At a large circular arena filled with sand, protected by a large and round concrete wall built like staircases—which functioned as seats for a large crowd to gather. The bluish light of the moon illuminated the center of the empty colosseum, where a small boy of black hair practiced punches and kicks in the middle of the night—accompanied by a tall man with muscular structure and bald head.
“You are the strongest of your generation, Loki.” The man told the boy. “But living up to the title of champion will take more than just effort.”
“Yes, warden.” Loki continued spar on his own.
“Many have taken the mantle before you, but none had accomplished even a fraction of what their title was supposed to represent.” The man continued his speech. “You must know pain. You must know struggle. You must know loss.”
“Yes, warden.”
“Did you learn a new ability today?”
“No, warden.”
“Then you won’t get any sleep until you do, understood?”
“Yes, warden.”
“If you are to be chosen to be the champion of your generation, Loki. Then you better make sure not to tarnish the name of the greatest knight in history. Be the strongest, the smartest, the greatest.”
“Yes, warden.”
“A gladean knight is born to fight, to destroy the enemies of Gladea and humanity. We are not humans. We do not thrive in peace, but in conflict. Master it, and the path to achieve your destiny will become nothing but another obstacle in your way.”
“Yes, warden.”
“A gladean knight’s purpose is not to enjoy peace, but to create it. Fill your life with conflict, for that is the only life that awaits you. Specter and his army will show you no mercy, and you will do the same. Nothing matters, but the extermination of the god and his demons. That, is your only reason to exist, understood?”
“Yes, warden.”
The man nodded in satisfaction, keeping a stern expression. “Good. Follow this path, and there will be no gladean knight that can ever surpass you. That’s what being the champion means, a warrior that will fight until his last dying breath. You were born to kill Specter and free this world, you and no one else is capable of such a feat, understood?”
“Yes, warden.”
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“Loki, wait!” A young woman approached the knight. Her skin was dark like caramel, curvy long hair down to her lower back, and eyes brown like coffee—with clothes made from animal parts and plants. She sprinted in front of Loki from behind, stopping him in his tracks. “Are you going out hunting again?”
“Get out of the way.”
“Wait, I wanted to give you this.” The woman said—handing the man a small doll made of cloth. The item was unapologetically identical to her, having similar hair, skin and clothing. “Just a small doll, as thanks for helping us out at the tribe.”
“Any reason this thing looks like you?”
“Ah…” the young woman flushed before avoiding her gaze, clearing her throat before speaking. “No, it’s just… tradition, that’s all.”
“I don’t want it,” replying coldly to the gift, Loki tossed the small doll back to the woman—walking past her to continue his stride. “Now stop getting in the way, I have things to do.”
“Wait!” the woman would not listen however, sliding in front of the knight once again. “It’s true, you’ve seen the dolls decorating the place, haven’t you?” she said. “I know your job is dangerous, so I thought maybe you’d want some company.”
“I don’t want anyone getting in my way, I thought I made myself clear.” Despite his angry frown in his face, Loki kept his tone moderate while fending off the young woman. “Now, move aside before I cut you down.”
“Please, accept it.” She begged the knight. “You saved my father, and this is the only thing I can do to thank you. I know your world is different than ours, but I still want to do something to show my appreciation.”
Closing his eyes with a low growl, Loki opened them once again while placing one hand on the woman’s arm. “I’m not asking for appreciation. I’m here to do my duty, and I expect to carry it out without interruptions.” The knight claimed as he pushed her aside, forcing her to fall on her butt in the dirt—continuing on his way. “Stay here if you don’t want to die.”
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“Welcome back, Loki.” Atalanta said once she noticed the knight step inside the small cabin—sliding the door close behind him. She was seated on the floor in front of Ninigi, treating his wounds and replacing the bandages all over his body. “Uh? What is that in your hand?”
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The knight looked at the object he carried, looking with indifferent eyes at the dirty and ragged doll in his hand—covered in dust, with its cloth ripped apart in most areas. “I found it around,” he replied—hurling the object away into a wall. “Thought I’d bring it with me... just a small souvenir”
“What happened with the specters?” Ninigi asked.
“Pah,” Loki scoffed in response. “As if they could even come close to harming me. I made sure they won’t come back in a long time.”
“Any signs of Specter himself?” Atalanta asked.
“None, the bastard must still be dead.” Dropping to the floor near the pair, Loki sat himself on the floor before falling on his back—resting his head in both hands. “That was nothing but another waste of time.”
“You protected the people from another calamity, Loki.” Ninigi told the knight. “Even if Specter hasn’t showed himself, your actions have earned humanity a few more years of peace. That is our duty as gladean knights.”
“Says you,” Loki scuffed at the man’s words. “Just look at yourself. You don’t even want to fight… might not even know how to.”
“Loki!” Atalanta snapped at him, but the knight continued with his scornful speech.
“I only speak the truth,” he said. “Remember the legends we were told as kids? The decades of training and fighting, just so we could be like the hero everyone in Paradise idolized?” the knight continued—keeping a straight face while looking at the ceiling. “Tell me that’s what you see when you look at him.”
Despite her disagreement with Loki, his words caused Atalanta to take a quick glance at Ninigi—who clenched his jaw with furrowed brows. Taking a deep breath, Atalanta continued to replace the man’s bandages and apply ointments to his burnt skin—falling silent for a quick minute while she finished up his treatment.
“Hah…” Atalanta stood up with a sigh, looking down at the nonchalant knight resting his back on the wooden floor. “We were raised to become the saviors of humanity,” she told Loki. “You and I are the last generation of our race, Loki. It is our job to finish this conflict, regardless of what the legends say… we prepared to save the world, not become some legend.”
“Speak for yourself…” the knight said under his breath—too low for Atalanta to hear.
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“Ugh… why are you here again, loser?” Euthemia snarled at Loki—who sat at the edge of her window. “It’s the middle of the night, and I don’t want people misunderstanding things.”
“Misunderstand what?” the knight raised an eyebrow.
“Forget it, what would a brainless mutt like you know about it?” the princess seated herself at the edge of her bed—grooming her hair with a brush she picked up from the table next to it. “I saw you talking with father yesterday, anything important?”
“Nothing interesting, he wants to bring more people into Paradise.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I’m not interested, if he wants more people there, he can bring them in himself.”
“Ugh… I don’t understand why he favors you so much.” One corner in the princess’ lips curved upwards, offering a snarl of disgust. “You are nothing but an annoyance to everyone around you.”
Standing up from her bed—laying the brush on the table, Euthemia walked close to a small glass container in her desk near the window. Inside, she kept a group of ladybugs that she’d bring from the castle’s garden, building a collection of them. The princess raised the top of the container and led one hand inside it, taking one of the small insects in her palm.
“Why keep them inside that thing?” Loki asked. “Aren’t they supposed to be out there flying around or something?”
“What do you know, brute?” Euthemia protested while caressing the ladybug with her finger. “Look at it, it’s so colorful and cute…” her eyes remained fixed on the insect, her warm smile suddenly curving into a devilish grin. “Doesn’t it make you want to break it? See what it would be like if you just—”
Before Euthemia could press her fingers together to crush the ladybug inside her palm, Loki quickly took a hold of her wrist to prevent her from harming the animal—earning a furious glare from the princess. The insect flew away from her hand, leaving the castle through the open window.
“You better have a good explanation for putting you gross and dirty paws on my beautiful skin… you disgusting rat.”
“There are better ways to unwind than to take it out on the little thingies, you know?”
“I don’t want to hear that from you, feral beast.” Euthemia pulled away from Loki, closing the glass container before wiping her arm with a small piece of cloth. “I do what I want anyway… Now get out of my room before I call the guards.”
“Guess I’ll just go back to Paradise for now then,” Loki claimed while walking towards the door. “Atalanta might be up for some sparing this time.”
“Heh,” Euthemia chuckled—offering a snarky response. “The only knight left of your generation, and not even she likes you. Have you thought about doing anything other to be a nuisance to the world, barbarian?”
“Not even once, I’ll be back tomorrow.” Unconcerned with the princess’ words, Loki pulled the door open before making his way out into the hallway.
He strode across the long hall, illuminated by the silver light of the moon leaking through the windows of the castle. In his way out, Loki stopped to look outside through one of the windows—watching the illuminated capital of Heildin in the distance—lifting his gaze slightly to look at the sky next, decorated by a body of bright stars. The knight scoffed before turning his gaze back towards the hallway, continuing his stride.
“How boring, things used to be so much better at Paradise...” An eager smirk suddenly drew itself in the knight’s lips. “The specters are back at least, and this time… the world will finally know the true champion.”
“Talking to yourself?” Eutychia spoke as she walked into view from a corner in the hall.
“Just thinking,” Loki replied with his usual smirk.
“Are you busy tomorrow morning? I want you to train me again.”
“Why is that?” asked the knight, raising an eyebrow. “Did King scold you or something?”
Shaking her head slowly, Eutychia offered her reply to the knight. “We’ll have visitors from Cerberus in a week. I want to be prepared for anything.” her strict stare became a determined glare as her eyebrows curved downwards. “I heard of a woman that took down a belfry on her own, and I need to know I can best her before they arrive.”
“A belfry on her own…” Loki repeated with a whisper before huffing a chuckle. “Why not? Better than staying in Paradise all day.” He accepted the princess’ request, walking past her to continue his exit—stopped immediately by Eutychia.
“I meant to ask,” she said. “You don’t seem to enjoy training with the guards here in the castle. Whenever I see you sparing with them, there is always a frown in your face. Are you not satisfied with their performance? Anything that could pose a threat to father’s safety should be reported immediately.”
Loki smirked, continuing to walk away. “They are just not what they used to be, princess. That’s all.”
END OF CHAPTER