"It had been twelve years since that day."
"I'd been accepted as a page."
"Although I entered the ranks early, no one judged me for it."
"I had trained under Sir Mytri Vol Makkalen, a respected Grandmaster."
Theo swung his sword, the black armor he wore gleaming under the light, his dark red cape trailing as he moved. Across from him in the training yard, a fellow knight met his strikes with measured defense.
"His teachings had raised me to the same rank as Sir Mytri himself."
"I'm grateful for that… yet, even now, I don't feel I deserve this rank at all."
With a horizontal slash, he disarmed his opponent, sending the sword flying into the air before it embedded itself in the dirt with a solid thunk.
The knight stumbled backward and fell to the ground.
He pushed himself up and sat upright, just as Theo stepped forward, his sword leveled at the man's neck.
"My strength is merely half of his… yet my durability and swiftness surpassed his own.
As heartbreaking as it is to me."
The knight raised his trembling hands in surrender. "I forfeit."
Theo exhaled softly, the sound carrying through his helmet as he sheathed his blade with a clean click. Extending a hand, he spoke warmly. "It was a great duel."
The knight chuckled and clasped Theo's arm. "Indeed it was."
Theo pulled him to his feet and brushed the dirt from the man's armor.
The knight stepped back quickly, With a distressed voice he said. "Stop that, Grandmaster. You shouldn't do it."
From across the yard, a maid with long dark hair ran toward them, her voice carrying on the wind.
"Young Theo!"
Hearing her, Theo turned. "What's the matter, Vii?"
The maid came to a halt before him, tilting her head back to meet his gaze. Theo stood a head and a half taller than her, an imposing figure. "The Madam is calling for you," she said.
Looking down to her, Theo patted her head gently before stepping past. "Alright. I'll head there. Go take a break." He waved casually over his shoulder, his armored hand catching the sunlight as he strode toward the palace's eastern doors.
Vii watched him go. His cape and plume rippled in a breeze, a quiet thought warmed her chest
"You've grown up well, Young Theo."
…
With a swift hand, he knocked three times and called out, "Your Grace, Theo has arrived."
"Oh, please come in," a warm and gentle voice replied from behind the doors.
Grasping the handle lightly, Theo stepped into the room.
At once, the cries of an infant filled his ears.
It was a nursery room within the palace, the light from the wide window spilling across the space and stretching as far as the bed placed deep within. There, Madam sat cradling a baby in her arms, rocking her gently as she whispered reassurances to calm her down.
She was beautiful. Her long brown hair caught the light, glimmering like gold beneath the sun. Her gray eyes lingered on the infant, soft and thoughtful. With her slender body, delicate neck, and graceful arms, she lay beneath the blanket, serene and still.
The navy-blue nightgown clung perfectly to her form, its deep hue contrasting and complementing her beauty.
She looked up at Theo and asked, "Theo, please, can you find me a bottle for her as you're standing already? It's in the cabinets on the sides, it's somewhere there."
Theo nodded, his eyes drifting repeatedly to the small bundle in Madam's arms.
Noticing his glances, Madam smiled softly. "Isn't it wonderful, Theo? This baby of mine? Reed will be overjoyed that she's safe."
Hearing her words, Theo quickly rummaged through the shelves of the cabinet until he found a glass bottle filled with milk. "Is this one alright, Your Grace?"
"Yes, give me it, please."
"Alright."
Even as he handed her the bottle, Theo couldn't stop staring at the baby. He was mesmerized by her delicate pink hair and the peculiar gray-blue of her eyes.
Taking the bottle, Madam began feeding the infant. The cries ceased, and she sighed in relief. "Theo, are you curious?"
"About her?"
Theo gave a small nod in response to Madam's question. "Of course."
"Her name is Luna. She really is fragile, but maybe you will substitute for that?" Her expression softened as she smiled gently.
"What do you mean, Your Grace?" Theo asked, confusion threading his voice.
Madam chuckled, her eyes warm as she looked at him. "Of course I mean, are you willing to become her personal knight?"
Theo stood frozen, dumbfounded. Even through his helmet, it was clear to anyone in the room that he was dazed by the question.
"Oh, don't be like that. I know you've always wanted to repay us with something. I am giving you the opportunity."
"An opportunity to serve my Luna for the rest of your life as a Grandmaster."
Theo bowed slightly, his voice flustered. "Of… of course, Madam. It'd be my pleasure."
Madam, seeing his reaction, chuckled at the sight. "Would you like to hold her?"
She extended her arms, offering Luna toward Theo.
"Ah, of course, Your Grace."
Carefully, Theo took Luna into his arms. With one hand supporting her tiny body and the other holding the bottle, he held her against the cold black armor that covered his chest. His eyes glimmered as he watched her petite frame suckle quietly at the milk.
The sight of her, so fragile, so small, stirred something deep within him, as though it were a calling. He lifted his gaze to Madam, his eyes steady and filled with resolve. With a firm voice, he said, "I will gladly dedicate my life to her."