The forest was no longer a prison; it was a testing ground.
After the initial disorientation, Eidolon's survival instincts took over. He found a cluster of tart, red berries to dull the ache in his stomach and drank deeply from a river that tasted of melted starlight. As night fell, the peace was shattered.
A guttural screech echoed through the trees.
Three Goblins, green-skinned and smelling of stagnant swamp water, lunged from the brush. Fear spiked in Eidolon's chest—the old habit of a victim—but as a jagged club swung toward his head, a cold weight manifested in his palm.
A blade of dark, swirling iron appeared from nothing.
With a desperate cry, Eidolon swung. The edge cut through the first goblin like parchment.
"Hahaha!" Eidolon let out a jagged, manic laugh, his adrenaline turning into a dark high. "You can't kill me... I've already died once! I'm staying alive this time!"
The remaining small goblins fell in a blur of shadow, but the ground soon trembled. A Hobgoblin Leader, standing seven feet tall with a rusted cleaver, roared into the night. It moved with surprising speed, slamming a fist into Eidolon's chest.
Eidolon flew backward, ribs snapping. Pain flared—then vanished. A strange, golden warmth washed over him—a Divine Protection he didn't yet understand—knitting his flesh back together.
"My turn," Eidolon hissed. He closed his eyes, feeling the invisible threads of Mana in the air. He pulled at them, draining the very light from the clearing. The dark blade pulsed. With one fluid motion, he unleashed a crescent of black energy that bisected the giant in a single strike.
Silence returned. Eidolon exhaled, looking at his trembling hands. "So this is my power... impressive."
The Imperial Knight
One week of solitary training passed. Eidolon hunted forest birds and slept in the high canopy, his body becoming leaner and stronger. Finally, the trees thinned, revealing a bustling village where Elves and Humans traded under a midday sun.
His stomach roared. He had no coin, no status.
"I need work," he muttered, his eyes wandering toward a bakery.
"Hey, kid!" A rough hand grabbed his shoulder. Three men in mismatched leather armor—low-tier Adventurers—surrounded him. "You look like you're carrying something valuable. Hand over your gold, or you're dead."
Eidolon's eyes darkened. He reached for the hilt of his shadow-blade, ready to turn the street into a graveyard, when a commanding voice cut through the tension.
"Stand down, scum!"
A man in gleaming silver plate armor stepped forward. The crest on his chest marked him as an Imperial Knight.
"Tch! It's Sir Kenta!" the leader hissed. "Run!"
The bandits vanished into the crowd. Kenta turned to Eidolon with a steady, curious gaze. "You alright, traveler? You have the look of someone from a far-off land."
"Eidolon Kage," he replied simply. "I'm... new here. And hungry."
Kenta, sensing a strange potential in the boy, led him to a nearby tavern. As Eidolon ate with a silent, focused intensity, Kenta made an offer. "I'm returning to the Imperial Capital. A man with your eyes shouldn't be rotting in a border village. Come with me."
The Princess and the Blue Ring
The Capital was a titan of stone and gold. As they walked through the grand gates, Kenta spoke proudly of the Emperor's kindness. But the tour was interrupted when a girl in a silk hood collided into Eidolon's chest.
"Oh! Madam, are you alright?" Eidolon asked, steadying her.
Kenta's face went pale. He dropped to one knee. "Eidolon, step back! This is Lady Seraphina, the Emperor's daughter!"
"I just wanted to see the bazaar!" Seraphina panted, her eyes bright and rebellious. "Father never lets me leave the walls!"
Kenta groaned. "My Lady, the Emperor will have my head! Please, return to the—" He stopped, spotting a group of suspicious figures darting into a nearby alley. "Robbers. Eidolon, stay with the Princess. I trust you to keep her safe!"
Before Eidolon could protest, Kenta was gone.
"Hmph," Seraphina crossed her arms, looking Eidolon up and down. "I don't need a babysitter, especially one who looks like a commoner."
"Believe me," Eidolon sighed, "I'd rather be finding a job. But since I'm stuck with you... where to, Princess?"
"The jewelry district," she demanded.
Inside the ring store, the atmosphere shifted. Seraphina pointed at various gems, but Eidolon's gaze drifted to a tray of silver bands. A memory of his old life—the blood-stained gift—flashed before his eyes.
"Hey! Stop daydreaming," Seraphina pouted. "Which one should I buy?"
Eidolon pointed to a sapphire band. "This blue one. It matches the fire in your eyes."
Seraphina froze, a deep blush creeping up her neck. "W-well... your taste isn't terrible, I suppose."
The Knight's Selection
As they stepped back out onto the street, Eidolon's Vision Power suddenly flared. He looked up. A massive stone brick, loosened by construction on the roof above, was plummeting toward Seraphina's head.
In a heartbeat, the shadow-blade flickered into his hand. Slash.
The brick exploded into dust before it could touch her hair. The surrounding crowd gasped.
"You saved me..." Seraphina whispered, her heart racing as she looked at the white-haired boy standing over her.
Back at the Palace, the atmosphere was heavy. The Emperor, a man of imposing presence, hugged his daughter before turning to Eidolon.
"You saved the blood of the Empire," the Emperor declared. "I shall grant you a chest of gold."
"With respect, Sir," Eidolon bowed, "I don't want gold. I want a place to belong. A job. Even a shopkeeper's life would do."
"A shopkeeper?" Seraphina stepped forward, her face set with sudden determination. "No! Father, I reject that. He will be my Personal Knight."
Eidolon blinked. Wait, what? This was supposed to be a quiet life.
"A Personal Knight?" The Emperor mused. "It is a heavy burden. But for her safety... I will grant you a house, a title, and five hundred gold pieces a month."
Eidolon calculated quickly. A house. A salary. In two months, I'll be rich enough to retire to a quiet corner of this world. "I accept, your Majesty."
"Excellent," Kenta grinned, clapping him on the shoulder. "I'll handle your training."
That night, Seraphina led Eidolon to his new quarters. At the door, she paused, her face turning pink in the torchlight. "Thank you again, Eidolon," she whispered. "You're... actually quite sweet."
She hurried away before he could respond.
Eidolon sat on the plush bed, staring at the moonlight. "Sweet? She has no idea." He clenched his fist, feeling the dark mana hum beneath his skin. "I'll play the part of the knight for now. But I will become stronger than anyone in this world. No one will ever make me a fool again."