AN: Finally, I'm giving a bit of backstory for Igneous, as even the previous story didn't include that.

6- A Knight's Tale

As per usual, Igneous was outside the castle training. He had no sparring opponent, but was simply practicing his sword form, a serious expression worn on his face.

Both Hunter and Richter happened to be outside as well, but were simply watching. And not too surprisingly, Glint was ogling over the free show.

To the surprise of his audience, Igneous suddenly came to a stop. The knight glared in Richter's direction, and then approached the boy.

"Richter, you never train with us," he finally spoke.

"I don't believe I was ever invited to train," he answered.

"Well, that's also true," answered Igneous. "Nonetheless, this is a time of difficulty, and you are a Spider Rider. If it is truly your wish to be a member of our team, you and Wave should learn to properly fight with us. You only just came to the Inner World, so you probably are not too experienced a fighter."

"You'd be surprised," Richter replied. He was maintaining the same bored expression since their conversation began.

"Richter, we never did get to see you fight," Hunter commented. "I'd like to know what kind of attacks you have. It would be helpful, so we can come up with new strategies to deal with the shadows."

"I'm in," Glint spoke up. "I'd be interested in seeing what a cutey like you can do when you're serious."

"A cutey?" Richter wondered. He never thought himself to be particularly cute, and certainly this was the first time he was referred to as such.

"Yes," Glint replied. "But Igneous and Hunter are both cuter than you, sorry to say."

Hunter groaned. "Not this again."

"Richter!" Igneous declared. "Fight against me. It's important that you become strong. Besides, perhaps through a duel, I can see into your heart a bit better."

"If I have to," Richter replied. He was wishing to himself that he just slept in. Then he could have avoided this situation altogether.

"Flame, Spider Out!" Igneous yelled.

"Oracle's spirit!" He called out his transformation line next.

"Well, alright," Richter said. "Wave, Spider Out!" He took a breath. "Now… Oracle's rage!"

"Rage?" Hunter was taken aback by such an unusual transformation word. Yet, it was that word which was the key to Richter's successful transformation.

His battle armor was mostly silver in color. He now sported a cape on his back.

"He looks so chivalrous!" Glint commented. "Perhaps I did underestimate him."

"Now, are you ready?" Igneous asked. "Because know this… I won't hold back!"

He nodded.

"I'm ready."

Igneous made the first move, a strike with his sword. Already, Richter was taken by surprise. He only barely managed to dodge the blow.

"I'm only getting warmed up," Igneous spoke, as he made another swift attack. The force of it this time when their blades collided was enough to send Wave and Richter flying.

"Hey, hold on!" Richter yelled, annoyed. But naturally, he received no reply. Simply a blast of fire created by Flame, which began to encircle him.

"Eeh, this is way excessive!" he yelled, jumping off of his spider's back, and over the flames.

"What are you doing?!" Igneous demanded, noting that Ricther's partner was still surrounded by the fire.

"Saving my own butt, what do you think?" he replied.

Igneous swung his blade, with a great intensity. The flames were put out by a gust of wind, which also threw Richter a distance away.

"That's the end," Igneous declared. "You're a terrible Spider Rider. You must fight as partners with your spider, and you must never endanger another life, even for your own safety!"

Cringing, Richter looked up at Igneous.

"I didn't ask to do this anyway! I just didn't want to lose." Quickly, he returned his spider to the manacle, and walked away.

"Wait!" Igneous yelled, though he didn't bother following.

"Woah, he seems angry," Glint whispered to Hunter.

"Yeah," Hunter agreed. "Usually, Igneous is calm." He looked to Igneous, worriedly.

"Hunter," called Igneous. "Why don't you and Glint go inside for now? Maybe you can deal with him. I don't think I'm the right person for it."

"Uhh… If you say so," Hunter answered, though this didn't help to ease his concerns. "Glint, come on."

"Yeah, alright," she said, and followed after.

"You know, Igneous might be a bit too serious," Glint spoke, as she and Hunter sat on a couch within the castle. Corona and Magma were also in the room.

"Yeah, he can be," Hunter said. "But-"

"And he trains way more than any of you," Glint interrupted. "How come? Do you know?"

"Honestly, I don't," Hunter replied. "He's a knight, so he always has to be concerned about protecting people. That might be why."

"No, that's not the reason," Corona said. "Igneous wasn't always so serious."

"Really?" Hunter asked.

"Yeah," she answered, looking sad. "I don't know if I should really tell you what I know, because Igneous doesn't talk about it much either. But, I've heard he was actually kind of reckless once."

"Yeah, that doesn't sound like Igneous," Magma commented.

When Igneous suddenly came into the room, an awkward silence spread amongst his comrades.

"Hey Igneous…" Hunter said nervously. "What brings you here?"

"Hunter!" he scolded. "I overheard a little. I know what you're talking about."

"I'm sorry," Corona said. "I shouldn't have said anything."

"No, it's alright," Igneous answered.

"There was an attack?"

Igneous was frustrated, as he heard the grim news from another soldier.

"Yes," the man said, worriedly. "The Insectors have taken the children of that village hostage. In exchange for their safety, they demand all of their crops."

"I'll handle it," Igneous declared. Really, who else could it be, but him? Though he wasn't too old himself, the other Spider Riders were much too young to take on a situation like this. And it was rather dire, as Arachna had faced a rather dry year. The crop supply was not an ideal one to begin with.

The boy raced to the village in question, and the scene was not pretty. The children were rounded up in the center of the village, and surrounded by many armed Insector soldiers. Their parents could only watch on worriedly.

"How dare you, Insectors!" Igneous demanded.

"A Spider Rider…" the squad's captain growled.

"That's right," Igneous said. "I'm here to stop you!"

He made no delay to attack the soldier. And of course, his strength as a Rider was not to be taken lightly. After a quick battle, Igneous was the winner.

"This was not part of the equation!" Another Insector declared angrily. He thrust his sword into a small boy, blood splattering around him.

"You may have taken out our leader, but we can still kill all of them if you don't surrender!" the Insector shouted.

"That day, the villagers were forced to surrender," Igneous concluded. "Had I thought of a plan, perhaps if I'd pretended to surrender and fought once the children were released… anything… that child's death could have been prevented."

"That's awful…" Hunter said. "I'm sorry. I never would have imagined something like that happened."

"Since that day, I learned to look at every situation more carefully. To never enter a battle unprepared. I devoted myself to training not just my body, but my mind. As you know, my reputation has long since been restored. That incident isn't even talked about. But deep down, I'll always think of that boy, how my rashness was the cause of his death. I swore to do everything in my power to never let another innocent person die again."

"So that's how it is?"

When they turned their heads, the Riders saw Richter standing by the room's entrance.

"Hey, Richter!" Hunter called, hoping to get his attention. However, the boy left without a word.

"Is that alright?" Hunter asked to Igneous.

"Yes," Igneous said. "If he heard, maybe that will help him understand. That is, if a boy like him is even cut out to be a Spider Rider. There's something unstable about him."

"You still don't trust him, do you?" Hunter asked.

"I want to trust him," Igneous said. "Still, we know little about him."

"Well, then just keep training with him," Hunter suggested. "Didn't you say it would help to see his heart?"

"You're right," Igneous said. "Then that's what I will do."