as a request and order of the brown haired princess and knight that helped them won the war. Other than claiming the title of a princess, she also received a new title from the people that knew of her ability as a knight.
'The valkryie of war'
That was the name for her second idol and inspiration. Now the opportunity being dispayed before her, she wasted no time and grasped it close in her clutch.
Since the taking down of the rule was still new, she was the only girl attending the exam to be a knight among boys who were bigger than her. She noticed their glances on her as if she was a joke, that she wasn't supposed to be there and instead stayed home like other girl. But her determination was stronger than their teasing and mocking.
And she showed them with her excellent ability in the exam, taking down a few bigger boys that used to laugh at her before, surprising almost everyone who was watching. From hand to hand combat, sword handling and long range accuracy with a bow, she managed to get the top score among her competition, much to her satisfaction. Her training with his father definitely paid off with how great she was. Needless to say, she easily became the second girl to be a knight after the valkryie of war with her ability alone.
When the graduation day came where she received her sword and title, people including her parent cheered for her achievement. Her mother teared up beside her father as both were proud and happy that she finally reached her dream. All the teasing and laughing that she received when she told her friend that she wanted ro be a knight, now flooded with the praise and cheers she was receiving. She was so happy, now she can be like the one that she admired the most, she can finally be the new pillar of hope for the people and change the world like the valkryie of war...
*Sigh*
...If only that actually happened.
Riding her horse on the dirt path, dust covered the ground as Jordan led her comrades and their guest behind her. She was given the responsibility to lead their guest to the castle for the upcoming ball that will be held tonight. Once in a while the royalty would held a ball where the noble can discuss the problem in their section of the kingdom. In the carriage that they were transporting right now, sat a tall man in fancy clothes and all kind of jewelry on his possession with two attractive woman laid on either sides of him. She ignored him since it was none of her business. She only need to send him to the castle and roam free after that until she received her next mission.
"Hey, have you heard about the rumor about this guy we're transporting?" Jordan glanced at the corner of her eyes when she heard her comrades whispering behind her.
"Yeah, I know, I can't believe that we are actually keeping him safe with what he have done." The other man replied, venom seeped in his voice.
"Wait, so is it true that he molested a girl and then humiliated her until she killed herself." He inquired.
"She didn't kill herself, he paid someone to kill the girl to keep her quiet."
He gasped in shock. "Seriously, how do you know that?"
"I've a cousin from that part of the kingdom and she saw everything that actually happened there and told me about it the last time we've met," He sighed. "I amost can't believe it myself but it is the truth."
"Then, why aren't there anyone arresting him, he should be put in the torture chamber for what he have done." He remarked.
"His father is a duke, everyone is scared of their family, they can easily kill anyone in their path." He replied.
"What about the royalty, they would definitely do something about this?"
"They would, but there is no one that is brave enough to expose their crime to the council."
"We can do that, we need to bring him to justice, we can't just let someone vile like him roam free like this, we are KNIGHTS, it is our duty." He said angrily.
"Do you have a family?" That question alone was enough to make him quiet. He thought for a moment and his eyes lowered in defeat. "That's what I thought, If they aren't coming for you they will go to your loved one, are you willing to lose them?" None of them said anything after that as silence filled the air.
"This is unfair." He muttered slowly.
Jordan returned her gaze back to the front. She knew nothing is fair in this world and she already resigned with that fact. She also have heard the rumor about this man. Because of that rumor also she was entrusted to keep him safe from any sort of danger by her superior. There were a few attempts where people tried to attack him in the past but failed because of the strict security protecting the man. Since she is the strongest fighter among the knights in this section of the kingdom, she was chosen for this task. She would rather be doing something else right now but then she would be breaking her superior order. She can't do that, as a knight she needs to follow their order without question.
Her horse halted, followed soon by the carriage behind her. There is a man standing in their path with a sword in his right hand. The noble stuck his head out from the carriage and looked at the man with disgust in his eyes.
Bystanders watched from the sides, gasping and murmuring in the crowd.
"Come out and fight me like a man you bastard!" The sword wielding man shouted in anger.
The noble clicked his tounge and looked at Jordan, signalling her to settle this as fast as possible.
Receiving her order, Jordan got down from her horse in her light silver armor and unsheathed her sword. She walked slowly towards the man as he raised his swords with both of his hands. He has a posture of a fighter but the shaking of his hand already showed that he didn't have much experience in a sword fight. Might as well make this quick, she don't want the situation to get anymore worse. The man ran at her and swung his sword downwards with full force. With a side step, Jordan dodged the blade and elbowed the man on his chest. The man grunted, took a step back and swung the sword to her side, which she ducked and and swung her leg under him, making him fall on his back. She got up, kicked his sword and pointed the edge of her sword at his neck.
"Stay down." She ordered.
Jordan raised an eyebrow when she heard a sob. The man, he is... crying?
"W-why did you do this, why are you helping him." He cried.
Honestly, she don't know, why exactly is she doing this anyway. Was it because it was an order?
"H-he killed my daughter, h-how could you be on his side, you're a knight, you should help us." Her eyes widened in shock as her hands started shaking with hesitation.
She was broke from her thought when the noble clapped his hands while walking towards them. "Wonderful work, I must say you're indeed far much better than my expectation, I thought they're joking when they said a girl will keep me safe." He said before stopping infront the fallen man. With a sick grin, he kicked the man in his stomach, making him groaned in pain. "How dare a pest like you try to compare yourself with someone like me, a man you say, you are much lower than that, know your place peasant." He sneered. He tried stomping on him when a little girl pushed him aside and covered the fallen man.
"Dad! Wake up, please wake up," She begged as tears welled in her eyes. Jordan clenched her swords tightly in her hand. Is this what she really wanted? Where is the honor? Where is the respect? Where is the adoration? Why is there only fears permeated in the air.
The noble now furious at the little girl tried to slap her when a purple energy pushed him a few feet away on the dirt ground.
"A witch!" A man shouted, pointing at the girl wearing a dark blue cloak. Jordan turned her head and raised her sword at the girl who is nearing her. The hooded girl raised her right hand, enveloping it with purple energy and shot it at the girl knight, pushing her back but still standing. People started screaming and running for safety at the sudden appearance of the witch.
"Maggie, I told you to hold still." A male voice spoke as a boy in black cloak headed towards the witch. By now, the other knights had already left their horses and surrounding the hooded girl and boy.
"Are you insane, he is about to hit the girl, I can't let that happen." Maggie snarled and took down her hood, revealing a black haired girl with pale skin.
"I know," Lincoln took down his hood, showing his white hair and freckled cheek. "I just want to make sure of something first." He sighed, glancing at the knights surrounding them.
Jordan was shocked but she quickly took her stance with her comrades. The noble stood beside her with rising anger at the witch. "WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR! KILL HER!" He shouted.
Lincoln ran his right hand through his white hair and looked at Maggie who is kneeling and healing the injured man with her purple energy. The crying girl watched by her side while holding her father hand. "You think you can heal him?" He asked. Maggie nodded at him
"I just needs some time." She answered monotonely.
Letting out a sigh, Lincoln turned to look at the knights preparing to attack them. "Take all the time that you need."
The knights slowly approached the white haired boy when they felt their step became heavier except for Jordan. With every step they took, their body went weak and finally slammed against the ground as if they're being crushed by a heavy pressure.
"Bloodlust," Lincoln muttered, extended his right hand and pressed it down. The fallen knights screamed in pain until their voices one by one slowly disappeared leaving Jordan and the noble against him. Neither know what actually happened but the boy is definitely the cause of it. But how could he do that, he seemed to be in the same age as her.
Her eyes widened when black fire started enveloping the boy hand as he pointed it at the sky. She have heard about this fire before, there was once a town being burned with the same fire as him. The noble fell beside her while looking in horror at the rising black fire.
"Now, I'm giving you a choice KNIGHT, you can save him but you need to kill the injured man for that," Lincoln said.
"Lincoln! What are you doing?" Maggie argued.
"What will you choose knight?" He ignored the witch, content with his action.
Jordan raised her sword, her hands shaking as her mind fought the logic in her head.
"Hurry up! Kill him, do you want to die?" The noble shouted. "I can pay you as much as you wanted, just KILL him!" He ordered.
The sword fell from her shaking hands as Jordan fell on her knees. This isn't what she wanted. If her youngest self is here, she would slap her across the face with anger and disappointment. This is wrong, but it was an order, is this why her father was reluctant to train her before. It all make sense now, being a knight isn't as great as she used to think it was. They're nothing more than puppet being controlled by the people superior than them. They never have an option in the first place, they're only there to serve and die without a reason. How pathetic. She is pathetic.
Jordan reached for her sword and got back up, none of this is important, it was already too late for her to make amend. Punishment is the only thing left for her to carry and she would rather be death knowing that she wasn't a knight like she hoped to be. Jordan sprinted at Lincoln with her sword held high with a battlecry. She didn't care if he hit him, for all she knew, death is the only way out from this suffering, and she invited the feeling with open arms.
She opened her eyes in cofusion when she felt a stinging pain against her cheek. Did he just... slap her?
"You really wanted to die huh?" Lincoln chuckled as she stared at him. "Sorry miss, but I can't kill you, so you need to live with that." He disappeared from her sight and appeared infront the noble with a glare. "As for you, well I can't say the same." He raised his flaming hand.
"You fool! You better let me go or my father will kill all of you," The noble threatened. "He will find all of you and your family."
"Huh, you know what..." The black fire became stronger. "I. Don't. Care." Lincoln shot a stream of black fire towards the noble, incinerating him into ashes with an agonizing scream. When he was done, the fire seeped back into his hand as Lincoln walked over to where Maggie is healing the man. The little girl stared at him with fear in her watery eyes while hugging the witch beside her. He just killed someone, it wasn't a big deal for him but for other people he can't say the same. "How is he?" He asked.
"He will be fine," Maggie retracted her hands as the purple energy disappeared. The little girl hugged her father when he sat on the ground. The man looked at them with tears in his eyes.
"T-thank you for saving me, how can I ever repay you?" He asked.
"You don't need to, just go far away from here and start a new life somewhere." Maggie said as she stood up and looked at Lincoln. He sighed, reaching into his cloak and gave a pouch of golden coin to them which they looked in shock.
"Don't ask, Maggie we're leaving," He turned only to see Jordan glaring inches away from his face.
"Why?" She asked.
"Why what?" He responded. She lowered her eyes.
"Why don't you kill me?" She admitted, clenching her fists tightly.
"Because I don't kill someone who didn't deserve to die." He answered, walking past her.
"But I wanted to die, I don't deserve to be a knight, I'm a shame to my family." She turned around.
"Then prove it, prove that you deserve to be a knight that you wanted to be, you have the bravery but you didn't have the right direction to show your ability." He glanced at her.
"Then what should I do? Do I need to come with you?" Jordan asked as he stopped walking.
"I already give you a choice, you just need to choose which one." Lincoln yawned. "The rest is up to you." Maggie walked over by his side.
"My name is Jordan!" She exclaimed.
He lowered his head, the corner of his lips slightly curved. "My name is Lincoln, she is Maggie the dark witch," The teen girl elbowed his ribs as he chuckled.
"I-I'm coming with you." Jordan chosed. She still has a long way to go and if he was right, along this journey, she will finally be what she wanted to be. A real honourable knight that she can be proud of.
"You sure?" Maggie asked. Jordan looked at them with full determination.
"Yes!" She confidently answered.
It was night time as the castle filled with all kind of nobelty for the ball. Among the people, there is a girl or mostly known as the valkryie of war talking with her comrades that went to the same war as her. That's when she heard about a monster and a witch near their place that killed a noble in his way to the ball. The longer she heard about it, the more it piqued her interest. And it only rose higher when she heard about the black fire. She gritted her teeth and quickly left the ballroom, already lost interest with the event. She can't believe it, he was so close to her and she still can't sense him.
'I will find you Lincoln, I swear.'