All my life I’d been a little stronger and faster, but I always practised restraint. I choked it up to genetics but I didn’t remember enough about my parents to confirm that. So I’ve always kept a low profile, never showing off or sticking my nose where it didn’t belong. Until the day I couldn’t ignore someone else’s call for help.

My eyes were locked with the woman before me, long enough that I could have studied the breathtaking glimmer of purple in her iris. If it were under different circumstances that is…

“Half the police force wants you arrested. I suggest you start making sense, kid.” She said bluntly, her sultry voice harshened. 

“I told you already, I’m not sure what happened.” My mind scrambled as I searched for ideas. Suddenly my eyes widened, “Just ask the girl who was there, I was trying to help her from being assaulted!” My voice turned desperate but from the look in the woman's eyes, I could tell it was for naught.

She held the file in her hands and flipped to the page behind it, one brow raised as she read the report. “The girl…the one you said was being harassed and you stepped in to help?” 

“Yeah, that one.” I nodded along.

“Right, we did check in with her and that claim was indeed true. The assailant was even apprehended after all the commotion.”

I rose from my seat, “So then?!”

“This arrest is another matter completely. Not only were you caught in a disturbance, but you openly used your knight abilities without any certification for it.” Her tone turned fierce again as she tossed the file onto the table between us.

I reeled back with fright and lowered my gaze, my mind still searching for some way out of that situation. But there was nothing.

“I’ve looked over your profile for quite a bit and couldn’t find any link to a school or even that you awakened as a knight. Why is that?” Her gaze pierced mine as if she were staring through me.

I couldn’t lift my chin to meet her line of sight, the pressure she exuded from a glare alone was too intense.“Well, it’s not so easy to explain…” I answered truthfully.

“As you know, knights are forbidden from using their abilities outside schools when they’re still minors. Those abilities can break our society if left unchecked, so I’m sure you understand why you’re in so much trouble then.” She leaned closer.

The corners of my mouth creased, “I didn’t know I had any abilities until today. It all sort of just…happened. But, if I had a chance to do it all over again, I still would have stepped in to help her.” 

I couldn’t tell if that satisfied her or not, she was impossible to read. The tall woman with midnight black hair and violet eyes was dressed in a woman's suit, her skirt just barely over the knees and a revealing top that showed the plush curves of her bust. At first, it was hard to concentrate around her but when the looming threat of jail was an option, I quickly focused.

“I see” She rubbed her chin as if deep in thought. “How much do you know about knights?”

“We learn about them in school a bit, so as much as anyone else, I'd say.”

“You’ll only learn about the basics in those public schools.” She planted her thigh over the desk and leaned in front of me, one hand on the document between us and the other resting on the table. “I think I might just have an option that gets you out of all this.” She grinned mischievously.

A way out sounds too good to be true. Can I trust this person? She’s part of the police but… something feels off about all this, I wonder if I shouldn’t try somehow– My mind went blank as the woman's already busty attire revealed more depths from her chest as she leaned closer to me. The faint cherry smell from her lips brushed against my ear as she whispered, “How about I take care of you instead?”

“Okay~” I responded out of instinct.

Without skipping a beat, she stood away from the desk and settled into a casual demeanour. “Great, then I’ll inform the officers in blue that you’re coming with me.” 

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“Wait, what are you talking about?” I asked nervously. “Aren’t you–”

“I guess I didn’t introduce myself just yet, have I?” She cleared her throat and pulled out a badge from her blazer, “I’m Officer Silver, part of the Knights Division of Special Forces and from this day on, you’ll be under my surveillance at Kishi Academy for studying knights.”

Wait, she’s not just a regular policeman, then why did she– No, I can’t focus on that right now. Am I seriously going to be watched by this crazy chick from now on? A school for knights, when was this decided?! This woman…she totally tricked me!

“Hold on, you can’t just–”

“Just so that we’re on the same page here, you don’t get much of a choice in the matter. Unless you prefer the whole going to prison option better?” She shot me a bloodthirsty glance that stopped the words from leaving my mouth. Before leaving the room she left me with a glance over her shoulder, “You're a knight now, better make peace with it. That is if you want to move forward.” With that blunt comment, she left the room.

I sat there in silence staring at my hand and a glower expression plagued my face. 

“A knight… I guess I’ll have to get used to hearing that from now on.”

*

Nobody knows exactly when the first one showed up but the world has never been the same since. The power knights possess is something straight out of a fairy tale, casting magical spells and summoning full bodies of armour, their powers are seemingly limitless. The only way humanity could cope was by structuring our lives around them. In a way, they’re the apex of humanity. Both good and bad.

I adjusted my blazer with a few scratches and loosened the tie under my unbuttoned collar. “New school, same uncomfortable uniforms,” I uttered as I approached the entrance's staircase.

I didn’t care much for my old school but I guess I can’t compare this to anything I’ve done before. I wonder if I’ll make it through the day. 

I forced a smile. 

Still, everyone looks pretty normal. I wouldn’t have guessed they’re knights from just looking at them. But I know that’s not the case.

I scanned over the wave of students all around my age walking to the front doors of the school. There were a lot of first years, all wearing ID badges like mine to signal they were new. The rest must have been second and third years given how comfortable they all looked, most of which didn’t even bother gathering towards the school. It felt like they were watching us as if something amazing was supposed to happen.

My gaze shifted from person to person and landed on a head of hazel hair tied loosely into a messy bun. She looked nervous, her eyes darted around just as lost as mine did.

It’s her… the girl I saved yesterday! Should I say hello, yeah, I should go introduce myself or something? Before I realised it, I had already moved towards her and turned into something of a full sprint. Closer and closer, I got nearly in front of her when a terrifying thought crossed my mind. Wait, what am I gonna say… What if that moment was too scary for her and she wants nothing to do with me after everything that happened?

I stood in place, deep in thought. As I was absorbed in my inner struggle, I noticed a shift in everyone around me, like prey once a predator arrived.

“Move it.” An icy tone announced.

I spun on my back heel towards the frustrated woman behind me and before I had a chance to react, I was surrounded by three others with equally angry expressions.

“Don’t you see everyone else moving aside, get out of the princess's way!”

“Are you deaf or something, first year?” 

Two women stood in front of me, the princess they referred to was probably the pompous-looking girl at the back of the group with snow-white hair. She didn’t bother looking at me, her attention lay past me. Did I mean that little to them?

“Isn’t it easier to go around?” I asked back.

“You little… don’t you see who’s standing there? How dare you be so insolent in her majesty's presence!” One of the lackeys exploded with rage.

I took a closer look, my eyes examined the ID badge on her navy blazer and my lips read out the name above her picture. “Astrid Steinreich?” I asked with a confused tone.

The atmosphere changed, almost as if I had committed some grave sin. It must have been the last straw because that caught the attention of the man in the group, the biggest guy I’d ever seen. He towered over me, eyes fixed on his prey.

“You dare say her name without permission?” The corner of his eye twitched.

Why are they acting so weird, is she some kind of royalty or something? Maybe I should have just moved after all… this is becoming more trouble than it's worth.

“Sorry guys, I didn’t realise she was a big deal.” I retreated back a few steps. After turning away I waved them a nervous greeting and started walking, “I’ll just leave then, no point making this an issue, right?”

“Hold it!”

I stopped in my tracks and nervously turned back, only to see the large guy right behind me and his muscular hand on my shoulder. It nearly devoured my entire shoulder in his palm, I had never felt so much smaller than another person in my life.

“Not only did you show no respect but you’re trying to run away from it too? This can’t go unpunished, not in my presence.”