The forest seemed peaceful that morning, but Sataro felt something wrong in the air.
Too silent.
Too open.
Too watched.
Nova walked beside him, humming softly, her cloak swaying.
She seemed relaxed.
Too relaxed.
Ren yawned behind them.
Haruto and Lira whispered to each other, hands brushing.
Sataro scanned the trees again.
Nova smirked.
"You're tense," she teased.
"Always looking around… always thinking someone's after you."
Sataro didn't respond.
Something was off.
The Clearing
They stepped into a perfectly round clearing — no trees, no animals, no wind.
Dead silence.
Sataro stopped instantly.
"Don't move."
Haruto froze.
Lira's heart pounded.
Ren slowly reached for his knives.
Nova stepped forward, casually twirling a black strand of her hair.
"You figured it out too late," she said softly.
Haruto blinked.
"Huh?"
Nova gave them a perfect smile.
Cold.
Confident.
Completely unbothered.
"Did you truly think I joined you for fun?"
She looked at Sataro.
"Or because I liked you?"
She laughed.
"I joined you because the king asked me to."
Lira grabbed Haruto's hand, trembling.
Sataro narrowed his eyes.
"What did he offer you?"
Nova stepped closer, lifting her chin proudly.
"A deal," she said.
"My parents live… and in return, I bring him the Eclipsed Children."
Haruto's stomach dropped.
"You… you used us…?"
Nova winked.
"Of course I did."
The Dreaded Knight Arrives
The ground trembled.
Trees parted like curtains.
A massive armored figure stepped out, towering above them.
Black steel.
Blood-red cloak.
A horned helmet glowing faint crimson.
The Dreaded Knight.
Haruto's breath caught.
Ren whispered, "We're screwed…"
Lira clung to Haruto.
Sataro stepped in front of them all, sword drawn.
The Knight's voice boomed like thunder.
"Nova. Step aside. You have done well."
Nova smirked, proud of herself.
"See? I told you. I always win."
She walked toward two waiting soldiers, chin held high.
She didn't look back.
She didn't hesitate.
She left them behind without a second thought.
The Fight
The Dreaded Knight raised his massive blade.
"Surrender."
Sataro answered by charging.
Haruto summoned flames.
Lira threw stones.
Ren pulled daggers.
Sataro vs The Knight
Sataro slashed with full force —
The Knight blocked it with one hand and punched him so hard he flew across the clearing.
Haruto's Magic
Haruto shot a burst of heat, lighting the Knight's armor.
It fizzled uselessly.
The Knight grabbed Haruto by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
Haruto choked, kicking wildly.
Lira & Ren
Lira ran forward, screaming his name —
The Knight knocked her into the dirt with a flick of his wrist.
Ren rushed in with blades —
The Knight swatted him away like an insect.
Sataro Tries Again
Sataro rose, bleeding heavily, and lunged—
CLANG.
The Knight slammed him to the ground with one strike.
Sataro coughed blood, barely conscious.
The Capture
Chains burst from the earth, wrapping around all of them:
Sataro — Haruto — Lira — Ren.
Haruto cried out as the chains tightened.
Lira reached for him but couldn't move.
Ren groaned, dazed.
Sataro fought the hardest — his wrists bled from the struggle.
The Knight looked down at him.
"Do not resist," he warned.
"The king wants you alive."
Sataro glared up at him.
"Nova betrayed us… for a lie."
The Knight paused.
His expression under the helmet was unreadable.
He did not deny it.
He did not confirm it.
He said nothing at all.
Only he knew the truth about her parents.
But he kept it hidden.
"Take them," he commanded.
The Dungeon
The soldiers dragged the group through stone corridors and threw them into cells.
Haruto landed hard, coughing.
Lira scrambled to him, crying.
Ren slumped against the wall.
Sataro was thrown into a separate cell.
He clutched the bars and roared:
"NOVA!!!"
His voice echoed through the cold halls.
But Nova was nowhere.
She had disappeared the moment her job was finished.
Not guilty.
Not crying.
Not looking back.
She believed her parents would be saved.
She believed she had won.
The truth — that they were already dead — remained hidden.
Known only by the Dreaded Knight.
And he said nothing.
The Eclipsed Order was broken, beaten, and imprisoned…
All because of Nova's perfect betrayal.