The laughter of the children echoed softly, fading into tired giggles as they sprawled across the mossy floor. Nex leaned against a tree-like pillar of roots, four little ones still stubbornly clinging to him as though letting go meant he would vanish. He didn't mind.
The blonde boy—his golden hair messy from playing, cheeks still pink—suddenly scrambled up, eyes wide as if struck by a grand idea. He darted away, the fox-like mana beast yipping after him, and returned clutching a crooked stick no longer than his arm. He held it high, like a sword gleaming in the light.
"Mister Nex!" he called, his voice proud and clear. "Kneel!"
The other children gasped, watching. Nex raised a brow, then chuckled softly. No hesitation. Slowly, he lowered himself to one knee before the boy, bowing his head.
The boy stepped forward, his tiny hand trembling as he touched the stick-sword against Nex's shoulder. He imitated something he must have read in his storybook—his expression serious, his voice careful.
"I… I name you… my knight," the boy declared. His voice wavered, but his little chest was puffed out with pride. "You must protect the people and… and always be kind!"
The children erupted in cheers, clapping wildly, little mana beasts bouncing and squealing as if they understood the importance of this moment.
Nex stayed bowed, his chest tight, his throat burning. Then he spoke, his voice low but steady, every word carrying the weight of his heart.
"I, Nex, swear this oath. From this day forward, I will be your knight. Your shield in the dark, your sword against all who would harm you. I will protect you… until my last breath."
The blonde boy's eyes widened, glowing with awe. For him, it was just a game—yet the conviction in Nex's tone carved it into something sacred.
The boy tapped the stick against Nex's other shoulder, finishing the "ceremony," then giggled and threw his arms around Nex's neck.
"Then you're mine! My knight!"
The grove shook with laughter and clapping. Some children stomped their feet like a royal court celebrating, others hugged each other, too full of joy to contain it.
The shy horned girl hesitated, then tugged at Nex's sleeve, her cheeks red.
"Um… if he's the king… then… can I be the queen?"
The children gasped, then cheered again, bouncing in excitement.
Nex looked at her. She was shy, almost trembling, but her eyes shimmered with hope. Slowly, a soft smile spread across his face.
"Of course. Every king deserves a queen."
The girl's face lit up. She covered her mouth, giggling, then stood beside the blonde boy proudly. The children clapped and bowed dramatically, chanting, "Long live the king! Long live the queen!" Their innocent voices echoed like a song.
Nex watched them all, his chest tightening with something he hadn't felt in years. Pride. Warmth. Hope.
But beneath it all… a promise formed like steel in his heart.
If this boy is to be a king, then I will be his sword. His shield. His knight in truth, not just in play. No one will ever touch these children again.
As the boy clung to him, laughing with his new "queen" beside him, Nex swore silently that their joy would never be stolen.
Not while he still drew breath.
Evening crept into the hidden lab, shadows stretching long and deep over the mossy walls. The children had curled up around Nex again, some on his lap, some leaning against him, eyes heavy with sleep. The little mana beasts were dozing beside them, their tiny bodies warm and soft. For a brief moment, the ruined lab felt like a sanctuary.
But Nex could feel it—the storm inside him, simmering quietly while he played, had begun to shift.
It started as a slow burn in his chest, the memories of mutilated children, stitched monsters, black blood, and the researchers' cruelty coiling tighter with every heartbeat. Then came the oath. The blonde boy's words, pure and innocent, struck something sharp and unyielding in his soul.
"You must protect the people and always be kind."
Those words ignited the rage, twisting it into focus.
Nex's hands clenched, his nails biting into his palms, yet he did not move the children. He stared at the shadows creeping across the ceiling, imagining the faces of the researchers—the ones who had stolen, tortured, and experimented on these innocents.
The warmth of the children's sleep could not soften the fire that now roared in his veins. Their laughter, their tiny hands clutching at him, their trusting eyes… it all made his heart ache. And that ache transformed into something cold, precise, and deadly.
If anyone touches them… if anyone dares hurt them… I will tear them apart.
The intent wasn't vague anger. It was a purposeful, lethal focus. He could feel it forming in his mind like a blade, honed and sharp, ready to cut through anything in its path. The oath had crystallized his rage into a single unbreakable vow: this knight would never allow harm to come to his king, his queen, or the children who trusted him.
He shifted slightly, careful not to wake them, and rested his chin gently on the blonde boy's head. His lips pressed softly against the top of the child's hair.
"Sleep well, little king," he whispered. "No one will hurt you. No one will touch you… while I still draw breath."
The boy murmured something in his sleep, and the horned girl nestled closer, sensing the weight of his promise even in slumber.
Nex closed his eyes briefly, feeling the oath settle into him like armor. Beneath the warmth and softness, the storm raged, but now it was controlled, sharpened, ready. Every pulse of his heart carried the certainty: whoever had done this, whoever thought they could harm these children, would pay in full.
Tonight, he would rest beside them, but when he rose… the world would feel his intent.
The knight was awake. The children slept. And the hunters of the innocent would learn the meaning of true vengeance.