Alan slowly turned around.
Behind him stood a man with radiant golden hair and sharp brown eyes.
He wore a gleaming silver knight's uniform, with four finely crafted swords secured across his back. His very presence radiated authority.
The moment Alan recognized him, the arrogance vanished from his face.
Fear.
Respect.
Both appeared in his eyes at once.
The two boys restraining Chris immediately released him and bowed deeply.
"Captain Daniel Richard!"
"Our greetings, Captain!"
Daniel did not respond.
His gaze moved past Alan.
He noticed the blood at the corner of Chris's mouth.
The temperature around him seemed to drop.
Without saying a word, his grip on Alan's wrist tightened.
"Ah... Agh!"
Alan cried out in pain.
Daniel's voice remained calm, yet every word carried immense weight.
"Tell me..."
"What exactly is happening here?"
Alan forced a nervous smile.
"I-It isn't what it looks like, Captain."
"We were only talking."
Daniel looked at him coldly.
"Really?"
"Because it does not look like a conversation to me."
His eyes swept across the three young knights.
"You are wearing the knight's uniform."
"Do you know what that means?"
"A knight exists to protect the weak."
"To give people courage."
"Not to abuse those who cannot defend themselves."
Silence settled over the area.
No one dared to answer.
Finally, Daniel released Alan's wrist.
"I want the three of you to report to the training ground immediately."
"You will run fifty laps around the arena while holding your swords above your heads."
Alan's eyes widened.
"B-But, Captain—"
Daniel's sharp gaze silenced him at once.
"Did you not hear my order?"
"My command is absolute."
"Now move."
"Yes... Captain."
The three lowered their heads.
As they ran toward the training ground, Alan glanced back at Chris, hatred burning in his eyes.
Only after they disappeared did Daniel's expression soften.
He turned to Chris with a gentle smile.
"It has been a long time, Chris."
Chris quickly bowed.
"Thank you... Captain."
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
"I am the one who should apologize."
"If the knights under my command make a mistake..."
"Then that failure is mine as well."
Chris looked at him with deep respect.
---
The two walked quietly toward the administrative building.
After several moments of silence, Daniel spoke.
"I have wanted to see you for quite some time."
"That is why I came personally when I heard you were here."
Chris looked at him in surprise.
Daniel continued walking.
"I know you have been hurting."
"I know you have lost hope."
"But listen carefully."
"A person's strength alone does not make them a knight."
"You have always been a kind-hearted boy."
Chris lowered his eyes.
"Captain..."
"Why are you being so kind to me?"
"Everyone says I'm useless."
"And..."
"They're right."
Daniel suddenly stopped walking.
He pointed toward a wooden bench beneath a large tree.
"Come."
"Let's sit for a while."
The two sat down.
For a few moments, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Daniel broke the silence.
"Chris..."
"Do you know when I first came to this division?"
Chris thought for a moment.
"Five years ago."
Daniel smiled faintly.
"That's right."
"When I arrived here..."
"I had already lost the will to live."
Chris looked at him in surprise.
Daniel stared quietly into the distance.
"My arrogance cost me something precious."
"I lost someone I could never replace."
"I spent my days wandering without purpose."
"I had no dream."
"No motivation."
"I simply existed."
His eyes slowly returned to Chris.
"Then..."
"I met a young boy."
"Every child around him passed the Power Examination."
"But that one boy failed."
"I saw myself in him."
"I believed he would give up."
Daniel smiled warmly.
"But I was wrong."
"That boy trained every single day."
"He refused to surrender to fate."
"He challenged destiny itself."
"Watching him..."
"...changed me."
"It taught me what it truly means to be a knight."
Chris's eyes widened.
Memories flooded his mind.
Swinging a wooden sword until his hands bled.
Training until every muscle screamed in pain.
Collapsing from exhaustion...
Only to stand again and continue.
Every day.
Again.
And again.
Tears slowly filled his eyes.
His voice trembled.
"But..."
"No matter how hard I tried..."
"I still couldn't change my fate."
Daniel stood up.
Then he gently placed a hand on Chris's shoulder before pulling him into a reassuring embrace.
"I do not believe that."
Chris slowly looked up.
Daniel smiled with complete confidence.
"I know there is power within you."
"Not the kind people can see."
"You possess courage."
"Kindness."
"And a heart that never gives up."
"Those are the qualities every true knight should have."
"I believe..."
"...that you possess those qualities more than anyone else in this base."
Unable to hold back any longer...
Chris embraced Daniel tightly.
For the first time in days...
He cried.
---
Later that afternoon...
Chris entered his father's office.
Supervisor Knight Park was organizing stacks of official documents.
He looked up and smiled.
"Chris."
"You made it."
But the smile faded the moment he noticed the bruises on his son's face.
He rushed over immediately.
"What happened?"
Chris smiled gently.
"It's nothing, Dad."
"I just fell."
Without waiting for another question, Chris handed him the lunch box.
"Sorry I'm late."
"I'm heading home now."
He gave a small wave before quietly leaving the office.
Park silently watched his son disappear through the doorway.
Moments later...
Daniel entered.
Seeing him, Park immediately understood there was more to the story.
Daniel simply shook his head.
"Don't worry."
"Everything is under control."
The two men sat quietly inside the office.
Park looked out the window.
Across the training grounds...
Alan and the other two young knights were running lap after lap with their swords raised above their heads.
Park clenched his fists.
"Daniel..."
"Why does this only happen to my family?"
"My wife is kind."
"My son is kind."
"So why must they suffer like this?"
Daniel looked at him with sympathy.
"Everything will be alright."
He paused.
"However..."
"I am afraid something far more serious is about to happen."
Park frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Daniel's expression grew grave.
"Park."
"You know our world is divided into five continents."
"We currently serve on the Southern Continent."
Park nodded.
"The Southern Continent is home to the Black Forest."
"The most dangerous place in the entire world."
He continued,
"Every day, magical beasts emerge from that forest and attack the surrounding divisions."
"There are fifty-two military divisions protecting this continent."
"Our division..."
"Division One..."
"...is the closest to the Black Forest."
"Which means we suffer more beast attacks than anywhere else."
Park nodded.
"Everyone knows that."
Daniel folded his arms.
"Yes."
"But have you noticed something recently?"
"The number of magical beasts has increased dramatically."
"And..."
"The creatures appearing now are far stronger than before."
"Even the weather has begun to change."
Park's expression stiffened.
"What are you trying to say?"
Daniel looked him directly in the eyes.
"I believe..."
"Something inside the Black Forest is changing."
"And whatever it is..."
"...it is dangerous."
Park immediately stood.
"Then we should send an investigation team."
Daniel nodded.
"I already have."
"Arun's squad."
"They are our strongest unit."
"And no one understands the Black Forest better than Arun."
He slowly looked toward the dark horizon.
"I have a feeling..."
"Something has awakened inside that forest."
---
Far away...
The Black Forest stood beneath an endless sky.
A sea of black mist covered the ancient woods.
Not a single ray of sunlight could pierce its darkness.
Deep within the forest...
Something slowly opened...
A single crimson eye.To be continue