*Two weeks later - Village of Seacrest*
The small farming village of Seacrest was the kind of place that rarely appeared on official maps—a collection of modest homes and shops nestled in a valley between rolling hills, where the most exciting event was usually the annual harvest festival. It was exactly the sort of community that Damian made a point of visiting during his travels, wanting to understand the needs of common citizens who would never see the inside of a royal palace.
He walked through the village square in simple traveling clothes, Tycun at his side while Teal had remained at headquarters to continue training the newer recruits. The villagers went about their daily business with the quiet contentment of people who had found their place in the world, though Damian noticed several worried glances toward the eastern hills.
"Your Highness," said Elder Mariam, the village's unofficial leader, as she approached with a respectful bow. "We're honored by your visit, though I wish the circumstances were more pleasant."
"The monster activity you mentioned in your letter?" Damian asked, his expression growing serious. "How bad has it gotten?"
"Worse each day," Mariam replied, wringing her hands. "Strange creatures coming down from the mountains, destroying crops, threatening our livestock. Yesterday, a pack of dire wolves nearly attacked the Hendricks farm. If it hadn't been for that young mage who's been helping us..."
As if summoned by her words, a commotion erupted from the eastern edge of the village. Shouts of alarm mixed with the sound of magical energy being unleashed, and Damian immediately moved toward the disturbance, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword.
What he found was a scene of controlled chaos. A massive boar-like creature with crystalline spikes protruding from its hide was charging through the village's outer farmland, its rampage leaving destroyed fences and terrified livestock in its wake. But between the monster and the village stood a lone figure—a young man with short blonde hair, wearing an expensive-looking suit that seemed wildly out of place in the rural setting.
"Back, you overgrown bacon!" the blonde mage shouted, raising what appeared to be ornate hand cannons. "You're messing with my reputation here!"
The weapons discharged with thunderous reports, launching projectiles that struck the crystal boar with devastating effect. But instead of simple destruction, something far more interesting happened—where one cannon's shot hit, the creature's crystalline spikes began fusing together, restricting its movement. Where the other struck, the beast's hide began to separate and weaken.
"Fascinating," Tycun murmured, his tactical mind immediately analyzing the display. "Those aren't standard magical weapons."
The blonde mage continued his assault with obvious skill, his movements fluid and confident despite his flashy attire. Within minutes, the crystal boar lay defeated, its rampage ended by the precise application of what appeared to be fusion and separation magic.
"And that, ladies and gentlemen," the young man announced to the gathering crowd of villagers, "is how Rygon the Magnificent handles oversized pork chops!"
Several villagers cheered, though Damian noticed the mage's boastful demeanor seemed more performative than genuine. There was something in his eyes—a hint of uncertainty beneath the bravado that suggested his confidence might be more practiced than natural.
"Impressive work," Damian said, approaching the blonde mage as the villagers began to disperse. "Those are unique weapons you're carrying."
Rygon turned toward him, and Damian saw him take in the quality of his travel clothes and Tycun's obvious warrior bearing. The mage's expression shifted slightly, becoming more calculating.
"Well, well," Rygon said with a theatrical bow, "a fellow appreciator of fine magical craftsmanship! The name's Rygon, defender of the innocent and vanquisher of oversized wildlife. These beauties," he gestured to his hand cannons, "are Order and Chaos—custom magical weapons of my own design."
"Order and Chaos?" Damian repeated, intrigued. "The fusion and separation effects we observed?"
"Exactly!" Rygon's chest puffed with obvious pride. "Order can fuse any two things together that its bullets strike, while Chaos can separate anything into its component parts. Took me three years to perfect the magical matrices, but the results speak for themselves!"
Before Damian could respond, a new commotion arose from the village's northern border. This time, it wasn't just one monster—a entire herd of various creatures was streaming down from the mountain passes, their eyes glowing with the unnatural fury that suggested they were being driven by something even more dangerous.
"Oh, come on!" Rygon exclaimed, reloading his weapons with practiced efficiency. "Can't a guy enjoy five minutes of victory before the next crisis?"
Damian counted at least twenty creatures of various sizes and types—crystal boars, dire wolves, even what appeared to be a young wyvern circling overhead. The village's militia would be overwhelmed in minutes.
"Tycun," he said quietly, "coordinate the civilian evacuation. Get everyone to the community center—it's the most defensible building."
"And you, Your Highness?"
"I'm going to help our friend here hold the line," Damian replied, already beginning to weave his World Magic. "This is exactly the kind of situation the Magic Knights were created for."
A Prison World materialized around three of the charging dire wolves, trapping them in a bubble of twisted space. Beside him, Rygon whistled appreciatively.
"Now that's some serious magic!" he said, taking aim at a crystal boar. "Don't suppose you'd like to team up for this? I could use someone who can actually hit multiple targets at once!"
"My pleasure," Damian replied, creating a Gravity World beneath a cluster of monsters. "Just try to keep up."
What followed was a display of magical cooperation that impressed even Tycun as he organized the evacuation. Damian's World Magic created tactical advantages—gravity wells to slow enemies, barriers to protect civilians, prison bubbles to contain the most dangerous threats. Meanwhile, Rygon's unique weapons provided precision solutions to specific problems, fusing enemy claws to the ground or separating their natural armor to expose weak points.
"Behind you!" Rygon called, spinning to fire both weapons at a dire wolf that had flanked Damian's position. Order's bullet struck the wolf's paws, fusing them to the rocky ground, while Chaos's shot separated its fangs from its jaw, rendering it harmless.
"Much obliged," Damian replied, creating a Healing World around a injured villager who had been caught in the stampede. "Your weapons are remarkably versatile."
"Years of practice and refinement," Rygon said with genuine pride rather than his earlier theatrical boasting. "Most people just see fancy guns, but the real art is in understanding how fusion and separation can solve complex tactical problems."
The battle continued for nearly an hour, with the two mages working together to systematically neutralize the monster stampede. By the time the last creature was either defeated or driven back to the mountains, both men were breathing heavily but victorious.
"Not bad for a day's work," Rygon said, holstering his weapons with a satisfied grin. "Though I have to say, your magic is unlike anything I've encountered. Those dimensional bubbles shouldn't be possible according to standard magical theory."
"Standard magical theory has its limitations," Damian replied diplomatically. "Speaking of which, I'm curious about your background. Those weapons represent a significant magical achievement, yet you're defending remote farming villages rather than working for a major guild or magical institution."
Rygon's expression grew slightly guarded. "Let's just say I prefer working independently. Fewer politics, more appreciation for genuine talent."
"Even if it means less recognition and resources?"
"Recognition is overrated," Rygon said, though something in his tone suggested he didn't entirely believe it. "Besides, these people actually need help. The big guilds are too busy with flashy missions to bother with monster control in remote villages."
Damian felt a familiar spark of interest. Here was another mage who saw the gaps in the current system, someone with both the skills and the moral compass to make a real difference.
"What if I told you there was an organization that combined the resources of royal backing with the mission of protecting those who need it most?" he asked carefully.
"I'd say that sounds too good to be true," Rygon replied, but his eyes showed definite curiosity. "What kind of organization?"
"The Magic Knights," Damian said, deciding directness was the best approach. "Elite mages operating under royal authority to handle threats that fall through the cracks of the current system. Exactly the kind of situation we just dealt with here."
Rygon blinked in surprise. "Wait, you're talking about Prince Damian's new military unit? I heard they pulled off something impressive at Hargeon recently."
"They did indeed," Damian said with a slight smile. "I should know—I was there."
It took a moment for the implication to sink in, and when it did, Rygon's eyes widened dramatically.
"You're... oh hell, you're actually him, aren't you? Prince Damian?" Rygon looked between him and Tycun, who had returned from coordinating the cleanup. "And that means you're one of his knights!"
"Captain Tycun," the red-haired warrior said with a slight nod. "Your combat performance today was impressive, particularly your tactical coordination with His Highness."
"I just fought alongside the crown prince," Rygon said, seeming to process this information. "And held my own. And he's offering me a position with the Magic Knights."
"If you're interested," Damian said. "Your weapons are unique, your skills are impressive, and your dedication to protecting civilians aligns perfectly with our mission. The question is whether you're willing to trade independence for the chance to make a larger impact."
Rygon was quiet for several minutes, staring at his weapons while he considered. Finally, he looked up with a grin that seemed more genuine than his earlier theatrical displays.
"Your Highness," he said, sketching a surprisingly formal bow, "I've spent three years proving I could handle problems on my own. Maybe it's time to see what I can accomplish as part of something bigger."
"Welcome to the Magic Knights, Sir Rygon," Damian replied formally. "Though I should warn you—this was probably the easy part."
"Even better," Rygon said, echoing Teal's words from weeks earlier. "I've always worked better with an audience anyway."
As they helped the villagers begin repairs and cleanup, Damian reflected on how each of his knights had come to him. Tycun through shared purpose and mutual respect. Teal through combat necessity and aligned values. And now Rygon through the simple act of standing together against a common threat.
Three very different people, but each one exactly what the Magic Knights needed to become what he'd envisioned. Soon, he thought, it would be time to find the fourth and final captain to complete his inner circle.
But for now, he was content to help rebuild a small farming village alongside his newest knight, knowing that they'd proven once again that the Magic Knights could make a real difference in the lives of ordinary people.
---
*To be continued...*