Night had fallen.
The fire burned low, its glow flickering across the small clearing.
Three knights sat around it, their armor set aside—but their attention remained sharp.
Not on the dark.
But on the boy.
Aerin's eyes snapped open.
He moved instantly.
His hand went for the small knife beside him.
He rose into a guarded stance, breath sharp, eyes wide and alert.
The knights tensed slightly—
but did not draw their weapons.
"Easy," one of them said.
Aerin didn't respond.
His gaze moved between them—
ready to strike.
Then—
He saw him.
Klein.
The same knight who used to visit the village. The one children gathered around. The one who spoke of battles and glory. The one Aerin had admired.
For a moment, Aerin froze.
Klein stepped forward slowly. "You're safe," he said calmly. "No one here is going to hurt you."
Aerin's grip weakened. The knife lowered.
Klein's expression softened. "We found the village," he said quietly. "We saw what happened… and the graves. We followed your tracks."
Silence lingered.
"…You weren't there," Aerin said, his voice low.
Klein stopped. The words landed heavily.
"What happened?" he asked.
Aerin's body trembled. His grip tightened, then loosened.
"They killed them…" His voice broke. "My father… my mother… my sisters…"
He dropped to his knees as tears fell freely.
"They killed everyone…"
Klein moved immediately, kneeling beside him and pulling him into an embrace. "I'm sorry," he said. "I should have been there."
Aerin clenched his fists. His face twisted—not just with grief, but with something darker.
"I'll kill them," he said, his voice steady now. "I'll find them… and I'll kill them all."
The other knights exchanged uneasy glances. The weight behind his words was far too heavy for a child.
Klein felt it too, but he didn't pull away.
After some time, Aerin's breathing slowed. They gave him food, and he ate in silence.
"Do you know what happened to the bandits?" one of the knights asked.
Aerin paused, then shook his head. "I woke up… they were already dead."
The answer lingered, but no one pressed further.
Morning came cold and quiet.
The knights prepared to leave. The captain approached Aerin.
"We're returning to the capital," he said. "You can come with us. Train. Become a knight. So something this doesn't happen again."
Aerin's expression didn't change. "No."
"You won't survive on your own," another knight said. "You've never trained. How do you plan to avenge them?"
Aerin's eyes darkened slightly. "I'll find a way."
But deep inside, he already knew the truth.
What lived within him.
Something dark. Something the Kingdom of Luminael would never accept.
If they discovered it, he wouldn't be trained.
He would be killed.
"I'm not going," he said again.
Silence followed.
"I'll stay."
The knights turned to Klein.
"You should return and report what happened," he said calmly. "I'll remain with him for now."
The captain frowned. "Klein—"
"I'll take responsibility."
A pause.
"…Very well."
The knights mounted their horses and rode off.
Silence returned.
Aerin stood still, watching them disappear.
Then he turned, his eyes meeting Klein's.
There was recognition.
But also distance.
Suspicion.
Klein gave a small nod. "Looks like it's just us."
Aerin said nothing.
But he did not lower his guard.