Mira didn't move until the Death Knight disappeared at the end of the road.
The villagers slowly began to emerge from their hiding places once they were sure the danger had passed. A few of them cautiously approached the fallen attackers, whispering to each other in confusion.
Mira barely noticed.
Her eyes were fixed on the road where the black-armored warrior had walked away.
The stories had never mentioned how quickly he vanished.
One moment he was there.
The next he was simply… gone.
She let out a quiet breath and rubbed the back of her neck.
"Well," she muttered to herself.
"That went… about as expected."
A small voice came from behind her.
"Miss knight?"
Mira turned.
The same child who had been hiding behind the wagon earlier was peeking out again. A little boy, maybe eight or nine years old, clutching a wooden toy sword.
He stared up at her with wide eyes.
"Was that really him?"
Mira followed his gaze toward the empty road.
"…Yeah," she said.
The boy looked both amazed and terrified.
"Is he a monster?"
Mira paused for a moment before answering.
Then she shook her head.
"No."
The boy seemed relieved.
A few of the villagers began thanking her, though most of their gratitude quickly turned into nervous whispers about the man who had actually ended the fight.
Mira helped them move the bodies away from the center of the square and made sure no one else was hurt.
But her thoughts kept drifting back to the same thing.
The Death Knight.
The way he fought.
The way he moved.
Effortless.
Like the entire battle had been nothing more than an inconvenience.
She tightened the strap on her gauntlet.
By the time the sun began to dip toward the horizon, she had made up her mind.
—
The road out of town stretched into a quiet forest.
Mira followed it at a steady pace.
She wasn't exactly sure where he had gone.
But someone like him wasn't the type to hide his tracks.
Sure enough, after a short distance she spotted the faint impressions of heavy boots in the dirt.
She smiled slightly.
Found you.
The trail led deeper into the woods.
The forest grew quieter the farther she walked. The sounds of the town faded until only rustling leaves and distant birds remained.
The sun had nearly disappeared by the time she finally saw him again.
The Death Knight was standing near a small clearing, his back to her.
For a second she wondered if he hadn't noticed her.
Then he spoke.
"You're terrible at sneaking."
Mira froze mid-step.
"…Right."
She sighed and walked into the clearing.
"Worth a try."
The Death Knight didn't turn around immediately.
"I told you to go back."
"I remember."
"Yet here you are."
Mira crossed her arms casually.
"Also true."
Finally he turned.
Even in the fading light, his presence felt heavy.
Not threatening exactly.
Just… overwhelming.
"You're persistent," he said.
"I've been called worse."
"…Why are you following me?"
Mira didn't hesitate this time.
"Because you didn't answer my request."
"I did."
"You laughed."
"That was the answer."
Mira tilted her head.
"I don't remember you saying no."
For a moment, the Death Knight just stared at her.
Then he exhaled slowly through his nose.
"You're a knight of the kingdom," he said.
"Yes."
"I am the man your kingdom hunts."
"That's their problem."
"…It becomes yours the moment you associate with me."
Mira shrugged.
"I'll deal with that when it happens."
The Death Knight looked up at the darkening sky for a moment, as if silently questioning how he had ended up in this conversation.
"You don't understand what you're asking."
"Then explain it."
His gaze dropped back to her.
"The path I walk kills people."
Mira nodded.
"I figured."
"Not enemies."
He paused.
"Students."
That was new.
Mira raised an eyebrow.
"…You've had apprentices before?"
"No."
"Then how do you know they die?"
"They would."
Mira considered that logic for a second.
Then she said,
"Well, that sounds like a skill issue."
For the first time, the Death Knight went completely silent.
A breeze rustled through the trees.
Mira suddenly wondered if she had pushed things a little too far.
Then—
A faint sound came from deeper in the forest.
Low.
Wet.
A growl.
Mira's hand instinctively moved to her sword.
Another growl followed.
Then another.
Shapes began emerging from the darkness between the trees.
Three of them.
Large.
Lean.
Eyes glowing faintly in the night.
Mira's grip tightened.
"…Direwolves."
The Death Knight glanced at them briefly.
Then, to her surprise, he stepped aside.
"You want to learn from me?"
Mira blinked.
"Yes."
"Then survive."
He leaned casually against a nearby tree.
"I'll be watching."
Mira stared at him.
"You're not going to help?"
"No."
The wolves began circling.
One of them snarled, showing long curved fangs.
The Death Knight's voice came again, calm and indifferent.
"If you can't handle three wolves…"
"…you definitely won't survive being my apprentice."
The first wolf lunged.
Mira drew her sword.
And smiled slightly.
"Good," she muttered.
"This is more convincing than laughing."
The first wolf hit the clearing with a rush of muscle and fur, fangs bared and eyes glowing like embers in the dim light. Mira planted her feet firmly, bracing for impact. She could feel her pulse hammering—not from fear, but from anticipation. This was the first real test the Death Knight had given her, and she refused to fail.
She swung her sword with precision, slicing at the wolf's shoulder. The beast yelped in pain but didn't stop. It spun around, claws scraping the ground as it prepared for another strike. Mira dodged, narrowly avoiding a swipe that could have torn through her armor. Her heart raced, but her mind stayed sharp. Focus, she reminded herself. This is what training under him looks like.
The Death Knight didn't move from his spot. His arms were crossed, his posture loose, yet every muscle in his body seemed coiled, ready to react if she failed. It was almost maddening—his presence alone was a test.
Another wolf joined the first, leaping from the shadows. Mira's grip on her sword tightened. She slashed through the air, letting the blade guide her reflexes. She didn't need to think, only to react. The two wolves collided mid-leap, growling and snarling, their momentum nearly knocking her off balance. She barely sidestepped, rolling to regain her footing, and swung her sword again, this time cutting across the second wolf's flank.
A faint groan of pain left the beast, but it didn't retreat. Mira could feel sweat forming at her brow, her muscles screaming from exertion, but she didn't relent. She remembered why she was here—why she had followed him into the forest, why she had begged him to be her mentor.
Because I want to be stronger. I want to be worthy of learning from him. I want to survive whatever path he walks.
The third wolf circled behind her, eyes locked on hers. It snarled, and Mira froze for just a heartbeat. The Death Knight's voice cut through the tension, low and calm, carrying that dangerous weight she'd already felt once in the town square.
"Predict their moves. Don't react. Lead them."
She blinked. Lead them? Slowly, she understood. The beasts weren't mindless—they were hunting, but they could be guided, manipulated. She shifted her stance, lowered her center of gravity, and subtly guided the nearest wolf toward the path of the other. A quick flick of her wrist, a step forward, and the two collided, growling and tumbling over one another.
Mira took a deep breath and struck the third wolf in the chest, sliding past its momentum to deliver a precise cut along its flank. It yelped, scrambling backward, finally giving her a brief opening. She didn't hesitate. Another swipe, another roll, until finally all three wolves had been forced into retreat, whimpering and backing toward the forest.
She stumbled, dropping her sword for a moment as she gasped for air. Her armor was scuffed, her gloves scraped, her body trembling—but she had survived.
From the tree line, the Death Knight's voice rang out, quiet but carrying unmistakable weight.
"Not bad."
Mira froze. Not bad? That was the first praise he'd ever given her. She turned to see him stepping forward slowly, cloak brushing the forest floor. His gaze was sharp, studying her, but there was the tiniest hint of something else—a recognition of effort, perhaps, or the faintest shadow of approval.
"You would have died if I hadn't been watching closely," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Most would have."
"I survived," she said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the adrenaline still coursing through her veins. "I can survive more."
He studied her for a long moment. Then, without a word, he unsheathed his sword—not in threat, but in demonstration. With a swift motion, he cut a low branch above his head, slicing it clean off in a single, fluid movement. The sound of the blade against wood echoed in the clearing.
"Survive for years like that," he said. "Then come back to me. Until then, you're nothing more than a fool risking your life."
Mira's chest heaved, sweat dripping from her hairline, but she didn't step back. She straightened her shoulders, gripping her sword again.
"I'll prove it," she said. Her voice was steady, though her body trembled from exhaustion. "I'll survive. And then… I'll be your apprentice."
For the first time, the Death Knight tilted his head slightly, a gesture almost… human. A faint exhale left him, and his dark eyes seemed to flicker—not with amusement, not with annoyance, but with interest.
"Very well," he said finally. "Foolish as it may be… stay alive, Mira Valen. Survive the next trial, and perhaps I'll consider your request."
Mira's lips curved into a small, determined smile. That was all she needed.
This was the beginning.
The beginning of her training.
The beginning of a bond forged in blood, fire, and shadows.
And the beginning of the legend that would one day call her… the Death Knight's apprentice.