When I first became the Judgment Knight in training Teacher had dutifully explained to me the true nature of the Twelve Holy Knights. He explained to me that, although I was to be the Judgment Knight, that I did not have to abandon my true nature. At that time he had looked at me seriously, a towering figure of black robes, and said in a serious but kind voice, "Child. I chose you, not because you were best suited as the Judgment Knight, but the contrary. Because you were very unlike the cruel and heartless image that the Judgment Knight wears," At the time I had felt a wash of shame, unable to believe his words. When he had picked me I had inflated, thinking I could finally serve a good purpose, but now he was telling me that I was unworthy. I must of looked pitiful, because he shook his head and his serious face softened, "Child I picked you because you were kind and thoughtful. The path of the Judgment Knight is a harsh one, filled with pain and darkness," He looked up to the symbol of the God of Light, "And I would never dream of handing this role to somebody who was unkind and unforgiving. In truth, we Twelve Holy Knights are not a people, but a role that must be fulfilled. And that is why you, who is without hatred in your heart, must be the one to pass fair Judgment. Do you understand?"

I nodded obediently, despite not quite understanding. What he was saying disputed all of my knowledge of the Twelve Holy Knights. To say the role of the cruel Judgment Knight must be filled by somebody kind was a complicated oxymoronic statement, and as a child I wasn't able to understand the depth of it.

Teacher must have seen that confusion, for he continued in a clear voice, "As the Judgment Kight you will have to complete many difficult tasks. You will have to lead your platoon and the cruel division, and you must fit your role to the best of your ability to do so properly. You will have to pass judgment on criminals, most often in the form of torture," His dark eyes looked pained as they look to mine with pity, "These tasks will all be hard on you. However," His face got even more serious, his brows knitting together as he continued, "Your most important task may also be your most difficult."

He paused, looking unsure until I said in a calm voice, "I am willing to complete any task for the sake of the Church."

He looked relieved and smiled softly, nodding to himself, "Good. Because your most important task is to protect. Protect the city, protect the church, but most of all... Protect your Sun Knight with your life."

The thought of the cruel and indifferent Judgment Knight having to protect his loached opposite, The Sun Knight, had made no sense to me for such a long time. After all, the whole continent knows that the Judgment Knight cares for nothing except justice. Still, as the years passed by I obeyed teachers most important task.

I spent my years as a training knight looking out for the Sun Knight in training dutifully, making sure he didn't come to any fatal harm. At the same time I began to feel a sense of irritation. For years I couldn't understand why I felt this irritation, instead choosing to ignore it as I kept watch over the Sun Knight in training. He never noticed my presence as I kept my eyes on him; during study, sparring and in my spare time. My best description of him was that he was odd. He seemed so carefree; easy to laugh and smile as the other training knights gravitated to him. Even the Holy Knights and Clerics came to greet him happily when they would pass. Even with all this attention he never seemed to grow conceited, Instead he seemed to grow even more happy and kind, helping and sharing as easily as breathing. He didn't seem to think anybody below him, not even the flowers he tended in his spare time. He was someone whom was loved and who loved easily, yet to me he seemed so very... annoying.

I beat him in practice again for the umpteenth time, sighing as I did so. After once again trying to correct his stubborn fighting form by informing him he was being too stubborn I walked away again, hearing him yell the usual nonsense out behind me. Soon we were told to disperse, and I stopped to affirm his safety.

He was currently surrounded by a few of his friends, consisting of the young Metal, Earth and Cloud knights. He stood, his bright blue eyes crinkled in a smile as he comforted the young Earth knight happily, his mouth curved up in his easy grin. His friends surrounded him, laughing and talking together happily. He ran his hand through his short, golden hair. It was a habit I had long since noticed of his, and though I usually paid it no mind today it caught my eye. It wasn't the gesture, but rather the way his hair shone brightly in the sun as he did so.

It was blinding. It was so tauntingly blinding.

Over the next few days we were assigned a mission, and I began to lead it naturally, feeling a slight sense of accomplishment for reasons that didn't quite occur to me. Soon we were divided, and I set out the missions feeling somewhat dejected. Still, my emotions were a mystery to me and I dealt with them in my usual manner; focusing them into training. Whenever I felt a spark of irritation, or a sense of dread I would train until my whole body ached and my mind dulled.

Today was no exception. What was an exception, however, was his presence.

"Young Sun Knight," I said, surprised when I felt a little spark of hope light in me, confused as to why it was there. I shook the thought off quickly and asked, "What do you need?"

"Cooperation," He said in his bright voice, hand thrust forward. I stared at it for a moment, unable to comprehend the hopeful feeling that threatened to overwhelm me.

Instead of confronting the feeling I tried to ignore it, instead arching a questioning eyebrow and saying quietly, "And that means...?"

"We're the Twelve Holy Knights," He said with a poor attempt at confidence. At that moment I and to worry if the next Sun Knight was actually an idiot. After all, if he still felt the need to explain the situation like that he must be a major idiot. He continued, "It's not the Twelve Holy Knights if we're divided like this. As their leaders we have to set an example."

For some reason I felt immense irritation when he said as their leaders. I turned around, not wanting him to see my face as I began to attack the wooden practice dummy harder than was necessary, "I feel sorry for a division that follows your example."

"Please," he said, making me freeze in place and turn to him in curiosity and disbelief.

"Excuse me?"

"Please," He said seriously, staring me straight in the eye. Finally! After so many years of trying to teach him this idiot has finally learnt the lesson!

"So you've finally learnt humility," I said, feeling proud as I turned around but still not completely eased of the unknown irritation that made me say, "No."

"Yes. I'm willing to show humility for them. My own matters aside, they can't be the Twelve Holy Knights if they're divided!"

"If you want to be a good leader try practicing fighting more, I replied calmly, hoping he would adapt the newfound humility to his fighting style.

"Leading is not all about strength!" He announced, hand grabbing my shoulder and spinning me to stare him in the eye's. They were an annoying shade of blue and filled with sincerity as he continued, "It's about caring! Which is why you fail as a leader!"

Ive been protecting you for all these years and you think I don't care enough?! I was insulted and I immediately retorted, "I do not fail as a leader. I care."

He shook his head fiercely, "No you don't. You don't care enough to learn our names! To know that Earth is too shy to gather information! To know that I will never stop until we are all cooperating! You know of the people we have chosento become, but you don't know us. How can you expect to lead when all you know a out your subordinates is the masks they wear?!"

It angered me. Who was he to lecture me? I knew without him flaunting the fact that he knew all of his subordinates well, that he had easily befriended them all while I could hardly speak a few words with him without him being angered. I slapped his hand away, "I don't need advice from an amateur."

"Then are you just the Judgment Knight?! Do you not have a face of your own! Tell me then, O' Judgment Knight," He snapped, "Do you relish in torturing criminals? In hearing them scream? In-"

"Shut up," I growled. What did he know of the torture I had had to endure?! Of having to cause complete strangers harm?! What right did he have to claim I took pleasure when all I had ever done was sacrificed myself so that criminals could not harm the innocent?!

"Are you really so heartless-"

Before I realised it I had taken a step forward and punched him hard in the face, striking in anger for the first time since I was a child. Still, it did not silence him as he continued, "Are you so cruel?"

I punched him again, years of self loathing echoing with every word he said. He continued still, ripping apart my facade like tissue paper with his cruel words, "So lonely?"

Shut up, Shut up, Shut up! I moved to strike him again, but he grabbed my fist and shouted loudly, "Don't look down on us! Just like you, we're alive! We want to live in happiness! How do you expect to do that when you're all alone!"

At that moment I broke. I was weak and unwanted, yet he was able to stand so tall infront of me. His eyes were so annoyingly fierce. His hair shone so annoyingly bright. In comparison to somebody as bland and dark as me, he was so very... blinding. So very annoyingly blinding. I felt the tears well over and drop down my face, feeling weaker than ever.

He pulled me into a hug, patting my back comfortingly and muttering, "You really have one hell of a punch, you know that?"

I couldn't help but laugh. Couldn't help but stare at him in wonder. Even if I didn't understand teachers words fully, I accepted them wholeheartedly. For somebody like this... I could risk protecting him with my life. For somebody so bright. For my Sun Knight.

"Captain," One of my Judgment Platoon approached with a quick salute. I had been leaving the Judgment Complex, but stopped when I heard him speak.
I turned to him with my Judgment Knight frown and asked in a low voice, "What is it?"

The knight seemed untaxed by my cold attitude, simply handing me a small satchel and saying, "Knight-Captain Ice asked me to give you these, sir."

I accepted the bag with an internal sigh and nodded, letting him know he could leave now. When he didn't I asked quickly, "Is there anything else?"

He looked uncomfortable, an unusual expression for my knights. In a careful voice he asked, "Ah Sir I was just wondering... Are you going to visit him today?" I nodded quietly, unsure as to why he was asking. He quickly explained himself, stammering slightly as he did so, "Ah th-that's just... Would you mind saying hello for me? H-He was always very kind to me, especially when I first s-started and didn't know what I was doing... Ahem! That is if you want, sir..." He saluted awkwardly and left quickly.

On the outside I was wearing a stern frown but on the inside I was smiling gently. I had tried for years to interact less formally with my platoon, but in the end it only took one mention of him to bring out the first impulsive comment I had received from any of them.

I looked up to the sky, glad to see it was still bright out. It wasn't that I disliked travelling at night, but my black Judgment Knight attire made me extremely difficult to see. Last time I had almost been hit by a horse, but rather than me being flustered it was the rider who looked ready to cry as he begged me not to arrest him.

I held the satchel tightly and began to walk to the edges of the city briskly. I tried my best to ignore the surprised shouts of the citizens when they saw me, their faces turning from joy to horror at the sight of me. I didn't bother correcting them as they cried out their innocence, knowing the futility in telling them I was just out for a walk. I knew from experience that if I tried to explain the situation they would only get more flustered and begin to cause a ruckus. So instead I walked through quietly, trying not to rest my eyes on anybody for fear they would suffer a heart attack.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I crossed from the city into the wilderness. All around me trees towered tall, grass covering the ground densely and birds singing out loudly. I reached up and took off the black cloak I was wearing, revealing a practical set of clothes that I had thrown on before leaving. After all, it was hot wearing only black and I still had to walk for quite some time before I could relax. Still, I enter the walk immensely. It was quiet and peaceful near this area, and always teeming with life and vitality. Flowers peaked out of the undergrowth, their petals wide and open to the sun that peaked through the overheard foliage. I took my time, walking through the uneven terrain slowly and emptying my thoughts. I continued until the trees began to break away, revealing a large clearing that was bursting with colour. In the middle was a large tree, which surprised me slightly. It had grown so much in such a little amount of time. I approached it, trying my best not to tread on any of the small flowers and plopping down under the tree exhaustedly when I got there.

The shade was a welcome change, instantly cooling me. Even the rough bark of the tree seemed comfortable now that I leant on it, breathing in the crisp air gratefully.

"Long time, no see," I commented loudly, setting the satchel beside me carefully, "Ashton made us some food," I smiled wryly as I untied the package, "I'm afraid his cooking is still as hopeless as ever though."

Inside the satchel was a mixture of sweet and savoury fingerfoods. I picked up a dumpling cautiously and took a small bite.

"Yep. Still as horrible as ever," I muttered woth a cringe, but kept eating dutifully. After all, he had obviously put a lot of effort into this batch, "Sorry I haven't visited in so long. The church is still crazy busy trying to find a replacement, so I've been taking on a lot of the workload myself. I know, I'm a workaholic."

I sighed, looking at the ground forlornly, "Moon is a lot of help though. His head is always down in paperwork... I'm surprised his teacher didn't kill him before he passed down the role of moon knight. The same can be said of Leaf, though I suppose the previous Leaf Knight was too good a guy to ever kill his student. I don't even know if Hell has accepted his position yet. After all, he and the previous Hell knight just disappear occasionally. Not like Cloud though. I swear he's going to give me a heart attack one day. Metal even-" I stopped myself, eyes clenched. I stayed quiet for some time before continuing, "He misses you. A lot. We all do," My breathing shook sadly, "You were so annoyingly bright. So god damn stubborn. But I'd do anything to have you back here, smiling and laughing like you did before. Even after all these years, I'd still give anything to get you back with us. So why? Why did you have to die, you big idiot! We all miss you, so why couldn't you have just relied on us a little?"

I sat in silence, as I always did. Willing and wishing wasn't enough to bring back the dead, but talking and yelling still gave me some sort of comfort.

"Isn't that funny? For all the years we trained together I never once felt like talking to you," I sighed sharply, "If I had, would you have told me what you were doing? Or would I have become like Metal; left in the dark while you galavanted off and tried to fix everything yourself?" When no answer came I continued in a tight voice, "You know I have my first mission with him soon. Since the group mission, that is. We're off to catch a criminal in the north," My face twisted in a frown, "I hate the north. It's always winter, so greenery is sparse. I always end up missing the flowers here," My face lifted into a smile, "Speaking of, I have my platoon tend the flowers when I go off on missions. You should've seen their face when I first asked... I like to think they've gotten a bit friendlier, like you wanted. Today one of them even asked me to say hi to you. You always did have a way of bringing out the light in people. We need that." I stopped and ran my hand through the grass, thoughtful, "If there had even been a head. Half a head. A quarter... We could have brought you two back," I breathed deeply, eyes clenched, "But in the end all we had to bury was ash. It's a nice resting place though, isn't it?" I looked around the meadow, "I thought you would both like it here. It isn't a fitting grave for a Sun Knight, but I knew you wouldn't want to be buried in some stuffy old cemetary. It's bright here. It suits you, Caelan."